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Mad Waves: BBC Radio Comedy's Golden Era
Paperback
Publisher: Quentin Rhodes
Published: Apr 21 2026
Pages: 140
Weight: 0.43
Height: 0.33 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
Step into the golden era of British radio comedy!
Mad Waves: BBC Radio Comedy's Golden Era chronicles the programs, personalities, and punchlines that shaped Britain's airwaves from 1939 to the early 1970s. Explore the wartime charm of Band Waggon, the anarchic genius of The Goon Show, the sharp realism of Hancock's Half Hour, and the risqué brilliance of Round the Horne.
With behind-the-scenes stories, analysis of writing and performance, this book is perfect for fans, historians, and anyone curious about the craft of comedy. Learn how catchphrases were born, how writers navigated censorship, and why these shows still resonate today.
Written by Quentin Rhodes, a lifelong student of radio comedy with experience in Footlights, repertory theatre, and directing local dramatic societies, Mad Waves is a celebration of laughter, creativity, and British cultural history.
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