Most recognised for her role on Meet the Richardson’s, writer and creator of To Hull and Back (BBR4) and co-writer on C4’s Hullraisers, Lucy Beaumont is about to embark on her 2023 stand up tour. Despite her massive success, she feels like she’s only just getting started. We discuss her honest and frank writing style and processes – both in writing for herself whether it be stage or TV and for other characters – who come through to her via dead peoples’ spirits. We also delve into her...

Trigger warning: Discussion of child sexual abuse. Jonny Pelham has become one of the most disarmingly hilarious comics in the UK by building his punchlines on a bedrock of unflinching honesty. There’s a big difference between the comedy cliche of “saying the unsayable”, and being able to find the humanity and authenticity in a subject that people don’t want to talk about.  We talk about his new Edinburgh Fringe show “Optimism Over Despair”, and he leads us through the experience at that...

We finally got him! Mike Birbiglia arrives in Edinburgh for the first time this August with his smash hit new stand-up/story show “The Old Man And The Pool” and shows us why he's 'Broadway’s greatest comic storyteller' (Deadline). We talk about the minutiae of his creative process, from the rhythms of his jokes and his deft use of implication, to the glue between bits, and a walkthrough of his “process guy” process, and find out why he’s only beholden to the owner of the circus… 30 unmissable...

“I’m just a creative for an ad agency, and the only product is me…” Gianmarco Soresi is a phenomenally driven, hard-working comic whose ambition and social media savvy might rankle, if he wasn’t so utterly funny.  We talk about growing up a theatre kid and what he had to let go of to become a comic, his need to be witnessed, and his adoration of “mathematically beautiful” jokes, including his love for the one-liners of Anthony Jeselnik and Rodney Dangerfield. 20 mins of extra content...

One of the North East’s best-kept comedy secrets, Lee Kyle is a dimpled diamond with a twinkly warmth and bucket-loads of swearing. We talk about focusing on multiple projects and thriving in chaos - plus the downsides of ADHD, and how he wrestles with self-doubt and demotivation. We also discover the origins of NE comedy co-operative incubator “Felt Nowt”, and why the first minute of Lee’s set is purposefully a write-off. 20 mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club, Stu asks...

Master of miscellany, Neil Delamere has a huge presence in his home country of Ireland and across the UK, boasting a style of comedy where every single second is packed full of laughs. We talk about the difference between a good comic and a great comic; the type of comedy that piques Neil’s interests; and why he thinks storytelling is the purest, and most powerful, form of entertainment. We also learn how he combats the writing process of a tour show vs an Edinburgh Fringe hour; including the...

Ingenious stand-up, actor and impressionist James Adomian’s impact is truly global, with his voice appearing on a hundred cartoons and a thousand podcasts - making him "a famous person no-one knows”. Delving deep into his character performance and how he chooses who to impersonate, James lets us in on his love for Aristophanes and his processes of tackling intelligent and academic subjects, in voices ranging from US Presidents to Slovenian philosophers, all whilst maintaining mainstream...

Ignacio Lopez is an ascendant comic currently selling out his national tour due to a combination of talent, strategy, and sheer determination. We talk about his enjoyment of playing high status and the pitfalls associated with that, about him flying alone as a child between families and countries, and how he used comedy as a social cheat-code. We also explore comedy as a separate language, and the different dialects and fluency that we all employ… 20mins of extra content available exclusively...

Emma Willmann is a New York killer comic, with a big online presence and a completely magnetic angle on gender and sexuality. We talk here about her unique origins with a schoolteacher who let her get up and perform if she managed to focus throughout the class; as well as covering hyperfocus, ADHD and stopping taking the pills, and the comfort in relating to finding a process.   All of this plus the systems she’s created for coping with her busy brain, an obsession with comedy book-learning,...

Hilarious comic Steve Agee is known to many as John Economos in “The Suicide Squad”, and Steve from The Sarah Silverman Programme, as well as being the bearer of the most satisfying narrative arc in the insanely funny “Peacemaker” (HBO Max). He talks with us live at South By Southwest about being part of the James Gunn Cinematic Universe, and the panic attacks that ruled his life and meant he had to warn employers in advance about his propensity for walking away and never coming back. We also...

After a truly horrible year, John Hastings has came swinging with yet another blockbuster  fringe show, working through the passing of his dear friend, the much loved comedy director Paul Byrne, not to mention a divorce and a wince-inducing bike crash. We talk about John’s move from the UK circuit to Los Angeles, and discuss the finer details of what it means to participate in several different global markets; also the bad behaviour he’s experienced at the hands of certain [REDACTED]...

Launching her new show “Legacy” at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival right now, Michelle Brasier completes a trilogy of heartfelt, philosophical and very funny one-woman shows about loss and forgiveness, which includes the multi-award winning “Average Bear”. We talk about her work with purveyors of sketch carnage Aunty Donna, and discover why drama school rejects have all the fun. We also discuss her secret fears that she’s doing some kind of TEDTalk and can’t write proper jokes;...

“I did Instagram Live for 2 years straight, for 5-6 hours a day” Tub-thumping powerhouse Godfrey has been in the game for the best part of three decades and yet still radiates happiness and positivity. We talk about his phenomenal work ethic and drive; being the first English-speaking comedian to gig in Russia; why someone this happy needs to do comedy; and the business dimension to comedy where his confidence sometimes fails him… Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes,...

“Is there any more depth to you, or are you just jokes?" …So went The Honourable Tom Houghton’s experience with Netflix influencer/reality show “The Circle”, and we get right into that here! We also discuss his ballistic comedy style, the social media strategy that has seen him accrue over 10M likes across Tiktok and Instagram, and his truly harrowing relationship with his boarding school. We also discover his relationship with improv group The Noise Next Door and how it persists despite him...

Instinctive, irrepressible, and with an inimitable aversion to b******t, today we revisit Fern Brady's 2016 nascent dalliance with success, mere moments before catapulting herself headlong into the comedy stratosphere... Catch up with Fern via: fernbradycomedian.com @fernfrombathgate @FernBrady Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free episodes, extra content from every show that has it, and much more - including the exclusive Insiders Q&As with Nish Kumar, Alfie Brown, James...

Truly a global comedian, Vir Das has five Netflix specials to his name, and his latest “Landing” is an exceptional piece of work, relating the story of a plane journey at the end of which he faces arrest for bringing his country’s name into disrepute. We talk about his beginnings in Bollywood; the difference a background in acting makes to a comics’ approach to authenticity; removing the middlemen between oneself and one’s audience; and why he doesn’t have the luxury of cynicism… Go...

Fresh from the ComCompendium annals we rediscover the indomitable Gina Yashere. An engineer in a previous life, and a comic tour de force in this one, Gina's boldness and clarity of mind saw her draft up a plan: simply selling up her life in the UK and moseying over to the ol' USA. We examine Gina's annoyance at being the 'diversity' on panel shows, point the finger firmly in the direction of The Patriarchy, and discuss the myriad of pitfalls involved with plunging oneself headlong into...

Today we heave open the ComCom vault door and revisit this episode with the outspoken moral arbiter of stand-up Stewart Lee. As principled as they come – punitively politically correct, and forever eschewing the same limelight in which other contemporaries love to bathe – we ponder the lengths to which he is willing to go in order to gleefully burn bridges. We also discuss what the autumn of his career might have in store, and explore how the righteousness of his onstage persona forbids any...

Dusted down, and fresh from the archives, today we re-welcome the wry cynicism of the nation’s favourite chubby svelte vegan Romesh Ranganathan. Fearless on stage, yet his own biggest critic off it, we discuss his stratospheric – and largely unplanned – comic success. We place parenthood under the microscope, revise his former vocations as teacher and rapper, before discovering that stolen jokes fuelled his first ever gig... a 1987 Pontins talent show. Stu's new comedy special "I Need You...

In today’s trip down memory lane, the ever effervescent Shaparak Khorsandi leads the way – with a quick stop off at Comedy’s figurative playground – via her own yellow brick road. We dissect second chances, shifting statuses, and how the pursuit of money stunts artistic quality... Candid, nuanced, and not lacking in poise, Shaparak opens up on the difficult situations to which her early standup inexperience subjected her, and the realisation of how bullying is ultimately rooted in...

This week we swing wide the comcom vault door and crack open a vintage 2012 with the indefatigable Sarah Millican. We talk about her unbound positivity, the necessity to jettison pre-gig baggage, and managing her - as well as the audience’s - expectations. We also delve into Millican’s Law, Thermos pasta, and men’s proclivity to urinate in hotel kettles. Stu's new comedy special "I Need You Alive" has a worldwide digital premiere on Feb 23rd, see the trailer and find the ticket link...

A re-release of the 2013 live episode with a very young and sprightly James Acaster, on the responsibility of the comic to their crowd, sabotaging gigs and answering audience questions on slacks... www.jamesacaster.com Stu's new comedy special "I Need You Alive" has a worldwide digital premiere on Feb 23rd, see the trailer and find the ticket link at www.stuartgoldsmith.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Despite his alt roots, barnstorming Kurt Braunohler straddles comedy scenes like a Colossus! We talk about his lifelong and very inventive quest to “insert absurdity into strangers' lives to make the world a better place”, choreographing randomness, and drawing inspiration from Kurt Vonnegut and Eugene Mirman. We also dive into how his glorious new show ”Perfectly Stupid” represents an emotional maturity that sidesteps schmaltziness… Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders for ad-free...

Sarah Keyworth is a seriously funny comedian, and has a succinct and uncomplicated way of showing it. In this very thoughtful interview, they talk about the point where being saddened by other peoples’ reality meets the irresistible pull of activism. We also explore their creative partnership with the late, great Paul Byrne; and why they’d love to have a pint with JK Rowling… 20 mins of extras available exclusively to the Insiders Club include what happened when Sarah’s therapist found out...

Skilfully navigating territory of misogyny and a clash between lad culture and woke lads, Esther Manito’s recent show “#NotAllMen” burst at the seams with relatable material rooted in the clash between her Middle Eastern heritage and her Essex upbringing. Esther talks here about whether you can be too relatable; having children before comedy and musing on an agent’s misguided warning that no-one wants a ”comedy mum”; and growing up in Essex at the time of the Gulf War, with anti-Arab rhetoric...