The BBC Radio 4 Impressions Show

Dead Ringers: Series 23 Plus Christmas Specials

The complete Series 23 of the award-winning show – plus three Christmas SpecialsEveryone’s favourite impressions show returns, giving a satirical savaging to a host of politicians, media pundits and celebrities. Among the team’s new victims in this 23rd series are Holly Willoughby, Stacey Solomon and the entire cast of Succession.Boris Johnson plots a political comeback with the SNP (‘Och aye the fwaah!’); Thérèse Coffey launches her signature scent, Eau Sewage; The Archers is revamped for Gen Z; and, with the cost of living crisis at its height, money superhero Martin Lewis swoops in to save us all. We also learn the explicit secrets of Jacob Rees-Mogg’s OnlyFans account; find out Sir Keir Starmer’s secret plan for after the election; and hear some surprising tips from Dr Michael Mosley on how to improve our health and wellbeing...Also included are three Specials with a festive twist, featuring all the people you’d least like to have dinner with. In the first two, Baroness Mone and her husband get their just deserts, Rishi Sunak and King Charles give their end of year speeches – and the Trussmeister is back with a vengeance. And in the third, Jon Culshaw and Jan Ravens join Dead Ringers creator and producer Bill Dare to look back at how party leaders across the spectrum have been portrayed in the last ten years of the programme.Cast and creditsStarring Jon Culshaw, Lewis MacLeod, Jan Ravens, Jess Robinson, Duncan Wisbey and Jason ForbesProduced and created by Bill DareProduction Co-ordinator: Dan MarchiniSound Designer: Rich EvansWritten by Nev Fountain & Tom Jamieson, Laurence Howarth, Ed Amsden & Tom Coles, Davina Bentley, Alex Bertulis-Fernandes, James Bugg, Sarah Campbell, Cody Dahler, Robert Darke, Sophie Dickson, Chris Donovan, Toussaint Douglass, Christina Riggs, Nicky Roberts, Katie Sayer, Peter Tellouche, Edward Tew, Rachel E. Thorn, Joe Topping, Duncan WisbeyFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 16 June-21 July 2023 (Series 23), 15-29 December 2023 (Christmas Specials)© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

The BBC Radio 4 impressions show

Dead Ringers: Series 22

The complete 22nd series of the popular BBC Radio 4 impressions show - plus three Christmas Specials 
 
Dead Ringers is back, taking a satirical sledgehammer to the news and mercilessly mocking the great and the good. In Series 22, the team give us their unique take on our favourite politicians and celebrities, from 'The Donald' Trump and Boris Johnson ('Fwaah!') to Kirsty Wark, Sue Barker and Clare Balding. 
 
Priti Patel reveals her latest plan for asylum seekers, Keir Starmer cultivates his 'bad boy' image and, following the success of her furry Russian hat, Liz Truss picks the perfect headwear to impress the British people. Meanwhile, Rishi Sunak contracts a nasty dose of the 1970s and Jacob Rees-Mogg takes on some surprising new roles... 
 
Plus, the cost of living crisis hits Ready Steady Cook, Huw Edwards is forced to make the news a little less harrowing, Scooby Doo investigates the terrifying poltergeist haunting 10 Downing Street - and in the Upside Down, the Stranger Things gang are confronted with a monster worse than any Demogorgon. 
 
Also featured are three fabulously funny festive specials, in which we take a behind-the-scenes look at the World Cup in Qatar, hear some choice extracts from Matt Hancock's Covid diaries, and discover the unexpected collaborator who helped King Charles craft his first Christmas speech... 
 
Cast and credits 
Series 22 starring Jon Culshaw, Lewis MacLeod, Jan Ravens, Debra Stephenson and Duncan Wisbey 
Christmas Specials starring Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Duncan Wisbey, Naomi McDonald and Anil Desai 
Produced and created by Bill Dare 
Production Co-ordinators: Caroline Barlow, Sarah Sharpe and Katie Baum 
Sound design: Rich Evans 
Written by Nev Fountain, Tom Jamieson, Laurence Howarth, Ed Amsden, Tom Coles, Rebecca Bain, James Bugg, Sarah Campbell, Cody Dahler, Robert Dark, Sophie Dickson, Toussaint Douglass, Jade Gebbie, Cameron Loxdale, Katie Sayer, Peter Tellouche, Edward Tew and Rachel E. Thorn 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 17 June-22 July 2022 (Series 22), 9-23 December 2022 (Christmas Specials) 
 
© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

Dead Ringers: Series 21

The complete 21st series of the award-winning BBC Radio 4 impressions show - plus three Christmas specials 
 
The award-winning topical satire show returns with an online audience to serve up more mimicry, mockery and mordant wit. Series 21 brings us exclusive footage from Boris and Carrie's secret wedding, the truth behind the historic summit between Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin and the real secret of Andy Murray's success. 
 
We hear tips from Michael Moseley on how to stay healthy in post-pandemic Britain, Liz Truss shares the details of her latest whizzo trade deals and Sir Chris Whitty reveals what it's really been like working with Boris Johnson. And as the Euros kick off, a virulent case of optimism sweeps the England squad. 
 
The world of TV takes an unexpected turn, as Keir Starmer shows the nation his Ramsay MacDonald in Naked Attraction, Ted calls the Line of Duty detectives back together to figure out a better end to the series and Sean Bean learns the harsh rules for surviving a Jimmy McGovern drama. Plus, we meet some surprising new contestants in Love Island... 
 
To top it all off, there are also three fantastic festive specials, in which a host of politicians, media pundits and celebrities are given a Christmas roasting - with lashings of satirical gravy. 
 
 
Cast and credits 
Starring Jon Culshaw, Lewis MacLeod, Jan Ravens, Debra Stephenson and Duncan Wisbey 
Produced and created by Bill Dare 
Production Coordinator: Sarah Sharpe 
A BBC Studios production 
Written by Nev Fountain &amp; Tom Jamieson, Laurence Howarth, Ed Amsden &amp; Tom Coles, Jeffrey Aidoo, Simon Alcock, Becca Bain, James Bugg, Sarah Campbell, Tasha Dhanraj, Sophie Dickson, Rajiv Karia, Athena Kugblenu, Jane McCutcheon &amp; Vivienne Riddoch, Edward Tew, Duncan Wisbey 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 11 June-16 July 2021 (Series 21), 10-24 December 2021 (Christmas Specials) 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd 
(P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Dead Ringers: Series 20

The award-winning BBC Radio 4 impressions show returns for a 20th series - plus 3 Christmas specials 
 
The popular topical comedy show is back with another helping of political vituperation, media mauling and celebrity savaging. 
 
Series 20 sees the team faced with the challenge of finding the comedy in Covid, as they look back at the key moments since the pandemic began. There's a special maths lesson from Matt Hancock, a fight between Good Boris and Bad Boris about when lockdown should start, and Michael Portillo grapples with wearing a mask on Great British Railway Journeys. 
 
Plus, Keir Starmer makes his Dead Ringers debut, a former Prime Minister performs in Alan Bennett's latest Talking Heads monologue, Joan Bakewell explains Kanye West, and Her Majesty the Queen tells us why she's helping out the FBI. 
 
We also hear a startling out-take from Normal People, meet a special guest at Downton Abbey - and finally find out what Michael Gove's real job is... 
 
Also included are three Brexity, Covidy, Trumpy, Bideny Christmas specials - so sit back and treat your ears to a bumper helping of superb satirical impressions from Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Lewis MacLeod, Debra Stephenson and Duncan Wisbey. 
 
Cast and credits 
Starring Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Lewis MacLeod, Duncan Wisbey and Debra Stephenson 
Produced and created by Bill Dare 
A BBC Studios production 
Written by Nev Fountain &amp; Tom Jamieson, Laurence Howarth, Ed Amsden &amp; Tom Coles, Sarah Campbell, James Bugg, Simon Alcock, Cody Dahler, Jane McCutcheon, Vivienne Riddoch, Gareth Cederic, Jeffrey Aidoo, Charlie Dinkin, Aidan Fitzmaurice, Cassie Smith, Alex Hardy, Athena Kugblenu, Paige Wilson, Sophie Dixon, Kate Lipson, Edward Tew 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 12 June-17 July 2020 (Series 20), 11-25 December 2020 (Christmas Specials)

The Complete Series 1-2

Elephants to Catch Eels

The complete Series 1 and 2 of the BBC Radio comedy set in an 18th century Cornish village.

The complete Series 1 and 2 of the BBC Radio comedy set in an 18th century Cornish village. 
 
In the first series, Tamsyn Trelawny's band of 18th century Cornish smugglers try to outwit customs officers, a hairy folk band helps Tamsyn and the Cornish smugglers to escape the law and Tamsyn tries to keep her love-life out of the scandal rags. Also, when a new rival appears in town, Tamsyn tries to quit then, finally, Tamsyn joins customs men to stop Courageous Kate from marrying her dad. 
 
In the second series, smuggler Tamsyn Trelawny wants to win 'Peasants Personality of the Year', her head is turned by hunky new band of outlaws 'Boyz 2 Rob' and Tamsyn tries to escape from the clutches of French revolutionaries. It’s also Jesters' Relief Week - but must Cornish smuggler Tamsyn raise funds for Devonians? Also, smuggler Jago is kidnapped. But can he survive in polite city society? And, lastly, there’s a surprise for Tamsyn - and confusion aboard a boat to France. 
 
 Written by Tom Jamieson and Nev Fountain and produced by Jan Ravens. Elephants to Catch Eels stars Lucy Speed in the first series and Sheridan Smith in the second.

Dead Ringers: Series 15

The 15th series of the award-winning BBC Radio 4 impressions show starring Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens and others, plus the 2015 Christmas Special and 2016 New Year's Day Special, which is A Look Back at the Year 2020!

...its return to radio is nothing less than very welcome.

Tom Jamieson and Nev Fountain are part of the principal joke writing team for Private Eye magazine. Fountain and Jamieson were the head writers of the award winning satirical sketch series DEAD RINGERS which transferred from Radio 4 to BBC2 in 2002, where it then ran for seven successful series and subsequently on BBC TV (and was revived for radio in 2014). They have also contributed to many radio and television comedy programmes, including HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU, 2DTV, THE NEWS QUIZ and BIG IMPRESSION. The pair are also responsible for the Radio 4 historical comedy ELEPHANTS TO CATCH EELS and TXT MSSG RCVD, the first episode of the BBC3 anthology series TWISTED TALES.

The 15th series of the award-winning BBC Radio 4 impressions show starring Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens and others, plus the 2015 Christmas Special and 2016 New Year's Day Special, which is A Look Back at the Year 2020! Duration: 3 hours 10 mins.

Tom Jamieson

Nev Fountain

Jon Culshaw

Lewis MacLeod

Jan Ravens

Jess Robinson

Duncan Wisbey

Various

Both series of the hugely popular topical satire show from 2024Fresh from winning ‘Best Radio Sketch Show’ at the 2023 Comedy.co.uk Awards, Dead Ringers is back with two more series, aiming a satirical slingshot at world affairs, the culture wars – and Mr Blobby. With the supply chain of human folly functioning better than ever, there’s no shortage of targets for their merciless mockery, and among the politicians and celebrities being pilloried are Sir Keir Starmer, Rachel Reeves, Jeremy Hunt, Rylan and Ronnie O’Sullivan.Liz Truss speaks her truth in her new book (‘I KNOW!!!’), Nigel Farage launches a pubcast, Alan Bennett advises on the Drake v. Kendrick Lamar beef and David Attenborough is traumatised by Baby Reindeer. Plus, Taylor Swift finds an unlikely boyfriend on Poetry Please, Jacob Rees-Mogg tells us about the birds and the bees, Rishi Sunak has an urgent message for Elon Musk, and the new Dr Who has a novel way of dealing with alien invaders…There’s also a special episode from the Hay Festival, featuring the ‘Top 20 Government Apologies’ playlist, Harry Kane’s predictions for the Euros – and a surprising new arrival in Bridgerton. And in the aftermath of the UK and US elections, the team take a probing look at the new inhabitants of Number Ten and the White House. Will they prove to be as risible as the previous incumbents?NB: Series 24 was recorded before the tragic news of the death of Michael Mosley Cast and creditsStarring Jon Culshaw, Jan Ravens, Lewis MacLeod, Duncan Wisbey and Jess RobinsonWritten by Nev Fountain & Tom Jamieson, Laurence Howarth, Ed Amsden & Tom Coles, Alex Bertulis-Fernandes, Sarah Campbell, Angela Channell, Cody Dahler, Rob Darke, Sarah Dempster, Sophie Dixon, Christopher Donovan, Toussaint Douglass, Lizzy Mansfield, Christina Riggs, Katie Sayer, Peter Tellouche, Edward Tew, Rachel Thorne and Joe ToppingWith additional material by Jennifer WalkerProduced and created by Bill DareExecutive Producers: James Robinson, Pete Strauss and Richard MorrisProduction Co-ordinator: Dan MarchiniSound Design: Rich EvansFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 26 Apr-31 May 2024 (Series 24), 1-22 Nov 2024 (Series 25)© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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