Tim Key - Radio & Television

Radio & Television

In 2005, Key was commissioned to write a radio show for BBC Radio 4 based on his stage show Luke & Stella. The show's name changed to All Bar Luke and was produced by Seb Barwell for Angel Eye. Series 1 aired in 2006, series 2 aired in 2007. The third series aired for the first time in Summer 2008. A Christmas special was broadcast in Christmas 2009.

In 2006, Key worked on Time Trumpet, Armando Iannucci's inventive sketch show set in thirty years time and reflecting on the present and the future. Key took the part of an EastEnders special effects supervisor. He worked with Iannucci again on a pilot, Shush, by Rebecca Front, Morwenna Banks and Arthur Mathews.

There have also been two series of Cowards on BBC Radio 4, produced by Victoria Lloyd. The first series aired in April 2007, and series two was broadcast in 2008. Both have since been released on CD by BBC Worldwide. In 2009 Cowards transferred to BBC Four. directed by Steve Bendelack, and produced by Seb Barwell.

Key was also resident poet on Out To Lunch on BBC Radio 2 in 2007.

In 2007, Key appeared on Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe, reading a poem about Deal Or No Deal and again in November 2008, reading other poems about the Russell Brand/Jonathan Ross media spectacle, and children's TV advertising.

In 2008 and 2009, Key was resident poet on the radio show Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better hosted by Mark Watson, on BBC Radio 4, each week reading a poem about human virtues. In series one of the show, Tim Minchin provided music and songs, with Tom Basden taking the role in series two.

In 2009, Key also co-created We Need Answers, a panel show pitting two celebs against each other, for BBC Four. Mark Watson and Alex Horne made the show with Key and celebs answering questions included Germaine Greer, Neil Innes and Robert Llewellyn.

In 2009, Key appeared on the spin-off television series Charlie Brooker's Newswipe, reading poems in a section named "The Topical Poetry of Tim Key". He returned with his poetry in the second series of Newswipe in 2010.

In 2010 Key appeared as Duncan in Tom Basden's BBC Radio 4 sitcom Party.

In November 2010 Key appeared as 'Sidekick Simon' alongside Steve Coogan on “Mid Morning Matters", a new online series based on Coogan's Alan Partridge character. The series was also broadcast on Sky Atlantic in 2012.

In 2010 he appeared on the music panel show Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

In 2011 he appeared as a TV interviewer in episode 2 of the sitcom Life's Too Short.

Also in 2011, he returned to BBC Radio 4 with Mark Watson and Tom Basden, for a six-week, live variation on Mark Watson Makes the World Substantially Better entitled Mark Watson's Live Address To The Nation. Key and Basden again contributed poetry, music and general interjections, and assisted Watson in carrying out various challenges at the end of the show as decided by the listeners.

In July 2011, he presented his first documentary for BBC Radio 4, "Tim Key's Suspended Sentence", about famous first lines in literary history, including A Tale Of Two Cities, Moby Dick and Tristram Shandy, under the pretence of writing his own first novel. The programme also featured examples from the Bulwer–Lytton Fiction Contest. His second documentary for Radio 4, "Tim Key and Gogol's Overcoat" aired in November 2012.

In 2012 he reunited with Tom Basden for Tim Key's Late Night Poetry Programme on BBC Radio 4; a six-week run of 15 minute segments featuring Tim Key reading poetry with Tom Basden providing musical accompaniment, intercut with banter between the two comedians. The programme started on 22 February and ran until 28 March 2012. Topics included Family, Death, Chance, Superstition, Egypt and Work.

Also in 2012, he made a short cameo appearance as a hospital doctor in the Series Six of the E4 show Skins (TV Series).