The complete first series of BBC Radio 4's award-winning sketch show by the writer of Cabin Pressure 'The best sketch show in years, on television or radio' Radio Times 'One of the most consistently funny sketch shows for quite some time' Guardian Best known for writing and co-starring in Radio 4's Cabin Pressure and his contributions to The Now Show, John Finnemore has now written - and stars in - his very own radio comedy sketch show. In these four episodes, which make up the complete first series, you'll hear (among many bizarre and precise comical observations and wonderful wordplay) The Archers, and the way it sounds to people who don't really listen to The Archers, the truth behind the war effort and some outrageous French accents. Intelligent, absurd, and laugh-out-loud funny, John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme also features Carrie Quinlan (The News Quiz), Lawry Lewin (Horrible Histories) and Simon Kane (Six Impossible Things). Winner of the Chortle Radio Award of the Year
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Vine Review
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Like most sketch shows, John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme is something of a mixed bag and admirers of his joyous radio sitcom Cabin Pressure may be disappointed that, despite only running to four episodes to Cabin Pressure's six, this is less consistent, but there's still much to enjoy. Very much built around Finnemore's askew worldview, it's a three star show that frequently rises to the odd four star sketch and where the filler inbetween never feels like it's been recycled in every other radio show for the past 40 years. Highlights are an Alan Bennett-style rendition of the inhabitants of the Hundred Acre Wood staging an intervention to force Winnie the Pooh to confront his destructive relationship with honey ("Pooh, when you can't get your fix I'm scared of you... That's not a spot of bother, Pooh, it's the reckless desperation of an addict"), guilt tripping things to do before you die books, a strident evolutionist who'll make exceptions, the importance of CatNav in the Battle of Britain, an inspired exchange of correspondence between Messrs Jekyll and Hyde over the problems of sharing lodgings and a cycle of zoo songs from depressed keepers (the weary lament "When you see a meerkat don't say simples" being a particular standout). Although it's never a one-man show, of the supporting ensemble only Simon Kane truly makes his mark, turning his often straight man feed lines into the odd moment of comic gold with his dry understatement. Certainly a promising start that allows its writer-star to get away from being typecast as an overenthusiastic idiot, there's certainly enough laughs to be had to justify the price.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Amazon Vine Review
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My only previous experience of John Finnemore was the first series of Cabin Pressure, which dragged a bit. This set is significantly better. Highlight sketches for me included:
-The boy whose only career wish is to be the man who makes the noise of the Tardis (by the way, he makes the noise extremely badly)
-An explanation of why shoe repairers also sell trophies
-The pestering by his mother of Romulus to help his dimmer brother Remus to build his own city (Reme!)
-A string of futile attempts to phrase a voicemail so as to leave the right impression
Throughout the sketches there are two main devices, sometimes overlapping:
-Use of a vicious infinite regress of the "I said that you said that he said ..."variety
-Within any one of the original half-hour shows, a return to the action of an earlier sketch, a clever move to exploit the listener's short-term memory
Finnemore has superb support from his three confederates, and there is tremendous variety packed into two hours.
My only reservation is that, for a comic writer with such a wide and fertile imagination, Finnemore is sometime trying just a bit too hard, thus my rating of four stars rather than five. However, considering the complacent rubbish of much of what passes for comedy on TV these days, enthusiasm is no bad thing. Perhaps I should listen to the wireless more after all.
-The boy whose only career wish is to be the man who makes the noise of the Tardis (by the way, he makes the noise extremely badly)
-An explanation of why shoe repairers also sell trophies
-The pestering by his mother of Romulus to help his dimmer brother Remus to build his own city (Reme!)
-A string of futile attempts to phrase a voicemail so as to leave the right impression
Throughout the sketches there are two main devices, sometimes overlapping:
-Use of a vicious infinite regress of the "I said that you said that he said ..."variety
-Within any one of the original half-hour shows, a return to the action of an earlier sketch, a clever move to exploit the listener's short-term memory
Finnemore has superb support from his three confederates, and there is tremendous variety packed into two hours.
My only reservation is that, for a comic writer with such a wide and fertile imagination, Finnemore is sometime trying just a bit too hard, thus my rating of four stars rather than five. However, considering the complacent rubbish of much of what passes for comedy on TV these days, enthusiasm is no bad thing. Perhaps I should listen to the wireless more after all.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Mr. Stephen Redman
VINE VOICE
Amazon Vine Review
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This comedy series comes from Arthur in 'Cabin Pressure' but has the skill, expertise and flair of Not the Nine O Clock News, The Fast Show or dare I say Python themselves?
Every single sketch on the four half hour shows is hilarious. Every minute you listen you will laugh and marvel at the great writing that has resulted in these scripts that deliver on every level. From the two men who don't get on together but are marooned in the ice together for six months, to the man who objects to unreasonable advertising but is hoisted on his own petard, you will meet great new characters (some of whom may sound slightly like Arthur) that will tickle your laughing muscles.
This is a great purchase for the commuter who wants to laugh their way to work, or conversely is desperate to laugh on the way home. If you like ghost stories, sorry that should be goat stories, then this cd set is for you and you should spend no more time reading this crazy review but instead buy a copy. In fact, why not buy a second one in case the first one is eaten by a moulting penguin?
Every single sketch on the four half hour shows is hilarious. Every minute you listen you will laugh and marvel at the great writing that has resulted in these scripts that deliver on every level. From the two men who don't get on together but are marooned in the ice together for six months, to the man who objects to unreasonable advertising but is hoisted on his own petard, you will meet great new characters (some of whom may sound slightly like Arthur) that will tickle your laughing muscles.
This is a great purchase for the commuter who wants to laugh their way to work, or conversely is desperate to laugh on the way home. If you like ghost stories, sorry that should be goat stories, then this cd set is for you and you should spend no more time reading this crazy review but instead buy a copy. In fact, why not buy a second one in case the first one is eaten by a moulting penguin?
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By not_a_real_folkie
VINE VOICE
Amazon Vine Review
(What's this?)
John Finnemore wrote the highly-regarded sitcom "Cabin Pressure" (Radio 4) and has also penned funnies for Mitchell & Webb and The Now Show. His own small but perfectly-formed radio series has more of the same strand of humour, but in a sketch format. The pace is measured, and reclaims the longer, shaggy-dog comedy sketch from the "Fast Show" comedy revolution of the 1990s that still runs through much TV and radio series.
Some of these sketches are very good indeed, particularly where a mental picture is conjured up that wouldn't work on TV (e.g. the intellectually-twisting "keepers of the crystal gate" sketch).
It may be that there's no comedy without cruelty, but I found a couple of the scenarios erred a bit too much towards the 'mocking' humour that we all enjoyed in the school playground. Compared to the Jimmy Carrs and Frankie Boyles of the world, John Finnemore's jibes are mild, and there's a human heart beating behind the clever lines here.
Overall: clever humour in a sketch format that works most of the time. Ideal for the car.
Some of these sketches are very good indeed, particularly where a mental picture is conjured up that wouldn't work on TV (e.g. the intellectually-twisting "keepers of the crystal gate" sketch).
It may be that there's no comedy without cruelty, but I found a couple of the scenarios erred a bit too much towards the 'mocking' humour that we all enjoyed in the school playground. Compared to the Jimmy Carrs and Frankie Boyles of the world, John Finnemore's jibes are mild, and there's a human heart beating behind the clever lines here.
Overall: clever humour in a sketch format that works most of the time. Ideal for the car.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Radio Gold
Fans of the Radio 4 "Now Show" or "Cabin Pressure" should know what to expect here, slightly off the wall comedy that teeters around the brink of the surreal, without ever being... Read more
Published 8 days ago by Sockymon
4.0 out of 5 stars
Solid sketch show from one of Britain's great comedy writers
I only discovered John Finnemore fairly recently, through the recordings of "Cabin Pressure", which was the best new comedy I have come across in years. Read more
Published 12 days ago by J. Dawson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Can't believe I missed this!
I know the name of John Finnemore from Cabin Pressure as well as various radio 4 satire shows and always liked him when I heard him, however this series of his completely passed me... Read more
Published 28 days ago by J. A. Walls
5.0 out of 5 stars
Laugh out loud fun
John Finnemore's Souvenir programme cement's John's place as the King of Radio4 comedy. It can't be long before the BBC finds a budget for him to move to TV. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Chris Hoare
2.0 out of 5 stars
Nor for me
There are a few funny bits (I quite like the Tardis noise aspiring son), but to be honest, this is not that funny. If you have heard it before and loved it then fine- buy away. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Mr. Simon Paddon
5.0 out of 5 stars
Witty, quirky sketch show
John Finnemore is perhaps best known as a writer for radio and TV comedies such as Mitchell & Webb, Dead Ringers, and The Now Show. Read more
Published 1 month ago by M. V. Clarke
4.0 out of 5 stars
Souvenir Programme- Come Again?
John Finnemore is a really entertaining and talented writer on Radio.
His brilliant 4 series and counting of Cabin Pressure is an absolute brilliant series but like many... Read more
His brilliant 4 series and counting of Cabin Pressure is an absolute brilliant series but like many... Read more
Published 1 month ago by Glenn Cook
3.0 out of 5 stars
John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme Series 1
Most people will know of John Finnemore as the writer of 'Cabin Pressure' and playing the part of the the idiotic, if likeable, cabin attendant Arthur in that series. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Steve
4.0 out of 5 stars
As Good As You'd Expect- Very Funny
John Finnemore writes one of my favourite comedies, Cabin Fever and is one regularly featured on The Now Show, both on wonderful Radio 4. Read more
Published 1 month ago by John Woodcock
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