
John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme: Series 9
The BBC Radio 4 Comedy Sketch Show
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By:
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John Finnemore
About this listen
The complete ninth series of BBC Radio 4's award-winning sketch show.
John Finnemore returns with his multi-award-winning sketch show, but this series is very different to the previous eight. There are still sketches and songs, and it's still written and performed by him and his usual fantastic ensemble cast - but with no live studio audience, John has taken the opportunity to try something new.
Each episode in this series of Souvenir Programme consists of scenes from one person's life, played in reverse order. There's no narrative as such - it's still a sketch show - but as we follow the characters back in time, from lockdown Zoom calls to childhood birthdays and funerals, the individual sketches link up to form an overall picture, portraying the sprawling history of an entire multi-generational family.
And, as if that wasn't enough, there are also some terrific tall tales, a paean of praise and a truly unforgettable earworm....
Clever, complex, hilarious and poignant, these Souvenir Programmes with a twist star Lawry Lewin as Russ, Margaret Cabourn-Smith as Deborah, Simon Kane as Jerry, Carrie Quinlan as Vanessa and John Finnemore as Newt.
Cast and credits
Written and performed by John Finnemore
Ensemble cast: Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Simon Kane, Lawry Lewin, Carrie Quinlan
Original music composed by Susannah Pearse and Sally Stares, and arranged by Susannah Pearse and Tim Sutton
Recorded and edited by Rich Evans at Syncbox Post
Production coordinator: Beverly Tagg
Producer: Ed Morrish
A BBC Studios production
©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution LtdListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"One of our best sketch writers." (Observer)
Not really "The souvenir Programme"
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I know for some it disappoints because it isn't all comedy, but I think it is the richer for what he has done. I'm sorry if it is appointed some, but I'm not sorry to have listened to it.
Yes, it's short on comedy. No, it doesn't stint on invention
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I would NOT buy this season if you're a fan, I hope future ones are better!
I'm sorry, but COVID is no excuse for this.
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Not what I was expecting
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Loved it. An entire family history of a character.
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We see how others in that group intersect that person's life.
Later we go back in time with someone else in that group.
Then, at the end, we are back in the present, at the Zoom call, and suddenly we see everyone with their life story, and understand the ritual/joke and the ties that bind.
It's poignant.
I've listened to John Finnemore's Double Acts and Souvenir Programmes multiple times. Both have humanity and humor as the underlying foundation, although Double Acts is deeper and Souvenir Programmes is lighter.
This had the feel of the Double Acts vignettes, but the structure and some Easter Egg type references to Souvenir Programmes past skit elements. Those connections made me smile.
Since I already have a habit of multiple listens of good writing, this will be fun to unpack over more listens. Because there are too many details to absorb with just one listen.
It's prequels all the way down
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Out of the norm for this show, but needs must
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Side note; Why isn"t series six available in US market? I return to all of Finnemore's works oftener and oftener.
"Poignant " - from the Audible description - fits
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Huh…..?
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