Annie Nightingale's Age of Irreverence

Original version

BBC Radio 4 FM

BBC Radio 4 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced BBC Home Service.

BBC Radio 4

Radio 4

Radio 4 (FM)

Archive on 4

Documentaries

Factual

Brilliant stories told using archive from the BBC and beyond.

BBC Radio 4 LW

Archive on 4: Annie Nightingale's Age of Irreverence

BBC Radio 4 - Archive on 4, Annie Nightingale's Age of Irreverence

Annie Nightingale explores the links between new music and comedy during the 1960s.

Annie Nightingale explores the links between comedy and new music during the youth revolution of the late 50s and 60s.

A lifelong fan of both comedy and new music, Annie Nightingale looks at how, in the youth revolution of the late 50s and 60s onwards, British rock music and comedy were  closely intertwined. 

Starting with The Goon Show, she takes us on a personal tour of the pop culture scene that includes The Beatles, Beyond The Fringe and That Was The Week That Was, The  Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, Monty Python and The Rutles. We hear how a core group of British musicians and satirists influenced each other, sharing a similar view of the world and a fearless desire to disrupt and lampoon the political and social norms in which they'd been brought up. 

Contributors include David Quantick, composer John Altman, comedy historian Jem Roberts, and "Legs" Larry Smith of the Bonzos. 

Producer: Victoria Ferran
Executive Producer: Susan Marling

A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Archive on 4

Annie Nightingale's Age of Irreverence

Genres

Brand

BBC Radio 4 FM

About BBC Radio 4