John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme series 9

[Gasp0deTheW0nderD0g]

Just caught up with episode 1 on Sounds. Different format from normal, reflecting the lack of audience present at the recordings. I thought it worked very well.

www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000vqr4

Woof woof woof goes the wolfhound!

Ooh thanks for the heads-up! I'll listen to anything of John Finnemore's. I don't think I realised there had been so many series of The Souvenir Programme - must check if I've missed some!

It was very clever. Was inordinately pleased we had a 'You asked me for a tale......' DH didn't enjoy it as much as usual though.

I was so sorry not to enjoy it as much as his previous series. I love John Finnemore and really wanted to like the new series but for me it didn't work as well as the previous ones. I will give it another go though!

yes, I spent about 4/5 of the programme wondering why I wasn't laughing, then right at the end it all got better, I really hope all the episodes won't be like that, usually I really love the show

I probably made a mistake in having Episode 1 on whilst I was quite busy clearing out DS's bedroom, but I never really worked out what was going on. The only bit I really caught on was the very last one. Maybe I should try again.

Yes I think this new series is the kind where you have to relisten to each episode - I'm not great at focusing so stories being told backwards takes a bit more effort for me to listen to! Enjoyed the second episode a bit more.

I didn't get episode 1 either, and I find the use of a small cast really confusing when the characters are also "ageing backwards". If you hear the same voice again, is it the same character, or someone playing that character's dad etc?

I think it'll all hang together at the end but it's quite confusing when you can only listen to one episode a week!

I didn't like episode 1 to begin with, but I listened to ep 2 and then relistened to episode 1 and enjoyed it more. Really liked ep3.

I think it should be renamed John Finnermore's family history or something. It isn't really his normal show. But it is gentle and quite lovely.

It's definitely growing on me - each episode is adding more to the characters' stories in a really affectionate and charming way as well as bringing in more laughs. It's worth sticking with. The song especially.

It reminds me more of his Double Acts, more reflective and thoughtful. I didn’t realise he’d taken a different approach and listening to the first while doing something else, then realised I didn’t know what was going on! I do like it, but definitely hasn’t hit the spot of the normal JFSP, the previous 8 are my comfort listens and I’ve heard them over and over again (along with ISIHAC!).

I do love how he can make different strands of a story hang together in such a clever way.

I love souvenir programme, cabin pressure and double acts but I couldn't get into this at all.

I loved the latest one. I think when it finishes I'll go back and listen to the whole thing again. The song is marvellous.

Only listened to the first two so far. Initial thought was that there would be a clever callback at the end, but nothing really, though the 'you asked me for a story' was mildly amusing. Second episode revealed a link to the first, and now I'm wondering it the whole six episodes will tie neatly together much like the ridiculously clever 'you asked me for a story' at the end of Season 8. Think I will save the last four and listen to them as one.

We can take it as read that all six will tie together. I think I read a tweet from him confirming that, but it's just such a JF thing to do.

Ok, episode 3 was lovely and totally hung together so I went back to listen to ep 1 and 2 again which made more sense.

Not actually funny though, for the most part. Just gently clever.

I've just listened again to the first episode and the insult of "you spaniels" and the singing of A Nightingale Sang in Barclay Square made me laugh even more.

I hope they keep all the episodes on catch-up. When we get to no. 6, I have a feeling I'm going to need to listen to them all again to understand how they go together.

#4 was excellent. Rather intrigued about Aunt Gally now.

#5 was brilliant (to coin a phrase). Very, very much looking forward to #6 to see how it all ties together. Then I will listen to all 6 again. So many connections!

[very minor spoiler alert for the next paragraph]

Feeling pretty foolish not to have worked out until I saw something on Twitter just now that the Mr James who was spending Christmas with the Nightingale family in the 1890s and started to tell a ghost story at the very end was M. R. James. Doh!

You ass!

Sorry, couldn't resist!

Actually, that archaic language is a huge part of the appeal for me. It's so gentle but so beautifully observed and not in any way bland.

Some more diligent fans have started writing up blog posts setting things out in chronological order.

Where might I find these blog posts, if for instance I wanted to fill some time on a very quiet Friday in the office?