Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast

RHLSTP Book Club 139 - The Golden Age of Children’s TV - Richard chats with cult TV expert Tim Worthington about his fabulous book about the TV that people of Richard’s age (and a bit older and a bit younger) grew up with. They discuss quite how huge an influence these shows were on Richard’s developing brain, what makes some shows memorable and others not, how some of these shows exist in our minds from before we have any other memories, the amazing creative teams behind successes like Thunderbirds, Bagpuss and Camberwick Green, when Norris Macwhirter was bested by a Simon Quinlank prototype, whether Johnny Ball had a bar of gold on his back, why Richard cried over a TV show when he moved to Cheddar and who N’kima was.  Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-golden-age-of-children-s-tv-tim-worthington/7695397?ean=9781785306402 Come and see RHLSTP Live http://richardherring.com/rhlstp To see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/ballback/tour Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#561 Nut Lifter - Richard has had some trouble getting his show props through customs (but not back again). His guest is comedy legend Paul Whitehouse. They chat about plastering for Fry and Laurie, acting with Michael Caine, how Loadsamoney stormed the comedy world and disappeared again, the moment that defined Gone Fishing, the sweaty men from Dragons’ Den, how Smashie and Nicey worked on the third attempt, how Vinnie Jones nearly punched Uncle Albert and the whole amazing career of "the greatest actor of all time”. See RHLSTP at the Edinburgh Fringe https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/richard-herring-rhlstp See Richard’s tour http://richardherring.com/ballback/tour See RHLSTP live http://richardherring.com/rhlstp SUPPORT THE SHOW! Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL See extra content at our WEBSITE Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#373 The End of History - Richard has more terrifying news about butterflies and his son’s attempts to follow in his footsteps. His guest is the only person who can follow Paul Chuckle, historian and broadcaster Dr Janina Ramirez. They talk about (hopefully) living through a major historical event, the incredible range of inspirational Goddesses,  how we’re able to discover more about the history of regular people (and women) by shifting traditional focus, what it’s like to handle (and drop) incredible historical artefacts, the slice of luck that preserved the Sutton Hoo treasure, how to escape a crocodile and exciting news about Nina’s next project. Plus finally someone who is in a position to properly answer the Stephen King/King Stephen question. Buy Goddesses here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/British-Museum-Goddess-Goddesses-Spirits/dp/1788009959/ Buy Femina here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Femina-New-History-Middle-Ages/dp/0753558254/ SUPPORT THE SHOW! Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE See details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATES Buy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP Book Club 138 - My Previous Life in Comedy - Richard does a rare face to face Book Club with one of his childhood heroes Johnny Ball, talking about the first part of his autobiography, which deals with his childhood and first forays into showbiz. They chat about how close Johnny came to being in the Beatles, how Ball shares some ball-related experience with Richard, briefly being in a double act with Bud Flanagan, Johnny’s remarkable memory, compering for the Rolling Stones, why he pivoted from stand-up comedy to children’s TV and why it’s taken him til his mid-80s to write this book (and his determination to write much more). Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/johnny-ball-my-previous-life-in-comedy-johnny-ball/7760971?ean=9781835741665 To see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/ballback/tour Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#560 One Ball and Boe - Richard is sad to note the death of a man who has fuelled and spoiled his erotic fantasies. His guest John Kearns, has finally been allowed into the Leicester Square Theatre on the fifth or sixth time on the pod - it’s the thoughtful and measured John Kearns. In a return to endless old-school RHLSTPs it’s a sprawling pod, covering very old tortoises, Raymond Briggs, Rich’s dad giving a talk at the BFI, the effects of the Taskmaster bounce (or plunge in Rich’s case), rumours about Top Coppers and much more. Too much more. Gloriously too much more. See RHLSTP at the Edinburgh Fringe https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/richard-herring-rhlstp See Richard’s tour http://richardherring.com/ballback/tour See RHLSTP live http://richardherring.com/rhlstp SUPPORT THE SHOW! Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL See extra content at our WEBSITE Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#372 Arthur Askey's Chair - Richard is wondering if comedians might be the solution to all the world’s problems (they won’t be), but delighted to be back at the Leicester Square Theatre for the start of Season 23 of this amazing podcast. His guest is legendary comedian and DJ Paul Chuckle. They chat about Paul’s incredible 59 year career, from working mens’ clubs and routines with Charlie Cairoli, through talent shows and learning the craft to the big break with Chuckle Vision. What injuries did the boys have to endure for comedy? What was it like to be so recognisable? How did the distinctive Chuckle look develop? And how did they come up with the iconic To Me, To You. Plus working with Tinchy Strider and moving into DJing. Paul talks movingly about losing his brother/partner and best friend and why he needed to carry on working. And finally the truth about his moped accident. SUPPORT THE SHOW! Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE See details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATES Buy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP Book Club 137 - I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning - Richard talks to the novelist Keiran Goddard about his affecting and fantastic second novel, I See Buildings Fall Like Lightning. They discuss the themes of the work including the changing nature of friendship, how we are encourage to escape our roots, the truth about gig economy and why people turn to drink and drugs, the decision to write the book from the perspectives of each friend, whilst retaining the idea of the hive mind that a group of friends have, having your work turned into filmed entertainment and why a lot of people turned up expecting to be extras in Peaky Blinders, the humour that fills this sometimes bleak work and how you feel when you watch an old video knowing everyone in it is now dead. Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/i-see-buildings-fall-like-lightning-keiran-goddard/6898605 To see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/ballback/tour Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#559 In Tandem - Rich has just returned from Center Parcs where he was treated like a celebrity, albeit one from the 20th Century. His guest is fabulous US comedian Chloe Radcliffe. They discuss their similarly nerdy childhoods, how TV has led us to expect physical perfection, Richard’s complicated week when he lost his virginity, how Instagram judges you, how compartmentalisation is important for a comedian, why tackling the subjects that scare you most can lead to great stand up, why people cheat and why we usually only talk about the times we were cheated on, not when we cheated, dating someone on a different continent and Chloe’s fantastic idea for an interview podcast https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP3nQxiZUKySkPYs6tjJzrgyN_p1FfdHl See Chloe’s fantastic show Cheat at the Soho Theatre https://sohotheatre.com/events/chloe-radcliffe-cheat/ See Richard’s tour http://richardherring.com/ballback/tour See RHLSTP live http://richardherring.com/rhlstp SUPPORT THE SHOW! Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL See extra content at our WEBSITE Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#359 A Face For All Occasions - Richard is in giddy mood as he meets a member of the audience. His guest is living legend and national treasure Miriam Margolyes. They discuss Arnold Schwarzenegger’s farting revenge, King Edward VII’s weighing chair, the sexism of the boys in the Cambridge Footlights, how Miriam’s father’s life was spared by a diamond, an unusual approach to dealing with a sex pest, some strong opinions about the current government, making a soft porn tape, appearing in a Beckett play despite not liking it, starring in an American sitcom and why a lesbian ended up giving so many blow jobs. It’s a stone cold classic RHLSTP from one of our greatest actors. You will love it. SUPPORT THE SHOW! Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE See details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATES Buy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club 136 - The Revenge Club - Another intercontinental Book Club this time with Kathy Lette in Sydney, Australia talking about her funny book on a serious subject The Revenge Club. They chat about how they met on a TV show with the lowest ratings of all time, how this book sprung from a real life issue for Kathy (and who all the incidents of male nastiness are based on true stories), the nature of revenge, using comedy to cover topics that aren’t funny in themselves, why post-menopausal women are apparently invisible, fighting the patriarchy, doing all the accents in your own audio book, why men should read books by female authors and whether things are improving for women or getting worse (or both). Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-revenge-club-kathy-lette/7539861 To see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/ballback/tour Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#558 Trouser Press - It’s the first podcast fuelled by Soleros for a while and Rich is vaguely concerned about asteroids and if he’s worth more dead or alive. His guest is the multi-talented Alexandra Haddow. They discuss the wonderful town of Corby - has Richard forgotten playing there? Almost certainly - festivals that are only held every 20 years, how we can be judged by the best of worst that we’ve done, whether birds are scarier than ghosts. Come and see RHLSTP live at the Edinburgh Festival - https://www.thestand.co.uk/fringe/2441/richard-herring-rhlstp For Richard’s remaining live stand up gigs http://richardherring.com/ballback/tour SUPPORT THE SHOW! Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL See extra content at our WEBSITE Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#358 Irish Unicorn - Richard has an idea that will revolutionise football and is having to explain to his daughter why history killed all the famous women. His guest is academic and broadcaster Emma Dabiri. They talk about growing up as almost the only black person in Ireland, why white people don’t like being told what to do next, Richard’s “All Lives Matter” conundrum, what’s happened to the ugly TV academics, how whiteness and blackness are a relatively modern invention, why we need to destroy capitalism and Emma answers some of Phoebe Herring’s Would You Rather questions. SUPPORT THE SHOW! Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE See details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATES Buy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP Book Club 135 - Six Conversations We’re Scared To Have - Richard talks to Guilty Feminist host Deborah Frances-White about her new book in which she discusses topics that people are generally nervous to offer an opinion on. They chat about how her time in a cult helped her recognise cult-like attributes in social media groups, whether we can judge people from history for their actions, the difference between good and bad edgy comedy and why changing attitudes to people who have been adopted might help us understand modern day prejudices. Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/six-conversations-we-re-scared-to-have-from-the-guilty-feminist-deborah-frances-white/5776227?ean=9780349015811 To see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/ballback/tour Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP Book Club 135 - Six Conversations We’re Scared To Have - Richard talks to Guilty Feminist host Deborah Frances-White about her new book in which she discusses topics that people are generally nervous to offer an opinion on. They chat about how her time in a cult helped her recognise cult-like attributes in social media groups, whether we can judge people from history for their actions, the difference between good and bad edgy comedy and why changing attitudes to people who have been adopted might help us understand modern day prejudices. Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/six-conversations-we-re-scared-to-have-from-the-guilty-feminist-deborah-frances-white/5776227?ean=9780349015811 To see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/ballback/tour Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#556 Not As Good As It Used To Be - Richard returns to Leicester and reveals the curt message of one of the comedians he asked on the podcast. His guests are two of the men behind the publishing sensation and hugely influential comedy juggernaut that is Viz magazine. They discuss the humble beginnings of this adult comic, how publishers tried and failed to sanitise it, working with Peter Cook on Tiger Mellie, the terrible imitators, who was the first person to say it wasn’t as good as it used to be (and when), plus Richard’s posh introduction to the work and his pride at being in the Profanisaurus. A great chat with two down to earth comedy geniuses who changed the landscape of British comedy. See John's show at the Edinburgh Festival - https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/john-robertson-s-the-dark-room Support our Kickstarter here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/467836598/can-i-have-my-ball-back For Richard’s remaining live stand up gigs http://richardherring.com/ballback/tour Come and see RHLSTP live at the Edinburgh Festival - https://www.thestand.co.uk/fringe/2441/richard-herring-rhlstp SUPPORT THE SHOW! Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL See extra content at our WEBSITE Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#357 Shamgel - Richard wonders if the man who wrote the Grange Hill theme might have been hoodwinking us all along. His guest is the formidable Dragon, Deborah Meaden. Rich is hoping he can get an investment of at least £50 million and pitches some ideas, whilst they also discuss being thrown into Murder in Successville, being parodied by Harry and Paul, ethical business, whether the Dragons are friends, where Meaden can save Cheddar caves and how Richard has become an (arguably more successful) business owner than Deborah. Plus what it’s like to be a child prodigy who turns their back on their skill, what Rich missed out on at Butlins Minehead and why a Dragon should never back time travel. SUPPORT THE SHOW! Support the CAN I HAVE MY BALL BACK KICKSTARTER Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE See details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATES Buy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Support our Kickstarter here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/467836598/can-i-have-my-ball-back For Richard’s remaining live stand up gigs http://richardherring.com/ballback/tour Come and see RHLSTP live http://richardherring.com/rhlstp Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#556 Not As Good As It Used To Be - Richard returns to Leicester and reveals the curt message of one of the comedians he asked on the podcast. His guests are two of the men behind the publishing sensation and hugely influential comedy juggernaut that is Viz magazine. They discuss the humble beginnings of this adult comic, how publishers tried and failed to sanitise it, working with Peter Cook on Tiger Mellie, the terrible imitators, who was the first person to say it wasn’t as good as it used to be (and when), plus Richard’s posh introduction to the work and his pride at being in the Profanisaurus. A great chat with two down to earth comedy geniuses who changed the landscape of British comedy. Support our Kickstarter here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/467836598/can-i-have-my-ball-back For Richard’s remaining live stand up gigs http://richardherring.com/ballback/tour Come and see RHLSTP live http://richardherring.com/rhlstp SUPPORT THE SHOW! Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL See extra content at our WEBSITE Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#356 Gravity - Rich has had what he thought might be the most middle class accident, but he is wrong. His guest is a listener who has won a competition to be on the show, the Dorian Grey of morning TV, Ben Shephard. They discuss how science proves Ben a better singer than a West End star, whether there’s a man with a broom behind the Tipping Point machine, revenge as a dish served very cold, why Rich was fired from morning television, how Ben’s charity work found him at Buckingham Palace and what Richard had to do for the same invitation, feeling up Julie Walters, plus a classic emergency question and Ben turning the tables and asking some stuff about testicles that he might not do on morning telly. SUPPORT THE SHOW! Support the CAN I HAVE MY BALL BACK KICKSTARTER Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE See details of the RHLSTP TOUR DATES Buy DVDs and Books from GO FASTER STRIPE Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RHLSTP Book Club 134 - The Invisible Doctrine - Recorded in front of an audience at the prestigious Royal Geographical Society, Richard talks to journalist George Monbiot about his very readable investigation into Neo-Liberalism (co-authored with Peter Hutchinson) The Invisible Doctrine. George does most of the talking, which is probably for the best and reveals what he considers to the be the starting point of capitalism, why capitalism and commerce are not the same thing, the roots of Neo Liberalism in the closing stages of World War II, why it took 30 years to come to prominence, conspiracy theories versus conspiracy fictions, why the left has missed opportunities to defeat Neo-liberalism, what happened when Liz Truss tried to institute its policies all in one go, why Starmer is wrong to try and legitimise Reform and whether there is hope for the future and what we can do to stand up to a political system that threatens our planet. Rousing and fascinating stuff. Event hosted by How To Academy - check out their podcast, the How To Academy Podcast, exploring big ideas with distinguished leaders, artists, and thinkers, available wherever you listen. Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-invisible-doctrine-understanding-neoliberalism-peter-hutchinson/7402463 Support our Kickstarter here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/467836598/can-i-have-my-ball-back To see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/ballback/tour Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/rhlstp. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.