Next Level Sketch

It’s the start of November, which can only mean two things: it’s time to launch our second season, and it’s time to do our spooky, November themed Halloween special.

All change in the Next Level Sketch castle, as Muireann Kelly hosts, as she did throughout the first series too, honest. Who is this Paul Creasy you mention? He sounds made up.

Elsewhere in this episode you may find yourself lost in Britain Home Stores, hear the howling of bigoted wolves, and enjoy the sexiness of Steve, the sexy Halloween cat. We also can’t rule out the possibility of your getting woken up at 6am by the builders or finding yourself in the forbidden section of the library. You have been warned.

This week’s episode contains sketches written by James Walsh, Muireann Kelly, Nadine Bailey, Rachel Cader, Sarit Wilson Chen, Ben Fortescue, Roderick Millar, and Paul Creasy. Along with the writers, the sketches were also performed by Manisha Patel, Jess Carrivick, Jenna Cole, Vic Dry, Greg Davies, Zoe Browne, Cody Whittaker and Dan Smith. Our thanks to Dr Ruth Martin, who provided additional wolf noises. The jingles were written by James Walsh and the theme tune was written by James Walsh and performed by James Walsh and Rebecca Diez.

The season finale! It might seem arbitrary, but it was time to put season one of the Next Level Sketch podcast out of its misery, as if it were a Radio 1 DJ still playing Dire Straits in 1993.

The first episode of Season 2 will be along next month, so think of this as a gloriously renewal, not a bitter and terrible end.

Episode 10 contains many lovely sketches and some frankly odd jingles and songs, but that’s not what this episode description is about. No indeed. Instead, it’s to thank all you loyal listeners out there for sticking with us throughout this mysterious year, during which we had to stop doing live shows and instead learn how to put together a professional quality sketch comedy podcast in double quick time while also occasionally remembering to do our day jobs.

We’re so honoured and slightly teary-eyed by all the work put in by the burgeoning Next Level Sketch collective, from the crucial Zoom meeting sketch read through and feedback to the writing, performance and production effort going in to the finished episodes. For the latter, we offer all our thanks to podcast producer Paul, who has given up a lot of his weekends to put the past ten episodes together. As a reward, he will also be made to direct our first live show since February, scheduled for 27th October at The Miller in London Bridge.

Come along!?

Have you ever wondered what would happen if Elon Musk and Richard Branson starred in a 1950s style sitcom together while trapped in a moon penal colony? We have, apparently. Elsewhere in this very, utterly eighth episode of sketch comedy, we have balding werewolves, some Tories, a nuclear submarine, a very serious news organisation, and, back by popular demand: horses. This episode features sound effects from Zapsplat.com, Freesound.org, and our own mouths. Episode 8 of the Next Level Sketch podcast featured sketches written by Zoe Browne, James Walsh, Paul Creasy, Jess Carrivick, James Turner, Daniel Smith, Greg Davies, Ben Fortescue and Nadine Bailey. The sketches were also performed by Rachel Cader, Jimmy Jameson, Euan Brown, Jenna Cole, Vic Dry and Muireann Kelly. Jingles were written and performed by James Walsh and Avalina Kreska. The theme tune was written by James Walsh and performed by James Walsh and Rebecca Diez.

Episode 7 introduces the hero we need right now, but probably don’t deserve: the Handyman, fighting against darkness, entropy, and mild engine issues.

Elsewhere in this week’s deeply soggy episode, Kylie Minogue opens a novelty food franchise, Dracula is frustrated with the monster classifieds service, and a mother from Stevenage attempts to win some kind of horrific and cruel game show.

Warning: this episode features an esteemed nature documentarian getting sexually excited by rhinos, and also Black Lace; as such it may not be appropriate for younger listeners.

We’ve made it to six episodes, which means we are officially a classic radio comedy series, and you can never take that away from us. We are bursting with content this week: choirs, letters from listeners, detectives, radio stations, robotic algorithms, pirates, and trust exercises. We are fairly certain you will have an enjoyable time.

It lives! Our debut sketch podcast episode is definitely a real thing that you’re about to listen to. Close your eyes (unless you’re operating heavy machinery) and enjoy deliveries to space stations, hard hitting reporting on Britain’s Toughest School, disturbing fairy stories, and an unexpected endorsement from The Human League’s Phil Oakey.