4 • 2.8K Ratings
🗓️ 23 June 2025
⏱️ 30 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Join Henry Normal as he uses his unique blend of comedy and poetry to investigate what it truly means to be human.
How are we different from other animals? Is there such a thing as a soul? Is it green or brown bin day today?
These are just some of the unanswered questions Henry will be leaving unanswered in this new show, recorded live at the Hay-on-Wye Festival. This is the latest episode in his acclaimed, occasional series where the celebrated writer tackles subjects so vast only radio can possibly contain them.
Written and performed by Henry Normal Production Coordinator - Katie Baum Produced by Carl Cooper
A BBC Studios production for BBC Radio 4
To listen to more episodes from this series search "Henry Normal" on BBC Sounds.
-- Henry Normal is a multi-award winning writer, producer and poet. Co-writer of TV classics including The Royle Family, The Mrs Merton Show, Coogan’s Run and Paul Calf, and producer of, amongst many others, Oscar-nominated Philomena, Gavin and Stacey and Alan Partridge.
He’s published twelve collections of poetry, including his most recent An Alphabet of Storms, and co-wrote the memoir A Normal Family with Angela Pell – the everyday adventure of life with their autistic son.
Praise for previous episodes in this series:
"Shove up National Treasures. We need to make room for Henry Normal" – Simon O'Hagan, Radio Times
-"It's a rare and lovely thing: half an hour of radio that stops you short, gently demands your attention and then wipes your tears away while you have to have a little sit down"
-"It's a real treat to hear a seasoned professional like Henry taking command of this evening comedy spot to deliver a show that's idiosyncratic and effortlessly funny"
-"Not heard anything that jumps from hilarious to moving in such an intelligent, subtle way as Henry Normal's show"
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0:00.0 | So it's that time of year again |
0:03.4 | When a huge tented city rises in Somerset |
0:06.5 | And the stage is set for some incredible music |
0:09.9 | It's time for Glastonbury |
0:10.9 | Join us for bonus episodes of sidetracked |
0:14.0 | featuring some very special guests |
0:15.9 | Rod Stewart, Emily Evas and more |
0:18.7 | Plus all the festival chat |
0:20.7 | Sightracked by Glastonbury with Nick Grimshaw and Annie Matmanis. |
0:24.5 | Listen on BBC Sounds. |
0:28.1 | BBC Sounds. Music, radio, podcasts. |
0:31.5 | Thank you. Hello, my name's Henry Normal, and in this show I'll be exploring humanity. |
0:53.4 | And what I've found is there are 8.2 billion human |
0:57.6 | beings on this earth and at 8 o'clock every morning they all seem to be phoning my doctor |
1:02.7 | I'm here at Te'an Why in a tent at the internationally renowned literature festival and car park. |
1:17.7 | Now I shall be using poetry in the show. |
1:20.5 | Sylvia Plath once said, |
1:22.6 | poetry at its very best can do you a lot of arm. |
1:26.7 | I think you're fairly safe with me. |
1:31.4 | Now, generally, we humans are social beings, |
1:34.6 | and I'm very grateful that you've made the effort |
1:36.3 | to come and see me today. |
... |
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