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Filed Under: Alternative Comedy, Audiences, BBC, Edgy, Edinburgh, Jeremy Hardy, Jobs, political, Political Humour, Radio, Radio 4, Soho Theatre, Stage Persona, Stewart Lee, Success, TV

Having grown up in Tasmania at a time when her very sexuality was illegal, Hannah Gadsby has forged her anger into an annihilating comic weapon. Her new show “Nanette” is a heart-wrenching piece of work that rails against the failings of comedy itself to tell enough of the truth. We talk about honesty and accessibility, and her decision to stop being a comedian.

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Filed Under: Audiences, Depression, Edinburgh, Equality, Feminism, Gender, Hannah Gadsby, Melbourne, Mental Health, Storytelling, TV

Global comedy superstar Russell Brand is studying for a degree, raising a new baby, and assembling a new two-year tour. An Essex boy with cosmic ambition, his art is obsessed with finding the transcendent in the mundane. We talk about his joy in "scribbling on reality", how he employs language to hijack and seed discourse, and the art of disruption...

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

@comcompod www.comedianscomedian.com | And don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here.

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Filed Under: Age, Audiences, Controversial, Fame, Mental Health, Observational Comedy, Persona, Podcasting, political, Russell Brand, Success

One of the most iconoclastic, pioneering and influential comedians in Britain, Stewart Lee has forged his post-punk ideals into a thrillingly funny live act, with the very form at his fingertips. We explore the deliberately uncomfortable tension between the man and the stage persona; discuss his self-imposed exclusion from the comedy community; and investigate his unshakeable conviction that he is in fact unsuccessful.

Follow Stewart on tour www.stewartlee.co.uk

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

@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com
And don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here.

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Filed Under: Age, Alternative Comedy, Argument, Audiences, BBC, Character, Criticism, Double Act, Edinburgh, Fame, Fear, Heckles, Improv, Isolation, London, Reviews, Stage Persona, Stewart Lee, Storytelling, Success, The Guardian, Touring Comedian, TV

An electrifying live performer, with a casual brutality that has audiences laughing despite themselves, Paul Chowdhry sells far more tickets than his mid-level TV profile might suggest. We talk about his outsider status, the racial abuse he suffered as a child, and the responsibility or otherwise of the comedian to challenge the status quo.

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Filed Under: Age, Audiences, Criticism, Dark Humour, Def Jam, Diversity, Inspiration, Mainstream, Open Mic, Paul Chowdhry, Stereotypes, Storytelling, Success, TV, YouTube

Mark Forward is one of Canada's finest comic exports, with a genuinely off-the-wall approach to his comedy, and the resolve that comes of having retired and come back to the profession. We talk about humble arrogance; looking for milestones; the joy of silence; and ask how many people have to tell you you're good before you believe them...

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Filed Under: Acting, Audiences, Criticism, Diversity, Edinburgh, Equality, Improv, Just For Laughs, Louis CK, mark forward, Musical Comedy, Podcasting, Reviews, Stereotypes, Storytelling, student comedy, YouTube

Phil Wang is a suave dork, a confident nerd, a feminist creep and a very funny young man.  We uncover his childhood being hit with sticks in Malaysia, and track his comedy odyssey via presidency of Cambridge Footlights to "Have I Got News For You?" (BBC). We also talk about the development and shrewd positioning of his sketch outfit "Daphne", and hs relationship to the word "yellow".

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

@comcompod | www.comedianscomedian.com
And don't forget to join the Comcom Facebook group, which you can do here.

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Filed Under: Audiences, Competitions, Diversity, Edinburgh, Festival Comedian, Musical Comedy, Phil Wang, Reviews, student comedy

Comedian, singer, musician and key member of improvisational powerhouse "Austentatious", Rachel Parris revels in undercutting her nice girl image with some tough material.  We talk about how audiences listen differently to talking and singing; how to survive the sinking feeling of a tough festival; and her experience spinning a chat with the Samaritans into comedy gold...

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

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You can email Samaritans at any time – jo@samaritans.org

Whatever you're going through, call Samaritans free any time, from any phone in the UK on 116 123.

Samaritans are all volunteers, all there round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need a response immediately, it's best to call on the phone. The number is FREE to call. You don't have to be suicidal to call.

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Filed Under: Audiences, Austentatious, Character, Compere/MC/Hosting, Improv, rachel parris