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Aided by his producer (and sole agent) Ken Worthington, and his hard-to-please wife Mary, the inimitable John Shuttleworth brings listeners four episodes of celebrity interviews, dodgy keyboard music, and even dodgier jingles. Guests including Leo Sayer, Patrick Moore and Wendy Craig are invited into the nerve centre of Radio Shuttleworth--the presenter's front room--to chat with the broadcaster extraordinaire and join him in song. Regular features see alternative comedians failing to "Make Mary Merry", and musicians trying to "Impress An Impressario" in order to gain a place on Ken's books. The creation of comedian Graham Fellows, John Shuttleworth is a gentle parody of countless inoffensive presenters of cosy local radio shows. When he attempts to star-gaze with Patrick Moore, his wife insists that he closes the net curtains. The news is read from the local newspaper. A feature where (in the words of the jingle) "it's time to annoy a prospective employer" sees Shuttleworth winding people up on the telephone, but even here he remains almost unsettlingly nice. The series thrives on its good-natured sense of humour, and if the result is less confrontational than a great deal of modern comedy, this has not prevented Shuttleworth from gaining a loyal following amongst discerning listeners.--John Oates
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