Audiobook: Now Show: Series 59-61: The BBC Radio 4 topical comedy

Three sparkling series of the award-winning comedy show

The Now Show is back with a bang, bringing you a bumper helping of topical skits, sketches, stand-up and songs. In these 18 episodes, Steve Punt co-presents with Hugh Dennis and, on one occasion, Gareth Gwynn. Joining them to take a satirical sideswipe at the news are comedians including Felicity Ward, Glenn Moore, Michael Spicer, Ria Lina, Josh Pugh, Athena Kugblenu, Geoff Norcott, Stevie Martin and Sarah Keyworth.

Aurie Styla riffs about the smug benefits of owning an electric car; Daliso Chaponda muses on the future of the Metaverse; Priya Hall wonders why we're experiencing shortages of pretty much everything; and Jess Fostekew talks us through all the things she's doing to distract herself from the news.

Supplying the music are Jess Robinson, who gives us a sneak preview of Adele's 23rd album, '95'; Ignacio Lopez, with a Bowie-inspired song about billionaires in space; Beardyman, with a jazzy ode to staying calm; and Stiff & Kitsch, with a tuneful list of all the things we can worry about again now the pandemic is over (kind of).

Plus, we hear the funniest answers to Audience Questions including 'Have you ever been given a nickname you didn't want?', 'What strange things are on your bucket list?', 'What's the most humiliating thing that has ever happened to you?' and 'Have you ever hidden something? Who from, and why?'

NB: Contains humour and language that some listeners may find offensive

Cast and credits
Presented by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis (Series 59, Episode 3 presented by Steve Punt and Gareth Gwynn)
Written by Steve Punt and Hugh Dennis with the cast
Additional material by Simon Alcock, Becca Bain, Davina Bentley, Alex Bertulis-Fernandes, Steve Blair, Catherine Brinkworth, Suchandrika Chakrabarti, Natasha Dhanraj, Aidan Fitzmaurice, Alex Garrick-Wright, Jade Gebbie, Gareth Gwynn, Jack Harris, Rajiv Karia, Harry Kampf, Jenny Laville, Cameron Loxdale, Laura Major, Eleri Morgan, Robin Morgan, Hannah Platt, Rhiannon Shaw, Mike Shepherd, Katie Storey

Produced by Pete Strauss and Rajiv Karia
Production Co-ordinators: Sarah Sharpe
Music composed by Alex Silverman (Series 59, Episode 1 and Series 60, Episode 6)
A BBC Studios Production

Series 59 featuring: Gemma Arrowsmith, Karen Bartke, Beardyman, Daliso Chaponda, Huge Davies, Gareth Gwynn, Jason Forbes, Priya Hall, Janine Harouni, Kieran Hodgson, Natasha Hodgson, Luke Kempner, Sooz Kempner, Athena Kugblenu, Ria Lina, Ignacio Lopez, Jamie MacDonald, Glen Moore, Geoff Norcott, Katie Norris, Nimisha Odedra, Josh Pugh, Jess Robinson, Emma Sidi, Michael Spicer, Stiff & Kitsch, Aurie Styla, Tim Sutton, Felicity Ward

Series 60 featuring: Gemma Arrowsmith, Angela Barnes, Ken Cheng, Huge Davies, David Eagle, Jazz Emu, Jason Forbes, Jess Fostekew, Chiara Goldsmith, Archie Henderson, Kieran Hodgson, Matty Hutson, Sharlin Jahan, Rhys James, Luke Kempner, Sooz Kempner, Sarah Keyworth, Ola Labib, Stevie Martin, Geoff Norcott, Katie Norris, Freya Parker, Chloe Petts, Jess Robinson, Ian Smith, Laura Smyth, Stiff & Kitsch, Tim Sutton, Chris Thorburn, Inel Tomlinson

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4, 29 October-3 December 2021 (Series 59), 11 March-15 April 2022 (Series 60), 28 October-2 December 2022 (Series 61)

© 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.