Monday 10 August 2015

With Great Pleasure


Since I'm back on this blog, I really ought to mention 'With Great Pleasure', a Radio 4 show I presented last week, and will therefore be available to listen to online here for the next three weeks.

In it, some idiot gets to pick eight pieces of writing they enjoy, and, crucially, two actors to read them out - which meant that I got to stage a partial Cabin Pressure reunion with the wonderful Stephanie Cole and Geoffrey Whitehead. For anyone needing further evidence of their genius: firstly, what's the matter with you? and secondly, I direct you particularly to the way Stephanie says 'accompany me on the harp', and Geoffrey says 'beautiful, beautiful flamingo.'

I hope it's half as much fun to listen to as it was to record.

Click to make readable




24 comments:

Unknown said...

It was the tone of Stephanie's "I know which way I'd bet" after "It was to punish your foster brother" that had me rolling around with laughter. Fantastic! Love, love, love DP, always thought I was alone with this.

Tim said...

Is there any chance at all that you can write up a list of the works included? I am sure that I will read them all, it will feel like being inside of your younger self's mind to know what works of literature you prefer. I, for some reason, (probably because I am too tired at the moment) could not figure out the BBC Iplayer, guess I must sign on to the BBC site or something?

Unknown said...

It was an absolute joy to listen to from start to finish! And so far I have listened to it four times... and counting.

The only problem is, I kinda need you to do the whole book set of Jeeves and Wooster, just for the sake completeness... and because you are a perfect Wooster!

Anonymous said...

How lovely to have you and Stephanie Cole and Geoffrey Whitehead back! It was such great fun to listen to you. Was the quote "Although the Captain is far from here, I always think of him" an accidental pick...?

Donald Campbell said...

It was a lovely, lovely programme! I'm half tempted to get one of those awful mobile telephone things just so that I could have Stephanie saying "What fresh hell is this?" as my ring tone.

RMartin said...

It was a great show, with both hilarious and touching moments. I'm so glad I was able to listen to it. Now I need to find some more Philip Larkin to read.

Anonymous said...

You do look related to Stephanie Cole in that picture.

Sara S said...

I just wanted pop in here to say that I really enjoyed listening to you all! And while you three made me miss Cabin Pressure terribly much (once again!), you also made me smile and laugh very loudly (once again!). Thank you, Mr Finnemore. What a show!

Anonymous said...

Loved it, John. So many good things, but especially the Kurt Vonnegut. And, of course, hearing you teamed up with Stephanie and Geoffrey again.

MartinPic said...

What a wonderful half hour, thank you.

And for the benefit of Tim (earlier), the iPlayer website lists the pieces as:

Short pieces by Wordsworth and Housman
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey
First Sight by Philip Larkin
A History of the World in Ten and a Half Chapters by Julian Barnes
A review of ‘The Ideal System for Acquiring a Practical Knowledge of French’ by Dorothy Parker
Right Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
God Bless You, Mr Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut

Anonymous said...

I really enjoyed listening to that program -- thank you! Dorothy Parker was my favorite, I think, but I also loved the Wodehouse. My only regret is that this batch of telegrams did not include my favorite of Dahlia's replies: "REGRET TOTTLEIGH TOWERS SO FAR FROM LONDON AS UNABLE TO HIT YOU WITH BRICK." <3 <3 Thanks so much for making such charming shows and sharing your favorites with us!

Anonymous said...

How to make Whiskey Tango Foxtrot

http://kitchenette.jezebel.com/how-to-make-the-whiskey-mango-foxtrot-a-cocktail-that-1724091694

Iba said...

I implore anyone who likes Philip Larkin to check out the works he produced under the pseudonym "Brunette Coleman." A young, mischeivous, playful Larkin satirises girls' school stories, and it's...brilliant.

As I'm both a Finnefan and a lover of "With Great Pleasure," the linked programme was such a treat. Thanks, all.

Luci Mahon said...

I was lucky enough to be in the audience for this. I really liked your choices. Wonderful to see Geoffrey Whitehead and Stephanie Cole! Thank you, John.

Mountainebony said...

Loved listening to it! And then bought A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters. Thank you, John.

Love from Delhi

Mark Bolton said...

History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters is brilliant. I particularly vividly remembered that passage that was read out. When I first encountered it I read it out loud to everyone in the room at the time. Well spotted!

Unknown said...

Thank you for sharing your reminiscences of the young John. In consolation, you can send new patients to your sister on account of them being in spasms of laughter courtesy of your wit.
Wonderful use of Stephanie and Geoffrey in the monologues. I wished it was longer though Kurt's advice to babies was a perfect ending.

Unknown said...

Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work. See the link below for more info.


#pleasure
www.ufgop.org

Unknown said...

Bit of a late response, but the reading from a History of the World in 10 1/2 chapters bought a tear to my eye at work. I read that exact reading to my wife as part of our wedding ceremony. It had stayed in my head ever since I first read it several years before.

Unknown said...

Bit of a late response, but the reading from a History of the World in 10 1/2 chapters bought a tear to my eye at work. I read that exact reading to my wife as part of our wedding ceremony. It had stayed in my head ever since I first read it several years before.

MANOOOL said...

شركة تنظيف مسابح بجدة
سباك بجدة
كهربائي بجدة
شركة تنظيف سجاد بجدة
شركة تنظيف موكيت بجدة
شركة تنظيف مساجد بجدة
شركة تنظيف مجالس بجدة
شركة تنظيف بالبخار بجدة
شركة تنظيف كنب بالبخار بجدة

Majortotosite Pro said...

Hello friends, its impressive article regarding educationand entirely defined, keep it up all the time. 메이저사이트

Racesite Pro said...

This design is incredible! You definitely know how to keep a reader amused. I was almost moved to start my own blog
온라인경마
경마사이트

Unknown said...

تقديم ونقدم لكم افضل شركات نقل العفش بالمملكة العربية السعودية
شركة نقل عفش بالطائف
شركة نقل عفش بجدة