Act Your Age. Image of Simon Mayo. Image credit: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Act Your Age
Act Your Age. Image of Simon Mayo. Image credit: British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Repeat Scheduled:
  Wed 15th Jul (23.00, Radio 4) Go

Act Your Age

Radio 4 panel show that pits the comic generations against each other. Simon Mayo hosts, with captains Roy Walker, Lucy Porter and Jon Richardson

Genre:
Panel Show
Broadcast:
2008  (BBC Radio 4)
Episodes:
6 (1 series)
Starring:
Simon Mayo, Jon Richardson, Lucy Porter, Roy Walker
Writers:
Ashley Blaker, Bill Matthews, Ged Parsons, Stephen Carlin, John-Luke Roberts, Lee Stuart Evans, Lucy Clarke, Will Ing
Production:
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Act Your Age was a radio panel show which 'tried to determine which age of comedy was the greatest'.

Each edition featured Simon Mayo giving out a series of different comedy games and challenges to the three teams. There was the 'Up-And-Comers', lead by Jon Richardson, the 'Current Crop' captained by Lucy Porter, and the 'Old Guard' who had Roy Walker at the helm.

Our Review: Most of the BCG editorial team weren't exactly enamoured with this series; scoring often didn't seem to tally with the content, it didn't flow well at times (awkward pauses aplenty), and suffered from some rather weak jokes. In fact, believe it or not, the Doctor Who 'knock-knock' joke (yes, that one) was wheeled out in the first episode!

It didn't get any better as the series progressed, with the panellists recycling jokes left, right and centre in order to get laughs - but then, that was half of the point of the programme.

Summary: If you're a fan of shows such as Hello, Cheeky! with cheap gags, short comic anecdotes and one-liners, then Act Your Age will go down a treat. If you're after something a bit more highbrow, then best to stay clear - the show was voted by users of this website as the "Worst British Radio Panel Show/Satire" of 2008.