Frank Off The Radio: The Frank Skinner Podcast

Avalon

1437 - Pretending To Be Asleep

Frank Off The Radio: The Frank Skinner Podcast is a comedy and conversational series that serves as the independent successor to Skinner’s long-standing Saturday morning program on Absolute Radio. Following a 15-year tenure on the United Kingdom’s commercial airwaves, the show transitioned into a dedicated podcast format in October 2024. The production is managed by Avalon and distributed via the Adelicious network, maintaining a release schedule of two episodes per week, typically on Mondays and Fridays.

The program features veteran comedian Frank Skinner alongside regular co-hosts Emily Dean, a broadcaster and author, and Pierre Novellie, an acclaimed comedian and writer. This trio continues the unscripted, observational style established during the show’s radio era. The content is characterized by a mix of witty banter, personal anecdotes, and reactions to contemporary news. A significant portion of each episode is dedicated to listener contributions, where the hosts engage with stories and queries submitted by the audience via email and social media.

Historically, the show’s predecessor was a prominent fixture in the British audio landscape, earning several Gold awards from the Radio Academy (now the ARIAs) for Best Speech Programme and Best Entertainment/Comedy Production. In 2015, Skinner was inducted into the Radio Academy Hall of Fame, reflecting the show's influence on the medium. While primarily a comedy program, the podcast occasionally delves into literary and cultural themes, aligning with Skinner's other audio projects such as his critically acclaimed poetry series.

The editorial tone of the podcast is colloquial and direct, focusing on the chemistry between the three presenters. It avoids the rigid structures of traditional broadcast radio, opting instead for a free-flowing dialogue that mimics informal social interactions. Despite its transition from live radio to an on-demand digital format, the show retains its core identity as a community-driven program that prioritizes humor derived from the mundane aspects of daily life and the idiosyncratic contributions of its global listener base.

1437 - Pretending To Be Asleep