Chain Reaction (radio)

Chain Reaction (nicknamed "the tag-team talk show") is a hostless chat show first broadcast on BBC Radio 5 in 1991, and then revived on BBC Radio 4 in 2005. Each week an individual from the world of entertainment selects someone that they would like to interview. This interviewee goes on to be the next week's interviewer.

The first series comprised four programmes broadcast on Radio 5 on successive nights starting on New Year's Eve 31 December 1991, with the following guests:

• Ralph Steadman interviewing John Cleese
• John Cleese interviewing William Goldman
• William Goldman interviewing Ian McKellen
• Ian McKellen interviewing Glenys Kinnock

The first revived series comprised six episodes, with the following guests:

• Jenny Eclair interviewing Jimmy Carr
• Jimmy Carr interviewing Matt Lucas
• Matt Lucas interviewing Johnny Vegas
• Johnny Vegas interviewing Stewart Lee
• Stewart Lee interviewing Alan Moore
• Alan Moore interviewing Brian Eno

The second series comprised six episodes, with the following guests:

• Jo Brand interviewing Barry Cryer
• Barry Cryer interviewing Mark Thomas
• Mark Thomas interviewing Alexei Sayle
• Alexei Sayle interviewing Lenny Henry
• Lenny Henry interviewing Bill Bailey
• Bill Bailey interviewing Simon Pegg

The third series comprised six episodes, with the following guests:

• Marcus Brigstocke interviewing Clive Anderson
• Clive Anderson interviewing John Lloyd
• John Lloyd interviewing Phill Jupitus
• Phill Jupitus interviewing John Hegley
• John Hegley interviewing Jack Dee
• Jack Dee interviewing Jeremy Hardy

(Note that Clive Anderson and John Lloyd both worked with Douglas Adams at different times).

The fourth series comprises four episodes, with the following guests:

• Catherine Tate interviewing David Tennant
• David Tennant interviewing Richard Wilson
• Richard Wilson interviewing Arabella Weir
• Arabella Weir interviewing Paul Whitehouse

(Note that Catherine Tate played the Tenth Doctor's assistant-the tenth doctor being played by David Tennant. Richard Wilson also featured in the series. Both Arabella Weir and Paul Whitehouse were in the Fast Show. Weir also appeared as an alternate Doctor in a Doctor Who audio release, also featuring Tennant as another Time Lord.).

The fifth series comprises six episodes, with the following guests:

• Robert Llewellyn interviewing Dave Gorman
• Dave Gorman interviewing Frank Skinner
• Frank Skinner interviewing Eddie Izzard
• Eddie Izzard interviewing Alastair Campbell
• Alastair Campbell interviewing Alistair McGowan
• Alistair McGowan interviewing Simon Callow

(Alistair McGowan impersonated Eddie Izzard, among others).

The sixth series began on Friday 13th August 2010, with the following guests:

• Ronni Ancona interviewing Lee Mack
• Lee Mack interviewing Adrian Edmondson
• Adrian Edmondson interviewing Ruby Wax
• Ruby Wax interviewing Harry Shearer
• Harry Shearer interviewing Stephen Merchant
• Stephen Merchant interviewing Jarvis Cocker

The seventh series began on Friday 29th July 2011, with the following guests:

• Rhys Thomas interviewing Simon Day
• Simon Day interviewing Peter Hook
• Peter Hook interviewing John Cooper Clarke
• John Cooper Clarke interviewing Kevin Eldon
• Kevin Eldon interviewing Mark Steel
• Mark Steel interviewing Barry Davies

The theme music is 'I Do Not Fear Jazz' by Big Strides.

External links

• Official Radio 4 Chain Reaction page
• Transcript of Stewart Lee / Alan Moore
• Transcript of Alan Moore / Brian Eno