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Radio 2 Comedy

JAMMIN'
Thursdays at 2330, repeated on Saturdays at 1330
24 January - 28 February 2008

 Rowland Rivron

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About Rowland >>

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THE SERIES
The little drummer boy that is Rowland Rivron returns with a band new series of Jammin', where he and his specially invited band attempt to prove that rock 'n' roll is the new comedy.

Jammin' is a show built on a premise; a lot of comedians are frustrated musicians and a lot of musicians are frustrated comedians. Each week Rowland assembles a different five piece band, reaching new heights of pointless virtuosity in an attempt to prove said premise.

Rowland drums and presents the show simultaneously (thus explaining his panting and breathy presenting technique), and is joined by his backline: on keyboards - Steve Brown, on guitar - Dave Catlin Birch, and on bass - Guy Pratt. Completing the band are two special guests, a comedian who can play, and a musician who is comical. It's genius in the making.

See below for details of all the guests appearing during the series.

     

    EPISODE DETAILS
    Programme one (24 January):
    Melanie C and Jackie Clune
    For the first in the series, Rowland Rivron and his band are joined by Spice Girl, Melanie C who sings about all her favourite curries among other things!

    Programme two (31 January):
    Beverley Knight and Rob Deering
    Rowland Rivron and his band are 'Jammin' with soul diva Beverley Knight.

    Programme three (7 February):
    Huey Morgan and Tim Minchin
    Jammin' goes a little wild when Rowland is joined by 'Fun lovin' Criminal', Huey Morgan and Australian award-winning musical comedian, Tim Minchin.

    Programme four (14 February):
    Tony Hadley and Tim Vine
    Rowland Rivron and his band are 'Jammin' with Tony Hadley and Tim Vine, where they perform a medley of Spandau hits but in a way you've never heard before!

    Programme five (21 February):
    Phil Jupitus and Chris Difford
    Rowland and his band find themselves in a tight Squeeze when they're joined for the evening by Chris Difford.

    Programme six (28 February):
    Neil Innes and Ronnie Golden
    For the final show in the series, Rowland is joined by former Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and Rutles member, Neil Innes.

       
      ABOUT ROWLAND RIVRON

      From an early start playing drums on Blue Peter aged 15, Rowland Rivron has gone on to forge a career of extraordinary breadth and success.

      His TV appearances include: Never Had It So Good (BBC 1), You Call the Shots (BBC 1), Extreme Celebrity Detox (Channel 4), Rowland Rivron's Drinking Club (Channel 4), Holby City (BBC 1), the Ben Elton sitcom Blessed (BBC 1); and on radio: Loose Ends (Radio 4), Radio Rivron (Radio 2), a Saturday comedy/chat show for LBC, the drive time show on Virgin Radio, and, of course, Jammin' (Radio 2).

      Rowland's many talents include being a writer, presenter, comedy actor and musician. He has performed and written for many of the groundbreaking programmes on British television. As a musician and writer, he has featured on The Tube, The Young Ones, The Comic Strip, Don't Forget Your Toothbrush, and with French and Saunders as the charismatic Dwayne, one half of Raw Sex.

      Rowland also wrote and starred opposite Jools Holland in The Groovy Fellers, directed by Tim Pope. Through his association with Jools Holland, Rowland found himself playing drums in the Jools Holland Rhythm and Blues Orchestra for eighteen months.

      In the 1980s, one of television's finest comedic partnerships was born when Rowland teamed up with Jonathan Ross on The Last Resort. He also worked as Jonathan's sidekick in Saturday Zoo and Tonight With Jonathan Ross.

      For three years Rowland was the main presenter on Carlton's London listing show Good Stuff; he's filed reports for Eurotrash, presented Up The Junction from Cambridge, and presented The Bunker show on Night Network, the first 24 hour television in the UK. From the Bunker sprang the ground breaking Riveron, a show that saw Rowland interviewing people in the Thames. Yes, floating in the water!

      In 2007, Rowland entered the ultimate celebrity singing contest - Comic Relief Does Fame Academy. Unfortunately, his time in the Academy was cut short as he was the first celebrity to be expelled!

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