That Mitchell and Webb sound.

I just came on today to delete the duplicate of yesterday's post which I somehow posted twice, so I might as well write something, even though I am incredibly busy. I thought I'd quickly direct you to the best comedy sketch show I've heard in ages - hence the title, but on checking radio 4 I've found it's already been replaced by Mitch Benn -oh, the humanity!

So, if you are interested it'll be a lot harder to hear this show than if i'd told you last week when it was still available to 'listen again' - but if you come across it it's worth a look. Mitchell and Webb are best known for acting in Peep Show, which I've never got into, but this is also written by them, amongst others. It's got some repeating characters but the great thing is the number of one off sketches which really work without the benefit of a catchphrase or familiar character.

There's a great one about two Nazi SS officers, when one suddenly notices something about their uniforms; 'they've got skulls on them. Actual skulls. Are you sure we're not the baddies?'

A great sketch, reminisent of the spiralling '4 yorkshirmen'- (Cardboard box? yeah. Luxury!-we lived in't hole in't middle't road.) starts with the observation that a mobile phone doesn't need a clock, and that a watch doesn't need to show the date and ends with...
'I had the same trouble buying a car. I told the salesman I required a mode of transport, not a living room on wheels. Let those who don't wish to feel air rushing into their face at 60 miles an hour buy windscreens, rather than foist them upon the rest of us.'

Another one, now a little dated as the show was first aired a few years back, is an address by the head of Hufflepuff house. As none of you will know, you all being too cool to read them, Hufflepuff is the crap house at Harry Potter's school. Even in the real books the situation is described thus;

'For instance, Slytherin
Took only pure-blood wizards
Of great cunning, just like him,
And only those of sharpest mind
Were taught by Ravenclaw
While the bravest and the boldest
Went to daring Gryffindor,
Good Hufflepuff, she took the rest'

-The sketch has the apologetic head trying to console his students; 'You may be feeling a tad disappointed that you've been graded as 'the rest'. But it could be worse - Slytherin's policy of taking all the evil students has come in for some criticism too.'

Anyway, it's a great show, listen in if it's ever repeated again - they're touring some big venues in the winter, based, I guess on popularity of Peep Show, which, as I said, they didn't write.

NEXT GIG:

Tues 9 May - Newcastle
Funny Bones comedy club, The Newton Park, Benton Road, Longbenton, Newcastle NE7 7EB
8 for 8.30 £2 (pay on the door).
Food available.
www.funnybonescomedy.co.uk 0191 266 2010
Compere: JOHN SCOTT
Contenders include AL DAWES, BRATCHY, CALLUM CRAMB, CHRIS MARTIN, CHRISTIAN STEEL, DAVID McCUE, DONNCHAD O'CONNAILL, JOHN PARKIN, KILLIAN MONSON, SEAN MORAN

- CAL AND AL GOT IN SO GO AND SUPPORT THEM.

TUESDAY 16TH OF MAY. 8.30 FOR A 9.00 START. -
'LONG LIVE COMEDY'
THE DOG AND PARROT (UPSTAIRS)
-OPPOSITE THE CENTRE FOR LIFE, 2 MINS FROM CENTRAL STATION.
ONLY £2.