Unique comedy station launched in Haverhill

Inspired by too many tedious traffic jams and a shortage of radio comedy, a Haverhill man has launched an online station that provides comedy 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Clive Exton came up with the idea for Radio Ha-Ha after enduring one laughless traffic jam too many during the course of his work as a consultant and interim manager.

Inspired by the idea of having a comedy station he could tune in to whenever he wanted he researched what was needed, finally opting for an internet-based station and it is now up and running from a studio in Station Road, Haverhill.

Clive, who is partnered in his venture by his daughter Sarah, 18, said: “The research I did has led me to realise that in fact this is the way of the future.

“Cars are soon to be built with wi-fi hot spots already in them. Sound crazy? They already are built to be fully interactive with smartphones.

“The states are due to start building cars to this specification in the next year or two.”

The station is managed by media production graduate Shaina Scotcher, who has so far compiled a database of 4,000 comedy pieces, be it songs, sketches or live stand-up recordings, with artists old, such as Charlie Drake and Joyce Grenfell to the current comedians like Kevin Bridges and Russell Howard.

The station has had an app created that should be ready, and free for iPhones in time for Christmas.

The site, www.radiohaha.co.uk, also aims to include a section where new and experienced comedians can promote their material, to have different presenters and to record their own programmes using the numerous scripts they already have.

Radio Ha-Ha’s team is also setting up a facility to have a live feed and build a library from comedy clubs and pubs.

Clive added: “There is so much comedy to be enjoyed - old and new. We have discovered so much more comedy music than I ever realised was out there.

“Our next step is to take on presenters. There is so much to do and so little time.

“How exciting is this. We all love what we are doing and we are all just a little bit crazy, and with a formula like that - you have to succeed.”