A RICH COMIC LIFE PODCAST

In this episode, I talk to the great comedian, writer and rapper, Joe Jacobs. Based in London, Jacobs’ style is to mix the comedy with rap. He has been seen and heard on amongst others, BBC Radio 4, BBC 6 Music and gained millions of online views. Apart from stand-up comedy, he is also known as Jester Jacobs and has been releasing steady music since his debut album in 2008, Mental Disorder. His two Edinburgh Fringe solo shows, Ripe, in 2017 and Grimefulness, in 2019 both received critical acclaim. I saw him give an exceptionally funny performance at 21 Soho, London in 2022, and I am looking forward to seeing the highly original comic talent again in 2024. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Please read Joe Jacobs’ blog at: www.arichcomiclife.blog/2022/10/09/joe-jacobs/ Joe Jacobs’ Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/jesterjacobs Twitter: www.twitter.com/jesterjacobs Instagram: www.instagram.com/jesterjacobs/ You Tube: www.youtube.com/jesterjacobs Website: www.joejacobs.website

In this episode, I talk to Dr Oliver Double. Dr Double is an academic and was previously an accomplished stand-up comedian who regularly played the circuit and created Sheffield’s longest running comedy club, The Last Laugh. Since 1999, he has been based at the University of Kent School of Arts, teaching and researching comic and popular performance. He has written several books and has helped to establish The British Stand Up Comedy Archive (BSUCA). Dr Double is also the regular compere of the Funny Rabbit Comedy Club performing at the Gulbenkian Theatre, Canterbury. I first saw Dr Double at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2015 where he interviewed Jo Brand and Alexei Sayle for his Talking Comedy series. I visited the Bristol Slapstick Festival in 2023 where Double was a guest of Robin Ince talking about the books of Monty Python. In 2023, I visited twice the BSUCA, where I watched Double compere a Funny Rabbit Comedy night, and I am very proud to say that the comedians’ interviews featured in my podcast are being added to the Archive collection. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Please read Dr Double’s blog at: www.arichcomiclife.blog/2023/01/29/dr-oliver-double/ Dr Oliver Double Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/oliver.double/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/OliverDouble/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/oliver.double/ Website: www.kent.ac.uk/arts/people/544/double-oliver Website: www.arichcomiclife.blog/the-british-stand-up-comedy-archive/

In this episode, I talk to the wonderful comedian, BARRY FERNS Beginning his stand-up career in 1995 aged 17, then quitting stand-up to make Edinburgh Fringe sketch shows, and then starting stand-up again from 2008, Barry Ferns is an extremely quick-witted host and headline comedian. One of the founding members of Angel Comedy in London and nominated for best compere at the Chortle Awards in 2014 for his work at the Angel Comedy Club, in 2012, he was in the final of the Leicester Square Comedian of The Year competition and he regularly appears at many comedy festivals. I have seen Ferns perform for Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of The Fringe at the Edinburgh Festival in 2015 and at the Hastings Fringe Comedy Festival 2022 hosting the Norman Award Newcomer of The Year. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Barry Ferns Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/barrybarryferns/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/barryferns Instagram: www.instagram.com/barrybarryferns/ Website: www.barryferns.co.uk

In this episode, I talk to the great comedian, JIM DALY. Presenter, actor and writer, London-based stand-up comedian Daly has hosted Chesham Comedy night and performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. He is a regular writing contributor for the extremely popular News Revue show. A Crystal Palace fan, he hosts the weekly football show, Football Friday on https://www.joe.co.uk/, the FYP Podcast, one of the UKs most downloaded independent football podcasts and has had more than five million views online for his comedy football songs and blogs. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Jim Daly Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/jimdalycomedy/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/jimdalycomedy Instagram: www.instagram.com/jimdalycomedy/ Website: www.jimdalycomedy.com/

In this episode, I talk to the wonderful comedian, ANDREW BIRD. Bird is a regular headliner on the comedy circuit and has supported the likes of Rob Brydon, Rhod Gilbert and Michael McIntyre on tour. A brilliant storyteller on stage with a very likeable persona, he is a brilliant comedian. On TV, he has written for 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown, Lee Mack’s Duck Quacks Don’t Echo, and Jon Richardson’s Ultimate Warrior. On radio, he is a regular guest on BBC Radio 2’s The Rhod Gilbert Show. I have seen Bird perform at the Krater Comedy Club in Brighton and for Boatshow Comedy in 2015, Top Secret Comedy Club in 2020 and The Return of The Craic Online in 2021. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Please read Andrew Bird’s blog at: www.arichcomiclife.blog/2020/09/07/andrew-bird/ Andrew Bird Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/AndrewBirdComedian Twitter: www.twitter.com/a_tweety_bird Instagram: www.instagram.com/andrewbirdcomedian/ Website: www.andrewbirdcomedian.com

In this episode, I talk to the great comedian, VICTORIA MELODY. Award winning comedian Melody writes, produces and performs comedy, theatre and film. With a love of experimentation, she has appeared on stage in such diverse roles as a pigeon fancier, dog handler, funeral director, beauty queen and police officer. Her stand-up comedy is enthusiastic, off-the-wall, original, and relatable. Her solo show for the Edinburgh Festival in 2022 saw her perform with a headset describing the processes of comedy. Brimming with ideas, Melody is an extremely funny and endearing comedian. I have seen Melody appear twice as part of the Sofa So Funny showcase, at St Christopher’s Pub, Liverpool Street, London in 2022 and Upstairs at The Flying Horse in Liverpool Street, London in 2023. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Please read Victoria Melody’s blog at: www.arichcomiclife.blog/2022/03/19/victoria-melody/ Victoria Melody Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheVictoriaMelody Twitter: www.twitter.com/victoriamelody Instagram: www.instagram.com/victoriamelody_/ Website: www.victoriamelody.com

In this episode, I talk to the wonderful comedian, BELLA HULL. Bella Hull is a London-based stand-up comedian and writer. Very engaging and exciting on stage, she is confident and extremely funny with very clever material about her life and career. Hull performed her debut solo show, Babycakes, at the Edinburgh Fringe and then the Soho Theatre to rave reviews in 2022. I have watched Hull perform for Always Be Comedy both online, and at Sambrook’s Brewery in Wandsworth in 2022, and at the Kennington venue in 2023. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Please read Bella Hull’s blog at: www.arichcomiclife.blog/2022/04/03/bella-hull/ Bella Hull Links: Twitter: www.twitter.com/bellabellahull Instagram: www.instagram.com/bellabellahull/

In this episode, I talk to the brilliant comedian and photographer, STEVE BEST. As a comedian, Best has a very immature and zany presence on stage elevating his comedy to laugh-out-loud status. He is a man of many talents and has an exceptional form of slapstick humour. As a photographer, Best has unprecedented access to the comedy world, regularly seen at comedy gigs taking photographs of the comics backstage and capturing the real essence of what it is like to be a stand-up comedian. His wonderful, published books, to date, are Comedy Snapshot (2014), Joker Face (2017) and Comedians (2022). The sequel Comedians 2 is due for publication in September 2023. All are available from his website below. I have watched Best perform at the Putney Comedy Tree in London in 2009, as well as attending the exhibitions Steve Best: Clicking Comedians (2018), Steve Best: Comedians Back To Front (2019) and was an invited guest for the launch of his book Comedians (2022), all at the Observatory Photographic Gallery in London. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Please read Steve Best’s blog at: www.arichcomiclife.blog/2020/01/26/steve-best/ Steve Best Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/SteveBestComic/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/SteveBestComic/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/stevebestpics/ Website: www.stevebest.com

For the 100th episode, I talk to a special guest, the brilliant comedian, JACK DOCHERTY. Docherty is a Scottish comedian, actor, and writer. He first performed at the 1980 Edinburgh Fringe with the comedy sketch group The Bodgers (with Moray Hunter, Gordon Kennedy and Peter Baikie). Docherty and Hunter became staff writers for the BBC radio comedy contributing to shows such as Radio Active, Week Ending and The News Huddlines. They were teamed with Norwenna Banks and John Sparkes and went onto make four series of the successful sketch show, Absolutely, for Channel 4 between 1989 and 1992. Also in the eighties, his writing skills helped make Spitting Image, Alas Smith & Jones, Vic Reeves Big Night Out, and The Lenny Henry Show, all major hits. In 1997 (until 1999), he was part of the launch of Channel 5, becoming Britain's first five nights a week chat show host on The Jack Docherty Show. From 2014, he has memorably starred as Chief Miekelson in BBC Scotland’s Scot Squad, winning awards for the part, and then wrote and starred in radio and television versions of Stop Start In 2018 he returned to the Edinburgh Fringe with new solo shows in 2018 and 2022, and has a new show, David Bowie and Me: Parallel Lives in 2023. I have many happy memories of sitting in the audience at recordings of The Jack Docherty Show at The Whitehall Theatre in London (now Trafalgar Theatre) from 1997 to 1999. I have also seen Docherty perform for Stop Start at the BBC Radio Theatre in 2015, and his solo shows Miekelson and McGlashan: Serious Men at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2018 and Nothing But, at the Soho Theatre, London in 2022. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Please read Jack Docherty’s blog at: www.arichcomiclife.blog/2018/08/30/jack-docherty/ Jack Docherty Links: Twitter: www.twitter.com/mrjackdocherty Instagram: www.instagram.com/mrjackdocherty

In this episode, I talk to the fantastic comedian, IAN STONE about his comedy career. Stone is a writer, podcaster, broadcaster and one of the best stand-up comedians and comperes in Britain. On stage, he appears easy-going yet anxious, delivering hysterical topical humour with a downgrading and mocking tone. On the comedy circuit for years and receiving a nomination for best show in 2012 at the Leicester Comedy Festival awards, his 2022 Edinburgh show, Righter of Wrongs, was a sellout, and he is returning to the Fringe with a brand-new show in August 2023. I have seen Stone many times over the years, and he has made me laugh out loud consistently. I first saw him at the BBC Stand Up Show in Edinburgh in 2007, then, amongst others, Banana Cabaret in Balham in 2013, the Ealing Comedy Festival in 2016 and his solo 2023 show at the Leicester Comedy Festival, In The Wilderness. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Please read Ian Stone’s blog at: www.arichcomiclife.blog/2019/06/23/ian-stone/ Ian Stone Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/ianstonecomedian/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/iandstone Instagram: www.instagram.com/iandstone Website: www.ianstonecomedian.co.uk

In this episode, I talk to the wonderful comedian, BRENNAN REECE about his comedy career. Reece is a working class, northern comedian who won became a comedian in 2010 and won the English Comedian of The Year in 2015. His cheeky on-stage persona is extremely funny and very endearing. I have watched Reece perform for The Return of The Craic online comedy club in 2021, the Edinburgh Comedy Allstars, and his brilliant solo show, Crowded, at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2022 and for Always Be Comedy in London also in 2022. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Please read Brennan Reece’s blog at: www.arichcomiclife.blog/2021/01/31/brennan-reece/ Brennan Reece’s Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/brennan.reece/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/brennanreece Instagram: www.instagram/brennanreece Website: www.brennanreece.com

In this episode, I talk to the great comedian, Nick Kirk. Kirk’s first gig was the inaugural Sofa SoFunny! online gig in December 2020. He became a consistent act when the showcase, created by his friend Leslie Gold, went live twice a month firstly at St Christopher’s pub, Liverpool Street and then Upstairs at The Flying Horse on Wilson Street. Whether performing as himself or in character, Kirk is very clever and witty with his comedy. His character Dave Steed, a fire inspector passing judgement on the venue clearly struggling divorce and bad life choices, is an inspired creation, regularly performed and popular with audiences. Kirk deserves every success with his comic journey. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Please read Nick Kirk's blog at: https://arichcomiclife.blog/2022/02/17/nick-kirk/ Nick Kirk Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/nick.kirk.735 Twitter: www.twitter.com/thatbaldyfella/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/thatbaldyfella/ Instagram: www.instragram.com/davesteedsafety/

In this episode, I chat to Chris Young & Jake Alexander – the Co-Directors of the Hastings Comedy Festival. The Hastings Comedy Festival started in 2015. Based on an idea by friends Young and Alexander, numerous live comedy events take place over five days every Summer. Situated in the beautiful seaside area of Hastings and St Leonards, the festival proves more popular every year. I have been in attendance the last few years and the festival is now a fixture in my comedy calendar. I have watched many comedians at the festival including Helen Bauer, Tony Law, Barry Fearns, Lily Phillips, Elliot Steel and President Obonjo. The Hasting Comedy Festival 2023 takes place from Wednesday 14th June to Sunday 18th June, and I will be there for the full run. See website below for further information and tickets. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Hastings Comedy Festival Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/hastingscomedy/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/Hastingscomedy Instagram: www.instagram.com/hastingscomedyfestival/ Website: www.hastingscomedyfestival.com

In this episode, I chat to fellow comedy superfan, Mark Duqueno. Over the years, Duqueno has seen almost as many, if not more comedians than me! In July 2022, he created the amazing podcast Comedy In A Nutshell, where, to quote, he ‘asks the big questions, What is comedy? Who is it, and why is it? To help me I’ve enlisted the help of comedians, performers, promoters, and fans, to discuss what comedy means to them, and to sum all their experience up in a nutshell.’ I have bumped into Duqueno many times at comedy nights and festivals where it is a pleasure to catch up and talk all things comedy. In February 2023, we did a joint podcast A Rich Comic In Life In A Nutshell celebrating 30 years of The Leicester Comedy Festival: www.arichcomiclife.blog/2023/02/24/episode-87-a-rich-comic-life-in-a-nutshell-from-leicester-comedy-festival/ Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Mark Duqueno Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/mark.duqueno/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/thecomedynerd Instagram: www.instagram.com/thecomedynerd/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/comedyinanutshell/ Comedy In A Nutshell Podcast: Comedy in a Nutshell on Apple Podcasts

In the second of two special episodes celebrating the 40th anniversary of Downstairs at The Kings Head comedy club, I talk to the brilliant comedian and film director, JOE BOR about his career. Bor is an actor, writer, director, producer, editor, and stand-up comedian. A brilliant character comedian who I have seen compere at the 99 Club in London’s Leicester Square in 2017, his films include the short film, Clown (2021) starring Seann Walsh and Shappi Korshandi, Ian Congnito: A Life And A Death On Stage (2022), and a film about the history of Downstairs at The Kings Head, The Oldest Comedy Club in Britain (2023). His new film Unstoppable Me is currently in production. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Please read Joe Bor’s blog at: www.arichcomiclife.blog/2020/09/07/joe-bor/ Joe Bor Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/joe.bor.5 Twitter: www.twitter.com/josephbor Instagram: www.instagram.com/joebor1/ Websites: www.joebor.co.uk; www.joeborfilms.com

In the first of two special episodes celebrating the 40th anniversary of Downstairs at The Kings Head comedy club, I talk to the wonderful owner of the club, PETER GRAHAME about his comedy career. Downstairs at the Kings Head is one of the oldest comedy clubs in Britain. Founded in 1981 by Grahame and Huw Thomas (who became the regular compere until his retirement), the intimate venue has never moved from the Kings Head pub, Crouch End in North London. The 40th Anniversary gig which I attended took place in April 2023 (rescheduled after two years because of the pandemic). With a bill featuring Al Murray, Phil Nichol, Nick Helm, Arthur Smith, Miles Jupp, Ria Lina, Laura Smyth, Shazia Mirza and back for one night only compere, Thomas, the anniversary night was filled with laughter and nostalgia. Walking into the club that evening, just as I had done for the first time thirty years ago, brought back many happy memories, including watching Harry Hill and Jeff Green both playing one of their earliest gigs there. It was a pleasure chatting to the co-founder and promoter of this iconic comedy club. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Downstairs at The Kings Head Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/DownstairsatKH/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/downstairskhead Instagram: www.instagram.com/downstairskhead/ Website: www.downstairsatthekingshead.com

In this episode, I talk to the wonderful comedian LESLIE GOLD about her comedy career. American Leslie Gold, based in London, is a wonderful no-nonsense stand-up comedian whose material discussing every-day life is direct and hilarious. Since Gold comperes and created Sofa SoFunny! comedy club, a comedy night for new and aspiring comedians (around ten per gig) with regular comic Nick Kirk, and a star-turn for a headliner. Starting online in December 2020, Sofa SoFunny! live shows in London began in September 2021 and go from strength to strength every fortnight. In 2022, I attended my first Sofa SoFunny! comedy showcase at its first home, St Christopher’s pub, London Bridge, and then I attended six more over time at the same venue, and at its current residence for a further five shows, upstairs at The Flying Horse, Wilson Street in London in 2022 and 2023. I am now a regular guest at the brilliant comedy night. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Please read Leslie Gold’s blog at: www.arichcomiclife.blog/2022/02/17/leslie-gold/ Leslie Gold’s Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/LeslieGold Twitter: www.twitter.com/RealLeslieGold Instagram: www.instagram.com/reallesliegold/ Sofa SoFunny! Links: www.facebook.com/SofaSoFunny/ www.twitter.com/SofaSofunny www.instagram.com/sofasofunny/

In this episode, I talk to the great comedian PETER MERRE about his comedy career. Merre is based in London has been compering and performing stand-up comedy since 2016. His comedy is topical, razor sharp and extremely funny. He has appeared on Sky TV’s Soccer AM, can be heard on TALKSPORT radio and is a writer for BBC Radio 4’s Newsjack. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Peter Merre’s Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/petermerre Twitter: www.twitter.com/topicalcomedian Instagram: www.instagram.com/topicalcomedian/

In this episode, I talk to the fantastic comedian ANIA MAGLIANO about her comedy career. Magliano is an Italian-Polish comedian based in London, who made the final of the Chortle Student Comedy Award in 2018 and the Funny Women Award in 2020. On stage, she is an exceptionally confident, warm, and funny comedian, who is highly recommended. I have seen Magliano perform both live and online at Always Be Comedy in 2021 and 2022. I also saw her debut solo Edinburgh Fringe show, Absolutely No Worries If Not, in 2022. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Please read Ania Magliano’s blog at: www.arichcomiclife.blog/2021/10/09/ania-magliano/ Ania Magliano’s Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/aniamaglianocomedy Twitter: www.twitter.com/AniaMags Instagram: www.instagram.com/aniamagliano/ Website: www.aniamagliano.com

In this episode, I talk to the GEOFF ROWE, the founder of the Leicester Comedy Festival. Rowe, and a group of student friends, set up the annual event in 1994, when they were studying Arts Management at Leicester’s De Montfort University. Every February since, the comedy festival has played host to a wealth of comedy performances attracting visitors from all over the country. In 2023, after celebrating the 30th anniversary, Rowe has stepped down. and created an extraordinary legacy. The event plans to continue in 2024 (from 7th to 25th February) and will carry on Rowe’s legacy. In 2023, Rowe was presented with the Outstanding Legend Award at the Leicester Comedy Festival Awards. Over the years, the 19-day festival has grown to become one of the longest-running independent festivals in the UK. I have been going to the Leicester Comedy Festival every year since 2020 and have seen amazing comedians including Arthur Smith, Alex Bennett, Flo & Joan, Sara Barron, Steve Bujega, Jarred Christmas, Marcus Brigstocke, Lloyd Griffith, Scott Bennett, Gary Jennision, Jed Salisbury, Vix Leyton, Rich Wilson, Garrett Millerick, Masai Graham, Kirsty Munro, Fred Ferenczi, Rob Rouse, Ian Stone, Darren Walsh, Sikisa, Josh Pugh, Lou Conran, Daniel Petrie, Aideen McQueen, Kevin O’Brien, Eddie Mullarkey, Eric Rushton, Jurgen Strack, Friz Frizzle, Edi Johnson, Steve Royle, Alisdair Beckett-King and Michelle Shaugnessy. Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview. Please read Geoff Rowe’s blog at: www.arichcomiclife.blog/2023/03/20/geoff-rowe/ Geoff Rowe’s Links: Facebook: www.facebook.com/geoff.rowe.37 Twitter: www.twitter.com/geoff_rowe Instagram: www.instagram.com/geoff_rowebem/ Websites: www.comedy-festival.co.uk www.ukkidscomedyfestival.co.uk