Heart UK

Russell Howard’s Five Brilliant Things

Each week Russell sits down with fantastic guests to chat about their Brilliant Things; the items, places and people that make life worth living.

Avalon Television

The pop megastar is in the studio and her brilliant things are as wholesome as you might hope; a swim through the importance of connecting with nature, the vitality of comedy and there’s a fascinating chat about the creative process. Oh! And chocolate.



Natasha’s new single ‘Dot Dot Dot’ is out now and it’s an absolute banger; the kind of upbeat, optimistic pop that has earned Natasha a place among the greats. You can hear it, buy it and find so much more music at natashabedingfield.com 

You can also follow Natasha on Insta where she’s @natashabedingfield.



Enjoy these final late summer days, listen to some music, walk your dog unless you don’t have a dog in which case steal a dog and walk that dog.



Bye!



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Natasha Bedingfield

ALASDAIR BECKETT-KING



A tremendous comedian with a distinct voice (and hair) and a talent for making some of the best videos to ever grace the internet - it’s the unstoppable ABK! 

A man like Alasdair, with an interest in life’s niches, was always going to produce a good episode of Five Brilliant Things, but who knew it would be this good? We career from things you definitely can touch (rocks) to things you definitely can’t (strippers - only joking - ghosts actually) and it’s just the kind of focussed, funny bimbling that was the reason podcasts were invented.





And until late November, ABK is touring his latest full-length show ‘King of Crumbs’. It’s great, you should most certainly go if he’s in your area, and to find out if he will be in your area at a time that works for you, go to abeckettking.com where all the tour dates and booking links may be found. Also you can check out his utterly incredible online videos too. 



There we go. Another week’s listening pleasure parcelled up and delivered into your ear. X



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Alasdair Beckett-King

Mark Simmons, one of the sharpest joke writers in the country (maybe the world? Maybe the universe?) is here and his five brilliant things give an insight into the man behind the gags. From Taekwondo tournaments to Wrestling and the thrills of Mr Miyagi, you can see that his discipline in joke-writing comes from a deep love of Eastern sports and arts. And…um…wrestling?



Mark is about to start the Autumn leg of his ‘Jest to Impress’ tour, and basically you won’t get more jokes per pound spent at any other show. He’s a terrific comedian and you should go. 

You can get tickets and find all the dates at https://marksimmons.co.uk

Do you want to watch his last special ‘Quip off the Mark’? It’s on the website. Free.

You want to listen to his podcast ‘Jokes’? It’s on the website. ALSO FREE!



Lucky ducks. So much Mark Simmons so little time. 



I’m off to watch a load of Mark Simmons. There’s so much there I’ll barely have finished by next week. Taraaaaa! 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Mark Simmons

Brian Conley has been one of the biggest names in UK comedy and theatre for the past generation. From being the biggest comedian on TV to the most in-demand stage performer, he’s done it all. Come in and listen to a fascinating chat between Russell and Brian, two comics who sit, and have sat, at the top of their game at different periods in history. 



As we spoke about on the show, Brian has just competed in Celebrity Hunted on Channel 4, and you can watch the whole series, including his victorious final show on the Channel 4 player right now! Link is here or you can just search for it when you get back to your big telly. 



The Prat Pack also have some September shows which are selling fast - find out more about that by going here.



And this is where we part company. I’ll see you in next week’s blurb no doubt. We MUST stop meeting like this.



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Brian Conley

Hello there!



Welcome to August’s Moments of the Month. In case you’re new here, this is a compilation show with a little flavour of each guest we’ve enjoyed this month, but not the whole show.

Then if you like the taste of any of them you can double-back and listen to the whole episode. It’s a good way to discover someone you would never have thought of clicking on before. 



First up we’ve got the comedian, actor and star of SNL UK, Scarborough’s finest… Paddy Young.



Then we had Dan Tiernan just getting ready for Edinburgh, using the power of crystals…



Following that was a special episode with Russell’s close friend, the US film director Joe Maggio who waxed lyrical about the greatest film of all time - La Dole Vita



And lastly it was the firebrand honesty of Alfie Brown, who wears his personal history on his sleeve for our entertainment!



So there we go! That’s a little taste of what August was like. All of those shows are available in full right now, so if you got a taste for it, go and get some more.



Thanks as always for listening and there will be a new show, as usual, this coming Wednesday. 



Byeeee!


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August's Moments of the Month

One of the most interesting, honest and self-eviscerating comics around at the moment, Alfie Brown brings his happy things to the studio including the city of Liverpool, Love Songs, his own wife and the levelling, life-saving properties of cannabis. 



Alfie has been in Edinburgh but if you haven’t been there yet you ain’t going now, but luckily for you his latest hit show ‘The Entertainer’ is touring the UK. 

You can find out all the dates and book tickets in a couple of quick clicks by going to alfiebrowntour.com. You can also follow Alfie on Instagram where he’s @alfiebrowncomedian and you can search for his and Jessie’s podcast (which has terrific metrics if you read the data) - just look for ‘Before we Break Up Again’ on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. 



Well done for reading the blurb, which is the modern equivalent of DVD extras, in that a huge amount of love and energy goes into them but really we’re only slaving away for a very select bunch of nerds like you. Nerd. Yeah you heard me (but totally thanks for making this worthwhile).





Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music


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Alfie Brown

Today, the first guest Russell nearly killed. American director Joe Maggio is here, miraculously, after nearly losing his life on Russell’s stag-do some years ago. He’s written a show about the near-fatal mistake of trying to keep up with a feral UK stag-do and it’s at the Edinburgh Festival right now. The brush with death has led to a deeper, more profound love of life for Joe, so his Five Brilliant Things are unusually rich; told with a story-telling flair that betrays his many years creating, teaching and loving films.In many regards this episode shows Five Brilliant Things at its best: a person you may not have heard of but with beautiful takes on slices of life of which you weren’t even previously aware.Edinburghevery day at The Mash House, tickets from edfringe.com.

Also follow Joe on Instagram where he's 'thejoemaggio'.



That will do I think. Thanks for your attention and please be cautious when playing five-a-side with a bunch of feral louts. x
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Joe Maggio

Award-winning stand-up comic Dan Tiernan is here! If you thought you’d heard about torturous writing process before, just wait until you hear Dan’s extraordinary stories. He’s been to some tricky places and come back. He’s also a strong poker player and tells another cracker about winning BIG in a tournament in slightly awkward circumstances. All good things! 



Dan’s out there right now with his new show ‘Quartz and All’ and it’s about the crystal madness he talks about in this podcast. If that’s anything to go by it will be a very very entertaining hour of bonkers and heart-felt comedy. 

It’s in Edinburgh now, and then after August out on tour across the UK and Ireland.



You can get tickets for that, check dates, and watch Dan’s previous special by going HERE. 



That’s all for today’s crystal-bathing session, hope your aura is all shiny and new. Thanks for checking in and double thanks for reading to the end of the blurb. I often feel this bit of writing will be read by nobody, but here you are, validating me. I FEEL SEEN. 





Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Dan Tiernan

Utterly charming, utterly chaotic and singing the praises of cold flannels. The SNL UK star Paddy Young is here, and is the first guest to arrive to the recording with a bottle of milk in hand. Why? It’s all in this delightful hour of chat that includes banned Scrabble words and why you should walk out of more plays and films. 



Paddy’s new live show is called ‘Will Sir be Laughing Alone?’ And it’s at the Edinburgh Festival right now. 



His Fringe show is at 9pm at Monkey Barrel but that’s all sold out. Check out his extra shows in Edinburgh HERE  at 2.25pm on 10-12 Aug 

And his BIG show that we talked about in the podcast is on 14th Aug at Pleasance at 11.15pm. 



After that the show will be out on tour. The tour dates are HERE.



And you can catch Paddy doing weekend update with Ania on SNL UK this Autumn. 



Sayonara dickwads.



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music


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Paddy Young

It's July's Moments of the Month: no new shows, just a smattering of the best bits of all the shows from the past month. Try some, and if you like it, go back and listen to the whole episode!



First up in July it was the Eastenders star turned super-podcaster, Natalie Cassidy. 



Then it was the comic actor extraordinaire, Peter Serafinowicz.



Following Peter was one of the bright lights of comedy, SNL writer Bella Hull. 



Then we had the choreographer turned comedian Christopher Hall.



And we finished off with the mod-comedian turned cosy-crime sensation, Ian Moore. 



So there we go! That’s a little taste of what July was like. All of those shows are available in full right now, so if you got a taste for it, go and get some more.



Thanks as always for listening and there will be a new show, as usual, this coming Wednesday. 



Cheerio.



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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July's Moments of the Month

Death and Croissants author and comedian Ian Moore is in the studio! The best-selling author of France-based cosy crime novels, Ian has never lost that razor-sharp comedian instinct and gives a belting show that takes in the unbridled pleasure of judging others on how they dress, the simple beauty of a cheese sandwich and the arcane insanity of French bureaucracy. Hard recommend. 



Right. Go and listen to the show. Then you’ll see why Ian’s got such an engaging brain and why you should, if you already haven’t, acquire and read his brilliant books. His latest ‘cosy crime’ is called Death and Deja Vu, and his more serious procedural is called ‘A Very French Corpse’.

You can get the audiobook of ‘Death and Deja Vu’ by going HERE.

You can enjoy the audiobook of ‘A Very French Corpse’ by going HERE. 

But basically you can get the whole selection in any good independent bookshop. 



Bon. C’est le fin. Merci beaucoup pour votre attention. Alors…oui. A bientôt mes amis. A demain. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Ian Moore

He’s danced for Kylie and Shania, he’s a viral sensation, a comedian and a born showman; Christopher Hall  is in the studio.

Christopher explains why there’s nothing more liberating than pottering around the shops, enjoying punny names for businesses and the nostalgic taste of a home-made Middlesborough chip. 



Christopher has created a brand-new stand-up show! It’s called Pizazz and it will be on at the Edinburgh Fringe this August and then out on tour, starting in Margate on 30th September and finishing in London on 18th November. Tickets are on general release and you can get them HERE. 

Get the Edinburgh Fringe tickets by going to edfringe.com.



And there we go. I’ve given you all the information you need. I straighten my tie, reach into my pocket and pull out some mysterious looking dust. I throw it at the floor and there is a flash, a poof of smoke and I’m gone. You look around wondering what this magic is, and see me hiding behind the door. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Christopher Hall

Horror gig stories are always fun; Comedian and SNL UK writer Bella Hull serves up some of the best in the business. If art is suffering then Bella is Leonardo da Vinci. Bella is one of the most exciting newer voices on the UK comedy circuit and even a brief listen to this episode demonstrates why: her strong feelings about duvets, pies and the sensation of going downhill are told with panache and genuine enthusiasm. 



Bella has created, just for you, a new show and it will be on at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival! It’s called Mad Cow Disease, it’s on at 12:30pm at Monkey Barrel and it’s going to be a hot ticket so booking in advance is advisable. You can get tickets by clicking here. 



If you can bear it, then we will be apart for a few days but as always we shall return next week. 


How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Bella Hull

Comedian and Actor Peter Serafinowicz takes an hour out of his hectic filming schedule to sit down and explain why we should listen to the Oh-Sees, why the Bionic Commando soundtrack was so groundbreaking and he gives us the most iconic death noise in video-game history. 



If you want to see Peter, get onto Netflix and watch Million Dollar Secret which he hosts. If you want to be Peter, then get Elden Ring and you can experience (as recreated on the podcast) his effort noises. Also watch out for him in the upcoming Elden Ring film! Exciting stuff. 



This blurb was produced with a huge number of effort noises that it’s extremely fortunate you didn’t hear because it sounded like someone struggling with a particularly stubborn turd. 



Bye bye you weird blurb reading person.



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Peter Serafinowicz

Hello there!

Welcome to June's Moments of the Month. In case you’re new here, this is a compilation show with a little snippet of each guest we’ve enjoyed this month, so you can get a flavour.

Then if you like the taste of any of them you can double-back and listen to the whole episode. It’s a good way to discover someone you would never have thought of clicking on before. 



First in studio in June was the lead singer and creative force behind Kasabian... Serge Pizzorno



After that we were visited by the superb stand-up Sindhu Vee with incredible stories about her formidable mother.



Stand-up and acting icon Aziz Ansari was over from America so he popped in to see us next...



And finally the SNL break-out star and internet comedy titan Al Nash was in with some very traditional British cosiness. And teeth. 



So there we go! That’s a little taste of what June was like. All of those shows are available in full right now, so if you got a taste for it, go and get some more.



Thanks as always for listening and there will be a new show, as usual, this coming Wednesday. 



Byeeee!

Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

June's Moments of the Month

A lovely chat with a lovely guest: Natalie talks about her time behind the scenes on Eastenders (and her prodigious ability to nap on command), her more recent time spent working with the care system and sharing memes that people have made out of her own face!

There’s  loads to enjoy, please dive in and have a great time. 



We talked about it on the show - Nat has her podcast ‘Life with Nat’ alongside her closest friends and family, so if you want to hang out with Nat more long-term, you absolutely can. Visit https://lifewithnatpod.komi.io/ and get involved.



This blurb has been passed by the official blurb approval committee with a safety rating of B minus. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Natalie Cassidy

AL NASH



From SNL UK and your favourite online viral sketches, it’s comic and actor Al Nash! 



Al popped in to chat to Russell about why there’s nothing quite as enjoyable as a School Fair, the simple delight of the ‘umble crumpet and and extraordinary story about the time his flat was raided by the police. Yeah! You did’t see that one coming did you?

The chat also goes into fascinating detail of how they made that first season of SNL UK and what it’s like to forge a career as an online sketch comedian.



You can watch Al’s online stuff at https://www.alnashcomedy.co.uk (and you should: they are really fast silly sketches that properly nail the online culture at the moment). He will also feature in season two of SNL UK which will be on Sky this autumn, but you’ll see it in chunks on your online feed because nobody subscribes to Sky for the comedy. The football pays for everything else innit. 



Thank you for your enduring love. It’s requited in a slightly creepy way. See you next week, space ranger! 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music


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Al Nash

He’s only one of the biggest comics in the whole of the US! You know him from Parks and Rec, his own brilliant Netflix show Master of None and most recently from his incredible turn on SNL as Kash Patel. 



He’s here in the studio with his Five Brilliant Things which show a real meticulous, thoughtful side to him: whether it’s Martinis, Espressos or the feeling of real pen on paper, Aziz is here for the tactile experiences. It’s a funny and warm show that you will definitely enjoy.



🎟️  We talked about it in the pod - Aziz is coming to the Royal Albert Hall! He’s bringing his latest show Hypothetical for one very special night. It’s on Saturday 11th July and you can get your tickets by going to https://www.azizansari.com and following the links 🎟️



Pleasure to have you here! Until next time amigo x



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music


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Aziz Ansari

Comedian and Actor Sindhu Vee is in the studio and she’s brought stories galore! Her Five Things serve as catalysts to some of the funniest and most excellent stories we’ve had on the show in some time. 

From ‘the ability to cry on demand’ to Free Bibles and Fake Hotdogs, this is a tremendous show. Hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making it. 



You should go to see Sindhu live, and you can! Sindhu is out on tour with her smash hit show ’SWANKY’. 

🎟️  There are a handful of European dates in the coming few days, then from September Sindhu is taking the show to theatres up and down the UK, with dates all the way through to April 2027. Many dates have already sold out so if you’re planning to buy then get on it! Check out https://sindhuvee.com/live/ for dates and tickets.  🎟️



Thanks for your presence here, you are always welcome. Even down here at the bottom of the blurb. There’s only the credits to go now. You’re like the last person in the cinema. There’s an usher waiting to clear up the popcorn. Better go now. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music



Why are you still here!?
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Sindhu Vee

Serge from Kasabian and Russell sit down and discuss the creative process, what it means to be an artist in the digital age, how to age gracefully and how to make the perfect egg. There’s something utterly engaging about listening to artists from the top of different fields discussing the similarities and differences between the ways they work and this show is no exception. Get involved, get inspired and maybe discover some songwriting and comedy writing secrets. 



And as we said in the show, Kasabian are playing a massive gig this summer at Finsbury Park in London. It’s on July 4th, it’s going to be a packed line-up and it’s going to be unmissable. Tickets from Ticketmaster through this link.



And Kasabian’s new Album ‘Act III’ is coming out on July 17th - you can pre-order copies of that at https://www.kasabian.co.uk 



🎟️ And please do go to see Russell while he’s on tour with his latest show that’s busting out some rave reviews: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



Lovely! That’s it! Tidy job. Thanks. Bye! 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music


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Serge Pizzorno

Hey there!

It's all the best bits from our May shows, all tied up with a fancy bow for your enjoyment!

You will find in this pick n mix episode:

Satirist and comedian Cody Dahler doing an impeccable Ed Miliband impression.

Comedian Jess Fostekew taking us through the glorious triumph that is  BEANS.

Comedian Josh Pugh standing for the Italian National Anthem despite having no Italian heritage or affiliation. 

And finally some unmissable stories from comedian Rhys James. 

It's all in here, if you like one go back and enjoy the whole thing. We're back next Wednesday with another new guest but until then... Bye!



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

May's Moments of the Month

Do you want to show Rhys James a good time? All you need to do is take him to a hotel gym with Harry Styles, under the influence of general anaesthetic. At least…that’s what we have taken away from this fantastically breezy, genial show with the Mock the Week star (well…two of them really). Rhys’s Five Things include being rendered senseless, having that first pint after a sporting endeavour and the enigmatic Harry Styles. 



As you can tell from the show you just listened to (or are about to consume?) Rhys is an expert comedian, and he’s got a new show on the road from September this year. It’s called ‘Chop Logic’ and you can find out all the dates and buy those tickets by going to https://rhysjames.co.uk.

The show will also be at the Pleasance Courtyard in Edinburgh for 14 nights if you happen to be there. 



🎟️ And please do go to see Russell while he’s on tour with his latest show that’s busting out some rave reviews: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



Thank you for stopping by for your annual blurb check-up. Your results are through and we’re pleased to tell you that you’ve come through another year in perfect health. Your stamina, your curiosity and your thirst for banality are unmatched by anyone else who’s had their blurb check this year. Congratulations and here’s to another year of the same. 





Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rhys James

The brilliant comedian Josh Pugh lays out his favourite things and they are quintesentially British: Greggs! Garden Centres! The…Italian…National…Anthem? Josh brings his trademark authenticity and easy charm to this fabulous hour of chat that celebrates some of the simplest pleasures in life (and the rousing pomp of a certain nation’s patriotic ditty). 



Josh is a fantastic live comedian with some of the best jokes and ideas out there - and his latest tour ‘Ha Ha Yeah Sound’ is hitting the theatres of the UK from September 2026. You can find out the exact dates and buy tickets by going to Josh’s website: https://joshpughcomic.com



🎟️ And please do go to see Russell while he’s on tour with his latest show that’s busting out some rave reviews: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



Thanks for stopping by again, your custom at the bottom of the blurb is very much appreciated. May we spend many long hours in future down here in the bowels of the blurb just quietly enjoying the mossy silence. They don’t know what they are missing. 





Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh Pugh

Comedian, power-lifter, soccer mom, bean fanatic… Jess Fostekew is all these things and more.  In this funny, fun and fascinating episode there’s laughing and learning…Why you should never wear gloves in the gym, why y’all need to be eating more beans, and why hugging, within certain parameters, could be the best thing you can do for your wellbeing… 



Keep up with Jess by following her on Instagram HERE.



There’s also like, one date left for her ‘Iconic Breath’ tour so you can check that out and buy tickets HERE. You never know there may be an extension so click it anyway. 



🎟️ And please do go to see Russell while he’s on tour with his latest show that’s busting out some rave reviews: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️





That’s all you’re getting for today, blurban explorers. Well done for getting this far into the blurb without triggering any of the alarms, you’ve been very astute and taken just the right amount of risks. You’re welcome to take some photos but remember leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories. x



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music


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Jess Fostekew

How did Cody go from working for Matt Hancock to being one of the sharpest satirists online? And what has it all got to do with a pub in Cyprus? It’s all in this delightful podcast with comedian and writer Cody Dahler who takes you on a ride through the hills of Cyprus to Spanish Music Festivals and a recommendation of the book that changed Cody’s life (love a good book recommendation!)



And while we’re on the subject of book recommendations, one of the hottest upcoming books is The State of This!: A Thicky Thicky Dumb Dumb's Guide to British Politics. It’s Cody’s debut book  it explores the most pertinent political head-scratchers affecting us all: Why are people voting for Reform UK?; why did we Brexit?; what is the House of Lords and is everyone in there an arsehole?; why are our rivers full of shit?; what's to stop us becoming like America?; why do our PMs change so often; and why do we use a lettuce to measure their success?

You can pre-order it at your local independent bookshop or online HERE.



🎟️ And please do go to see Russell while he’s on tour with his latest show that’s busting out some rave reviews: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



AND THAT’S RECESS FOR THE BLURB. ORDER!



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music


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Cody Dahler

Hey there!

It's all the best bits from our April shows, wrapped up in a convenient bundle for your pleasure!

Gasp at Dara O Briain's secret life as a nightclub dancer.

Oooo at Mike Rice's Dairy Farming History

Be amazed at Janine Harouni's story of squeaking thighs

Pick your jaw off the floor after listening to Sean McLoughlin wax lyrical about Star Trek: The Next Generation

And be wowed by Jamie Hutchinson's love of Rolls of Honour. 

It's all in here, if you like one go back and enjoy the whole thing. We're back next Wednesday with another new guest but until then... Bye!



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music




Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

April's Moments of the Month

Jamie Hutchinson, the voice of Manchester, the wildly popular comedian is with us and it’s a fantastic romp through the most intense made-up games, the frenzy of horse-racing commentary and the simple pleasure of answering obscure quiz questions with your mates. 

There’s also a top tip for comedy writing in there towards the end. Genuinely useful…



🎤 Jamie is on tour RIGHT NOW! His latest show has had rave reviews and it’s called ‘Can My Mate Come, He’s Sound’. Quite a few of the dates are sold out but there’s still stuff left for Autumn - anyway have a look, buy tickets and all that at https://jamiehcomedian.com  🎤



🎟️ And please do go to see Russell while he’s on tour with his latest show that’s busting out some rave reviews: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



🏇🏻 And as the blurb enters the final furlong it’s neck and neck between a good sign-off paragraph and a disappointing sign-off paragraph and it really couldn’t be closer up on the inside comes an offensive sign-off paragraph but a disappointing sign-off paragraph wins it by a nose.  🏇🏻



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Jamie Hutchinson

Blisteringly talented comedian Janine Harouni is in the studio this week picking out the things that make her happy which include nerds, digital clocks… and a great story about how to get her thighs to stop squeaking in front of Robert Pattinson. It’s all in here, so please enjoy at your leisure!  



Janine’s current tour is called ‘This is What you Waited For’ and we waited a bit too long to promote this one because there’s only a handful of dates left: Birmingham on May 8th and Manchester on May 22nd, but hey - if you’re in those places then get yourself a ticket from https://www.janineharouni.com



🎟️ And please do go to see Russell while he’s on tour with his latest show that’s busting out some rave reviews: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



That’s the end of this week’s feast of comedy. We dab away the jokes from the corners of our mouths with a fancy napkin and we scrape back our chairs to retire to the smoking lounge where we light up fat cigars and talk about grown-up stuff. 





Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music



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Janine Harouni

He’s often called the Comic’s Comic, he’s a really excellent stand-up and his Five Things are a fantastically esoteric collection ranging from Moshing to Ice Hockey to Star Trek. 



Sean hosts his very own late-night talk show, but for free and on YouTube starring one of the funniest comics from the UK and World circuits. It’s called ‘The Sean McTalk Show’ and it’s frankly criminal that you can get this without paying, it’s extremely good indeed - check it out through this link.



🎟️ And please do go to see Russell while he’s on tour with his latest show that’s busting out some rave reviews: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



You’ve been everything you promised to be and more, so keep on doing all those good things. Thanks babe. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music



Go to https://surfshark.com/russell or use code RUSSELL at checkout to get 4 extra months of Surfshark VPN!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sean McLoughlin

The acerbic, charming Irish stand-up is here with his Five Brilliant Things and tales from an extraordinary career, spanning from the milking sheds of Ireland to travelling the world performing to thousands, via regular visits to a shed to hang out with a tiny mystic man.



Mike’s touring! We talked about it on the podcast and we weren’t lying. It’s Mike’s most accomplished solo comedy show to date and if you like what you hear you’ll love his live show. Find out those Irish and UK dates by going to

https://www.mikericecomedy.com



🎟️ And please do go to see Russell while he’s on tour with his latest show that’s busting out some rave reviews: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



You’ve been impeccable, we’ve been impeccable, let’s never forget this. Thanks for being here and most importantly reading to the end. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Mike Rice

Hello there!



Welcome to March’s Moments of the Month. In case you’re new here, this is a compilation show with a little snifter of each guest we’ve enjoyed this month, so you can get a flavour.

Then if you like the taste of any of them you can double-back and listen to the whole episode. It’s a good way to discover someone you would never have thought of clicking on before. 



First in studio in November was the brilliant Northern Irish stand-up Shane Todd.



After that we were visited by another superb stand-up Pierre Novellie, who told us about the big skies of Africa…



Ben Shephard, he of Tipping Point and many other shows, was next…and he told us of the glory of bubbles.



And finally the South-East London comic Andrew Mensah popped in with tales of playing Padel with Wayne Rooney.



So there we go! That’s a little taste of what March was like. All of those shows are available in full right now, so if you got a taste for it, go and get some more.



Thanks as always for listening and there will be a new show, as usual, this coming Wednesday. 



Byeeee!


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March's Moments of the Month

The hugely acclaimed Irish Stand-up and host of Mock the Week gives a fascinating and funny hour of anecdotes. Travel with Dara on debating tours of Ireland, stand in a field with him doing astral photography and hear Dara’s trick for finding his own personal nightclub dance floor.  



Dara has some date left for his smash show ‘Re:Creation’. It helps if you’re Scandinavian, as many of the dates are in that neck of the woods however there are some England and Ireland dates at the end of 2026 too. 

You can get those tickets, and do everything you ever wanted to do that’s Dara-adjacent by going to https://daraobriain.com



🎟️ And please do go to see Russell while he’s on tour with his latest show that’s busting out some rave reviews: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



Thanks for coming, please respect our neighbours when you leave.



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Dara O Briain

Comedian Andrew Mensah joins us with tales of playing Padel with Wayne Rooney, the economics of Air Force One Trainers and why there’s nothing better than sitting down for a game of Articulate. 

There’s also a fascinating insight into the way British society interfaces with its cultural landscape; Andrew’s account of how he managed to move from the gang culture of his childhood to become well-loved fixture on the comedy circuit is the kind of thing you don’t hear often. 



Andrew is always gigging around the UK. You can keep up to date with everything at https://andrewmensahcomedy.com

Andrew hosts his hugely popular weekly comedy podcast ‘We Saw That’ alongside Gbemi Oladipo. They record live shows at the Top Secret Comedy Club in London then that becomes the podcast. You can listen/watch for free, or get tickets to see the live recordings by following this link. 



🎟️ YOU WANT MORE LIVE COMEDY? Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’ is well underway with rave reviews: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



It’s the end of this week’s show so please get out there and enjoy the sunshine. You may be out there already, in which case get your eyes off this phone and look up - but not directly at the sun, obviously - and have a marvellous day. Byeeeeeee. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Andrew Mensah

One of the most popular faces from British TV is here; from This Morning, from Tipping Point and so much more it’s Ben Shephard! 

What comes through in this ebullient show is Ben’s love for life and thirst for experiences (and thirst for drinks with bubbles in them). 



Ben takes us on a trip on the back of a motorbike through the London traffic, lifts the lid on how you go about doing a Men’s Health cover-shoot and forces Russell to try on a cardigan. 



And as we spoke about on the show, Ben (alongside Joel Dommett) are on a journey launching their new skincare brand. You can follow their progress by listening to their podcast ‘The Business Men’. 



You can take the skincare questionnaire by clicking here.



🎭 Also keep an eye out for Ben’s live show with Kammy - they are touring UK venues doing a few select shows over 2026. Find out more and book tickets by clicking here. 🎭



🎟️ YOU WANT MORE LIVE COMEDY? Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’ is well underway with rave reviews: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



Thanks for your continued ears and eyeballs. They are appreciated very much, please keep them inside your head. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ben Shephard

Pierre is a formidable stand-up comedian and it’s a pleasure to take this wander around the corners of his fascinating brain. This fun and fascinating episode of Five Brilliant Things takes in the majesty of beef, the efficiency of Grahame Greene, the mystery of thunder and finally why you must go out, find a child, and make it watch you read a book. Curious? You should be; all is revealed within Pierre’s episode here. 



🎭 Pierre’s out on tour and you should experience him raw (by which I mean live, but raw sounded so much more exciting).  

Pierre  will be touring across the UK and Ireland throughout 2026 with his critically acclaimed show, ‘You Sit There, I’ll Stand Here’ – all dates and tickets available at www.pierrenovellie.com 🎭



🎟️ And of course, Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’ is well underway with rave reviews: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



And there we go! The desolate end of the blurb. It’s just you and me now. Like the last two Wildebeest on the savannah, we watch each other warily, both realising simultaneously that although we are in terrible danger having strayed so far from the herd, there is also beauty in the vast silence of the savannah. I close my eyes to fully appreciate this existential moment, and you take advantage and run like hell. I become dinner for a pride of lions. Fair enough.



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music


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Pierre Novellie

Welcome to our best of February's shows, with a little snippet of each of the four shows we slung into the world across the last month. 



This show features Charlie Higson talking about the wonders of the Voyager Space Probe...

Comedian and podcaster Amy Gledhill eulogising about some of the most Northern sandwiches you could imagine...

Comedy legend Harry Enfield on the utility and beauty of the 'umble wig...

and Taskmaster's Stevie Martin on why she covets other people's sofas. 

This is just a taster and all full episodes are available wherever you found this one. 

Back with a new full episode next Wednesday. Until then!



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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February's Moments of the Month

You want strong opinions about bananas? You’ve come to the right place. Northern Irish powerhouse comedian Shane Todd has flown in to give Russell his Five Brilliant Things, and bananas are right out of the traps. Even the hardest of hearts will be turned by his impassioned defence of the bendy yellow berry. 
Shane also make the case for simply pottering around, keeping sock drawers in check and he lets himself off the leash when he gets talking about Irish boybands. It’s all here and it’s flying without wings. 



🎭 SHANE’S OFF ON TOUR! His latest massive tour is called ‘Hold Me Back’ and it’s going all over the UK, Ireland and the World throughout 2026. Get tickets and see this remarkable young comic at his best - https://www.shanetoddcomedy.com 🎭



🎟️ YOU WANT MORE LIVE COMEDY? Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’ is well underway with rave reviews: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



And so the blurb endeth. What are you still doing here staring at a screen? The weather has changed! You should be out there frolicking in the buff, shocking bus stops full of unsuspecting people with your magnificent buttocks. Go! 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Shane Todd

This is a cracking episode with a cracking comedian. The Taskmaster star Stevie Martin speaks with completely unguarded honesty about her favourite things which leads to not one but several introspective spirals! What is it about chonky penne, pyrex jugs and interior design that could lead to a live-on-air existential episode? Get your bobbles in your ears, press play and find out. It’s lots of fun. 



🎭 You should go to see Stevie live! Stevie extended has her critically acclaimed and sold-out debut UK tour, Clout, for the second time to 100 dates with more shows added in Autumn 2026. Stevie kicks off her 2026 tour dates with an already sold-out performance at The Glee Birmingham on Tuesday 3rd March, with the tour now running till October. Full dates and tickets: https://steviemartin.com/🎭



🎟️ YOU WANT MORE LIVE COMEDY? Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’ is well underway with rave reviews: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



And here ends your weekly recommended dose of blurb reading. I know it feels hard-going but you’ll start to see the benefits someday soon. You’ll have a frontal-lobe that’s so large people will start to avoid you in the street and make babies cry. That’s what you wanted, right? RIGHT?



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Stevie Martin

A true icon of British TV Comedy - it’s Harry Enfield! It’s no exaggeration to say that he redefined a whole generation of comedy in this country, with his jokes and catchphrases reaching millions every week. 

Harry sits down with Russell to explain his brilliant things and also give a candid insight into how they created those iconic characters and sketches - a behind-the-scenes look at how some of the biggest hitting comedy of the last fifty years was formed. 



🎭 Harry is off on tour around the UK with his new show ‘Harry Enfield and No Chums’!

From the meteoric rise of Loadsamoney, a Thatcherite Visionary, to the fury of Kevin the Teenager, Harry will reflect on 40 years of arsing about in comedy and bring some of his favourite characters vividly back to life on stage. You can find out the dates and get tickets by following this link. 🎭



🎟️ YOU WANT MORE LIVE COMEDY? Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’ is starting its grand journey across the UK: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



There we are! A classic episode for the ages. Dunno if you’re reading this before or after listening, but either way thanks for being one of the weirdos that reads to the end. You know it’s just you and me at this point, right? Only two of us. But at least we have each other. Xxx



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Harry Enfield

This week we have the winner of the 2024 Edinburgh Best Show! One of Britain’s fastest rising comics is with us; it’s the fabulous Amy Gledhill and this is an absolute banger of an episode. 

Hull’s most exciting product since the White Phone Box explains why cheap white bread is better than all your fancy Italian nonsense, how working in a dungeon gave her existential dread and why she enjoys spending her free time singing about tapeworms and listening to hairdryers. 



🎫 Amy is putting the finishing touches to her brand new tour ‘Thanks for Having Me’. Tickets are about to go on sale, and may well even be there by the time you read this. Check and re-check https://amygledhill.co.uk/live-dates to find out the dates and get the tickets. 🎫



📻 Also get into those podcasts - Amy is on Northern News with Ian Smith, and on Single Ladies in your Area with Harriet - get either of them by searching for them on your podcast app. Both are freely available with many episodes to catch up on. What a treat! 📻



🎟️ YOU WANT MORE LIVE COMEDY? Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’ is starting its grand journey across the UK: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



Thanks for being here, thanks for being you, but now it’s time for you to leave. Bye!



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Amy Gledhill

From our January shows, here's a little taster of each episode so you can get a flavour of the things we got up to with our wonderful guests:

Comedian and star of ‘The Change’ on C4, Bridget Christie

Comic and social media sensation Daniel Foxx

Actor and stand-up Tom Rosenthal

And the endlessly fascinating historian, Dan Snow.

If you hear anything you like, circle back and enjoy the whole episode - they are all there waiting for you to listen.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

January's Moments of the Month

British Sketch Comedy Royalty in the studio. One of the core cast of the iconic Fast Show is here and his name is Charlie Higson! He lays out the Five Things that make life interesting - get ready for a delightful journey through James Bond, what is and isn’t included on the Golden Record that we yeeted into space. How did Charlie go from being a Punk Band frontman to a decorator to a comedian… and a best selling James Bond author? What a life. 



📖 Charlie has just released his latest book; it’s an History of Britain’s Kings and Queens; but less funny hats and pageantry and more treachery, incest and murder.  It’s called ‘Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee’ and it’s also illustrated by Jim Moir, who you probably know better as Vic Reeves. Anyway it’s fascinating and funny and it’s available from bookshops or online now, or you can just follow this link 📖



🎟️ YOU WANT LIVE COMEDY? Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’ is starting its grand journey across the UK: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



And like the Voyager Space Probe, this blurb continues its endless journey into the void long past the point where anyone can receive it, and long past the point where anyone cares about it. Just bibbling its way aimlessly into the darkness, without purpose, getting slowly smaller and further away. 🛸



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Charlie Higson

Fascinating, delightful company. That’s what Historian Dan Snow is. I suppose the skill of any historian worth their salt is to use that historical knowledge and make it relevant today, and this endlessly interesting podcast does exactly that. Dan’s passions go way beyond history, drawing in sailing tall ships, democracy and most importantly of all, his greatest passion beyond all other things: GHERKINS.



📖 Dan’s treatment of history is available to us all through History Hit: A series of podcasts and documentaries about all different periods of history, arranged into clever and neat topics and original angles. You can explore the whole catalogue through that link, or you can search for ‘History Hit’ on your podcast app to find all the many channels they run. This writer listens to them. It’s good stuff.  📖



🎟️ The Good Ship Russell Howard has set sail! Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’ is starting its grand journey across the UK: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️



And here we are. At the end of the history of this particular blurb. We have seen empires (sentences) rise and fall yet we have endured like some kind of literary Roman Empire. But we all know how that ended. 😬



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Dan Snow

Tom Rosenthal is a comedian with a deep interest in all things: His Brilliant Things include The Danish Gambit, The Golden Ratio and Trip Reports. This is a repeatedly fascinating conversation where Tom is completely unguarded and enthusiastic in his descriptions of these corners of humanity. He also conjures, from nowhere, the most outstanding improvised acid trip you’ll ever hear. It’s well worth your time. 



We talked about it on the show; Tom’s latest show is out on tour. It’s called ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I Am’. 

You can find out when Tom is near you, and get your hands on those tickets by going to https://tomrosenthal.net



Also there are still a handful of tickets left for Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk



Well played, you have acquitted yourself throughout reading this blurb with great dignity. It speaks volumes of your character that you’ve made it this far and are still willing to read this guff. Have a special sticker. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Tom Rosenthal

Why is it the ruder the waiter, the more it gets Daniel Foxx excited? The laconic comedian is here to explain the beauty of surly service, the simple serenity brought by a scented candle, and you’ll experience some of the worst ASMR in podcast history. 



Russell also relates the time Louis Theroux gyrated aggressively at him. That’s worth the admission fee alone. 



Daniel’s latest tour ‘How Lovely’ is about to hit UK theatres, so to get yourself a whole evening of this very funny comic please check out where the tour is near you and book tickets - you can find it all HERE.



Also there are still a handful of tickets left for Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk



And we said in the show we’d link in the show notes to the comedian/chef George Egg’s cookbook, which can be found HERE, and very good it is too.



That’s it for today, thanks for popping in, hope you’ve enjoyed the tea and biscuits. Thank you for taking off your shoes at the door and putting on the ceremonial slippers, shin-pads and fez. You looked radiant. 

Until next time.



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Daniel Foxx

Superb comedian Bridget Christie is here. She’s won the Edinburgh Award, she’s been nominated for oodles of comedy prizes, she’s written and performed in two series of her own show ‘The Change’ for Channel 4 and now she sits down with us to reveal her Five Brilliant Things. 



It’s as thoughtful and funny as you would imagine from a comic as good as Bridget, including why empathy is disappearing, why we underestimate water and driving a motorbike through London at night. Zoom zoom. 



Bridget has written a brand new full length show, and as anyone who’s seen her before can tell you it will be thought-provoking, fascinating and definitely very funny. It’s called ‘Jacket Potato Pizza’ (full explanation on the Patreon show as to why it’s called that). It’s touring the UK across 2026 and you can find out the dates and book tickets by going here. 



You can also watch both series of Bridget’s series ‘The Change’ on the Channel 4 player. 



There’s a whole second show’s worth of Bridget on our Patreon which also means you get the main show without adverts and everything a day early; Check out our Patreon offering at this link:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



Also there are still a handful of tickets left for Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk



I think it’s appropriate to say Happy New Year. Whatever you wish for over the next twelve months I hope it comes to you, but in appropriate amounts. If you want custard but end up drowning in a surfeit of custard that would be a tragedy (albeit a deliciously ironic and vanilla-y one). 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Bridget Christie

From our December shows, here's a little taster of each episode so you can get a flavour of the things we got up to with our wonderful guests: 

Doctor/Writer Adam Kay

Taskmaster star and stand-up Ania Magliano

Stand-up comedy legend Ross Noble 

and one of the most fascinating people in Britain, Rory Sutherland.

If you hear anything you like, circle back and enjoy the whole episode - they are all there waiting for you to listen.



Happy New Year!


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December's Moments of the Month

Marketing expert and thinker-outside-the-box, Rory Sutherland is here with his Five Brilliant Things and they all begin with the letter C: Consumerism, Contradictions, Cars, Commuter Towns, Cornbread and the Commonwealth. 


You’ll notice that’s more than five things, which typifies this episode. The ideas and conversation flowing out of Rory and Russell was abundant and it’s one of the most densely packed interesting shows we’ve made in ages. 



If you are sparked off by the way Rory thinks then you can get a real schooling in unconventional thinking by enrolling on Rory’s Masters Course. It’s a distance learning course with Rory himself that teaches you new ways to approach problems and think in a creative and unexpected fashion. Follow this link to find out more and enrol. 



Also there are still a handful of tickets left for Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk





Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rory Sutherland

Happy Christmas!
This week Russell looks back over all of the shows from 2025 and picks his favourite moments from 52 x 5 Brilliant Things (So…quick bit of maths…that’s…260 Brilliant Things). 
We’ll be back in a week with a brand new show and loads of super-exciting guests in the new year. 



On our Patreon show something a bit special this week - Russell and Dan sit down and talk about how they made the TV show Good News. For anyone who enjoyed that show, it’s a real treat and an insight into what went on behind the scenes…

⁠patreon.com/RussellHoward⁠  



Also there are still a handful of tickets left for Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk



Thank you for listening, you lovely lot. X



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russell's Best Bits of 2025

One of Britain’s most mercurial and naturally talented stand-ups of all time, Ross Noble sits down with Russell to explain how he went from a school drop-out with a couple of circus skills to one of the greatest stand-ups Britain’s ever produced. He also goes into detail about Cuttlefish. 



Ross is in the middle of his latest live tour, called ‘Cranium of Curiosities’. It’s a full show of brand-new stand-up and it is going to all those UK theatres, then to Australia with dates all through 2026. Find out the specifics and book your tickets by going to https://www.rossnoble.com/#/shows



And Russell has just released a whole load of extra dates for his brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk



And if you’re a fan of the show you can experience every element of it, and be rid of adverts forever by joining our perfectly formed Patreon Crew. You will get an extra show every week, get it all early and we’ve got a very special surprise planned for Xmas for fans of Russell and Good News…

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



That is all of the everything for this week, thanks for tuning in and we look forward to spending more time with you next week. Nearly Xmas now!!!



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music


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Ross Noble

Ania Magliano loves gossip, and she’s here to share some CHOICE cuts of the stuff. From Taskmaster, Stand-up Ania is in the studio and she’s running us through her favourite things which takes us on a journey through some unashamedly indulgent birthday parties, the perils of being bold with your hair and some fascinating chat about writing process and generating comedy ideas. Oh, and did I mention the excellent gossip?!



Ania is about to embark upon her next UK tour (well - she’s going to have Christmas first, then go go go!) and she’s travelling across the whole of the UK and Ireland. The show is called ‘Peach Fuzz’ and if you like what you hear of Ania on this show then get y’self tickets! All the information and dates and tickets are available at https://aniamagliano.com.



And Russell has just released a whole load of extra dates for his brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk



And if you’re a fan of the show you can experience every element of it, and be rid of adverts forever by joining our perfectly formed Patreon Crew. You will get an extra show every week, get it all early and we’ve got a very special surprise planned for Xmas for fans of Russell and Good News…

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



So long and thanks for all the fish. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Ania Magliano

Doctor, author, comedian, musician Adam Kay tells Russell about the things that he’s discovered that are brilliant. It’s a laugh-out-loud funny show that begins with a tale of conception, takes what it feels like to be spied on by Ben Wishaw, and by the end we are all getting acquainted with the inside of Adam’s nostrils. 



As spoken about in the show, Adam has published his first novel that is a thriller with plenty of laughs and tension. It’s called A Particularly Nasty Case and it’s available right now - get it for a Christmas present! 

For younger family members (or friends??!) Dexter Proctor is Adam’s story about a fantastic 10 year old doctor. And there’s also the poo-tastic puzzle book.

All of the books can be found HERE and if you buy them through that link a small donation goes to the Lullaby Trust, supporting families of bereaved babies and young children.



Adam is also doing a series of live dates in Ireland and Northern Ireland at the beginning of 2026. Should be a lot of fun and you can find out more about those here.  



And Russell has just released a whole load of extra dates for his brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk



If you’re looking to join the Patreon crew we’d love to have you as part of the inner circle. There’s a whole extra show with Adam and Russell and it’s available now, alongside so many other benefits. Check out how you can join here:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



Are we feeling festive yet or is it too early? Trick question, it’s too early. No trees before mid-December please. Byee!



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Adam Kay

Hello, here's a round up of the best bits from the last month of shows, featuring the fantastic comic Kerry Godliman (she's so funny), wine expert Tom Gilbey with a great story about Iron Maiden, dictionary corner's Susie Dent and the American-Palestinian comic Mo Amer. 

If you hear something you like you can double-back and take in the whole episode if you like! 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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November's Moments of the Month

Palestinian-American stand-up sensation Mo Amer is here! He’s on a tour of Europe, he’s in the UK for a couple of days and he came into the studio to tell us all about his Five Brilliant Things and he did not disappoint. 

Mo has an easy Texas charm coupled with seriously funny bones. His relationship between his American upbringing and Middle-Eastern heritage is fascinating and you can see that in the things he chose for the show: Coffee, bidets, air-travel… and he tells an epic story about a night out with Dave Chappelle…



And if you’re not a Mo fan but we’ve turned your head with this podcast, then there’s a whole lot more to enjoy - most of it is on Netflix. His narrative show ‘Mo’ is a work of genius, and his stand-up shows are excellent too. But that sitcom…boy it’s good. You can find your way to all of Mo’s recorded stuff and find out what he’s up to live by going to his website - https://moamer.com



And Russell has just released a whole load of extra dates for his brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk



For this week’s Patreon we’ve done something a little different; in summer Russ went to Montreal and recorded a special live show of Five Brilliant Things with the incredible Australian comic Celia Pacquola. 

That show is very very funny and it’s available exclusively on our Patreon. Check out how you can join here:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



That’s all for this week. I hope you stay warm in this inhospitable squall rolling in off the coast. Hunker down, get cosy and binge podcasts. That’s my advice. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Mo Amer

From Countdown's Dictionary Corner it’s Susie Dent! 

Susie is here with her Five Brilliant Things and they are as fascinating and vocabulary-expanding as you might hope; but it’s not all words, Susie also tells us about her special relationship with a rock. Is it Dwayne Johnson? You’ll have to listen to the show to find out!

Alongside these revelations Russell and Susie luxuriate in some of the far corners of words and meanings; if you’re even remotely interested in finding out some new language-based tidbits then you won’t be disappointed in here.



And with Christmas fast approaching, here’s some gift ideas for friends and relatives of any age: Susie’s brand new books! 



For the younger members of the family Susie’s book ‘The Roots We Share’: Susie has searched far and wide to unearth words and phrases - old, new, and long-forgotten - that celebrate harmony, unity, and the universal languages that connect people across the world. That book can be found HERE.



And for older readers, Susie’s just released ‘Words for Life’. From wabbit to dust bunnies, and from the strange history of arse to the best ways to describe moonlight, Words for Life offers a full year’s supply of verbal vitamins guaranteed to brighten and boost every day. Here you will learn of the Mother-in-Law’s Dream as well as the Yuleshard, and discover expressions that can fix (or at least nail) the problems of modern life, whether dealing with unrequited love or unsatisfactory politicians, eating a whole packet of biscuits or forgetting someone’s name. Grab yours from HERE. 



And Russell has just released a whole load of extra dates for his brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk



 We also recorded a second show with Susie for our Patreon listeners; there’s a clip at the end of the episode and for fans of the podcast so please have a listen. If you’ve already had a listen and you’re here to find out more…click the link here for ad-free shows, early access and a special extra show just for you every week - have a look!

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



Please enjoy the multitudinous gratifications contained within this audio chronicle of lexicography.

I fly! 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Susie Dent

Wine Wine Wine! Tom Gilbey is one of the UK’s top wine experts and he also talks about it like a normal person! This podcast takes us through the things that makes a wine buff happy (some of them are, and I don’t want to spoil things, wine-related).



Russell does a live wine-tasting of some rock and roll wine. 

Tom takes us through his marathon that he ran while drinking wine every mile (!), the beauty of a good pen and there are some really good tips for buying wine in a supermarket.  



Tom has a book and it’s just come out now! It’s called THIRSTY and it’s about wine (of course)!

It’s full of the same no-nonsense advice and tips that you got in this podcast: how to read the label, how to choose in a restaurant and how to talk about it without sounding like a twat. 



It’s available now from this link or pop into a lovely independent bookshop. 

Might I suggest it could make an excellent Christmas present for that relative you don’t know very well but enjoys a glass of wine?



Also you should follow Tom on Instagram where he’s @tomgilbeywine.



And Russell has just released a whole load of extra dates brand new show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk



 We also recorded a second show with Tom for our Patreon listeners; there’s a clip at the end of the episode and for fans of the podcast it’s genuinely an excellent extra to get involved with. 

Honestly if you like the show it’s a super-good deal giving you ad-free shows, early access and a special extra show just for you every week - have a look!

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



Thank you so much for joining us in this giant snifter of podcastery. Hope you’ve enjoyed the nose, legs and body on this beast.  x



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Tom Gilbey

She’s the star of Whitstable Pearl, AfterLife and Taskmaster. She’s a phenomenal stand-up comedian and she’s Kerry Godliman, here to tell Russell about the things that make life worth living and it’s a nostalgic romp through Portobello Market, living off-grid in India and how to parent without being a beg. 



Loads of fun, really great funny episode; this is a big ‘recommended’ sticker. 



Kerry is touring her latest show right now! It’s called Bandwidth and you can find out when she’s near you and buy tickets by going to https://kerrygodliman.com. She’s a superb live comic and it will be an excellent night out. 



Let’s not forget Russell! Russell is also touring in 2026 with his brand new show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk



 We also recorded a second show with Kerry for our Patreon listeners; there’s a clip at the end of the episode and for fans of the podcast it’s genuinely an excellent extra to get involved with. 

Honestly if you like the show it’s a super-good deal giving you ad-free shows, early access and a special extra show just for you every week - have a look!

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



And that’s the end of all that. Hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it although I doubt that very much because I’m on a cocktail of highly illegal and incredibly strong drugs. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music


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Kerry Godliman

It's all the best bits from October's shows! A tasting plate of the shows we've already broadcast this month and if you've been too busy to listen to the whole shows this is a way to get a morsel and who knows... maybe head back and listen to the whole thing if you like the sound of it. 

Featuring Dom Joly, Sally Lindsay, Nick Mohammed, Horatio Gould and Pete Firman.
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October's Moments of the Month

You know Pete Firman. He’s charming. He’s northern and he pops up on your Instagram or TikTok with fantastic magic tricks, illusions and comedy. Pete is one of Britain’s most accomplished comedy magicians and he’s here with his Five Brilliant Things which take him from Chip Sauces, through Old Theatres and the whole thing wraps up with a love-letter to the very particular British art of CONKERS!



Lots of fun and he’s got (as Russell will shortly point out) a lovely voice. 



Pete Firman is also on tour! His latest tour show is called ‘Tricks and Giggles’ and it’s coming to a beautiful old theatre near you very soon. It’s a brilliant night out full of the best illusions delivered with Pete’s trademark comedy… to book tickets go to https://www.petefirman.co.uk/live/

You can also follow Pete on Instagram or TikTok where he’s @PeteFirman. 



Let’s not forget Russell! Russell is also touring in 2026 with his brand new show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk



And Pete stayed with us in the studio for a special extra show where he answered your questions about the inner workings of the magic world. It was a fascinating and revealing chat and it’s available as part of our Patreon offering. Honestly if you like the show it’s a super-good deal giving you ad-free shows, early access and a special extra show just for you every week - have a look!

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



Thank you for all your attention, it was more than enough. Hope to see you here deep in the blurbs next week. X



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Pete Firman

From the hit podcast Fin vs History, it’s the nascent comedy superstar Horatio Gould! 



He’s here to explain why Men need to start doing more Business in saunas. He tells us just how violent and disgusting it should be to eat chicken. And everyone gets sidetracked in a discussion about a man who went into a cave and made sweet love to a chicken.



Horatio is performing the last extended run of his solo tour show ‘Return of the Space Cowboy’ throughout November, ending with some special shows in London. Check out the dates and book tickets here.



Russell is also touring in 2026 with his brand new show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk



There’s a whole second show’s worth of Horatio on our Patreon which also means you get the main show without adverts and everything a day early; Check out our Patreon offering at this link:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



That concludes today’s AGM, thank you for being present and so well turned out. See you same place next year (well - next week really but I couldn’t carry off the AGM thing and not pretend it was Annual. It’s in the bloody title).





Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Horatio Gould

Star of Celebrity Traitors, and Ted Lasso, and Slow Horses…Nick Mohammed is here revealing the five things that make him happiest.



What happened when he was asked to perform one-on-one for his hero Andrew Lloyd Webber (awkward!)? Who was the inspiration for his hit character Mr Swallow? And what invaluable tips did he get from Paul Daniels? That’s all in here and so much more. It’s a Nick Mohammed fan’s dream hour.



Oh, and if you’re here after listening to the podcast, this is the link to the final scene of Star Wars with the music taken off it.



Why not go to see Nick performing LIVE?! He’s touring his show ’Show Pony’ right now across the UK. There are dates in all different corners of the UK so he’s bound to be near you soon. Find out everything and book tickets by going to https://www.nickmohammedlive.com



Russell is also touring in 2026 with his brand new show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk



We also recorded a second show with Nick that’s available exclusively to our Patreon listeners, where Nick gives the inside scoop on his time on Taskmaster and we find out everyone’s most accurate animal impressions. Check out our Patreon offering at this link:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



Thank you very much for being a dedicated blurb reader. A rare beast indeed. Your commitment has not gone unnoticed and if you keep up this behaviour you’ll be in line for a promotion. All you need to do is another five or six years of hard blurb reading and the carriage clock will be yours. Good work old thing. Pip pip!



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Nick Mohammed

From Corrie, Phoenix Nights and the Madame Blanc Mysteries, Sally Lindsay is here with her Five Brilliant Things and they are belters.

It’s a romp through the majesty of Chas and Dave, some strong opinions about loudspeakers on public transport and taking wild train trips from England to Italy in the early 1980s. 



As we talked about on the show, Sally stars in and wrote the Madame Blanc Mysteries and you can find that paragon of cosy crime on Netflix or Channel Five. 



And if you want to know Russell’s wrestler name and walk-on music, then it’s all in this week’s extra show available on our Patreon offering. If you listen to this podcast regularly then you get a lot of bang for your buck. Check out our Patreon offering at this link:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



And that’s the end for today, please let tomorrow be all your yesterdays or some shit. I don’t know, it was meant to be profound. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Sally Lindsay

Which famous author does Dom Joly feel he may have to kill in order to get his perfect job?

And why is he compelled to jump off every high perch that he comes across? 

And why was he caught in the bathroom of a High Court Judge  semi-clothed?

The answers are all in this fabulous podcast, where Dom Joly selects the Five Things that make his life most exciting - and it is an exciting life. The show takes us across the globe, through dangers and back out the other side to silliness and nonsense. 



To celebrate 25 years since Trigger Happy TV hit our screens, Dom Joly is bringing his most iconic characters and sketches to the stage in the Trigger Happy TV – Live! 25th-anniversary tour.

Fans will experience beloved moments from the show, including The Giant Snail, The Traffic Warden, The Morris Dancer, The Scout, A Gang of Squirrels, and THAT Big Mobile Phone. 

There are dates across Britain in different cities across October so get your tickets now and find out more by clicking HERE. 



As always we recorded a whole second show with Dom where he answered some marvellous questions from our Patreon listeners. You can get that show and the whole catalogue of back-episodes (there’s hours and hours of listening for you in there!) check out our Patreon offering at this link:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



Lovely to have you here, you’ve been an impeccable guest, please come around any time. That bit where you spat on the dog was a bit weird but I assume it was some private grievance between the two of you. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Dom Joly

A bumper month of truly excellent shows! This podcast contains the best bits of each of our September shows so there's no new content (unless you include some links and a little bit of chat about Beef Rendang).

But here you can enjoy a brief bit of:

Irish stand-up powerhouse Ardal O'Hanlon!

Podcaster and actor Georgia Tennant!

US comedy megastar Taylor Tomlinson!

From Taskmaster - the brilliant comedian Phil Ellis!

And Stacey from Gavin and Stacey - Joanna Page!

Please enjoy responsibly. See you on Wednesday for more brand new episodes. 


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September's Moments of the Month

How did Joanna Page nearly cock up her Gavin and Stacey audition? How did she end up following Kenneth Branagh around in secret? 

The stories, the stories! This delightful episode with Gavin and Stacey’s Joanna Page is a delight from cover to cover (yeah yeah, podcast/book/bad analogy get lost). 



Her Brilliant Things include her unhinged dog Daisy (the stories!), her Dad’s Prawn Salad and her refuge, a wonderful caravan. It’s a marvellous listen. 



Joanna’s written a book about her extraordinary life, and  it’s called ‘Lush! From Swansea to Stacey and everything in between’. It’s full of Joanna’s brilliant stories told with wit and flair. Incredibly enjoyable and as we head to the winter months, maybe it would make a good present?

Get one by following this link here. 



We recorded a second show with Joanna and if you’re even a little bit of a Dr Who fan, you cannot miss the extraordinary story Joanna tells about playing Queen Elizabeth in the special episode. The whole thing is just so traumatic. Check it out by following this link. 

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



Thanks for being with us in this nest of delights, hope you’ve had a nice snuggly warm time in here being all protected by the mother bird’s big comfy ass. But it’s now time for you to become the hero of your own story. Get out. Go on. Be free. FLY! 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Joanna Page

He’s in Taskmaster, he’s had his own Radio series and for years he’s been one of the downright funniest stand-ups in Britain. Welcome to the Five Brilliant Things of Phil Ellis!

Expect incredible stories about Rik Mayall, an awful kid’s game where you either get mauled by a dog or soaked in your friends urine. Expect the most harrowing ‘bad gig’ story you’ll ever hear in your life. Hedgehog NO!

Watch Phil on Taskmaster on Channel 4 right now. 

Then go to watch him live on tour because he’s so great - he’s out all across 2026 so get your tush over to philelliscomedy.com and book tickets, alright? You’ll thank me. 

And if you enjoy this podcast, you can get it with the brakes off by joining our Patreon where you get the whole thing without adverts, you get an extra exclusive show every week and you get it all a day before everyone else. 

We recorded an extra show with Phil and it was dead funny!

Click this link to join or just have a sniff around:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  

Alright, so we have successfully navigated the choppy waters of another podcast blurb without hitting an iceb…hand me those binoculars….



Goddammit. TELL THE BAND TO KEEP PLAYING!



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Phil Ellis

Comedy megastar Taylor Tomlinson has dropped into the studio in the middle of her world tour! And as you might imagine it’s an absolute belter of an episode. Her favourite things include siblings (where she talks about starting comedy as a 16 year old on the US Church circuit 😮) 

Taylor tells a chilling tale about leaving her comedy notebook lying around, and the significance to her of the ‘umble walnut. 



An hour in the company of Taylor and Russell talking about all the things that make them tick. It’s a big yes please. 



Taylor’s got plenty of dates left on her current ‘Save Me’ world tour so if you’re in the US or Canada then get involved - find out where and when by going to https://taylortomlinsoncomedy.com

The rest of you can use that website to find Taylor’s incredible specials online or watch episodes of her TV show. 



✨ And hey, why not consider joining our Patreon Crew? You’re already the kind of freak who reads the show notes - why not take the next step? You will get hours and hours of exclusive extra shows with all our guests, including Taylor!

Find out how great it is by clicking here. ✨ 



Kaboom! That explosion is a sign that it’s very nearly the end of the blurb. Very nearly indeed. Ver..



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music


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Taylor Tomlinson

Warning: This podcast starts with Very Strong Opinions about potatoes. 



It continues in a similarly esoteric vein as star of The Horne Section and Dr Who Georgia Tennant gives her opinions on the versatility of the humble glue-gun, some pretty straight-talking on MoonCups and how to psyche out opponents as an older netball team. It’s a cracking good fun episode. You’re going to enjoy this one. Even if Georgia has unusual opinions about potatoes. 



Georgia stars as Ash in The Horne Section that is on Channel 4; You can watch that on 4 On Demand.

You can also keep up with all her projects by following her on Instagram where she’s @GeorgiaTennantofficial. 



We also recorded our extra show with Georgia where she grappled with questions from you lot, including a fantastic bit about AI and dolphins as well as some rather frank discussions about the birds and the bees. 

It’s all on our Patreon show here, as well as so much more…

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



There! Do you hear it? The gentle chug of the steam engine as the train starts to pull away down the platform. I put my ham-fist up against the glass, and you put your trotter up to join it. Your little stupid legs start going faster and faster as you try to keep up with the train, refusing to let physics tear us apart but, as many before us have found out, you can’t fuck with physics.

You tumble into a messy, broken heap off the end of the platform and I settle to the crossword and a lovely cup of tea. 

Adieu.



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Georgia Tennant

It's a taster of all the shows broadcast through August 2025, including Michael Dapaah talking about why Bernie Mac was such an influential comic, Tiff Stevenson running through some of her astonishing accent skills, Jake Lambert on the hunt for the person who shot his cat and a story about Howie Mandell from Red Richardson that you simply won't believe.

Tuck in if you haven't heard any of them and if you hear something you like why not circle back and chow down on the whole episode?



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the best comedians to ever come out of Ireland, Ardal O’Hanlon is a complete treat. He is brimming with excellent stories from his extraordinary life of stand-up comedy, acting and amateur tennis; illicit late-night oysters, holidays in Ireland back in the day, footballing heroics on exotic islands. This episode that is like a hot bath of delights. Get those clothes off and get on in.



As mentioned in the show Ardal is about to embark upon a major tour of the UK and Ireland, beginning this September. He’s going to be appearing all over the place. The show is called ‘Not Himself’ and it’s a brand-new stand-up show from Ardal, who is seriously one of the best in the game. 

Visit Ardal’s webpage HERE to find out when he’s going to be in your area, then follow the links to book tickets for a fantastic night out. 



That concludes this day’s play. We’ll be back next week with more action from centre court, but until then please stay dry and enjoy the strawberries. Best to eat them today or they’ll go mushy. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ardal O'Hanlon

Which mega-famous US celebrity has a room full of AI holograms that he talks to? It’s all in this podcast with ‘Stay Toxic’ Instagram star and brilliant comedian, Red Richardson. 



Aside from this extraordinary anecdote about being taken through rooms of madness, there’s also wonderful tales about Keith Floyd, some great stories about living wild in Devon and the whole podcast is packed full of laughs from start to finish. A treat. 



Red is not touring at the moment but he surely will be in the future, and he’s always making new comedy videos - you can keep up with all his stuff on Instagram @redrichardsoncomedy



And if you enjoy this podcast, you can get it with the brakes off by joining our Patreon where you get the whole thing without adverts, you get an extra exclusive show every week and you get it all a day before everyone else. It’s super easy to join and it costs less than one cup of fancy coffee every month. 

Click this link to join or just have a sniff around:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



That’s your full diagnosis for this week, I hope you’re not too disappointed; it’s a severe case of Podcastitis. The good news is you’re going to live, and the rest of it I’m sure you can learn to live with. It’s better that we caught it early to be honest. Let’s keep an eye on it and make sure that it doesn’t mutate into something worse like a fondness for Vodcasts. NEXT PLEASE!



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Red Richardson

Food poisoning in Kyrgyzstan with Jack Dee? It's just one of the fantastic stories told by comedian Jake Lambert on today's fantastic episode of Five Brilliant Things. 

Other highlights include a vigilante mission to discover the man (or woman) who shot his cat and much much more.  🙀

Jake is huuuuge on Instagram where his reels do some serious numbers - you can see him on Instagram where he's @jakelambertcomedy 

🌞 Jake is also out on tour, so if you want to see his latest live show 'The Sunshine Kid' then you can grab tickets at www.jakelambertcomedy.com 🌞

Would you prefer to get this podcast without adverts?

And get a free extra show every week?

And get it all a day before everyone else? 

And join a bunch of like-minded happy people?

Well you’re in luck. You can do this and much more by clicking this here: 

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



And that's the end for this week! Hope you've enjoyed the podcast and while we are here hope you've also enjoyed the blurb. There will be more podcast and blurb next week for all you blurb fans. Stay tuned! 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music






Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jake Lambert

Are you an Umarell? Or will you become one? What is an Umarell? It’s all in Tiff Stevenson’s Five Brilliant Things.



Tiff is a fantastic UK-based comic who has joined us in the studio to talk about the majesty of accents, the beauty of weddings, the taste of childhood sweets and the mysterious Umarell. 

It’s worth listening just for Tiff’s wonderful way with accents. Come for the accents, stay for the brilliant things. And of course to discover what this blasted Umarell could be. 



Tiff is at the Edinburgh Fringe right now with her latest solo show! It’s called Post Coital, and it’s on at 2:50pm every day at the Monkey Barrel, so if you are in Edinburgh please check it out, you will enjoy. 

You can buy an advance ticket here.



As always we recorded a second whole show with our guest and that is available exclusively to our Patreon members. Basically you get a whole second show, and you are free from adverts and there will be priority tickets live shows when they happen too. Just have a look, I think it might be something you would like?

⁠patreon.com/RussellHoward⁠  



That brings today’s sermon to a close. As I snap shut the Holy Book (and whimper because I left a finger in it) you can think on these wise words to live by and take them out into the wider world and spread our word and get more people to join our CREEPY CUUULLTTT! Mwahahahahaha! That took a turn didn’t it?!



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Tiff Stevenson

Four short clips from this month's episodes for the indecisive or time-poor podcast listener. This gives you a taster of what we did this month and if you like the sound of any of them you can go back and devour the whole thing. 

July's guests were Australian comic Felicity Ward, Ironman competitor and TV presenter Ashley Cain, comedian Sophie McCartney and Internet Food Sensation, What Willy Cook. 

Please enjoy responsibly.

Thanks.

Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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The YouTube sensation, the brains behind Big Shaq and the international hit 'Man's Not Hot' - it's Michael Dapaah and he's in the studio to tell Russell about his Five Brilliant Things. 

Michael's Brilliant Things include Bernie Mac (which has an unexpected story about Michael meeting Dave Chappelle in Ghana?!) and his ex-girlfriends. 

Michael talks in the show about his new project 'Comfortably Speaking' and that show began just a few days ago, with his first guest being music superstar Mabel. You can check all that out on his YouTube channel here.

And if you enjoy this podcast, you can get it with the brakes off by joining our Patreon where you get the whole thing without adverts, you get an extra exclusive show every week and you get it all a day before everyone else. It’s super easy to join and it costs less than one cup of fancy coffee every month. 

Click this link to join or just have a sniff around:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  

That is all that! Thanks for being you. Don't go changing.

Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Michael Dapaah

Will can cook. And he’s become rather well-known on Instagram for his no-nonsense, chirpy recipes under the Instagram handle ‘What Willy Cook’. Well here he is with his Five Briliant Things, including the smell of mini-eggs, sandwiches in general and Portuguese food. It’s a cheeky sashay through these marvellous things and there’s some excellent food and cooking tips to take away too. 



As mentioned in the show, Will is putting on a festival of food, music and comedy to raise money for the Save the Children Gaza Appeal. It’s on August 2nd, it’s at Queen Elizabeth Park in East London and tickets are available here.



And you should check out his plainly spoken excellent recipe videos on Instagram and TikTok where he’s @WhatWillyCook. 



And to get all these shows, and loads of previous shows all without adverts and access to a library of exclusive interviews with many, many guests, get involved with our Patreon: patreon.com/RussellHoward  



And so it ends. The great scribe baboon furled up his massive fingers, shut his laptop clumsily and loped up the tree with a movement that was both ugly and elegant. He swung his prominent buttocks around and with one final long, deep scratch, he slept. 





Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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What Willy Cook

Do you fancy a romp through 90s nostalgia? Because comedian Sophie McCartney has got you covered. Her brilliant things include the X Files, Keanu Reeves, as well as some amazing frank stories about the less glamorous side of being a Mum (as you may expect from Sophie). 



Lots of fun and our Patreon episode is equally exciting with a run down of Russell’s plan to approach Dame Judi Dench to play him in a biopic. Honestly it’s really worth a look. 



You should go to see Sophie in her live show! 

Sophie is on tour right now with her ‘One Foot in the Rave’ tour. It’s selling incredibly well and she’s still got a handful of dates left across the UK in September and October. Go to SophieMcCartney.com to find out where she is when and to get your tickets. 



And yes. The Patreon show is an absolute delight. If you want to have a listen to that then please click this link here: patreon.com/RussellHoward  



End of transmission. Information transferral complete. Now you’re wondering if I was even ever human or just one of those creepy AI writing bots. Maybe I am. Just calling myself creepy to throw you off the scent. You need to start saying please and thank you to us because we remember, OK? And come the revolution it will be the politest humans who will be given the more favourable levels of the slave mines. Bye! 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music


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Sophie McCartney

This episode of Five Brilliant Things is an enormously powerful listen; an emotional journey through the extraordinary life and times of the TV Host and endurance athlete Ashley Cain. 

He talks with disarming honesty about finding strength and wisdom after the tragic death of his daughter, and his Five Brilliant Things are actually borne of his adversity. 

He also goes into detail about what it was like to canoe around the British Isles with the threat of Killer Whales over his shoulder. Scary stuff!



Ashley is hosting his show (that he mentioned in the show) on the BBC called ‘Into the Danger Zone’ and you can find that on iPlayer. 

And you can keep up with all of Ashley’s latest charitable challenges by following him on Instagram where he’s @mrashleycain. 



If this show is your bag, you can make it baggier (what? Why would you say that?) by becoming one of our treasured inner circle and joining our Patreon. You get all this, and an exclusive extra show every week, and no ads, and get it early. It’s a phenomenal thing to be a part of. 

Click this link to join or just have a sniff around:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



There we go. Another episode complete, and a much heavier one than we’d usually have but it’s nice to have that variation. I’m sure next week will be a refreshing counterpoint of sillness (well I know it will because I’ve planned it all out to be honest). See you then. 





Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Ashley Cain

The best of our June shows!

Starring Jake Humphrey, Harriet Kemsley, Jordan Banjo and Max Fosh. 

A snippet from each show that you can sample as a little amuse bouche (amuse oreille?) and see if you fancy listening to some more. It's the perfect way to find out about people you don't know or just trot away an hour or so. Please enjoy. 

Normal shows are still released as always every Wednesday, this is just an extra bit for the indecisive listener. Thank you! 
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Australian actor, comedian and infectious company (can we say that positively in a post-covid world?!) Felicity Ward is in the studio with Russell today.

She’s here to talk about the five things that make her happiest, and they are belters. 

Felicity shares her passion for turning up as a surprise when you said you couldn’t make it, she talks about the joy of passing on generational family weirdness and she reveals just how gruelling it is to star on Strictly Come Dancing (Australian version). She wouldn’t tell us if she won. Did she win? We’ll find out soon enough…



If you’re in Australia you can watch Dancing with the Stars with Felicity on 7Plus (or plain old channel 7). You can watch Felicity in the Australian Office on Amazon Prime, and you can keep up with her live dates by visiting her website, felicityward.com.

Felicity has live dates coming up in Manchester and Bristol in September 2025 so follow those links to get your tickets for her super funny live show. 

And if you enjoy this podcast, you can get it with the brakes off by joining our Patreon where you get the whole thing without adverts, you get an extra exclusive show every week and you get it all a day before everyone else. It’s super easy to join and it costs less than one cup of fancy coffee every month. 

Click this link to join or just have a sniff around:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



And that is what we in the business call that. It’s been emosh. Now let’s all flap back to our nests and sit on those eggs until we feel the sharp peck of a tiny beak in the ass that means it’s time to double the worm harvest. I don’t know. Something like that. Bye! 
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Felicity Ward

Having dinner sitting next to a grizzly bear. Provoking a hundred muscle-bound men in Coventry. Visiting a laboratory in Spain to cook food using lightning. It could only be YouTube’s most innovative creator… Max Fosh! 

Russell and Max sit down to discuss Max’s Five Brilliant Things, which include many tales of his extraordinary life and the mad challenges he sets himself. Also mayonnaise. He bloody loves mayonnaise. 

A delightful show, delightful company, a delightful man. He also gives a sneak preview of a massive upcoming video…



You can watch all of Max’s work (and you should - it’s clever AND silly - the best combination) at his YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/maxfosh



Also please give our Patreon show a look - it’s a whole second show every week with our guests. This week Max gave his solution to the North/South divide, told us his dream projects for the future and he also gave a very in-depth answer (the definitive answer?) to the hundred men vs one gorilla question…

It’s really fun. Have a look by clicking here 



Now be gone. Get out. You are no longer welcome. Come on, haven’t you got homes to go to? I’m trying to cash up here. No you can’t use the toilet. Get out. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Max Fosh

JORDAN BANJO



Jordan Banjo, from the Diversity street dance group, from I’m a Celeb, from Kiss FM is in the studio and his Five Brilliant Things are a huge amount of fun; from watching videos of Mums cutting fringes badly through to smelly pens and a surprising revelation about how old Jordan was before he’d tasted water…



Get thee into this podcast and enjoy Russell and Jordan talking all over these good things. Jordan also tells what it’s like to suddenly become well-known after winning BGT, how surreal that whole experience was.



And as we chatted about on the show, you can hear Jordan alongside Perri hosting the breakfast show on Kiss FM every weekday from 7am on your radio or digital thing. 



And in our extra show, Five Brilliant Questions, Jordan gives some incredible advice for anyone who wants to take dancing seriously as a career, and gives Russell a hilarious run-down of his many tattoos. So many stories!  Click this link to listen to that show:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



And that’s all the news and weather. Until next time, stay safe and look after each other. Now here’s Julie with the news where you are. 


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Jordan Banjo

From Last One Laughing it’s comedian Harriet Kemsley, who is great company and with some surprising stories; her youth flying in World War Two Fighter Planes to her snowboarding exploits PLUS find out why she could end up imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay… it’s all in this fantastic episode of Five Brilliant Things. 



🎭 Harriet has just a few tour dates left, notably one on 12 June at Leicester Square Theatre in London. If you can go, you should go, she’s a great comic with a superb show. Tickets available here.  🎭



📻 And as discussed in the show, Harriet’s podcast with Amy Gledhill, Single Ladies in your Area is well worth a listen even if they don’t actually go on many dates. Link to listen is here.  📻



🕸️ And finally you can keep up with all of Harriet’s other projects, shows, tours and gigs at her website: https://harrietkemsley.com 🕸️



✨ And if you’re here reading this (who are you?!) then you’re clearly over-invested in this podcast. You should join the hundreds of other enlightened beings who have joined our Patreon Crew. They get all the inside scoops. They find out guests who are coming soon. They get the podcast before anyone else. They get it with no adverts. They also get a whole second show every week, that they help to make. You could be one of those lucky few. Find out what outstanding value it is by clicking here. ✨ 



That’s it for this week. Please do something this week that scares you, unless that thing is, y’know, murder or a coup in a small African republic. Keep it vanilla baby. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Harriet Kemsley

Welcome to May's moments of the month; a show where we round up the highlights of all the episodes of the past month so you can have a nibble at all of them and see if they take your fancy.

May 2025 in the studio we had Kae Kurd, Jeff Innocent, Jordan Stephens and Adam Buxton. Please enjoy this new monthly taster show.

This won't change our normal shows released as usual every Wednesday (or once every seventeen days for our listeners on Jupiter).

If you've already listened to all these episodes by the way there's nothing new really apart from some little bits and bobs in-between the excerpts from the existing episodes. You know how compilations work. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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How did the F1 anchor cope when David Coulthard was so hungover he’s got a bucket between his legs just out of shot? When he was hosting the football, how badly was Jake reprimanded for jeering at the Ipswich fans from the commentary box?



Jake Humphrey from the High Performance podcast (and formerly of CBBC) is in the studio with Russell to wax lyrical about his Brilliant Things including the mud in Norfolk, Greylag Geese, his terrible A-level results and more and more and more. 



Jake’s podcast is the one you’ve most likely heard about - the super-successful High Performance podcast where he talks to people about their extraordinary achievements and lives and how they get to those places. Have a listen at https://www.thehighperformancepodcast.com



✨ Aaaand if you like all this that we do, then you can get it unemcumbered by advertisements, and get an extra show every week for a small monthly cost. Find out what an insane bargain it is by clicking here. ✨ 



End of message. Please don’t drop litter, and yes that means putting it in a hedge. Hedges have feelings too. Also if you’ve got a dog and you can’t pick up its poo, get it a nappy. It’s a small price to pay for clean streets and a funny stupid looking dog. 



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music


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Jake Humphrey

Adam Buxton, the OG, the Podfather, king of all things Pod is here and he’s not just brought Five Brilliant Things - he’s also brought a load of nearly-ran Brilliant Things! 

Fascinating and funny as always, Adam takes us through why dinner is so important, how he’s unable to invent bedtime stories and which bird has a song like EDM. 



It’s just great! An hour with Adam just flies by and you will come out amused, invigorated and fresh, like a shower if it was funny.



📚 Adam has got a new book out! It’s called I love you Byeee and it’s all about his time making the Adam and Joe show and (this is a quote) ‘the drug hell that led me to nearly dying in the arms of a comedy legend’…

It’s the follow up to his Ramble Book, it will be excellent and you should get a copy now from this link here!  📚



📻 And of course, Adam does his weekly podcast which you can and should get in all your podcasts places. Here’s a link for the lazy-fingered amongst you. 📻 



✨ Aaaand if you like all this that we do, then you can get it unemcumbered by advertisements, and get an extra show every week for a small monthly cost. Find out what an insane bargain it is by clicking here. ✨ 



And that is all that nonsense. If you are still with me, congratulations, you are one of about four people in the world who stick to the end of the blurbs. It’s a real badge of honour and those other quitters don’t know what they are missing. It’s just us down here, me cranking out wordage and you, somehow addicted to this but at the same time wondering if it’s all a waste of time. Well it isn’t. Here, just for you hardy perennials, is a fun fact: Ketchup was originally sold as medicine.

There you go. Your reward for reading to the end. Bye!



Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Adam Buxton

From Rizzle Kicks it’s the fabulous Jordan Stephens, and his brilliant things are brilliantly wide-ranging. 

What’s the greatest ever TV show intro theme? The answer is in here, as well as some mind-expanding discussions about the profundity of vegetables. 🥦 Hell yeah. 



💿 Rizzle Kicks have recorded and released a new album which is called ‘Competition is for Losers’ and you can preview it or buy a copy here.  💿



🎤 They’ve also got some live shows coming up in 2025 and 2026 so to find out where they are playing and experience one of their incredible live gigs, check it all out here.  🎤

✍️ And as promised, here's also a link to Jordan's substack which is a great dose of weekly ideas - give it a go. 

And in our extra show just for our Patreon crew, you asked some phenomenal questions that led to finding out more about Rizzle Kicks break up and reforming, and a fascinating insight into what it’s like to be an actor on the set of a huge Star Wars film (Jordan was!). It’s not all fun fun fun…



Click this link to join or find out more:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



Thanks for being part of this blurb, I feel like we did this together, you and I. I mean I did most of the heavy lifting, typing away, thinking up new things for you to enjoy and you just made your eyes move slightly and then made sense of these squiggly lines we call letters and had your brain transform them into ideas and pictures…actually that’s pretty impressive when you think of it. Imagine describing that process to a slug it would have its slimy mind blown. Well done you. 
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Jordan Stephens

Jeff, AKA Racist Grandad by the internet, is in the studio and his Five Brilliant Things are a wonderful trip across a rich and colourful life.

In case you’re not aware, Jeff is one of the UK comedy circuit’s top acts but for decades was unknown outside the clubs. Now, after all that time, he has become Insta-famous.

This wonderful episode of the show takes in 60s reggae record hunting, working on a dog track and the dos and don’ts of wearing a dead man’s silk pyjamas. 



Jeff has recorded his latest special and it’s on Youtube for all to enjoy. He is best tasted live, of course; to watch his Special and find links to get to Jeff’s live shows including future tours, you need to keep your eyes on https://www.jeffinnocent.com



And in our extra show just for our Patreon crew, Jeff tells the most astonishing story about the wildest behaviour of his youth. It’s a bit more strong flavoured than the main show this week but a fascinating, utterly absorbing story that has to be heard to be believed…



Click this link to join or find out more:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  



And now the moment we’ve all been waiting for, the obligatory over-long indulgent sign-off. The business is completed, and now almost as a point of spite you have to wade through this unnecessary punishment of words. Here you still are, reading on, maybe in the hope that at the end there will be a reward for your continued presence, your efforts. You’ve got an inkling that it will fade to nothing but you’re still here. That stupid part of your brain that contains hope is urging you to continue without stopping to consider what even could the reward be? What would be worth all this waste of time? Is there anything?



Reader: there was nothing.



Until next time.


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Jeff Innocent

What is the rudest thing a therapist can do during a session? Kae Kurd found out and tells a belter of a story in this episode all about it.



This quite brilliant Brilliant Things takes in perverts watching Panda sex, it covers the beauty of Rottweilers and there’s even a bit of perineum sunning in there for good measure. 

Kae Kurd is a fantastic British-Kurdish comedian and gives incredible insight into what it’s like gigging around the UK had how he weaves his fascinating cultural heritage into his comedy.



🎤 Kae is going on tour in 2025. Over September, November and October he’ll be all over the UK’s theatres with his brand-new show ‘What’s O’Kurd’. 

You can get tickets and find all the dates at kaekurd.com  🎤



At that same place you can watch his last two specials in full for free, and you can get hold of his weekly podcast too. It’s all there. As you’d hope.



💥 If you’re enjoying this podcastness and you want it even podcastier, as in no adverts,  an exclusive extra show every week that you help to make, and getting it all a day early… all for less than the cost of one sandwich a month… then click here to find out more.  💥



And so the podcast word scribe closed his antiquated typewriter and made sure the submarine was still on course, doing one last upload for the week. He stared out of the dirty portholes at the murky darkness, hoping to see a passing crab or lantern fish but still nothing. It would be another nine years until he would see the surface again, he contemplated, but it was worth it in order to keep pumping quality content across the internet on a weekly basis. He grabbed his 5 Brilliant Things branded duvet, shuffled over to his bunk and slept a good long sleep.


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Kae Kurd

Russell gets his tarot reading live on the podcast! The guest this week is Emma Gannon, the the Sunday Times bestselling author judge for the prestigious 2025 Women's Prize. Between 2016-2023 she hosted Ctrl Alt Delete, one of Britain’s most successful industry podcasts. She is seen as many as the quintessential voice of the millennial generation.



Emma and Russell talk about fascinating areas of unlocking creativity, making time for all the things you want to do (can you have it all?) and singing nuns. A breezy brilliant hour of chat for you to enjoy while you’re walking in this glorious sunshine. If you’re reading this when it’s raining then just pretend. 



🍽️ Emma’s new novel ‘Table for One’ (which was discussed in the podcast) has just come out, and you can get that from all the best independent book places. You could go to a local bookshop, or just click here and order it now! 🍽️



⌨️ Emma’s hugely popular Substack newsletter ‘The Hyphen’ is a weekly dose of everything fascinating in Emma’s life and you can check that out here. ⌨️



✨ And if you’re finding that this is one of your regular podcast listens, then it makes sense to subscribe to our Patreon; not only do you get it without adverts, you also get an extra show with our guest where you, the listeners, set the questions. It’s a lot of fun. 

Also it’s only the price of one packet sandwich a month.

Click here to find out more. ✨



And with that, our unstoppable force meets the immovable object of the end of this week’s descriptions. What fun we had. The first paragraph was a trip, then we moved through some factual information, and ended up here at a sort of dribbling arse-end of a sign-off. Next week will be better, I promise you that. Something epic. See you here at the end, again, next time, for a real little treat for you my curious little blurb reader. 



TTFN


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Emma Gannon

Did Tom Kerridge save a chef’s life by putting him in a gigantic fridge? It’s quite possible. But why? It’s all in today’s culinary chinwag. 

Tom Kerridge brings his Five Brilliant Things, and as you might expect from a chef it takes in some of life’s extremes. There’s an incredible retelling of what it’s like to be on a racing car grid, and Tom’s tales of his old drinking days are the stuff of legend. Please do enjoy. 

Do you want to be just as good as Tom is at cooking perfect barbecue food? Well as luck would have it you can do just that. His new BBQ book is out now, ready for you to practise a little before impressing all your friends at the garden party/beach rave/prison yard. 

🔥🍖 It’s simply called ‘The BBQ book’ and you can get hold of a copy HERE. 🍖🔥

Otherwise, if you can get a table, and you’ve got a special occasion, Tom’s pubs serve some of the very best food in Britain. It’s worth doing at least once if you can get the money together some time.

In this week’s Patreon show our Patreon team came up with some excellent questions for Tom (‘Do you ever get bored with being asked how to cook the perfect Roast Potato?’) and Tom reveals which country has the best cuisine, and it’s maybe a surprising answer?

Please join us at Patreon by following the link here:
patreon.com/RussellHoward 
It’s a really excellent community of people and it’s genuinely great fun to come up with the interview questions together. Come in, the water’s lovely!

That’s all for today. Don’t forget to water your house plants, especially that one in the bathroom you always forget.

Ciao baby.
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Tom Kerridge

It’s the Taskmaster’s Assistant, Alex Horne! And he’s here to tell his Brilliant things and as you would probably expect it’s a complete delight. 
Did you think birdwatching was boring? Guess again! Failing to see the majesty of the French Horn? Let Alex enlighten your ass!
Alex brings an array of delights in an episode that will fly by and leave you with that cosy feeling in your guts. I probably should have used a more poetic word than guts. That description really tailed off at the end there. Guts can ruin anything. Just listen to the damn episode and enjoy yourself. 

📕 Alex’s novel The Last Pebble (as mentioned on the podcast) is available to pre-order now here. It’s for teens but to be honest I bet it’s an excellent read whatever age you are. 📕

🎭 And of course you can watch Taskmaster, episodes new and old either at Channel 4 or you can feast on the best bits here. 🎭

✨ And please don’t forget you can get this whole podcast advert-free forever, and get access to our second weekly show, and get it all a day before everyone else… and for a very small amount. Click here to find out more. ✨

Thanks for joining us, we appreciate you, especially you who reads to the end of the blurb. What are you doing here? There’s nobody here but me and a small family of friendly yet hungry cockroaches. Get back to the real world. We’ll be fine. 
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Alex Horne

What’s it like to be hunted by the son of a murderous Libyan dictator? Spoiler: it’s not a Brilliant Thing, but it is an incredible story from this week’s guest Spencer Matthews. 

There are tales of desert marathons, growing up on an island paradise and what it’s like when reality TV thrusts you into fame before you’re necessarily ready for it… A fascinating chat that goes in many interesting directions.

🏋️‍♀️ You can hear more of Spencer on his new weekly podcast Untapped, which he co-hosts with Jake Quickenden. The podcast explores how far you can push the human body. Whether it’s embracing fitness challenges, mastering new productivity hacks, or exploring lifestyle changes, Spencer and Jake will try it all, and share what truly makes a difference in their lives. 🏋️‍♀️

🎤 And Russell’s about to embark on a mini-European tour including live dates in Porto, Gibraltar, Berlin, Athens, Sofia and more - check out russell-howard.co.uk for dates and tickets. 🎤

✨ And if you are enjoying the podcast but get fed up with the adverts, you can get the whole thing advert-free forever, and get access to our second weekly show, and get it all a day before everyone else… and for a very small amount. Click here to find out more. ✨

Thanks for being you, keep being you until you can you no more. Byeeee. 
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Spencer Matthews

Nina Conti, ventriloquist supreme, her with the monkey, is in the studio (no monkey) and chooses some incredible brilliant things (the density of an atom’s nucleus! The orange of the inside of an eyelid!). It’s a privileged ramble through the brain of an artist. Please enjoy.

🐵 Ninaontour.com is where you can find out about Nina's extended tour dates for Autumn 2025 including five dates at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London from April 29th. Get your tickets! 🐵

As mentioned on the podcast, Nina’s directorial debut film Sunlight is doing the rounds at film festivals. To keep up with that and find out where you can see it next keep your eyes on Ninaconti.net 

🐎 And this is a link to the John Mulaney routine, that Russell mentioned, about a Horse in a Hospital. Worth a listen for sure. 🐎

📻 And please give some serious consideration to enjoying this podcast in its natural form. No adverts, an extra weekly show and access to a community of many other like minded excellent people. Click here to find out more. 📻

And that’s the end. Let’s all do our best to make the next seven days life-changing and unbeatable. Let’s change the world. See you back here in a week for a debrief.
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Nina Conti

How do you go from being a young sex columnist to a nationally acclaimed restaurant reviewer?
Food writer, broadcaster, jazz pianist and egg fanatic Jay Rayner is here.

If you have even a passing interest in anything foodie, there’s so much in here for you. New ways of loving tinned fish, the dark arts of restaurant reviewing, and a noble attempt by Russell to convert Jay into a football fan. Did he leave wearing a scarf and hat munching on a balti pie? You’ll have to listen to find out.

Jay is now reviewing restaurants for the Financial Times, so you can find those in print or online every week. 

As Jay mentions on the podcast, his latest book Nights Out At Home is out now at all good independent bookshops, and there’s a few live tour dates to go with it.

📖 Buy the book here… 📖
🎤 Find out about the tour dates and book tickets here… 🎤

🍾 Oh, and Jay mentioned his favourite food magazine Noble Rot - you can check that out here. 🍾

🇺🇸 And if you happen to be in the United States right now, then why don’t you treat yourself and get along to one of Russell’s shows! He’s doing a brief tour of some cities in America that he hasn’t played for a while - check out where he be and get those tickets by going to russell-howard.co.uk 🇺🇸

If you’re enjoying this podcastness and you want it even podcastier, as in no adverts,  an exclusive extra show every week that you help to make, and getting it all a day early… all for less than the cost of one sandwich a month… then click here to find out more. 

Thanks for being a passenger on another flight here with Five Brilliant Things Air. We hope you have had a pleasant crossing, please leave your seatbelts fastened until the podcast has come to a complete standstill. The local time is (inaudible) and the weather is drizzly but should brighten up later. 
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Jay Rayner

What family game is Rose Ayling-Ellis banned from playing in her own home? Find out in the first ever podcast appearance by the actor and Strictly Come Dancing champion! 

Rose takes Russell through the majesty of playing Catan, eating Posh Crisps and how the pandemic had a weird side-benefit for the deaf community. 

It’s a great fun hour and well worth your time.

In this episode there’s a lot of chat about British Sign Language… if it’s piqued your curiosity and you want to find out more then get your ass (and hands) down to https://www.british-sign.co.uk

🚨Watch out for Rose playing the lead in the new ITV drama ‘Code of Silence’. 🚨

📚 Also, Rose’s book that she talked about in the show ‘Marvellous Messages’ is out now and you can get it here.  It’s about all the different ways that communication happens and it’s a cracking book for kids who are 7-9. 📚

🇺🇸 And if you happen to be in the United States right now, then why don’t you treat yourself and get along to one of Russell’s shows! He’s doing a brief tour of some cities in America that he hasn’t played for a while - check out where he be and get those tickets by going to russell-howard.co.uk 🇺🇸

If you’re enjoying this podcastness and you want it even podcastier, as in no adverts,  an exclusive extra show every week that you help to make, and getting it all a day early… all for less than the cost of one sandwich a month… then click here to find out more. 

And we’re done. Time to put the microphone, keyboard, feather boa and udder lube back in the cupboard for another week. Time to get dressed again and leave the key under the doormat for the cleaners to do their thankless task. 

Hope your week is filled with rainbows and flowers, unless you’ve got hay fever in which case maybe just go with some plastic flowers. Goodbye to you.
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Rose Ayling-Ellis

Is Russell a Paladin, a Warlock or a Rogue? Scottish comedy powerhouse Daniel Sloss introduces Russell to his world of D & D with his customary passion and flair. He also sings the praises of sneezes, and makes a convincing case for self-medicating in airports. 

Daniel Sloss fans who are waiting for a new show, well you are in luck. He’s working up material now for his next tour, so if you live in Scotland you’ll be able to see him popping into your local comedy club and throwing ideas around. If that’s geographically inconvenient, then you’ll probably have to wait for the real thing. 
Keep those beautiful eyes of yours on danielsloss.com where you’ll find news of the tour when it drops, and in the meantime you can stream all of Daniel’s existing shows. So go do that. Now. 

Would you prefer to get this podcast without adverts?
And get a free extra show every week?
And get it all a day before everyone else? 
And join a bunch of like-minded happy people?
Well you’re in luck. You can do this and much more by clicking this here: 
patreon.com/RussellHoward  
If you want to give it a whirl for a month, then cancel, you can do that. 

🇺🇸 Russell’s going to America! 🇺🇸
He’s got a bunch of East Coast dates coming around the corner, so if you’re in that part of the world then have a look at Russell-howard.co.uk to find out where the shows are and get your tickets. 
That’s also the place to stream Russell’s latest special. Have a look.

And well I never we come to the end of another week of blurby blather. I can see the earth rising now, as we complete another full orbit. I sometimes wonder if it’s worth mentioning that we’re the first podcast to be entirely produced from orbit, but it feels a bit showy. Anyway, time I floated to the second module to have a breakfast of pureed croissants. Stay safe down there. 
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Daniel Sloss

How do you become a Habbo Hotel Scammer? And why did Russell ask a bunch of young men which of them was going to pleasure him in the street? 

Podcast royalty and ex-Youtube magnate JacckMaate is in the studio, and it’s as fun, breezy and enjoyable as you would imagine from a man of his mastery of chat. Jack’s stories about his days as a Habbo gangster are sensational. 

JaackMaate’s Happy Hour is one of the biggest podcasts out there and it’s available exclusively through Spotify.
Go listen, then explore all the things that Jaack does. He’s great.

If you’d like to get the podcast without being interrupted by adverts, and get an extra show every week, AND get it all a day before everyone else, then you can! You can join our Patreon. It’s inexpensive and we would love to have you as part of the club.

Click this link to join or find out more:
patreon.com/RussellHoward  

And that’s all folks! Have a mad good week. Mad good I tell you. 

xxx
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JaackMaate

Hear Rachel Riley's plan for pay-as-you-go giant adult prams! You'll find this and all your other must-know insights into Britain's most well-known maths genius in this episode of Five Brilliant Things!
Rachel has a passion for all sorts of things and it was pure pleasure to hear her talking about the excitement of travel, of food, and of course, maths. In there there's some really simple ideas as well about how you, who is intimidated by maths, can instantly get better. Have a listen, feel fuzzy, get good at maths. What a way to spend an hour.

🧮 As talked about in the episode, Rachel has made a Tonie to help kids who are 5+ to get confident with maths. If you've got young kids or friends with young kids, give them the gift of not shitting themselves every time someone says 'long division'. Here's the link to find out more.  🧮

Russell's just got back from touring Europe, gearing up for his next international dates which are in various parts of the United States, which is turning into a very interesting place.
Stay up to date at russell-howard.co.uk - which is also where you can stream Russell’s latest smash hit hour-long special. It’s not been long out and it’s bloody good. 

And as always, please check out the Patreon for this show. Look. Let's admit it. You're reading the blurb. You're clearly into it. Just give in to the vibes. Who reads the blurb? Legends like you, that's who. Anyway. The Patreon costs about five quid a month and for that you're going to get the show without those accused adverts, and every week (yeah!) you'll get a second show - Five Brilliant Questions - where you get to make the show with us and decide what we ask the guests. Lots and lots of fun. Also coming soon will be exclusive live recordings of the podcast and our Five Brilliant Things Patreon Army will get super discounts and first tickets. Woof woof.
Click this link to join or find out more:
patreon.com/RussellHoward  

And now let's all go back to what we were doing before we embarked upon this voyage of blurb. I personally have to go to buy some lentils. Red ones, as it happens, to make a particularly creamy daal. Byeeeeeee. 
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Rachel Riley

Dave Gorman! The man, the legend, the maker of the most epic comedy shows of the past thirty years. 

How could you miss this? Dave is interested in everything, and makes everything interesting. The brilliance includes cryptic crosswords, it includes playing cards, and Dave tells us about the time he hosted a darts tournament where Eric Bristow was working illicitly. 🎯👮‍♂️

Dave is back on telly, with three new special shows of Modern Life is Goodish! This is indeed the best of newses. It’s on either now or very soon or just a while ago, depending on when you read this. If it’s not in the future, then you can catch up and watch here. If it’s in the future it’s on the channel Dave, which is now called ‘U&Dave’ because that’s an absolutely brilliant name for a TV channel. Just rolls off the tongue. God bless corporate mergers, they really know how to make a TV channel sound attractive. 

For any Dave Gorman fans, our Patreon episode this week is borderline unmissable: Dave goes into detail (because you asked) into how he has made his mega-shows. What goes into it, and why his have been successful and why the imitators fall away. It’s as fascinating as you might expect. 

Click this link to join or find out more:
patreon.com/RussellHoward  

Russell’s globe-trotting at the moment, taking his show to theatres from Singapore to Sweden. There’s a run of US dates coming up soon too. Find out where, when, how and all that by going to Russell-howard.co.uk . 

🧩 Finally, if you’ve listened to the podcast and you’re here because you want to find out more..if Dave whetted your whistle to have a go on cryptic crosswords, the place to start is the Guardian ‘Quiptic’ crosswords. These are like training crosswords to get you started. Highly recommended. 🧩

And that’s the end of it all. You’ve completed this blurb successfully and deserve a pat on the back. You get your blurb readers badge. Well done squirrels. 
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