Russell Howard’s Five Brilliant Things

Beloved voice of radio Shaun Keaveny is this week’s Wonderbox guest and he chooses some belters to box up for posterity. Shaun tells some amazing stories; about being backstage with Dave Grohl, about his own band ‘Mosque’, and Russell and Shaun share memories about being the least cool people at BBC Radio 6 Music.   Shaun has transitioned from radio to podcast with style. He now makes a radio show...

It’s Paul Chowdhry this week. The dead-pan British Asian comedy sensation sits down with Russell and selects some topics to chat about that vaguely might represent items for the Wonderbox if you look at them carefully in the right light. Paul tells a story about getting mugged whilst holding a gearstick, and Russell explains why acting up in school might actually be the best thing to do.   Paul is...

Russell and Jon are reunited from their time years ago hosting BBC Radio 6 Music shows together and as you might expect it’s a great episode. Jon and Russell disagree about the need to rehabilitate a happy old woman, Jon waxes lyrical about a wild-west themed pub. He then praises a man who threatened a crowd with a hand grenade. It’s a lot of fun and very much worth your time.   Jon is one of the...

James and Clair Buckley join Russell to preserve their best memories in the Wonderbox. It’s quite a ride. James explains why a man would need five barbecues. Clair explains why five barbecues is too many for anyone. The highlight is probably a story about saving Sonic the Hedgehog from a drugs gang. Sounds implausible but it’s true. Get in there.   James and Clair are prolific online. If you haven...

One of the most iconic voices of the 21st century is with us - the inimitable Iain Stirling! He takes an hour off his busy Love Island voice-over schedule to fill his Wonderbox. Iain lifts the lid on what it’s like behind the scenes in Spain when Love Island is being filmed, he tells Russell about his surprising past as a lawyer (!?) and reveals who is the most reckless man in kid’s TV.   From Mar...

It’s the brilliant John Kearns filling his Wonderbox this week. John goes deep, educating Russell on the delights of being on your own scoffing a YumYum, and has the Wonderbox not only filled, but being held by football commentator Jonathan Pearce. You’ll have to listen to find out what it’s all about, and I recommend you do.   John is one of the greatest live stand-ups around, and his latest tour...

Hollywood star Jameela Jamil is in the studio with Russell this week selecting items from her life for the Wonderbox, and it’s a real treat. Jameela tells some truly exceptional stories, the highlights being when she was caught eating all the ice cream in a video shop, and an incredible story about bumping into Dustin Hoffman with five steaks between her legs. Unmissable stuff.   Jameela is the fo...

This week's Wonderbox belongs to Babatunde Aleshe, star of I'm a Celeb and Celebrity Gogglebox. Babatunde gives Russ some pointers on becoming a Grime MC, how to catch a fainting believer in church and tells Russell who he's stayed in touch with from the jungle (spoiler alert: it's not Matt Hancock).  If you want more Babatunde then you're in luck, you can have more! He's taking his tour show 'Bab...

Fin Taylor takes time away from being a bloody good stand-up and internet sensation to sit down with Russell and whack his belongings into the Wonderbox.    Fin goes on a voyage of self-discovery, uncovering some very traditional tastes (don't worry that's not a euphemism for 'he discovers he's a racist'), followed by a fairly in-depth discussion on bumholes. It's all a lot of fun.   Fin's on tour...

New York-based comedy star Mark Normand sits down with Russell to tell us what gets him going. Mark is an exceptional stand-up from out of New Orleans, called the 'best young up-and-coming comic' by none other than Jerry Seinfeld.    Mark opens spicy by talking Russell through a trip to a Berlin sex club, explains the majesty of skateboarding; the punches just keep coming. It's funny, it's very op...

Roisin Conaty tells Russell about the things she loves the most in the world, and commits them to her Wonderbox.    Roisin tells us about having an existential crisis inside an inflatable doughnut, how a curry opened her eyes, and why as a child she got Pat Sharpe's haircut.    Roisin's sitcom GameFace is still available to watch on Channel 4's website.   Russell will be touring Australia and New...

Greg Davies and Russell sit down to discuss the most precious items in Greg's life. As you might expect from one of the world's greatest storytellers, it's an absolute cracker.    You'll get tales about when Greg pretended to die, when a tree spoke to him and Greg tells the story of why he started stand-up comedy in the first place. It's tremendous from start to finish.    Russell will be touring...

Recorded in sunny Los Angeles, Russell sits down with one of Philadelphia's hottest stand-ups, Clint Coley.  Clint takes Russell through his extensive collection of rare music, Russell takes Clint on a tour of UK accents and they both get deep into a conversation about killer rats.    Clint has self-released his special on YouTube. This means you get to see it for free right now!  My Edible Kicked...

Rising comedy star Maddie Wiener and Russell meet up in New Yeawk and chat about what it's like on the comedy circuit over there. The conversation then takes an unexpected but hugely entertaining turn when Maddie chooses to put Wilbur the syphilitic rabbit into the Wonderbox. That springboards us into a chat about the pros and cons about dropping your guts in the Disneyland queue. A festive treat...

Co-creator of The Chappelle Show and one of US comedy's most influential brains, Neal Brennan, sits down with Russell. Neal explains the vitality of human connection, ayahuasca and ice cream. It's a wild trip through consciousness expansion and which ice cream flavours kick most ass.    If you want to watch Neal's specials, get onto Netflix and search his name, and there they be.    Russell is off...

Man Like Mobeen creator, star and comedian of rare talent - it's Guz Khan. Guz and Russell come together for an electric episode of Wonderbox. It's got everything from putting your noo-nah in a VHS player, childhood quirks like wrapping trees in sellotape, and the episode ends with one of the funniest and most moving stories you'll hear in a long time.  After listening to this episode, y'all are g...

  US comedy megastar Iliza Sheslinger is in the studio! Russell and Iliza talk about the what happens when an audience member drops their guts during a show, a single fingerless glove and the beautiful stench of a closed bar.   Iliza is in the UK right now with her ‘Hard Feelings’ tour. She’s playing the Hammersmith Apollo on the 6th and 8th December, and you can buy those tickets right now from t...

This week, host of Late Night Mash Rachel Parris sits down with Russell to select her most precious items for the Wonderbox.  Russell finds out why the world is a better place because of tiny lederhosen, Tunnock's Teacakes and Rachel recalls her once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to normalise British sex toys. Rachel will be taking a show back out across the UK in 2024 so keep your eyes peeled for tha...

Jack Whitehall takes a few minutes away from his brand new baby to chat to Russell about his most precious possessions. Jack tells the most insane story about Jamie Laing seeing his undercarriage, then explains what it's like to party with Man City the day after they've won the Champion's League. Sensational stuff.  Jack's on tour at the moment, and you can get your lovely fingers all over those t...

It's only John flippin' Oliver! One of Britain's most-loved exports after cheddar cheese and trains, John Oliver is the host of US late-night show Last Week Tonight as well as being a sensational stand-up comic in his own right.  John reveals what it's like to do a gig to one person, why Michael Bolton is a bona fide comedy hero and reveals when, how and why he likes dressing as a cat.   Russell i...

Ed Gamble is in the house! Ed chooses his most precious items to wang into the Wonderbox, which includes some food-based choices (as you might expect from one who foods as passionately as Ed). Come for the food, then stay for Ed waxing lyrical about his love of Mr Blobby.    Ed is touring next year, going hither and thither to some of the most delicious performance venues the UK can offer. If I wr...

Stand-up comedian and star of The Voice Jordan Gray joins Russell this week, selecting precious memories to put into the Wonderbox.  Jordan explains why a marijuana seed has deep resonance, talks Russell through the agony of a kidney stone and Russell tells a heart-warming story about his brother showing his arse to a whole hot-air balloon full of people.    Jordan is on tour at the moment, and yo...

It's Jen Brister! Russell and Jen work through the perils of sad nipple syndrome, get nostalgic about the delightful stench of Bangkok and pore over the best food to eat if you're planning an evening of sexual gymnastics.    Jen is still touring her never-ending tour around the UK, and if you haven't seen the show yet you should. Tickets and dates can be found at jenbrister.co.uk   Russell is curr...

Jimmy Carr joins Russell today to put his most treasured possessions into the Wonderbox. Jimmy explains the importance of a tennis scoreboard, why there’s nothing better than a perfectly made suit and Russell explores the idea of Jimmy having a hype-man at his gigs.   Jimmy currently has tour dates in the US and the UK, and you can buy tickets at jimmycarr.com.   Russell is currently on tour in th...

Today’s guest is internet comedy star, Munya Chawawa, who chats to Russell about why he loves Streets of Rage, the importance of a slice of pizza and reveals his jaw-dropping hidden ability.   Russell is currently on tour in the US and UK: visit russell-howard.co.uk to find out more and book tickets.   Munya is also on tour now and you can get tickets for his show at livenation.co.uk     Producer:...