Pleasance Comedy Podcast

At the end of the 2012 comedy festival, Thom Tuck invited fellow comedians Matthew Crosby, James Acaster and Nick Helm down to the Pleasance Courtyard for a coffee and a discussion about masculinity in comedy. Unfortunately Nick couldn't make it to the interview at the same time as everyone else; and so a cunning plan was hatched. Thom would simply interview Nick separately and then edit in his bits with the rest of the tapes. It didn't work. But rather than admit defeat, we've decided to...

At the end of the 2012 comedy festival, Thom Tuck invited fellow comedians Matthew Crosby, James Acaster and Nick Helm down to the Pleasance Courtyard for a coffee and a discussion about masculinity in comedy. Unfortunately Nick couldn't make it to the interview at the same time as everyone else; and so a cunning plan was hatched. Thom would simply interview Nick separately and then edit in his bits with the rest of the tapes. It didn't work. But rather than admit defeat, we've decided to...

Each and every year at the Edinburgh Festival the Pleasance use the very special Charlie Hartill fund to produce and finance the Comedy Reserve to help fledgling comedians get ahead in the industry. Previous comedians to come through the Comedy Reserve include Jack Whitehall, Holly Walsh, Pippa Evans and Simon Brodkin. The 2012 cast is just as good, featuring Chris Turner, John Kearns, Matt Rees and Suzy Bennett with stories of being chased by Arthur Smith, being the new Vic and Bob and the...

For the next ten weeks the Pleasance are having a look back at the 2012 Comedy Festival - with so much happening there was no way we were going to fit it all into August. This week the nicest man in the world herds cats in the Terrace Bar in the Pleasance - or to be more accurate Radio 1's Tom Deacon has a friendly chat with sketch group Wittank. The podcast brings together four of the sharpest and funniest young comedians on the scene at the moment. There's stand up from Tom and one of...

For the next ten weeks the Pleasance is taking a look back at the comedians that played the Edinburgh Festival in 2012. In this podcast we hear from Suzi Ruffell as she interviews her comedy chum Josh Widdicombe about his time at the Fringe, the Olympics and the superstar lifestyle that he has become accustomed to. There's stand up from Suzi and Josh, and what better way to escape the autumnal rain than a ray of sunshine from the Courtyard. Recorded in August 2012.

The Pleasance in 2012 has been sunny, fast paced and bulging with a huge variety of comedy with something there for everyone. With so many comedians coming to the Pleasance from spiritual medium Ian D Montfort to the cheeky chappy Rob Beckett; the rampant Nick Helm and the elegant Shappi Khorsandi, we couldn’t possibly cram them all in, but here are some of our highlights. Eddie Izzard introduces us to Trevor Noah and Michael Mittermeier two of this year’s biggest international hits at the...

One's a ex-street performer and one's still a policeman officer, yet some how we still like them both. Stuart Goldsmith is in his eighteenth year at the Edinburgh Fringe whilst his guest on the comedy podcast is a relative newcomer with just three years under Alfie Moore's belt, but with celebrity endorsements and the threat of arrest they've become firm friends. In this podcast you'll hear about severed heads, lesbians on a stag night, David Mitchell, pickup techniques, the London riots and...

The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is not about awards, accolades, star ratings or even reviews. It's about art, performance, creation, celebrating and losing vital musical instruments. Matthew Crosby takes over the Pleasance Comedy Festival Podcast and does so in fine style. It's a packed show and the longest the podcast has even been, so get comfortable on your commute and get ready to hear from David Trent (Nominated for Best Newcomer), Matthew's fellow members of Pappy's Ben Clark and Tom...

The Pleasance has been supporting Waverley Care, Scotland's leading HIV and Hepatitis C charity for twenty one years. Whether it be selling ribbons in the Courtyard or raising awareness online, the Pleasance is proud to be partnered with a charity that accomplishes so much and helps so many people affected by the conditions. Each and every year in the middle week of the festival we have the Tartan Ribbon Benefit gig, and this year was a little bit special. David O Doherty, Jarred Christmas,...

Sometimes you can't explain things with science. Sometimes things are unbelievable. Sometimes, just sometimes we are lucky enough to meet more than just a man. Today, you can meet a man that is more than just a man. Ian D. Montfort is the world's leading celebrity medium, and we are blessed with the grace of his time as he shares his ability with not only you, but with a true believer. Tom Stade was selected to have a private sitting with Ian to try to contact the significant celebrities in...

The Pleasance Comedy Festival Podcast has never been more packed. Sarah Kendall has taken over and boy does she have a show for you. First up is very special guest Shappi Khorsandi who chats with Sarah about her rock star ex-boyfriend, men’s sense of humour and comedians laughter. Also on this podcast we have the next instalment of The Pleasance Alternative Olympics with Benny from Axis of Awesome. The Pleasance are proud to support Waverley Care and have been for 21 years, to celebrate...

What would you do if you had Marilyn Manson’s phone number? What about Paul Robinson’s? Add Joel Dommett and Rob Beckett into the mix and you have one heck of a party on your hands. Rob Beckett has been given full control of this here podcast and he has invited along Joel Dommett for a chat. We hear who these guys have in their phone books, as well as tips on how to survive the fringe as a performer. Oh and Rob and Joel tell us some interesting ways to relax. Rob is here with his debut solo...

The word genius is banded about too often when describing comedians. Adam Kay is a very talented pianist and particularly astute comedy writer and solo star of Amateur Transplants: Bum Notes at the Pleasance this year. In this podcast Adam takes control and has a wonderful chat with Simon Evans. Both gifted comedians are avid Tweeters which quickly becomes the focus conversation, before hitting hard subjects such as Chinese desserts, Boris Johnson and the Olympics impact on Britain. We're...

Ever wondered what an episode of Live at the Apollo hosted by Michael McIntyre featuring Stewart Lee, Josh Widdicombe and Ian Paisley? No? Really? Well the Pleasance is here with the answer. We have given full control of the Pleasance Comedy Festival Podcast to Seann Walsh who is joined by Elis James. Their conversation takes us all over the place; Scarface, movie posters, Stewart Lee, hygein issues and everyone’s favourite Fringe topic flyer-ers. Seann is back in Edinburgh with his new show...

Improv! Is it harder to sit down for hours upon hours and craft a well written comedy show, or is it harder to stand in front of a room of strangers with nothing in the bag and create something entirely new every single day? Cariad Lloyd takes over the Pleasance Comedy Festival Podcast to discuss the finer points of improvisation with Rob Broderick, the wordsmith genius behind Abandoman. Both comedians have passionate views on what makes a good show and share anecdotes of their successes and...

An Edinburgh virgin no more; deflowered by five fantastic shows full of comedy, music and laughter - Shaun Keaveny ends his mini series of podcasts with a show to remember. Not only do the fantastic Horne Section give us a spectacular finale to proceedings, but messrs Carl Donnelly and Al Pitcher share the most inappropriate stories about Liam Gallagher, self love and airplanes they can muster. From New Zealand to drug dealers, Alicia Keys to the Final Countdown, this is a podcast not to be...

Shaun Keaveny makes another notch in his Edinburgh bedpost, as he makes his fourth appearance at The Pleasance in 40 Year Old Edinburgh Virgin. We have another scorcher of a show for you today as we continue to bring you the best of the Edinburgh Fringe. Shaun has invited another couple of the biggest acts of the festival to join him on his sofa and is also joined by a fantastic musical group to close out the show. Plus a very special guest makes a surprise appearance. Marcel Lucont has been...

Back for his third ever stint on the boards, Shaun Keaveny returns to the podcast bringing yet another killer line up to your ears for the commute to work. If you can't be in Edinburgh for the Festival Fringe the Pleasance Comedy Festival Podcast will endeavour to bring you the best, funniest and most interesting characters and comedians in the city. This podcast certainly manages that, Sara Pascoe joins Shaun on the Jonathon Ross style sofa to tell a packed room what she's been up to in the...

There have been many band rivals throughout history – Oasis v Blur, Tupac v The Notorious B.I.G. and the Justin Bieber v the Rest of the World – but nowhere has such a rivalry been so fierce, so personal than right here on the Pleasance Comedy Festival Podcast. The Axis of Awesome have made the Pleasance their home for 2012 and host the first podcast of the festival, but rather than soaking up the culture or exploring the fine city of Edinburgh, the Axis invited rock band Dead Cat Bounce...

Welcome back to the Pleasance Comedy Festival Podcast for 2012. This year promises to be even more exciting than last year, with the City of Edinburgh already buzzing with excitement, the performers arriving by the train-load and the production crews sweating bullets to get everything ready in time. In this preview podcast, internationally acclaimed comedian, actor and director Mike McShane walks us through what you can expect from the Pleasance Courtyard and Dome, plus what to expect from...