The Boosh (radio series)

The Boosh was a surreal British comedy radio series, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2001. It served as a precursor to the more widely known television series of the same name. The radio series was written by and starred Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding, and featured many of the same characters and themes that would later appear in the TV version.

The show consisted of eight episodes and centered around the adventures of zookeepers Howard Moon and Vince Noir at the fictional Zooniverse, a dilapidated zoo run by Bob Fossil. Other recurring characters included Naboo the Enigma, a shaman, and Bollo, a talking gorilla.

The radio series established the distinctive comedic style of The Boosh, characterized by its use of absurd situations, musical interludes, and surreal characters. Many of the key plot devices and running gags from the radio series, such as Howard's jazz aspirations and Vince's flamboyant fashion sense, were further developed in the television series. The success of the radio show paved the way for the transition of The Boosh to television.