An Evening of (Very) Old Radio
Written and performed by Paul Kerensa
-Are you sitting comfortably? Then we’ll begin. This is London calling…
This stand-up history show informs, educates, but above all entertains about broadcasting’s first moments, brought to you by a British Comedy Award-winning writer, comedian and radio historian.
Top comic, top writer
Enjoy tales and re-enactments of the earliest landmark broadcasts: the first music, comedy, drama, sports report, ‘wireless manhunt' and much more. Based on the five-star podcast The British Broadcasting Century, this show celebrates forgotten pioneers - from the first DJ Gertrude Donisthorpe, spinning discs in a Worcester field during World War One, to the first BBC children’s character: Susan the blue cat with yellow spots.
As effortless a writer as he is a performer.
By looking back, we’ll also look forward, answering questions like: why the half-hour programme length? How did the first allegation of BBC bias pre-date the BBC? How was the BBC effectively pirate for the first two months? And did Mr Blobby actually appear in the 1920s?*
Paul Kerensa is co-writer of BBC TV programmes including Miranda, Not Going Out and Top Gear, and radio shows such as The Now Show, The News Quiz and Dead Ringers. As a comedian he won ITV’s Take the Mike and was a finalist in the BBC New Comedy Awards. He’s an author, and a regular voice on Radio 2 Breakfast Show’s Pause for Thought, as well as presenting shows on BBC Radio Surrey. As a broadcast historian, Paul has advised on BBC documentaries including the landmark BBC documentary How the BBC Began.
*No, he didn’t. That would be ridiculous. Blobby Blobby Blobby.
A brilliant writer, fantastic communicator, deep thinker, philosopher and extremely decent bloke.
