utterly charming: Josie Long: All of the Planet's Wonders (Shown In Detail)

As BBC Radio 4 puts it on their website:
"Comedy series in which Josie Long attempts to better herself through learning from reference books, with help from Irish comedienne Maeve Higgins."

Unfortunately, you have only one day left to hear the first of the four episodes, which were stripped last week. But they are eminently worth making time for (and the following three episodes will each be taken down one day after the previous).

As the first one's longer blurb goes:
Award winning comedian, Josie Long (BBC New Comedy Awards, if.comedy Best Newcomer 2006) presents her first radio series, in which she aims to explore all of the planet's wonders (in detail) over four 14 minute episodes.

This comedy series is all about Long's desire to better herself through learning and her enjoyment of discovering things in reference books.

Josie is joined by Irish comedian, Maeve Higgins, and by a variety of comedic guests -Robin Ince, Chris Neill, Daniel Harkin, Henning Wehn and Isy Suttie, plus the occasional actual expert.

Each episode is anchored by Josie and Maeve in the studio, with Josie presenting her essay on the week's given subject and Maeve helping with questions, illustrations and interruptions. The guests help to play extra characters or to provide specialist advice.

This week, Josie uses the book "Astronomy for Dummies" to try and unravel the greater mysteries of the cosmos.

I liked it a lot. The Sound of Young America's Jesse Thorn makes a guest appearance.