Sketchorama
{{italic title}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{Promotional|date=June 2014}}
{{Primary sources|date=June 2014}}}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Infobox radio show
| show_name = Sketchorama
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| other_names =
| format = Comedy
| runtime = 25 minutes
| country = United Kingdom
| language = English
| home_station = BBC Radio 4
| syndicates =
| television =
| starring = Humphrey Ker (Series 1)
Thom Tuck (Series 2 - 3)
Isy Suttie (Series 4)
| creator = Gus Beattie
| writer =
| director =
| producer = Gus Beattie
The Comedy Unit
| executive_producer =
| narrated =
| record_location =
| first_aired = June 2012
| last_aired = August 2015
| num_series = 4
| num_episodes = 16
| audio_format = Stereophonic sound
| opentheme =
| endtheme =
| website = [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01s5cw7 At BBC Radio 4]
| podcast =
}}
Sketchorama was a radio show created by The Comedy Unit for BBC Radio 4. It featured a rotating cast of comedic sketch groups who performed in front of a live audience. The groups were introduced by a host comedian on each series: Humphrey Ker, Thom Tuck or Isy Suttie. The shows final series was in August 2015.{{cite web |title=Sketchorama Series 4, Episode 4 |url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/radio/sketchorama/episodes/4/4/ |website=British Comedy Guide |publisher=British Comedy Guide |access-date=14 July 2023 |ref=bcgS4E4}}
Episodes
= Series 1<ref name="series1">{{cite web |title=Sketchorama Series 1 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01kby1k |website=BBC Radio 4 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=14 July 2023 |ref=series1}}</ref> =
{{Episode table |background = #771C23|series = 6 |title = 10|airdate = 16 |aux1T=Hosted By |aux2T = Featuring |aux1 = 6 |aux2 = 20 |country = UK |seriesT = Episode|aux4R = |episodes =
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = Episode 1
|Aux1= Humphrey Ker
|Aux2= Delete the Banjax, Lady Garden, Idiots of Ants
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|6|26|df=y}}
|LineColor = 005F6C
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Episode 2
|Aux1= Humphrey Ker
|Aux2= Noise Next Door, the Boom Jennies, Jigsaw
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|7|3|df=y}}
|LineColor = 005F6C
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Episode 3
|Aux1= Humphrey Ker
|Aux2= Three Englishmen, Max and Ivan, Frisky & Mannish
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|7|10|df=y}}
|LineColor = 005F6C
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Episode 4
|Aux1= Humphrey Ker
|Aux2= How Do I Get Up There?, The Ginge, The Geordie and The Geek, Pappy's
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2012|7|17|df=y}}
|LineColor = 005F6C
}}
}}
= Series 2<ref name="series2">{{cite web |title=Sketchorama Series 2 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01s5cwp |website=BBC Radio 4 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=14 July 2023 |ref=series2}}</ref> =
{{Episode table |background = #A42C17 |series = 6 |title = 10|airdate = 16 |aux1T=Hosted By |aux2T = Featuring |aux1 = 6 |aux2 = 20 |country = UK |seriesT = Episode|aux4R = |episodes =
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = Episode 1
|Aux1= Thom Tuck
|Aux2= the Beta Males, Shirley & Shirley, Jonny and the Baptists
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|4|29|df=y}}
|LineColor = 005F6C
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Episode 2
|Aux1= Thom Tuck
|Aux2= So On and So Forth, That Pair, Sheeps
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|5|6|df=y}}
|LineColor = 005F6C
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Episode 3
|Aux1= Thom Tuck
|Aux2= McNeill & Pamphilon, Barbershopera and Wittank
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|5|13|df=y}}
|LineColor = 005F6C
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Episode 4
|Aux1= Thom Tuck
|Aux2= Absolutely, Endemic
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2013|5|20|df=y}}
|LineColor = 005F6C
}}
}}
= Series 3<ref name="series3">{{cite web |title=Sketchorama Series 3 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b047c7wy |website=BBC Radio 4 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=14 July 2023 |ref=series3}}</ref> =
{{Episode table |background = #171014 |series = 6 |title = 10|airdate = 16 |aux1T=Hosted By |aux2T = Featuring |aux1 = 6 |aux2 = 20 |country = UK |seriesT = Episode|aux4R = |episodes =
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = Episode 1
|Aux1= Thom Tuck
|Aux2= Croft and Pearce, Beasts and Casual Violence
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2014|6|23|df=y}}
|LineColor = 005F6C
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber2 = 2
|Title = Episode 2
|Aux1= Thom Tuck
|Aux2= Mixed Doubles, the Real MacGuffins, Bob and Jim
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2014|6|30|df=y}}
|LineColor = 005F6C
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Episode 3
|Aux1= Thom Tuck
|Aux2= Four Screws Loose, The Jest, Birthday Girls
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2014|7|7|df=y}}
|LineColor = 005F6C
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Episode 4
|Aux1= Thom Tuck
|Aux2= The Color Ham, Lead Pencil, Foil
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2014|8|14|df=y}}
|LineColor = 005F6C
}}
}}
= Series 4<ref name="series4">{{cite web |title=Sketchorama Series 4 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b06172m6 |website=BBC Radio 4 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=14 July 2023 |ref=series4}}</ref> =
{{Episode table |background = #125390|series = 6 |title = 10|airdate = 16 |aux1T=Hosted By |aux2T = Featuring |aux1 = 6 |aux2 = 20 |country = UK |seriesT = Episode|aux4R = |episodes =
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = Episode 1
|Aux1= Isy Suttie
|Aux2= The Twins Macabre, Massive Dad, The Penny Dreadfuls
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|7|6|df=y}}
|LineColor = 005F6C
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Title = Episode 1
|Aux1= Isy Suttie
|Aux2= Clever Peter, Hennessey and Friends, In Cahoots
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|7|13|df=y}}
|LineColor = 005F6C
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber2 = 3
|Title = Episode 3
|Aux1= Isy Suttie
|Aux2= Frisky & Mannish, Thünderbards, Lazy Susan
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|7|30|df=y}}
|LineColor = 005F6C
}}
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber2 = 4
|Title = Episode 4
|Aux1= Isy Suttie
|Aux2= Aunty Donna, Gein's Family Gift Shop, Beasts
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2015|8|26|df=y}}
|LineColor = 005F6C
}}
}}
= Specials =
{{Episode table |background = #6D25B0 |series = 6 |title = 10|airdate = 16 |aux1T=Hosted By |aux2T = Featuring |aux1 = 6 |aux2 = 20 |country = UK |seriesT = Episode|aux4R = |episodes =
{{Episode list
|EpisodeNumber2 = 1
|Aux1= Thom Tuck
|Aux2= Croft & Pearce, Mixed Doubles, Bob & Jim
|OriginalAirDate = {{Start date|2014|12|27|df=y}}
|LineColor = 005F6C
}}
}}
Production
Producer Gus Beattie began the show after noticing there weren’t many shows showcasing sketch talent.{{Cite web|url=http://www.comedy.co.uk/news/story/000001458/sketchorama_series_3_lineup/|title = Sketch groups for Radio 4's Sketchorama Series 3 revealed - News|website=Comedy.co.uk|date = 29 April 2014}} Beattie chose which sketch groups performed on the show and found many of the groups at the Edinburgh Festival and online. The chosen groups gather at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art to perform before a live audience.
Reception
The British Comedy Guide described it as "a format for Radio 4 which offers the same popular showcase dynamic as stand-up shows, but purely for comedy sketch groups. Sketchorama aimed to bring hidden gems and established live acts to the airwaves offering a truly distinctive and ambitious show."{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/radio/sketchorama/|title=Sketchorama - Radio 4 Sketch Show|website=Comedy.co.uk|access-date=29 November 2021}}