Comics on My Radio

How do cartoonists choose the words for their speech bubbles? And - although we call them "speech" bubbles or balloons - how close are they to real speech?

The language of cartoons, comics and graphic novels was the subject of BBC Radio 4's Word of Mouth this week, and the ever entertaining writer and poet Michael Rosen began his journey in Bloomsbury, central London with a visit to the Cartoon Museum. From there, he covered the comics form from James Gillray to Steve Bell via Punch and the Beano, joined along the way by the Museum's curator, Anita O'Brien, and Guardian cartoonist and graphic novelist, Martin Rowson.

Also in the programme are the creator of Gemma Bovery and Tamara Drewe, Posy Simmonds, and some of the next generation of cartoonists now pushing their wares at Camden Market with the help of London Underground comics: Oli Smith, Alex Fitch (of resonance FM) and David Baillie.

• The episode will be available to "Listen Again" for the next few days.