That Mitchell and Webb Sound: The Complete Series 1-5

The BBC Radio 4 Comedy Show

By: David Mitchell, Robert Webb

Narrated by: David Mitchell, Robert Webb, Olivia Colman, James Bachman, Sarah Hadland, Various

Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's summary

All five series of the award-winning sketch show—plus standalone comedy Daydream Believer

Welcome to the inside-out world of Mitchell and Webb, a strange and surreal place populated by misfits, eccentrics, talking animals and a few stray Radio 4 arts programme presenters.

Included here are all five series of their fantastically skewed comedy show, packed with offbeat sketches and peculiar characters. Meet seedy snooker commentators Ted and Peter; poorly matched crime-fighting duo Angel Summoner and BMX Bandit; a cop who doesn't get results but, by God, he does things by the book; and some nervous Nazis who've just noticed their caps have skulls on them...

Find out what James Bond is really like as a party guest; thrill to The Surprising Adventures of Sir Digby Chicken-Caesar; and play the maths quiz that everyone is talking about, but no one understands - Numberwang! In addition, you can listen to the Alpine Archers on Radio Switzerland; join Raymond Terrific and his panel of boffins on Big Talk; and tune in to the exciting new reality show Make Me a Celebrity Centaur, featuring soap stars, cutting-edge surgery and some horses.

Absurd, imaginative, and very funny, this acclaimed series won a Sony Silver Award and led to the hugely successful TV series That Mitchell and Webb Look. It stars David Mitchell and Robert Webb, with Olivia Colman, James Bachman and Sarah Hadland.

Also included is the half-hour sci-fi comedy Daydream Believers, in which David Mitchell and Robert Webb star as tetchy novelist Ray and his gormless flatmate Colin and, in a parallel space adventure concocted by Ray, as Baron Amstrad and his retro-looking android Info. The supporting cast incudes Olivia Colman, Mark Benton, Simon Greenall and Mark Evans.

Production credits

That Mitchell and Webb Sound

Written by and starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb

With Olivia Colman, Sarah Hadland and James Bachman

Produced by Gareth Edwards

First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 28 August-2 October 2003 (Series 1), 10 February-17th March 2005 (Series 2), 24 May-28 June 2007 (Series 3), 25 August-29 September 2009 (Series 4), 26 November-17 December 2013 (Series 5)

Daydream Believers

Written by and starring David Mitchell and Robert Webb

With Olivia Colman, Mark Benton, Simon Greenall and Mark Evans

Produced by Gareth Edwards

First broadcast BBC Radio 2, 5 May 2007

NB: Contains humour that some listeners may find offensive

©2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2023 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Critic reviews

"Fresh and full of invention." (The Telegraph)

99% loved it but needs some contextual trigger warning information

This was pretty much one of the funniest things I have heard in my life. There are some people who might be bothered by it, because they do make fun of self harm, and some other things like that. If you can’t handle dark humor, not all of this will be right for you.

Not British but I love Brit humor.

First awareness of David Williams was Upstart Crow, then the BBC panel shows such as 8 Out of 10 Cats, Would I Lie to You, QI... and then I found myself becoming a regular BBC viewer, but via online video. The BBC selections in the US (on PBS) are quite limited, so You Tube is my usual source.

Watching David go "head-to-head" with Rob Bryden, Lee Mack and Jimmy Carr is considerably more entertaining than tuning into a "Real Housewives of Wherever" episode. With David you know where you stand, but not by way of the pompous arrogance of a Pers Morgan.

Classic comedy from an underrated duo

Many of the skits from the television series originated from their BBC radio series, and they are all collected here. As an added treat, Oscar winner Olivia Colman was part of the troupe, and provides nearly all of the female characters’ voices. If you’re a fan of British humor, you should definitely give this one a listen.