The Infinite Monkey Cage: Series 26-29

Four fantastic series of the multi-award-winning science/comedy show 
 
Brian Cox and Robin Ince return to take a witty, irreverent and unashamedly rational look at the mysteries of the universe in these four series. Joining them for some hot science and flagrant comic nerdery are a panel of eggheads and entertainers, all eager to take a deep dive into topics ranging from cosmic dust to coincidence. 
 
Starting with two shows recorded in Sydney, Australia, exploring southern skies and scary spiders, they go on to invent Infinite Monkey Cluedo and plot the perfect crime; scrutinise the secret life of sharks; peer review Hollywood movies set in space and unwrap the science of Egyptian mummies. Also featured are two battles of the species, as the team ask which is better: bees or wasps, and claw through the evidence to find out if cats are superior to dogs. 
 
In addition, they discover the magical world of mushrooms; discuss the pros and cons of AI; attempt to explain quantum physics and visit CERN&rsquo;s Large Hadron Collider in Geneva in search of the Higgs Boson. And in an out-of-this-world mash-up show, they meet Dara O&rsquo;Briain and Sky at Night presenters Dr Maggie Aderin Pocock, Chris Lintott and Pete Lawrence for some backyard astronomy, as they give us their ultimate guide to studying the stars from the comfort of your own garden. 
 
Other special guests in this collection include Ross Noble, Prof Hannah Fry, Susan Calman, Prof Sue Black, Sally Gunnell, Ed Byrne, Dr Chris van Tulleken, Harry Hill, Steve Backshall, Alan Davies, Marcus du Sautoy, Dave Gorman, Tim Peake, Jo Brand, Russell Kane, Richard Wiseman, Deborah Meaden, David Baddiel and Ben Miller. 
 
Production credits 
Presented by Brian Cox and Robin Ince 
Producers: Caroline Steel, Adrian Washbourne and Melanie Brown 
Executive Producer: Alexandra Feachem 
 
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 18 February-25 March 2023 (Series 26), 24 June-5 August 2023 (Series 27), 11 November-23 December 2023 (Series 28), 17 February-23 March 2024 (Series 29) 
 
&copy; 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A BBC Radio Comedy Series

Mitch Benn’s Crimes Against Music: The Complete Series 1-3

Music, mayhem and madness from Mitch Benn and Robin InceThere can be only one parody musical master, and Mitch Benn thinks it’s him. Although Richard Stilgoe may have something to say about that…Laugh out loud as Mitch sets out on a musical journey through the showbiz glitz and backstage litter of pop music. Teaming up with Mitch is comedian Robin Ince, and between them they delve into the world of super fans, the glamorous trappings and excesses of pop-star life and its highs and lows. Along with special guest presenters, they wonder if you really can manufacture greatness, why pop stars need fans, and the art of self-promotion. Can death revive a rock star's career? How many people does it take to make something a music 'scene'? And is heavy metal getting soft?Mitch’s music-master credentials are tested in every episode as he performs a newly written song, hoping to prove he is indeed the world’s greatest musical satirist. Robin Ince’s trademark cynicism and occasional appearances as Satan make this a fast-paced, hilarious show full of musical mastery, mayhem and laughs. When, in search of global superstardom, the duo try and take their show on a world tour, things only get funnier.Mitch Benn has been a regular voice on BBC Radio 4’s The Now Show and has toured extensively as a comedian in the UK and internationally. Co-writer Robin Ince is a comedian and radio presenter, perhaps best known for his comedy science radio show The Infinite Monkey Cage, which he presents with Professor Brian Cox.If you’re a fan of Alex Horne Presents The Horne Section or Mark Watson Makes The World Substantially Better, you’ll love this anarchic mix of music and comedy. Listen for the first time to all three series – you won’t be able to resist tapping your foot to the beat…Written by Mitch Ben and Robin InceProduced by Adam BromleyFeaturing:Mitch BennRobert InceAlfie JoeyTash BaylisKirsty NewtonJane PerryCraig CampbellTom PriceLloyd LangfordSteven KynmanBrendon BurnsWith special guest:Richard StilgoeFirst Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 February 2004 – 4 July 2006©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Music, mayhem and madness from Mitch Benn and Robin Ince 
 
There can be only one parody musical master, and Mitch Benn thinks it’s him. Although Richard Stilgoe may have something to say about that… 
 
Laugh out loud as Mitch sets out on a musical journey through the showbiz glitz and backstage litter of pop music. Teaming up with Mitch is comedian Robin Ince, and between them they delve into the world of super fans, the glamorous trappings and excesses of pop-star life and its highs and lows. Along with special guest presenters, they wonder if you really can manufacture greatness, why pop stars need fans, and the art of self-promotion. Can death revive a rock star's career? How many people does it take to make something a music 'scene'? And is heavy metal getting soft? 
 
Mitch’s music-master credentials are tested in every episode as he performs a newly written song, hoping to prove he is indeed the world’s greatest musical satirist. Robin Ince’s trademark cynicism and occasional appearances as Satan make this a fast-paced, hilarious show full of musical mastery, mayhem and laughs. When, in search of global superstardom, the duo try and take their show on a world tour, things only get funnier. 
 
Mitch Benn has been a regular voice on BBC Radio 4’s The Now Show and has toured extensively as a comedian in the UK and internationally. Co-writer Robin Ince is a comedian and radio presenter, perhaps best known for his comedy science radio show The Infinite Monkey Cage, which he presents with Professor Brian Cox. 
 
If you’re a fan of Alex Horne Presents The Horne Section or Mark Watson Makes The World Substantially Better, you’ll love this anarchic mix of music and comedy. Listen for the first time to all three series – you won’t be able to resist tapping your foot to the beat… 
 
Written by Mitch Ben and Robin Ince 
Produced by Adam Bromley 
 
Featuring: 
Mitch Benn 
Robert Ince 
Alfie Joey 
Tash Baylis 
Kirsty Newton 
Jane Perry 
Craig Campbell 
Tom Price 
Lloyd Langford 
Steven Kynman 
Brendon Burns 
 
With special guest: 
Richard Stilgoe 
 
First Broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 February 2004 – 4 July 2006 
 
©2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

The complete BBC Radio 4 comedy quiz series

The Personality Test

The comedy panel game where all the questions are about the guest host 
 
Welcome to The Personality Test, the panel show in which a brand new host takes the chair for every episode to present a quiz entirely themed around themselves. Each gets to run the show by their own rules, devising topics and queries based on their life, whims, fancies and past glories. Among the showbiz celebrities in the hot seat are Gyles Brandreth, Jennie Bond, Antony Worrall Thompson, Esther Rantzen, Janet Street-Porter and Edwina Currie, while the rounds include Love It Or Hate It, True or False, That Special Day and Life's a Pitch. 
 
Is John Sergeant a fan of Julia Roberts? Would Greg Dyke give Radio 4 just a minute, or leave it on a desert island? And does Claire Rayner have a penchant for jelly babies? Having spent a week swotting up on their host, the contestants must tackle these questions and more, as they do their best to amuse, entertain, charm, flatter - and occasionally, flirt outrageously - in a bid to chalk up the points and win the game. Battling it out are regular panellists and comedy heavyweights Alan Carr, Sue Perkins, Robert Ince, Lucy Porter, Will Smith and Carrie Quinlan. 
 
Intriguing and challenging, riotous and revealing, this unique panel show shines a fascinating spotlight on the interests and enthusiasms of your favourite personalities - and keeps you laughing along the way. 
 
Production credits 
Written by Richard Turner, Simon Littlefield and Kieron Quirke 
Devised and produced by Aled Evans 
 
Series 1 presented by: John Sergeant, Greg Dyke, Gyles Brandreth and Jennie Bond 
With Sue Perkins, Alan Carr, Lucy Porter, Will Smith, Robin Ince and Natalie Haynes 
 
Series 2 presented by: Roy Hattersley, Rick Wakeman, Adam Hart-Davis, Antony Worrall Thompson, Claire Rayner and Esther Rantzen 
With Sue Perkins, Lucy Porter, Robin Ince, Mark Dolan and Will Smith 
 
Series 3 presented by: Janet Street-Porter, Lorraine Kelly, Andrew Neill, Edwina Currie, Toyah Willcox and Eve Pollard 
With Sue Perkins, Will Smith, Nick Doody, Lucy Porter, Robin Ince, Carrie Quinlan and Dan Tetsell 
 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 12 July-2 August 2006 (Series 1), 7 December 2006-11 January 2007 (Series 2), 5 July-9 August 2007 (Series 3) 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

The Infinite Monkey Cage: Series 22-25

Four more series of the multi-award-winning science/comedy show 
 
Celebrating the wonders of the universe since 2009, The Infinite Monkey Cage combines wit and wisdom to explore scientific concepts in an entertaining, accessible way. In these four series, physicist Brian Cox and comedian Robin Ince are back to 'put a smile on the face of science' (The Independent). They're joined by a wealth of boffins, brainiacs and celebrity science enthusiasts, all keen to share their hard facts, soft theories and bold comic deviations. 
 
Beginning with the end of the universe, they tackle topics including black holes, the human brain, Neanderthals and the science of cooking - and attempt to answer profound philosophical questions such as 'What is life, and how did it start?', 'Is time an illusion?' and ''What is reality?' There's also an astronaut's guide to isolation, featuring Helen Sharman, Chris Hadfield, Nicole Stott and Apollo 9's Rusty Schweickart; a look back at 60 years of chimpanzee research with Jane Goodall; and a history of rock (not in the Rolling Stones sense, but actual rolling stones). 
 
Plus, the duo play Animal Top Trumps to find out whether we should prefer beautiful bats to much-maligned flies; travel deep below the ocean waves to see what lies beneath; discover how trees communicate using the Wood Wide Web; and learn why two brains are definitely better than one... 
 
Among their special guests are Eric Idle, Steve Martin, Matt Lucas, Tim Minchin, Bill Bailey, Mark Gatiss, Steve Jones, Ross Noble, Sara Pascoe, Prof Alice Roberts, Carlo Rovelli, Harold McGee, Dr Janna Levin, Dave Gorman, Brendan Hunt and Katy Brand. 
 
Production credits 
Presented by Brian Cox and Robin Ince 
Producer: Alexandra Feachem 
 
© 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2022 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

A BBC radio collection exploring the history, philosophy and science of self-help

The Examined Mind

This collection brings together history, science, philosophy and comedy to explore our age-old search for meaning. We live in an age of self-improvement and self-examination - lifehacking, wellbeing, self-care, mindfulness retreats - but this seemingly very modern phenomenon is a pursuit that dates back for millennia. 
 
Join comedian Robin Ince to explore how the ancient Greeks aimed to get happier, healthier and richer. 
Will Self asks some of Britain's key scientists, philosophers and faith leaders to share their conclusions on the meaning of our existence. 
Historian Kate Williams investigates the Grandfather of Self-Help, Samuel Smiles' 1859 book Self Help, and its lasting influence. 
In 'Hell is Other People', performer Byron Vincent attempts to overcome his paralysing fear of social situations. 
Emma Barnett traces the multi-billion dollar mindfulness industry to its Buddhist roots to discover whether it's just another health fad. 
Comedian Felicity Ward tries to solve her mental health issues, one app at a time. 
Sian Williams presents a practical guide to boosting brain power through exercise, relaxation, stimulation, sleep and diet. 
 
From the ancient Greeks to the present day and even into the future, The Examined Mind provides an unique insight into our constant quest to be better people.

Bertrand Russell The First Media Academic? (Archive On 4)

Bertrand Russell was one of the greatest thinkers of the last century. His contributions to the fields of mathematics and philosophy are widely acknowledged as some of the most important of their kind. But he also brought his brand of rationalism and intellect to an audience far beyond the academic and political circles he routinely mixed with. His relationship with the BBC goes back almost to the beginning of its own history, and his many broadcasts brought his ideas to a whole new audience. He delivered the first Reith Lectures back in 1948, and was a regular panellist on the hugely popular "The Brains Trust". His thoughts on themes ranging from education, through to nuclear armament and religion, were regularly broadcast on the BBC right up to the end of his life. Robin Ince listens to some of Russell's great contributions to broadcasting and looks at the life of arguably the first great media academic. Producer: Alexandra Feachem.

Robin Ince

Brian Cox

A BBC Radio 4 Science Series

Robin Ince explores how authors, artists and astronomers have told the story of the cosmosFrom Shakespeare and Milton to Alan Moore and Douglas Adams, writers have striven to convey the enormity and wonder of our universe. In this enlightening three-part series, Robin Ince, aided by special guests including his fellow Infinite Monkey Cage presenter Brian Cox, appraises the great communicators past and present, who have captured our imagination and advanced our knowledge.Beginning with the birth of the universe, he reveals that Fred Hoyle’s famous phrase ‘the big bang’ was actually a derogatory expression, coined to satirise a theory he didn’t believe in. Now, it is part of our everyday language – but how helpful is it in explaining how the cosmos came about? Physicist Carlo Rovelli uses metaphor to clarify this mind-bending concept, while for cosmologist Carlos Frenk, the time before time existed is best illustrated by Dalí’s melting clocks.Investigating the mysteries of black holes, Robin looks at how they have inspired science fiction authors and filmmakers. First conceived of by Einstein in 1915, these vast tears in the fabric of spacetime exist at the centre of every galaxy: and thanks to Nobel Prize-winning author Kip Thorne (who consulted on the movie Interstellar), we have an idea of what they might actually look like.But what of the ultimate destiny of the universe? Will it end in a ‘big crunch’, a ‘big rip’, heat death or vacuum decay? And as they speculate around the fate of the cosmos, how careful do scientists and writers have to be to avoid arousing anxiety and bringing on ‘cosmological vertigo’? Contemplating the final chapter of the universe’s story, Robin wonders whether their predictions will be accurate – or whether there will be a twist in the tale...Production creditsPresented by Robin InceProduced by Marijke Peters and Adrian WashbourneExecutive Producer: Alexandra FeachemSoundscape Designer: Jane WatkinsWith contributions from: Brian Cox, Sean Carroll, Katie Mack, Carlos Frenk, Carlo Rovelli, Janna Levin, Paul Murdin, Kip Thorne, Paul Franklyn, Fay Dowker, Paul Sutter, Louisa Buck, John Lloyd, Adam Riess and Mike TurnerFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 10-24 June 2024© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

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