Returning to stand-up this month with a run at Soho Theatre, after many years working on other projects including his sitcom Plebs, Tom Basden is inventive and prolific, also handsome. We talk about the parallels between the superb musical comedy that won him Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh fringe and his new stand-up, discover Tom's English middle-class-ness and why he's very suited to telling some "guys" to "calm down", and explore whether his work ethic is pathological...

Extras exclusively available to the Insiders Club include some really specific insight into the structuring and writing of Tom's sitcom "Plebs", and the dangers of mining real life events for comedy, and Stu railing at the injustice of how the TV sketch show "Cowards" didn't become better known. Join the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders

Find details and tickets for Tom's imminent Soho Theatre run:

13/01/20

14/01/20

15/01/20

16/01/20

17/01/20

18/01/20

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: Andy Samberg, Arrested Development, BBC, BBC3, Big Train, Cowards, Edinburgh, Emo Phillips, Interview, Jack Black, Pappy’s, Persona, Pleasance, Plebs, Radio, Red Dwarf, Risk, Simon Pegg, Sketch, Soho Theatre, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Stereotypes, student comedy, Success, The Day Today, The Office, The Pleasance, Tim Key, TV, TV Comedy, Whimsy, Will Ferrell, Worth, Writing, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage, YouTube

Simon Brodkin was best known as his comedy character "Lee Nelson", before handing Teresa May a P45, throwing money at Sepp Blatter, and invading Kanye's headline spot at Glastonbury. This former doctor with an impressive gag-rate and work ethic, now embarks on an even more challenging caper: playing himself. A new stand-up show sees him flex his joke-writing muscles in the pursuit of exploring his real life... but does he want to be himself?

Extras include Simon's blagger's guide to getting backstage at the world's biggest festival, reflections on the targets of his mockery and the challenges involved in gradually moving away from Lee step by step... Sign up for the Insiders Club at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to get access to ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more.

@SimonBrodkin

Simon Brodkin brings his show 100% Simon Brodkin to The Pleasance Baby Grand as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe from 1st – 24th August at 9.30pm. More info and tickets available at edfringe.com

Tickets for my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe

@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com

And many thanks to The Comedy Store for the recording space.

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Audiences, BBC, BBC3, Character, Character Comedy, College, comcompod, Comedy, Comedy Store, Controversial, Controversy, Edinburgh, Fame, Festival, First Open Spot, Fringe, Interview, Jobs, Kanye West, Lee Nelson, Little Britain, Live At The Apollo, London, Mainstream, Mental Health, Onstage Persona, Persona, Pleasance, Political Humour, Risk, Simon Brodkin, Sketch, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Stereotypes, Stewart Lee, Structure, Success, Trump, TV, TV Comedy, Twitter, Viral, Worth, Writing, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage

In the hands of a lesser comic, Ahir Shah's ambitions towards political discourse might seem lofty, but this agile act has the punchlines to back them up. 

We explore how he sees one-liners as ".zip" files, using punchy gags into which he's compressed huge ideas, and learn how he attempts to safeguard his precarious mental health, particularly with regard to the loneliness of the job.

20 mins of extra content available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club includes Ahir on his survival tips for small scale touring, the strategy behind his switch from the free to the paid fringe this year, and the thought he'll keep in mind when appearing shortly on "Have I Got News For You".
Go to www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders to access the private podcast with all extra content plus "Comedy Critique", in which the Insiders collaborate on feedback to newer comics!

Tickets and details of Ahir's Fringe show
ahirshah.com | @AhirShah

See my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe
@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com

www.theirworld.org | www.educationcannotwait.org

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Ahir Shah, Audiences, BBC, College, Comedy, Competitions, Edinburgh, Emo Phillips, Festival, First Open Spot, Free Fringe, Fringe, Have I Got News For You, Interview, London, Mental Health, Nish Kumar, Observational Comedy, Onstage Persona, Panel Shows, political, Radio, Reviews, Risk, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Stereotypes, Structure, Success, TV, Worth, Writing, Writing Jokes

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, Comedy, 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, Stand Up, Success, TV, Twitter, USA, Whoopi Goldberg, Worth

Six years after his first appearance, Josh returns for a textbook ComCom conversation about his creative development since then! We get even further into the minutiae of his writing and structuring process and what makes a perfect observation, plus some spicy celebrity gossip about Taskmaster and the secret of his rebooking success on the Graham Norton Show!

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

Find tickets to Josh's new tour here.

www.joshwiddicombe.com | @joshwiddicombe

See my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe

@ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: #Hypothetical, Acting, Adam Hills, Alex Horne, Audiences, BBC, Channel 4, Comedy, Corporate Gigs, Corporate Work, Dave (TV channel), Ed Gamble, Edinburgh, Fame, Festival, First Open Spot, Frank Skinner, Fringe, Graham Norton, Greg Davies, Hypothetical, Interview, James Acaster, Jimmy Carr, Jobs, Josh Widdicombe, Live, Live At The Apollo, Mainstream, Money, Netflix, Nish Kumar, Observational Comedy, Onstage Persona, Persona, Podcasting, Quickly Kevin will he score?, Radio, Rob Beckett, Seann Walsh, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Steve Martin, Stewart Lee, Structure, Success, Taskmaster, TV, TV Comedy, Twitter, Widdicombe, Worth, Writing, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage

A disciple of "chaotic joy", Sindhu Vee's rise to standup stardom is about as meteoric as they get; just a hop and a skip from the open mic circuit, to award nominations and appearances on "QI" and "Have I Got News For You". A cursory glance at this hyper-qualified former investment banker reveals an addiction to excellence and discipline.

A self-identified "graduate" of this podcast, Sindhu opens up about the defining moment that launched this phase of her life, and celebrates the endless possibilities of self-belief.

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

And see Sindhu on tour HERE.

@sindhuvfunny | sindhuvee.com

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

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Age, Argument, Audiences, BBC, BBC4, College, Comedy, Depression, Eddie Murphy, Edinburgh, Ego, Equality, Fame, Fear, Festival, First Open Spot, Free Fringe, Fringe, Gender, Heckles, India, Indian Comedy, Inspiration, Interview, Isolation, Jobs, Live, Live At The Apollo, London, Mental Health, Onstage Persona, Open Mic, Persona, Radio 4, Risk, School, Sexuality, Stage Persona, Stand Up, Success, TV, Twitter, Up The Creek, Worth, 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, 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, Stand Up, Success, The Comedy Store, The Guardian, Twitter, Whimsy, Who's Round, Worth, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage, XS Malarkey

One of the co-founders of Newport's finest musical export "Goldie Lookin Chain", John "Eggsy" Rutledge is an irrepressibly joyful soul who raps but isn't a rapper.
We talk about the development of the band, why you can't ever get off the tour bus, his "Unexplainers" podcast with Mike Bubbins, and how and when to avoid the grownups.

www.theunexplainers.co.uk | @theunexplainers | @TheGLC | Goldie Lookin Chain
Enjoy ad-free episodes plus a ton of extra content from interviews, as well as access to the private podcast and our super-fan community at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders

Book now for LIVE ComComPod at Birmingham Podcast Festival:

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

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Adam and Joe, Age, Alcohol, Audience Participation, Audiences, Awards, BBC, Big Brother, College, Comedy, Directing, Drinking, Fame, Festival, Flight Of The Conchords, Improv, Inspiration, Interview, Jobs, John Cleese, Mainstream, Money, Monty Python, Music Videos, Musical Comedy, Nick Helm, Onstage Persona, Parody, Persona, Podcasting, Public Enemy, Radio, Reality TV, Rhod Gilbert, Risk, Success, Worth, YouTube