552:", which replaced the original 'whistled' flute piece, "Smokey Joe". Over the years, the tune changed a number of times – totalling four pieces, the third debuting in 1993 and the fourth in 1997 – but the final edition in 1998 finished with the original (each of the others having been heard briefly in sketches set in earlier decades).
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was considered a "training ground" for a large number of comedy writers, performers and producers. Many young BBC production recruits were given the programme for a month or so in order to get to grips with scripted comedy and working with performers, while the writers' meetings welcomed anyone who
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during the mid-seventies. The show was written and recorded shortly before the first broadcast (which was usually on a Friday evening) and satirised events of the week. Each show concluded with "And now here is Next Week's News", although this collection of one-liners was abandoned in the early
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episodes transmitted during the previous four weeks, more usually the items that could easily be understood by an international audience. This was broadcast by the World
Service, usually on the last Friday of the month, under the title of "Two Cheers for
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was taken off the air during election campaigns. As sensitivities eased, it was allowed to remain on air during the 1987, 1992 and 1997 elections, albeit with rigid levels of political balance.
376:, Bob and Barbara Boulton, Nick R. Thomas, Chris Stratford and Dave Morley, Andrew Whelan, Mark Perkins, Gill Perkins and John Handley. Regular performers during the run included
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cared to wander in off the street. The programme also accepted material by post, fax and e-mail. This open door policy, which it shared with Radio 2's long-running
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Relatively few editions survive in the BBC archives, and they are rarely repeated. There is an obvious issue of topicality, but this did not prevent annual
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The show's title was always announced as "Week Ending..." followed by the broadcast date, although the
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broadcast a highlights programme once a month. This would include sketches from
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From the early 1980s, the theme tune was a loop of the instrumental section of
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compilations or the re-recording of sketches for a 1989 cassette release.
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nineties. Short gags were thereafter scattered throughout the show.
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Prime
Minister, You Wanted To See Me? – A History of Week Ending
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606:. Vol. 187, no. 2421 (London/South East ed.).
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between 1970 and 1998. It was devised by writer-producers
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645:. Vol. 296, no. 3868 (London ed.).
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168:radio current affairs sketch show broadcast on
348:, Ben Ward & Dave Lamb, Alan Stafford,
568:wrote a book based on the series in 1985,
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16:Satirical British comedy radio programme
541:, called "Two Cheers for 1982" (etc.).
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197:was dropped from its billed title in
427:carried a musical number written by
708:by Ian Greaves & Justin Lewis,
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773:British satirical radio programmes
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344:, Brendan Martin, Mark Griffiths,
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416:, Sarah Parkinson, Dave Lamb and
525:During the 1980s and 1990s, the
423:For several months during 1997,
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649:. 26 March 1998. p. 125.
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1:
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510:. There were over 40 in all.
232:Script contributors included
180:and was originally hosted by
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610:. 2 April 1970. p. 23.
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763:BBC Radio comedy programmes
753:1970 radio programme debuts
450:Amongst the producers were
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598:"Week Ending... 4 April"
578:Week Ending with Maggie
768:BBC Radio 4 programmes
574:Ten Years With Maggie
215:Contributors and cast
733:British Comedy Guide
681:British Comedy Guide
362:Colin Bostock-Smith
26:
24:
570:The Cabinet Leaks
527:BBC World Service
431:and performed by
330:Graeme Sutherland
280:, Clive Coleman,
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51:Country of origin
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492:Griff Rhys Jones
486:, Louise Coats,
484:Geoffrey Perkins
476:Armando Iannucci
372:, John Random,
356:, Martin Smith,
346:Ivan Shakespeare
254:Bridget Leathley
246:Terence Dackombe
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98:Original release
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700:Further reading
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580:in April 2009.
560:Series writers
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550:Party Fears Two
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402:Alison Steadman
282:Richard Herring
266:Simon Bullivant
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188:Michael Barratt
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145:Party Fears Two
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721:External links
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546:The Associates
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504:Maria Esposito
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468:Harry Thompson
464:Jimmy Mulville
410:Toby Longworth
398:Sheila Steafel
270:Mark Brisenden
258:Iain Pattinson
242:John O'Farrell
226:News Huddlines
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149:The Associates
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676:"Week Ending"
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647:BBC Magazines
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637:"Week Ending"
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608:BBC Magazines
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566:James Hendrie
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480:Jon Magnusson
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437:Bill McGuffie
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429:Gerard Foster
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134:Opening theme
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37:sketch comedy
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685:. Retrieved
679:
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658:. Retrieved
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619:. Retrieved
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548:' 1982 hit "
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518:Until 1983,
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449:
441:David Firman
424:
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414:Chris Emmett
370:Craig Robins
366:Peter Hickey
350:Barry Atkins
342:Paddy Murray
338:Barry Pilton
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140:"Smokey Joe"
111:3 April 1998
101:4 April 1970
67:Home station
43:Running time
18:
728:Week Ending
642:Radio Times
603:Radio Times
539:Year Ending
531:Week Ending
520:Week Ending
496:Sarah Smith
460:David Tyler
445:Steve Brown
433:Richie Webb
425:Week Ending
418:Sally Grace
382:Bill Wallis
378:David Jason
354:Stewart Lee
318:Lee Barnett
286:D.A. Barham
278:Kevin Cecil
262:Ged Parsons
238:Mark Burton
220:Week Ending
209:Year Ending
200:Radio Times
178:David Hatch
174:Simon Brett
170:BBC Radio 4
161:Week Ending
126:of episodes
89:David Hatch
84:Simon Brett
71:BBC Radio 4
59:Language(s)
25:Week Ending
747:Categories
714:1900203294
584:References
508:Adam Tandy
488:Alan Nixon
452:John Lloyd
394:Jon Glover
390:David Tate
386:Nigel Rees
358:Will Adams
326:Rob Newman
298:Harry Hill
274:Andy Riley
250:Guy Jenkin
186:presenter
183:Nationwide
115:1998-04-03
105:1970-04-04
77:Created by
21:Radio show
655:0033-8060
616:0033-8060
562:Ian Brown
514:Broadcast
302:Al Murray
166:satirical
34:Satirical
310:Tony Lee
306:Ben Moor
195:ellipsis
687:2 April
660:2 April
621:2 April
556:Tie-ins
113: (
109: –
103: (
62:English
46:25 mins
712:
653:
614:
164:was a
129:1,132
147:" by
30:Genre
710:ISBN
689:2021
662:2021
651:ISSN
623:2021
612:ISSN
564:and
443:and
176:and
731:at
124:No.
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