RHLSTP with Richard Herring

RHLSTP #605 - Baileys Solero - Rich is back at the Podcast Room for some intimate studio chats so no rubbish stand up, just an hour or more of CHAT with the lovely (in real life) and amusingly bitchy (on stage) Stephen Bailey. They talk about writing letters to channel heads asking to be on telly, becoming a stand up, even though you’re not a fan of stand-up, the unexpected shy and academic childhood and how Stephen transformed into the confident broadcaster he is today, working on Corrie and the genius of Russell T Davis and Sally Lindsay, wearing a wedding dress on the Zoe Ball TV show, being friends with Tony Robinson and why it’s weird not to have any friends from before you were on TV and the cock and Ferrero Rocher crossover between Stephen and Richard’s acts.See Stephen at the Soho Theatre - https://sohotheatre.com/events/stephen-bailey-tart/SUPPORT THE SHOW!See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome 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.

John Kearns, award-winning comedian and actor known for stand-up and TV (Taskmaster, Top Coppers). They chat about how he landed Top Coppers, the financial and career effects of TV work, Taskmaster’s impact on audiences and competitiveness, Covid’s effect on gigs, and wild ideas for new quiz and TV formats.

A rapid-fire news parody covers SNL UK sketches and a cheeky Downing Street send-up. They lampoon The Repair Shop rejecting an old joke book and compare it to historic texts. A surreal field report celebrates an ancient Cheddar dog discovery. Satirical takes include zip-line benefit photo gaffes and a mock robot teacher with worrying propaganda tendencies.

Bilal Zafar, stand-up comic and sketch writer known for sharp online shorts and his podcast Got A Problem Mate?, joins to chat viral sketches and the ‘Cheddar Beheader’ clip. They discuss puppet short Meeting Dad, improv and Twitch characters, spot-the-celeb Tube tales, breaking into TV and Edinburgh show plans. Expect relaxed banter and creative behind-the-scenes stories.

Eshaan Akbar, comedian and ex-banker turned writer and actor, shares candid stories about switching careers and stage life. He discusses challenging his childhood religion through comedy, navigating representation and ethnic impressions, and surviving threats for his material. Expect quirky tales from Bollywood choreography to a twisted childhood medical mishap.

They riff on plans to resurrect the dodo and the chaos that might follow. They lampoon journalists claiming to have unmasked Banksy. They debate toothbrushing frequency and absurd health scares linked to bad oral hygiene. They question famous Bigfoot footage and send a roving reporter into the woods for comic mayhem.

Zakia Sewell, DJ, broadcaster and author of Finding Albion, explores British folk traditions and cultural history. She traces Morris dancing controversies, wolf-masked parades and Notting Hill Carnival’s layered roots. Conversations probe Cheddar Man, claims of indigeneity, seasonal rituals and how folklore recasts national identity.

Vittorio Angelone, stand-up comedian and podcaster behind Mike and Vittorio’s Guide to Parenting, talks about his shift from conservatoire percussion to comedy. He recounts starting in a kebab-shop open mic, the rise via crowd-work clips and podcasts, his Translations-influenced shows, critiques of Love Actually, winning on House of Games and touring with a bigger production.

Zoe Lyons, stand-up comedian and TV personality, talks candidly about lockdown, a midlife crisis and coping with alopecia. She recounts driving a veg van, running 100km, touring life and writing material under therapy. Expect spooky poltergeist tales, reflections on ageing and the comedy grind in short, sharp stories.

Cheeky newsround banter returns with late-night riffs on Iran's new supreme leader and satirical talk of political assassination. There is a wild take on memorial art and a satanic-style bench for Keith Flint. A costly dog cloning story prompts questions about identity and priorities. Archaeology yields Roman perfume vials laced with faeces and thyme, sparking absurd comedy reporting.