An exclusive conversation with the man behind (and underneath) "Randy", a searingly honest, multi-layered and genuinely brilliant standup comedian who happens to be a purple felt puppet. A multiple international award-winner and nominee, Heath has never felt comfortable talking as himself, but finally gave into Stu's overtures at Just For Laughs Montreal. We talk about the gap between truth and fiction, vulnerability and addiction, and what it feels like to expose your true self whilst staying hidden.

30mins of extra content available to members of the Insiders Club include Randy's secret origins (fictional and actual), how Heath writes a show in a week, the confessional element of his show "Randy Is Sober", and what it looks like under whatever Randy is appearing on top of... Join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders

@RandyFeltface | feltface.com

Catch the second leg of Stu's "End Of" tour show:

05/10/19

Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)

06/10/19

Aberdeen Comedy Festival

11/10/19

Northampton Royal and Derngate

25/10/19

Teignmouth Pavillions

26/10/19

Swindon Arts Centre

04/11/19

Nottingham Glee Club

05/11/19

Birmingham Glee Club

08/11/19

Bristol – The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken

04/12/19

Aldershot – The West End Centre

25/01/20

Corsham – The Pound Arts Centre

01/02/20

Newcastle Stand (early show – 5pm)

02/02/20

Glasgow – The Stand

07/02/20

Farnham Maltings

28/02/20

Cambridge Junction

The excellent Roast Battle Podcast with Stu squaring off against Dave Hill (episode 41) can be found HERE

comedianscomedian.com | @ComComPod

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Actor, Art, Audience Participation, Audiences, Australia, Buster Keaton, Festival, Fin Taylor, First Open Spot, Heath McIvor, Interview, Jim Henson, Jobs, Just For Laughs, Puppetry, Randy Feltface, Sesame Street, Stage Persona, Success, TV Comedy

Burning amazingly brightly on the UK TV comedy scene a few years ago, Andi Osho seemed to have the world at her feet. But something was wrong; she became physically and mentally exhausted and felt increasingly detached from her onstage persona. Now starring in “Curfew” on Sky, we talk about the warning signs she saw and missed, why she wouldn't do another panel show if she returned to standup, and whether it's easier or harder to be depressed in L.A.

Over 20mins of extra material available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes Andi on the workshops, courses and ontological studies she's experienced, the limitations of standup, and finding authentic ways to give back to the world. Join up at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders

www.andiosho.co.uk | @andiosho | @theandioshow

See my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe

@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Actor, Andi Osho, BBC, College, Curfew, Depression, Drama School, Edinburgh, Fame, Fear, Festival, Gender, Gina Yashere, Interview, Jobs, LA, Lights Out, Live At The Apollo, London, Mainstream, Mental Health, Mock The Week, Onstage Persona, Panel Shows, Persona, Radio, Risk, Sara Pascoe, Shazam!, Stage Persona, Success, TV, Twitter, USA, Whoopi Goldberg

Beloved of her fans, and radiating a genuine adoration for people, Bec Hill fizzes with comic creativity. We talk about how she lost and refound her sense of play, and explore the relationship between her faith, her self-critical voice and her work. We also cover the difference between a nerd, a geek and a dork; and talk fringe shows, flipcharts and whether she peaked at Piaf...

Extra material exclusively available to members of the Insiders Club includes:

• Her biggest challenge with social media and the surprising reason she no longer posts jokes
• How Bec dealt with a new act reproducing a very specific aspect of her style and what she fears from big business
• Bec and Stu share some more private stuff about what success means to us both.

And come and see me at the Ed Fringe
@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com

This episode was recorded at The Cheese Comedy Club, Bristol

www.facebook.com/thecheesecomedyclub/ | cheesecomedy.club | @cheese_comedy

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Actor, Adelaide, Audiences, Australia, Awards, Bec Hill, Eddie Izzard, Edinburgh, Ego, Equality, Fear, Festival, Festival Comedian, Fringe, Gaming, Gender, Glee Club, Hannah Gadsby, Improv, Interview, Jobs, Josie Long, Mental Health, Onstage Persona, Persona, Plagiarism, Reviews, School, Stage Persona, Storytelling, Structure, Success, Twitter, Viral, Whimsy, Writing Jokes, YouTube

Star of "The Thick Of It" and "In The Loop", and award-winning director of "Veep", comedian Chris Addison is the director of new feature film "The Hustle", starring Rebel Wilson and Anne Hathaway. We talk about his apprenticeship under Armando Iannucci, how he handles the very first day on set, and the difference between a perfect version and a useful vision...

Extra material available exclusively to the Insiders Club includes Chris on the surprising secret weapon that made Veep a success, what technical department was so important to The Thick Of It, and why he never reads reviews... Sign up today at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders

mrchrisaddison.tumblr.com | @mrchrisaddison | The Hustle

Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders

Get tickets to my new tour dates at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour or on any of the following venues below:

17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station

19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix

27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican

9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London

05/10/19 Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)

11/10/19 Northampton Royal and Derngate

25/10/19 Teignmouth Pavillions

26/10/19 Swindon Arts Centre

04/11/19 Nottingham Glee Club

05/11/19 Birmingham Glee Club

08/11/19 Bristol - The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken

04/12/19 Aldershot - The West End Centre

25/01/20 Corsham - The Pound Arts Centre

01/02/20 Newcastle Stand (early show - 5pm)

02/02/20 Glasgow - The Stand

07/02/20 Farnham Maltings

28/02/20 Cambridge Junction

@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com

Charity Gig Shout-out!

On Monday 13th May, help support women, children, mothers and babies in the world’s poorest communities. Tickets for this gala line-up featuring loads of past ComCom guests and more besides can be got at the Leicester Square Theatre website or www.womenandchildrenfirst.org.uk/comedy

Comics new and old!

Check out www.comedy.co.uk/pro to see everything British Comedy Guide has to offer you and your career: curate your online profile on the most-visited website about UK comedy; get involved at the opportunities hub; and access exclusive articles about performing, writing and producing!

Don't forget to use the code COMCOM to get £5 off your membership.

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Actor, Armando Iannucci, Audiences, Chris Addison, Compere/MC/Hosting, Daniel Kitson, Dara O'Briain, Dave Gorman, Edinburgh, Festival, Fringe, Interview, John Cleese, Live At The Apollo, Onstage Persona, Perrier Comedy Award, Persona, Radio, Radio 4, Reviews, Seinfeld, Stage Persona, Success, The Hustle, The Thick of It, Tiffany Stevenson, TV, TV Comedy, USA, VEEP, Whimsy

Grammy and double-Emmy winner Kathy Griffin holds the Guinness world record for most comedy specials: 23 shows packed with her trademark scathing wit and merciless celebrity takedowns. But in May 2017 a provocative promo image of her holding the severed "head" of President Donald Trump changed her life forever.

We talk about how she survived having the machinery of state directed towards bullying her, when a Department of Justice investigation into "conspiracy to assassinate the President" led to her entire working life being cancelled. As you'll hear, the President's admitted attempt to "decimate her life" has only strengthened the resolve of this astonishingly powerful woman...

We also talk about sexism, marketing, seizing the means of production, and banging Tarantino!

Buy Fuck Trump merchandise and learn more about Kathy and her touring schedule at www.kathygriffin.com

Kathy Griffin: A Hell of a Story | @kathygriffin | imdb

Get tickets to my new tour dates at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour or on any of the following venues below:

13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre

20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse

29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth

05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts

12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre

17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station

19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix

27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican

9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London

05/10/19 Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)

11/10/19 Northampton Royal and Derngate

25/10/19 Teignmouth Pavillions

26/10/19 Swindon Arts Centre

04/11/19 Nottingham Glee Club

05/11/19 Birmingham Glee Club

08/11/19 Bristol - The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken

04/12/19 Aldershot - The West End Centre

25/01/20 Corsham - The Pound Arts Centre

01/02/20 Newcastle Stand (early show - 5pm)

02/02/20 Glasgow - The Stand

07/02/20 Farnham Maltings

28/02/20 Cambridge Junction

@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com

And many thanks again to Marty Lester of www.everywhereaudio.com

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: A Hell Of A Story, Acting, Actor, Age, Argument, Audiences, Awards, Blogging, Controversy, Criticism, Dark Humour, Dave Chappelle, Directing, Edgy, Exclusive, Fear, Feminism, Feminist, Gender, Interview, Isolation, Jamie Foxx, Jim Carrey, Joan Rivers, Live, Mental Health, Money, Netflix, Onstage Persona, Persona, political, Problems, Richard Pryor, Risk, Sarah Silverman, Stage Persona, Stormy Daniels, Success, SXSW, Tarantino, Trump, TV, TV Comedy, Twitter, USA, Viral, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage

Toby is a quintessential English gent; bumbling, noble and Dr Who obsessed. He's also a very deft writer whose work keeps making Stu cry, as well as a respected compere and champion of newer acts. We talk about his stewardship of the club XS Mallarkey, using self-deprecation as a defense mechanism, and tease at the feeling of being surplus...

Extra material available exclusively to Insiders includes Toby on his brilliant contribution to a radio show commemorating the life of Spike Milligan, and the time he punched a heckler.

Sign up now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders

@TobyHadoke | tobyhadoke.com | Toby Hadoke's Who's Round

WATCH my free comedy special on Dead Parrot's YouTube channel HERE

BUY the Directors Cut for £5 at www.comedianscomedian.com/special

OBSERVE my new tour dates at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour or at any of the following links below:

13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre

20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse

29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth

05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts

12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre

17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station

19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix

27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican

9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London

05/10/19 Edinburgh Stand (early show – 5pm)

11/10/19 Northampton Royal and Derngate

25/10/19 Teignmouth Pavillions

26/10/19 Swindon Arts Centre

04/11/19 Nottingham Glee Club

05/11/19 Birmingham Glee Club

08/11/19 Bristol - The Comedy Box at the Hen and Chicken

04/12/19 Aldershot - The West End Centre

25/01/20 Corsham - The Pound Arts Centre

01/02/20 Newcastle Stand (early show - 5pm)

02/02/20 Glasgow - The Stand

07/02/20 Farnham Maltings

28/02/20 Cambridge Junction

@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Acting, Actor, Adam Bloom, Age, Audiences, Awards, BBC, BBC4, Ben Elton, Bill Hicks, Charlie Brooker, Comedy Store, Compere, Compere/MC/Hosting, Diversity, Dr Who, Fame, Fringe, Interview, Jack Dee, Jason Cook, Jim Jefferies, John Bishop, Mock The Week, Onstage Persona, Persona, Peter Kay, Phil Ellis, Podcasting, Radio 4, Russell Kane, Sarah Millican, Spike Milligan, Stage Persona, Success, The Comedy Store, The Guardian, Twitter, Whimsy, Who's Round, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage, XS Malarkey

Character-filled comedian and actress, Jessica Fostekew is also the presenter of her own podcast "Hoovering", and guest co-host of The Guilty Feminist. We talk about how noticing her own faked confidence led to a sea-change in her creative process, the "crime" of mixing stand-up and acting, the joys of fabricating the truth, and when to drink the champagne...

Join the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to get access to an ad-free version of this episode plus 20 minutes of extras, including Jessica's exploration of her work directing standup shows for Sara Pascoe and Lauren Pattinson among others. Insiders Club membership also gives you a whole private podcast stuffed with inspiring extra content, the chance to critique newer acts en masse, and pitch to interview Stu about the subject of your choice - as well as a new community of hyper-fans!

See Hoovering Live at the Vault Festival, 3rd March!

jessicafostekew.com | @jessicafostekew

Book now for LIVE ComComPods:

Mar 23rd 1pm - Live special with comedy legend TBC @ Birmingham Podcast Festival!

g>Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” is on sale now! “A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)
Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:
22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm
01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly
13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre
20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse
29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth
05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts
12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre
17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station
19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix
27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican
9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London


@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com

And don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here.

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Actor, Audiences, BBC, Corporate Work, Directing, Edinburgh, Equality, Fame, Fear, Feminism, Feminist, Festival, Festival Comedian, Frankie Boyle, Fringe, Gender, Interview, Lauren Pattison, Persona, Podcasting, Romesh Ranganathan, Sara Pascoe, Sarah Millican, Stage Persona, Success, The Guilty Feminist, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage

"Britain's greatest living anti-comedian" (Guardian), Ed Aczel is an oddball among oddballs. We analyse his "instinctive adventure" within comedy, and discover how to create and burst tension in unexpected ways; the secret of destabilising beauty; and whether Ed knows why he's funny.

Join the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to access extra material including Ed on the rise of the oddball act on the UK scene, a recap of the "Dr Brown" clown course Ed and Stu found themselves on together, and why there's no such thing as a wasted journey...

Edward Aczel (@edwardaczel)

Book now for LIVE ComComPods:
Mar 23rd 1pm - Live special with comedy legend TBC @ Birmingham Podcast Festival!

Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” is on sale now!
“A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)
Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:
22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm
01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly
13/03/2019 Salisbury Art Centre
20/03/2019 Cheltenham Playhouse
29/03/2019 Crawley -The Hawth
05/04/2019 Reading – South Street Arts
12/04/2019 Leamington Spa - Royal Spa Centre
17/04/2019 Oxford Old Fire Station
19/04/2019 Bromsgrove – The Artix
27/04/2019 Plymouth Barbican
9-11/05/2019 Soho Theatre, London

@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com

And don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here.

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Actor, Alternative Comedy, Audiences, BBC, Clown, Dr Brown, Edinburgh, Festival, First Open Spot, Fringe, Improv, Interview, Isolation, Jimmy Carr, Jobs, John Kearns, John Luke Roberts, Kate Copstick, Robin Ince, Sam Simmons, Sarah Millican, Simon Munnery, So You Think You’re Funny, Stage Persona, Stewart Lee, Success, The Comedy Store, The Guardian, Tom Allen, Tommy Cooper, Tony Law, Twitter, Underbelly, Vic And Bob, Whimsy, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage, YouTube