In The Room with Barry Ferns | Standup Comedy Podcast

In this episode of In The Room , Barry Ferns sits down with the brilliantly funny and hard-working Tom Elwes for a wide-ranging chat about comedy, creativity, and life. They dive into: drawing material from personal experiences, writing and performing sketches, balancing commercial work with stand-up, parenting as a comedian, neurodivergence and writing techniques, and some brilliant stories from...

This month Barry is joined by comedian and satirist Rosie Holt to talk about her performance at The Bill Murray and how her hit character Rosie Holt MP has grown over the years. They unpack how Rosie handles political chaos, why the character resonates so much, and how she builds satire that feels both funny and painfully real. A brilliant episode full of insight, craft and laughs. 💬 Follow &...

In this episode of In The Room , Barry Ferns chats with brilliant Norwegian comedian Thor Stenhaug . They dive into: finding your authentic voice as a stand-up, balancing online content with live performance, drawing material from personal experiences, and Thor’s brand-new show, now on tour. It’s a funny, thoughtful and wide-ranging conversation packed with insights for comedy fans and performers...

In this episode of In The Room , Barry Ferns chats with the thoughtful and hilarious Heidi Regan just after her set at Angel Comedy. They cover: 🌀 The power of stream of consciousness in comedy writing 🧠 Creating structure while leaving room for spontaneity 🧍‍♀️ How audience permission shapes performance 📆 Building consistent writing routines 📱 Why niche references sometimes win the internet...

In this episode of In The Room , Barry sits down with the effortlessly sharp and insightful Micky Overman for a deep and inspiring chat about comedy, growth, and tuning into your creative instincts. They cover: 🎭 Performance crutches and learning to leave them behind 🧠 The challenge (and power) of being yourself on stage 🌍 Touring and how that shaped her voice 🗣️ Why act outs matter in her mate...

In this episode of In The Room , Barry sits down with Matt Parker — bestselling author, self-proclaimed maths nerd, and one of YouTube’s most entertaining educators — for a wide-ranging and smartly funny conversation about the power of niche comedy. They cover: 📈 Leaning into your niche (yes, even if it’s maths!) 🎤 The difference between performing for your own audience vs. club nights 🌍 How th...

In this In The Room episode, Barry sits down with the brilliantly unique Ed Aczel after his set at Angel Comedy — for a deep, thoughtful chat about the foundations of his distinctive comedic voice. They discuss:🎭 His anti-comedy style and owning awkwardness🧠 Moving from unconscious to conscious choices on stage🎬 How his delivery adapts in acting roles💪 The way stand-up builds resilience throug...

In this episode of In The Room , Barry sits down with the razor-sharp and deeply thoughtful Cally Beaton after her set at Angel Comedy for a wide-ranging conversation on creativity, comedy, and real-life meaning. Topics include: 🗣️ Using personal honesty in material 🎯 Bringing purpose into every aspect of comedy and life 📖 Writing her brilliant new book, Namaste Motherfuckers – out now 🎭 Perfor...

This episode of In The Room features the wonderfully sharp and self-aware Peter Jones , recorded just after his performance at Angel Comedy. We go deep into the craft of stand-up, including: 📀 His upcoming comedy special and the prep behind it 🧠 How to write jokes that audiences can truly follow and connect with ✍️ His personal approach to joke writing and editing 🎭 Why timing, structure and tr...

This week on In The Room , Barry Ferns sits down with sharp, fearless, and hilariously insightful Maureen Langan — just after her set at Angel Comedy. In this lively chat, they cover: 🌎 Cultural differences between American and UK audiences 🎙️ Finding your style and comedic identity 🌟 Meeting and learning from the legendary Robin Williams 📺 Maureen’s background in journalism and broadcasting be...

This week on In The Room , Barry Ferns catches up with the sharp, seasoned, and always insightful Luke Toulson , right after his set at Angel Comedy Club . They dive into: 🎤 How to craft opening jokes that set the tone 📺 Luke’s experiences performing on TV and how it differs from clubs ✍️ How jokes evolve over time — and what makes them last 🔁 The constant refining process behind a strong set W...

In this episode of In The Room , host Barry Ferns sits down with the brilliantly unpredictable Joz Norris just after his set at Angel Comedy Club . Joz is known for his surreal, character-driven comedy and his ability to blend scripted material with improvisation, creating a performance that feels fresh and alive every time. They discuss:🎭 How much of his set is improvised —and why spontaneity is...

In this episode of In The Room , host Barry Ferns sits down with comedian Davina Bentley right after her set at Angel Comedy Club . They explore: 🎭 The difference between on-stage and off-stage personas 📺 How sketch writing feeds into stand-up and character work 🧠 The ever-present voice of self-doubt in the life of a comic

In this episode of In The Room , host Barry Ferns speaks with the razor-sharp Radu Isac after his set at Angel Comedy Club . Together they explore: 🧠 What it means to be a contrarian comedian 📉 How economics and politics influence joke writing 🌍 Romanian comedy culture and how it shapes his voice 🎤 Why challenging the audience is part of the fun Radu offers a refreshing and unfiltered look at...

In this episode of In The Room , host Barry Ferns sits down with the brilliant and thought-provoking Athena Kugblenu just after her set at Angel Comedy Club . Known for her intelligent, socially conscious, and effortlessly funny comedy, Athena shares her insights on writing with purpose, finding humour in big ideas, and the ever-evolving world of stand-up. You can also follow our host Barry Ferns...

In this episode of In The Room , host Barry Ferns sits down with the hilarious and insightful Benji Waterhouse —a comedian and psychiatrist—right after his set at Angel Comedy Club . They explore the fascinating crossover between comedy and mental health, how performing stand-up compares to working in psychiatry, and why laughter is such a powerful tool for understanding the human mind. You can al...

In this episode of In The Room , host Barry Ferns sits down with the effortlessly sharp and charismatic Alexandra Haddow right after her set at Angel Comedy Club . They dive into the world of stand-up, from honing material to finding the perfect balance between confidence and chaos on stage. You can also follow our host Barry Ferns on 📲 Tiktok: tiktok.com/@barryferns Instagram: instagram.com/barr...

In this episode of In The Room , host Barry Ferns sits down with the brilliantly witty and musically gifted Jon Long just after his set at Angel Comedy Club . This time, it’s all about the creative process—Jon shares his approach to testing new material, refining jokes, and the trial-and-error journey of stand-up comedy. They discuss the thrill (and terror) of working out fresh ideas in front of a...

In this episode of In The Room , host Barry Ferns chats with the brilliantly sharp and effortlessly funny Fiona Ridgewell just after her fantastic set at Angel Comedy Club . In this shortended episode, Barry & Fiona dive into her approach to stand-up, the art of blending relatable observations with razor-sharp wit, and what makes a truly great performance. Fiona shares insights into her creati...

In this episode of In The Room , host Barry Ferns sits down with the legendary comedian Adam Bloom moments after his electrifying set at Angel Comedy Club . In this episode Barry and Adam dive into the craft of stand-up, dissecting his performance, joke writing, and the art of working a room. Adam shares his insights on comedy, audience connection, and the magic of live performance—plus, plenty of...

In this episode of In The Room , host Barry Ferns sits down with the brilliant and charismatic Sergi Polo just after his standout performance at Angel Comedy Club . In this episode, Barry dives into Sergi's unique comedic style, the challenges of performing in different languages, and how he brings his Spanish flair to UK audiences. Sergi shares his thoughts on storytelling, comedic timing, an...

In this episode of In The Room , host Barry Ferns catches up with the high-energy, unpredictable, and always hilarious Rob Copland moments after his electrifying set at Angel Comedy Club . They break down his unique performance style, the thrill of pushing comedy boundaries, and what it takes to truly own a stage. Rob shares his thoughts on spontaneity in stand-up, audience interaction, and the ra...