Wikishuffle was a UK comedy podcast presented by Jack Stewart, Chris Wallace and Philip Sharman, reliant on the Wikipedia random article button for content.
On 12 September 2015 Wikishuffle was awarded the title of Best Comedy Podcast at the 2015 UK Podcasters Awards hosted by New Media Europe.UK Podcasters Awards Winners 2015 , ukpodcasters.com Retrieved 31 January 2016
Format
The subject material for the podcast is determined by pressing the random article button in the English Wikipedia. Each episode features between one and four articles discussed by the host, with excerpts read directly from the article and commented upon. New episodes are released every Tuesday with occasional bonus episodes focusing on articles chosen by the presenters, suggested by listeners, or occasionally brought in by guests.
The podcast is hosted by Jack Stewart, who is also responsible for the technical and editing duties.Wikishuffle Interview, Youtube Retrieved 31 January 2016 Philip Sharman takes responsibility for reading out the articles, while Chris Wallace provides interjections. The tone is generally humorous, but the show also covers serious articles, such as the 2011 San Fernando massacre, and discusses political and current affairs topics in the context of the random articles that are selected.
The show also features more general news items in relation to Wikipedia and advocates the importance of the site as an educational and societal resource, and encourages listeners to donate to the Wikimedia Foundation.
The format is dependent upon a high level of listener interaction, with communication encouraged via social media and through the post.
Various running jokes have been established, including the prevalence of moth articles, the disproportionate number of articles covered which make reference to Scranton, Pennsylvania and Sharman's age and inability to keep up-to-date with modern technologies and culture.
History
Stewart and Wallace began podcasting in early 2015, with a podcast called Not This Again, recorded in Stewart's spare roomNTA Interview with James Edward Bagshaw, Youtube Retrieved 31 January 2016 The show was interview based and, after the pair began to find difficulty in securing a regular supply of interviewees, they started to look for an alternative format to differentiate them from the large number of independent podcasts available.
Philip Sharman had been a guest on Not This Again and spoke with Stewart and Wallace about an idea he had for developing a Wikipedia podcast. The initial idea was for a serious, documentary style podcast, using the random article button to seed stories. However, it became clear that the three presenters were better suited to a more lighthearted approach, resulting in the development of the current format.
The first three episodes were released together on 14 April 2015, hosted by the Swedish podcasting service Acast.
In August 2015, the recording of the podcast moved from Corby to a dedicated recording studio in Kettering, Northamptonshire, referred to in the podcast as Wikishuffle HQ.
The 50th episode of Wikishuffle was released on 2 February 2016. On 24 January 2017 the podcast celebrated its 100th episode with a special 2 hour long entry featuring articles selected by the presenters. In episode 101 it was announced that Jack would be leaving the podcast indefinitely to go find himself in Asia. Two more episodes were released with friend of the show Ruth Bradley filling in for Jack, and a two year hiatus then followed the release of episode 103 on 28 March 2017. In 2019, a compilation episode was released, entitled Wikishuffle: The Best Bits. This contained over 90 minutes of clips from previous episodes, interspersed with Jack providing context for some of the clips, as well as explaining that various attempts had been made for the 3 to record together but had been unsuccessful.
In May 2020, the 104th episode was released. This was recorded during the UK's first COVID lockdown, and was described during the episode as a "one-off special", and "probably" the final episode. Jack, Philip and Chris updated the listeners on their lives, and covered an article on Wojtek, a bear who had been adopted by a Polish army corps during World War II. The article was selected by Chris, as one of the show's running jokes involved Chris' fondness of "animals with jobs".
Critical response
Wikishuffle has received favourable reviews from an international audience.Clicks for Laughs , Nassau Tribune Retrieved 31 January 2016Play it Again, The Audit Retrieved 31 January 2016Podcast Review, 7-on-7 Retrieved 31 January 2016
On 12 September 2015 Wikishuffle won the Best Comedy Podcast category at the inaugural UK Podcasters Awards hosted by New Media Europe UK Podcasters Awards , newmediaeurope.com Retrieved 31 January 2016 sponsored by Spreaker. The award was accepted by Wallace and Sharman at the ceremony which took place at the Midland Hotel, Manchester.UK Podcasters Awards Ceremony, Youtube Retrieved 31 January 2016
Articles covered
The following Wikipedia articles have been covered by Wikishuffle:Wikishuffle Episodes acast.com Retrieved 31 January 2016
No. Episode Title Article 1 Article 2 Article 3 Article 4 Release Date Notes001PilotList of civilian casualties in the war in Afghanistan (2011)Coleophora berdjanskiA77 motorway (Netherlands)-No Longer Available002Down 'n' DirtyWendy RichardKelly Bell---003Shuffle it Again, SamPlay It Again, Sam (film)Gust of Wind---004Okay, Mother1950–51 United States network television schedule (weekday)----005Bruce ChickinsonGuðjón Valur SigurðssonThe Iron MaidensSible Hedingham--006Other ButtonsDump diggingScripps National Spelling Bee---007Double BogeyAmber LeafCharles Lynch (judge)Relentless (Jo O'Meara album)Hole in One (2010 film)-008Man Don't Give a FuckRobin Friday---Bonus episode – Jack's selection009The Flabbergasted TravellerQueen of ShebaYou've Got a Friend in Me---010The False ProphetEeveeDemob suit2005 in EnglandHervé This-011But then there's this2011 San Fernando massacreBambi II---012Phil 'em UpK.C. RiversMarvin MitchelsonList of Arab AstronautsList of celebrity appearances in video games-013Keith FerrariGhostwatch---Bonus episode – Chris's selection014D-I-V-O-R-C-EMr. SnuffleupagusUnderachieverWanda Ramey--015(Television Carpenter)National Bingo Night (U.S. game show)Æthelred of Wessex---016On Board with the NazisList of number-one hits of 1996 (Germany)Dead Snow: Red vs. Dead---017JuicyBrian KendrickPeter Moore (businessman)---018Ode to Bin LadenThe Landt TrioSamantha Lewthwaite---019Got Blood?List of sexually active popes---Bonus episode – Phil's selection020All Aboard HMS Blazer47th Primetime Emmy AwardsBen Fogle---021No Marine BiologistsVandelliaJazmin's Touch---022Goths Really Love PunsHot blastThe Sick's Sense---023ConCATenatedOscar (therapy cat)Adamski--First episode recorded at Wikishuffle HQ024Into the VoidToby TerrierEliza WinstonVantablack--025Dave Days & Lemonade MouthJosias Philip HoffmanWho Says (Selena Gomez & the Scene song)---026Cowboys and AntmenHead spadeGeorge ScarboroughAnt (comedian)--027Marvel Universe Phase NineGoldballsNela ZisserFebruary 2010 Lower Dir bombing--028Love BuffetParfait Tic!AnthomyiaAdolf Hitler's 50th birthday--029Too Cool for PoolePooleDanny OrleansNasal septum perforation-First episode after winning UK Podcasters award030Hairy Hat MenLetterlandPinnated BitternThe Beggar's Benison--031Fifty Shades of PinkLin WangShades of pinkSinchon massacre--032Chitterling ChatterDonkeyskinBlack puddingGoldeneye (estate)--033S Club 0.2857Brum (TV series)Seth NeddermeyerNegotiate with Love--034ToilegamiFriday the 13th (1989 video game)Hotel toilet paper foldingBetty Boop's Big Boss-Halloween Special035It's No Joke Living in BarnsleyRound the BendFerret-leggingJohn Titor-Bonus episode – listener selection036A Bit Gamesy ThronesyRobert Barclay AllardiceNepalese royal massacre---037Viva von BabenhausensAdrian Carton di Wiart---Bonus episode – listener selection038Bronze BeaverGoldy GopherRattlesnake Annie---039The Bollock HurdleSmut (fungus)GAZelleJohn Rann--040Spiteful ConklingRoscoe ArbuckleAlfie and His Secret Friend---041Chocolate Lady MousseBoab Prison Tree, WyndhamNaked Jungle---042Sinking ShipBenjamin GuggenheimAqua (band)---043For the Good of Mankind1998 Hell in a Cell matchJamie Vardy--2015 Christmas special 1044The Perfect BlendGold Blend coupleUnit 731--2015 Christmas special 2045Ya Still Tickle MeApril O'NeilThe Notorious B.I.G.--2015 Christmas special 3046Tropical House: A Beginner's GuideList of mentally ill monarchsJolly Jack's Lost Mine---047Runaway TwainBonBon-LandDerek HerseyThe Naked Woman and the Gun--048Welcome to the Hippo CampusMartin van ButchellDeath from laughter---049Henry Maar's Sinister TwistingRoy MackalThankful villagesBalloon modelling--050Lying to the Pizza ManVictorian mourning dollsBlobfishSentinelese peopleBernard Matthews Ltd-051All You Can DiddleHabboTitus Young---052The Lizard LayerDavid Icke---Bonus episode with Alex Haddow from the-pool.com053Unsolicited Dick PicsThe Joy Of TextThe Tale Of Tsar Saltan – –2016-02-16 –054Death By Orange SodaPaul is deadDenver International Airport – –2016-02-19Bonus episode with Alex Haddow from the-pool.com055Some Indecent ProposalsList of scandals with "-gate" suffixThousand-yard stare – –2016-02-23 –056AKA BusterU2charistGatsby (sandwich)Sunday SportNo Scrubs2016-03-01 –057Box Hunt with Des O' ConnorLisa NilesPole Chudes – –2016-03-08 –058Chubby Little DespotsKaspar HauserSuperman curse – –2016-03-12Bonus episode with Owen Hughes from failedcritics.com059Thinky Box Brain HouseIntracortical encephalogram signal analysisBlue Peter pets – –2016-03-15 –060Work on Bank for 1 MoneyThe TerrorThe SamsonadzesPhubbing –2016-03-18Bonus episode with Owen Hughes from failedcritics.com061Poor Little Eoghan QuiggZayn MalikMegaChip – –2016-03-22 –062One of the Least Sexy CancersBuffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffaloA Horse for Mandy – –2016-03-292016-03063The Three SeashellsCryonics – – –2016-04-05 –064Cricket With Gary BarlowLiving statueMaybe We Should Just Sleep on It – –2016-04-12One year anniversary065Guinea Pig ShavingStanley Green – – –2016-04-15Bonus episode with Keith Clark066Iustus id SomnusPolo neckSeasteading – –2016-04-19 –067Wax Lacks Whack SlacksList of animals with fraudulent diplomasHeroes of WrestlingGrunge speak –2016-04-25Bonus episode with Keith Clark068Lifehack Your LaggingPool noodleDisconnection – –2016-04-26 –069The Gems of AzamoreThe Mystery at Lilac InnGhettopolyColin the Caterpillar –2016-05-03 –070Floaty Sex DirtNepenthes jambanH. L. Hunt--2016-05-10 –071Vadge BishopMasturbate-a-thon2016-05-13Bonus episode with Stacey Taylor from Stacey's Pop Culture Parlour
References
External links