I've Never Seen Star Wars (radio series)

I've Never Seen Star Wars

Genre	Comedy talk show
Running time	30 minutes
Country	United Kingdom
Language(s)	English
Home station	BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 4 Extra
TV adaptations	I've Never Seen Star Wars
Starring	Marcus Brigstocke
Creator(s)	Bill Dare
Producer(s)	Bill Dare
Air dates	18 September 2008 to Present
No. of series	6
No. of episodes	36
Opening theme	Enjoy Yourself (It's Later than You Think) by The Specials
Website	Official website

I've Never Seen Star Wars is a comedy talk show broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Hosted by comedian Marcus Brigstocke, each episode features a celebrity guest trying out experiences that are new to them, but common to many others. The title comes from the show's producer and creator, Bill Dare, having never seen the Star Wars films.^[1] The series has been the subject of controversy due to the questionable taste of some of the experiences.^[2][3]

The show has been adapted for television and was first broadcast on BBC Four in early 2009.^[4]

Format

Each episode features a guest presenting a list of things to Brigstocke that, until coming on the show, they had never done before but many others have. Generally the show is structured around one each of certain types of experiences; reading a new book, listening to some new music, watching a new film or television programme (for all of these, the guest is often given an example of a genre they've never sampled before), eating a new food and taking part in a new leisure activity. Examples of the latter include comedian Phill Jupitus having his first colonic irrigation, magician Paul Daniels learning how to swim and Goodies star Tim Brooke-Taylor buying his first pornographic magazine.^[5]

Reception

The series has a mixed reception. Critics have praised the format. Chris Campling said I've Never Seen Star Wars is, "one of the most invigorating new comedy series of the 21st century."^[6]

Elisabeth Mahoney in The Guardian wrote about Jupitus' appearance saying: "He also tried colonic irrigation, and the recording of that was one of the funniest bits of radio this year. The therapist explained the process in a deadpan manner that was quite majestic, especially when she let her "tubing clamps" make their worrying sound effect. Jupitus fretted that she'd find "some hidden G-spot of delight" and that he'd become "sexually addicted to having my arse pumped out". Rather worryingly, then, he has already booked his next appointment."^[7]

However, the series has been attacked because of some of the experiences which have appeared. Jupitus' colonic irrigation and eating foie gras, and Brooke-Taylor buying pornography are amongst the moments which have been cause for complaint. Dare appeared on BBC Radio 4's listener complaints show Feedback to defend I've Never Seen Star Wars. Dare stated the choices were all made by the guests and were not designed to offend listeners. During the interview with host Roger Bolton, Dare was asked, "if he could reassure listeners that there'd be no heavy breathing in future." Dare mocked both Feedback and Bolton saying: "Only if we get an asthmatic on, I suppose. But now asthmatics are going to ring up and say, how dare you make fun of our condition?"^[2][3]

Episodes

Six series of I've Never Seen Star Wars have been broadcast.^[8]

Series 1

#	Guest	Original airdate
1 - 1	Phill Jupitus	18 September 2008
Comedian Phill Jupitus tries eating foie gras with a Findus Crispy Pancake, has colonic irrigation, attempts to be a hairdresser, reads Jane Austen, and drinks absinthe.
1 - 2	Paul Daniels	25 September 2008
Magician Paul Daniels cooks a meal, reads some feminist literature, learns how to swim and experiences the film The Great Escape.
1 - 3	Mark Steel	2 October 2008
Comedian Mark Steel attempts to assemble a flat-pack stool, goes to watch Hamlet, takes tea at the Ritz Hotel, and has a shave at a barbers shop.
1 - 4	Eve Pollard	9 October 2008
Journalist Eve Pollard reads Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?, learns how to play poker, watches The Rumble in the Jungle and drinks a cocktail
1 - 5	Tim Brooke-Taylor	16 October 2008
Comedian Tim Brooke-Taylor buys a pornographic magazine, tries some unusual seafood, listens to a hip hop record, and makes a phone call.
1 - 6	Esther Rantzen	23 October 2008
Broadcaster Esther Rantzen joins Facebook, attempts to iron a man's shirt, listens to The Dark Side of the Moon, tries reflexology and reads Scoop.

Series 2

#	Guest	Original airdate
2 - 1	Barry Cryer	4 February 2009
Comedian Barry Cryer attempts to change a baby's nappy, reads The Catcher in the Rye, listens to Back in Black, watches Friends, and sings karaoke.
2 - 2	Arthur Smith	11 February 2009
Comedian Arthur Smith watches Top Gear, eats a Pop-Tart, watches Les Misérables, reads a Mills and Boon book, and learns how to play the piano.
2 - 3	Dame Joan Bakewell	18 February 2009
Journalist Joan Bakewell listens to Arctic Monkeys, has a beat boxing lesson, places her first horse racing bet, reads The Rules, and watches Mamma Mia!.
2 - 4	Jan Ravens	25 February 2009
Impressionist Jan Ravens learns to box, has her eyebrows threaded, builds a brick wall and reads Bravo Two Zero.
2 - 5	Suggs	4 March 2009
Singer Suggs learns to tap dance, reads A Brief History of Time, listens to Vivaldi, watches Titanic and changes the oil in a car.
2 - 6	Sandi Toksvig	11 March 2009
Comedian Sandi Toksvig eats a Pot Noodle, wears high heels, walks on stilts, listens to Purple Rain, and watches a football match.

Series 3

#	Guest	Original airdate
3 - 1	Sanjeev Bhaskar	9 March 2010
Comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar views the Crown Jewels, reads P. G. Wodehouse and plays Subbuteo.
3 - 2	Jon Culshaw	16 March 2010
Impressionist Jon Culshaw has a salad, goes to a casino and listens to Woman's Hour.
3 - 3	Jenny Eclair	23 March 2010
Comedian Jenny Eclair listens to Charlie Parker and has a bikini wax.
3 - 4	Ardal O'Hanlon	30 March 2010
Comedian Ardal O'Hanlon takes some herbal remedies and tries Twitter.
3 - 5	John Lloyd	6 April 2010
Writer John Lloyd does some stand-up comedy and watches The Wire.
3 - 6	Kate Adie	3 March 2011
Reporter Kate Adie watches The Sopranos, tries Yoga and goes to a bingo hall.

Series 4

#	Guest	Original airdate
4 - 1	Ian Hislop	5 September 2011
Satirist Ian Hislop buys a pair of jeans, plays Grand Theft Auto, tries Buddhist meditation, and bakes a cake.
4 - 2	Frank Skinner	12 September 2011
Comedian Frank Skinner has a spray tan, eats Jugged Hare, changes a car tyre and watches Inspector Morse.
4 - 3	Alan Davies	19 September 2011
Comedian Alan Davies sings in public, has a pedicure and reads The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
4 - 4	Giles Coren	26 September 2011
Writer Giles Coren goes vegan, reads some Harry Potter and dances in public.
4 - 5	Kathy Burke	3 October 2011
Actress Kathy Burke visits Harrods and proves the first guest to match the programme's title.
4 - 6	Sarah Millican	10 October 2011
Comedian Sarah Millican eats with chopsticks, watches Some Like it Hot and visits the Natural History Museum.

Series 5

#	Guest	Original airdate
5 - 1	Meera Syal	1 January 2013
Actor/writer Meera Syal eats snails, reads the Bhagavad Gita, watches Last Tango in Paris, and attends a football match.
5 - 2	Dave Gorman	8 January 2013
Comedian Dave Gorman enjoys a "water cooler moment", rides a horse, reads A Tale of Two Cities, and visits a strip club.
5 - 3	Benjamin Zephaniah	15 January 2013
Writer Benjamin Zephaniah drinks coffee and tea, reads The House at Pooh Corner, plays with a Scalextric, and listens to Take Me Home.
5 - 4	Les Dennis	22 January 2013
Les Dennis eats cheese, reads The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe, listens to a Rolling Stones album, and watches The Inbetweeners.
5 - 5	Jenni Murray	29 January 2013
Jenni Murray has a lesson in dog training, watches Reservoir Dogs, cooks a healthy meal of tofu, lentils and brown rice, and watches a Frankie Boyle DVD.
5 - 6	Evelyn Glennie	5 February 2013
Percussionist Evelyn Glennie watches herself performing in the Olympic opening ceremony, drives a Go-Kart, watches Downton Abbey, and throws a pot.

Series 6

#	Guest	Original airdate
6 - 1	Ann Widdecombe	TBA
Politician Ann Widdecombe tries camping and a Jägerbomb. She also watches political drama The Thick Of It.
6 - 2	Roy Walker	TBA
Comedian Roy Walker tries bantering with the audience, and watches his first Shakespeare play.
6 - 3	Rebecca Front	TBA
Comedy actress Rebecca Front reads her first book about science, and rides a motorbike.
6 - 4	Gyles Brandreth	TBA
Gyles Brandreth spends a day doing nothing at all, and writes a pop song.
6 - 5	Reece Shearsmith	TBA
Actor Reece Shearsmith has a driving lesson and tries wallpapering.
6 - 6	Dame Kelly Holmes	TBA
Athlete Dame Kelly Holmes tries hypnotherapy for a fear of drowning, and eats a deep-fried Mars bar and a chocolate-covered scorpion.

References

1. Campling, Chris (2008-09-13). "Radio Head: a Star Wars abstainer". The Times (London). Retrieved 2009-02-04.
2. "24 October 2008". Feedback. 2008-10-24.
3. Redmond, Camilla (2008-10-27). "Radio review". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
4. "I've Never Seen Star Wars (The TV series)". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2009-02-11.
5. "I've Never Seen Star Wars (The radio series)". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
6. Campling, Chris (2008-09-23). "Bill Dare wins with I've Never Seen Star Wars". The Times (London). Retrieved 2009-02-04.
7. Mahoney, Elisabeth (2008-09-19). "Radio review". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-02-04.
8. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b05108h0. Retrieved 2016-01-28. Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

• I've Never Seen Star Wars at BBC Programmes
• I've Never Seen Star Wars at the British Comedy Guide