Blank Podcast with Giles Paley-Phillips & Jim Daly

Jamie Murray is is a British professional tennis player from Scotland. He is a six-time Grand Slam doubles winner and a Davis Cup champion, currently the world No. 8 doubles player, and a former doubles world No. 1. We caught up with Jamie just before the start of the grass court season, and with Wimbledon about to begin we chatted about what goes into preparing for a major tournament and processes you go through during each match. Jamie talked candidly about his teen years when he was one of the top singles player in the world and the challenges of seeing many of his peers, among them Rafael Nadal, progress, while he struggled to settle whilst being away from home, and how it affected his confidence. He tells us about how working with a new coach helped him to believe in his own style and play the game to his own strengths which lead to him become the No.1 doubles player in the world. Jamie talks about living out of suitcases during the touring months and we discuss how the tragic events in Dunblane when he was a child, haven't changed the way he lives his life. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theblankpodcast.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edith Bowman is a broadcaster, DJ and podcast presenter, as well as for presenting a variety of music-related television shows and music festivals. We met with Edith down at the Nordic Bar to chat and have a cuppa tea. Edith tells us about her brilliant podcast Soundtracking and her methodical preparation for interviews, including the time she was able to keep Harrison Ford interested by talking about carpentry. We discuss dream guests and Edith's early days helping out at her parents hotel in Scotland. Edith tells us about the time she was told by producer she wouldn't make it as a presenter because of her accent and we find out what it takes avoid blank moments in front of famous people. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theblankpodcast.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lucy Porter is an actress, writer and comedian. She has performed extensively at the Edinburgh Fringe, the Brighton Festival and many clubs around Britain. Jim and Giles caught up with Lucy for an epic chat about all things from sex robots to the menopause. Lucy tells us about her early stand-up gigs and working hard on the craft of comedy. Jim talks about his own fears of getting back into stand-up and we discuss what it means to have empathy with an audience and dying on stage Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theblankpodcast.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hal Cruttenden is a stand-up comedian, writer and actor, who has appeared on many shows including Mock the Week, Live At The Apollo, Have I Got News for You, and The 11 O'Clock Show. He has also written for The Omid Djalili Show and The Rob Brydon Show. In 2002 Hal was nominated for Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh Comedy Awards. We sat down with Hal at Acast Studios in London on a warm day in May. Hal is a true bundle of energy and such lovely company, we started off by talking about Hal's university days and wanting to marry Kylie Minogue. We discuss Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theblankpodcast.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reece Shearsmith is an English actor, writer and comedian. He created, wrote and starred in sketch show The League of Gentlemen, along with Steve Pemberton, Mark Gatiss, and Jeremy Dyson. Reece and Steve Pemberton also created, wrote and starred in the dark comedy series Psychoville, before going on to write and star in their anthology series Inside No. 9. Reece has also starred in Spaced, Shaun of the Dead, The World's End and Doctor Who. Giles and Jim met with Reece down at the Nordic Bar and started our chat by talking about having vivid dreams and trying to come down from live performances. Reece tells us about that terror and injustice of being told off at school when you've not done anything wrong. We discuss a love of horror stories and Reece making mini-sketches of magic shows where he would fire shots with his uncle's air rifle at his toy Hugo the Man of a 1000 Faces. We delve into shyness and how that forms a big part of Reece's 'Blank' moments and how difficult social occasions are if you are incredibly shy. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theblankpodcast.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Dicks is a satirical cartoonist, illustrator, designer and humourist, who lives in Hove.  Mike has worked with some of the best storytellers in the market, including TV production companies, digital agencies and broadcasters. He's been involved in developing multi-platform gameshows for the BBC, interactive dramas and documentaries for Channel 4 and the BBC, music/comedy hybrids for Sony Playstation and gamified toys for Lego and Scalextric. Jim and Giles headed down to Mike's place in Hove to chat about being creative. We talk about the current political discourse and how Mike's comic book creations, such as 'The Brexit' and 'Trumpton' are his way of shining a bit of light on some dark times. Mike tells us about how being diagnosed with leukaemia led to his career change and how his work helps him put processes in place. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theblankpodcast.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steve Parish is an English business man, part-owner and Chairman of Crystal Palace Football Club. He began his career working in computer graphics before going on to buy a stake in a company called Adplates Ltd, where he later assumed control of the business renaming it Tag Worldwide. In 2010, Steve led a consortium named 'CPFC2010' acquired Crystal Palace Football Club during a period of administration. Three years later in 2013 the club won promotion to the Premier League via the playoffs and has now enjoyed six consecutive seasons in the top flight of English football. Giles and Jim met up with Steve in his offices in Soho to catch up and chat about the club, but also Steve's journey in business. We discussed the brutal nature of football fandom and how social media is a toxic environment for any one who works in the industry, Steve talked candidly about how when losing a game he will often use Twitter as a form of punishment. Steve is really open about his drive and desire to do the very best for the football club and how that can be all consuming at times. It's no secret that Jim and Giles are Palace fans and it isn't often that people in football are so open about what goes on in running a club, so this episode was both insightful and a real pleasure Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theblankpodcast.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rachel Parris is a multi-talented comedian, musician, improviser and presenter who stars in The Mash Report on BBC Two and is a regular member of the improv theatre group Austentatious. She has made several appearances on BBC Radio 4 and BBC 6 Music, most recently in The Now Show, and on TV, she appeared in the highly anticipated IT Crowd Special on Channel 4, which was nominated in the Bafta Awards. Rachel presented the Game of Thrones fanshow, Thronecast on Sky Atlantic and she has appeared in BBC2's Murder in Successful, Russell Howard's Good News, satirical sketch show Revolting. Rachel is one of the nicest people and very kindly invited us round for a coffee and we started by comparing the price of haircuts and the downsides of multi-option takeaways. Rachel's tells us about her early life growing up in Leicester and enjoying school. We discuss the process of performance and wanting to have some order to things to help rein in the nerves and how a recent period of anxiety became a worry that performing live would be affected by it. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theblankpodcast.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Bailey Smith, also known by the stage name Doc Brown, is an English rapper, comedian, actor, screenwriter, radio presenter and children's writer. He has starred in many TV and film roles, most notably opposite Ricky Gervais in David Brent: Life on the Road. He's released several albums including 2017's highly acclaimed 'Stemma' Jim and Giles sat down to talk to Ben at Nordic Bar back at the beginning of the year, early on in the discussion Ben told us about giving up watching porn and why he chooses to avoid social media. We talked about all the different aspects of Ben's career, and the BLANK moments that occur, especially when doing stand-up comedy and the highs and lows of gigging. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theblankpodcast.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Susannah Fielding is an English actress who has worked in theatre, film, television and radio. After graduating from Guildhall she started her career in theatre where in 2014 she won the Ian Charleson Award for her portrayal of Portia in The Merchant of Venice at the Almeida Theatre. She starred in the CBS sitcom The Great Indoors, and Channel 4's Pete Vs Life and High and Dry. She has most recently won much critical acclaim co-starring with Steve Coogan in This Time with Alan Partridge. Giles and Jim met up with Susannah on a beautiful sunny morning in March down at the Nordic Bar. We started by discussing being tidy and organised and how that relates and opposes our various creative lives. Susannah discussed growing up in Havent, near Portsmouth and the encouragement she received when first starting her acting career. We talk Partridge and the pressures of being involved with such a huge character and the audition process involved. Susannah admits how sometimes being a risk taker has helped in her career. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/theblankpodcast.   See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices