The Comedian's Comedian Podcast

Alongside his famously prodigious output of punnery, Tim Vine is a wonderfully imaginative comedy creator. As well as talking us through his writing techniques, he describes how he structures an hour-long barrage of punchlines, and gives us unprecedented access to the the notorious “Pen Behind The Ear”. But will he ever be one of the cool kids? Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from intervie...

Ed Byrne is a charming, argumentative sod - with a fantastically natural comic ability. We discuss whether it's funnier to take time finding the truth of a subject, or to switch your opinions to find the must comically useful stance; and why a group of comedians is known as a “bitch”. We also glimpse how he side-steps a physical writing process by simply losing an argument and then dwelling o...

Sean Hughes is a thoughtful, reflective performer, with a passion for self-expressive and profound comedy. A pioneer of the themed, narrative standup show, after the 90s he quit the fishbowl of comedy celebrity to become a novelist, poet and actor. We discuss his feelings on “outliving” his life experience; the amazing drug of comedy; and the challenges of attracting an audience other th...

Punchline virtuoso Gary Delaney knows one-liners inside and out, and in this crackling live episode treats us to a comprehensive technical analysis of his art. Taking grammar, rhythm, emphasis and narrative into account, he unpacks specific examples of his gags in forensic detail. Gary fiercely defends the value of hard work over talent, and also finds time to cry hacky, spunky tears...One Liners,...

Will Franken is a one-man sketch explosion who creates multi-layered and mind-bending comedy with the exuberance of a bedroom DJ. From writing a new 90 minute show monthly to be performed only once, to putting a kid in a headlock, he rails against an industry that expects comedians to be normal... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the Insiders Club at...

Nick Helm grunts and sweats his way through a hilarious hurricane of jokes, songs, poetry and swearing, all the while undergoing a total emotional breakdown on stage. We encounter the soft-spoken and articulate theatre-maker behind the heavy metal mask, exploring how he structures his epic shows, the origin of his bombast, and his feelings on his starring role in BBC3's “Uncle”. Get ad-free new ep...

Tony Law's regeneration from acquired-taste surrealist to must-see force of nature has been borne of depression and crippling debt. He exists now in a dynamic between ecstatic madness and total discipline, resulting in an unstoppable comic energy. In this more-than-usually revealing interview, we find out how Tony crafts his apparently uncraftable material, the unique influence his wife brings to...

Sidetracked by youthful addictions, and making up for it with an incredibly intense approach, Marcus Brigstocke produces brilliant political comedy underpinned by passion and rigorous research. Find out what it's like to storm a commercial club with stuff that you no longer believe in, why The Telegraph regard Marcus as a traitor, and the one thing about comedy that breaks his heart... Get ad-free...

Rambling man Norman Lovett is the comedy equivalent of a tai chi master, using subtlety and gentleness to often devastating comic effect. In this episode Norman is convinced to put aside his distrust of analysing comedy, at least some of the time, and we learn about the acts that inspired him, his audition for Red Dwarf, and the anger simmering beneath the whimsy... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus...

Bo Burnham is a frighteningly talented youtube-wielding wunderkind, with a gag-filled show that defies you to write him off as precocious. We explore the inherent amorality of comedy, the responsibilities of the offensive comic and the consequences of attracting a demographic that isn't necessarily the one you were aiming for... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more...

Susan Calman is fierce and fiercely funny, unleashing her personal demons to devastating comic effect in her work and here in conversation. As well as exploring how not to approach the Edinburgh fringe, we also uncover how Susan translates her anger into comedy, the pressure she feels to be a spokesperson for gay people, and why she feels she doesn't deserve a glass... Get ad-free new episodes, bo...

According to his mother, Rob Delaney is “a monster who does good things”. We talk about the differences between his standup persona and his voice on Twitter, as well as detailing the specific techniques he used to gather his 1,000,000+ followers. We also explore the dynamic between his creativity and his sometimes major depression, and investigate which elements of comedy still feel outside of his...

Sarah Millican returns for a live sequel, in which we go into detail on how she copes with her ever-increasing fame, and being regarded as one of the "100 most powerful women in Britain". As well as discussing her views on feminism, and how she keeps challenging herself when playing to an audience who love her, she also explains how to stay grounded at Edinburgh, and why she feels "balls...

Effortlessly charming observationalist Jason Manford is arguably comedy's Mr Accessibility. With a touring schedule designed to cover the entire country, we investigate the motives and consequences of his workaholic approach to the craft. As well as touching on the downsides of his fame, this candid interview explores Jason's struggle to challenge himself whilst giving his audience what they want....

Consistently better-informed than the motor-mouthed “funny fucker” he appears, Andrew Maxwell explains how he turns his opinions into comedy without the use of a writing desk. What he does instead might surprise you, as we cover the downsides of charm, the secret of his success at the Edinburgh Fringe, and a view on careerism that will have you playing back this episode after a tough gig. Get...

One of the best joke-smiths in the world, Milton Jones is a consistently funny powerhouse of verbal cartoons, wordplay and clowning. We explore his persona, his process, and the advantages of making something really bad rather than making it better. He also paints a picture of the community of one-liner specialists, describes his specific approach to “Mock The Week”, and explains how to get everyo...

From Wembley sell-out star to complex comic philosopher, David Baddiel returned to this year's Edinburgh Fringe with a stand-up lecture about fame. We discuss his rigorous self-analysis and how appealing he finds the transformative effective of walking onstage. We also delve into how David's obsession with the truth defines him, and was partly responsible for the end of one of his double-acts... G...

For nearly twenty years, Al Murray has been at the forefront of British character comedy. We talk about the genesis of the “Pub Landlord” and really dig into the methods behind the crowd-work at which he excels. Al provides some fascinating and unexpected insight on arena comedy, hecklers, and the state of criticism – and we also unpack in detail how he writes and structures a show. Get ad-fr...

Virtuoso sketch comedian, The Pajama Men combine rich characterisation and zinging one-liners, to the extent that one of their recent shows was the single best-reviewed work at an entire Edinburgh Fringe. They discuss their long-standing double-act dynamic, the pressures of touring, and also delve into how the audience becomes their “director”, offering a third voice to their creative process. Get...

Although they are both of the highest quality, Phil Nichol keeps his two performance styles very separate. He gives us some very specific insight into the unusual dynamic between his constantly-evolving experimental work, and his tried-and-tested, roof-raising club set. Phil also speaks openly about anxiety, stage-fright, and the fear of somehow being “caught out”, even after years at the top of t...

The Smartest Man In The World speaks frankly about life, lyricism and the pursuit of laughter. We talks about the evolution of Greg's linguistic style, and how he borrows from authors to make it gooder... We discuss the thrill of improvisation, and the stream-of-consciousness style that allowed him to improvise an entire standup album on the night. All this and some fascinating behind-the-scenes d...

After years of superb work at the very top of the circuit, Hal Cruttenden is finally breaking through into the mainstream. We talk about how the best subjects are the ones that scare him, what risks are involved when sharing his flaws so honestly, and what's made him so angry he's walked off the stage. We also learn Hal's secrets of preparation for panel games, and discover how even the successful...

Raconteur, bon vivant and flanneur extraordinaire, the award-winning Marcel Lucont is inching his way up the comedy ladder. Alexis Dubus, Marcel's confidant, talks frankly about the differences between their styles and successes, and presents his template for a refreshingly angst-free comedy life... Get ad-free new episodes, bonus content from interviews and much more by joining the...

Edinburgh comedy award winner Brendon Burns speaks candidly about “the most self-absorbed art-form there is”, and savages what he sees as the covert bigotry and condescension in the UK. We also delve into the dynamic between the passionate truth-teller and the self-involved teenager that comprise his persona, and discuss whether you can find solutions to your problems by making shows... Recorded l...

Part two of the interview sees Richard talking about his standup. He explores his status and persona onstage, admits which subjects he finds difficult to include in his act, and reflects on his frustration at being labelled derivative of his ex-double act partner. We also discuss the future of comedy in Britain and Richard's optimism in the face of a changing landscape. Get ad-free new episod...