The co-host and co-creator of Dara O Briain's Go 8 Bit, Steve McNeil started his career in sketch comedy, and has enjoyed an invigoratingly twisty journey through multiple genres, currently specialising as a twitch gamer and host, with new project #WiFiWars gathering momentum online as we speak. We talk about his pivot away from TV, the single most agonising factor that led to the demise of "Go 8 Bit", his new special "Hey Listen!" and his recent battles with his mental health.

30 mins of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club focuses Steve's tips and tricks for growing an audience on Twitch, and what comics can expect to find when trying to explore that fertile territory! Sign up now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders

#WiFiWars
@WiFiWarsUK

Steve's special on GFS https://gofasterstripe.com/heylisten

https://twitter.com/stevemcneil

https://www.twitch.tv/stevefromgo8bit

https://www.twitch.tv/team/thestreamcreamdreamteam

As the live comedy circuit undergoes a painful transformation into some unknown new form, there HAS NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME to keep the podcast alive and get hold of oodles of sweet extra content (including the new special episode about The Great Pivot with ComCom Consultant Pete Dobbing) with a regular subscription. Join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders

And join Stu Goldsmith for a Working Lunch!  Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/lunch to book your one-to-one social, or professional, online lunch date with Stu!

@comcompod | @stugoldsmith

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Age, Alternative Comedy, Audience Participation, Audiences, Awards, BBC, Bottom, Chortle, comcompod, Comedy, Coping, Corona, COVID-19, Dara O'Briain, Dave (TV channel), Depression, Double Act, Edinburgh, Festival, Fringe, Gaming, Go 8 Bit, Interview, Jess Robinson, McNeil & Pamphilon, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Streaming, Success, TV, Twitch, Worth, Writing, Writing Jokes, YouTube

The godfather of British alternative comedy, Alexei Sayle is always at the edge of catastrophe. The star of The Young Ones, Alexei Sayle’s Stuff, The Comic Strip Presents, many more and now his Imaginary Sandwich Bar, gets stuck into why inauthenticity is his bugbear, how to make the most of creative discomfort, the earliest days of the Comedy Store, and the transition from counterculture to national treasure

In 30 mins of extras available only to the Insiders Club, Alexei talks about his real feelings towards Ben Elton, and the current crop of arena comics; how he re-fit his show about political optimism when the wind changed; and identifies a link between standup and martial arts regarding the energy of the audience and his own… Available now only at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders

See Alexei on tour now! Details at www.alexeisayle.me

Thanks to Ellen Frost at Bloomsbury Theatre @bloomstheatre

Stuart Goldsmith's Edinburgh Fringe show "The Void" is onside now at tinyurl.com/stu2020

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Adrian Edmondson, Age, Alexei Sayle, Alternative Comedy, Art, Audiences, Awards, BBC, Ben Elton, Bob Monkhouse, Bottom, College, comcompod, Comedy, Comedy Store, Compere, Compere/MC/Hosting, Fame, Fern Brady, First Open Spot, Fringe, Interview, Isolation, Jobs, Live At The Apollo, Liverpool, London, Onstage Persona, Persona, Phil Ellis, Podcasting, political, Political Comedy, Political Humour, Problems, Radio, Radio 4, Rik Mayall, Sketch, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Stewart Lee, Structure, Success, The Comedy Store, The Young Ones, TV, TV Comedy, Worth, Writing, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage

The only comic ever to have consecutively won Best Newcomer and Best Show at the Edinburgh Fringe, John Kearns is a master at finding pathos in the prosaic, combining clowning and standup in a way that makes absolutely no sense written down. With influences from Jacques Tati to Neil Hamburger, we explore his sense of place within himself, overreaching in his writing, and ambition in his career...

Thirty minutes of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes John's brilliant technique for underpinning all his material with genuine pathos, and delves into writing for Harry Hill, meeting Chris Morris, and how the spotlight can burn...
@johnsfurcoat 

Get tickets for Stu's tour:

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

11/02/20

York – The Basement

12/02/20

Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club

28/02/20

Cambridge Junction

www.comedianscomedian.com | @comcompod

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Alternative Comedy, Art, Audiences, Awards, BBC4, Best Newcomer, Bill Cosby, Bob Monkhouse, Character, Chris Morris, Clown, comcompod, Comedy, Competitions, Dave (TV channel), Directing, Dr Brown, Eddie Izzard, Edinburgh, Fame, Festival, Festival Comedian, Fosters Comedy Award, Free Fringe, Fringe, Gregg Turkington, Harry Hill, Interview, Isolation, Jobs, John Kearns, London, Mental Health, Neil Hamburger, Onstage Persona, Perrier Comedy Award, Persona, Phil Burgers, Problems, Radio 4, Risk, Soho Theatre, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Success, Tom Allen, Tony Hancock, Twitter, Whimsy, Woody Allen, Worth, Writing, Writing Jokes

In this Christmas Special, we speak to the actual Santa Claus, via his little helper and confidant, consummate clown Herbie Treehead. Herbie is a phenomenal street-performer, known around the world for his joyful daftness, silly songs and funny bones.

We talk about what his first Santa season means to him, and discover an enormously rich and respectful seam of kindness and good cheer. We also dive into Herbie's origins as a performer and his maverick work within vaudeville troupe Slightly Fat Features; learn how to steal a lorry; and reflect on the nature and cost of real performative risk...

www.herbietreehead.info
www.slightlyfatfeatures.com

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

Get tickets for Stu's tour:

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

11/02/20

York – The Basement

12/02/20

Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club

28/02/20

Cambridge Junction

www.comedianscomedian.com | @Comcompod

Happy Christmas one and all.

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Age, Alcohol, Alternative Comedy, Art, Audiences, Comedy, Edinburgh, Festival, Fire Breathing, Fringe, Herbie Treehead, Interview, Persona, Risk, Santa, Sketch, Soho Theatre, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Street Performance, Street Performing, Street-Performing, Structure, Stuart Goldsmith, Success, Worth, Writing

"America's Funnyman" Neil Hamburger is the disturbing comic creation of Gregg Turkington; deeply funny, vile and poignant in equal measure. Ordinarily reluctant to talk about his alter-ego, Gregg gradually uncovers his love for outsider art, and the qualities he considers genius. We learn about the origins of Neil in prank phone calls and fake live shows, the comedy he can't stand and why, and the utterly original concept behind his live albums.

Over 30mins of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Gregg on being booed onto the stage supporting Tenacious D at Reading Festival, and how it meant no more to him than a crowd at Madison Square Garden chanting his name! We also learn the surprising basis to whom he won't attack and why, and find out why he considers interviews pointless... Support the show today with a recurring donation and receive your access to the Insiders Club private podcast at www.comedianscomedians.com/insiders

www.americasfunnyman.com | @NeilHamburger

Get tickets for Stu's tour:

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

11/02/20

York – The Basement

12/02/20

Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club

28/02/20

Cambridge Junction

www.comedianscomedian.com | @Comcompod

Weirdos Save Christmas

Content Web Series from Turtle Canyon

#ContentWebSeries

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Age, Alternative Comedy, Art, Audience Participation, Audiences, Australia, Character, Character Comedy, comcompod, Comedy, Controversial, Controversy, Dark Humour, Directing, Festival, Festival Comedian, First Open Spot, Gregg Turkington, Heckles, Inspiration, Interview, Jobs, Kanye, Music, Music Videos, Musical, Onstage Persona, Persona, Risk, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Stereotypes, Steve Martin, Structure, Success, Tenacious D, TV, Twitter, Upright Citizens Brigade, USA, Worth, Writing, Writing Jokes, YouTube

Multiple international award-winning physical comedy duo The Kagools are an explosion of pure silliness, that don't conform even to the "rules" of contemporary clowning, let alone straight standup. Double-act Nicky Wilkinson and Claire Ford describe their amazingly supportive relationship, and outline the highs and lows of a life under lightweight waterproof material...

Sign up for the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to get access to all the extra content from any episode that has it, plus loads of extra stuff on a special private podcast!

www.thekagools.com | @TheKagools

Get tickets for Stu's tour:

25/10/19

Teignmouth Pavillions

26/10/19

Swindon Arts Centre

04/11/19

Nottingham 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

11/02/20

York – The Basement

12/02/20

Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club

28/02/20

Cambridge Junction

www.comedianscomedian.com | @Comcompod

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Actor, Alternative Comedy, Audience Participation, Audiences, Awards, Blue Man Group, Comedy, Dr Brown, Edinburgh, Festival, Fringe, Interview, Melbourne Comedy Festival, Money, Phil Burgers, Rob Deering, Robin Williams, Sam Simmons, Sketch, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Structure, Success, Tape Face, The Boy With Tape On His Face, Writing, Writing On Stage, YouTube

Zach Zucker and Viggo Venn and their permanent director and co-creator Jonny Woolley are like a mainline injection of a comedy drug that hasn't been invented yet. This trio has been around the world four times at some disgustingly young age, winning awards and crazed fans, and revelling in mistakes, misadventures and madness.

We talk about their first Edinburgh and how they snatched victory from the jaws of a 10 month old baby, explore their solo work, including Zach's "Jack Tucker" character and his unique relationship with live direction and sound cues, and discuss breaking the rules, winding the Late N Live audience up on purpose, and getting good at being bad. 

You get the whole 90 min interview in this episode, but you can sign up for the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to get access to all the extra content from any episode that has it, plus loads of extra stuff on a special private podcast!

Discover more on Zach and Viggo at 
www.zachandviggo.com
www.stamptowncomedy.com
@zach_viggo

Find Stu's tour dates at www.comedianscomedian.com/tour

11/10/19

Northampton Royal and Derngate

25/10/19

Teignmouth Pavillions

26/10/19

Swindon Arts Centre

04/11/19

Nottingham 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

11/02/20

York – The Basement

12/02/20

Leeds – Hyde Park Book Club

28/02/20

Cambridge Junction

Hi Davy, I respect you.

comedianscomedian.com | @comcompod

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Actor, Age, Alternative Comedy, Art, Audiences, Aunty Donna, Awards, Character, Character Comedy, Chortle, Clown, College, comcompod, Comedy, Controversy, Criticism, Directing, Edinburgh, Festival, Fringe, Heckles, Inspiration, Interview, Jobs, John Kearns, Just For Laughs, Melbourne Comedy Festival, Mental Health, Money, Pappy’s, Persona, Phil Burgers, Red Bastard, Reviews, Risk, Sacha Baron-Cohen, Sam Simmons, Soho Theatre, Spencer Jones, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Stewart Lee, Street Performance, Structure, Success, The Guardian, Underbelly, USA, We Are Klang, Worth, Zach and Viggo

Rob Auton is a revelation; a comic like no other. His superbly funny and intensely thoughtful shows take a single topic like "Hair", "Time", or "Sleep" and dig for real meaning in those concepts, to hilarious and even profound effect. We talk about his love of thinking, the poetry in a football pass, the collaging skills of Kanye West, and why comedy really does mean the world to him.

30 mins of extra content available to members of the Insiders Club include some emotional reflection on mental health, masculinity and sensitivity. Not to be missed, and available only to subscribers at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders, along with all other extra content from every episode that has it...

robauton.co.uk | @RobertAuton

Dates and tickets for my forthcoming tour can be found here.
@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Alternative Comedy, Art, Audience Participation, Audiences, Awards, Charles Bukowski, Christmas, Comedy, Edinburgh, Fear, Festival, Fringe, Gender, Grayson Perry, Interview, Jobs, Kanye, Kate Tempest, Laura Davis, Mental Health, Onstage Persona, Persona, Poetry, Reviews, Rick Rubin, Risk, Rob Auton, Simon Munnery, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Success, The Office, The Royle Family