Product Description

Six episodes from series 3 and 4 of the sitcom set in Hell.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #215237 in Books
• Published on: 2003-07-07
• Released on: 2003-07-07
• Number of discs: 3
• Format: Audiobook
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 2
• Binding: Audio CD

Customer Reviews

Popes kneel on runways to ease the pain of the contractions.
The premise that each individual is tormented in Satan's realm in a manner appropriate to their worldly sins may not be entirely new but Andy Hamilton's view of this had me laughing out loud from the start. The monstrous images created, from Enoch Powell being forced to sing in a reggae band, to Mozart being forced to listen to the whole of "Cosi Fan Tutte" being played on a Hammond Organ by a giant suppurating (and entirely tone-deaf) tapeworm adds to the sense of vicarious pleasure we all derive from seeing someone else get their comeuppance.

As other reviewers have pointed out, the comedy is best savoured without pictures, as it was orignally broadcast on radio. We can therefore all have our own image of what Scumspawn really looks like in his guise as "something that looks as if it has been washed up on the beach at Sellafield".

Brighten up your journey home in the car. By the time you've got home, nothing that happened during the day can possible seem quite as absurd as what you have listened to on the way home - Satan keeping the last six centuries' Popes permanently pregnant is one abiding thought.

If your sense of humour is warped (like mine) you'll love it!
This has to be one of the funniest radio shows to have ever hit the airwaves. Andy Hamilton, the writer, who also plays Satan, has created a take on Hell that is hilariously funny and extremely witty.

These are 6 episodes from the first two series. Thomas and the Professor have both died in the same car crash. Thomas for being the director of a privatised water company and the Prof. for being an atheist. Hell is currently in a bit of turmoil as Satan's deputy demon, Gary, wants to try the sort of rebellion (or "representation by middle management") against Satan that landed Satan and all his minions down there in the first place due to the doubts that Satan is having because of the "arty-farty notions" that the eternally optimistic professor continues to spout no matter what diabolical torture he is exposed to.

Although it is a repeating theme, the idea of the most obvious and appropriate torture for all of the inmates is hilariously funny. For instance every Pope is held at an eternal eight months pregnant, and Enoch Powell is playing eternally in a reggae band. Satan will go through a search for the meaning of happiness (not because he is ever likely to attain it, just because he is curious) and calls on Buddha (also down there for atheism) and several other philosophers (including Machiavelli whose definition is "poisoning people without getting caught"). Gary is brought to trial after having led an unsuccessful rebellion to form "New Hell" for which he is tried by Satan and this leads to the revelation that God's first name is Nigel and He created humans for a bet, and He then freezes hell over. The second series concentrates on Satan's search for a new deputy, even thought the ever present, hideous, but surprisingly vulnerable, demon Scumspawn is desperate for the job.

The humour is definitely warped but extremely clever and highly original, with some wonderful one-liners and although I love it, I have to say it is unusual and may not appeal to everyone.

Devilishy Good
Supreme comedy writing from Andy Hamilton.

Original, witty and very entertaining, Hamilton's comedy set in Hell pushes all the right laughter buttons in an intelligent, satirical and possibly contemporary account of just how it might all be going on down there!

Wonderful stuff!