- published: 13 Sep 2017
- views: 143
Richard Keith Herring (born 12 July 1967) is a British comedian and writer, whose early work includes the comedy double-act Lee and Herring. He is described by the British Theatre Guide as "one of the leading hidden masters of modern British comedy".
He is celebrated for concept-led one-person live stand-up shows like Talking Cock, Hitler Moustache and Christ on a Bike. Since 2004, Herring has created a new show every year: developing them at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, touring them extensively throughout the year, and recording the final performance for DVD. His 2015 show, Happy Now? is his twelfth consecutive stand-up show in as many years.
He is also recognized as a pioneer of comedy podcasting,initially with broadcaster Andrew Collins on The Collings and Herrin Podcast and more recently with high-profile comedians such as Stephen Merchant, Russell Brand and Stephen Fry on Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast.
Richard Herring was born in Pocklington, East Riding of Yorkshire, and grew up in Cheddar, Somerset. He attended The Kings of Wessex School, where his father was the headmaster and maths teacher. This later formed the basis of his 2008 stand-up show, The Headmaster's Son.
Leicester Square i/ˈlɛstər/ is a pedestrianised square in the West End of London, England. It was laid out in 1670 and is named after the contemporary Leicester House, itself named after Robert Sidney, 2nd Earl of Leicester.
The square was originally a gentrified residential area, with notable tenants including Frederick, Prince of Wales and artists William Hogarth and Joshua Reynolds. It became more down-market in the late 18th century as Leicester House was demolished and retail developments took place, becoming a centre for entertainment. Several major theatres were established in the 19th century, which were converted to cinemas towards the middle of the next. Leicester Square holds a number of nationally important cinemas such as the Odeon Leicester Square, Empire, Leicester Square and Odeon West End, which are frequently used for film premières, The nearby Prince Charles Cinema is popular for showing cult films and marathon film runs. The square remains a popular tourist attraction, including hosting events for the Chinese New Year.
The Leicester Square Theatre is since 2008 the name of a 400-seat theatre near Leicester Square, in the City of Westminster, London, previously known as Notre Dame Hall, Cavern in the Town and The Venue. The theatre, which also has a 70-seat basement lounge theatre, hosts stand-up comedy, cabaret, music, plays and comedies.
The building originated as the Notre Dame Hall in 1953, replacing an earlier building that had been destroyed by World War II bombing. It was used as a French cultural centre for a time. It became a popular music venue in the 1960s under the name Cavern in the Town, regularly hosting beat music group The Small Faces. It was renamed Notre Dame Hall in the 1970s and presented The Rolling Stones and The Who, but specialised in punk music, hosting such acts as The Sex Pistols. In 1979, The Clash previewed material from London Calling here shortly before recording the album. The hall continues hosting live music acts venue such as Tommy Emmanuel, Macy Gray Larry Carlton Paul Mcartney John Mayall, Cleo Laine, Ruby Turner and Tony Christie. In 2001, it was converted to a theatre and named The Venue.
Richard Herring's Edinburgh Fringe Podcast and Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast are two comedy podcasts, created by and starring British comedian Richard Herring. Hosted on The British Comedy Guide, the podcasts are interviews with notable guests, usually fellow comedians. The original Edinburgh Fringe podcast ran from 2011 to 2013, and took place most days for the duration of the Fringe, focusing on interviews with performers at the festival. They also contain short stand-up segments from Fringe performers. The Leicester Square Theatre Podcast, recorded at Leicester Square in London, began in 2012 and follows a similar format, with higher profile guests. It runs for a shorter series than the Edinburgh Fringe version, with weekly recordings.
Both podcasts are performed in front of a paying audience, but released for free download and streaming. The Leicester Square Theatre Podcast has won the Internet Award at the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Chortle Awards, and was the only non-BBC programme to be nominated for the comedy award at the 2013 Sony Radio Awards. The show won a bronze award in the category, becoming the first internet-only award winner in this section.Radiohead's Jonny Greenwood has also heralded the Leicester Square Theatre Podcast citing it as one of his cultural highlights in The Guardian.
The Germanic first or given name Richard derives from German, French, and English "ric" (ruler, leader, king) and "hard" (strong, brave), and it therefore means "powerful leader". Nicknames include "Dick", "Dickie", "Rich", "Richie", "Rick", "Ricky", "Rickey", and others.
"Richard" is a common name in many Germanic languages, including English, German, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Icelandic, and Dutch. It can also be used as a French, Hungarian, Finnish, and Estonian name.
Fist of Fun Richard is still bugging last week’s audience about Lego Batman - it’s amazing they keep coming back. His guest is Gillian Pieface, or as she is sometimes known Julian Clary. They chat about how the Universe lets you know it’s time for a break, psychic teeth, burning pianos, perverted monks, the inability to escape innuendo, living next door to hyenas, having a head full of skin, the Tracey family and Aquamarina, Piers Morgan, cocaines, Brian Blessed, Jimmy Greaves, Mike Smith, acting, panto, the continent of the incontinent and disappointing ways to celebrate big birthdays. Buy your own Emergency Questions book here - http://www.gofasterstripe.com/eq and see Richard's Fringe and tour dates here http://www.richardherring.com/gigs
Catering for the Dead Richard hasn’t eaten enough in a last ditch attempt to lose weight before he turns 50, but no time for stomach rumbles because his guest is professional Margaret Thatcher impersonator and teenage evangelical Christian, Katy Brand. Questions, emergency and non-emergency are asked like how does Brian Blessed feel about hobgoblins? Where do demons go when they have been dispossessed? Are Medusa and Emily Bronte the only women in history? When is International Men’s Day? What kind of a sad case would use crowd funding? Have any of Richard’s 1990s fans gone on to be less successful than him? And you’ll witness the power of the new embers of a bonfire. If you want to back a kickstarter to help us make more RHLSTP and get your hands on the all new Christmas Emergency Que...
Monopoly Penguin Rich is on the cusp of a couple of massive life changes, but he won’t let ageing and moving get in the way of asking comedians strange questions in an attempt to make them reveal intimate truths. Today he talks to a man with inventive ideas for revenge and murder, Limmy. They discuss being concreted into the pavement, manspreading, swearing xylophones, fake whatsapps, undescended testicles, sea lion genitals, how to save money when touring, the joy of travelling the world and seeing nothing but Columbo and dedicate a lot of time to the best tactics required to win at Monopoly. This podcast is not sponsored by Bulb, but Rich thinks they are good and we can both get a £50 credit on our accounts if you sign up to them using this code - https://bulb.co.uk/refer/richard234 ...
Waiting For Crawford It’s back for an eleventh series - who keeps commissioning this - and Richard’s new emergency questions are coming true as he’s fresh from irking a postman. His guest is someone who used to only be able to speak to in drunken awe at early 1990s BBC Radio Light Entertainment parties, Paul Merton. They discuss their similarly comedy-nerdy teenage years, the early days of the alternative comedy circuit where Alexei Sayle’s stream of swearing might be followed by flying fish or slowly melting ice. Can Paul remember the very first routine that helped him on the road to stardom (and partially define his persona) - you bet a fortnight’s holiday in Benidorm he can and it’s magical! Find out how close he came to death 30 years ago after breaking his leg and how anti-malari...
How Short Are You That You Can Not Reach? Richard has been gifted an almost free Twirl by the Universe. But has he been moral, immoral or amoral? To help us find out, the first ever three times returning guest on the podcast and multi-award winning podcaster, Adam Buxton. The pair discuss middle-aged confrontations and why the staff at WH Smiths in Cambridge station are maybe overzealous, how Adam appeared like a guardian angel when Richard was in trouble and telepathically summoned him, terror of mortality, what to name a dog, the frustrations of being considered small in stature, what it’s like to play a head in a box, how to keep your family alive when everyone expects podcasts to be free, plus a musical finale,which has maybe come a couple of decades too late. If you want to chang...
Rage and Balloon. Rich tries to find someone older than him in the audience as he tries to squeeze some joy out of the last few hours of his forties. HIs guest is older and sager than he and has been doing the Edinburgh Fringe for a full decade longer, it’s the self-proclaimed Mayor of Balham, Arthur Smith. They discuss smashing bottles over people’s heads, worst and most uriny heckles, the honours system, near death experiences, brushes with the law, Are You Being Served?, Fringe spectaculars, Alexander the Great’s socks, poetry, Hamlet featuring Dick Kipper and what was being said in the backwards episode of Red Dwarf.Plus the benefits of mild fame and what you do when you’ve just been released from Colditz. For details of Richard’s gigs and forthcoming tour visit http://www.richar...
What is the Biggest Ant? Richard is pondering what it must be like to buy a flat in BBC TV Centre and appreciating his daughter’s grasp of money. It’s a reunion this week with a man he once shared a bed and a tiramisu in a Presidential Suite, David Baddiel. They talk about double act reunions, the ethics of writing about your family secrets for comedy, the perils of getting older and needing comfort breaks, cat bum coffee, why all comedians are writing children’s books and orgies involving the stars of 1970s television. Plus a brilliant story about Norris Macwhirter. Buy Emergency Questions Book at http://www.gofasterstripe.com/EQ. And book tickets to see Richard at the Edinburgh Fringe (or see him on tour) Details at http://www.richardherring.com/gigs. See David’s amazing stand up...
Frog Tape Richard is over excited to find people 2/5ths of his age in the front row and tries to forget he is on the verge of his sixth decade. He’s gone against the advice of last week’s podcast and had a drink and so has his guest, it’s Classic FM’s Andrew Collin(g)s. It’s the first time the pair have spoken in over 60 months and it would be foolish to deny that there might be come tensions bubbling beneath (and all over) the surface, but there’s still time for some banter that will take you back to the glory days of 2008-2011. Armed with emergency questions and an emergency folder of cherished tabloid memories the pair attempt to discuss the country’s worst serial killers, the Mitfords, the evil of Cecil Parkinson, the debt they owe each other, the unresolved sexual tension (at lea...
Pasta-based diet Richard is excited about becoming a father for the second time, but not to witnessing the birth. His guest is, like him, a son of teachers and has a 2:1 degree in history and grew up in a town that begins with the letters Che, it’s Joe Thomas. Thomas shows Herring what his life might have been if only he’d been in a hit show, whereas Herring serves as a dire warning for where Thomas could end up if things go wrong for him. They chat about how Joe nearly didn’t accept the Inbetweeners Job, a radical possible change of direction for the third Inbetweeners movie, whether Jess the cat has an official role in Postman Pat, the buildings and dead businesses of Chelmsford, why you should watch narrative drama in the correct order, the optimum number of Inbetweeners to appear ...
Air Mattress Richard is worried that he smells of cat wee, but he can’t let that slow him down, he is chatting to the star of his as unyet commissioned sitcom (but it will be commissioned in some Universe somewhere), Jessica Knappett. Under discussion are the horrors of birth and death, the unfortunate associations that belong to the town of Bingley, what one is supposed to be getting out of a massage, the sweet, sweet taste of very long-term showbiz based revenge, sandwich or tampons, how Jessica fell in love with a man who can play a guitar without even having a guitar and the perils of promotional work and when it is acceptable to steal from work. Check out future RHLSTPs, stand up gigs and RHEFPs at http://www.richardherring.com/gigs/. Buy your own Emergency Questions book at http...
Race Off Richard contemplates the now trickier commute to work that he has thanks to being forced to move to the country because he is 50, before introducing veteran comedian Brendon Burns and a man with only one credit Craig Quartermaine. It’s a more contemplative RHLSTP than usual, as the two Australians discuss the racial issues that many of their countrymen refuse to confront and how comedy can deal with questions of race (especially if a loud and mouthy bloke is teamed up with a quieter and indigenous one). Find out how this unlikely pair got together, how they reluctantly formed a double act, what makes a double act work and the awkwardness that both comedians revel in and have to cope with in their daily life and from people who have seen their show. It’s a fascinating insight ...
Tape in a Bag Richard has his least successful attempt to meet his audience of all time, but no matter, he has a great guest on hand in the form of Angelos Epithemiou creator, Dan Skinner. They chat about how the character came to life, the audacious way in which he inadvertently auditioned for Shooting Stars, how he failed to get a part in Richard’s sitcom, the story of why Jim Broadbent appeared in Around The World In Eighty Days, working with Ken Campbell and Ben Wheatley and not really working with Alan Partridge. Plus a novel use of a lot of Twixes and what it’s like to appear on Sunday Brunch drunk and the Edinburgh Fringe sober. There’s lots of Emergency Questions, old and new - Buy your own copy of the book at http://www.gofasterstripe.com/EQ And book tickets to see Richard o...
The Camaraderie of the Jam Factory Richard attempts to work out how a waitress in a pizza restaurant with a limited menu might be surprised by every order, before introducing former competent waitress and fudge packer, Zoe Lyons. The chat encompasses Alan Titchmarsh based humiliation, Cherie Blair, the bluntness of the Dutch, almost being the first person to die on reality TV and performing to Australian miners. Plus travelogues to Alaska and Indiana, Voyager and anally inserted chocolate bars. I mean what more could you possibly wish for. Buy the Emergency Questions book here http://www.gofasterstripe.com/EQ. Check out Richard’s Edinburgh and tour dates here http://www.richardherring.com/gigs
Bumming C3PO Richard talks briefly to a semi-retired postman and considers bumping his guest to chat with him more, but instead introduces perhaps the perfect RHLSTP guest David Mitchell. It’s David’s second time in the hot seat (though the chairs have got nicer since he was last here) and Richard is determined not to be as childish and rude to him as he was last time. But will he be able to keep a lid on the simmering mayonnaise vat of bitterness? Find out if David swears during sex, if he would allow himself to be raped by a ghost, why he’s so obsessed with war that he’s apparently wearing a poppy in January and if he enjoyed working the cloakroom for TFI Friday. There are also some more serious chats about the mindset of someone who paps a couple going for a walk with their baby an...
This Morning With Richard and Nick Richard is joined by his erstwhile partner Stewart Lee to chat about This Morning With Richard, Not Judy. Stew discovers that there was nearly a very different host, they chat about the Edinburgh Fringe genesis of the idea and how they managed to give away a car, the terrible fate of Histor and Pliny, how ice and gas played a part on the stand up circuit and the Rod Hull sketches that never were. They are then joined by Paul "Curious Orange" Putner and Trevor "Small-Face" Lock to chat about the gravity behind the gravity sketch and how Mark E Smith responded to the Curious Orange. The stink of the past hangs over the occasion like a fetid cloak made of carrion. The videos of these shows are now available for FREE on iTunes and YouTube and vimeo. If yo...
Ian Gunpowder Richard chats with his audience and manages to secure himself a TV writing job, as well as marvel at his once IT heavy, bearded male audience being replaced by people who might actually have had sex. Don't worry, the nerds are still there and they're still the best! This week's guest is very tall and has never been told that before, it's sexually-charged comedian and actor Greg Davies. They converse about how W G Grace upstaged Greg's sister's wedding, how Guy Fawkes died and whether he'd welcome a time-travelling penis, how Greg embarrassed himself in front of Rik Mayall in a supermarket and bum-based encounters with doctors. It's raucous and very funny. This is one that might be worth paying the £3.50 to see on video. Not only does Greg have some amazing facial reactions,...
Brian Blessed and the Big Foot It’s the final episode of series 10 of RHLSTP and Rich meets a bearded man who has managed to find a partner (find out how he did it nerds). His guest is the laid-back and yet also intense (and rather beautiful) Peter Serafinowicz. They talk about how it’s almost impossible to parody the new President of the United States, but the effective way that Peter managed it and his fears and plans should there be repercussions from the thin-skinned bellend. Also lots of chats about the two Brian Bs (Blessed and Butterfield) and how a stellar cast does not always lead to a commission. Plus behind the scenes at Guardians of the Galaxy and Parks and Recreation and the Pudsey the Dog movie. Incredibly Adam Sandler’s “The Cobbler” and the strange ego of Mr Tumble com...
Hit It Bitch! In a frankly extraordinary, must-listen, funny, poetic and heart-breaking podcast Richard interviews quintessential Englishman (take that EDL) Stephen Fry. Find out what the Spice Girls said to Prince Charles about Prince Albert, the favourite expletive of Lionel Jeffries, why Fabian is the best character in Twelfth Night, why Richard is going to graffiti Fry's grave, which women Steve wants to have sex with, Richard's clunky attempts to audition for QI (will be more of that next week). Richard's clunky attempts to refer to Mr Fry as Steve, whether you have to read The Hobbit to be in The Hobbit, the commercial possibilities of an Ann Widdecombe sex tape, what happened when the Bishop of Bath and Wells went to a prison for young offenders and the insecurity of John Travolta....
Yoghurt Smearing Ethics for the Vegan. Richard has a controversial theory about the recent FIFA controversy and gets paid by a man to call him a fucking idiot to his face before introducing former maths teacher and toilet cryer Romesh Ranganathan to the stage of Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre. In possibly the longest RHLSTP they discuss the problems of trying to procure adequate vegan cheese, cost analysis of airline food, whether a lazy eye is really a trademark and what it would take to get Romesh to have a tattoo of Richard on his arm. Find out how you can break your penis and what to do if you then get some jalfrezi on it. Ramesh also has to answer the cash for questions that Richard forgot to ask Emma Kennedy. It goes on for a very long time and a lot of it is about ...
Pathetic. Richard is very excited to meet the man who made him give up viewing porn (temporarily), Groove is in the Heart dancer and park ranger Louis Theroux. With a bad choice of words Richard almost Merchants the podcast early on and the interviewer becomes the interviewee as Herring gets Therouxed and opens up about his pre-marital life. Will he be the subject of one of Louis’ future documentaries? Can there be a more insulting thing to happen to a person given the broken people he generally focuses on. Louis’ interview with Jimmy Savile is analysed in depth. Should he have spotted the monster lurking beneath the surface? Plus revelations about fagging for Nick Clegg, the bullying of Max Clifford and having your bits ripped off by a chimp. It’s a fascinating 90 minute chat, more seri...
Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman, hosts of Pointless, interview with Richard Herring about the series Pointless, and their book The Very Pointless Quiz Book.
An interview over coffee about comedy with the rather wonderful comedian Richard Herring. Follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/mattandben0 http://mattandben.net If you're having trouble with the syncing of the audio and you're watching in Safari, you might be opted into a html5 trial - http://www.youtube.com/html5
Bumming C3PO Richard talks briefly to a semi-retired postman and considers bumping his guest to chat with him more, but instead introduces perhaps the perfect RHLSTP guest David Mitchell. It’s David’s second time in the hot seat (though the chairs have got nicer since he was last here) and Richard is determined not to be as childish and rude to him as he was last time. But will he be able to keep a lid on the simmering mayonnaise vat of bitterness? Find out if David swears during sex, if he would allow himself to be raped by a ghost, why he’s so obsessed with war that he’s apparently wearing a poppy in January and if he enjoyed working the cloakroom for TFI Friday. There are also some more serious chats about the mindset of someone who paps a couple going for a walk with their baby an...
Richard Herring & Stewart Lee interviewed during the 1997 Edinburgh Fringe by Mark Lamarr for BBC2's coverage of the festival. Thanks to Rachel for supplying this tape.
How did it feel to be plopped in the middle of Armenia with 10K and have to spend the lot in 24 hours? Comedian Richard Herring muses over the tricky task he undertook with David Baddiel in the first episode of 24 Hours to Go Broke, brand new and exclusive to Dave, starting Tuesday 13th May at 10pm.
Mango Mist. The guest for the final RHLSTP of the series has had a drink with Morrissey, seen a member of Madness drying his bum hair and has failed to discuss time travel with Gary Sparrow's best mate. It's Sean Hughes. Was Never Mind The Buzzcocks the most badly named panel show ever? Is it ever the wrong thing to do to refuse to take down an old man's swimming trunks? Will the cast of Robbie the Reindeer: Close Encounters of the Herd Kind ever be reunited? How did Irish Republicans get secret messages to the inmates of Lincoln Gaol? Can Richard be persuaded to discuss all the secret work he does for charity? Can a vegetarian eat a ham hand? And what is the valve on the suncream dispensing armpit actually like? There's more fire, more singing and exotic fruits in misted spray form. ...
Phill Jupitus - (Never Mind) (The) (Buzzcocks). Richard has written his first joke of 2015 and can’t wait to share it with the underwhelmed audience, but luckily he is riding high from his incredible level of public recognition on Pointless Celebrities. His guest is the immaculately dressed and multi-talented Phill Jupitus, who isn’t so good with names. They chat about giving U2’s new song a minute of air play, whether stand up is harder than acting, how the most difficult person to please is always your mum and why the BBC is doomed. Get the behind the scenes info on Buzzcock’s guests Jedward and Jamelia and witness an old emergency question morph into something new and even more disturbing. Lots of funny stories and a great Mark Steel impression and worth subscribing to the monthly ...
Creative Differences Richard has some news of an amazing time travelling finger and is clearly super excited to be meeting one of his all-time comedy heroes, Harry Shearer from off of This is Spinal Tap and The Simpsons. Rich was too scared to talk to him when he saw him improbably travelling on London's Tube, but hopefully he won't just sit quietly, staring at him and saying nothing this time. The pair discuss Harry's career which seems to break the space-time continuum as he's worked with such legends as Abbott and Costello, Jack Benny and Mel Blanc. Why does Derek Smalls wrap his courgette in tin foil and what's his affiliation with Shrewsbury Town? How much creative control do the actors on The Simpsons have over the characters they have helped create? Is stubbornness a pro or a con...
Pissing in a Money Tin A new series of RHLSTP and Richard has a whole raft of new emergency questions, to the consternation of his audience who just want to hear the old ones. Predictably he is a bit obsessed with Tory MPs sending pictures of their winkies to pretend women, but less predictably concerned that the Tory party might be made up of actual penises. His first guest comes from Sarnia, the no-nonsense, no-holds-barred Katherine Ryan. There's some interesting conspiracy theories revolving around Beyonce, what it's like to work in Hooters, the dirty protests at a Crouch End Primary School, the stupidity of American tourists using their children as bear-bait and as she's from Canada so she's got to have seen a BigFoot, right? The videos of these shows are now available for FREE o...
Waiting For Crawford It’s back for an eleventh series - who keeps commissioning this - and Richard’s new emergency questions are coming true as he’s fresh from irking a postman. His guest is someone who used to only be able to speak to in drunken awe at early 1990s BBC Radio Light Entertainment parties, Paul Merton. They discuss their similarly comedy-nerdy teenage years, the early days of the alternative comedy circuit where Alexei Sayle’s stream of swearing might be followed by flying fish or slowly melting ice. Can Paul remember the very first routine that helped him on the road to stardom (and partially define his persona) - you bet a fortnight’s holiday in Benidorm he can and it’s magical! Find out how close he came to death 30 years ago after breaking his leg and how anti-malari...
Penis Sausage Richard is stuffed to the gills with giant chocolate buttons and recounts the time he got lost in Buckingham Palace, and still is on the prowl for flies to murder. There is a beef with his guest, Dara O Briain, who still remembers the scathing review that Herring gave him in an online diary back in 1998. And there's more online comment as the pair discuss the sexual fantasies that comedy fans harbour on Dirty Britcom Confessions. There's also chat about how to cope with fatalities on aeroplanes, whether it was worth almost dying on the Zambezi to stop African children being able to play, the paradoxes of digit-based time travel and the truth about goose rescuing myths. And Dara has definitely seen a Bigfoot. If you take nothing else away from this podcast then let it be th...
How Short Are You That You Can Not Reach? Richard has been gifted an almost free Twirl by the Universe. But has he been moral, immoral or amoral? To help us find out, the first ever three times returning guest on the podcast and multi-award winning podcaster, Adam Buxton. The pair discuss middle-aged confrontations and why the staff at WH Smiths in Cambridge station are maybe overzealous, how Adam appeared like a guardian angel when Richard was in trouble and telepathically summoned him, terror of mortality, what to name a dog, the frustrations of being considered small in stature, what it’s like to play a head in a box, how to keep your family alive when everyone expects podcasts to be free, plus a musical finale,which has maybe come a couple of decades too late. If you want to chang...
Two Men in a Field with Walkie Talkies and it's All Clear. Psychic Richard manages to divine the life of someone in his front row merely by looking at him, though what he finds out about this person's nipples will change your life forever. His guest this week is the Rod Hull faced comedian James Acaster. You will find out what it's like to survive three car crashes and two train derailments, how much you could expect to earn selling slurpies in Kettering in the 1990s and what it is that draws the police to conspiracy theorists. Acaster also completely Mitchells the new emergency question. But has he ever seen a Bigfoot? You'll have to wait until the end of the podcast to find out. But it's unlikely I reckon. The videos of these shows are now available for FREE on iTunes and YouTube an...
Pathetic. Richard is very excited to meet the man who made him give up viewing porn (temporarily), Groove is in the Heart dancer and park ranger Louis Theroux. With a bad choice of words Richard almost Merchants the podcast early on and the interviewer becomes the interviewee as Herring gets Therouxed and opens up about his pre-marital life. Will he be the subject of one of Louis’ future documentaries? Can there be a more insulting thing to happen to a person given the broken people he generally focuses on. Louis’ interview with Jimmy Savile is analysed in depth. Should he have spotted the monster lurking beneath the surface? Plus revelations about fagging for Nick Clegg, the bullying of Max Clifford and having your bits ripped off by a chimp. It’s a fascinating 90 minute chat, more seri...
Spaced By The Bell. At last it's the podcast that addresses the burning issue of modern Britain - which is the best Somerset based show cave complex? Cheddar Gorge (obviously) or rubbishy old Wookey Hole. It'd be a shame to have Britain's most exciting film director on the show without wasting most of the time talking about this and the obscure and sexist Roald Dahl short story - Switch Bitch. And Richard hates to disappoint. Luckily he occasionally manages to blunder into discussing Wright's canon of work, from A Fistful of Fingers through Asylum, some ideas for a new series of Spaced, right up to the amazing new film The World's End. But there's still time to talk about what it's like to be taught by both parents, desecrating the graves of your former employers and Rich's ideas to re...
Celebrity Ghost Train. Rich is still alive and kicking (and dancing) only a day after completing a Half Marathon in record breaking time (though to be fair he had a ringer to do it for him) and he's disappointed in the movie "The Wolf of Wall Street" for all kinds of reasons. But he has a very special guest to help him celebrate his half century of RHLSTPs, it's the go-to guy if you want someone to play a small toy figure, Steve Coogan. A-ha! (Steve loves it when people do that). They chat about getting laughs at the Leveson Enquiry, why so many people that Steve has done impressions of have ended up in gaol, Stewart Lee's Partridge-inspiring encounter with a superfan and why Around the World in 80 Days really needed more martial arts in it. And finally we're going to find out who creat...
This Morning With Richard and Nick Richard is joined by his erstwhile partner Stewart Lee to chat about This Morning With Richard, Not Judy. Stew discovers that there was nearly a very different host, they chat about the Edinburgh Fringe genesis of the idea and how they managed to give away a car, the terrible fate of Histor and Pliny, how ice and gas played a part on the stand up circuit and the Rod Hull sketches that never were. They are then joined by Paul "Curious Orange" Putner and Trevor "Small-Face" Lock to chat about the gravity behind the gravity sketch and how Mark E Smith responded to the Curious Orange. The stink of the past hangs over the occasion like a fetid cloak made of carrion. The videos of these shows are now available for FREE on iTunes and YouTube and vimeo. If yo...
Normal Richard is a bit worried about the psychological similarities he shares with murder spree killers, but maybe that’s just all comedians. If you read his book you might worry the same thing about this week’s guest, cult comedy genius and normal-faced man Limmy. The pair try and fail to remember an ancient Twitter spat, and Richard threatens to reignite it by trying to welcome his guest by talking to him in his own language. There’s a lively discussion of Scottish politics, the sexual allure of fake tan and whether it’s funny to envisage the death of your own father. Plus an exclusive reading from Limmy’s highly entertaining book, Daft Wee Stories. The videos of these shows are now available for FREE on iTunes and YouTube and vimeo. If you'd like to make a donation to keep these ser...
Tape in a Bag Richard has his least successful attempt to meet his audience of all time, but no matter, he has a great guest on hand in the form of Angelos Epithemiou creator, Dan Skinner. They chat about how the character came to life, the audacious way in which he inadvertently auditioned for Shooting Stars, how he failed to get a part in Richard’s sitcom, the story of why Jim Broadbent appeared in Around The World In Eighty Days, working with Ken Campbell and Ben Wheatley and not really working with Alan Partridge. Plus a novel use of a lot of Twixes and what it’s like to appear on Sunday Brunch drunk and the Edinburgh Fringe sober. There’s lots of Emergency Questions, old and new - Buy your own copy of the book at http://www.gofasterstripe.com/EQ And book tickets to see Richard o...
What is the Biggest Ant? Richard is pondering what it must be like to buy a flat in BBC TV Centre and appreciating his daughter’s grasp of money. It’s a reunion this week with a man he once shared a bed and a tiramisu in a Presidential Suite, David Baddiel. They talk about double act reunions, the ethics of writing about your family secrets for comedy, the perils of getting older and needing comfort breaks, cat bum coffee, why all comedians are writing children’s books and orgies involving the stars of 1970s television. Plus a brilliant story about Norris Macwhirter. Buy Emergency Questions Book at http://www.gofasterstripe.com/EQ. And book tickets to see Richard at the Edinburgh Fringe (or see him on tour) Details at http://www.richardherring.com/gigs. See David’s amazing stand up...
Fist of Fun Richard is still bugging last week’s audience about Lego Batman - it’s amazing they keep coming back. His guest is Gillian Pieface, or as she is sometimes known Julian Clary. They chat about how the Universe lets you know it’s time for a break, psychic teeth, burning pianos, perverted monks, the inability to escape innuendo, living next door to hyenas, having a head full of skin, the Tracey family and Aquamarina, Piers Morgan, cocaines, Brian Blessed, Jimmy Greaves, Mike Smith, acting, panto, the continent of the incontinent and disappointing ways to celebrate big birthdays. Buy your own Emergency Questions book here - http://www.gofasterstripe.com/eq and see Richard's Fringe and tour dates here http://www.richardherring.com/gigs
Catering for the Dead Richard hasn’t eaten enough in a last ditch attempt to lose weight before he turns 50, but no time for stomach rumbles because his guest is professional Margaret Thatcher impersonator and teenage evangelical Christian, Katy Brand. Questions, emergency and non-emergency are asked like how does Brian Blessed feel about hobgoblins? Where do demons go when they have been dispossessed? Are Medusa and Emily Bronte the only women in history? When is International Men’s Day? What kind of a sad case would use crowd funding? Have any of Richard’s 1990s fans gone on to be less successful than him? And you’ll witness the power of the new embers of a bonfire. If you want to back a kickstarter to help us make more RHLSTP and get your hands on the all new Christmas Emergency Que...
Monopoly Penguin Rich is on the cusp of a couple of massive life changes, but he won’t let ageing and moving get in the way of asking comedians strange questions in an attempt to make them reveal intimate truths. Today he talks to a man with inventive ideas for revenge and murder, Limmy. They discuss being concreted into the pavement, manspreading, swearing xylophones, fake whatsapps, undescended testicles, sea lion genitals, how to save money when touring, the joy of travelling the world and seeing nothing but Columbo and dedicate a lot of time to the best tactics required to win at Monopoly. This podcast is not sponsored by Bulb, but Rich thinks they are good and we can both get a £50 credit on our accounts if you sign up to them using this code - https://bulb.co.uk/refer/richard234 ...
Waiting For Crawford It’s back for an eleventh series - who keeps commissioning this - and Richard’s new emergency questions are coming true as he’s fresh from irking a postman. His guest is someone who used to only be able to speak to in drunken awe at early 1990s BBC Radio Light Entertainment parties, Paul Merton. They discuss their similarly comedy-nerdy teenage years, the early days of the alternative comedy circuit where Alexei Sayle’s stream of swearing might be followed by flying fish or slowly melting ice. Can Paul remember the very first routine that helped him on the road to stardom (and partially define his persona) - you bet a fortnight’s holiday in Benidorm he can and it’s magical! Find out how close he came to death 30 years ago after breaking his leg and how anti-malari...
How Short Are You That You Can Not Reach? Richard has been gifted an almost free Twirl by the Universe. But has he been moral, immoral or amoral? To help us find out, the first ever three times returning guest on the podcast and multi-award winning podcaster, Adam Buxton. The pair discuss middle-aged confrontations and why the staff at WH Smiths in Cambridge station are maybe overzealous, how Adam appeared like a guardian angel when Richard was in trouble and telepathically summoned him, terror of mortality, what to name a dog, the frustrations of being considered small in stature, what it’s like to play a head in a box, how to keep your family alive when everyone expects podcasts to be free, plus a musical finale,which has maybe come a couple of decades too late. If you want to chang...
Rage and Balloon. Rich tries to find someone older than him in the audience as he tries to squeeze some joy out of the last few hours of his forties. HIs guest is older and sager than he and has been doing the Edinburgh Fringe for a full decade longer, it’s the self-proclaimed Mayor of Balham, Arthur Smith. They discuss smashing bottles over people’s heads, worst and most uriny heckles, the honours system, near death experiences, brushes with the law, Are You Being Served?, Fringe spectaculars, Alexander the Great’s socks, poetry, Hamlet featuring Dick Kipper and what was being said in the backwards episode of Red Dwarf.Plus the benefits of mild fame and what you do when you’ve just been released from Colditz. For details of Richard’s gigs and forthcoming tour visit http://www.richar...
What is the Biggest Ant? Richard is pondering what it must be like to buy a flat in BBC TV Centre and appreciating his daughter’s grasp of money. It’s a reunion this week with a man he once shared a bed and a tiramisu in a Presidential Suite, David Baddiel. They talk about double act reunions, the ethics of writing about your family secrets for comedy, the perils of getting older and needing comfort breaks, cat bum coffee, why all comedians are writing children’s books and orgies involving the stars of 1970s television. Plus a brilliant story about Norris Macwhirter. Buy Emergency Questions Book at http://www.gofasterstripe.com/EQ. And book tickets to see Richard at the Edinburgh Fringe (or see him on tour) Details at http://www.richardherring.com/gigs. See David’s amazing stand up...
Frog Tape Richard is over excited to find people 2/5ths of his age in the front row and tries to forget he is on the verge of his sixth decade. He’s gone against the advice of last week’s podcast and had a drink and so has his guest, it’s Classic FM’s Andrew Collin(g)s. It’s the first time the pair have spoken in over 60 months and it would be foolish to deny that there might be come tensions bubbling beneath (and all over) the surface, but there’s still time for some banter that will take you back to the glory days of 2008-2011. Armed with emergency questions and an emergency folder of cherished tabloid memories the pair attempt to discuss the country’s worst serial killers, the Mitfords, the evil of Cecil Parkinson, the debt they owe each other, the unresolved sexual tension (at lea...
Pasta-based diet Richard is excited about becoming a father for the second time, but not to witnessing the birth. His guest is, like him, a son of teachers and has a 2:1 degree in history and grew up in a town that begins with the letters Che, it’s Joe Thomas. Thomas shows Herring what his life might have been if only he’d been in a hit show, whereas Herring serves as a dire warning for where Thomas could end up if things go wrong for him. They chat about how Joe nearly didn’t accept the Inbetweeners Job, a radical possible change of direction for the third Inbetweeners movie, whether Jess the cat has an official role in Postman Pat, the buildings and dead businesses of Chelmsford, why you should watch narrative drama in the correct order, the optimum number of Inbetweeners to appear ...
Air Mattress Richard is worried that he smells of cat wee, but he can’t let that slow him down, he is chatting to the star of his as unyet commissioned sitcom (but it will be commissioned in some Universe somewhere), Jessica Knappett. Under discussion are the horrors of birth and death, the unfortunate associations that belong to the town of Bingley, what one is supposed to be getting out of a massage, the sweet, sweet taste of very long-term showbiz based revenge, sandwich or tampons, how Jessica fell in love with a man who can play a guitar without even having a guitar and the perils of promotional work and when it is acceptable to steal from work. Check out future RHLSTPs, stand up gigs and RHEFPs at http://www.richardherring.com/gigs/. Buy your own Emergency Questions book at http...
Race Off Richard contemplates the now trickier commute to work that he has thanks to being forced to move to the country because he is 50, before introducing veteran comedian Brendon Burns and a man with only one credit Craig Quartermaine. It’s a more contemplative RHLSTP than usual, as the two Australians discuss the racial issues that many of their countrymen refuse to confront and how comedy can deal with questions of race (especially if a loud and mouthy bloke is teamed up with a quieter and indigenous one). Find out how this unlikely pair got together, how they reluctantly formed a double act, what makes a double act work and the awkwardness that both comedians revel in and have to cope with in their daily life and from people who have seen their show. It’s a fascinating insight ...
Tape in a Bag Richard has his least successful attempt to meet his audience of all time, but no matter, he has a great guest on hand in the form of Angelos Epithemiou creator, Dan Skinner. They chat about how the character came to life, the audacious way in which he inadvertently auditioned for Shooting Stars, how he failed to get a part in Richard’s sitcom, the story of why Jim Broadbent appeared in Around The World In Eighty Days, working with Ken Campbell and Ben Wheatley and not really working with Alan Partridge. Plus a novel use of a lot of Twixes and what it’s like to appear on Sunday Brunch drunk and the Edinburgh Fringe sober. There’s lots of Emergency Questions, old and new - Buy your own copy of the book at http://www.gofasterstripe.com/EQ And book tickets to see Richard o...
The Camaraderie of the Jam Factory Richard attempts to work out how a waitress in a pizza restaurant with a limited menu might be surprised by every order, before introducing former competent waitress and fudge packer, Zoe Lyons. The chat encompasses Alan Titchmarsh based humiliation, Cherie Blair, the bluntness of the Dutch, almost being the first person to die on reality TV and performing to Australian miners. Plus travelogues to Alaska and Indiana, Voyager and anally inserted chocolate bars. I mean what more could you possibly wish for. Buy the Emergency Questions book here http://www.gofasterstripe.com/EQ. Check out Richard’s Edinburgh and tour dates here http://www.richardherring.com/gigs
Bumming C3PO Richard talks briefly to a semi-retired postman and considers bumping his guest to chat with him more, but instead introduces perhaps the perfect RHLSTP guest David Mitchell. It’s David’s second time in the hot seat (though the chairs have got nicer since he was last here) and Richard is determined not to be as childish and rude to him as he was last time. But will he be able to keep a lid on the simmering mayonnaise vat of bitterness? Find out if David swears during sex, if he would allow himself to be raped by a ghost, why he’s so obsessed with war that he’s apparently wearing a poppy in January and if he enjoyed working the cloakroom for TFI Friday. There are also some more serious chats about the mindset of someone who paps a couple going for a walk with their baby an...
This Morning With Richard and Nick Richard is joined by his erstwhile partner Stewart Lee to chat about This Morning With Richard, Not Judy. Stew discovers that there was nearly a very different host, they chat about the Edinburgh Fringe genesis of the idea and how they managed to give away a car, the terrible fate of Histor and Pliny, how ice and gas played a part on the stand up circuit and the Rod Hull sketches that never were. They are then joined by Paul "Curious Orange" Putner and Trevor "Small-Face" Lock to chat about the gravity behind the gravity sketch and how Mark E Smith responded to the Curious Orange. The stink of the past hangs over the occasion like a fetid cloak made of carrion. The videos of these shows are now available for FREE on iTunes and YouTube and vimeo. If yo...
Ian Gunpowder Richard chats with his audience and manages to secure himself a TV writing job, as well as marvel at his once IT heavy, bearded male audience being replaced by people who might actually have had sex. Don't worry, the nerds are still there and they're still the best! This week's guest is very tall and has never been told that before, it's sexually-charged comedian and actor Greg Davies. They converse about how W G Grace upstaged Greg's sister's wedding, how Guy Fawkes died and whether he'd welcome a time-travelling penis, how Greg embarrassed himself in front of Rik Mayall in a supermarket and bum-based encounters with doctors. It's raucous and very funny. This is one that might be worth paying the £3.50 to see on video. Not only does Greg have some amazing facial reactions,...
Brian Blessed and the Big Foot It’s the final episode of series 10 of RHLSTP and Rich meets a bearded man who has managed to find a partner (find out how he did it nerds). His guest is the laid-back and yet also intense (and rather beautiful) Peter Serafinowicz. They talk about how it’s almost impossible to parody the new President of the United States, but the effective way that Peter managed it and his fears and plans should there be repercussions from the thin-skinned bellend. Also lots of chats about the two Brian Bs (Blessed and Butterfield) and how a stellar cast does not always lead to a commission. Plus behind the scenes at Guardians of the Galaxy and Parks and Recreation and the Pudsey the Dog movie. Incredibly Adam Sandler’s “The Cobbler” and the strange ego of Mr Tumble com...
Hit It Bitch! In a frankly extraordinary, must-listen, funny, poetic and heart-breaking podcast Richard interviews quintessential Englishman (take that EDL) Stephen Fry. Find out what the Spice Girls said to Prince Charles about Prince Albert, the favourite expletive of Lionel Jeffries, why Fabian is the best character in Twelfth Night, why Richard is going to graffiti Fry's grave, which women Steve wants to have sex with, Richard's clunky attempts to audition for QI (will be more of that next week). Richard's clunky attempts to refer to Mr Fry as Steve, whether you have to read The Hobbit to be in The Hobbit, the commercial possibilities of an Ann Widdecombe sex tape, what happened when the Bishop of Bath and Wells went to a prison for young offenders and the insecurity of John Travolta....
Yoghurt Smearing Ethics for the Vegan. Richard has a controversial theory about the recent FIFA controversy and gets paid by a man to call him a fucking idiot to his face before introducing former maths teacher and toilet cryer Romesh Ranganathan to the stage of Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre. In possibly the longest RHLSTP they discuss the problems of trying to procure adequate vegan cheese, cost analysis of airline food, whether a lazy eye is really a trademark and what it would take to get Romesh to have a tattoo of Richard on his arm. Find out how you can break your penis and what to do if you then get some jalfrezi on it. Ramesh also has to answer the cash for questions that Richard forgot to ask Emma Kennedy. It goes on for a very long time and a lot of it is about ...
Pathetic. Richard is very excited to meet the man who made him give up viewing porn (temporarily), Groove is in the Heart dancer and park ranger Louis Theroux. With a bad choice of words Richard almost Merchants the podcast early on and the interviewer becomes the interviewee as Herring gets Therouxed and opens up about his pre-marital life. Will he be the subject of one of Louis’ future documentaries? Can there be a more insulting thing to happen to a person given the broken people he generally focuses on. Louis’ interview with Jimmy Savile is analysed in depth. Should he have spotted the monster lurking beneath the surface? Plus revelations about fagging for Nick Clegg, the bullying of Max Clifford and having your bits ripped off by a chimp. It’s a fascinating 90 minute chat, more seri...