Clara’s Verdict
BBC Radio 4 comedy has a particular genius for making intelligence entertaining rather than intimidating, and The Museum of Curiosity is one of its finest long-running expressions of that gift. John Lloyd — creator of Blackadder, Spitting Image, and QI — has spent his career asking questions that make you feel both smarter and slightly embarrassed for not having thought of them sooner. This four-series collection (Series 9 through 12) is an ideal way into the show for new listeners and a satisfying archive dive for those who have been following it for years. The format is deceptively simple; the results are consistently surprising.
About the Audiobook
Each episode sees Professor John Lloyd joined by a curator — in this collection, Noel Fielding, Jo Brand, Romesh Ranganathan, and Sally Phillips share the duties — and an array of invited guests who are asked to donate something to the museum. The donation must be intangible but real: an idea, a fact, a phenomenon, a way of seeing the world. The rule is that it must make you « scratch your head, stroke your chin or, at the very least, go ‘Hmm.’ »
The guests in this collection include Howard Goodall, Corey Taylor of Slipknot, Vic Reeves, Ross Noble, George Monbiot, Lucy Porter, Deborah Frances-White, Stephen K Amos, Konnie Huq, Rory Bremner, and Phil Jupitus — a cross-section of cultural life that reflects Lloyd’s instinct that good curiosity doesn’t respect boundaries between high and popular culture. A rock musician and a political journalist sit happily alongside comedians and academics, united by the quality of their noticing.
Over 11 hours and 6 minutes, this is the kind of listening that rewards attention without demanding it. You can follow every thread or let it wash over you; either way, you’ll retain more than you expect.
The Narration
These are live BBC recordings rather than narrated productions, which gives them an energy and spontaneity that studio audiobooks can’t replicate. Jo Brand’s tenure as curator is particularly enjoyable — her deadpan interplay with Lloyd’s professorial enthusiasm generates a gentle comedy that underpins the intellectual content. The rotating curators each bring a distinct tone, which prevents any monotony across the four series. The audio quality is broadcast-standard throughout.
What Readers Say
Rated 5.0/5 — a perfect score from its single Audible listener, which is a small sample but not a surprising verdict for anyone familiar with the programme. The show’s reputation on Radio 4 is considerable, and the audience who seek it out as an audiobook tends to be self-selecting: people who already know what they’re getting and are simply delighted to have it in portable form.
Who Should Listen?
For anyone who loved QI and wants more of John Lloyd’s particular brand of organised wonder. For comedy fans who enjoy wit over volume and find the best BBC Radio 4 panel shows more satisfying than their television equivalents. For curious people of any age who want their listening time to leave them knowing things they didn’t know before. This is excellent company for long car journeys, and the episodic format makes it easy to pick up and put down. Fans of No Such Thing as a Fish or Quite Interesting will feel immediately at home.
Find The Museum of Curiosity: Series 9-12 on Audible UK via the link below — also available on Kobo, Scribd, and Storytel.
Listen to The Museum of Curiosity: Series 9-12 on Audible UK
