The Skewer

Janine tells us what happened when she was swapped at birth, why her brother has a bunker in Arizona and how her mum rules the roost with her ‘feminine guile’. Russell gives his hot take on childbirth, makes a case against toddler food and thanks his mum for putting up with his extraordinary amount of energy.In this series, Laura Smyth sits down with some incredible guests to find out about their mums and explore the many faces of ‘motherhood’. Join her for a nostalgic, shameless, cathartic ride that asks what (if anything) our folks have taught us. To hear more episodes search "Your Mum" on BBC Sounds.Producer: Sasha Bobak Production Coordinator: Katie Baum Executive Producer: Pete StraussA BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4.

Live from the UK brings you the best comedy talent from around the country, all from the comfort of your own headphones.Stand up legend Angela Barnes talks to Glasgow about their swearing, Newcastle about their love of getting starkers on holiday, and Manchester about the rude origins of their city's name.She brings you acts from all of these places and more, covering topics as far and wide as heatwaves, Gazza, hen dos and the George Foreman grill. How many shows can say that?This week you can hear;Mark Nelson at The Stand, Glasgow Louise Young at The Stand, Newcastle Hayley Ellis at the Frog and Bucket, Manchester and headliner Josh Pugh at the Glee Club, BirminghamAdditional Material by Eve DelaneyRecorded by Sean Kerwin and David Thomas Sound design by David Thomas Production Coordinator: Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer: Pete StraussProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio Production for Radio 4.An EcoAudio Certified Production.

This week, we have a very special guest, Jon Stewart! Jon joins Armando and Helen to discuss whether Trump is the political equivalent of Miles Davis, the quaintness of UK politics compared to the US, Jon does a flawless Margaret Thatcher impression and they answer the age old question... are escalators the most emasculating form of travel?To hear more episodes from this series, search Strong Message Here on BBC Sounds.Have you stumbled upon any perplexing political phrases you need Helen and Armando to decode? Email them to us at [email protected] Editing by Charlie Brandon-King Production Coordinator - Sarah Nicholls Executive Producer - Pete StraussProduced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios Audio production for Radio 4. An EcoAudio Certified Production.

Have you ever considered becoming a foster carer?Multi award-winning comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean hadn’t - until a chance radio advert changed everything.In this heartfelt and inspiring half-hour special, recorded in front of a live audience, Kiri shares the unexpected and deeply personal journey that led her to become a Local Authority foster carer on the Welsh island of Ynys Môn. With her signature wit and warmth, Kiri lifts the lid on the system and offers a moving, candid, and funny account of what it truly means to open your home - and your heart - to a child in need.First broadcast during Foster Care Fortnight in the UK, this programme shines a timely spotlight on the extraordinary power of ordinary people to make a difference.Written and performed by Kiri Pritchard-McLean Producer: Tashi Radha Executive Producer : Suzy Grant Sound Engineers: Jerry Peal & Jon Last Production Manager: Sarah SharpeA Listen production for Radio 4

The standout satirist of the social media age, Michael Spicer, returns with his sketch comedy show that targets the exponential lunacy of the politics and culture that is overwhelming us.Apprentice hopefuls are challenged to create the perfect, sustainable planet. Can the boys' team rise to the challenge, or will they be fired directly into a supernova? And our government troubleshooters - all called Tim - solve the immigration crisis once and for all.The new series of No Room comes after a critically acclaimed first series that built on MICHAEL Spicer's social media output, which took off when he created his Room Next Door government advisor character. His withering takedowns of politicians have amassed more than 100 million views and helped keep his audience sane in fractured times.Writer, Performer and Co-Editor: Michael SpicerComposer and Sound Designer: Augustin BousfieldProducer: Matt TillerA Tillervision production for BBC Radio 4

Multi-award winning comedian and author Mark Watson continues his probably doomed, but luckily funny quest to make sense of the human experience.This series is about time - the days of the week, the stages of our existence - and the way we use it to make sense of things. We make our way through the working week, tonight considering 'hump day' - Wednesday. Wednesday's child, famously, is full of woe. Both Mark and Esther are in this category. Is the woe a real issue or merely a fairy tale? What is the bleakest joke ever told by a four-year-old? And what would Thomas Hardy make of this series?Expect jokes, observations and interactions galore as Mark is aided, and sometimes obstructed, by the sardonic musical excellence of Flo & Joan. There's also a hand-picked comedy colleague each week - here, we welcome Esther Manito.Producer: Lianne CoopAn Impatient production for BBC Radio 4

Jon Holmes remixes the news into a current affairs comedy concept album. News meets popular culture in a multi-award-winning mash up. This week: Charlie XCX is bumpin' that with Donald Trump, Minecraft Movie vs Russia, and Starmer: Man of Steel.Producer: Jon Holmes An unusual production for BBC Radio 4

The Naked Week team are back to place satirical news-tariffs on current events with a mix of correspondents, guests and, occasionally, live animals.This week we mourn the death of globalisation, take a tour of Keir's new theme park, and play a game of BBC Balance Local Elections Naked Week Joke Twister.From The Skewer’s Jon Holmes and host Andrew Hunter Murray comes The Naked Week, a fresh way of dressing the week’s news in the altogether and parading it around for everyone to laugh at.With award-winning writers and a crack team of contemporary satirists - and recorded in front of a live audience - The Naked Week delivers a topical news-nude straight to your ears.Written by: Jon Holmes Katie Sayer Gareth Ceredig Sarah Dempster Jason Hazeley.Investigations Team: Cat Neilan Louis Mian Freya Shaw Matt BrownGuests: Freya Parker and Alicia Fitzgerald.Production Team: Laura Grimshaw, Tony Churnside, Jerry Peal, Katie Sayer, Phoebe Butler.Executive Producer: Philip Abrams Produced and Directed by Jon HolmesAn unusual production for BBC Radio 4

The first four episodes of Call Jonathan Pie series 2 are now available on BBC Sounds, subscribe to be alerted when new episodes in the series are released.Frustrated call-show host Jonathan Pie is back along with his trusted team – Pie’s finding the daily grind difficult and the team have all become as disillusioned with the world as he has. The new series kicks off with a discussion about the BBC licence fee, or at least it was supposed to. It soon becomes clear however that Pie must answer for past mistakes. Call Jonathan Pie is written and performed by Tom Walker. With additional material by Nick Revell and Daniel Abelson Jules ….. Lucy Pearman Sam ….. Aqib Khan Roger ….. Nick Revell. The callers; Adam Byron, Laura Shavin, Daniel Abelson, Sarah Gabriel and Ed KearProducers Alison Vernon-Smith and Julian Mayers A Yada-Yada Audio Production for BBC Radio 4

Dan Tiernan doesn't just perform stand up - he attacks it. In Going Under, he debuts his unique brand of furious, unpredictable and wildly entertaining comedy on the radio, covering living with dyspraxia, becoming a dinner lady, and his sister's cancer diagnosis.An exhilarating mix of raw personal chaos, cutting observations, and gloriously queasy gags, recorded live at Backyard Comedy Club.Written and Performed by Dan Tiernan Produced by Ewan McAdamProduction Manager - Laura Shaw Executive Producer - Charlie Dinkin A Daddy's SuperYacht Production for BBC Radio 4.