The Fo’Show: Recording at Gardies

Tuesday 18^th January, 7.30pm

[rating: 4/5]

I have to admit, I was sceptical. A radio recording? In Gardies? Surely not. Having hitherto lived under a proverbial rock, I had never heard of The Fo’ Show before (although I do seem to be the only person in all of Cambridge not to have) and arrived predicting the stammers and awkward pauses you associate with amateur radio. I could not have been more wrong. Although the show started somewhat shakily, possibly a case of post holiday nerves from presenter Ben Weisz, after a few minutes the show was in full swing and all my scepticism had been erased.

While perhaps not strictly hysterical, The Fo’ Show did make me smile and giggle girlishly all the way through. With a succession of comedy ’rounds’, there was something for everyone: a blind tasting (commendable use of space), 70s disco space invaders, the always obligatory topical news quiz,  and a rap battle, which somehow worked despite (or perhaps because of) the oh so Cambridge-educated accents. In short, it was everything a student radio panel show ought to be: light hearted, witty, and easy to listen to.

Panelists Rob Young, Pierre Novellie, Matt Lloyd and Sian Docksey managed to combine being both charming and cutting, and their experience was clearly evident: there was nothing amateur about The Fo’ Show. It was Sian who conclusively stole the show, however, in the aforementioned rap-battle, despite sometimes seeming to take a backseat to her more outspoken co-panelists.

It is worth bearing in mind that what I witnessed was by no means the final product, and, given the success of this rough version, I have no doubt that with the necessary tweaking and editing the show will be delightfully slick and well worth a listen.