Mat Ricardo's London Varieties

The last episode of Mat Ricardo's London Varieties - recorded live at the Leicester Square Theatre - features all the usual low-grade shenanigans, plus an interview with delightful comedy bloke Dave Gorman, who reveals himself to be - spoiler alert - smart, funny and charming. We also juggled sink plungers together. Let's see another comedy interview podcast do THAT!

This month's London Varieties podcast is a bit of a special one - we have some snippets from one of the great comedy acts that we featured on the live Leicester Square Theatre show, but most of the podcast is devoted to my interview with Eddie Izzard. In the late 80's we were both street performers at London's Covent Garden, so we chatted about the things we learned during those years that influenced what we do these days - and it's more than you might think.

May's London Varieties saw Mat Ricardo hosting a bill of the best cabaret and variety performers in the country, headlined by his interview with TV legend Paul Daniels. They chatted about his life and career, the current state of magic and variety on television, and the resurgence and importance of live cabaret. Mat says: Paul Daniels's TV show put me on the path to what I do for a living, and there aren't many people that know more about TV light entertainment, so it was a joy to pick his brains! Hope you enjoy the show.

On this month's Mat Ricardo's London Varieties, live at the Leicester Square Theatre, you'll get a little taste of what goes on at the monthly live show, and my full interview with Al Murray, away from his Pub Landlord persona, plus a song from the very funny Elliot Mason. If you enjoy this podcast, go to www.MatRicardo.com and watch the whole show in glorious HD video, and then book your tickets for the next monthly live show!

This episode of the Varieties devotes itself to just one interview. Live at the Edinburgh Fringe, Mat sat down and talked to legendary professional wrestler and New York Times bestselling author Mick Foley about his life in and out of the squared circle, and what someone who's done it all in his chosen profession does next. Mick was just exactly as great as you'd hope him to be - hope you enjoy the podcast as much as the live audience, and I, did!

This episode of the Varieties focuses on people who have started out as street performers, but who have then gone on to other things. First, we chat to Stuart Goldsmith, one of the fastest rising stand-ups in the country, then we convince The Boy to take The Tape off His Face (Sam Wills) and talk about his roots in street theatre, and finally we talk to leading light of the cabaret and sideshow circuit, and one of the last surviving female sword swallowers, Miss Behave.

Mat Ricardo's London Varieties has moved to the Edinburgh Fringe and become The Voodoo Varieties. We're at the Voodoo Rooms Ballroom every day except Monday, with a different line-up every night. In this show we chat to legendary Fringe comedy reviewer Kate Copstick, and then talk to best-selling author, crazy genius, and ex-magician professor Richard Wiseman. Enjoy!

The last London show of 2012 was the biggest of the year, with a packed bill of magic, stunts, dance music and comedy. Headlined by the mighty Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer, and in conversation, the delightful Arthur Smith, who amongst other things, advised not to go to the Edinburgh Fringe, confessed he had nothing against jugglers and sang Jingle Bells. Backwards. What's not to like?

This month The Varieties played host to Irish dance sensations The Lords of Strut, the amazing sleight of hand of Richard McDougall and the hilarious Noel Britten, but the night belonged to Merian Ganjou. This glamorous acrobat was a star of variety in the 50's and 60's, and she sat down with me to tell tales of the glory days of variety, partying in Vegas with Sammy Davis Jr, and having a bra strap pop live on The Ed Sullivan Show!

This episode of the London Varieties featured - live on stage - fringe stars Eastend Cabaret, the infamous Up & Over It, the legendary Peter John, Circularity Thinking and the filthy & fantastic Jenny Eclair. To see the next show live, go to www.MatRicardo.com, but for now, enjoy the podcast, which has snippets of all the acts, a song from Eastend Cabaret and the complete interview with Jenny Eclair.

In a packed show this month the king of light entertainment Lenny Beige talks about his life as a cabaret superstar, and you'll hear his version of an Eminem classic. Also I sat in a broom cupboard backstage at the O2 Arena and chatted with professional wrestler William Regal about his life, career and love of British comedy. At the age of 15 he was taking on all comers on Blackpool Pleasure Beach, and now is one of the most beloved and respected performers in the WWE. He has quite the story. As an added bonus we've also included a lecture I gave at part of the ToMax talks project about how I got into variety and cabaret, and why it's so important to me. Thanks for listening!

Mat Ricardo hosts another night of variety Live from the Bethnal Green Workingmen's Club in London. This month he sat down for a chat about comedy, writing, naked women and penguin webcams with the man behind Father Ted, Black Books, Big Train and The IT Crowd - Graham Linehan. There's also a taste of the amazing variety acts the live crowd saw on the night, and to top it all off, two exclusive songs from cabaret superstars Frisky & Mannish. Enjoy!

Live from the Bethnal Green Workingmen's Club, Mat hosted Craig the Incredible Hula Boy, Mandy Muden and Big Howard & Little Howard, and then sat down for a chat with Andre Vincent, Rob Ballard and Matt Barnard - three of the UK's most respected street performers - for a look at the life of a professional busker. (Apologies for the sound quality - we had some issues on the night, and subsequent shows will be dramatically improved!)

Every month, juggler and comedian Mat Ricardo will be hosting a variety show live from the Bethnal Green Working Men's Club in East London, where the best of the best from the worlds of cabaret, variety, comedy and circus do their thing. In this teaser podcast trailer Mat explains more about what's coming up.