Andy Foster – Radio Producer, Actor

Andy Foster started working in radio in 1996, when he devised and researched VARIETY LIVES – a series of 6 short documentaries (BBC Radio 2) about variety performers. Subsequent radio work, as researcher, includes: BOB MONKHOUSE ARCHIVE (Unique Broadcasting for BBC RADIO 2); THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN (WITH JO BRAND – Unique Broadcasting for BBC RADIO 2); THIRTY YEARS OF THE MARQUEE CLUB (WITH DAVID BOWIE – Ten Alps Broadcasting for BBC RADIO 2); BLUE ANGEL – MARLENE DIETRICH (Ten Alps Broadcasting for BBC RADIO 2); CLIVE ANDERSON BITES THE BALLOT (Unique Broadcasting for BBC RADIO 2); WAX ON (WITH RUBY WAX – Unique Broadcasting for BBC RADIO 2); BOARDS AND LODGINGS – A DOCUMENTARY ON THEATRICAL DIGS (1996, in-house, BBC RADIO 4); REVUEING THE SITUATION (2001, Unique Broadcasting for BBC RADIO 4); GROUCHO AND ME (2002, Unique Broadcasting for BBC RADIO 4); THE SUNDAY SERVICE AND JULIAN WORRICKER (Ten Alps Broadcasting for BBC RADIO 5 LIVE).

Andy has produced and been responsible for compiling the clips in ten series of THE SMITH LECTURES for Ten Alps Broadcasting – where Professor Emeritus (and comedian) Arthur Smith from the University of Tooting Bec (special rates for cash!) presents a weekly archive comedy clip show on BBC Radio 2. This has been a stalwart of the network’s Saturday comedy hour since 1997 and has regular ratings of nearly 2 million listeners per episode. He also compiled ARTHUR SMITHS’S AMUSING BITS (Planet 24 Productions) for BBC Radio 2.

In 2003, Andy compiled and produced an independent eight part documentary series on the 21st anniversary of the world’s most prestigious comedy festival, ‘Just For Laughs’ in Montreal. ‘ARTHUR SMITH PRESENTS 21 YEARS OF JUST FOR LAUGHS’ featured highlights from the past and present and told the festival’s story with the help of a host of previously un-aired comedy clips. The programmes also include archive and specially recorded interviews, including and exchange in French with the legendary Carl Reiner.

Andy has also compiled and produced MEL AND SUE’S COMEDY BREAKDOWN (1999, Ten Alps Broadcasting for BBC RADIO 2); WALKING WITH COMEDIANS (Ten Alps Broadcasting) – four 1 hour Millennium specials for BBC Radio 2 hosted by Greg Proops, Sean Hughes, Julian Clary and Lee Hurst); NOT THE END OF THE PIER SHOW (2000, a Ladbroke Production for BBC Radio 2) – a documentary on Brighton’s historic West Pier presented by Pete McCarthy. Here, Andy compiled historical archive material with new interviews recorded with surviving performers from its heyday. The programme also featured local celebrities such as Bill Pertwee and Chris Eubank and was recorded in situ on the pier, complete with hard hats.

Television credits include: Producer JOHN THOMSON STANDS UP FOR COMEDY (2003, archive Ten Alps Broadcasting for BRAVO CHANNEL); researcher on THE REAL EAST ENDERS (Roger Bolton Productions for CARLTON TELEVISION)

Prior to his radio and television work, Andy had an earlier successful career as a professional photographer (IIP SIAD). He also photographed many comedians and variety artists around at the time and was resident photographer for the Hackney Empire 1986 – 1991 as well as staff photographer for ‘THE HECKLER (Britain’s first comedy magazine 1990 – 1993). Andy co-wrote, with comedian Steve Furst, the definitive ‘RADIO COMEDY 1938 – 1968’ (Pub: Virgin 1996/1999) and in 1997, he was appointed the Sound Archivist for the British Music Hall Society.

In his more that 14 years as a freelance radio producer, Andy produced 16 series of BBC Radio 2’s top rating Saturday lunchtime show THE SMITH LECTURES, one series of ARTHUR SMITH’S AMUSING BITS, as well as co-producing a science fiction documentary for Unique Broadcasting, presented by writer Brian Aldis, for the Radio 4 Archive Hour. He is also renowned for owning one of the largest and most comprehensive comedy archives in Britain.

As an actor, Andy (Andrew) began his training in April 2008 and since then has appeared as part of ARTHUR SMITH’S ARTURART COLLECTIVE at the BAC and at the Edinburgh Festival (2008) He has worked as an occasional radio actor for for BBC Radio’s 2 and featured in a one-off specially produced show called in ‘Forbidden Vaudeville’ at Lord Lloyd Webber’s exclusive Sydmonton Festival (2008).

In 2009 he appeared as Paul in ‘Enigma’ by Floyd Dell at Barons Court Theatre, as Andy in ‘Slip Up’ a radio play for Thoughtfox Theatre Company, as the central character of the landlord Charlie Rowland in ‘The Hotel’ written and directed by Mark Watson at the Assembly Rooms Edinburgh; as ‘Spirit’ in ‘Spirits of the Fringe’ at The Counting House Edinburgh and as John in ‘Juke Box Junkies’ a series of sketches for ComComedy. Most recently he featured in a number of short films including‘Emergency Exit’, ‘Fatherland’, ‘The Big Lift’, ‘Point and Shoot’, ‘A Kiss From A Dying Horse’, ‘The Sun Always Shines’, ‘Keiyaku’, ‘Tresspassing’, ‘ROM’, ‘Channel 6’, ‘Family Values’, ‘Twenty Twelve’ as well as in the forthcoming feature film ‘Ghost’.

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