Why we love John Finnemore

On 7 January, Radio 4 was handed over to comedian John Finnemore. Why? Because he's ace, that’s why. A lion in the jungle of radio comedy, he’s has won stacks of awards for writing and acting in Cabin Pressure, John Finnemore’s Souvenir Programme and much more. And there are plenty more reasons to love him...

Radio gaga

John never wanted to work on TV. "Radio was always where I wanted to do things," he says. "There's something about doing it on radio, being able to do whatever you like without worrying about budget or costume or filming time, doing it there and then in front of an audience."

Typecasting?

John appeared in the sitcom Miranda as Chris, who he describes as “a very punchable man”.

Eating sandwiches with Sherlock

One of the most fantastic things about Cabin Pressure was its cast, including Benedict Cumberbatch, Stephanie Cole and Roger Allam. John worried about presenting Benedict Cumberbatch with just a plate of sandwiches for lunch, thinking it would seem a bit lame after he’d hit the big time as Sherlock. "He's dealt with it very well, he seems exactly the same,” John said. But it did significantly increase the number of applications to watch an episode being recorded live. To 23,000, to be precise.

Animal magic

He had to put dead cats in the deep freeze when he did work experience, thinking he wanted to be a vet.

Introducing Arthur

John himself plays the adorably naive Arthur the ever-optimistic flight attendant in Cabin Pressure. In Arthur he’s created a sort of cross between Father Dougal and Stan Laurel: people alternately want to cuddle and then throttle him, particularly when he’s insisting on people playing one of his infuriating and nonsensical games.

Hacked off

John took to the mic on The Now Show and did an astonishing and hugely popular eight minute routine on the press hacking scandal which was searched for online for months afterwards.

Living dangerously

As a child his favourite activity was to take bin bags to a local sand quarry and slide down the sides of it, “very much in the manner of the first half of a public information film about why children shouldn’t play in quarries”, he says.

Equal laughter opportunities

He performs John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme alongside Simon Kane, Carrie Quinlan, Lawry Lewin and Margaret Cabourn-Smith. And the women get most of the funny lines, play men if they feel like it, and never get the stooge role. Hoorah!

And the winner is...

John Finnemore has also won more Comedy.co.uk Awards than any other writer.

Quite right too!

Listen to the latest series of John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme on Radio 4 on Tuesdays at 6.30pm or online.