Bigipedia

Bigipedia
A parody of the Wikipedia logo, the Bigipedia logo features a similar jigsaw globe design, but also includes comical ears, eyes, smile and a hat. The word "Bigipedia" is spelt using letters from languages other than English.
The Bigipedia logo
Other names
  • Bigipedia 2.0
  • βIgiPεðiA
GenreSketch/Spoof Show
Running time28 minutes
Country of originUnited Kingdom
Language(s)English
Home stationBBC Radio 4
StarringNick Doody
Ewan Bailey
Sam Battersea
Margaret Cabourn-Smith
Neil Edmond
Pippa Evans
Kobna Holdbrook-Smith
Melanie Hudson
Lewis MacLeod
Gareth Tunley
Created byNick Doody
Written byNick Doody
Matt Kirshen
Carey Marx
Sarah Morgan
Margaret Cabourn-Smith
Neil Edmond
Directed byDavid Tyler
Produced byDavid Tyler
Original release23 July 2009 –
2 August 2011
No. of series2
No. of episodes8
WebsiteBigipedia homepage

Bigipedia (stylised as "βIgiPεðiA") is a comedy sketch show broadcast on BBC Radio 4 that first aired between 23 July and 13 August 2009. A second series of four episodes began on 12 July 2011.[1] The show's storyline revolves around "Bigipedia", a fictional website broadcast on radio and parody of Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia. The series mocks Wikipedia and other aspects of the Internet.[2] The BBC Press Office described the show as "a unique experiment in 'broadwebcasting'".[3][4] The series was created by co-star Nick Doody, who also co-writes the show with Matt Kirshen and a wider team of writers. It is produced by Pozzitive Productions.

Critics have given Bigipedia positive reviews. The series was marketed by the BBC as "The Sunday Format for the online age",[4] and critics have given Bigipedia favourable comparisons with its predecessor.[2][5] The quality of the writing has also been praised.[5] However, a few critics have expressed reservations about the way the show is presented.[6] The first series of Bigipedia was made available to purchase as a download from Audible.co.uk from 1 December 2009. The second series was made available on AudioGo from 5 December 2011.[7]

  1. ^ Wolf, Ian (4 June 2010). "Bigipedia given second series". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 4 June 2010.
  2. ^ a b Maume, Chris (26 July 2009). "Bigipedia, Radio 4". The Independent on Sunday. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
  3. ^ "Interview With Nick Doody and Matt Kirshen". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
  4. ^ a b "Network Radio BBC Week 29: Thursday 23 July 2009". BBC Press Office. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
  5. ^ a b Mahoney, Elisabeth (24 July 2009). "Radio review: Bigipedia". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 30 July 2009. Retrieved 24 July 2009.
  6. ^ Heal, Clare (26 July 2009). "World Wide Web of Wackiness". Sunday Express. Retrieved 26 July 2009.
  7. ^ "'Bigipedia' Merchandise". British Comedy Guide. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2011.