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The Museum of Curiosity: Series 1-4  By  cover art

The Museum of Curiosity: Series 1-4

By: John Lloyd,Dan Schreiber,Richard Turner
Narrated by: full cast,John Lloyd
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Publisher's Summary

The Museum of Curiosity is BBC Radio 4's monumental comedy edifice, and the only one with gargoyles in the foyer. It allows nothing inside that doesn't make you scratch your head, stroke your chin or, at the very least, go 'hmm'. Fortunately, helping to fill its vacant plinths is a gathering of the world's most original minds. 

Among the guests bearing donations to the museum in these 25 episodes are Neil Gaiman, Sarah Millican, Clive James, Kate Adie, Sir Terry Pratchett, Ronni Ancona, Jon Ronson, Bettany Hughes, Ben Elton, Francesca Stavrakopoulou, Alain de Botton, Charlotte Uhlenbroek, Alistair Fothergill, Ruth Padel, Jonathan Miller, Lucie Green, Marcus du Sautoy, Sara Wheeler, Brian Eno, Shappi Khorsandi, John Hodgman, Chris Addison, Roger Law, Tim Minchin, Philip Pullman, Richard Wiseman, Victoria Finlay, Simon Singh, Jimmy Carr, Graham Linehan, Sarah Bakewell, Robin Ince, David Eagleman, Natalie Haynes, Brian Blessed, Alan Davies, Gareth Edwards, Martha Reeves, Harry Enfield, Helen Scales, Admiral Alan West and many more. 

In addition to all the episodes from the first four series, a previously unbroadcast pilot episode, The Professor of Curiosity, is also included. Running time: 12 hours approx. 

Audio updated as of August 2018. 

©2017 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2017 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

What listeners say about The Museum of Curiosity: Series 1-4

Average Customer Ratings
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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Not complete

Each track ends approximately 6 minuets into a 30 minuet program and then moves to the next program automatically.



9 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Laughter and Facts I didn't know

made me feel like I was in the room with all these intersting people talking about ideas that spark the imagination.

1 person found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great Title, but missing a few episodes

The show itself is entertaining and interesting. However, it is missing a few episodes. Frustrating, but still worth the money.

1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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So much fun!

For anyone with a modicum of curiosity about anything this radio show is funny, enlightening and absolutely charming!!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great Series

I wish I would have discovered this sooner. It is hilarious, captivating and thought provoking.

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Very interesting stuff

Enlightening and entertaining, on a broad range of topics, from scientists, writers,, historians, and entertainers. etc...

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    5 out of 5 stars

best of british humor

what a recording. the best comedians with fascinating guests sharing esoteric facts make this a big hit.

if you enjoy mock the week or quite interesting you'll love this.

Bill Bailey, Sean Locke, Brian Blessed, Jimmy Carr, Alan Davies, the editor of Viz Magazine, the creator behind Spitting Image, Ben Elton... the list goes on and on.

well worth the credits.

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Not sure how I feel about this one

This is somewhat of a spinoff of the awesome QI show and that's the problem as much as I enjoyed the show, it does come off as QI Lite and I haven't decided if that's a bad thing or not.

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Good, funny, thinky entertainment

This radio series fits nicely in the family of QI on TV and the No Such Thing as a Fish podcast. Interesting guests, some of whom I knew, many of whom (scientists and experts) I did not.

Great fodder for falling down Wikipedia holes.

Will be buying the next batch now.

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Great

Really unique and fun. Also, it helps people to appreciate life. Both fun and deep.

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  • Steven
  • 03-01-17

A disappointing collection

normally I'm a huge fan of the QI team and the radio version of this is superb, however I can't recommend this version. Episodes just cut off in mid stream and without warning. After speaking to Audible tech support it appears to be a problem with the recording of this item. so I heartily recommend you don't buy this item until they fix this problem or you won't get a whole episode in the collection.

36 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Phil Smith
  • 03-02-17

Episodes are cut short

The next episode starts before the previous episode has finished! Takes the shine off a very enjoyable series.

25 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • AGR
  • 03-22-17

Sort out the problem!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I really enjoy this radio programme but only came across it a couple of years ago so it is great to be able to go back and listen to the early episodes. However, as noted by other reviewers, the first two end mid-episode. If it really is a problem with the original recording (and I don't believe that) then Audible should WARN PEOPLE in the audiobook description. If not, it should be updated so that we can download the complete audiobook we paid for.

Don't let this put you off downloading the audiobook. At least you know to expect the abrupt end to several episodes. The programmes themselves are great fun.

12 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • J. Sanson
  • 10-18-17

Excellent series, first two episodes need fixing

The first two episodes of the series end early. If this could be fixed, this is a perfect audiobook. Funny, interesting, makes me feel ten times cleverer. Is that a word???

9 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Splodge
  • 12-16-17

Still broken

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Not really, the first two episodes don't work. Amazon have had months to fix it but haven't bothered.

What did you like best about this story?

The bits that do work are fun and interesting

What does John Lloyd and full cast bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

There isn't a book, this is a stupid question.

Was The Museum of Curiosity: Series 1-4 worth the listening time?

Yes

Any additional comments?

Audible FIX IT! We pay for this stuff.

8 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Eva
  • 07-21-17

Episodes suddenly cuts off

Many chapters suddenly ends in mid-sentence. The host would ask an interesting question, Bill Bailey would begin to answer, and then after 4 words, the chapter ends. Lousy editing.

8 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • jenchris50
  • 04-17-17

Abrupt endings

Listened to 2 eps so far and each one cuts off mid-sentence. Funny but disappointing.

8 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Andrew 101
  • 03-01-21

Problems now fixed .

I wish to point out that the problems reported by previous reviewers have now been sorted.
I just finished listening and can report that no episodes were cut short.
This should probably be mentioned in the description in case people are put off as I nearly was.

7 people found this helpful

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Mark W.
  • 06-23-17

INCOMPLETE RECORDINGS. DO NOT PURCHASE

Loved the show. Hate that each episode is INCOMPLETE. Hopefully an update is coming to fix this mess.

7 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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  • Colin Main
  • 06-18-18

great show but broken recording

not one episode is complete - the dolt who recorded then cut them short. needs fixing.

6 people found this helpful

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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Nicole
  • 02-19-17

Oh, the British!!!

I loved this. Except for the fact that each chapter seems to finish half way through the actual episode. Poor Bill Bailey is half way through a sentence and it cuts to the next chapter, the start of the next episode.
I need the knowledge Bill was going to impart!

9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Rohan
  • 11-13-17

First two episodes cut short

Great show but the first two episodes are missing the last few minutes, if this was fixed it would be excellent

6 people found this helpful

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    1 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • CAROLINE
  • 11-22-17

a Rip-off

This is a brilliant series, however!! You don't get the full episodes, they cut out before they are over. I'm so disappointed. If you're paying for 24 episodes of the series you should receive the full episode.

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Todd Sales
  • 04-05-20

lovely, educational and above all, funny

On to seasons 5-8.. loved it.. particularly the Bill Bailey episodes when was the curator of the museum. Interesting guests who were also very funny. Highly recommend.

2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Thomas
  • 02-16-18

A book by legends.

If you like interesting facts, told by people you want to have a beer with, and enjoy a good laugh - you'll love this audiobook. I did.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Mindy
  • 01-12-22

an entertaining and edifying experience

i heard of this when Dan Schreiber was on RHLSTP - what a joy to find it!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Jesse
  • 07-12-19

Amazing! Definitely worth a listen.

Fascinating people with interesting objects which may or may not exist, donate to the museum.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Phoebe
  • 03-06-18

fun and informative

Very entertaining and educational. good list of guests and curators. lacks the female representation of later seasons

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Ben
  • 12-26-17

Brilliant!

Great radio production. It will expand of your horizons and at the same time have you grinning like an idiot whether you're on the train or behind the wheel.