All My Clothes Need Burning (formerly Television Times)

Seymour Mace: Clowning Around — From Tokyo Street Theatre to Doing Exactly What You Want

Sun, 17 May 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Seymour Mace spent time as a clown in Japan, did a Fine Art degree during COVID, built a potter's wheel in his back garden, got a first, and somewhere in the middle of all that did some stand-up. He's fine.

Seymour Mace is a British comedian and actor known for his surreal, offbeat humour and cult status on the UK comedy circuit, best recognised for his role in the BBC series Ideal.

How he ended up working as a street clown in Japan in the '90s — and how he nearly stayed on as Big Bird at Tokyo Disneyland
What doing a Fine Art degree during lockdown taught him about creativity — and why the education system quietly beats it out of most people
Comedy courses and clown schools — why Seymour thinks the best training is just being around funny people and working out why they're funny
The freedom of not chasing fame, and why, with no mortgage or anyone to answer to, he's essentially living like a rich person without having to be a c**t

Connect with Seymour here:

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Howard J. Ford: Caves, Cannibals and Cannes

Sun, 10 May 2026 05:00:00 GMT

Howard J Ford has stared down a four-ton boulder held up by a single pebble, sat on funeral pots containing the dead while eating lunch, been lifted off his feet by hundreds of people in Burkina Faso, and walked out of a Mississippi murder house that nobody could bring themselves to buy. All in the name of independent filmmaking.

Howard J Ford is a British filmmaker, director, and cinematographer whose films include The Dead, Never Let Go, The Ledge, River of Blood, Dark Game, Escape, and Bonekeeper — out now on Prime Video & Apple TV. His new action thriller Zipwire is heading to Cannes, and if his track record is anything to go by, it won't be long before it lands on your streaming service of choice.

Why filming Bonekeeper in real caves in Wales and Herefordshire meant learning to light absolute darkness
The Burkina Faso incident: filming in a village with no electricity, sitting on pots containing dead relatives, and being swept off his feet by hundreds of people at the end of the shoot
The haunted house in Clarksdale, Mississippi, where both Howard and his producer felt something was seriously wrong
The screenplay Howard wrote, which Morgan Freeman once wanted to star in
Why boredom is the starting point for everything — and how every film begins as a blank void before thousands of images and a story slowly emerge from nothing
The cannibal on a bicycle who stayed to watch the shoot — and why he was laughing

Connect with Howard here:

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcast Name Change Alert!

Thu, 12 Feb 2026 12:30:48 GMT

Something's changed — and it's bigger than just a name.

After four seasons as Television Times, the podcast has a new title: All My Clothes Need Burning. Steve explains why the change makes sense, where the title came from, and what Season 5 is going to look like.

Why Television Times always felt like a TV listings show to people who'd never heard it — and why that got old
Where the title All My Clothes Need Burning comes from — and why it was too good to keep in a drawer
The new format: funny stories from the road, the set, the tour bus, and the moments that didn't go to plan — from guests and from Steve himself

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Critoph Returns: 2025 - The Year Television Lost the Plot

Thu, 01 Jan 2026 09:00:00 GMT

Paul Critoph returns for the annual TV debrief

Paul Critoph is an actor and regular friend of the podcast, joining Steve for the third consecutive end-of-year television review — the one where they figure out which shows they've actually both watched.

Why Alien Earth started brilliantly and then made its xenomorphs bulletproof in broad daylight — and why that ruins everything
Squid Game 2 and 3: the hide and seek episode that was genuinely brilliant, the policeman on a boat for far too long, and why the ending made them angry instead of emotional
The Summer I Turned Pretty — a show aimed at teenage girls that Paul's wife binged entirely while Paul occasionally wandered in to ask who Conrad and Jeremiah were
Why Andor is the best Star Wars thing since The Empire Strikes Back — and why it's really a show about fascism and how it gets its tendrils into communities
Black Mirror's return to form — and why the Bandersnatch multiple-choice situation still annoys Steve
The Bear: essentially someone chopping a radish very slowly while looking moody, for weeks on end

Connect with Paul here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do Not Adjust Your Pod!

Sun, 21 Dec 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Steve empties the whiteboard, clears his head, and has an honest conversation about what making this podcast actually feels like from the inside — the burnout, the uncertainty, the ads he hates, and why he's seriously considering living in the woods.

This is a bonus solo episode featuring no guest, one very good cup of coffee, and more honesty than most podcasts manage in a full series.

A full rundown of every podcast Steve actually listens to — from Memory Lane and Parenting Hell to The Rest Is Politics, Louis Theroux, What Did You Do Yesterday, and why Bill Maher is simultaneously brilliant and infuriating
Why the end of a season brings on the funk — and what it's like running a podcast entirely solo with no producer, no team, and no idea who's listening
The comedy character he's been developing in his head for years: a sound engineer with a broken mixing desk, a Mick Hucknall lyric, and a show provisionally titled Knob Jokes
The treacherous taxi ride at 3,000 metres in the Bolivian Andes to reach the schoolhouse where Che Guevara was killed — and the song he eventually wrote about it

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Doug Naylor: How Red Dwarf Made TV Better Than Life

Thu, 18 Dec 2025 07:00:00 GMT

The co-creator of Red Dwarf wrote a number one single in five minutes, turned around a failing Spitting Image, and had his brand new Red Dwarf movie cancelled because it was the BBC's only successful comedy. You couldn't write it. Well, Doug could.

Doug Naylor is the co-creator and writer of Red Dwarf, which has run for 12 series and continues to find new audiences decades on. He co-wrote the Chicken Song (number one, 1986), was script editor on Spitting Image, and wrote for Jasper Carrott, Cannon and Ball, Ken Dodd, and numerous others. His children's book Sin Bin Island is the Financial Times Children's Book of the Year.

The casting sessions where Alan Rickman, Hugh Laurie, and Alfred Molina all auditioned — and why Danny John-Jules, half an hour late in his dad's old suit, got the Cat after the very first audition
How Craig Charles pestered Paul Jackson until he said "just see him to get him off my back" — and why Doug originally didn't like him
The BBC cancelled the new Red Dwarf movie because it was the only successful comedy they commissioned
The fake Duke of Manchester, who offered £12 million, sent a fax with his bank balance Tipp-Exed out and the amount typed in — and was later sent to prison

Connect with Doug here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Orbital FX: Inside the World of Practical Effects

Thu, 11 Dec 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Two lads from the North East of England built props that ended up purchased by Disney for actual Mandalorian productions — and they're still not entirely sure how to feel about it.

Luke and Paul from Orbital FX are a North East-based practical effects and prop-making team whose work spans Star Wars replica props, Marvel productions, Disney theme parks and events, including a full-size Millennium Falcon build and components used in the Ant-Man quantum experience filmed at Pinewood.

Why Lucasfilm's relationship with its fan community is completely unlike anything else in Hollywood — and what George Lucas apparently told Disney when they bought Star Wars
The story of restoring the original Boba Fett blaster from The Empire Strikes Back in five days
Why making props for convention costumers is actually harder than making them for films
How the carbon fibre Darth Vader helmet came about — and why cutting 40% of the weight is, apparently, a genuine game changer
The day Steve introduced himself to George Lucas at a bankrupt Fashion Café in London with broken speakers, dodgy lights, and a Tandy mixer
Why practical effects never really went away — and how Star Wars single-handedly reinvigorated an entire generation of model makers and creature shops

Connect with Orbital FX here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Olaf Falafel: The Seriously Silly Art of Being Stupid

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Olaf Falafel gaslit his own mother into believing she had a serious wind problem using a remote-control fart machine with a subwoofer — and has somehow turned that energy into an award-winning career in children's books and stand-up.

Olaf Falafel is a comedian, illustrator, and author known for his Edinburgh Fringe shows, the Dave Funniest Joke at the Fringe 2019, and children's books including Old MacDonald Heard a Fart, Poo on a Pogo Stick, and the Trixie Pickle Art Avenger series. His new graphic novel The Far Out Five is out now, and his family show — Olaf Falafel's Stupidest Super Stupid Show, is currently on tour.

Why comedians make better children's authors than celebrities — and why the crossover is more natural than the publishing industry admits
The origin of Old MacDonald Heard a Fart — how singing it on the school run with his daughters turned into an actual book deal
How to achieve the perfect duck fart
Why winning the Dave Funniest Joke at the Fringe brought death threats
Why Lost is the show he'd erase from history — and the years he spent downloading it on Limewire before the ending stole everything back
What it means to draw 200-page graphic novels while watching Liam Neeson films as background noise — and why Taken is genuinely one of his favourite movies

Connect with Olaf here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry Naylor: From Bora Bora to the Frontlines of Political Theatre

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Henry Naylor spent years travelling the world making Barclaycard ads with Rowan Atkinson, gave Ben Miller his first comedy gig, wrote the first ever Tony Blair sketch on British television, and is now taking a play about Elton John's battle with the Sun newspaper to New York. And he can do a very good Scooby Doo.

Henry Naylor is a playwright, writer and comedian whose credits include Spitting Image, Dead Ringers, the 3D animated sketch show Head Cases, and multiple Fringe First-winning plays. His play Monstering The Rocketman — about Elton John and Britain's largest ever libel settlement — sold out Edinburgh, has a London run and is heading to New York.

How 17 Barclaycard commercials took him to Bora Bora, Luxor, Sardinia and Elba — and what it was like to watch Rowan Atkinson go from recognisable to A-lister in real time
How he gave Ben Miller his first comedy gig at university — and how he felt when Ben's agent rang up about the Johnny English movie
Writing the first Tony Blair sketch for Spitting Image when nobody knew anything about him
Why the Jeffrey Archer puppet was deliberately withheld
Head Cases: the 3D animated sketch show that had DreamWorks calling, but was cancelled when ITV nearly went bankrupt

Connect with Henry here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Mear: Dancing Through Dyslexia into the Spotlight

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Stephen Mear CBE has choreographed for Broadway, the West End, the Royal Albert Hall, Rhys Ifans in an Oasis video, a dancing dog-head Goldfrapp video, and Victoria Wood's Christmas specials — and he only found out he was dyslexic somewhere in the middle of all of it.

Stephen Mear CBE is one of the UK's most celebrated choreographers and directors, with credits spanning five Broadway shows, multiple West End productions including Mary Poppins, Chess, Sunset Boulevard, and Shoes, television work with Victoria Wood, and a decades-long career that has taken him from Sheffield to LA to the Metropolitan Opera.

What it was like opening The Little Mermaid on Broadway with the New York press already against Disney before a single rehearsal
How he got Rhys Ifans through the entire Oasis All Around the World video by standing next to him and counting throughout
The Goldfrapp dog-head video — why the heads could only turn certain ways, and why the whole thing would take ten minutes with AI now
What it was like getting the cast back on stage at the Royal Albert Hall for the first post-COVID show — everyone drenched in sweat behind masks, praying nobody rang in sick
Miriam Margolies discussing OnlyFans around the dinner table — and why she is the funniest person in any room she walks into

Connect with Stephen here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helen White: Standing Tall at 4ft 10

Thu, 13 Nov 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Helen White started stand-up at 50, dropped the C-bomb early doors to dispel any assumptions, came second in a gong show in South Shields, and is now getting theatre gigs. Nobody saw any of this coming — least of all Helen.

Helen White is a Geordie comedian based in Middlesbrough, known for her sharp short-form material, a deadpan delivery that wrong-foots audiences from the first line, and a late start that has clearly not slowed her down.

Born in West Germany, raised in a Northern Irish army barracks, moved to Newcastle aged six, and had a Geordie accent within a week
Why starting comedy at 50 was exactly the right time — and why the creative curse of leaving it too late turned out not to be a curse at all
The Raleigh Shopper birthday bike that looked like it belonged to a 40-year-old woman doing her groceries
Growing up in a house where nobody could cook — TV dinners, chip pan lard, and not encountering rice or pasta until university
Why 90 Day Fiancé is genuinely compelling television — and why she follows the cast on Instagram

Connect with Helen here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best of Aussies and N-Zedders

Thu, 06 Nov 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Australia and New Zealand have been quietly producing some of the funniest people on the circuit for decades — and this episode rounds up the best of them in one place.

A compilation episode featuring Steve's favourite moments from his conversations with Sam Simmons, Daniel Muggleton, Robert Morgan, Mark Trevorrow (a.k.a. Bob Downe), Harry Jun, Stephen Curry, Dane Simpson, Jenny Tian, Ange Lavoipierre, Nick Schuller, Phil Hammond, Tom Ballard, John Robertson, Jarred Christmas and Nic Sampson.

Why Antipodean comics consistently punch above their weight on the international circuit
The shared sensibility — and the crucial differences — between Australian and New Zealand humour
What it takes to build a comedy career when you start 10,000 miles from the main markets
Why absurdism, deadpan and chaos seem to be the default settings down under

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Evelyn Hollow: A Descent into the Uncanny

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Evelyn Hollow grew up in a country embedded in mythology, studies the paranormal for a living, and has seen the Night Night Man. She's also remarkably calm about all of it.

Evelyn Hollow is a Scottish writer and paranormal psychologist with a Master of Research in Paranormal Psychology. She appears as a paranormal expert on the BBC's The Battersea Poltergeist, The Witch Farm, and Uncanny, as well as Spooked Scotland and Spooked Ireland, and is the author of Atlas of Paranormal Places.

Why growing up in Scotland — a country embedded in mythology — shapes the way you think about the unexplained before you've even encountered it
The fine line between science and the supernatural — and why the value of an experience often lies in personal comfort rather than scientific proof
Evelyn's personal struggle with sleep paralysis — and what it taught her about the edges of consciousness
The "digital necromancy" of AI and the uncomfortable questions it raises for anyone who studies what happens after death
Steve's kettle switching itself on in a darkened room, and Evelyn's sightings of the Night Night Man
Why the unknown continues to fascinate us — and whether understanding it would actually make it less frightening

Connect with Evelyn here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Morgan Returns: The Good Bastard Always Rises

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 06:01:08 GMT

Robert Morgan has ridden horses through the Australian desert with Ray Winstone, filmed in the wilderness of New Zealand alongside Florence Pugh, navigated the culture shock of working in Beijing, and is about to play Burgess Meredith in a Sylvester Stallone biopic. He calls this a career.

Robert Morgan is a Welsh-Australian actor, writer, and former boxer known for The Proposition, The Accountant 2, Landman, High Country, and Hacksaw Ridge. He has worked alongside Brad Pitt, Jason Isaacs, and Guy Pearce, and continues to champion emerging talent.

The physical endurance required to film The Proposition in the Australian Outback, where the environment was as brutal as anything in the script
Filming in the New Zealand wilderness alongside Florence Pugh — and the reality of being an Australian actor constantly in transit
Why playing Burgess Meredith in the upcoming Sylvester Stallone biopic, I Play Rocky, required a completely different kind of preparation
The art of being a "good bastard" — and why that philosophy has kept him working across four decades and multiple continents
His passion for independent film and the emerging talent he keeps going out of his way to support

Rob does not engage in social media, but you can see what he's up to here:

IMDb Profile

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Smith: Finding Your Feet in a Foot Spa Half Empty

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Ian Smith filmed a sitcom in the middle of a desert, debuted on Have I Got News For You, and has strong feelings about dental mouth-guards. A career on the road will do that to you.

Ian Smith is an award-winning stand-up comedian, writer, and actor from Yorkshire, known for The News Quiz, 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Popatron, and The Ark. His Edinburgh Fringe shows include Crushing and Foot Spa Half Empty, and he co-hosts the popular podcast Northern News with Amy Gledhill.

The logistical nightmare of filming The Ark in the middle of a desert — and what that does to a cast and crew
What it actually feels like to debut on Have I Got News For You with no safety net
The stamina required for early sitcom work — and why nobody warns you how relentless it is
The bizarre realities of life on the UK tour circuit that don't make it into any brochure

Connect with Ian here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Tale of Two Steves II

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Steve interviews Steve — and gets more out of it than either of them expected.

In this solo episode, Steve Otis Gunn turns the microphone on himself, exploring the creative mind behind the podcast, the personal tenacity required to keep making things, and the gap between idea and execution that most people never cross.

The "nutty" reality of maintaining a long-term creative project entirely on your own
Why commitment to any project eventually starts to feel like a personality disorder
What the gap between idea and execution really looks like — and why most people stop there
Why talking to yourself is, it turns out, genuinely useful if you do it properly

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Milo Edwards: Moscow Misadventures - From Cold Calls to Callbacks

Thu, 09 Oct 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Milo Edwards moved to Moscow to work in financial services, ended up performing stand-up on Russian television, and has been explaining that sequence of events ever since.

Milo Edwards is a stand-up comedian and podcaster from Essex, a former Cambridge Footlights member who moved to Moscow in 2015 and performed on Russian TV before making his mark on the UK comedy scene with his Edinburgh Fringe shows. He hosts the podcasts Trashfuture, Masters of Our Domain, and Glue Factory, and has written for Mock The Week, The News Quiz, Private Eye, and The New Statesman.

How a job in financial services became a back door into Russian stand-up television
The immense resolve required to navigate Moscow's bureaucracy as an expat comedian
Why the discipline of working in a completely alien environment makes you a better performer
The unexpected skills that transfer from finance to comedy — and the ones that really don't

Connect with Milo here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laura Lexx: Punchline Optimiser

Thu, 02 Oct 2025 07:28:47 GMT

Laura Lexx went from optimising search engines to commanding the stage on Live at the Apollo — and has been unapologetically honest about everything in between.

Laura Lexx is a critically acclaimed comedian, writer and podcaster known for sell-out Edinburgh Fringe shows, Live at the Apollo and Celebrity Mastermind. She is the author of Klopp Actually and Pivot, and hosts the podcast Comedy Bureau.

How working as a search engine optimiser accidentally prepared her for stand-up
The immense persistence required to navigate the early years of the comedy circuit
What the cramped rooms and chaotic logistics of the Edinburgh Fringe really teach you
The things about TV production that drive Laura genuinely mad — and why she keeps doing it
Why a willingness to be completely honest on stage is both the biggest risk and the biggest reward

Connect with Laura here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John Robertson: From Australian Idol to Comedy Anarchy

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 07:59:04 GMT

John Robertson accidentally won awards for a kids' show that was never meant for children, has been pitching television ideas to networks that find him simultaneously fascinating and baffling, and does all of this on a voice that should probably be rested more than it is.

John Robertson is an Australian comedian, writer, and creator of the cult live-action video game comedy show The Dark Room. A veteran of the Edinburgh Fringe and international festivals, he is known for his booming voice, razor-sharp crowd work, and chaotic energy across stand-up, Twitch streaming, and multiple TV development runs.

Why maintaining a voice-shredding performance schedule requires a level of preparation most people don't expect
The constant cycle of pitching TV ideas — and the even more constant cycle of those ideas not quite happening
What the cult success of The Dark Room revealed about what audiences actually want from live performance
How comedy anarchy differs from just being chaotic — and why the difference matters enormously

Connect with John here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Ballard: Why Reality TV is a Lie

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 05:00:31 GMT

Tom Ballard started doing stand-up at 14, burned out completely by his mid-twenties after yelling excessively every night across Europe, and came back with something much more interesting to say.

Tom Ballard is an award-winning Australian comedian, writer and broadcaster, known as co-host of Triple J Breakfast and host of the late-night ABC series Tonightly with Tom Ballard. He has also acted in Deadloch and Fisk, and has become one of Australia's most distinctive comedic voices through sharp political commentary and fearless humour.

Why a gruelling tour through London, the UK and Europe left him with nothing left to say — and what he did about it
Why stepping back from the annual festival treadmill was the best creative decision he made
The difference between comedy that reacts to the world and comedy that tries to understand it
What slower, more deliberate creative work produces that the relentless festival cycle never could

Connect with Tom here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sharlene Hector: Touring the World and Owning the Spotlight

Thu, 11 Sep 2025 05:00:00 GMT

Sharlene Hector has performed for festival crowds at Glastonbury and Mount Fuji, toured internationally with Muse and Alicia Keys, starred in a Coca-Cola advert seen around the world, and then discovered during a global pandemic that what she really wanted to do was act.

Sharlene Hector is a British singer, performer and actor with a career spanning over two decades. She has toured with Basement Jaxx, Gorillaz and Michael Bublé, sung backing vocals for Muse, Alicia Keys and Emeli Sandé, and in recent years has moved into musical theatre with acclaimed roles in Dreamgirls, A Strange Loop, Standing at the Sky's Edge and Hercules.

What the grit of international touring teaches you that nothing else does — and how it compares to the disciplined world of musical theatre
The story behind her iconic Coca-Cola advert — and what happened in the aftermath
How lockdown became the unlikely moment she discovered a genuine passion for acting
What performing for massive festival crowds at Glastonbury and Mount Fuji feels like from the stage
The leaps of faith and pivots that have defined a career built on saying yes to things that terrify you

Connect with Sharlene here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wolfgang: Unknown '80s Pop Duo Walk the Streets

Sat, 06 Sep 2025 15:40:28 GMT

A Casio MT100 keyboard, a mate called Des, the streets of Peterborough, and a pop duo called Wolfgang that the world never heard — until now.

Wolfgang was an unknown pop duo formed in 1985 in Peterborough by Steve Otis Gunn and Desmond Pye. This bonus episode finds them back on the streets where it all started, working out what they actually remember and whether any of it matches up.

How a humble Casio MT100 keyboard and a school friendship became the unlikely foundation of a pop duo
What life looked like in the 1980s when you were leaving home and making things up as you went
The unexpected places the conversation goes — ghosts, religion, AI, and the nature of nostalgia
Why recording on the very streets where it all happened makes for a completely different kind of episode

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Charlie Parsons: The Godfather of Reality TV on Creating The Word, The Big Breakfast, and Survivor

Thu, 14 Aug 2025 06:40:26 GMT

Charlie Parsons turned a real East London lock-keeper's cottage into a pop culture laboratory, invented a show watched by a billion people, and spent years watching imitators make money from it. Now he's doing it all again — in theatre.

Charlie Parsons is a British television producer and format innovator, co-founder of Planet 24, and the creator of The Word, The Big Breakfast, and Survivor. Today, he produces theatre, including Girl from the North Country and upcoming stage adaptations of The Hunger Games and A Knight's Tale.

The wild, chaotic origins of The Big Breakfast — and how a real lock-keeper's cottage in East London became one of TV's most iconic sets
How Survivor evolved from a strange idea into a worldwide phenomenon
The court battles and imitators that came with inventing a genre — and how Charlie fought back
Why the entertainment landscape shifted from daring commissioners to algorithms — and what was lost in the process
What drives him now, and why the immediacy and unpredictability of theatre feels like the closest thing to what he loved about television

Charlie keeps a low profile online, so why not check out his IMDb page instead:

IMDb

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew O’Connor: The Mastermind behind Derren Brown and Peep Show

Thu, 07 Aug 2025 07:07:00 GMT

Andrew O'Connor was a frustrated magician who went looking for "a mind-reading David Blaine" — and found a then-unknown Derren Brown instead. That decision alone reshaped British television.

Andrew O'Connor is a British actor, magician, impressionist, game show host, and award-winning producer. He co-founded Objective Productions and helped shape Peep Show, Derren Brown: Mind Control and Star Stories, with a career spanning light entertainment, theatre, and groundbreaking television.

How early frustrations as a performer led to founding one of British TV's most influential production companies
The tip that led him straight to Derren Brown — and what he saw immediately that nobody else had
How Peep Show was built from a simple idea into a groundbreaking comedy on a tiny budget
The strain of touring musicals and what the realities of that life taught him about the gap between ambition and logistics
The Hollywood years — directing movies, navigating the system, and the projects that never saw the light of day

Andrew isn't one for Social Media, so instead, check out his IMDb page here:

IMDb

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ignacio Lopez: The Comedian's Guide to Buying the Perfect Mattress

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 08:00:00 GMT

Ignacio Lopez grew up in Mallorca, spent his British holidays on rainy Welsh caravans, and has been finding the comedy in the gap between those two worlds ever since.

Ignacio Lopez is a Welsh-Spanish comedian known for his clever, culturally layered humour and appearances on Live at the Apollo and Have I Got News For You. He performs in English, Spanish and Welsh, and is a familiar face on the UK comedy circuit and television.

Why growing up between Mallorca and Wales gives you better comic material than either place alone
What rainy holidays in Wales reveal about the British relationship with optimism
The chaos of TV quiz shows — from the inside
How dubbed films shaped the way Ignacio thinks about language, timing, and performance
Why blagging your way into work is a legitimate career strategy — and why the right mattress matters more than you think

Connect with Ignacio here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Moe Singleton: Berlin Life and Starting Over

Thu, 24 Jul 2025 08:00:00 GMT

Moe Singleton left New York, moved to Berlin, and discovered that Seinfeld had quietly prepared him for all of it.

Moe Singleton is an American comedian known for his smart, deeply relatable style across continents and cultures. He is the creator and host of the Thoughts For Your Thoughts podcast, where he interviews comedians about their origin stories, early bombs, and breakthrough moments.

Why Berlin turned out to be the right city for a comedian who needed to start over
What leaving New York actually costs — and what it gives back
How Seinfeld quietly shaped an outlook that travels across cultures and continents
Why simplicity — a good chat, no agenda — is more radical than it sounds in the age of social media

Connect with Moe here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Kent-Walters: From Clown School to Cult Stardom

Sun, 20 Jul 2025 09:45:00 GMT

Joe Kent-Walters trained at a clown school in Paris, created a cult character, won the Edinburgh Fringe Best Newcomer Award, and has been throwing himself around stages in dress shoes ever since.

Joe Kent-Walters is a British comedian best known for his larger-than-life alter ego Frankie Monroe, blending physical theatre, absurdism and punk cabaret in a way that earned him the Edinburgh Fringe Best Newcomer Award in 2024.

What a Parisian clown school actually teaches you — and what it definitely doesn't
How Frankie Monroe went from a Fringe experiment to a cult phenomenon
The physical toll of performing high-energy character comedy every night on the road
How late-night comedy culture shapes the kind of work you end up making

Connect with Joe here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Darren Harriott: Celebrity Adventures in Light Entertainment

Sun, 13 Jul 2025 07:33:22 GMT

Darren Harriott describes himself as a "click-your-fingers celebrity" — famous enough to be recognised, not famous enough for anyone to be entirely sure why. He's made peace with that, moved back to the Black Country, and is now living near some greenery.

Darren Harriott is an acclaimed British stand-up comedian, writer, and presenter, and a two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee known for his smart, honest, high-energy comedy and sharp takes on class, race, and modern masculinity.

Why he's stepping away from late-night gigs — and what the circuit costs you if you don't
The reality of working with Richard Osman and the behind-the-scenes world of The Wheel and Michael McIntyre's Big Show
Why the Midlands won the argument over Kilburn — and what that decision changed
The vintage tech obsession and Gen Z nostalgia that connect in ways he didn't expect

Connect with Darren here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Carl Donnelly: The Fork Awakens - A Vegan Odyssey

Sun, 06 Jul 2025 08:00:00 GMT

Carl Donnelly started the conversation with parenting chaos and sniffles, and ended up somewhere between veganism, biohacking, Irish summers, and the ethical implications of Star Wars.

Carl Donnelly is a comedian and writer known for his thoughtful, warm approach to stand-up, blending sharp observational humour with personal storytelling. A regular at the Melbourne Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Fringe, he's equally at home with identity, culture, and the philosophical implications of a galaxy far, far away.

Why becoming a parent reshapes your relationship with the stories you grew up on
How veganism changed his relationship with food, identity — and other vegans
The biohacker rabbit hole and how far down it you can go before it becomes a personality
Why Irish summers contain multitudes — and why they keep ending up in the material
What Star Wars looks like when you watch it through the eyes of a small child who has absolutely no context for any of it

Connect with Carl here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sikisa: No Nonsense Allowed

Sun, 29 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMT

Sikisa is an immigration lawyer who does stand-up about hustle culture, grew up between Stockwell and Barbados, and has strong feelings about Peggy Mitchell. She has approximately no patience for any of it, which is exactly what makes her so funny.

Sikisa is a comedian, writer, and immigration lawyer known for her laugh-out-loud sets, thoughtful storytelling, and social commentary. A regular on the UK comedy circuit, she is also a wrestling aficionado, pub veteran, and proud South Londoner.

Why the rising cost of the Edinburgh Fringe is quietly pricing out a generation of comedians
What hustle culture looks like from inside a profession that runs entirely on it
Growing up between Stockwell and Barbados — and the comedy that sits in the gap between those two worlds
The burnout that comes with constantly creating in the age of social media
Why Peggy Mitchell is one of the great unsung cultural figures — and what she represents

Connect with Sikisa here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Megan Lockhurst: An Analogue Soul in a Digital World

Sun, 22 Jun 2025 07:00:00 GMT

Megan Lockhurst worked on Havoc with Tom Hardy and Forest Whitaker, has strong opinions about cinema, and grew up in a Canadian childhood that felt exactly like Stand By Me — from the inside. She also has thoughts on dill pickles that are difficult to argue with.

Megan Lockhurst is an actress and singer-songwriter whose work spans screen, stage, and microphone, known for her grounded presence, playful perspective, and a deeply held belief that physical media still matters.

Why 4DX cinema is either the future of moviegoing or a complete disaster, depending entirely on the film
The Canadian childhood that felt exactly like a 1980s coming-of-age movie
Why practical effects, Blu-rays, and fresh air are all part of the same argument about what makes film worth caring about
What the future of cinema looks like when AI and streaming are reshaping every part of the industry

Connect with Megan here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Nicoresti: Self-Expression, Identity and the Hunt for the Perfect Skirt Suit

Sun, 15 Jun 2025 07:43:32 GMT

Sam Nicoresti can move from the decline of Blockbuster to the philosophy of gendered spaces to the ethics of true crime podcasts in a single breath — and makes it all feel completely connected.

Sam Nicoresti is a British comedian, writer, and performer blending surrealism, satire, and political commentary in their stand-up and filmed work. Their recent filmed special, drawn from their Edinburgh Fringe show, has been hailed as a smart, subversive take on gender, media, and millennial weirdness.

What makes a comedy special, actually special — and why most of them aren't
How HMV's pivot away from physical media became a metaphor for something much larger
Why true crime podcasts are the new voyeurism — and what that says about all of us
The class constraints that shape which comedians get to tell which stories

Connect with Sam here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Fleischman: Cinema, Scorsese and The Art of the Mix

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 08:30:00 GMT

Tom Fleischman has been shaping how films feel for over four decades — and most people have never heard his name, which is exactly how he knows he's doing it right.

Tom Fleischman is an Academy Award-winning re-recording mixer whose credits include Goodfellas, The Irishman, School of Rock, The Silence of the Lambs, and The Devil Wears Prada. He is known for decades-long collaborations with Martin Scorsese, Jonathan Demme, and Robert Redford, and a craft that is equal parts science and intuition.

How emotion in film is built as much through sound as through image — and why audiences never consciously notice when it's working
The evolution from splicing tape by ear to digital mixing suites — and what was gained and lost in the transition
What a decades-long collaboration with Scorsese looks like from the inside
Why even a single vowel can be surprisingly difficult to perfect — and why getting it wrong changes everything

Connect with Tom here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chelsea Birkby: Magic, Milton Keynes and the Comedy of Not Knowing

Sun, 01 Jun 2025 08:00:00 GMT

Chelsea Birkby is an award-nominated comedian who blends mentalism with existential dread, is very good at horse impressions, and has found genuine comfort in not always knowing, which turns out to be a surprisingly powerful comic position.

Chelsea Birkby is an award-nominated comedian known for her smart, sensitive, and sneakily philosophical comedy. Her debut show, No More Mr Nice Chelsea, was critically acclaimed at the Edinburgh Fringe, and she continues to tour the UK, support major acts, and develop new work blending stand-up and existential dread.

Why Milton Keynes is actually funnier than people who've never been there think
The odd comfort of not knowing — and why certainty is overrated as a comic premise
What The Traitors and The Simple Life reveal about what we actually want from reality TV
Why generational slang and brainrot are both a window into culture and one of the most reliable sources of material

Connect with Chelsea here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cat Miller: Building the Immersive World of 'Severance' - The Art of Precision and Subconscious Unease

Sun, 25 May 2025 06:54:22 GMT

Cat Miller designed the props that make Severance feel like a nightmare you can't quite name — including the deliberately wrong technology that nobody in the show is allowed to explain.

Cat Miller is a seasoned property master whose credits include Severance, Russian Doll, The Affair, Uncut Gems, and Confess Fletch. With a background in professional dance and a deep-rooted family history in the film industry, her props don't merely adorn the background — they shape the world they inhabit.

How vending tokens and deliberately wrong technology create a feeling of control and claustrophobia without a single line of dialogue
Why a background in professional dance informs a meticulous approach to physical objects on screen
The storytelling power of a single carefully chosen prop — and how easily it can be lost in a bad edit
What the challenges of prop design in comedy reveal about how differently tone works across genres
The invisible integrity required to build a believable world that an audience never consciously analyses

Connect with Cat here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joe Thomas: The Worried Face of The Inbetweeners and Taskmaster

Sun, 18 May 2025 09:05:23 GMT

Joe Thomas has spent most of his career looking like he's on the verge of a breakdown — and it turns out that's been very useful.

Joe Thomas is an English actor, comedian, and writer best known for his iconic role as Simon Cooper in The Inbetweeners, and for his work in Fresh Meat, White Gold, and The Festival. A former Cambridge Footlights alumnus and Taskmaster contestant, he is now forging a new path in stand-up comedy.

What life looks like after a show as culturally dominant as The Inbetweeners — and how long it takes to work out what comes next
Why the leap from scripted sitcom to live stand-up is much harder than it appears from the outside
What Taskmaster is actually like to film — and why the best moments happen when you stop trying
Why embracing discomfort, on stage and off, has become the most useful thing Joe has learned

Connect with Joe here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Curley: Oscar and BAFTA-Winning Sound Mixer Talks 'Whiplash', 'Yellowstone', and more

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 06:00:00 GMT

Tom Curley once had to persuade J.K. Simmons to wear a microphone for Whiplash — and that's not even close to the most difficult thing he's had to do on set.

Tom Curley is an Oscar and BAFTA-winning production sound mixer with over two decades of experience, known for Whiplash, Yellowstone, Documentary Now! and CSI: Vegas.

What guerrilla filming in Seoul with a leading Korean director actually involves — and why preparation only gets you so far
The chaotic Nevada shoot that was interrupted by wild donkeys — and how it still made the final cut
The surprising discovery that some overseas actors on an American production weren't American at all — realised only after filming had wrapped
A close BAFTA encounter with Harvey Weinstein — and what happened next

Connect with Tom here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Simon Donald: The Legacy of Viz and the Power of Swearing

Thu, 23 Jan 2025 06:00:51 GMT

Simon Donald started Viz in a Newcastle bedroom in 1979, created some of British comedy's most enduring characters, and spent years watching people fail to understand why it was funny — including some of the people who tried to put it on television.

Simon Donald is a British comedian and co-founder of Viz, the satirical comic magazine that became a cultural phenomenon in the late 1980s and 90s. His creations include Sid the Sexist and Roger's Profanasaurus. After leaving Viz in 2003, he transitioned to stand-up, performing at the Edinburgh Fringe and comedy clubs across the country.

What starting an underground comic in a Newcastle bedroom in 1979 actually looked like — and how it became what it became
The challenges of bringing Viz to the screen — and why translation from page to television is never as simple as it sounds
How the magazine's irreverent humour did and didn't survive contact with the film and television industry
What stand-up teaches you about timing that comic strip work never quite does

Connect with Simon here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Graham Fellows: Perfectly Broken Keyboards and Endless Bounty Bars

Thu, 16 Jan 2025 12:25:22 GMT

Graham Fellows accidentally became Jilted John, accidentally became John Shuttleworth, and has spent several decades building one of the most quietly inventive careers in British comedy — largely by following things to see where they go.

Graham Fellows is a British actor, comedian, and musician best known for creating Jilted John and John Shuttleworth. As Jilted John, he scored a late 70s hit that thrust him into the spotlight; as Shuttleworth, he developed one of British comedy's most beloved characters — a middle-aged suburban man with a deep love of music technology and dry wit.

How John Shuttleworth came into existence following a publishing deal — and then refused to leave
What appearing on Top of the Pops in the early 80s was actually like
The shifting world of 1980s and 90s television — Saturday Night Zoo, The Paradise Club, and what that era made possible for comedy
Why following an accidental creation wherever it leads is a more reliable creative strategy than planning

Connect with Graham here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ed Patrick: Comedian, Author and NHS Anaesthetist Talks Surgery & Stand-Up

Tue, 07 Jan 2025 14:08:59 GMT

Ed Patrick puts people to sleep for a living and wakes them up on stage — and says there's more overlap between the two than you'd think.

Ed Patrick is a comedian, author, and NHS anaesthetist known for his appearances on British panel shows, such as Have I Got News For You. He hosts the Comedians' Surgery podcast, which opens up honest conversations about health in the comedy world, and is the author of Catch Your Breath: The Secret Life of a Sleepless Anaesthetist.

How working as an anaesthetist and working as a comedian require the same kind of calm under pressure
What a recent appearance on Have I Got News For You actually felt like
Why television viewing habits are changing in ways that directly affect what comedy gets commissioned
What honest healthcare communication and good stand-up have in common

Connect with Ed here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Critoph Returns: The Best (and Weirdest) TV of 2024

Thu, 02 Jan 2025 07:56:07 GMT

Paul Critoph returns for the annual TV debrief — Steve attempts to review 2024's television while answering the door to impromptu Christmas deliveries, and somehow they still cover most of the important ground.

Paul Critoph is an actor and regular friend of the podcast, joining Steve for the second consecutive end-of-year television review — the one where Paul also played Santa at a secret location earlier the same week.

Why John Mulaney looked so noticeably different in his Netflix show, Everybody's in L.A.
The blurred lines between reality and drama in Baby Reindeer, and why it made everyone uncomfortable in different ways
The case for Jilly Cooper's Rivals — and why it was the unexpected televisual pleasure of the year
What The Fortune Hotel with Stephen Mangan reveals about the post-Traitors reality TV landscape
The Bear season 3 — essentially someone chopping a radish very slowly while looking moody, for weeks on end

Connect with Paul here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bobby Davro: Comedy, Chaos & Reality TV

Thu, 26 Dec 2024 09:00:39 GMT

Bobby Davro once accidentally launched a national catchphrase, shared a stage with Mickey Rooney in Milton Keynes, and has a very firm position on reality television. Four decades in and he still has zero filter.

Bobby Davro is a renowned British comedian and impressionist whose career spans over four decades, known for Bobby Davro on the Box, Copycats, and a continued presence in pantomime productions across the UK.

Which pop star caught him completely off guard mid-impersonation — and what happened next
How he accidentally launched a catchphrase that the whole country was saying within a week
What sharing a stage with Mickey Rooney in Milton Keynes was actually like
Why certain reality shows are a hard no — and what that decision has cost and saved him
The on-set injury during a BBC game show that he hasn't quite forgotten — or forgiven

Connect with Bobby here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Curry: From Neighbours to Marvel & Comedy Stardom

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 14:20:27 GMT

Stephen Curry played three completely different characters on Neighbours without anyone batting an eyelid, stepped into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as King Yakan in Thor: Love and Thunder, and somehow secured a lifetime supply of his favourite crisps along the way.

Stephen Curry is an Australian actor known for his versatility across film and television, with standout roles in Hounds of Love, Thor: Love and Thunder, Spreadsheet, and a Neighbours filmography that defies easy explanation.

How a role in the psychological thriller Hounds of Love changed the way he approached everything that came after
What stepping into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as King Yakan actually involves — and what nobody told him beforehand
What working alongside Katherine Parkinson on Spreadsheet revealed about the craft of comic timing
Why he just doesn't get the appeal of Taskmaster

Note: Stephen does not engage in social media, but you can see what he's up to here:

IMDb: Stephen Curry

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nic Sampson: From Power Ranger to Comedy Powerhouse

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 06:00:29 GMT

Nic Sampson was a Power Ranger, wrote for Starstruck and Junior Taskmaster, brought a one-man show about being a Power Ranger to London's Soho Theatre, and is still working out how to explain all of that in a single sentence.

Nic Sampson is a New Zealand actor, comedian, and writer known for his role as the Yellow Mystic Ranger in Power Rangers Mystic Force, his comedy work on Funny Girls and Jono and Ben, and his writing contributions to Starstruck. His autobiographical stage show, Yellow Power Ranger, played at London's Soho Theatre.

What being a Power Ranger actually does to your acting career — short and long term
The journey from children's television in New Zealand to a one-man show at the Soho Theatre in London
What the Power Ranger years taught him about performance, physicality, and committing to a bit
Behind the scenes on Baby Done and The Breaker Upperers — and what filming in New Zealand is actually like

Connect with Nic here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stuart Laws: Stand Up, Autism, and the Art of Beer Mat Flipping

Fri, 06 Dec 2024 06:30:15 GMT

Stuart Laws can flip a beer mat, read a room better than most people in it, and run a production company nurturing the next generation of comedy talent — and his autism diagnosis is central to all three.

Stuart Laws is a British comedian, director and producer known for his unique comedic voice and his work running Turtle Canyon Media, a production company dedicated to innovative comedy content and supporting emerging talent.

How his autism diagnosis changed the way he understood his own comedic style — and why it turned out to be an advantage
What reading a room looks like when your brain processes social information differently
The art and science of beer mat flipping — and why it belongs in a conversation about performance
Why signature onstage attire is a more deliberate choice than it looks
The very relatable challenge of measuring your own success against those around you in a competitive industry

Connect with Stuart here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Bugeja: Buffering Your Way Through Comedy and TV via Awkward Situations

Fri, 29 Nov 2024 22:44:07 GMT

Steve Bugeja co-created and starred in an ITV2 sitcom, toured nationally, wrote for The Russell Howard Hour, and appeared on Love Island: Aftersun. He's still not entirely sure how all of that happened.

Steve Bugeja is a British comedian, writer, and actor known for co-creating and starring in ITV2's Buffering, writing for CelebAbility and The Russell Howard Hour, and hosting BBC Radio 4's Economics with Subtitles.

How Buffering went from idea to ITV sitcom — and what that process actually looked like
What national touring and years of Edinburgh Fringe taught him about stand-up that television didn't
What Love Island: Aftersun is like to appear on, from the side of someone who found it genuinely bewildering

Connect with Steve here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Phil Hammond: From NHS Whistleblower to Comedy Crusader

Wed, 27 Nov 2024 14:25:19 GMT

Phil Hammond is a doctor who uses comedy to get people to listen to things they'd rather not hear — and has been remarkably effective at it for several decades.

Dr. Phil Hammond is a British physician, broadcaster, comedian, and health campaigner, known for Trust Me, I'm a Doctor, Have I Got News For You, his medical columns in Private Eye, and a career spent advocating loudly for patient rights and NHS transparency.

How Edinburgh Fringe roots led to using comedy as a genuine tool for healthcare reform and public advocacy
What investigative journalism for Private Eye looks like alongside a full NHS medical career
The fallout from standing as a candidate for the National Health Action Party, including his departure from BBC Radio Bristol
The curious distinction of being the first atheist to present a BBC religious programme — and what that involved
How comedy and medicine share the same fundamental challenge: getting people to pay attention to things they'd rather ignore

Connect with Phil here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Schuller: Pandemic Timing and The Art of Deadpan

Fri, 22 Nov 2024 14:18:58 GMT

Nick Schuller arrived in the UK in March 2020 to launch his comedy career — and has been deploying deadpan understatement about that decision ever since.

Nick Schuller is an Australian comedian and writer known for his razor-sharp deadpan style, dry wit, and subversive take on comedy culture, with appearances at the Melbourne Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Fringe and a growing international following.

Why arriving in the UK in March 2020 was objectively one of the worst decisions in recent comedy history — and how he handled it
How offering free wine at the Melbourne Comedy Festival became an unlikely calling card
The subtle art of deadpan delivery — why keeping a straight face is technically much harder than it looks
What the UK's enduring obsession with Neighbours reveals about British nostalgia
Why comedians like Nathan Fielder and Stewart Lee still matter — and why not every joke needs to become a clip

Connect with Nick here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Harry Jun: Gen Z Nostalgia and The Aussie Comedy Scene

Wed, 20 Nov 2024 12:20:16 GMT

Harry Jun has strong feelings about Scotland's relationship with deep-frying, desperately wants to be on MasterChef, and has theories about Round the Twist that will change how you watch it — if you dare watch it again.

Harry Jun is a Sydney-based comedian, host, and writer known for his work on ABC's Good Game: Spawn Point and as co-host of the SBS podcast Say Kimchi. His comedy blends cultural commentary and observational humour shaped by his Korean-Australian heritage.

Why Scotland's relationship with deep-frying is one of the great unexamined cultural phenomena
How the nostalgia wave sweeping Gen Z for 80s and 90s pop culture is different from the original experience of it
Why Round the Twist is considerably weirder than anyone who watched it as a child is prepared to admit
What vocal fry reveals about how American speech patterns travel — and what they replace when they arrive

Connect with Harry here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Savage: Why The 90s Made Us Anxious

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 12:28:53 GMT

Paul Savage has been doing stand-up since 2007, toured from the Scottish Highlands to the southern tip of Cornwall, and is refreshingly honest about why many comedians still need a day job. The cartooning helps.

Paul Savage is a comedian and cartoonist who has performed across Britain and at English-speaking venues in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, known for his sharp wit, observational humour and a career built on doing it properly rather than doing it quickly.

Why too much pressure on an opening joke can throw an entire set — and what to do instead
The honest reality of why many working comedians still need to hold down another job
Why actors and footballers in the 80s seemed to age at a completely different rate — and what that says about us
How 90s sitcoms had a remarkable talent for making audiences feel like they should have their lives sorted by twenty-five
What cartooning and stand-up have in common — and where they require completely different instincts

Connect with Paul here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Dolan: From 'Balls of Steel' to GB News

Thu, 14 Nov 2024 06:00:52 GMT

Mark Dolan once hosted a show where people did terrible things to each other on camera, has a very specific dream about opening a chain of cafes serving exactly three types of stew, and his dad's pub was once used as a location in Minder. These facts are all equally important.

Mark Dolan is a British comedian, writer, and television presenter known for hosting Channel 4's Balls of Steel and The World's...and Me, his work at GB News, and a career spanning stand-up, television and radio.

How it all started with The Improverts at the University of Edinburgh — before anyone was watching
What hosting Balls of Steel revealed about the risks worth taking on camera — and the ones that aren't
The fact that Minder was once filmed in his dad's pub — and why this is more relevant than it appears
What The Jump was really like to film — and what it cost him that the audience never saw

Connect with Mark here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He Huang: From 'China's Got Talent' to Australia's Comedy Scene

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 14:16:26 GMT

He Huang has handled difficult audiences, navigated the exhausting reality of social media as a comedian, and discovered that Chinese television has no age ratings whatsoever. She has thoughts on all three — and on five-hour massages.

He Huang is a Chinese-born comedian, writer, and performer known for her sharp wit, cultural observations, and engaging storytelling, and for her growing prominence in Australia's comedy scene.

How to handle a difficult audience without losing your cool — or your set
The exhausting reality of being a comedian in the age of social media and what it does to creative expression
What herbal medicine, exotic food, and the absence of certain Western assumptions reveal about cultural comedy
Why performing across cultural boundaries requires a different kind of confidence than performing within them

Connect with He here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gary John Miller: True Crime, 'South Park', and Why TV Makes Us Hungry for More

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 18:50:41 GMT

Gary John Miller has theories about why Colorado is synonymous with true crime, why American films always end with a kiss or a wedding, and why television makes you want to eat specific things while you're watching it. He's thought about all of them more than is strictly necessary.

Gary John Miller is a US comedian, actor, and sketch creator known for his unique comedic style, engaging storytelling and a talent for finding the comedy in everyday observations.

The uncanny ability of TV shows to dictate exactly what you want to eat while you're watching them
Why American films feel compelled to resolve into a kiss or a wedding
What eating like a local while travelling reveals about the relationship between food and identity
The fascinating phenomenon of Paris Syndrome — and the amusing story of watching South Park at the age of six

Connect with Gary here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Danny Robins: From Comedy to the Paranormal - The 'Uncanny' Journey

Thu, 31 Oct 2024 05:00:08 GMT

Danny Robins became Britain's go-to ghost expert by accident — and now he can't get rid of them.

Danny Robins is a British writer, broadcaster and playwright known for creating and hosting the BBC's Uncanny podcast and TV series, and for writing the acclaimed West End play 2:22 A Ghost Story. His work bridges comedy and the supernatural in ways that manage to be both funny and genuinely unsettling.

How a comedy writer became the UK's most trusted voice on unexplained phenomena — and when the fascination really took hold
What started as a podcast and became a BBC TV series, live tours, and a book
The unsettling film that influenced his signature look — and the surreal experience of being interviewed by The Guardian as Basil Brush
As a Halloween Bonus: Clinton Baptiste pops in to talk theatre ghosts, plus an excerpt from Steve's Edinburgh show featuring his own spine-tingling tale

Connect with Danny here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ian Stone: From 'Buzzcocks' to 'Rainbow', and the Challenges of Comedy Writing

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 05:00:51 GMT

Ian Stone co-wrote a sketch for Rainbow — and it got surprisingly wild.

Ian Stone is a comedian and writer known for his sharp wit and insightful commentary on contemporary issues, a veteran of the UK comedy scene with appearances including Never Mind the Buzzcocks and a career spanning stand-up, television, and writing.

How he tackles divisive topics on stage — and why some of his older material feels oddly current right now
Why Billy Connolly's legendary Parkinson appearances represent the absolute height the form can reach
The genius of Ronnie Barker's comic delivery in Porridge — and why it still holds up completely
What it was really like appearing on Never Mind the Buzzcocks — and the challenges of writing books versus turning up on television

Connect with Ian here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Louis Katz: Smart Laughs, Weird Crowds, and Zero Regrets

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 04:00:37 GMT

Louis Katz has been making people laugh the right way for a long time — and has the strange crowds, the late-night TV credits and the hard-won wisdom to prove it.

Louis Katz is a critically acclaimed US stand-up comedian and writer known for his razor-sharp tone and fearless material, with appearances on Comedy Central and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, writing credits including Comedy Central's Problematic with Moshe Kasher, and a cult-favourite comedy album in Katzkills.

What finding a genuine comedic voice actually looks like — and how long it takes compared to what people imagine
How to write jokes that hit hard without playing it safe — and the difference between the two
What goes on behind the scenes of writing for TV and late-night that nobody ever explains
Why staying weird is the secret to staying true — and why that's harder than it sounds over a long career

Connect with Louis here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Terry Christian: The Man Who Revolutionised 90s TV and Survived It All

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 10:03:52 GMT

Terry Christian hosted one of the most exciting and controversial shows in British television history, survived everything it threw at him, and has been telling the truth about it ever since.

Terry Christian is a pioneering British television presenter, comedian, and author best known for his iconic role on The Word — the groundbreaking Channel 4 show that pushed boundaries and left a lasting mark on 90s broadcasting.

What it was really like inside The Word — the chaos, the creativity, and the bits nobody planned
The wild behind-the-scenes encounters with the famous and infamous, including the unforgettable Oliver Reed
What it takes to stay true to yourself when the cameras are rolling, and the stakes are high
What British television in the 90s looked like from the inside — and why nothing has quite replaced it

Connect with Terry here:

Instagram
Twitter - We do not endorse X, but Terry is hilarious on there, so we'll make an exception.

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sid Singh: A Comedian’s Survival Guide

Tue, 08 Oct 2024 09:55:15 GMT

Sid Singh won a prestigious Edinburgh award and still slept in his car — which tells you most of what you need to know about the comedy industry, and about Sid.

Sid Singh is a US stand-up comedian known for his unique insights and humorous approach to personal and cultural topics, with performances across multiple countries and a growing reputation on European comedy scenes, particularly in Romania.

How he ended up hosting the most chaotic gig of his career in the middle of a global pandemic
What audience members who actively want to derail a performance have in common — and how to handle them
Whether banning tourists from cities actually helps local economies — and what he's seen to suggest an answer
The hilarious and painfully expensive story of a glasses mishap that spiralled into a major financial mess

Connect with Sid here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Howard J. Ford: From The Ledge to DarkGame - Crafting International Horror

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 09:15:34 GMT

Howard J. Ford makes independent horror films in genuinely terrifying locations, without blockbuster funding, in conditions that would defeat most people — and the results keep ending up on Netflix.

Howard J. Ford is a British filmmaker known for his intense, atmospheric horror thrillers, including The Dead series, The Ledge, Escape, DarkGame, and The Lockdown Hauntings — a pandemic-era production made entirely under COVID restrictions.

The logistical nightmare of shooting a high-altitude survival thriller with a small crew and no safety net
How a twisted game show concept evolved into the psychological horror of DarkGame
What filming heart-racing action in exotic and frequently chaotic international locations actually involves
What independent horror filmmaking really requires when there's no blockbuster budget to fall back on

Connect with Howard here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yuriko Kotani: Culture Shock and Stand-Up in a Second Language

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 11:43:03 GMT

Yuriko Kotani does stand-up in her second language — and has turned the specific difficulty of that into one of her greatest comic advantages.

Yuriko Kotani is a Japanese-born comedian based in London, known for winning the BBC New Comedy Award and for appearances on Live at the Apollo, Russell Howard's Stand Up Central and Comedy Central. Her clever, observational humour and unique take on cross-cultural life have built her a loyal fanbase across the UK and beyond.

What learning stand-up in a second language forces you to understand about timing, precision and intention
How the gap between British manners and Japanese etiquette generates material that neither culture would spot alone
Why comedy, more than almost any other form, reveals the hidden logic of cultural assumptions

Connect with Yuriko here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nikky Smedley: Iconic Fame and The Uncomfortable Reality of Being Laa-Laa

Wed, 18 Sep 2024 09:15:38 GMT

Nikky Smedley is world-famous and completely unrecognisable — because she spent years inside a giant yellow suit, and was brilliant in it.

Nikky Smedley is a British performer, creative director, choreographer and writer who shot to global fame as Laa-Laa in Teletubbies. Beyond children's television, she has built a rich career in education and storytelling, working with major institutions to bring performance and creativity to classrooms, theatres and screens.

What it was actually like inside the Laa-Laa suit — physically, psychologically and professionally
How she brought a beloved character to life without uttering a single intelligible word
The unexpected global reach of Teletubbies — and the equally unexpected controversy that surrounded it
What it feels like to be world-famous without ever being personally recognised
How she made the transition from performer to educator and creative consultant — and what that shift required

Connect with Nikky here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Live from EdFringe '24 with Chris Dobrowolski

Tue, 20 Aug 2024 16:16:54 GMT

Steve and Chris Dobrowolski swap Fringe war stories live from Edinburgh — the creative highs, the logistical chaos, and the performances that went hilariously wrong.

Chris Dobrowolski is a British artist, performer, and sculptor known for his interactive installations, large-scale creations, and unique performances that blend comedy with visual art. A regular at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, his work explores spectacle, engagement, and the unexpected.

Why Chris keeps coming back to Edinburgh year after year, despite everything it costs him
How he blends humour with visual art in ways that resist easy categorisation
What a performance that goes hilariously wrong looks like from the inside — and why the best stories always come from there
Why Edinburgh still matters — and what it gives performers that no other festival quite replicates

Connect with Chris here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna-Jane Casey: From Cabaret to the U-Bend

Wed, 17 Jul 2024 06:00:57 GMT

Anna-Jane Casey landed her first role in Cats at 16, has since worked her way through Chicago, Grease, Sweet Charity, and Fawlty Towers, and is refreshingly candid about everything the bright lights don't put on the poster.

Anna-Jane Casey is a celebrated British stage actress and singer with a career spanning more than three decades, known for her magnetic West End performances and her comedic flair in the current stage adaptation of Fawlty Towers.

What landing Cats at 16 feels like in retrospect — the glamour and the reality of it
The theatrical journey through Chicago, Grease, and Sweet Charity — and what each one taught her
What it's really like to be in a room with John Cleese — and what playing Sybil actually requires
Growing up in a performing family alongside fellow actress Natalie Casey — and what that does to your sense of normal
The career curveballs, mental health challenges, and unglamorous realities that sit alongside the bright lights and don't get talked about enough

Connect with Anna-Jane here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike Lukas: How I Went Bald While Jason Sudeikis Got Famous

Wed, 10 Jul 2024 06:31:53 GMT

Mike Lukas was once Jason Sudeikis's roommate at Second City, happened to be performing in Las Vegas on 9/11, and has since written books about the mechanics of comedy and appeared on The Tonight Show, not necessarily in that order.

Mike Lukas is an American stand-up comedian known for his dynamic performances and appearances on The Tonight Show and Conan, and for his Funny Muscle books, which offer a behind-the-scenes look at the craft and mechanics of comedy.

What his Lithuanian heritage brings to a comedy voice that defies easy categorisation
The craft behind the Funny Muscle books — and what writing about comedy teaches you about doing it
The Second City pranks with then-roommate Jason Sudeikis — and the diverging trajectories that followed
Why watching someone else's version of success up close is one of the most clarifying experiences available

Connect with Mike here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul A. Williams: Directing the Truth — Turning Real Events into Powerful Drama

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 06:00:34 GMT

Paul A. Williams makes dramas, many about things that actually happened, and has become one of the most distinctive voices in British television in the process.

Paul A. Williams is a British director and writer known for his genre-bending storytelling and ability to tackle complex, real-life material across film and television, with credits including Bull and Dragonfly.

What a fascination with real events brings to dramatic structure that purely fictional storytelling doesn't
Why father-son dynamics keep appearing throughout his work — and what that recurring preoccupation reveals
The challenges of dramatising the Jean Charles de Menezes incident — and what responsibility that carries

Connect with Paul here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rosie Holt: Inside The Mind of a Tory MP

Wed, 26 Jun 2024 07:00:49 GMT

Rosie Holt's viral portrayal of a Tory MP became so convincing it found its way into actual political discourse — and she's still processing that.

Rosie Holt is a British comedian, actor, and writer renowned for her incisive political satire and viral online sketches, and the author of Why We Were Right.

How a character created to satirise a political type captured something real enough to fool actual journalists
The thinking behind Why We Were Right — and what she learned writing it
Why Season 7 of Friends specifically doesn't hold up
Her firm stance against true crime — and what it reveals about the stories we choose to consume
The childhood X-Files trauma that she's still, apparently, not over

Connect with Rosie here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nick Helm: Blowing the Roof Off Edinburgh and Taking Comedy by Storm

Wed, 19 Jun 2024 07:00:10 GMT

Nick Helm has made getting things spectacularly wrong into one of his most consistent creative strategies — and it's won him an Edinburgh Comedy Award, a British Comedy Award, and a Chortle Award along the way.

Nick Helm is a British comedian, actor, and writer known for his bold, high-energy performances and dark humour, with a distinctive style that blends absurdity with emotional depth across stand-up, television, and film.

Why the risks worth taking on stage are the ones that terrify you the most
What really goes on behind the scenes of creating television and film
How failure has been one of the most important and underacknowledged forces in his career
Why embracing the possibility of getting it spectacularly wrong is a more reliable creative strategy than playing it safe

Connect with Nick here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Lowe: Clinton Baptiste - Comedy with a Supernatural Twist

Sat, 11 May 2024 07:19:20 GMT

Clinton Baptiste started as a character and became a genuine cultural touchstone — and Alex Lowe is still slightly surprised by that, which somehow makes it even better.

Alex Lowe is a British comedian, actor, and writer known for his exceptional character comedy, particularly through his hilarious and spooky medium, Clinton Baptiste, who first appeared in Phoenix Nights and has since taken on a life entirely his own.

How Clinton Baptiste came into existence — and why he keeps refusing to stay where he's put
The behind-the-scenes reality of developing memorable characters for television
What makes a character genuinely stick in the public imagination versus one that doesn't quite land
What the discipline of inhabiting a character completely teaches you about performance that naturalistic acting doesn't

Connect with Alex here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefania Licari: Laughter, Medicine, and Conquering the Sahara

Sat, 04 May 2024 15:33:48 GMT

Stefania Licari trained as a doctor, became a comedian, and has been finding the overlap between those two worlds ever since — which turns out to be richer territory than either profession admits.

Stefania Licari is an Italian comedian and NHS doctor based in the UK, known for her Edinburgh Fringe solo shows Medico and Trust Me, I'm a Comedian, which draw on her experiences as a doctor, first-generation migrant, and occasional endurance runner to explore medicine, immigration, and what it means to become British.

The turning point that led her to step away from a traditional medical career — and what made it possible
The pressures of performing autobiographical material — and what those early Fringe runs taught her about finding her voice
Why the skills required to be a good doctor and a good comedian overlap in ways nobody warns you about

Connect with Stefania here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dom Joly: Trigger Happy TV, Conspiracy Theories, and Surviving Bear Grylls

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 09:17:07 GMT

Dom Joly invented a format, watched it become a global phenomenon, spent years explaining why the American version wasn't quite the same thing, and has since investigated the conspiracy theory that Finland might not exist.

Dom Joly is a British comedian, broadcaster, and author best known for Trigger Happy TV, and for a career that has expanded into travel writing and conspiracy theory investigation, most recently with The Conspiracy Tourist.

The creative risks behind Trigger Happy TV — and how something that simple became so influential
What happened when the format travelled internationally, and why translation is always more complicated than it looks
The misunderstood moments in his career — including This is Dom Joly and why he still wants to talk about it
His time on Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls — what he expected and what happened
Why conspiracy theories are more interesting as a subject than their believers

Connect with Dom here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giles Paley-Phillips: Creating Calm in a Chaotic World

Sun, 21 Apr 2024 09:00:04 GMT

Giles Paley-Phillips runs a film company, writes children's books, produces multiple podcasts, and has found a way to keep ideas flowing that involves an unusual amount of film soundtracks. He also happened to be performing at the same Glastonbury where Steve was watching from the crowd.

Giles Paley-Phillips is a British author, screenwriter, and award-winning podcaster, co-founder of film company Eight Digits, and co-host of the podcasts Blank, A Little Bit of Positive, Unquestionable, and Things I Forgot Were Good For Me.

How he approaches storytelling consistently across writing, filmmaking, and podcasting at the same time
The habits that keep ideas flowing when you're managing multiple projects simultaneously
What running your own film company teaches you about creativity that nothing else quite covers

Connect with Giles here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richard Wiseman: The Curious Psychology Behind What We Believe

Wed, 17 Apr 2024 05:44:16 GMT

Richard Wiseman has spent his career studying luck, fear, the paranormal, and the strange edges of human behaviour — and is genuinely the most interesting person to sit next to at a dinner party.

Professor Richard Wiseman is a British psychologist, author, and magician, holder of the UK's only professorship in the public understanding of psychology, and the author of bestselling books including The Luck Factor, 59 Seconds, and Paranormality. He also hosts the podcast Richard Wiseman's On Your Mind.

How we form beliefs around luck, fear, and the paranormal — and what the science actually says
What lucid dreaming reveals about consciousness and the limits of the waking mind
The blurred lines between science and experience that his research keeps returning to
How he overcame early television nerves — and what performing magic teaches you about presence and connection

Connect with Richard here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Otis Gunn is Uncomfortable

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 10:00:15 GMT

Steve Otis Gunn interviews himself about his own Edinburgh Fringe show — and gets considerably more honest than expected.

In this solo episode, Steve turns the microphone on himself to explore the inspirations behind his debut Fringe show, Steve Otis Gunn is Uncomfortable — tracing the origins of his comedic voice, the personal experiences that shaped it, and why awkwardness turned out to be the richest material available.

The 1991 moment that started everything — realising he didn't quite know what to do with his arms
What the long gap between a comic idea and a finished hour of stand-up actually looks like from the inside
Why awkwardness, when examined properly, turns out to contain everything worth saying
What performing autobiographical material reveals about yourself that the writing doesn't prepare you for

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Per Lasson: From Theatre to Scandi TV Star

Wed, 03 Apr 2024 08:30:21 GMT

Per Lasson took a day off from filming Season 3 of a Swedish crime drama to have this conversation — and Steve cannot wait to see it!

Per Lasson is a Swedish actor known for his compelling performances across theatre, television and film, and for his role in the Swedish crime drama Tunna blå linjen, where he has become a prominent figure in Scandinavian entertainment.

What the connections formed during a close-knit TV production do to you — and whether they last beyond the shoot
How navigating growing recognition as an actor differs from what you imagined it would be
Why Scandinavian television travels so well — and what the global appetite for it actually reveals
The quirks and cultural assumptions that get lost and found in translation for international audiences

Connect with Per here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bernie Clifton: From Crackerjack to Vegas - The Life of a Comedy Legend

Wed, 27 Mar 2024 08:00:01 GMT

Bernie Clifton once flew in a Cold War bomber to a football match, took Oswald the Ostrich up in a microlight for a newspaper stunt, and was featured on Inside No. 9. It's been quite the ride.

Bernie Clifton is a British comedian and entertainer with a career spanning decades, beloved for his warmth, wit and prop comedy — including television appearances on 321, Crackerjack, and It's a Royal Knockout.

The unexpected path from early ambitions through a brief RAF detour to the comedy stage
The encouragement from Bob Monkhouse and Les Dawson that helped shape his now-iconic style
How Oswald the Ostrich came into existence — and the surreal moment he took it up in a microlight
What decades of live performance reveal about audiences, stamina, and why comedy endures

Connect with Bernie here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jarred Christmas: The Comedy Cash-Back King

Tue, 19 Mar 2024 10:15:15 GMT

Jarred Christmas has been navigating the comedy industry long enough to know that the only constant is that everything keeps changing — and has built a career on being good enough to keep up with it.

Jarred Christmas is a comedian, actor, and writer originally from New Zealand, known for his sharp humour and charismatic personality across stand-up comedy and television.

Why evolving as a performer is less of a choice and more of a survival strategy
How balancing family life with creative work changes the kinds of projects you take on
Why comedy can be used to engage with serious social issues — and when that works and when it doesn't
What resilience in a creative career looks like when the industry keeps shifting under you

Connect with Jarred here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Olga Koch: From Russia With Laughs

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 10:22:36 GMT

Olga Koch left computer science for stand-up, moved to a country that wasn't hers, and has been making the gap between those two worlds funnier than it has any right to be — with some help from badly edited Sex and the City reruns.

Olga Koch is a Russian-born comedian, writer, and performer based in London, known for appearances on QI, Mock the Week, and Richard Osman's House of Games, and for her critically acclaimed BBC Radio 4 series Olga Koch: OK Computer. Her solo shows include Prawn Cocktail and Olga Koch is From Money.

What badly edited Sex and the City reruns taught a young Russian viewer about American culture
The comedy of outsider perspectives — why coming from elsewhere gives you material the insiders can't see
How identity, when used well, becomes a comic lens rather than just a subject

Connect with Olga here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Simmons: The Joy of Going Off Track

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 01:29:44 GMT

Sam Simmons has strong opinions about Come Dine With Me, Celebrity Big Brother, and the global standing of Australian sitcoms — and delivers all of them with the kind of sideways energy that makes everything funnier than it should be.

Sam Simmons is an Australian comedian, actor, and writer known for his surreal humour and absurdist style, with a career spanning multiple continents and credits including Last One Laughing Australia and multiple Edinburgh Fringe runs.

Why Come Dine With Me and Celebrity Big Brother have become such enduring fixtures in modern pop culture — and what that says about us
The state of Australian sitcoms and why they've yet to fully break through on the global stage
The creative impulses behind his comedy — and how he leans into chaos, imagination, and unpredictability
What the best absurdist comedy refuses to explain — and what happens to audiences when it doesn't

Connect with Sam here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Trevorrow (A.K.A. Bob Downe): From Camp Icon to Cabaret Star

Thu, 22 Feb 2024 08:09:58 GMT

Mark Trevorrow has been performing as Bob Downe for long enough that the character has had not one but two careers — including an unexpected second life with UK audiences that neither of them saw coming.

Mark Trevorrow is an Australian actor, comedian, and writer best known as Bob Downe, and for his role as Darryl in Kath & Kim. A pioneer in early digital television, he continues to perform across stage, cabaret, and screen.

How Bob Downe found an unexpected second life with UK audiences — and what that reinvention required
The unique demands of performing on comedy cruises — and why it's a different beast entirely
Behind the scenes on Kath & Kim — both the beloved original and the American adaptation
What a career built on camp charm, constant reinvention, and one very committed character teaches you about longevity

Connect with Mark here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rob Rouse: Unpacking Sitcoms, Stand-Up and TK Maxx Underpants

Thu, 15 Feb 2024 11:36:35 GMT

Rob Rouse arrived fresh from toe surgery, delivered an entire conversation in his unmistakably chaotic style, and somehow made TK Maxx's pant cages the intellectual centrepiece of the episode.

Rob Rouse is a British comedian and actor known for his energetic performances and quick comebacks, with appearances on Upstart Crow and 8 Out of 10 Cats, and as co-host of The Unlikely Weightlifters Podcast with Tom Wrigglesworth.

Why canned laughter in sitcoms works the way it does — and the strange mechanics behind what makes audiences laugh
How comedy on YouTube differs from traditional television — and whether that gap is closing or widening
An unexpected admiration for Stacey Solomon's Sort Your Life Out — and what it reveals about the appeal of order
The underrated genius of 1970s children's TV theme tunes — and why they've stuck around in the memory

Connect with Rob here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Derren Brown: The Power of Magic, Shoplifting, and Having a Favourite Spatula

Thu, 08 Feb 2024 12:37:51 GMT

Derren Brown has spent his career making the impossible seem plausible, and the plausible seem impossible — and has strong feelings about a particular spatula, which is somehow equally interesting.

Derren Brown is a master illusionist, mentalist, and bestselling author renowned for performances that blur the line between magic, psychology, and human perception, and for a career spent pushing the boundaries of what audiences think they know about their own minds.

What a career built on the gap between what people believe and what's actually happening has taught him
The craft of magic — and why suggestion and storytelling often matter more than technique
A youthful shoplifting confession at Harrods — and how he frames it now
Why the unreliability of memory is one of the most fascinating and unsettling things about being human

Connect with Derren here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Foot: The Enigma of Angela Lansbury, An Earth-Orbiting Judy Murray and The Ghost of Keith Chegwin

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 07:00:47 GMT

Paul Foot has strong feelings about Heinz baked beans, finds genuine comfort in the image of Judy Murray orbiting the Earth, and once had Keith Chegwin turn up in a conversation in a way that's difficult to fully explain. A completely normal episode.

Paul Foot is a British comedian and writer renowned for his offbeat and surreal comedic style, with a career spanning stand-up, television, and radio, and a loyal fanbase drawn to his entirely unique comic voice.

The figures and ideas that spark his imagination — and the strange places they end up taking the material
Why the image of Judy Murray orbiting the Earth is, in context, genuinely comforting
A surprisingly passionate critique of Heinz baked beans — and the conviction with which it's delivered
Why comedy that doesn't try to be relatable can be more connecting than comedy that does

Connect with Paul here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony P vs. TV: Fargo’s Chaos and The Tourist’s Curveballs (Bonus)

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 12:58:22 GMT

Tony P returns for a bonus deep dive into two of the best crime dramas around — and if you haven't finished both series yet, look away now.

Tony P is a friend of the podcast and regular cultural sparring partner for Steve, returning for a detailed discussion of Fargo Season 5 and The Tourist Season 2 — spoilers very much included.

Fargo Season 5 — the narrative direction, the standout moments, and what made it work
The Tourist Season 2 — the evolving web of intrigue and how the character dynamics developed
The twists and turns that neither of them saw coming — and the ones they did
What great crime drama does with tone that lesser shows can't quite manage

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coffee With Kaz (Bonus Brew 4): Tattoos and Tiny Rants

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 12:56:58 GMT

Kaz Vranuch joins Steve for the final part of their in-person conversation — relaxed, wide-ranging, and honest about the parts of a creative life that don't get talked about enough.

Kaz Vranuch is a tattoo artist and friend of the podcast known for her unique designs and artistic flair, and for a passion for storytelling that extends well beyond the work itself.

The pressures of constant creative output — and the often unseen toll it takes on the people doing it
What a life built around making things for other people reveals about creativity and identity
Why the conversations that happen without an agenda are often the most honest
What it means to be a creative person outside the structures of the entertainment industry

Connect with Kaz here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coffee With Kaz (Bonus Brew 3): The Rise of Micro-Celebrities

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 11:09:22 GMT

Kaz Vranuch is back for the third Coffee With Kaz — and the conversation goes exactly where it wants to, which is the whole point.

Kaz Vranuch is a tattoo artist and friend of the podcast known for her unique designs and artistic flair, and for being one of the most naturally engaging conversationalists the show has had on.

Personal reflections on creativity, modern life, and the things worth paying attention to
The kind of conversation that only happens when nobody's trying to make a point
Whatever came up — and it's always something

Connect with Kaz here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coffee With Kaz (Bonus Brew 2): Teen Horror and Life Before Streaming

Sun, 28 Jan 2024 12:36:07 GMT

Kaz Vranuch is back for the second Coffee With Kaz — back in the old studio, back into nostalgia, and back into the kind of conversation that goes wherever it feels like going.

Kaz Vranuch is a tattoo artist and friend of the podcast known for her unique designs and artistic flair, and for a natural ease in conversation that makes every instalment of this series worth listening to.

Nostalgia for a particular kind of growing up — and what it looks like in retrospect
Reflections on life, media and the things that shaped both of them without either realising at the time
The easy rhythm of a chat that has no destination and doesn't need one

Connect with Kaz here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coffee With Kaz (Bonus Brew 1): Growing Up Behind The Curve

Sat, 27 Jan 2024 08:00:31 GMT

The first Coffee With Kaz — recorded in person, no agenda, just two people talking and seeing where it goes.

Kaz Vranuch is a tattoo artist and friend of the podcast known for her unique designs and artistic flair, and for a natural ease in conversation that made this series an immediate fixture.

Culture, memory, and everyday life — the kind of topics that only come up when nobody's trying to make them come up
Why in-person conversation has a texture that remote recording can't quite replicate
Where it all began — and why there was clearly going to be a second one

Connect with Kaz here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Critoph: Cinema Etiquette and The Florida Tourist Trap

Fri, 26 Jan 2024 13:54:31 GMT

Paul Critoph returns for a bonus mini-episode — cinema etiquette, Christmas films, and the relentless spectacle of Florida theme parks. A properly relaxed listen.

Paul Critoph is an actor and regular friend of the podcast, known for his warm, wide-ranging conversations about culture, entertainment, and the things worth arguing about.

Why cinema etiquette has collapsed — and who is actually responsible
A mutual appreciation for slightly cheesy Christmas films — and why that's a perfectly defensible position
What Disney and Universal in Florida look like up close — the scale, the spectacle, and the relentless drive to maximise every visitor experience
Whether theme park excess is a feature or a bug — and where the line is

Connect with Paul here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Janelle Niles: The Power of Comedy, Culture and Speaking Your Truth

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 08:00:52 GMT

Janelle Niles brings a perspective to stand-up that the comedy circuit doesn't always represent — and has been building a voice around it that's impossible to ignore.

Janelle Niles is an Indigenous Canadian comedian known for her engaging storytelling and for comedy that reflects her cultural background, offering audiences a fresh perspective on contemporary issues.

How her Indigenous Canadian identity shapes the stories she tells and the way she tells them
What developing a genuine comedic voice requires — and why it's different from just finding material
Why cultural specificity, far from limiting an audience, is often what makes comedy connect most broadly

Connect with Janelle here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nicola Mantalios: Cult Survival and The Rising Price of Bread

Tue, 02 Jan 2024 07:00:15 GMT

Nicola Mantalios has thoughts on front-row audiences, the pressures faced by female comedians, and surviving a cult. The last one is not a bit.

Nicola Mantalios is a British comedian known for her engaging storytelling and candid humour, and a voice built directly from personal experience — including some experiences most people don't have.

The nuances of balancing an onstage persona with a more authentic voice — and the extra pressure that comes with being a female comedian
What surviving a cult actually looks like — and how you process that kind of experience without it consuming everything else
Why the most unusual biographical material is often the most universal once it's been properly examined

Connect with Nicola here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Critoph Returns: The Must Watch TV of 2023

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 18:23:08 GMT

Paul Critoph returns for the first annual TV debrief — a reflective look back at the television landscape of 2023, with plenty of detours along the way.

Paul Critoph is an actor and regular friend of the podcast, joining Steve for what would become a yearly tradition — two people who watch a lot of television working out what actually mattered.

The standout series of 2023 that earned their reputation — and the ones that didn't quite
Unexpected favourites that neither of them saw coming
The shifting world of streaming — what it's doing to how television gets made and how it gets watched
Why certain shows get talked about and others, equally good, quietly disappear
What 2023 revealed about where television commissioning is heading

Connect with Paul here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christmas Special 2023: Panto, Christmas TV and Internet Fads

Fri, 22 Dec 2023 14:30:33 GMT

Eric Potts and Brad Fitt bring decades of pantomime experience to a festive conversation about Christmas entertainment, larger-than-life roles, and why panto endures when everything around it keeps changing.

Eric Potts is a veteran actor and writer who has graced stages across the UK with memorable panto performances. Brad Fitt is an actor and writer known for his comedic timing and engaging stage presence, and a staple of the pantomime scene year after year.

The enduring appeal of pantomime — and why it survives in a landscape that keeps changing around it
What it means to play larger-than-life roles, including the iconic Panto Dame
The craft and discipline behind making panto work — and what audiences don't see from the stalls
Why Christmas entertainment occupies a specific and irreplaceable place in British culture

Connect with Eric and Brad here:

Eric Potts:
Facebook
Brad Fitt:
Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Matt Hutchinson: Jurassic Diversity and Streaming Restrictions

Thu, 30 Nov 2023 07:00:08 GMT

Matt Hutchinson and Steve Otis Gunn bumped into each other on the streets of Edinburgh during the 2023 Fringe — and recorded a podcast instead of just saying hello and moving on.

Matt Hutchinson is a British writer, comedian, and doctor known for his observational humour, blending comedy with social commentary and bringing a medical background to a uniquely grounded perspective on everyday life.

The comedy, culture, and everyday observation that surfaces when there's no pre-planned agenda
How a medical background quietly shapes the way you see the absurdities of modern existence
Why spontaneous conversations are sometimes the ones worth recording

Connect with Matt here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ange Lavoipierre: Dark Humour and The Comedy of Death

Thu, 23 Nov 2023 07:00:21 GMT

Ange Lavoipierre interviewed the Australian Prime Minister at 19, has spent fifteen years navigating the tension between humour and serious journalism, and has thoughts on death, horror, and theatre terminology that all connect more than they should.

Ange Lavoipierre is an award-winning journalist and comedian, currently serving as National Technology Reporter for ABC News and host and executive producer of Schmeitgeist, an ABC podcast exploring the defining trends of the moment.

A memorable encounter with the Australian Prime Minister at 19 — and how that formative experience shaped her approach to reporting
The tension between humour and journalism — and what it means to balance levity with responsibility in a fast-moving digital landscape
What absurdist comedy and serious news coverage have in common
Finding humour in themes of death — and the personal limits that come with the horror genre

Connect with Ange here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cilla Jackert: Policing the Screen and Swedish Storytelling

Wed, 15 Nov 2023 07:00:51 GMT

Cilla Jackert writes about police on screen with a level of complexity and social realism that most crime drama doesn't attempt — and has plenty to say about what economic pressures and artificial intelligence are doing to the craft of television writing.

Cilla Jackert is an award-winning Swedish screenwriter and novelist best known for Tunna blå linjen (Thin Blue Line), with a career spanning television, film and literature rooted in social realism and a sharp eye for human behaviour.

The complexities of portraying police on screen responsibly — and the creative decisions involved in getting it right
How economic pressures on production shape storytelling and character development in ways audiences rarely see
What Scandinavian social realism brings to crime drama that other traditions don't
Why responsibility and creativity in storytelling are not in opposition — and how she navigates both

Connect with Cilla here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Faulks: Green-Fingered Adventures in a Magical World

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 07:00:51 GMT

Ben Faulks started with a street theatre act, turned it into a beloved CBeebies series, and has spent his career since finding new ways to nurture curiosity and imagination in children — including getting them to grow things.

Ben Faulks is a British actor, presenter, and author best known for creating and portraying Mr Bloom in the CBeebies series Mr Bloom's Nursery, with a background in theatre and a career spanning television, stage, and children's literature.

How a street theatre act gradually grew into Mr Bloom's Nursery
The world of pantomime and life on stage — and what performing live for children teaches you that nothing else does
The Let's Grow initiative — how blending nature with imaginative play supports children's learning in ways that feel genuinely radical
How storytelling changes when you're writing for younger audiences — the constraints, the freedoms, and the responsibility
What a career built around nurturing creativity and imagination in children gives back to the person doing it

Connect with Ben here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sanna Lenken: From London Lattes to Berlin Crystal Bears

Wed, 01 Nov 2023 07:00:41 GMT

Sanna Lenken and Steve Otis Gunn worked together in a London coffee shop in the late 90s — and have both ended up doing something rather different since.

Sanna Lenken is an acclaimed Swedish director and screenwriter whose debut feature My Skinny Sister won the Crystal Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, a feat she repeated with Comedy Queen — a rare double achievement. She also served as concept director on the critically acclaimed series Tunna blå linjen (Thin Blue Line).

How My Skinny Sister came to life — and what winning the Crystal Bear at Berlin changed
Her role as concept director on Tunna blå linjen — and how she helped shape an authentic, human portrayal of policing
Why representation in film and television matters — and what telling stories with nuance and care actually requires

Connect with Sanna here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Crompton - Part Two: Meeting Your Heroes and Rethinking Snobbery

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 06:00:45 GMT

Ben Crompton returns to continue the conversation — and this time there's shredded paper, wintry costume conditions, and a steady flow of free merchandise that nobody warned him about.

Ben Crompton is a British actor known for his iconic role as Eddison Tollett (Dolorous Edd) in Game of Thrones, and for his work in The Full Monty TV series, Lockwood & Co., Motherland and Ideal.

The unexpected perks of long-running success — including the steady flow of free merchandise that arrives whether you want it or not
More anecdotes from set life across a career that spans some of British television's most distinctive shows
Industry reflections from someone who has worked across comedy, drama, and fantasy at the highest level

Connect with Ben here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Crompton - Part One: Game of Thrones and the Horror of Noseybonk

Wed, 18 Oct 2023 06:00:22 GMT

Ben Crompton played Dolorous Edd in Game of Thrones, filmed in extreme conditions, and has surprising behind-the-scenes stories from the set — and that's just part one.

Ben Crompton is a British actor known for his iconic role as Eddison Tollett (Dolorous Edd) in Game of Thrones, and for his work in The Full Monty TV series, Lockwood & Co., Motherland and Ideal.

What filming Game of Thrones in extreme conditions actually felt like from the inside
A wide-ranging look back at television and comedy across a long career in the industry
What a distinctive comedic style does for an actor navigating very different genres
The warmth and humour that runs through a career built on playing unique and memorable characters

Connect with Ben here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jack Docherty: Britpop, Bowie and The Channel 5 Chat Show

Wed, 11 Oct 2023 06:00:20 GMT

Jack Docherty hosted one of the best late-night chat shows of the 90s, championed Ben Folds Five and The Divine Comedy to a wider audience, and did all of it on Channel 5 at the height of Britpop — which was either brave or mad, and probably both.

Jack Docherty is a Scottish comedian, writer, and television presenter best known for hosting The Jack Docherty Show on Channel 5 and for his work on the sketch show Absolutely.

His early days in television and the experiences that shaped his path through the industry
What creating Absolutely involved — and what it taught him about comedy writing and performance
Hosting The Jack Docherty Show at the height of Britpop — the pressures, the pleasures, and the live late-night chaos
The unexpected influence the show had on musical tastes — championing artists like Ben Folds Five and The Divine Comedy to audiences who hadn't found them yet
How Jack navigated fame — and what the realities of it looked like from the inside

Connect with Jack here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jenny Tian: From TikTok to Taskmaster

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 05:00:56 GMT

Jenny Tian went from a marketing career to viral TikTok to Taskmaster Australia — and has been learning something useful at every stage, including from the failures.

Jenny Tian is an Australian comedian, writer, and performer known for her viral TikTok videos and her growing prominence in the Australian comedy scene. She co-hosts the podcast The Parasocial Social Club and has performed solo stand-up shows at festivals worldwide.

Building an audience online before breaking into the stand-up circuit — and what each taught her that the other didn't
The unexpected lessons that come with a fast-moving comedy career — including the ones that only come from failure
What finding your voice in the digital age looks like when the landscape keeps shifting under you

Connect with Jenny here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Tale of Two Steves

Wed, 27 Sep 2023 04:00:53 GMT

Steve interviews Steve — and it goes exactly as well as you'd imagine, which is to say chaotically, brilliantly, and ending with a musical journey through the entire 20th century.

In this unconventional solo episode, two versions of Steve Otis Gunn collide in a free-flowing exchange full of digressions, half-remembered ideas, and unexpected turns.

Long-lost podcast ideas from 2007 — revisited and examined for signs of genius or disaster
The inevitable digressions into biscuits, Michael Crawford, and television that might be better off forgotten
What happens when an interview format loses control of itself — and why that's more interesting than staying on track
A sprawling musical finale that somehow journeys through the entire 20th century

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dane Simpson: From Wagga Wagga to Edinburgh - With Multiple Didgeridoos

Wed, 20 Sep 2023 04:00:16 GMT

Dane Simpson arrived fresh from a sell-out Edinburgh Fringe run, reflected on inclusive casting in Australian reality TV, and somehow made the logistics of touring with multiple didgeridoos one of the highlights of the episode.

Dane Simpson is one of Australia's most in-demand comedians, known for his vibrant storytelling, quick wit, and deep connection to his Wiradjuri heritage. Hailing from Wagga Wagga, he has performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala, been a fan favourite on Thank God You're Here, and competed on The Celebrity Amazing Race Australia.

The ongoing challenges of inclusive casting in Australian reality TV — and why it still matters
Childhood obsessions with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Pamela Anderson's V.I.P. — revisited with fresh eyes
The surprisingly complex logistics of touring with multiple didgeridoos
Wonderfully warm stories about his father — including his status as the fastest finger clicker in town and a uniquely adorned didgeridoo
The curious and apparently universal phenomenon of adult magazines found in hedges

Connect with Dane here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Clover: Comedy, Culture, and the TV Shows That Shaped Us

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 04:00:25 GMT

Ben Clover underwent a post-pandemic transformation so complete that friends walked past him in the street — and has since been applying that same sharp eye to Utopia, Deadwood, Life on Mars, and the unsettling legacy of Top of the Pops presenters.

Ben Clover is an award-winning stand-up comedian, writer, and performer based in London, with multiple Edinburgh Fringe appearances and writing credits across TV, radio, and print media.

How Life on Mars might have landed differently in a post-Operation Yewtree world
The unsettling legacy of Top of the Pops presenters — and the discomfort of revisiting something you loved
The strange hypnotic pull of the BBC test card — and what it represents about a particular kind of television memory

Connect with Ben here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

J.J. Whitehead: Writing for TV and Making the Leap

Wed, 06 Sep 2023 02:00:04 GMT

J.J. Whitehead stumbled into the Edinburgh Fringe over two decades ago and never really looked back — and has since developed strong opinions on Canadian sketch comedy, TV licence radar vans, BitTorrent, and Naked Attraction.

J.J. Whitehead is a Canadian-born stand-up comedian, writer, and performer from Nova Scotia who moved to the UK in the early 2000s and quickly established himself on the British comedy circuit. He has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe multiple times and was a writer on The Jim Jefferies Show on Comedy Central.

The differences between Canadian sketch comedy and sitcoms — and the influence UK comedy has had across the Atlantic
A nostalgic detour into the era of TV licence radar vans and the brief moral grey area of BitTorrent downloads
Naked Attraction — back again, and once more impossible to leave alone

Connect with J.J. here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EdFringe '23: Street Interviews, Hot Takes and Highlights

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 09:13:17 GMT

Steve takes to the streets of Edinburgh during the 2023 Fringe with a microphone and a lot of curiosity — and the results are exactly as chaotic, funny, and unpredictable as you'd hope.

A special street interview episode featuring comedians, singers, puppeteers, playwrights, and passers-by, including Matt Hutchinson, Aimee Taylor, Moe Singleton, Bill (celebrating his 44th birthday in memorable silence), John McEwan-Whyte, Stefania Licari, and Kristina DeGiovanni.

Matt Hutchinson on his Fringe experiences — unplanned, unfiltered and all the better for it
Aimee Taylor on the dangers of Andrew Tate and why Sherlock deserves more credit
Moe Singleton on Seinfeld and the unlikely ways it has shaped him
John McEwan-Whyte's aversion to WWF, Buffy, and excessive nudity in the current television landscape
Stefania Licari on her transition from NHS doctor to sold-out Fringe comedian
Kristina DeGiovanni on her play The Temp, the language in Suits, and a critique of Friends that pulls no punches
Bill, who provided a silent yet somehow memorable interview on his 44th birthday

Connect with the guests here:

Matt Hutchinson:
Instagram
Mo Singleton:
Instagram
Aimee Taylor:
Instagram
Bills 44th:
Instagram
Stefania Licari:
Instagram
The Temp
:Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Forbes: Scot Squad, Stand-Up and Playing Ball in America

Wed, 23 Aug 2023 02:00:03 GMT

Chris Forbes moved to the US at 16 to play basketball, had a school presentation change the entire direction of his life, and has spent the decade since playing a Scottish police officer on television. He also has very strong feelings about Bing.

Chris Forbes is a multi-award-winning actor, writer, and stand-up comedian from Scotland, best known for his role as PC Charlie MacIntosh in BBC Scotland's Scot Squad. He has also appeared in Jonathan Creek and The Farm, is a regular panellist on BBC Radio Scotland's Breaking the News, and has supported Kevin Bridges on tour.

What a decade playing PC Charlie MacIntosh in Scot Squad has taught him about character, commitment, and comedy
His love for Dawson's Creek, The Two Ronnies, and The Lakes — and what each of them represents
A surprisingly passionate aversion to reality television and the search engine Bing

Connect with Chris here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Dobrowolski: Cardboard Tanks, Arctic Trips, and Fringe-Survival

Wed, 16 Aug 2023 02:00:00 GMT

After some early technical hiccups, Steve and Chris Dobrowolski ditched the usual format, switched to voice notes, and accidentally made one of the most personal episodes the podcast has produced.

Chris Dobrowolski is a British artist, performer, and sculptor known for his interactive installations, large-scale creations, and performances that blend comedy with visual art, and a regular at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

How Chris's family background has shaped his artistic projects in ways he's still working out
The blending of performance art, comedy, and visual storytelling that resists easy categorisation
Clips from Steve's 2003 Trans-Siberian audio diary — and what they reveal about the person recording them
Why unplanned episodes are often the most honest ones

Connect with Chris here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Freedman: The Art of the Steal - Pickpocketing, Magic and Misdirection

Wed, 09 Aug 2023 02:00:47 GMT

James Freedman can steal your wallet, watch, and phone in sequence without you noticing — and has turned that into a career advising film productions, educating law enforcement, and performing on stage.

James Freedman is a British entertainer and deception expert known for his theatrical pickpocketing performances and his consultancy work on film and television productions. He works with security professionals and law enforcement to highlight vulnerabilities in personal and organisational security.

The psychology behind misdirection — what it really reveals about human attention and how easily it can be controlled
How sleight-of-hand skills translate into powerful live performance — and the craft required to make it look effortless
The moral dimensions of using deception as entertainment — and where James draws the line
Behind the scenes on major film and television productions — what consulting on pickpocketing actually involves

Connect with James here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Keyworth: Urinal Etiquette and Baked Potatoes

Wed, 02 Aug 2023 02:00:56 GMT

Steve Keyworth wrote a Doctors episode called The Joe Pasquale Problem, co-wrote a film starring Kelsey Grammer, curated acts including Damon Albarn and Jo Brand whilst performing inside the pods of the London Eye, and has strong opinions on urinal etiquette and baked potatoes. A career of genuine range.

Steve Keyworth is a seasoned British writer and director whose credits span Casualty, Doctors, and the film Breaking the Bank, alongside innovative theatre work including the remarkable Flight 5065 project at the London Eye.

The story behind co-writing Breaking the Bank with Kelsey Grammer — and what that collaboration involved
Flight 5065 — the fascinating project in which various acts performed inside the pods of the London Eye
The unwritten rules of urinal etiquette

Connect with Steve here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jay Lafferty: Pole Position and Punchlines

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 02:00:53 GMT

Jay Lafferty gave herself a concussion learning pole dancing for her Edinburgh show, navigated a decade-long IVF journey with characteristic honesty and humour, and looked after a newborn during a global pandemic. She makes all of it funny, which is the thing.

Jay Lafferty is a Scottish comedian and writer known for her witty observational humour and relatable storytelling across stand-up, television, and podcasting, and for a refreshingly honest approach to the challenges of life.

Introducing her kids to the Marvel universe — and the particular minefield that involves
The realities of looking after a newborn during a global pandemic — and what that does to your sense of normal
The emotional pull of being away from your kids for extended periods — and what touring actually costs

Connect with Jay here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel Muggleton: Tracksuits, Seinfeld, and the Awkward Legacy of Blackface

Tue, 25 Jul 2023 02:00:11 GMT

Daniel Muggleton is straight-talking, wears a red tracksuit, and is not interested in pretending things are fine when they aren't

Daniel Muggleton is an Australian stand-up comedian known for his candid humour and distinctive red tracksuit, with appearances at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Fringe, and as co-host of the podcast Flog Cabin.

The journey from the Australian comedy scene to global stages — and what that transition actually required
Why Seinfeld still hits all the right notes — and what it understands about comedy that other shows don't
The uncomfortable legacy of blackface in recent Australian television — tackled with the directness you'd expect

Connect with Daniel here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Raul Kohli: Spiritual Reflections and Tales From The Weaselverse

Fri, 21 Jul 2023 02:00:46 GMT

Raul Kohli has unfiltered feelings about the final season of Game of Thrones, a passionate case to make for The Sopranos, and a concept called the Weaselverse that requires some explanation.

Raul Kohli is a British stand-up comedian and broadcaster from Newcastle upon Tyne known for his blend of political satire and personal storytelling, with work featured on the BBC, Netflix, and Channel 4. He also hosts the podcast Comic Sanskrit, exploring themes of Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism.

Life on the road — the highs and lows of travelling for gigs and what it does to you over time
The connection between WWE's larger-than-life characters and the world of stand-up comedy
Swapping India stories with Steve — and introducing the Weaselverse and its place in his comedic universe

Connect with Raul here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Critoph: From Kinky Boots to The Krankies (In An Era of Nuclear Dread)

Tue, 18 Jul 2023 02:00:34 GMT

Paul Critoph brings his homemade grading system, a Doctor Who credit, and the story of chasing Chiwetel Ejiofor around the set of Kinky Boots — alongside some genuinely unsettling thoughts about 1980s children's animation.

Paul Critoph is an actor, photographer and self-appointed cultural commentator known for his encyclopaedic knowledge of television across the decades and a very particular approach to grading what he watches.

His Doctor Who role — and the unsavoury character names he's somehow accumulated along the way
The soothing, almost hypnotic appeal of gentle Japanese television — and why it works
The surprisingly dark world of 1980s children's animation — cartoons that stirred genuine unease and nuclear dread in equal measure
Why the Krankies represent something specific about a particular era of British variety entertainment

Connect with Paul here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kai Humphries: MTV Nostalgia and Tales From The Dark Side

Fri, 14 Jul 2023 02:00:39 GMT

Kai Humphries grew up in the Northeast, was shaped by MTV music videos and Stephen King in roughly equal measure, and has taken the resulting comedic voice to international stages.

Kai Humphries is a Geordie comedian known for his high-energy performances and engaging storytelling, and as co-host of the popular podcast Sloss and Humphries On The Road with fellow comedian Daniel Sloss.

The journey from the Northeast to international stages — and how his comedic style evolved along the way
The outsized influence of MTV music videos on his creative sensibilities — and the specific things they taught him about performance
How Stephen King's unsettling imagery fed a lasting fascination with horror — and where that shows up in the work
The relationship between a creative upbringing and the kind of comedian you eventually become

Connect with Kai here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bee Babylon: Cults, Demons and The Arctic Munchies

Wed, 12 Jul 2023 02:00:02 GMT

Bee Babylon has unfiltered thoughts on religion, cults, and demonic possession, and a slight aversion to over-excited American TV

Bee Babylon is an Icelandic comedian known for her fearless humour, surreal storytelling, and vibrant presence on and off stage, and a rising star in Europe's alternative comedy scene who mixes personal experience with biting social commentary.

Traditional Icelandic cuisine — what it is and what it involves
The hyper-excitable world of American television — dissected with the enthusiasm it deserves

What it means to be one of Iceland's most original comedic voices

Connect with Bee here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Nelson: Generational Labels, Ghostwatch and the Ethics of Parenthood

Wed, 05 Jul 2023 02:00:32 GMT

Mark Nelson has thoughts on social media, parenting ethics, Ghostwatch, reboots that expect too much of audiences, and politics — and delivers all of them with the straight-talking honesty that makes him one of the sharpest voices on the circuit.

Mark Nelson is a Scottish comedian known for his dark, biting humour and sharp observations, and co-host of the Absolute Cuts podcast with Ryan Cullen.

How social media has lowered the barriers for new comedians finding an audience — and whether that's entirely a good thing
How becoming a parent shifts your ethical perspective in ways you genuinely don't see coming
The impact of the BBC's legendary 1992 broadcast of Ghostwatch — and why it still matters as a piece of television history
The problem with reboots that expect audiences to remember storylines from shows that disappeared years ago

Connect with Mark here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

André Vincent: From Circus to Stand-Up

Wed, 28 Jun 2023 02:00:04 GMT

André Vincent has been a child actor, a circus performer, a pantomime regular, and a long-standing Edinburgh Fringe fixture — and somehow it all holds together as a single career.

André Vincent is a British comedian, actor, writer, and director whose career spans stand-up, television, theatre, and circus performance, with appearances including Byker Grove and a prominent presence at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Stories from his TV work, including Byker Grove and various comedy documentaries
His long-standing relationship with the Edinburgh Festival Fringe — what it's given him and what it keeps demanding
His work in pantomime and thoughts on the traditions, quirks, and enduring appeal of British theatre

Connect with André here:

Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Andrew P. Stephen: From Stage to Screen in Expensive Denim

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 02:00:13 GMT

Andrew P. Stephen is making his first forays into film and television after years of theatre — and has already appeared in Apple TV's Silo and Howard J Ford's Dark Game, playing Americans in both, which he finds as surreal as it sounds.

Andrew P. Stephen is a British actor whose career spans theatre, including The Woman in Black and recent screen work in shows such as Apple TV+'s Silo and the horror thriller Dark Game.

How the self-tape revolution during lockdown opened doors that years on the theatre circuit hadn't — and why he suddenly found himself playing Americans
What filming on the vast, multi-level Silo set was actually like — the real staircases, the deco-ish dwellings, and the parade of extras who appeared from nowhere between takes
Why committing to a TV series feels increasingly difficult — and the case for shows that end before they outstay their welcome
The strange television of 1970s Britain — Benny Hill, Carry On films and the mixed messages that shaped a generation

Connect with Andrew here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Robert Morgan: Surviving Hollywood One Role at a Time

Wed, 14 Jun 2023 02:00:17 GMT

Rob Morgan has worked with Brad Pitt, Michael Shannon and Jessica Chastain, and once had Mel Gibson describe him as "like a fucking wolf." But he and Steve mostly talk about Beijing.

Robert Morgan is a Welsh-Australian actor whose credits include The Proposition, Hacksaw Ridge, George & Tammy, The OA and Babylon. He lives in Los Angeles and holds UK, Australian and US citizenship, which he describes as practical.

How to Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular brought Rob and Steve together in Beijing — but the production collapsed due to Chinese chaos, sandstorms, falling spanners, visa runs with fake documents, and a dubbing session in Shanghai where someone had written "titty hat"
Why every role Rob gets seems to involve being in charge of people — sheriff, inspector, sergeant, colonel — and what Mel Gibson said about him that explains it
The OA — one of the strangest shows on television, cancelled before anyone knew what it was, and why he had no idea what was going on beyond his own character's storyline
Living alone in Glendale while his family stays in Australia — the reality of a late-career Hollywood push

Rob does not engage in social media, but you can see what he's up to here:

IMDb Profile

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jeff Alan Greenway: The Soundtrack of Storytelling

Wed, 07 Jun 2023 02:00:15 GMT

Jeff Alan Greenway has been scoring films, teaching music, and quietly trying to convince everyone he knows to watch a horror show called From — and on all three fronts, he's making progress.

Jeff Alan Greenway is a Canadian composer, songwriter, and music teacher based in Toronto, known for his film and television scoring work and as a singer-songwriter.

The specific problem with horror that involves crosses, demons, and special holy water — and why a shadow behind a door is infinitely more terrifying
What growing up in Canada meant for a Doctor Who fan — always two years behind, always watching the wrong doctor
The TV theme that made Jeff want to become a composer — and why the 1970s and 80s were the golden age of music nobody skips
Why Battlestar Galactica's reboot defeated both of them — and what that says about the impossibility of replacing the things that shaped you

Connect with Jeff here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kev F. Sutherland: Comics, Cult TV and The Rise of The Sock Puppets

Wed, 31 May 2023 02:00:02 GMT

Kev F Sutherland has been wiggling his hands above his head in a pair of socks at the Edinburgh Fringe since 2007 — and it's one of the funniest things Steve has ever seen in a room.

Kev F Sutherland is a comic artist, puppeteer, comedian, and graphic novel author best known for the Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre and his graphic novel adaptations of Shakespeare, including Finlay Macbeth, Hamlet Prince of Denmark Street, and The Midsummer Night's Dream Team.

Why "broadcast" was an agricultural term until 1922 — and what scattering seeds has to do with Marconi
What the Edinburgh Fringe actually looks like when you're one of the people locked in the dark for a month
The Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppet Theatre — how a comedy show built around two socks became a Fringe institution
Why Kev's graphic novel adaptations of Shakespeare are stranger and funnier than the originals deserve to be
The Traitors problem — why nobody can find three hours for a Japanese art film but will happily watch three episodes back to back at midnight

Connect with Kev here:

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Pilot Episode: Featuring Tony P

Wed, 24 May 2023 06:54:18 GMT

Every podcast starts somewhere — this is where this one started.

The mysterious Tony P joins Steve Otis Gunn for the inaugural episode, kicking things off with a playful, offbeat conversation that sets the tone for everything that follows. Self-styled banana and llama farmer, master of malapropisms, and reliable source of comic unpredictability.

The origins of the podcast — why Steve started it, what he hoped it would be, and how much of that survived contact with Tony
Guilty pleasures, shared television obsessions, and how TV has quietly evolved around both of them
Tony's tall tales — deployed with confidence, received with appropriate scepticism
What a deliberately loose first episode reveals about the kind of show this was always going to be
Light, funny, and built on the simple premise that two people talking about telly is enough

Tony P does not engage in social media

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.