A comedy sketch show recreating the bygone eras of radio, featuring the hilarious work of Marcus Brigstocke, Danny Robbins, Dan Tetsell and others

If you thought radio started with Marconi, you were wrong, and here’s the proof – twelve extraordinary archive recordings from the past two millennia of the wireless. Join DJs Steve in the Afternoon and Suzanne Canker for some historical humour and hot takes on the Roman invasion, the First World War, the Crusades, the original Olympic Games – and much, much more.

Tune in to Radio Victoriana for steam-powered shenanigans from the Great Exhibition (and all the latest inventions), climb aboard HMS Beagle for a scientifical journey with Charles Darwin, find out who really wrote Shakespeare’s plays and prepare for a right royal knockabout as Suzanne’s cohorts do battle with Henry VIII’s radio Reformation. Plus, get your regular end-of-the-world updates from Dark Age FM, enjoy Championship Matchmaking live from Georgian Bath, and listen in as Charles I (or is it Steve?) faces the scaffold in a Civil War Execution Special...

Written and performed by Marcus Brigstocke, Danny Robbins and Dan Tetsell (The Museum of Everything), and a team of comedic talents including Claire Downes and Stuart Lane (The Completely Made-Up Adventures of Dick Turpin), this funny, fast-paced sketch show is like Horrible Histories, but for grown-ups.

Cast and credits

Written and performed by Marcus Brigstocke, Claire Downes, Sean Grundy, Stuart Lane, Al Holloway, Danny Robbins, Dan Tetsell, Tasha Butterworth, Hazel Grian, Ben Kozo and Patrick McNamara

Produced by Paul Dodgson & Sean Grundy

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on the following dates:

Series 1

1: Roman Britain Radio 18 October 2000

2. Dark Age FM 25 October 2000

3. Crusade Roadshow 1 November 2000

4. Headless – Civil War Radio 8 November 2000

5. Mad – Georgian Radio 15 November 2000

6. Steaming – Radio Victoriana 22 November 2000

Series 2

1. Radio Mustard 18 September 2002

2. Beagle FM 25 September 2002

3. Tempest FM 2 October 2002

4. Greensleeves FM 9 October 2002

5. Sherwood FM 16 October 2002

6. Olympic FM 23 October 2002

© 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P) 2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd