Week Ending... was a satirical radio current affairs sketch show, first broadcast on BBC Radio 4, usually on Friday evenings. It was devised by writer/producers Simon Brett and David Hatch. BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station which broadcasts a wide variety of chiefly spoken-word programmes including news, drama, comedy, science and history. ... Simon Brett (b. ... Sir David Hatch attended the University of Cambridge, where he was also a member of the prestigious Cambridge Footlights Club. ...

Technically the show's title was always announced as "Week Ending..." followed by the broadcast date, although the ellipsis was dropped from its billed title in Radio Times during the mid-Seventies. The show was written and recorded at short notice, and would satirise the events of the week. Each show concluded with mock news headlines announced as "And now here is next week's news". Current Radio Times logo Radio Times is the BBCs weekly television and radio programme listings magazine. ...

Performers

First broadcast in 1970 and last broadcast in 1998, it acted as training ground for a large number of comedy writers, performers and producers. Many young BBC production recruits were given the programme for a month or so to give them training in light entertainment work, whilst the writers' meetings famously invited participation by anybody who wished to be present (even being present wasn't necessary and sketches from unknown writers could be simply faxed to the production office in the hope they would be accepted). This "open door" policy of considering material from non-commissioned writers, which it shared with Radio 2's long-running News Huddlines, made it a point of entry for numerous writers who went on to careers in British radio and television. 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ... Douglas Noel Adams (March 11, 1952 – May 11, 2001) — also known as Bop Ad or Bob after his illegible signature, or by his initials DNA — was a British comic radio dramatist and author, most notably of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (HHGG or H2G2). ...

Regular performers included David Jason, Bill Wallis, David Tate, Sheila Steafel, Tracey Ullman, Toby Longworth, Dave Lamb and Sally Grace. The last few series had a musical number written and performed by Richie Webb. Script contributors included Andy Hamilton, Guy Jenkin, Andy Riley, Kevin Cecil, Richard Herring, D.A. Barham and Stewart Lee. Douglas Adams was a producer for a period of time. Sir David Jason, OBE (born February 2, 1940) is a highly regarded English actor, admired equally for his dramatic work as for his comedy roles. ... Bill Wallis (born 1937) is a British actor and comedian who has appeared in numerous radio and television roles, as well as the theatre. ... Sheila Steafel (Born 1935-05-26, Johannesburg) is an actress who, having been born in South Africa, has lived all her adult life in Britain. ... Tracey Ullman Tracey Ullman (born 30th December 1959) is a British comedienne, actress, singer, dancer, screenwriter, and author, who is most famous for being the host of her eponymous variety television show. ... Toby Longworth is a British actor who has appeared on film, radio and television. ... Sally Grace is a British actress who has worked extensively in animation. ... For the darts player see Andy Hamilton (darts player). ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Kevin Cecil is a British scriptwriter. ... Richard Herring performing his show Someone Likes Yoghurt at the Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh, during the 2005 Edinburgh Festival Fringe Richard Keith Herring (born July 12, 1967) is an British comedian and writer formerly best known as part of Lee and Herring, a double act with Stewart Lee. ... Debbie Barham (died March 2003) was an English comedy writer who died at the age of 26 of heart failure caused by a long struggle with anorexia. ... Stewart Lee (born April 5, 1968 in Solihull) is an English stand-up comedian, writer and director probably best known for being one half of the 1990s comedy duo Lee and Herring, and for co-writing and directing the critically-acclaimed and controversial stage show Jerry Springer - The Opera. ... Douglas Noël Adams (11 March 1952 – 11 May 2001) was an English author, comic radio dramatist, and musician. ...

Theme Tune

From the early 1980s, the show had a theme tune which was a loop of the instrumental section of The Associates' 1982 hit "Party Fears Two". The Associates were a Scottish pop band of the early 1980s. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Over the years, the theme tune changed a number of times. These changes occured with the changing of Prime Minister, although when John Major was defeated by Tony Blair in 1997, the theme tune did not change until the next series. In the final episode of Week Ending, the closing tune started with Tony Blair's theme, only to be stopped part way through by John Major (Dave Lamb) demanding his was played. That played for a few bars, only to be stopped by Margaret Thatcher (Sally Grace), who had hers played for a bit. Eventually, the programme finished with the original theme tune being played. Sir John Major, KG, CH, PC (born 29 March 1943) was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and leader of the British Conservative Party from 1990 to 1997. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC (born October 13, 1925), former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, in office from 1979 to 1990. ...

External links

• from "The Encyclopedia of Radio British Radio Comedy"