John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme: Series 9

The BBC Radio 4 Comedy Sketch Show

By: John Finnemore

Narrated by: John Finnemore, Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Simon Kane, Carrie Quinlan, Lawry Lewin

Length: 2 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

The complete ninth series of BBC Radio 4's award-winning sketch show.

John Finnemore returns with his multi-award-winning sketch show, but this series is very different to the previous eight. There are still sketches and songs, and it's still written and performed by him and his usual fantastic ensemble cast - but with no live studio audience, John has taken the opportunity to try something new. 

Each episode in this series of Souvenir Programme consists of scenes from one person's life, played in reverse order. There's no narrative as such - it's still a sketch show - but as we follow the characters back in time, from lockdown Zoom calls to childhood birthdays and funerals, the individual sketches link up to form an overall picture, portraying the sprawling history of an entire multi-generational family. 

And, as if that wasn't enough, there are also some terrific tall tales, a paean of praise and a truly unforgettable earworm.... 

Clever, complex, hilarious and poignant, these Souvenir Programmes with a twist star Lawry Lewin as Russ, Margaret Cabourn-Smith as Deborah, Simon Kane as Jerry, Carrie Quinlan as Vanessa and John Finnemore as Newt. 

Cast and credits

Written and performed by John Finnemore 

Ensemble cast: Margaret Cabourn-Smith, Simon Kane, Lawry Lewin, Carrie Quinlan 

Original music composed by Susannah Pearse and Sally Stares, and arranged by Susannah Pearse and Tim Sutton 

Recorded and edited by Rich Evans at Syncbox Post 

Production coordinator: Beverly Tagg 

Producer: Ed Morrish 

A BBC Studios production 

©2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2021 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Critic Reviews

"One of our best sketch writers." (Observer)

Not really "The souvenir Programme"

I don't think this should be called Souvenir Programme... Maybe, John Finnemore's A Family Tree? This wasn't like the past seasons, but it was (for me) an easy going compellation, that while not funny like past shows, was entertaining and even a little emotional. The addled story teller from past seasons, makes sense now, somehow! I enjoyed it a lot!

It's prequels all the way down

Well, not really, but it's important to read the blurb that briefly explains how each skit is a slice-of-life of a character initially introduced in the first Zoom group, and each slice-of-life goes backwards in time to another slice-of-life in that person's lifetime, and then backwards again, and again.

We see how others in that group intersect that person's life.
Later we go back in time with someone else in that group.

Then, at the end, we are back in the present, at the Zoom call, and suddenly we see everyone with their life story, and understand the ritual/joke and the ties that bind.

It's poignant.

I've listened to John Finnemore's Double Acts and Souvenir Programmes multiple times. Both have humanity and humor as the underlying foundation, although Double Acts is deeper and Souvenir Programmes is lighter.

This had the feel of the Double Acts vignettes, but the structure and some Easter Egg type references to Souvenir Programmes past skit elements. Those connections made me smile.

Since I already have a habit of multiple listens of good writing, this will be fun to unpack over more listens. Because there are too many details to absorb with just one listen.

Huh…..?

Loved every season of this so far. Not sure what happened this time? Maybe I’m just too slow-witted - but just didn’t get the first 3 episodes and didn’t bother listening beyond.

Out of the norm for this show, but needs must

Series 9, recorded without a live audience and with a socially distanced cast, took quite a different turn than the previous eight series; however, it still shares quite a bit of DNA with series 1-8 while borrowing a tonal shift from Double Acts. Instead of entirely unrelated sketches, we're treated to selected snapshots of the lives of several generations of a family, and listeners are rewarded with references to other sketches hidden throughout the entire series. The departure from the normal format due to COVID lockdown is likely the culprit for the low ratings, and while this certainly is a departure, it's no less a quality programme. People who enjoy this series will almost certainly enjoy the afore mentioned John Finnemore's Double Acts (and vice-versa).

I'm sorry, but COVID is no excuse for this.

I get it, I really really do. Trying to do a comedy show without a live studio audience and with the performers probably recording from home, must have been a total nightmare. Regardless, this absolutely is not the solution. There's barely any comedy here, and what there is is pretty weak. if Mr. Finnemore wanted to try something new, that's fine, but don't make it part of the Souvenir Programme, call it something else. I don't think anybody would have blamed them for taking hiatus. Or, if you're really going to do this, what in the world is with the reverse chronology?? It's ridiculously difficult to follow, and while it's cute to see how certain elements were created, I'm sure I'm missing a bunch of the things just because of it being out of order.

I would NOT buy this season if you're a fan, I hope future ones are better!

Not what I was expecting

I love John Finnemore's stuff. Souvenir Programme, Cabin Pressure, Double Acts but I struggled with this one. I just don't get it.

Yes, it's short on comedy. No, it doesn't stint on invention

I was given an audible account that had five of John Finemore's series pre-loaded, and I enjoyed every single one of them! Then my former coworker suggested I listen to this series, and I have to say that my admiration of Finamore, as a storyteller, as well as a comedian, has only increased. This series had me chuckling, laughing out loud, but also pondering life's imponderables, which, given the time it was created, and the circumstances, is perfectly justified.

I know for some it disappoints because it isn't all comedy, but I think it is the richer for what he has done. I'm sorry if it is appointed some, but I'm not sorry to have listened to it.

"Poignant " - from the Audible description - fits

Artists are allowed to make things that differ from their familiar body of work. This is definitely something new and different . On my first listen, I felt a bit lost, although as the episodes unfolded, I began to follow the threads. On subsequent hearings, I became more engaged and attached. The humor is gentler and subtler here. The tenderness of the stories and the characters is quite moving. As always ,John and the cast capture so many moments and emotions. I will listen to this more and more.
Side note; Why isn"t series six available in US market? I return to all of Finnemore's works oftener and oftener.

Loved it. An entire family history of a character.

I'd been a fan of the earlier series and was expecting for of the same, but this departure from the formula built the disjoint family history of a regular character from earlier series. Scene by scene, the threads were woven together after the initial confusion. It left me with such warm feelings toward the characters in the same way I had with Cabin Pressure.

The format is different - but it is WONDERFUL

I'm leaving this review to let you know that this series is very different than the others but PLEASE stick with it, it's incredible. I was unsure on my first listen, because the format took some getting used to. But honestly this might be the best thing John Finnemore has ever written. The scope of it is ambitious, and it gets better and better on repeated listens. You'll be surprised and maybe confused at first, but I promise you'll be glad you stuck with it. It's not your typical Souvenir Programme, but if you are aware of that going in you can appreciate it for the amazing creation that it is.

Gutted, so dissapointed, not funny, actually dull

Prepurchased as I have every other series, expensive compared to others as very short, but previously worth it as I have listened countless times. Often to unwind as I go to sleep.

This series had been ruined, first they replace the theme tune which previously set the energy and was great, to some tepid nothingness.

Sadly they have also moved from comedy sketches to what feels like mildly depressing diary entries.

I love the team and the previous body of work, but this is a miss from me. I will be returning. Please get series 10 out soon, but bring back the old style.

Not as good as hoped

I've loved pretty much all the radio comedy John Finnemore has done - Cabin Pressure in particular - and the absolute gem that was Cabin Fever helped me get through the first covid lockdown. Therefore, I'm deeply disappointed in this latest series of the Souvenir Programme. The premise is interesting but I think it would have worked better as its own thing, like Double Acts, rather than being the latest series of the Souvenir Programme, and it definitely loses something without the energy of a live audience (although for obvious reasons, live recording wouldn't have been possible). I was listening wondering where all the clever sketches and hilarious songs had gone, and I barely chuckled throughout. Don't mistake me - as always, the show was well written and clever, and the performances were their usual high quality - and there were some good moments - but this latest series just wasn't what I was expecting, and it simply wasn't for me.

Very different to previous series, but good

John Finnemore’s sketch show has run for 8 series and was starting to get a little bit stale, albeit still better than literally anything else out there. This series, his 9th, is a very different beast, eschewing the sketch format for a six episode long tale of a family full of peculiar traditions and secrets. Warm, fleshed out characters and funny asides are all wrapped up in a bravely non-linear structure, where each episode focuses on a single character and then bounces back through their timeline and that of their ancestors, giving a whole story from a Christmas Day dinner in 1899 to Zoom calls and Covid vaccinations in 2021.

It’s a brave piece of work, and repeat listens are recommended, as you’ll find out the origin of family phrases like “Half a Glass”, a phrase prominent in the first episode but not revealed until much later.

However, as clever as the show is, it’s perhaps a little bit too self-indulgent. The structure works over the course of the whole six episodes, but it’s a little bit difficult and (whisper it) maybe even a bit (dare I say) boring in the first couple of episodes, and I almost stopped listening. It would have been a shame as this is definitely worth listening to, and at only 2h47m it’s not a massive time investment compared to some multi-booked series of novels either, but it will leave you with a similar sense of satisfaction.

One recommendation - once you have listened to it, search for the website titled “Well since you ask me” as that contains a sortable and easy to use reference for this series that will help you understand the whole series in case some of the more obscure plot points pass you by (and some things are hammered home, others are quick, just like real life).

Overall, if you’re expecting another sketch series with an underlying set of ideas and shaggy dog stories to finish each episode, then this is not it - but it is very, very good. It should have been a different programme title though, as putting it under the same name undermines the simple power of this piece of work. I suggest “The Family by John Finnemore”. I think that would be a better and more fitting title.

Depressingly unfunny

Typically I love this show, but this time around John and co should have not bothered and waited until they could try out the material.

Left me very confused and feeling I’d wasted a valuable credit on this waste of time and energy

Disappointing addition to the previous series

Very disappointed with this. Loved all the previous series - clever and witty humour with skilled performances from the entire cast.

By comparison these episodes performances and quite subdued and the scripts , again clever aren’t especially funny.

gutted

great fan of John and the team, love what they do, how its written and performed.
the souvenir programme, double acts, cabin pressure has cheered me everytime........but (and I'm sorry for this) i just just wasn't the same at all .
the theme tune seemed somber, the intro almost apologetic . it just didn't feel like i was listening to john finnemore.

Very disappointed

I absolutely ADORE everything John Finnemore did before. I have all his audiobooks, all previous series of the Souvenir Programme and Double Acts, also Cabin fever. The previous Souvenir Programmes are my absolute favourites, listened to all of them repeatedly countless times while commuting or walking, and still laughed out loud each time, they really are a work of genius.
Sadly, I just did not get this one. I listened to the end and was secretly hoping that there will be a strike of genius again at the end, some very clever twist bringing all the random, and rather boring stories together. It just did not happen. They are not funny at all, and are either not clever at all or too clever to understand, at least I personally just could not see to point. In fact it was quite tedious, and I kept thinking 'what is this all about, I am missing something?' The cast of course are wonderful as always. I am gutted though as I was so much looking forward to this, hoping it will bring some joy after a horrid 18 months. Very sadly it just brought boredom and disappointment. I hope John will return to his usual form next time.

Brilliant

Really enjoyed this - it was a departure from the usual souvenir programme for obvious reasons but very cleverly done. This needs multiple hhearings and each time you pick up on something else that links back / forward. I personally would thoroughly recommend.

A Welcome Change of Pace

More akin to Double Acts than previous, but that bothers me not at all! Finnemore, Cabourn-Smith, Kane, Lewin, and Quinlan take us on a unique, heartfelt, and oft-amusing journey back and forth through time, and up and down several family trees, darting from branch to branch with ease.

The pandemic has caused a lot of upheaval and damage to a lot of people, but there have been some treasured consequences, also. This is one that I shall always treasure.