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 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, Stewart Lee, Structure, Success, The Comedy Store, The Young Ones, TV, TV Comedy, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage

Present at the opening night of the London Comedy Store, Nick Revell has been performing satirical, political and absurd standup for four decades. After a ten year break to write for TV, including on topical sitcom "Drop The Dead Donkey", he humbly returned to the open mic circuit to relearn his craft, and shares his unique perspective on how things had changed in that time, on stage, in audiences and in green rooms. We talk about the benefit of sleepless nights, his new narrative shows, and whether after nearly forty years he's finally found his voice... 25mins of extra material available exclusively to members of the Insiders Club include Nick on the excess of the early days of the Store, and some brilliant technical advice on how to absorb an instinct for the shape of a joke...  sign up at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders www.nickrevell.com | @TheNickRevell And go and see Nick's brilliantly titled Fringe show: "Nick Revell: Eurasia’s Most Eligible Psychopaths and Their Lovely Homes" Tickets for my show Primer at this year's Edinburgh Fringe @ComComPod | www.comedianscomedian.com

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Audiences, Channel 4, Comedy Store, Dave Allen, Drop The Dead Donkey, Eddie Izzard, Edinburgh, Fame, Festival, Fringe, Greg Davies, Gyles Brandreth, Henning Wehn, Inspiration, Interview, James Acaster, Jay Leno, Jo Brand, Jobs, John Cleese, John Lloyd, Lenny Bruce, Mental Health, Monty Python, Nick Revell, Open Mic, Pappy’s, Patton Oswalt, Perrier, Persona, Peter Cook, political, Radio, Radio 4, Richard Pryor, Risk, Robin Ince, Sketch, Stage Persona, Stereotypes, Stewart Lee, Storytelling, Structure, Success, The Comedy Store, The House of Spirit Levels, Tony Allen, Tony Hancock, TV, TV Comedy, Twitter, We Are Klang, Whimsy, 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

A diamond-hard joke writer and phenomenally deft performer, there is no aspect of Jeff Innocent's act that hasn't been honed to perfection. 

A purist about several aspects of comedy, some of them surprising, his hard man aesthetic conceals a deadly sophistication. We talk about the poetry of comedy, the pursuit of the rolling laugh, and find out why never to say "hello"...

Around 30mins of extra material available only to members of the insiders club includes Jeff on martial arts, misdirection, feeling vulnerable for the first time, and dropping bombs... Join now at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders

Jeff Innocent Comedy Academy | www.jeffinnocent.com | @InnocentJeff

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. Special Offer:
If you'd like to book Stu's 60min presentation "What Comedy Can Teach Your Business About Resilience" COMPLETELY FREE, there are a strictly limited number of talks available that I'll be using for rehearsal purposes!
Apply by emailing info (a t) comedianscomedian.com if you're in a position to assemble a team of 20 or more members of your staff, who'd benefit from an energising hour about bouncing back from difficult situations, with loads of takeaway tools.

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Adam Bloom, Age, Alternative Comedy, Alun Cochrane, Arthur Smith, Audiences, Brendon Burns, Comedy Store, Edgy, Equality, Fame, George Carlin, Heckles, Interview, Jobs, Jon Robins, Jongleurs, Mark Thomas, Micky Flanagan, Miranda Hart, Money, Omid Djallili, Onstage Persona, Open Spot, Persona, Podcasting, Poetry, political, Political Humour, Racism, Reginald D. Hunter, Reviews, Rhod Gilbert, Rik Mayall, Risk, Ross Noble, School, Shakespeare, Stage Persona, Stereotypes, Steve Martin, Storytelling, Structure, Success, The Comedy Store, The Young Ones, Tony Allen, Twitter, Up The Creek, Writing Jokes

"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

Swaggering and slick yet positive and passionate, Imran Yusuf talks fast and funny, and dances around accusations of arrogance.  The first free fringe act to be nominated for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Festival, appearing shortly afterwards on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow, it looked as if the world was at his feet.  But he is the first to admit he didn't capitalise on his success, and now takes a forensic approach to the business decisions and alliances he regrets. We talk about how his previous job in the video-games industry affects his quality control; uncover the dynamic between his work ethic and an "internal unworthiness", and discover his voracious attitude to personal development... www.imranyusuf.com @ImranYusuf Enjoy all extras from shows past and present with access to the private Insiders Club podcast, alongside a host of other strands and projects, including the chance to interview Stu yourself, and take part in a group critical analysis of newer acts from all over the world: www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” has just gone on sale!

“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

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Acting, Adam Bloom, Audiences, Bill Burr, Chris Rock, Comedy Store, Dave Chappelle, Edinburgh, Festival, Fringe, Interview, Laughing Horse, Live At The Apollo, London, Mental Health, Michael McIntyre, Netflix, Onstage Persona, Open Mic, Perrier Comedy Award, Persona, Phil Nichol, Plagiarism, Pleasance, Reverse Racism, Risk, Rob Rouse, Stage Persona, Stephen K Amos, Success, The Comedy Store, TV, TV Comedy, Twitter, USA, Writing Jokes

Mark Thomas is familiar to fans of British comedy as the innovative leftie agitator whose "Comedy Product" show entrapped arms dealers, torturers and Tories to hilarious effect, and at genuine risk to his safety and liberty. He survived being placed on the Domestic Extremist watch-list, and has transformed into a masterful theatre-maker; no less angry but producing richer and more nuanced work.  We discuss the dynamic between selflessness and control, learn the influence of critical friendships on his creative process, and find out what all of it has cost him... Mark Thomas Tour dates and tickets Exclusive extra material available to podcast supporters at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders includes Mark waxing lyrical on stand-up as an essentially Thatcherite form, his detective work behind the scenes on the NHS, his biggest failure, and which act he once accidentally impersonated at a Jongleurs gig... Enjoy all extras from shows past and present with access to the private Insiders Club podcast, alongside a host of other strands and projects, including the chance to interview Stu yourself, and take part in a group critical analysis of newer acts from all over the world!

Stu’s 2019 tour of “End Of” has just gone on sale!

“A comedy masterclass… Endlessly inventive” (The List)

Tickets for the first half of the tour at these links:

07/10/2018 Aberystwyth Comedy Festival – The Coliseum

22/02/2019 Maidenhead – Norden Farm

01/03/2019 Falmouth – The Poly

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

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Audiences, Edinburgh, Festival, Fringe, Interview, Stage Persona, Steven Wright, Storytelling, Structure, Success, The Comedy Store, The Stand, TV, Up The Creek, Writing Jokes

A fitting guest for the Sestercentennial of the show, Simon "The Patrician" Evans was once Guest Zero - without him the podcast might not exist at all.  A touring and club powerhouse, and Radio 4 regular, his every line and inflection is a polished diamond.  We explore the grind necessary to achieve those results, discover the devilment beneath his political dalliances, and learn which TV comic pushed him to "adapt or die"...

Hear extra material from this conversation with Simon, as well as from Dara O'Briain, James Acaster and more, PLUS a load of other interactive comedy projects giving you more tailored direct advice on creating work.  Don't miss out, download the private "Insiders Club" podcast at www.comedianscomedian.com/insiders

See Simon's "Genius 2.0" at Edinburgh

@TheSimonEvans

See Stu on tour over the next month, including a DVD record of the tour show on June 14th in Bristol:

12/06/2018 Edinburgh, The Monkey Barrel

13/06/2018 Glasgow, The Stand

14/06/2018 DVD RECORD IN BRISTOL 

15/06/2018 Birmingham Glee

17/06/2018 Brighton Komedia

21-23 June London, Soho Theatre

29/06/2018 Tringe Festival

LISTEN HERE

Filed Under: Age, Alun Cochrane, Audiences, Comedy Store, Corporate Work, Edinburgh, Festival, First Open Spot, Fringe, Heckles, Interview, Jimmy Carr, Jobs, Lee Mack, Live At The Apollo, Money, Observational Comedy, Persona, Radio 4, Reviews, Risk, Simon Munnery, Stage Persona, Stereotypes, Structure, Success, The Comedy Store, The Stand, Touring Comedian, TV, Twitter, Writing Jokes, Writing On Stage