Clearing the Air - a comedy series about radio advertisements.

CLEARING THE AIR is a stupid comedy podcast about the rigmarole of getting radio advertisements cleared for broadcast.

CLEARING THE AIR features Claudette Bewley, a senior official at the Radio Advertising Standards Agency. She leaves messages on random copywriters’ voicemail advising them where they’ve gone wrong.

The Radio Advertising Standards Agency* is a bastion of the radio industry. A guardian of quality. A bulwark of trust. Its work is essential and protects radio listeners from the horrors of bad ads.

RASA’s highly trained officers and round-the-clock listening agents are constantly on the lookout (and also hear-out) for anything – ANYTHING – that might alarm listeners, even just a bit.

You know the kind of thing. Crazy claims. Rampant promises. Massive statements. And wishy-washy rubbish like “there’s never been a better time to buy laminate flooring.” That kind of nonsense is exactly why the Radio Advertising Standards Agency is forced to exist.

CLEARING THE AIR is written by Emma Clarke and features the voices of Emma Clarke and Taff Girdlestone. The producer is Rik Watson.

No copywriters were (permanently) harmed in the making of this podcast.

Drains

In this episode, Claudette Bewley from the Radio Advertising Standards Agency calls a copywriter to express concern at the "reckless" broadcast of a commercial about drainage.

Pantomime

Claudette Bewley calls a radio commercial copywriter to upbraid him about the "outrageous" claims being made in an advert about "everybody's favourite pantomime."

Flooring

Has there really never been a better time to buy laminate flooring? Claudette Bewley of the Radio Advertising Standards Agency challenges this claim with vigour, while frightening a copywriter.

Builders

Claudette Bewley admonishes another copywriter over his sloppy copy. This time, she's challenging a commercial about builders.

Beauty

The Radio Advertising Standards Agency is particularly vigilant about advertisements for beauty salons. Can 'all your beauty needs' really be met? Claudette Bewley isn't so sure.

Hotel

Have you ever been moved to book a hotel because you've heard a radio commercial about it? Many have. Claudette Bewley expresses concern to a copywriter about yet another rash claim.

Reviews

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hilarious! Comedy gold! – Claire Grainger

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genuinely funny. Within the first minute I was already laughing out loud, getting some weird looks from people nearby. I have listened to a lot of “comedy” podcasts but nothing that constantly makes me chuckle like this does. Everything about it is genius – the writing, the character, the audio itself…well done ‘Claudette Bewley’ you are my new hero! – Shelly Smith

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Brilliantly funny! I could listen to Claudette Bewley all day (providing she’s not talking to or about me). – Luke McPeake

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Love it! So brilliantly observed, and so true my experience. Painfully so. Was doing LOLs on the train! Her voice is fantastic, the haughtiness, the passive agressiveness. And the accent and impediment! Lots of little touches that really makes it ridiculous and perfectly believable at the same time. Good work. – Simon Galloway

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Hilarious, very much relate to this! – Howard Young

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Very funny, love it! – Peter Labrow