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Dermot O'Leary sits in, with Frank Skinner and Jay's Virtual Radio Quiz

Dermot O'Leary sits in for Zoe and chats to comedian, writer and presenter Frank Skinner about his brand new book. Plus there's another round of Jay's Virtual Radio Quiz.

Dermot O'Leary sits in for Zoe and chats to comedian, writer and broadcaster Frank Skinner. His new book, A Comedian’s Prayer Book, is a collection of conversational prayers, where he has tried to retain the bare candour of the rehearsal-room improvisation, to show what faith feels like, from the inside. In it are his convictions, his questions, his fears, his doubts, his elation's, all presented in an eavesdropper-friendly form. Hell, Judgement, atheism, money, faith and the X-Men all feature in the book. Frank's first television appearance was in 1988 and was met with raucous laughter from the audience - and 131 complaints, including one from cabinet minister Edwina Currie. He met fellow comedian David Baddiel in 1990, and the two went on to share a flat throughout the early 1990s and to create the hit TV series Fantasy Football League. He is a winner of the prestigious Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Festival, and his humour has helped shape the British comedy scene for decades.

Jay Flynn returns with another round of his Virtual Radio Quiz where he tests the team on their general knowledge to see who comes out on top.

Along with Adam Porter on news, Richie Anderson on travel and Mike Williams on sport, Dermot and the team have the best start to your morning. With celeb guests, quizzes, headlines, tunes chosen by listeners, and more music that you can shake a glitterball at!

There's also a daily Pause For Thought and listeners on the line, as Dermot entertains the nation with fun for the family!

2 hours, 59 minutes

Last on

Thu 1 Apr 2021 06:30
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 2

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Dermot O'Leary sits in, with Emily Eavis, Denise Van Outen and Tamzin Outhwaite

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Matt Lucas sits in, with Alan Carr and Dan Walker

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Music Played

  • Bruno Mars

    Locked Out Of Heaven

    • (CD Single).
    • Atlantic.
    • 1.

  • James Newman

    Embers

    • (CD Single).
    • BMG Rights Management (UK).

  • The Cardigans

    My Favourite Game

    • Q The Album (Various Artists).
    • Virgin.

  • James Blunt

    1973

    • (CD Single).
    • Atlantic.

  • George Ezra

    Paradise

    • (CD Single).
    • Columbia.

  • Wham!

    The Edge Of Heaven

    • Wham - The Best Of Wham!.
    • Epic.

  • Steps & Michelle Visage

    Heartbreak In This City

    • What The Future Holds.
    • BMG Rights Management.

  • Amy Winehouse

    Back To Black

    • Back To Black.
    • Universal Records.

  • The Four Seasons

    December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)

    • The Very Best Of.
    • Polygram Tv.
    • 11.

  • Supergrass

    Grace

    • (CD Single).
    • Parlophone.

  • The Mock Turtles

    Can You Dig It? (Remix)

    • (CD Single).
    • Virgin.

  • Bruce Springsteen

    I'll See You In My Dreams

    • Letter To You.
    • Columbia.

  • Coldplay

    Paradise

    • (CD Single).
    • Parlophone.
    • 1.

  • Tom Jones

    One More Cup Of Coffee

    • Surrounded By Time.
    • EMI.

  • The Beatles

    In My Life

  • Cher

    If I Could Turn Back Time

    • Cher - The Greatest Hits.
    • WEA/Universal.

  • Kid Creole and the Coconuts

    Annie I'm Not Your Daddy

    • Fantastic 80's Disc 2 (Various Artis.
    • Columbia.

  • Rag’n’Bone Man

    All You Ever Wanted

    • Life By Misadventure.
    • Best Laid Plans.

  • Lily Allen

    The Fear

    • (CD Single).
    • Regal.
    • 1.

  • Tina Turner

    Better Be Good To Me

  • The Killers

    Somebody Told Me

    • (CD Single).
    • Island.

  • Miley Cyrus

    Angels Like You

    • Plastic Hearts.
    • RCA.

  • Angie Stone

    Wish I Didn't Miss You

    • (CD Single).
    • J Records.

  • Paul McCartney & Wings

    Band On The Run

    • (Single).
    • Apple.
    • 3.

  • R.E.M.

    The Great Beyond

    • (CD Single).
    • Warner Bros.

  • The Rasmus

    In The Shadows

    • Taller In More Ways.
    • Universal.

  • Billie Ray Martin

    Your Loving Arms

    • (CD Single).
    • Magnet.

  • Emma Bunton

    What Took You So Long?

    • (CD Single).
    • Virgin.

  • Paul Carrack

    You're Not Alone

    • (CD Single).
    • Carrack-UK.

  • Sara Bareilles

    Gravity

    • CD Single.
    • Epic.

Pause For Thought

Pause For Thought

We all have our favourite April Fools’.ÌýÌýThe first recorded April 1stÌýprank, which played in London at the end of the 17thÌýcentury.ÌýÌýIt involved sending people to the Tower of London to see the ‘washing of the lions.’ÌýÌýNow at the time, the Tower’s menagerie did house wild animals including lions, so it was just about possible, but there was no lion washing ceremony.ÌýÌýApparently, this prank was so successful that it was repeated for many years, mostly fooling out-of-towners.

Ìý

Many cultures have a strong and developed sense of humour and some even have a day for jokes, like 1stÌýApril.ÌýÌýIn the Jewish calendar, Purim, which falls in February or March, is the day for pranks and parodies, when people poke fun at even the most sacred aspects of religious life.

Ìý

Jewish humour around the sacred is at least 1500 years old – the 4th-century sage Rabba wouldÌýintroduce his lectures with a joke, even if he was teaching profoundly serious matters.

Ìý

In my family and line of work, the ability to laugh, particularly at myself, is essential.ÌýÌýMy father used to refer disapprovingly to people who took themselves too seriously; he said they’d had their sense of humour removed at birth.ÌýÌýAnd I suspect that a rabbi without a sense of humour won’t last long in the job.

Ìý

I suspect that behind all real humour lies a certain defiance.ÌýÌýWhen we are not poking fun at ourselves and our religion, Jews often use humour to mock anti-Semites, challenging the absurdity of the oldest hatred.ÌýÌýÌýOther cultures and communities, particularly those who have experienced persecution – use humour and parody in the same way.

Ìý

In her book, ‘No Joke: Making Jewish Humor’, Professor Ruth Wisse, offers a profound insight: ‘Both mystic and comedian aspire to get the better of a world they are powerless to reform.’ÌýÌýI’ve been wondering if the mystic and the comedian come together to make the best religious leaders; they certainly make the best jokes.

Ìý

Humour is a powerful tool, something I believe that all of us can use to diffuse a difficult moment, an embarrassing error or an upsetting confrontation.ÌýÌýIt has the power to manage the unmanageable, reform the unreformable, and when it comes to hate, mock the inexplicable.




Broadcast

  • Thu 1 Apr 2021 06:30
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 2