- John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme started in 2011 and quickly established itself as
"One of the most consistently funny sketch shows for quite some time" (The Guardian),
and "One of the funniest and most inventive new radio comedy shows of recent years" (The Daily Mail).
- Series 1
- s01e01 - 2011-09-18 - Tiger With a Gun
- A big job, a small job, the career path of the average TV executive and a tiger with a gun.
- s01e02 - 2011-09-25 - War Effort
- The truth behind the war effort, sty construction, and evolution.
- s01e03 - 2011-10-02 - Big Debate
- Documentary-makers, a big debate, and a little trophy.
- s01e04 - 2011-10-09 - From the Zoo
- Zoo music and a sketch that only a fool wouldn't find funny.
- Series 2
- s02e00 - 2012-08-22 - Special From Edinburgh Festival
- A special edition from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with some extra special sketches.
- s02e01 - 2012-09-13 - Celestial Relationship
- An awkward celestial relationship, and a film trailer about the only mode of transport not yet filmed.
- s02e02 - 2012-09-20 - The Archers
- How 'The Archers' sounds to people who don't listen to it, a mathematician's agent and a song about a dog.
- s02e03 - 2012-09-27 - The History of Alchemy
- Featuring a sketch about messengers, a sketch about the history of alchemy, and a sketch about the repeated use of the word 'sketch'.
- s02e04 - 2012-10-04 - The Devil
- Sitcom characters feel trapped, and a good point about security numbers on the back of credit cards.
- s02e05 - 2012-10-11 - Moth-based Lunacy
- Moth-based lunacy and a heartwarming tale of the days before health and safety - all of which is 'awesome'
- s02e06 - 2012-10-18 - All the Gang
- This episode starts by going to the dogs and ends with what is surely the oldest hymn in the world.
- Series 3
- s03e01 - 2013-09-03 - No Sanctuary
- The animals that don't get sanctuaries, and why do people literally shout at the radio?
- s03e02 - 2013-09-10 - Making New Friends
- Making new friends and the problem with polymath bestselling authors.
- s03e03 - 2013-09-17 - Touching Reunion
- A song about an unheralded inventor, a touching reunion and a normal man.
- s03-e04 - 2013-09-24 - A Visit to Ambridge
- A too rude sketch, advice on how to deal with bullies and an accidental visit to Ambridge.
- s03e05 - 2013-10-01 - Famous Anecdotes
- The truth behind some famous anecdotes and a curious tale of a hard-bitten dame. Part of the show is in 3D.
- s03e06 - 2013-10-08 - Posh Trousers
- Creative accounting, cross-examining an expert witness, and why are posh men's trousers all the same colour?
- Series 4
- s04e01 - 2014-10-16 - Innovative Teaching Aid
- John creates an innovative teaching aid and eavesdrops on two guards, who really should be paying more attention.
- s04e02 - 2014-10-23 - Rude Awakenings
- A sketch that you will never really own, the rudest awakening for one particular pet, and the positive side of stereotyping.
- s04e03 - 2014-10-30 - Interfaith Conference
- An awkward encounter at an interfaith conference, and going miles to win a father's respect.
- s04e04 - 2014-11-06 - Follow Your Dreams
- The induction of a new employee on Sodor Island, and a speech on following dreams.
- s04e05 - 2014-11-13 - Revolutionary Exchange
- The only detectives who have not had their own TV show yet, and a revolutionary email exchange.
- s04e06 - 2014-11-20 - Probably Not Evil
- A pure moment of happiness, and a curious tale about an invention that is probably not evil.
- Series 5
- s05e01 - 2016-01-07 - An Unlikely Wager
- An unlikely wager, a troubled bluesman and a rip-roaring adventure on the high seas.
- s05e02 - 2016-01-14 - Tipping Point
- The voice in John's head pushes him to tipping point, a new approach to the news, and a tale of espionage.
- s05e03 - 2016-01-21 - A Career In Accounting
- A look back at a career in accounting and an overrated experience, and the return of Patsy Straightwoman.
- s05e04 - 2016-01-28 - Not Overthinking
- A sketch that couldn't catch a cold in Coventry and a train passenger who really doesn't overthink things.
- s05e05 - 2016-02-04 - Serving Suggestion
- John makes a heartfelt serving suggestion, Lawry tries to keep himself busy, and there’s a curious tale of murder.
- s05e06 - 2016-02-11 - Apologies For a Delay
- John apologises for a delay and wonders what his hobbies are. Plus, a tale of Queen Victoria's death, and robots.
- Series 6
- s06e01 - 2016-12-27 - Festive Special
- John Finnemore presents a special edition of his award-winning Souvenir Programme, including a song about the best day of the festive season.
- s06e02 - 2017-01-03 - Unusual Rhythm
- John makes a decision on behalf of the nation, delivers unusual rhythm and has a bright money idea.
- s06e03 - 2017-01-10 - Bad Coppers
- The worst of the bad coppers, a frustrated one hit-wonder and the return of Patsy Straightwoman.
- s06e04 - 2017-01-17 - A President With Two Speeches
- A president with two speeches and we hear from a couple who get on like a house on fire.
- s06e05 - 2017-01-24 - Improving Sales
- An author takes drastic measures to improve sales and we discover the truth about a celebrity.
- s06e06 - 2017-01-31 - Taking Over
- John lets Lawry take over, with inevitable reactions on the musical finale from Carrie, Margaret and Simon.
- Series 7
- s07e01 - 2018-01-04 - An Awkward Phone Call
- A famous polymath offers a poem and a very awkward phone call.
- s07e02 - 2018-01-11 - A Surprise Wedding Venue
- An unpopular invention, a surprise wedding venue and the sound of Shakespeare.
- s07e03 - 2018-01-18 - A Massive Favour
- The best sound in all of music, and someone asks for a massive favour.
- s07e04 - 2018-01-25 - New Theme Tune
- A radio programme gets a brand new theme tune.
- s07e05 - 2018-02-01 - A Majestic Sunset
- We hear from several different animals and witness a majestic sunset.
- s07e06 - 2018-02-08 - An Office Shanty
- The downsides of animal adoption and sing along to an office shanty.
- Series 8
- s08e01 - 2019-05-30 - A Good Lasagne
- John cooks a particularly good lasagne, and we hear a legendary swansong and, well... since you ask him for a ghost story...
- s08e02 - 2019-06-06 - The Biter Bit
- Some merry names, an epiphany, and, well... since you ask John for a story of the biter bit...
- s08e03 - 2019-06-13 - Some Handy Mnemonics
- This episode, contains some handy mnemonics, an unilluminating interview, and a de-illuminating editor's note.
- s08e04 - 2019-06-20 - Crossing the Ocean By Horseback
- This week's episode will make you feel like a princess, whether you want it to or not - and you can have that, if you like. And, well... since you ask John for another tale of crossing the ocean by horseback...
- s08e05 - 2019-06-27 - World Peace
- This episode contains some helpful guidance on the etiquette of "Thank Yous", and looks into the devastating consequences of World Peace.
- s08e06 - 2019-07-04 - A Race Against Time
- In this clinically efficient episode, John does the voice, and we also hear what sort of song he could have had on the show if he'd wanted. And, well... since you ask him for a story of a breakneck race against time...
- Series 9
-
The ninth series of John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme is very different to the previous eight.
It's still written by John Finnemore, "one of our best sketch writers", (The Observer),
and performed by him with "a great supporting cast of Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Simon Kane, Lawry Lewin and Carrie Quinlan" (The Telegraph),
and there are still sketches and songs. But, with no live studio audience this year, John has taken the opportunity to try something completely new.
-
Every episode in this series of Souvenir Programme is made up of scenes from one person's life,
played in reverse order. There's no narrative to an episode; it's still a sketch show, not a sitcom...
but the sketches in each episode all happened to one person, played by one member of the cast, over the course of their lifetime.
- s09e01 - 2021-12-26 - Sunday - Russ
- Episode one is all about Russ, and takes place between a Christmas day Zoom in 2020, and a funeral he attended as a five-year-old in 1990.
- s09e02 - 2021-12-27 - Monday - Deborah
- Episode two is all about Deborah, and takes place between a catchup Zoom in lockdown one, and a bedtime story she was told in 1962.
- s09e03 - 2021-12-28 - Tuesday - Jerry
- This week, we follow our way back through the life of Jerry, starting earlier this year and going back to a wartime poem in 1943.
- s09e04 - 2021-12-29 - Wednesday - Vanessa
- Episode four is about Vanessa, and starts with a television quiz show in 1990, and ends with a fairytale walk in 1921.
- s09e05 - 2021-12-30 - Thursday - Newt
- This week concerns Newt, following his life backwards from a funeral in 1990 to an eventful Christmas dinner in 1898.
- s09e06 - 2021-12-31 - Friday
- 2023 Special
- s09eSP - 2023-05-27 - 2023 Special