{"product_id":"book-10xu","title":"The Way It Is: The BBC Radio 4 Comedy Series","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe cult spoof show set in a\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e fictional \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003enewsroom\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAn effervescent mix of satire and sketches, \u003ci\u003eThe Way It Is\u003c\/i\u003e ran for seven series on BBC Radio 4 between 1998 and 2002. Performed by \u003cb\u003eSanjeev Bhaskar, Simon Evans, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Fiona Allen, Dave Lamb, Chris Pavlo, Laura Shavin\u003c\/b\u003e and \u003cb\u003ePhil Cornwell\u003c\/b\u003e, it takes a long, hard look at the worlds of media and politics, parodying journalists, MPs and celebrities alike.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eNewscasters Richard Richard and Lolly Swain bring us round-the-clock headlines and rolling news, aided by a host of enthusiastic, if somewhat inept, roving reporters. Among them are showbiz hackette Jackie Trent (who tirelessly ferrets out celebrity secrets), on-the-ground correspondent James Gravadlax (who witnesses 'scenes of terrible devastation' wherever he goes), hapless traffic correspondent Charlotte Webb and excitable but clueless weatherman Martin 'Twice-Knightly'.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eTogether, they skip nimbly through the big stories of the nineties and noughties - from leadership battles to Cabinet reshuffles, trade wars, Posh and Becks and the perennial problems of England's cricket and football teams.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis long-running cult classic comedy will appeal to fans of \u003ci\u003eDead Ringers, Week Ending, Have I Got News for You \u003c\/i\u003eand\u003ci\u003e On the Hour,\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNB: Contains strong language and humour of the time that some listeners may find offensive.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWith thanks to Keith Wickham of the Radio Circle for supplying the audio recordings.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eCast and credits\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePerformed by Simon Evans, Fiona Allen, Sanjeev Bhaskar, Dave Lamb, Tracy-Ann Oberman, Chris Pavlo, Laura Shavin and Phil Cornwell\u003cbr\u003eProduced by Anil Gupta and Alex Walsh-Taylor\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4 on the following dates:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1 20 May 1998-8 July 1998\u003cbr\u003e2 4 February 1999-25 March 1999\u003cbr\u003e3 7 July 1999-25 August 1999\u003cbr\u003e4 6 January-24 February 2000\u003cbr\u003e5 31 August-19 October 2000\u003cbr\u003e6 15 February-22 March 2001\u003cbr\u003e7 21 February 2002-28 March 2002\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e© 2026 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin UK","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":67151546843440,"sku":"BD10xu","price":13.33,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/10xu-Square-cover.jpg?v=1782529655","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-10xu","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}