Trial by Laughter by Ian Hislop & Nick Newman
4 Extra Debut. The 1817 blasphemy and libel trial of the forgotten hero of free speech, William Hone. Comedy drama starring Robert Wilfort.
William Hone is the forgotten hero of free speech in Britain.
He was a bookseller, publisher and satirist. In 1817, he stood trial for 'impious blasphemy and seditious libel'.
His crime was to be funny. Worse than that he was funny by parodying religious texts. And worst of all, he was funny about the despotic government and the libidinous monarchy.
Ian Hislop and Nick Newman's comedy drama based on the real trial transcripts.
Hone ...... Robert Wilfort
Prince Regent ...... Arthur Bostrom
Cruikshank ...... Conrad Nelson
Ellenborough ...... Jonathan Keeble
Shepherd ...... David Benson
Abbott ...... Malcolm Raeburn
Lady Hertford ...... Melissa Sinden
Sarah ...... Fiona Clarke
Reporter ...... Graeme Hawley
Clerk ...... Graeme Hawley
Original music by Conrad Nelson.
Director: Gary Brown
Ian Hislop is the editor of Private Eye and a team captain on 'Have I got News for You'. Nick Newman is a satirical cartoonist for The Sunday Times and Private Eye. They have known each other since their schooldays and have written many successful TV programmes together including 'My Dad's the Prime Minister' and 'The Wipers Times'.
First broadcast on 大象传媒 Radio 4 in February 2016.
Last on
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Nick Newman looks at a scandalous historical pairing of satirist and cartoonist.
Clip
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"It's a story about the power of laughter"
Duration: 06:43
Credits
| Role | Contributor |
|---|---|
| Hone | Robert Wilfort |
| Prince Regent | Arthur Bostrom |
| Cruikshank | Conrad Nelson |
| Ellenborough | Jonathan Keeble |
| Shepherd | David Benson |
| Abbott | Malcolm Raeburn |
| Lady Hertford | Melissa Sinden |
| Sarah | Fiona Clarke |
| Reporter | Graeme Hawley |
| Clerk | Graeme Hawley |
| Director | Gary Brown |
| Producer | Gary Brown |
| Writer | Ian Hislop |
| Writer | Nick Newman |
Broadcasts
Sat 27 Feb 2016 14:30大象传媒 Radio 4- Sat 16 Sep 2017 14:30大象传媒 Radio 4
- Sun 23 Feb 2020 16:00大象传媒 Radio 4 Extra
- Mon 24 Feb 2020 04:00大象传媒 Radio 4 Extra
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