Radio Weekly #2

Ian Wolf reviews Radio 4's "Dave Against the Machine" and Radio 2's "Reception".

This week Ian Wolf tunes into a conspiracy theorist and Radio 2’s reception area.

Dave Against the Machine

This new Radio 4 sitcom is written by and stars Dave Lamb, who is most famous for doing the voice overs for Come Dine With Me, as agoraphobic conspiracy theorist Dave Railings – presumably Lamb did not want to bother having to act someone with a different name.

In this first episode, Dave’s younger brother Jim (Jim North – again another person who seems unwilling to playing someone with a different name) makes friends with an Asian Geordie newsagent Hannan (Jess Robinson) and decorates a birthday cake for her son Alan (named after Shearer). However, Dave becomes convinced that the cake is actually a bomb planted by the Americans to kill masses of people to lessen the damage caused be peak oil.

Much of the humour is of the cringing sort. For example, when Jim learns that Hannan’s husband is, “no longer with us”, Jim exclaims with joy. Dave later asks young Alan is his father, “died with a… kaboooooom?”

The ideas that spring from this show are rather off the wall but nonetheless interesting ones. For example, in next week’s episode Dave’s post arrives on time, leading him to think his normal postman has been kidnapped by an alien.

However, nothing seems to be hugely laugh-out-loud, as was evidenced by the lack of belly laughs from the studio audience at the recording. Interesting, isn’t it, that a sitcom broadcast at 11pm feels the need for a laughter track, whereas the CBBC sketch show Sorry, I’ve Got No Head which goes out at 5pm doesn’t see the need for one (see last week’s TV review)?

Reception

This Radio 2 pilot also has a live studio audience, but unlike the one watching Dave Against the Machine, this one appeared to be enjoying the show.

This “Comedy Showcase” pilot is an impressionist show covering the behind-the-scenes goings on at Radio 2. It would be lazy and predictable to describe the show as a Radio 2 version of Dead Ringers, but unfortunately that’s just what I’ve done.

It was an entertaining listen, with the first sketch, featuring an incredibly banal and annoying Lily Allen singing to herself about stealing teabags and going to the lavatory, being a great opener. There was also the news being read out by Cheryl Cole; Alan Dedicoat acting as the voice of the Radio 2 lifts; and Shakin’ Stevens and Bonnie Tyler’s diabolical plan to re-launch their careers.

Admittedly some of the impressions were a bit off, such as the ghost of Winston Churchill appearing on Jeremy Vine’s show, but it was still a good sketch with Churchill deciding to launch a pop career. There was also a sketch featuring Louis Spence, which given the fact that he is a dancer might work better on TV.

Personally, my favourite  featured an egotistical Sting taking part in Ken Bruce’s “Pop Master”. Not only did the impression sound right, but it was funny. Mind you, it was always going to find it funny as I don’t like Sting. That’s what you get when your parents are the biggest Police fans in Teesside.

Usually “Comedy Showcase” pilots do not get full series. In fact, none of them have – which is a shame because I think that Reception could work as a full series – but I for one hope it does.