Frank Skinner on Absolute Radio? There must be some mistake...

[WestleyAndButtockUp]

Any long-term readers around?

MN discussions on Frank Skinner often tend to be dismissive of him because of his 'lad' history and several dodgy things he's said; and I do recognise those - I have several issues with some of his attitudes.

But at the same time I get a lot of laughs from his show as an ensemble of Emily, Alun and Gareth. As a whole, the whole programme is complex and rich and multifaceted.

for example,. FS's casual references to his Catholicism. Emily and Alun are atheists, Gareth and Frank are Christians. It does make for a different type of entertainment show, especially as all of them are searching out the jokes and puns inherent in any topic.

I'm a real Emily fan. And I do love a good pun, so the podcast is essential listening for me. I am also always impressed by an auto didact.

But there really is something very sleazy about Frank. His stand up is very...icky, for want of a better word.

The channel gets changed the moment his show starts. I have no problem with Frank Skinner but can't stand the sound of the woman who is in the studio with him.
I don't like the radio format where there's a group of sidekicks in the studio anyway.

Emily's brilliant! So funny- and so good at taking the piss out of herself.

Emily is fab! I love her.

I once went to the recording of Frank Skinner's sitcom, 'Shane'. It was so bad, ITV recorded the whole second series and then didn't release any of it.

I remember thinking at the time, it's all jokes, no character, and contrived situations. Felt very retro. And he once said in an interview, or on the podcast, that he had been told that was the basis for it being cancelled.

He's able to mock his own slightly pretentious way of speaking by undercutting it in his standup, or Emily and Alun mock it on the show. But when all of his characters spoke in EXACTLY the same way on the sitcom, it just didn't seem real at all.

I normally like Emily hosting the show when FS is away, but there was something about the most recent podcast which seemed a bit forced.

I think it was because it was not live. They were all trying a little too hard, and laughing a little too earnestly at ... not much.

What were the Laurel and Hardy films that Frank and Alun agreed were the finest?

Was it something to do with the Foreign Legion?

Fraternal Yours is what he says is the best film.

Beau Chumps is the Laurel and Hardy in the French Foreign Legion.

I love FS on absolute, don't mind Alun and Emily but never listen if Frank is away, I find it slightly irritating how the producers and Emily and Alun are a bit sycophantic, big loud forced laughs which makes me wonder if Frank is a bit of a tyrant on the quiet.
Along with The Archers it's the one podcast I always listen to.

I can't bear it
Unfunny jokes and sycophantic laughter

Ah, Fraternally Yours is the UK title of Sons of the Desert.

Beau Chumps is the UK title of Beau Hunks.

Emily said that her dressing room 'rider' is "external coffee." Good joke that everyone missed.

One of the best shows on British radio.

I find FS very entertaing but suspect he's also a bit of a bastard
never listen if Frank's away, just doesn't work without him for me