Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (RHLSTP)

RHLSTP Book Club 35 - Growing Up Human - Richard talks to archaeologist and tooth specialist about her fascinating and funny book about the evolution of childhood and why the human one goes on so very long. Plus penis spikes, testicles as peacock tails, pizza rats, how the trauma of birth can be seen in our teeth, sexism in academia (and elsewhere) how forceps were kept secret, how the placenta is...

#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 mon...

RHLSTP Book Club 34 - The Bullet That Missed - Richard is at the Cheltenham Literary Festival and has the honour of interviewing modern day Agatha Christie, best-selling author, Richard Osman. Find out who came up with the brilliant title for this third instalment of The Thursday Murder Club, which character Osman is most like, whether the game show in the book would work, why people sho...

#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 Chal...

RHLSTP Book Club 33 - The Good Drinker - Richard talks to TV and radio presenter Adrian Chiles about his book about moderating alcohol intake The Good Drinker. They compare their similarly boozy backgrounds, whether everyone really drinks more than the recommended units, if it’s possible to socialise without alcohol and how we can examine the motivations for caning it. Plus Sex Pistol Paul Cook’s...

#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...

RHLSTP Book Club 32 - Ten Things I Hate About Me - Richard chats with Joe Tracini about his book Ten Things I Hate About Me, a moving, funny and horrifying journey through his Borderline Personality Disorder, how online trolls have nothing on Mick, Joe’s internal voice who provides a negative director’s commentary on everything he does, Joe’s experience growing up not real...

#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...

RHLSTP Book Club 31 - The Fart That Changed The World - Richard is joined by actor turned author Stephen Mangan to discuss his second children’s book, about how actions can have terrible and incredible consequences. They discuss how to improve Sliding Doors, using your own kids as inspiration for stories, the incredible genesis of Stephen’s first book “Escape the Room”, how Stephen think...

#414 Thid - Richard returns to his old stomping ground of Balham to take part in the Cheerful Earful Festival at the Bedford pub, a place that holds a lot of memories, some of which occur to him as he’s speaking. His guest is the fabulous Ria Lina. They talk about the power of being an outsider in comedy, gigging whilst pregnant, working for the serious fraud office, why the coronavirus helped pro...

RHLSTP Book Club 30 - 222 QI Answers to Your Quite Ingenious Questions - James, Alex and Anna, three of the 16 QI Elves join Rich to talk about writing this book, which provides answers to questions sent in to the Zoe Ball breakfast show. They talk about infinite universes, the correct way to wash raspberries, what the Welsh call ladybirds and how you decide if something i...

#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 o...

RHLSTP Book Club 29 - To Be Someone - To Be Someone  is a freewheeling account of the five years Ian spent in the grip of obsession. He took weekend jobs so he could go to gigs; he tried to sneak into the Hammersmith Odeon and ended up stuck on the roof; he was on the point of being thrown out of a Brighton hotel when Paul Weller himself intervened and invited him and his mates back into the...

#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...

RHLSTP Book Club 28 - Can I Have My Ball Back? Adam Buxton kindly takes the interviewers chair to talk to Richard about his book which documents his “battle” against testicular cancer, as well as looking at our views of masculinity and why so much of what we think about bollocks is bollocks. They also have time to discuss Ro-land from Grange Hill, whether writing requires emotion and whether there...

#411 Diplodocus - Rich is itching for a change in Prime Minister, but will he get his wish by the time of broadcast? His guests are Elis, Mike and Steff from the dizzyingly successful new podcast that the cool kids are calling TSDSB. They talk about how their podcast is about more than just sport, how sports fans have changed in the last four decades, the new series of Fantasy Football and th...

RHLSTP Book Club 27 - The Book That No One Wanted To Read Buy Richard's book here  https://www.amazon.co.uk/Book-That-One-Wanted-Read/dp/1529500303 SUPPORT THE SHOW! Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL See extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#410 Saggy-Faced Satsuma - Richard has narrowly avoided a dinosaur based disaster, but never mind because a RHLSTP favourite is returning - the incomparable Bob Mortimer. They talk about holding dominion over the animals, whether questions are necessary in an interview, what prompted Bob to write his first novel and whether satsumas are the best small orange fruit, the adoration for Bob and P...

RHLSTP Book Club 26 - What Just Happened?! - Richard is joined by Guardian columnist and screenwriter Marina Hyde to discuss her remarkable compendium of columns spanning from 2016 to early 2022. How long does it take her to put together these witty take-downs? Is it cathartic for her and her readers as we try to cope with the uncontrollable tide of idiotic history? Has she ever consider...

#409 Di and Dodi Threesome - Recorded in the week of a tragic loss, at least there is good news for one of the podcast’s favourite personalities. Richard’s guest is the brilliant actor and writer and also his ex-girlfriend, Sally Phillips. They talk about the girl who smelled of spam and Sally’s impressive performance in the film “How To Please A Woman”, but they can’t avoid th...

RHLSTP Book Club 25 - Up in Smoke - Richard is joined by firefighter Leigh Hosy-Pickett to discuss his excellent, moving and funny book Up in Smoke, detailing his quarter of a century as a firefighter, the way that humour plays an important role in bringing a team together and coping with the horrors of the job, the way the fire service has changed over the last few decades, the sen...

#408 Rat Surge - Rich is worried that his son is going to become a comedian or worse still a Messiah, but Rich is planning to buy a sex island so all is OK. His guest is superior (in both senses) comedian and possible giant Pierre Novellie. They talk about Charles Manson’s bold decision during his trial, being massaged by Dave Benson Phillips, the disturbing consequences of a South...

RHLSTP Book Club 24 - Stone Blind -   SUPPORT THE SHOW! Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL See extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#407 Teleporno - Rich has some big questions to ask about a hymn that seemingly most people in his audience don’t remember, so maybe he won’t do an hour long comedy show about it then. His guest is internet sensation and fab stand up Eleanor Morton. They talk about Leonardo da Vinci’s hate mail, the surprise appearance of Pan in Wind in the Willows, the difficulties of getting a pir...

RETRO RHLSTP #51 Googling Colin Firth - Richard is back at the Liverpool Playhouse, making his annual proclamation to fight any University lecturer in the vicinity. His guest is screen-writer, author and Olympic ceremony writer, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, who may be the most charming and awe inspiring man who has ever lived and also seems to be obsessed with robots (pervert). They chat about art theft,...