With Great Pleasure at Christmas 2013
John Lloyd is joined by Hugh Laurie, Miriam Margolyes and Julian Rhind-Tutt to perform his favourite pieces of writing, comedy and songs with an audience at the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Theatre.
John Lloyd is joined by Hugh Laurie, Miriam Margolyes, Julian Rhind-Tutt and Howard Goodall to perform his favourite pieces of writing, comedy and music. A special Christmas edition of With Great Pleasure recorded in front of an audience at the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio Theatre.
John Lloyd is a comedy guru, the brains behind QI and the producer of Blackadder - and Hugh Laurie revisits his sublime portrayal of the Prince Regent from Blackadder the Third in a couple of previously unperformed pieces written by John. His other choices include a performance by all the cast of a scene from Hay Fever by Noel Coward, in which John made his stage debut while at school.
Taking us through John's life in comedy are sound archive extracts from Julian and Sandy from Round The Horne and Peter Cook from Beyond the Fringe.
Books that have been important in John's life include The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff, How The Mind Works by Steven Pinker and poetry collections ranging from Auden to ee cummings. Words of wisdom from Douglas Adams and Viz Top Tips are also quoted.
Howard Goodall plays the song he composed for John's wedding, which is sung by John's daughter.
Producer Beth O'Dea.
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John Lloyd on Douglas Adams' words of wisdom
Duration: 01:00
With Great Pleasure recording, l-r John Lloyd, Miriam Margolyes, Howard Goodall, Caitlin Lloyd, Hugh Laurie, Julian Rhind-Tutt
Pieces chosen in the programme
Snow by Louis MacNeice, from Collected Poems, publ. Faber & Faber
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The Menu in Mrs Miggins’s Coffee House from Blackadder: The Whole Damn Dynasty, publ. Penguin
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Aftermyth Of War from The Complete Beyond The Fringe (CD set)
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Journey of the Magi by T.S. Eliot, from Collected Poems, publ. Faber & Faber
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Pied Beauty by Gerard Manley Hopkins, from Poems publ. Oxford University Press
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Viz: Top of the Tips, publ. Dennis Publishing
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The Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff (excerpt), publ. Oxford University Press
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Julian and Sandy: Bona Law from The Bona World of Julian and Sandy (CD)
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Hay Fever by Noel Coward (excerpt), from Three Plays, publ. Vintage
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The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams (excerpt), publ. Pan Books
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Afterliff by John Lloyd and Jon Canter (excerpts), publ. Faber & Faber
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Duties of the Prince Regent.. from Blackadder: The Whole Damn Dynasty, publ. Penguin
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Song: The Good Morrow by John Donne (words) / Howard Goodall (music)
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somewhere I have never travelled, gladly beyond by e. e. cummings, from Complete Poems, publ. Liveright
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Excerpt from Sext by W. H. Auden, Part 3 of Horae Canonicae, Collected Shorter Poems, publ. Faber & Faber
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How the Mind Works by Steven Pinker (excerpt), publ. Penguin
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The Stalled Ox (excerpt), from Saki, The Complete Short Stories, publ. Penguin
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Song: Days of Hope by Howard Goodall
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Presenter | John Lloyd |
| Performer | Hugh Laurie |
| Performer | Miriam Margolyes |
| Performer | Julian Rhind-Tutt |
| Performer | Howard Goodall |
| Producer | Beth O'Dea |
Broadcasts
- Christmas Day 2013 12:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 FM
- Christmas Day 2013 12:04Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4 LW
- Fri 27 Dec 2013 20:00Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
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