# Sketchorama

Sketchorama was a radio show created by The Comedy Unit for BBC Radio 4. It featured a rotating cast of comedic sketch groups who performed in front of a live audience. The groups were introduced by a host comedian on each series: Humphrey Ker, Thom Tuck or Isy Suttie. The shows final series was in August 2015.

## Episodes
### Series 1

| Episode | Title | Hosted By | Featuring | Original release date |
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Humphrey Ker | Delete the Banjax, Lady Garden, Idiots of Ants | 26 June 2012 (2012-06-26) |
| 2 | "Episode 2" | Humphrey Ker | Noise Next Door, the Boom Jennies, Jigsaw | 3 July 2012 (2012-07-03) |
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Humphrey Ker | Three Englishmen, Max and Ivan, Frisky & Mannish | 10 July 2012 (2012-07-10) |
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Humphrey Ker | How Do I Get Up There?, The Ginge, The Geordie and The Geek, Pappy's | 17 July 2012 (2012-07-17) |

### Series 2

| Episode | Title | Hosted By | Featuring | Original release date |
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Thom Tuck | the Beta Males, Shirley & Shirley, Jonny and the Baptists | 29 April 2013 (2013-04-29) |
| 2 | "Episode 2" | Thom Tuck | So On and So Forth, That Pair, Sheeps | 6 May 2013 (2013-05-06) |
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Thom Tuck | McNeill & Pamphilon, Barbershopera and Wittank | 13 May 2013 (2013-05-13) |
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Thom Tuck | Absolutely, Endemic | 20 May 2013 (2013-05-20) |

### Series 3

| Episode | Title | Hosted By | Featuring | Original release date |
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Thom Tuck | Croft and Pearce, Beasts and Casual Violence | 23 June 2014 (2014-06-23) |
| 2 | "Episode 2" | Thom Tuck | Mixed Doubles, the Real MacGuffins, Bob and Jim | 30 June 2014 (2014-06-30) |
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Thom Tuck | Four Screws Loose, The Jest, Birthday Girls | 7 July 2014 (2014-07-07) |
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Thom Tuck | The Color Ham, Lead Pencil, Foil | 14 August 2014 (2014-08-14) |

### Series 4

| Episode | Title | Hosted By | Featuring | Original release date |
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Isy Suttie | The Twins Macabre, Massive Dad, The Penny Dreadfuls | 6 July 2015 (2015-07-06) |
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Isy Suttie | Clever Peter, Hennessey and Friends, In Cahoots | 13 July 2015 (2015-07-13) |
| 3 | "Episode 3" | Isy Suttie | Frisky & Mannish, Thünderbards, Lazy Susan | 30 July 2015 (2015-07-30) |
| 4 | "Episode 4" | Isy Suttie | Aunty Donna, Gein's Family Gift Shop, Beasts | 26 August 2015 (2015-08-26) |

### Specials

| Episode | Title | Hosted By | Featuring | Original release date |
| 1 | "Episode 1" | Thom Tuck | Croft & Pearce, Mixed Doubles, Bob & Jim | 27 December 2014 (2014-12-27) |

## Production

Producer Gus Beattie began the show after noticing there weren’t many shows showcasing sketch talent. Beattie chose which sketch groups performed on the show and found many of the groups at the Edinburgh Festival and online. The chosen groups gather at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art to perform before a live audience.

## Reception

The British Comedy Guide described it as "a format for Radio 4 which offers the same popular showcase dynamic as stand-up shows, but purely for comedy sketch groups. Sketchorama aimed to bring hidden gems and established live acts to the airwaves offering a truly distinctive and ambitious show."