JAM news

okay I have been quiet for a while but have been saving up lots of lovely news for you all.

Firstly, we have some dates for recordings – one is later today, Tues December 2nd, and the other is the 18th. I’m assuming there will be four recordings/eight shows as usual in the next season, so the others will probably be recorded in January, and the season will get under way in February.

Secondly, very exciting – a new JAM Classic Collection has been published. I know many of you will already have all the shows – but can I implore you to buy this if you can. The more that are bought, the more that get released, hopefully.

You’ll remember the first Classic Collection had 11 CDs with 22 shows. Two CDs each were themed around the five regulars and there was a bonus CD.

 This one is also themed around five players – Sheila Hancock, Graham Norton, Gyles Brandreth, Jenny Eclair and Stephen Fry – and as with the first there is a really nice cartoon of the five with Nicholas. The bonus CD has a Christmas theme. There are also potted bios of all five.

The shows all feature Nicholas Parsons of course – also featured are Clement Freud (13 shows), Peter Jones (eight shows), Derek Nimmo (seven shows), Kenneth Williams (six shows), Paul Merton (six shows), Jenny Eclair (six shows), Sheila Hancock (five shows), Stephen Fry (five shows), Tony Hawks (four shows), Graham Norton (four shows), Gyles Brandreth (four shows), Linda Smith (four shows), Kit Hesketh-Harvey (three shows), Julian Clary (two shows), Ross Noble two shows), Tim Rice (one show), Liza Tarbuck (one show), Chris Neill (one show), Steve Frost (one show), Fred MacAulay (one show), Maria McErlane (one show), Martin Jarvis (one show), Nick Revell (one show) and William Rushton (one show).

The packaging is very nice but does include one error – Graham Norton is cited as being part of a show when it should name Paul Merton.

Also the packaging thanks me and my website. Nice to get that acknowledgement.

Those interested can buy this through Amazon here

 

Thirdly there is also a Best of 2014 CD out – this features four shows from earlier this year. Featured players are Paul Merton (three shows), Sheila Hancock (one show), Graham Norton (one show), Gyles Brandreth (one show), Jenny Eclair (one show), Julian Clary (one show), Shappi Khorsandi (one show), Kevin Eldon (one show), Miles Jupp (one show), Paul Sinha (one show), Patrick Kielty (one show), Holly Walsh (one show), Joe Lycett (one show) and Vanessa Feltz (one show).

Again the packaging is nice but contains an error– there are 10 pics of JAM cast members on the cover which include Sue Perkins who doesn’t appear in any of the included shows.

You can buy this here

Also there is a new book out about Radio Four which has a JAM section – For The Love of Radio Four. It’s a great read and it also acknowledges me and the website.

You can buy this here.

I was also going to mention the recent BBC series, Frequency of Laughter on the hsitory of radio comedy – the 70s show includes John Lloyd talking about JAM and working with Kenneth Williams, although strangely the show itself is not named!