Josie Long: All of the Planet's Wonders - The Enlightenment

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 explores the history of collecting things and discovers the Enlightenment. She tries to defy her arty-student past, by becoming more scientific and takes controversial anatomist and Bodyworks impresario, Professor Gunther von Hagens to task for being a "demon with ready access to plasticine." Playing Professor Von Hagens in this episode is German stand-up comedian Henning Wehn.