Chain Reaction (radio programme)

Chain Reaction
Genre	Chat show
Running time	30 minutes
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Language	English
Home station	BBC Radio 4
Produced by	Tilusha Ghelani; Sam Bryant (2009); Lianne Coop (2010); Ed Morrish (2011); Carl Cooper (2012-14); Arnab Chanda & Charlie Perkins (2015); Richard Morris (2016/17); Adnan Ahmed (2017);
Original release	1991-2 (BBC Radio 5); 2004 (BBC Radio 4);
Opening theme	"I Do Not Fear Jazz" by Big Strides
Website	Chain Reaction

Chain Reaction (nicknamed "the tag-team talk show") is a hostless chat show first broadcast on BBC Radio 5 in 1991, and then revived on BBC Radio 4 in 2004. Each week an individual from the world of entertainment selects someone that they would like to interview. This interviewee goes on to be the next week's interviewer.

Episodes

This table has the episodes of Chain Reaction listed in it
No. overall	No. in series	Interviewer	Interviewee	Original release date
1	1	Ralph Steadman	John Cleese	31 December 1991 (1991-12-31)
2	2	John Cleese	William Goldman	1 January 1992 (1992-01-01)
3	3	William Goldman	Ian McKellen	2 January 1992 (1992-01-02)
4	4	Ian McKellen	Glenys Kinnock	3 January 1992 (1992-01-03)
5	1	Glenys Kinnock	Juliet Stevenson¹	14 September 1992 (1992-09-14)
6	2	Juliet Stevenson	Helen Bamber²	15 September 1992 (1992-09-15)
7	3	Helen Bamber	John Sessions³	16 September 1992 (1992-09-16)
8	4	John Sessions	Ruby Wax⁴	17 September 1992 (1992-09-17)
9	5	Ruby Wax	Rob Newman⁵	18 September 1992 (1992-09-18)
10	1	Rob Newman	Spike Milligan⁶	2 November 1992 (1992-11-02)
11	2	Spike Milligan	John Wells⁷	3 November 1992 (1992-11-03)
12	3	John Wells	Paul Merton⁸	4 November 1992 (1992-11-04)
13	4	Paul Merton	George Best⁹	5 November 1992 (1992-11-05)
14	5	George Best	Joe Strummer¹⁰	6 November 1992 (1992-11-06)
15	1	Joe Strummer	unknown ¹¹	14 December 1992 (1992-12-14)
16	2	Unknown	unknown¹²	15 December 1992 (1992-12-15)
17	3	Unknown	unknown¹³	16 December 1992 (1992-12-16)
18	4	Unknown	unknown¹⁴	17 December 1992 (1992-12-17)
19	5	Unknown	unknown¹⁵	18 December 1992 (1992-12-18)
20	1	David Gedge	John Peel¹⁶	6 August 1993 (1993-08-06)
21	2	John Peel	Ian Rush¹⁷	13 August 1993 (1993-08-13)
22	3	Ian Rush	Max Boyce¹⁸	20 August 1993 (1993-08-20)
23	4	Max Boyce	Pete Waterman¹⁹	27 August 1993 (1993-08-27)
24	5	Pete Waterman	Jimmy Savile²⁰	3 September 1993 (1993-09-03)
25	1	Jenny Eclair	Jimmy Carr²¹	30 December 2004 (2004-12-30)
26	2	Jimmy Carr	Matt Lucas²²	6 January 2005 (2005-01-06)
27	3	Matt Lucas	Johnny Vegas²³	13 January 2005 (2005-01-13)
28	4	Johnny Vegas	Stewart Lee²⁴	20 January 2005 (2005-01-20)
29	5	Stewart Lee	Alan Moore²⁵	27 January 2005 (2005-01-27)
30	6	Alan Moore	Brian Eno²⁶	3 February 2005 (2005-02-03)
31	1	Jo Brand	Barry Cryer²⁷	15 February 2006 (2006-02-15)
32	2	Barry Cryer	Mark Thomas²⁸	22 February 2006 (2006-02-22)
33	3	Mark Thomas	Alexei Sayle²⁹	1 March 2006 (2006-03-01)
34	4	Alexei Sayle	Lenny Henry³⁰	8 March 2006 (2006-03-08)
35	5	Lenny Henry	Bill Bailey³¹	15 March 2006 (2006-03-15)
36	6	Bill Bailey	Simon Pegg³²	22 March 2006 (2006-03-22)
37	1	Marcus Brigstocke	Clive Anderson³³	10 January 2007 (2007-01-10)
38	2	Clive Anderson	John Lloyd³⁴	17 January 2007 (2007-01-17)
39	3	John Lloyd	Phill Jupitus³⁵	24 January 2007 (2007-01-24)
40	4	Phill Jupitus	John Hegley³⁶	31 January 2007 (2007-01-31)
41	5	John Hegley	Jack Dee³⁷	7 February 2007 (2007-02-07)
42	6	Jack Dee	Jeremy Hardy³⁸	14 February 2007 (2007-02-14)
43	1	Catherine Tate	David Tennant³⁹	21 February 2008 (2008-02-21)
44	2	David Tennant	Richard Wilson⁴⁰	28 February 2008 (2008-02-28)
45	3	Richard Wilson	Arabella Weir⁴¹	6 March 2008 (2008-03-06)
46	4	Arabella Weir	Paul Whitehouse⁴²	13 March 2008 (2008-03-13)
47	1	Robert Llewellyn	Dave Gorman⁴³	2 September 2009 (2009-09-02)
48	2	Dave Gorman	Frank Skinner	TBA
49	3	Frank Skinner	Eddie Izzard	TBA
50	4	Eddie Izzard	Alastair Campbell	TBA
51	5	Alastair Campbell	Alistair McGowan	TBA
52	6	Alistair McGowan	Simon Callow	TBA
53	1	Ronni Ancona	Lee Mack	13 August 2010 (2010-08-13)
54	2	Lee Mack	Adrian Edmondson	TBA
55	3	Adrian Edmondson	Ruby Wax	TBA
56	4	Ruby Wax	Harry Shearer	TBA
57	5	Harry Shearer	Stephen Merchant	TBA
58	6	Stephen Merchant	Jarvis Cocker	TBA
59	1	Rhys Thomas	Simon Day	29 July 2011 (2011-07-29)
60	2	Simon Day	Peter Hook	TBA
61	3	Peter Hook	John Cooper Clarke	TBA
62	4	John Cooper Clarke	Kevin Eldon	TBA
63	5	Kevin Eldon	Mark Steel	TBA
64	6	Mark Steel	Barry Davies	TBA
65	1	Jeremy Front	his sister Rebecca Front	27 July 2012 (2012-07-27)
66	2	Rebecca Front	Chris Addison	TBA
67	3	Chris Addison	Derren Brown	TBA
68	4	Derren Brown	Tim Minchin	TBA
69	5	Tim Minchin	Caitlin Moran	TBA
70	6	Caitlin Moran	Jennifer Saunders	TBA
71	1	Terry Christian	Kevin Bridges	27 December 2013 (2013-12-27)
72	2	Kevin Bridges	Frankie Boyle	TBA
73	3	Frankie Boyle	Grant Morrison	TBA
74	4	Grant Morrison	Neil Innes	TBA
75	5	Neil Innes	Graham Linehan	TBA
76	6	Graham Linehan	Adam Buxton.⁴⁴	TBA
77	1	Adam Buxton	Reece Shearsmith	18 February 2015 (2015-02-18)
78	2	Reece Shearsmith	Bob Mortimer	TBA
79	3	Bob Mortimer	Vic Reeves	TBA
80	4	Vic Reeves	Olivia Colman	TBA
81	5	Olivia Colman	Sharon Horgan	TBA
82	6	Sharon Horgan	Dennis Kelly	TBA
83	1	Ed Byrne	Al Murray	24 February 2016 (2016-02-24)
84	2	Al Murray	Ian Hislop	TBA
85	3	Ian Hislop	Victoria Coren Mitchell	TBA
86	4	Victoria Coren Mitchell	Sandi Toksvig	TBA
87	5	Sandi Toksvig	Roy Hudd	TBA
88	6	Roy Hudd	Alison Steadman	TBA
89	1	Sara Cox	Joe Lycett	13 February 2017 (2017-02-13)
90	2	Joe Lycett	Katherine Ryan	TBA
91	3	Katherine Ryan	Sara Pascoe	TBA
92	4	Sara Pascoe	Harry Hill	TBA
93	5	Harry Hill	Tim Vine	TBA
94	6	Tim Vine	Sir Ken Dodd	TBA

References

"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 23 February 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 23 February 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 23 February 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2024.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2024.
"Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
"Chain Reaction - Episode guide". BBC Radio 4. 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.

External links

[1] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[2] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[3] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[4] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[5] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[6] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[7] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[8] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[9] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[10] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[11] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[12] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[13] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[14] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[15] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[16] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[17] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[18] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[19] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[20] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 8 September 2018.

[21] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.

[22] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 23 February 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2022.

[23] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 23 February 2025. Retrieved 11 July 2022.

[24] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 12 July 2022. Retrieved 12 July 2022.

[25] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.

[26] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.

[27] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.

[28] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 10 August 2022.

[29] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 23 February 2025. Retrieved 23 August 2022.

[30] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 5 September 2022. Retrieved 5 September 2022.

[31] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.

[32] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 13 September 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2022.

[33] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 14 September 2022. Retrieved 14 September 2022.

[34] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.

[35] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 25 May 2023. Retrieved 11 December 2023.

[36] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.

[37] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.

[38] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 2 February 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2023.

[39] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2024.

[40] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 4 January 2024.

[41] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2024.

[42] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 8 January 2024.

[43] "Chain Reaction". BBC Genome Project. BBC. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 15 January 2024.

[44] "Chain Reaction - Episode guide". BBC Radio 4. 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.

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