Podcasts by The Fun Factory
Before radio, before television, before movies, there was Music Hall. This was the People’s Entertainment in the golden decade before the Great War.
The Fun Factory is a historical comedy about the history of comedy, in which our hero Arthur Dandoe enters the world of music hall and The Fred Karno Company.
Along the way Arthur encounters intense rivalry (Charlie Chaplin), passionate romance (Tilly Beckett) and great friendship (Stan Laurel).
“Richly enjoyable… packed with intriguing details about a vanished world of entertainment” THE GUARDIAN
Written and read by Chris England.
Produced by Mark Augustyn
Contact: thefunfactorypodcast@gmail.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Further podcasts by Great Big Owl
Podcast on the topic Comedy-Fiction
All episodes
Ep. 62– Chaplinoia – Chapters 52, 53 & Epilogue from 2020-12-17T22:45
Chapter 52 – PAY DAY
Chapter 53 – SHOULDER ARMS
Epilogue
In which Arthur finally confronts Charlie Chaplin with a few home truths and finds himself slightly closer to home ...
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Ep. 61 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 50 & 51 from 2020-12-10T22:45
Chapter 50 – RUMMY BINKS
Chapter 51 – OLD COMRADES
In which Arthur is thrown off course by two old friends as he attempts to expose his old foe, Charlie Chaplin. Arthur also make...
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Ep. 60 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 48 & 49 from 2020-12-03T22:45
Chapter 48 – THE LONE STAR
Chapter 49 – NUTS IN MAY
In which Arthur must come face to face with Charlie Chaplin once again in his attempt to expose his old foe.
Written...
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Ep. 59 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 45, 46 & 47 from 2020-11-26T22:45
Chapter 45 – JAX BANJAXED
Chapter 46 – THE FOUR-MINUTE MAN
Chapter 47 – THE ROOM
In which Arthur’s movie dreams take another hit as Charlie Chaplin’s spectre casts a shadow...
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Ep. 58 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 43 & 44 from 2020-11-19T22:45
Chapter 43 – STORM CLOUDS
Chapter 44 – THE OSTRICH
In which Arthur finds Syd Chaplin back in his life as the authorities begin to close in on him ...
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Ep. 57 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 41 & 42 from 2020-11-12T22:45
Chapter 41 – AN AERIAL JOYRIDE
Chapter 42 – PLUMP AND RUNT
In which Arthur finds himself working in the movies thanks to Babe Hardy, but not everyone is...
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Ep. 56 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 39 & 40 from 2020-11-05T22:45
Chapter 39 – THE TRAMP
Chapter 40 – BABE
In which Arthur once again must don the guise of his erstwhile rival just to fed himself and meets a kindly pat...
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Ep. 55 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 36, 37 & 38 from 2020-10-29T22:45
Chapter 36 – WITH HIS BOOTS ON
Chapter 37 – ON THE RUN
Chapter 38 – THE ROOM
In which Arthur comes to terms with the sad news from back home and a...
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Ep. 54 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 34 & 35 from 2020-10-22T21:45
Chapter 34 – THE FALL
Chapter 35 – WILD WEST BILLY
In which Arthur's actions force him to leave his friends and head west, where he hopes to ply his tra...
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Ep. 53 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 32 & 33 from 2020-10-15T21:45
Chapter 32 – HAVE YOU GOT THE CHAPLINOIA?
Chapter 33 – ALICE AND BALDY
In which Arthur witnesses Charlie Chaplin’s rise in popularity firsthand and find...
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Ep. 52 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 30 & 31 from 2020-10-08T09:45
Chapter 30 – TORPEDOED
Chapter 31 – THE HARD WAY
In which Arthur reflects on his brush with death and Ed Hurley’s unreasonable demands cause a divide in...
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Ep. 51 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 27, 28 & 29 from 2020-10-01T21:44
Chapter 27 – A GENTLEMAN OF NERVE
Chapter 28 – THE KNOCKOUT
Chapter 29 –THE ROOM
In which Arthur and Ed Hurley’s professional and personal feud co...
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Ep. 50 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 25 & 26 from 2020-09-24T21:45
Chapter 25 – THE KEYSTONE FOUR
Chapter 26 – WAFFLES & CO
In which Arthur and the troupe are asked to exploit their Chaplin connection, and Arthur ha...
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Ep. 49 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 23 & 24 from 2020-09-17T21:45
Chapter 23 – THE EYES HAVE IT
Chapter 24 – HIS NEW JOB
In which Arthur and Wren find themselves in a familiar situation after acceptin...
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Ep. 48 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 21 & 22 from 2020-09-10T21:45
Chapter 21 – OVER BY CHRISTMAS
Chapter 22 – THE DOMINOES TOPPLE
In which Arthur and Stan try to quash Ed Hurley's mutiny, and they meet with...
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Ep. 47 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 18, 19 & 20 from 2020-09-03T21:45
Chapter 18 – TWO MORE COMIQUES
Chapter 19 – THOSE LOVE PANGS
Chapter 20 – THE ROOM
In which Arthur’s nagging suspicion that Tilly a...
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Ep. 46 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 16 & 17 from 2020-08-27T21:45:29
Chapter 16 – BE IT EVER SO HUMBLE
Chapter 17 – PROMISES, PROMISES
In which Arthur and the gang visit Charlie Chaplin in his luxurious new home, and tensions rise after Charlie of...
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Ep. 45 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 14 & 15 from 2020-08-20T21:45
Chapter 14 – AT THE SUPERBA
Chapter 15 – THE FILM JOHNNIE
In which Arthur has an unexpected meeting with his old adversary, Charlie Chaplin.
Written and read by C...
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Ep. 44 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 12 & 13 from 2020-08-13T21:45
Chapter 12 – THE NUTTY BURGLARS
Chapter 13 – EDGAR ENGLISH
In which Arthur starts to feel the first dark inkling of Chaplinoia, and he and Tilly receive some rather bad ne...
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Ep. 43 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 10 & 11 from 2020-08-06T21:45
Chapter 10 – A FRESH START
Chapter 11 – WON’T YOU COME MY DEAR
In which Arthur tracks down Tilly, but finds persuading her to join the Nutty Burglars on the road much harde...
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Ep. 42 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 7,8 & 9 from 2020-07-30T21:45
Chapter 7 – KANCELLED
Chapter 8 – THE ROOM
Chapter 9 – THE THREE MUSKETEERS
In which Arthur, Stan and Freddie Jr. are forced to make other plans as tensions between Karno a...
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Ep. 41 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 5 & 6 from 2020-07-23T21:45
Chapter 5 –THE KID
Chapter 6 – A TRAGEDY OF ERRORS
In which Arthur and the troupe face a fresh challenge as Charlie Chaplin’s replacement arrives in Chicago.
Writt...
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Ep. 40 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 3 & 4 from 2020-07-16T21:45
Chapter 3 – BAIT AND SWITCH
Chapter 4 – BANG TO RIGHTS
In which Arthur and the troupe find that even in his absence, Charlie Chaplin is a still a problem.
Written and r...
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Ep. 39 – Chaplinoia – Chapters 1 & 2 from 2020-07-09T21:45
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Chapter 1 – THE ROOM
Chapter 2 – NUMBER ONE
In which Arthur considers his competition as he and the company await Alf’s announcement of the new number one....
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Ep. 38 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 39 & 40 – SEASON 2 FINALE from 2020-07-02T21:45
Chapter 39 – A FILM JOHNNIE
Chapter 40 – HIS PARTING SHOT
In which Arthur finds out whether his plan to rid himself of Charlie Chaplin has paid off.
Written and r...
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Ep. 37 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 37 & 38 from 2020-06-25T21:45
Chapter 37 – KEYSTONE CAPERS
Chapter 38 – HE WORE A WORRIED LOOK
In which Arthur has his eyes opened by a visit to the Keystone film lot and Charlie Chaplin has ...
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Ep. 36 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 35 & 36 from 2020-06-18T21:45
Chapter 35 – CAUGHT IN A CABARET
Chapter 36 – THE HOO HOO HOUSE
In which Arthur is confronted by his past in more ways than one after an invitation to a cabaret.
<... Listen
Ep. 35 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 33 & 34 from 2020-06-11T21:45
Chapter 33 – MR CHAFFIN’S OPPORTUNITY
Chapter 34 – BOMBSHELL
In which Arthur joins Charlie Chaplin and Stan Jefferson on a trip to New York after Alf receives a cryptic letter, a...
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Ep. 34 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 31 & 32 from 2020-06-04T21:45
Chapter 31 – QUITE CHOP-FALLEN
Chapter 32 – MONKEY BUSINESS
In which Arthur deals with the death of his friend in the arms of an old flame and Charlie Chaplin finds himself...
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Ep. 33 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 29 & 30 from 2020-05-28T21:45
Chapter 29 – A LITTLE OF WHAT YOU FANCY
Chapter 30 – NOOKSACKS
In which Arthur’s illicit romance continues and he finds himself calling upon the Nooksac...
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Ep. 32 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 27 & 28 from 2020-05-21T21:45
Chapter 27 – K-K-K-KISS ME AGAIN
Chapter 28 – A DISH BEST SERVED COLD
In which Arthur’s old rivalry with Charlie Chaplin resurfaces as he tries to smoot...
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Ep. 31 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 25 & 26 from 2020-05-14T21:45
Chapter 25 – THE STOWAWAY
Chapter 26 – A FELLOW OF INFINITE JEST
In which Arthur’s new creation causes mischief upon...
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Ep. 30 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 23 & 24 from 2020-05-07T21:45
Chapter 23 – AND IS THERE HONEY STILL FOR TEA
Chapter 24 – CHANCE MEETING
In which Arthur’s return to Cambridge leads to a chance meeting with an old fa...
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Ep. 29 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 21 & 22 from 2020-04-30T21:45
Chapter 21 – THE GUV’NOR AHOY!
Chapter 22 – KARNO’S KARSINO
In which Arthur finds hims...
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Ep. 28 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 19 & 20 from 2020-04-23T21:45
Chapter 19 – THE RUM ‘UNS FROM ROME
Chapter 20 – HARD BOILED EGGS AND NUTS
In which Arthur and Stan “embark on a new and exciting passage in...
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Ep. 27 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 17 & 18 from 2020-04-16T21:45
Chapter 17 – CONTINENTAL DIVIDE
Chapter 18 – HIS LUGGAGE LABELLED ‘ENGLAND’
In which Arthur and Tilly drift further apart and he and Stan find the...
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Ep. 26 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 15 & 16 from 2020-04-09T21:45
Ep. 26 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 15 & 16
Chapter 15 – LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART
Chapter 16 – THE SIGH OF A DOVE...
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Ep. 25 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 13 & 14 from 2020-04-02T21:45
Chapter 13 – A LITTLE OF IDEA OF MY OWN
Chapter 14 – HOG WILD
In which Arthur gets to the bottom of Frank And Tilly’s recent strange behaviour. Listen
Ep. 24 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 11 & 12 from 2020-03-26T22:45
Ep. 24 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 11 & 12
Chapter 11 – ‘E TAKES A MEAN ADVANTAGE
Chapter 12 – SHADOWS ON THE BLIN...
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Ep. 23 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 9 & 10 from 2020-03-19T10:45
Chapter 9 – CLAMBER CLOSER CLARA
Chapter 10 – OUT WHERE THE BLUE BEGINS
In which Arthur has a late night meeting with an unexpect...
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Ep. 22 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 7 & 8 from 2020-03-12T22:45
Chapter 7 – A NIGHT IN THE SHOW
Chapter 8 – AND THE NEW YEAR IN
In which Arthur rubs shoulders with moving picture royalty and has a timely ...
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Ep. 21 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 5 & 6 from 2020-03-05T22:45
Chapter 5 – THE GENTLEMAN’S GENTLEMEN
Chapter 6 – MUMMINGBIRDS
In which Arthur and the gang resurrect an old favourite to try and save their Ameri...
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Ep. 20 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 3 & 4 from 2020-02-27T22:45
Chapter 3 - THE WOW WOWS
Chapter 4 - BLITHERING, BLATHERING ENGLISHMEN
In which Arthur and the rest of the Wow-Wows face a somewhat...
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Ep. 19 – The Boxcar of Fun – Chapters 1 & 2 from 2020-02-20T22:45
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Chapter 1 - OFF TO AMERICA
Chapter 2 - CITY LIGHTS
In which Arthur begins a new adventure and reflects on recent ...
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Bonus episode – Chris England chats with Clive Nicholson – Fred Spiksley from 2020-02-17T22:45
Chris England talks to author Clive Nicholson about his book Flying Over An Olive Grove which centres on footballer and some time star of Karno’s Football Match sketch, Fred Spiksley. Chris and ...
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Ep. 18 - Chapters 34, 35 & 36 (Season finale) from 2020-02-13T22:45
Chapter 34 – THE WOW WOWS
Chapter 35 – SHIP AHOY
Chapter 36 – ALWAYS LEAVE THEM LAUGHING
In which Arthur’s neatly exec...
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Ep. 17 - Chapters 32 & 33 from 2020-02-06T22:45
Chapter 32 – THE GREAT DETECTIVE
Chapter 33 – TIED UP IN NOTTS
In which Arthur‘s search for the owner of the knife ends in an ultimatum.&nbs...
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Ep. 16 - Chapters 30 & 31 from 2020-01-30T22:45
Chapter 30 – JIMMY THE FEARLESS
Chapter 31 – I’LL GET MY OWN BACK
In which Arthur’s unorthodox methods of dealing with a troublesome audienc...
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Ep. 15 - Chapters 28 & 29 from 2020-01-23T22:45:54
Chapter 28 – THE SOCIALIST
Chapter 29 – LET ME CALL YOU SWEETHEART
In which Arthur returns to London for the wedding and sees Tilly on the arm of ...
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Ep. 14 - Chapters 26 & 27 from 2020-01-16T22:45
Chapter 26 – DON’T DO IT AGAIN, MATILDA
Chapter 27 – BREAK A LEG
In which Arthur confronts Karno and receives a show-stopping injury
... Listen
Ep. 13 - Chapters 24 & 25 from 2020-01-09T22:45
Chapter 24 – A WOMAN OF PARIS
Chapter 25 – THE TOSS OF A COIN
In which Arthur and Charlie’s rivalry becomes more than just a war of words and Karn...
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Ep. 12 - Chapters 22 & 23 from 2020-01-02T22:45
Chapter 22 – OUI! TRAY BONG!
Chapter 23 – LA VALSE RENVERSANTE
In which Arthur and Charlie have their eyes opened by the Paris nightlife and see a...
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Ep. 11 - Chapters 20 & 21 from 2019-12-26T22:45
Chapter 20 – THE FOOTBALL MATCH
Chapter 21 – HE OF THE FUNNY WAYS
In which Arthur tackles one of his more difficult co-stars and Karno strikes a deal.&n...
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Ep. 10 - Chapters 18 & 19 from 2019-12-19T22:45
Chapter 18 - A VISIT FROM THE GUV’NOR
Chapter 19 - BESIDE THE SEA
In which Arthur visits Tilly’s family after he is given an exciting to lead as t...
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Ep. 9 - Chapters 16 & 17 from 2019-12-12T22:45
Chapter 16 – THE KARNO OF THE NORTH
Chapter 17 – TILLY’S PUNCTURED ROMANCE
In which Arthur meets a future global superstar and faces the biggest dilemma of his life.&...
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Ep. 8 - Chapters 14 & 15 from 2019-12-05T22:45
Chapter 14 - MUMMINGBIRDS
Chapter 15 – UNDER THE HONEYMOON TREE
In which Arthur receives an inviting offer from a rival of Karno.
Written and read by Chris Englan...
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Ep. 7 - Chapters 12 & 13 from 2019-11-28T22:45
Chapter 12 – IT’S A MARVEL ‘OW ‘E DOOS IT BUT ‘E DO
Chapter 13 – THE NEW WOMAN’S CLUB
In which Arthur takes a stroll and tea with his wife…
Written and read by Ch...
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Ep. 6 - Chapter 11 from 2019-11-21T23:30
Chapter 11 – JAILBIRDS
In which Arthur finds himself behind bars, both on and off stage.
Written and read by Chris England
Produced by Mark Augustyn Listen
Bonus episode - Chris England talks to Tim Lovejoy. from 2019-11-18T23:30
In this bonus episode, writer and narrator, Chris England talks to Sunday Brunch and Dear Lovejoy host, Tim Lovejoy. They discuss the books, podcasts and Chris' writing habits. This interview wa...
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Ep. 5 - Chapters 9 & 10 from 2019-11-14T23:30
Chapter 9 - WONTDETAINIA
Chapter 10 – HIS BIG BREAK
In which Arthur finally sets sail on the Wontdetainia and the audience gets a little more than they bargained for.
Ep. 4 - Chapters 7 & 8 from 2019-11-07T23:30
Chapter 7 – THE MAYOR OF MUDCUMDYKE
Chapter 8 – FRED KARNO’S ARMY
In which Arthur meets both a music hall great and quite possibly the love of his life.
Wri...
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Ep. 3 - Chapters 5 & 6 from 2019-11-01T10:10
Chapter 5 - THE HOUSE THAT FRED BUILT
Chapter 6 – A NIGHT IN AN ENGLISH MUSIC HALL
In which Arthur arrives at The Fun Factory and sets foot on the very bottom rung of the s...
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Ep. 2 - Chapters 3 & 4 from 2019-11-01T10:05
Chapter 3 - OH MR PORTER
Chapter 4 - THE VARSITY B.C.
In which Arthur joins the Cambridge Footlights and gets eaten by a dinosaur.
Written and read by ...
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Ep. 1 - Chapters 1 & 2 from 2019-11-01T10:00
EXPLANATORY NOTE
Chapter 1 – COLLEGE LIFE
Chapter 2 - THE SMOKING CONCERT
In which Arthur, a college porter, has a late night encounter which leads to ...
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The Fun Factory - coming soon... from 2019-10-22T14:56:33
Chris England introduces the upcoming serial podcast, The Fun Factory.
The Fun Factory is a historical comedy about the history of comedy in which our hero Arthur Dandoe enters the world o...
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