RHLSTP with Richard Herring

RHLSTP Book Club #164 - Dianarama - Richard chats to journalist and documentary maker Andy Webb about his exhaustively researched (and lived) book Dianarama which is about the Martin Bashir interview with Princess Diana and the lies and subterfuge that were required to get it and the alleged cover up at the BBC that followed. How much did the BBC bosses know and how soon? Why hasn’t it been properly investigated at the Beeb? Was Bashir’s exploitation of Diana’s understandable fears at least partly responsible for her death? Why did the BBC give Bashir a cushy job as late as 2016 when he had already been discredited? What has driven Andy to commit so much time to trying to get to the bottom of it all and why has he met such a wall of resistance? Does Richard’s attendance at St Catherine’s College Oxford mean that he might be involved somehow? Where does mad conspiracy theory end and cover up begin? Maybe only the historians of 500 years time will be able to put all the pieces together, but maybe Prince William will be able to make some headway into the weird goings on in the 1990s and the dodgy behaviour at the BBC. Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/dianarama-the-betrayal-of-princess-diana-andy-webb/02f9cfa4523783c7 SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP #592 - Smell My Suit - It’s another Leicester Square Theatre podcast and Rich is wondering if he’s already got to the point where his kids are funnier than him (low bar). His guest is the multi-talented and almost ubiquitous Paul F Tompkins. They chat about the practical drawbacks of acting with a claw, why Mr Peanut Butter in Bojack Horseman has the same voice as Paul, the unique confidence of starting stand-up at 17 and assuming you’re the best, why Paul wears a suit on stage and whether Rich should check it for freshness, the amazing Beatles-like fandom behind the long running show The Thrilling Adventure Hour and how Paul has successfully bridged old and new comedy in what he does, whether it’s better to be in one episode of everything or all episodes of one thing, an exemplary display of how to answer emergency questions and one of the possible reasons why Richard isn’t a more successful actor. See RHLSTP Live - https://richardherring.com/gigs SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#418 Starfish Perineum - Rich is back to his usual chair this week and tries to influence an impossible to win bet before being joined by Victoria Coren Mitchell. They chat about the disconnect between Victoria’s teenage angst and then partying with Frankie Howerd, the worst celebrity poker players, why the coughing Major should have gone for anal beads, how Victoria charmingly manages to lose money doing her Radio 4 show, how it’s possible that she didn’t learn to ride a bike as a child, the possible arrogance of the producers of Mary Poppins, the statue that made Victoria cry. Plus are the cracks starting to show in the Coren-Mitchell marriage? (or can the tabloids manage to spin this conversation to make it appear that they are?). Rich is over tired and starts to lose it by the end, so worth hanging around for that! Come and see us live http://richardherring.com/rhlstp Buy Richard’s new book here http://gofasterstripe.com/ball SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP Book Club #163 - Lost On Infinity - Richard talks to Steve Punt about the book and incredible multi-media experience that he has created (along with Elaine and Matthew Sweetapple), Lost On Infinity. They have a long chat about Steve’s Benjamin Button career from starting on BBC1 on the Jasper Carrott show to 26 years on the Now Show, the lessons that the rollercoaster of Weekending taught them both and whether Eric Idle might be Steve’s dad. Then they discuss the long gestation period of the book and the rock opera and why it was important that for all the magic of the writing that the project was scientific, how it manages to make points about the environment and extinction without detracting from the story, whether it would be preferable to live in a world without dogs or without humans, why the ultimate goal is to create a work that can be enjoyed by all members of a family and why it’s good to use language and music that pushes the reader of listener and doesn’t patronise them. Buy the book here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Lost-Infinity-creatures-incredible-dramatised/dp/1739263065 Find out more about Rockford’s Rock Opera at RockfordsRockOpera.com SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP #591 - Grolsch - Richard is back at the Leicester Sq Theatre and has a new moral dilemma to rival the Trolley Problem. How guest is actor, presenter, film director, author and philosopher Richard Ayoade. They discuss Ayoade’s impressively varied career, why he wrongly doesn’t see himself as an actor, the sleeper cult show Garth Merenghi Darkplace, being the only one of the British/Irish cast who went to America to do the IT Crowd pilot, trying not to laugh at Bob Mortimer, why there should be more 40 minute films, his fabulous book of comedy wisdom “Afterthoughts” and whether anyone watched “The Watch”. Buy Afterthoughts here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/afterthoughts-some-pistachios-won-t-open-wisdom-for-an-unreflective-age-richard-ayoade/7893644 See RHLSTP Live - https://richardherring.com/gigs SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#417 Captain Dick - Rich and some other Londoners are only alive today thanks to his skilful driving which means he is here to interview the absolutely remarkable Anneka Rice. They discuss her new stand up career and the way she tackles serious subjects like death and Alzheimers in her radio show Anneka Has Issues, why she was recently arrested at an airport, the return of Challenge Anneka and whether there’s the same community spirit that there was 30 years ago, the physical imperfection that nearly derailed her entire on screen career (despite it not existing), CB TV Channel 14 (that maybe only Richard remembers), how Anneka nearly killed a man and then considered killing her dad and what she would have to do to change her obituary photo. Come and see us live http://richardherring.com/rhlstp Buy Richard’s new book here http://gofasterstripe.com/ball SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP Book Club #162 - The Traitors Circle - Richard talks to journalist and author Jonathan Freedland about his non-fiction thriller, The Traitors Circle, which isn’t about the TV series, but the horrific consequences of failing to discover a traitor in your midst in real life. They chat about the parallels between Nazi Germany and other more recent political developments, the surprising group of people who resisted Hitler in varying degrees and the complicity of the vast majority. How one of the characters in the story was at the heart of development of mass extermination and how others were willing to go along with mass murder, the incredible luck that Hitler enjoyed in the various assassination plots that he survived, the fervour with which his supporters continued his work, even as their enemy was at the gates and how there is no justice for the traitor at the heart of the circle. Plus how in spite of the horror of the subject, the bravery and rebellion of the people who opposed the regime is an incredible positive and what effect does a subject like this have on the author. Buy the book here https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-traitors-circle-the-rebels-against-the-nazis-and-the-spy-who-betrayed-them-jonathan-freedland/7872819 SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP #590 - Richard Osman Urinal Conundrum - Richard is at the Podcast Room in Central London, with a spare hour of studio time and Rhys James already in the hot seat, so let’s do a good old-fashioned rude RHLSTP with little to no research. The pair end up discussing how poker can buy you a sofa (or just buy one), haggling too hard for picture frames with clocks in them, Rolex spoons, selling only one DVD of your comedy special (deliberately), how Rhys intends to prank the lactose intolerant, what it’s like to be tall but identify as small, how to wee next to a man in a theatre toilet and what happens to Taskmaster when Greg Davies dies. Buy Rhys’ book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/you-ll-like-it-when-you-get-there-a-life-lived-reluctantly-rhys-james/7844250 SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#416 John the Mouse - Rich has some helpful suggestions to help the footballers support LGBTQ+ rights and is amazed by the press reaction to last week’s podcast. His guest is superlative stand up comedian and podcaster James Acaster. They discuss Nasty Nick’s funeral, the Richard E Grant mystery, why James never retired from stand up and why he’s now inviting hecklers, the weird experience of being a last minute replacement mouse in Cinderella, confusing and angering people with his fantastically funny new book “James Acaster’s Guide to Quitting Social Media”, his new audio sitcom and how his brilliant routine about edgy comics has done no good at all. Plus will James agree with Richard’s conjecture that all music is terrible? Buy James’ book here https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/james-acaster-s-guide-to-quitting-social-media-james-acaster/6882707 Listen to Springleaf here - https://www.jamesacaster.com/springleaf/ Buy Richard’s book here http://gofasterstripe.com/ball SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP Book Club #161 - Seriously Silly - The Life of Terry Jones - Richard chats to renowned comedy historian Robert Ross about his fabulous new biography of actor, writer, director and Python, Terry Jones. The topics includes what it’s like to befriend a Python and how that friendship affects the writing of a biography, how comedy history can be a map for future comedians, how Jones’ influence in the sketch group is perhaps underestimated, how the Python members could never have imagined that the sketch show they were embarking on would bind them for the rest of their lives, what a fine movie director he was, how he helped Rich get an A in his A level English, how his dementia affected his later years and how the new naked statue of Terry will be viewed by the people of the future. Buy the book here https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/seriously-silly-the-life-of-terry-jones-the-authorised-biography-robert-ross/4553b8f600a0191a SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP #589 - Dopplegängr - It’s Richard’s last show of the 2025 Edinburgh Fringe, but what is the Edinburgh Fringe? Luckily Liam Gallagher knows. Richard’s guest is not in Oasis and is unlikely to support them after this, it’s the loquacious (thank goodness for Rich) Nish Kumar. They chat about at what point you have to stop claiming to be working class, how Nish survived his tour of America unscathed and the positives he took from the experience, why both sides-ism is an unhelpful concept, how even Nish’s grandma thinks he might be Jason Mantzoukas, why Taskmaster is didn’t too badly when it comes to diversity, but how being in a comedy gang can be a big help in maintaining the necessary quality for a career and has Nish been in a canoe? This is the only podcast where you will find out. Thanks so much to the magnificent staff at the Stand in Edinburgh and the brilliant audiences that made this Fringe an absolute pleasure. Same time again next year? SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#415 Mosquito in the Kitchen - Richard recalls a couple of childhood memories that can’t possibly hare happened. His guest is the king of mischief and righteous anger (who is also very funny) Joe Lycett. They talk about how Joe brought down a Prime Minister, how he was almost arrested for a joke, how his spoof Sue Gray report fooled some members of parliament, how people decided what snacks Santa would be getting, the personal heartbreak behind Joe’s anger about the government’s reaction to Covid, why he literally talked sh*t and the extreme steps Joe is taking to try and persuade David Beckham to withdraw from his role in Qatar. This is an exceptional show which is why we are putting it out as soon as possible. Buy Joe’s extraordinarily funny and beautiful special “More More More” here https://watch.joelycett.com/ Buy Richard’s new book here. http://gofasterstripe.com/ball SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP Book Club #160 - Love Triangle - It’s another face to face Book Club at the Podcast Room with mathematician and gigantic nerd Matt Parker talking about his exciting book about triangles. Find out how a triangle solved a pig murder, what it’s like to very briefly be the most recently published maths author and to see the work of the earliest known maths author first hand, how triangles can tell us the size of the planet or how far away a space probe is, whether bees know they are making hexagons, how Rich’s dad used one of the world’s first computers (though wasn’t aware of sex workers), how to cut a sandwich into three equal bits and what comedy and mathematics have in common. Plus how Rich might have been a mathematician himself, but now doesn’t even know calculus is for. Buy the book here https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/love-triangle-the-life-changing-magic-of-trigonometry-matt-parker/1798f7df08f9ff54 See Matt on tour https://standupmaths.com/shows/ See RHLSTP live http://richardherring.com/rhlstp SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP #588 - Edmund Hilary's Yeti Rucksack - Rich is upset about the things his wife is saying about him in her show, but never mind, he's being visited by the crew from the Cryptid Factor, Rhys Darby, Dan Schreiber and the mysterious Buttons. They chat about ghosts (a lot, given they've said they don't really talk about that), Rich trying to kill the Loch Ness Monster and what the Loch Ness Monster might actually be, whether an alien spacecraft is on the way to conquer Earth (you'll probably know one way or the other by the time this goes out and I for one welcome our alien overlords), the incredible rise of New Zealand comedians, which podcast is Dan's proper one, Button's hob-nobbing with Prime Ministers and rugby players, the improvised scenes in Flight of the Conchords and making out with Scully and why did Rich need to apologise to Rhys? - will there be time to find out? Listen to the Cryptid Factor here (or wherever you get your podcasts) - https://open.spotify.com/show/6N8YaO6bqGr7RtCMovP4HL See RHLSTP live - https://richardherring.com/gigs SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#413 Brian Conley’s C*ck - Richard is discombobulated after returning (briefly) to Shepherd’s Bush after five years away. His guest is the fantastic stand up Chris McCausland. They talk about what pushed him towards stand up and why he was reluctant initially to do too much about his blindness, nearly becoming a spy, that amazing BAFTA bit with Lee Mack, performing for Prince William, being on the Jubilee bus and and why Chris hates the name of his own tour. Plus how working hard on a panel show appearance can help your career. Who knew? See Chris on tour https://chrismccausland.com/tour/ Buy Richard’s new book here. http://gofasterstripe.com/ball SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP Book Club #159 - A Particularly Nasty Case - Richard talks to ex-doctor and best-selling author Adam Kay about his first novel, a brilliant comedy thriller, A Particularly Nasty Case. They chat about getting the fabulous Andy Serkis to do the audiobook (and why Adam was reluctant to do it himself), how Adam has lots of fans in the 8-12 year age group (including Rich’s daughter) but how this is definitely not a book for them, the delicate balance of writing a whodunnit where it’s possible, but not easy, to guess the who whodunnit, how Adam weaves in some serious issues into this very funny book, how welcome is having a gay protagonist where their sexuality is more or less by the by, the classism and other issues that still pervade the NHS, dealing with mental health and the importance of actually being funny in a funny book. The book is a lot of fun and also involves corpses bottoms and dominatrices and proper jokes. Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/a-particularly-nasty-case-the-fastest-selling-debut-thriller-of-2025-from-the-author-of-global-phenomenon-this-is-going-to-hurt-adam-kay/c7ec730812058e04 SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP #587 - That’s F***ing Bonkers - Richard is considering changing political allegiance if it can rescue his fading career, but he doesn’t have to worry today - it’s a sell-out crowd to see tiny keyboard wunderkind David O’Doherty. They discuss getting drunk on live TV with Dua Lipa, whether David needs therapy to unpack the different in sizes between his and his dad’s instruments, how David might be at the exact right level of fame and what that means about interactions with his fans, confounding Richard Wilson, David’s possible hidden superpower, why awards mean nothing if you’re won them, how David saved the careers of the Flight of the Conchords and how Nish Kumar’s diarrhoea proved that David’s podcast idea would be a hit . Plus a human mic stand and a brilliant song from this friendly genius of a comedian. Don’t miss this one. Listen to David’s podcast What Did You Do Yesterday here https://open.spotify.com/show/62lFI5XAYb68cSOcOWnDI9 (or wherever you get your podcasts) See RHLSTP live http://richardherring.com/rhlstp SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#412 Lemony Anus - Richard knows a little bit about what Prince George is going through at school and is very excited that his new book is out! His guest is stand up, writer, presenter and actor Sara Pascoe. They talk about the ups and downs of doing improvised sitcoms and films, how long lockdown toilet rolls kept people going, balancing work with parenting, how it’s more important that something gets made than it becomes a hit, the magic of being a snowman, whether general anaesthetic proves that the soul does not exist, accepting the ageing process and the terrible things that a parent will do to protect their child. See Sarah on tour https://sarapascoe.co.uk/ Buy Richard’s book here http://gofasterstripe.com/ball SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP Book Club #158 - Saltwash - Richard talks to award-winning author Andrew Michael Hurley about his latest book, Saltwash. Is it horror or literary fiction? is it important for people writing about dark subjects to have three names? What attracted Andrew to writing about dilapidated seaside resorts - and has he ever been to Weston-super-Mare? How does he make his novels so atmospheric? What’s it like getting a quote from Stephen King? Plus Andrew’s remarkable leap to success (after only ten years of work) and how a 300 book print run led to a hugely successful first novel, Richard reveals how little he knows about Gothic novels (or what they even are), how we are all haunted by the mistakes we've made in life and how the contemplation of our own mortality can drive so much of our lives. Does writing a creepy book mean you can’t escape the subject in your downtime? Lots of questions, but thankfully some answers too! Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/saltwash-the-chilling-new-novel-from-the-master-of-menace-andrew-michael-hurley/7895486 SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP #586 - The Importance of Being Ernest - Rich likes to give young comedians a start in their career and so today he has an exciting new talent opening the show. His guest who has a tough act to follow is comedian and former flatmate Andy Parsons. They chat about the early years of their career where they worked on Weekending and briefly shared a house with some other Andrews, how Parsons and Naylor and Lee and Herring were nearly the new Mary Whitehouse Experience, the last time they met on Fubar radio, why Andy left Mock the Week and some neatly deflected Emergency Questions. Plus if you’d been there on the day you’d have heard a brilliant showbiz rumour that we’ve had to cut out. So come and see the show live! http://richardherring.com/rhlstp See Andy’s tour https://www.andyparsons.co.uk/#listings SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.