Russell Howard’s Five Brilliant Things

Mark Simmons, one of the sharpest joke writers in the country (maybe the world? Maybe the universe?) is here and his five brilliant things give an insight into the man behind the gags. From Taekwondo tournaments to Wrestling and the thrills of Mr Miyagi, you can see that his discipline in joke-writing comes from a deep love of Eastern sports and arts. And…um…wrestling?

Mark is about to start the Autumn leg of his ‘Jest to Impress’ tour, and basically you won’t get more jokes per pound spent at any other show. He’s a terrific comedian and you should go.

You can get tickets and find all the dates at https://marksimmons.co.uk

Do you want to watch his last special ‘Quip off the Mark’? It’s on the website. Free.

You want to listen to his podcast ‘Jokes’? It’s on the website. ALSO FREE!

Lucky ducks. So much Mark Simmons so little time.

I’m off to watch a load of Mark Simmons. There’s so much there I’ll barely have finished by next week. Taraaaaa!

Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Brian Conley has been one of the biggest names in UK comedy and theatre for the past generation. From being the biggest comedian on TV to the most in-demand stage performer, he’s done it all. Come in and listen to a fascinating chat between Russell and Brian, two comics who sit, and have sat, at the top of their game at different periods in history.

As we spoke about on the show, Brian has just competed in Celebrity Hunted on Channel 4, and you can watch the whole series, including his victorious final show on the Channel 4 player right now! Link is here or you can just search for it when you get back to your big telly.

The Prat Pack also have some September shows which are selling fast - find out more about that by going here.

And this is where we part company. I’ll see you in next week’s blurb no doubt. We MUST stop meeting like this.

Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music
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Hello there!

Welcome to August’s Moments of the Month. In case you’re new here, this is a compilation show with a little flavour of each guest we’ve enjoyed this month, but not the whole show.

Then if you like the taste of any of them you can double-back and listen to the whole episode. It’s a good way to discover someone you would never have thought of clicking on before.

First up we’ve got the comedian, actor and star of SNL UK, Scarborough’s finest… Paddy Young.

Then we had Dan Tiernan just getting ready for Edinburgh, using the power of crystals…

Following that was a special episode with Russell’s close friend, the US film director Joe Maggio who waxed lyrical about the greatest film of all time - La Dole Vita

And lastly it was the firebrand honesty of Alfie Brown, who wears his personal history on his sleeve for our entertainment!

So there we go! That’s a little taste of what August was like. All of those shows are available in full right now, so if you got a taste for it, go and get some more.

Thanks as always for listening and there will be a new show, as usual, this coming Wednesday.

Byeeee!

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One of the most interesting, honest and self-eviscerating comics around at the moment, Alfie Brown brings his happy things to the studio including the city of Liverpool, Love Songs, his own wife and the levelling, life-saving properties of cannabis.

Alfie has been in Edinburgh but if you haven’t been there yet you ain’t going now, but luckily for you his latest hit show ‘The Entertainer’ is touring the UK.

You can find out all the dates and book tickets in a couple of quick clicks by going to alfiebrowntour.com. You can also follow Alfie on Instagram where he’s @alfiebrowncomedian and you can search for his and Jessie’s podcast (which has terrific metrics if you read the data) - just look for ‘Before we Break Up Again’ on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

Well done for reading the blurb, which is the modern equivalent of DVD extras, in that a huge amount of love and energy goes into them but really we’re only slaving away for a very select bunch of nerds like you. Nerd. Yeah you heard me (but totally thanks for making this worthwhile).

Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music

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Today, the first guest Russell nearly killed. American director Joe Maggio is here, miraculously, after nearly losing his life on Russell’s stag-do some years ago. He’s written a show about the near-fatal mistake of trying to keep up with a feral UK stag-do and it’s at the Edinburgh Festival right now. The brush with death has led to a deeper, more profound love of life for Joe, so his Five Brilliant Things are unusually rich; told with a story-telling flair that betrays his many years creating, teaching and loving films.In many regards this episode shows Five Brilliant Things at its best: a person you may not have heard of but with beautiful takes on slices of life of which you weren’t even previously aware.Edinburghevery day at The Mash House, tickets from edfringe.com.

Also follow Joe on Instagram where he's 'thejoemaggio'.

That will do I think. Thanks for your attention and please be cautious when playing five-a-side with a bunch of feral louts. x
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