Russell Howard’s Five Brilliant Things (Avalon Television)

Can Russell convince Andy to go to a Water Park? And can Andy convince Russell to visit an Ancient Greek Citadel? It’s a tussle for the ages.  This episode of Five Brilliant Things all comes from the brains of comedian and cricket statistics royalty, Andy Zaltzman.  It is, frankly, a fiesta of culture. From obscure Ancient Greek plays to casting sculptures in bronze the depth and breadth of Andy’s magnificent brains are on full display. Oh, yes, there’s also a smattering of cricket chat. Just a smattering. About an over’s worth. 🏏 Andy is fast becoming a household name for his work on Test Match Special, but he is first and foremost an outstanding comedian with some of the most original, funny and brilliant satirical routines out there.  His current one man show is touring theatres across the UK right now. It is called ‘The Zaltgeist’ and you can find out the dates and book the tickets by going to andyzaltzman.co.uk.  🎤 Russell’s doing some gigs in Scandinavia 🫎 and then India, Hong Kong and some even further flung places. If you’re in those places then get tickets and dates by going to russell-howard.co.uk.  And there endeth the sermon. Hopefully your souls are all now saved, or at least not quite as filthy as when you walked into this chapel. Now go out there, love thy neighbour and all that shit.  🙏 Amen. Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave Gorman! The man, the legend, the maker of the most epic comedy shows of the past thirty years.  How could you miss this? Dave is interested in everything, and makes everything interesting. The brilliance includes cryptic crosswords, it includes playing cards, and Dave tells us about the time he hosted a darts tournament where Eric Bristow was working illicitly. 🎯👮‍♂️ Dave is back on telly, with three new special shows of Modern Life is Goodish! This is indeed the best of newses. It’s on either now or very soon or just a while ago, depending on when you read this. If it’s not in the future, then you can catch up and watch here. If it’s in the future it’s on the channel Dave, which is now called ‘U&Dave’ because that’s an absolutely brilliant name for a TV channel. Just rolls off the tongue. God bless corporate mergers, they really know how to make a TV channel sound attractive.  For any Dave Gorman fans, our Patreon episode this week is borderline unmissable: Dave goes into detail (because you asked) into how he has made his mega-shows. What goes into it, and why his have been successful and why the imitators fall away. It’s as fascinating as you might expect.  Click this link to join or find out more: patreon.com/RussellHoward   Russell’s globe-trotting at the moment, taking his show to theatres from Singapore to Sweden. There’s a run of US dates coming up soon too. Find out where, when, how and all that by going to Russell-howard.co.uk .  🧩 Finally, if you’ve listened to the podcast and you’re here because you want to find out more..if Dave whetted your whistle to have a go on cryptic crosswords, the place to start is the Guardian ‘Quiptic’ crosswords. These are like training crosswords to get you started. Highly recommended. 🧩 And that’s the end of it all. You’ve completed this blurb successfully and deserve a pat on the back. You get your blurb readers badge. Well done squirrels.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do you go from a kid hanging around the DJ booth in Eurodiscos in Prague to creating one of Britain’s most iconic sitcoms of all time?  Seapa is here to take Russell through his Wonderbox, including the dreaded call centres he worked in where he met the other People Just Do Nothing stars, and the perfect Banh-Mi Sandwich.  Lots of fun. Really funny episode with proper energy, fascinating stories and some excellent digressions.  Keep up with Allan on Instagram here. Watch him as Andy Peacock on iPlayer here. Series two landed earlier this year and funny it is too.  Russell is in various countries doing his smash hit tour show. Check out the latest information about where Russell is by going to russell-howard.co.uk Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Would you expect to find the Pub Landlord chowing down in a Wagamama? Neither would we but it’s exactly where he’ll be. Al Murray tells Russell why he always has the same noodles, the best place to get pissed in Ireland and a sidetrack into trained cannon musicians.  Al Murray is a proper British treasure. If you only know him as the Pub Landlord then there’s so much more - he gives so much History, explains some fascinating background to percussion (he’s a dab hand percussionist) and is a font of knowledge that refuses to stop spewing interesting stuff all over the podcast floor.  It was a nightmare to clean up but that’s NOT YOUR PROBLEM. As you heard on the podcast Al makes a regular WW2 podcast ‘We Have Ways of Making you Talk’ which you can find HERE.  If you haven’t seen Al live, then you really should. One of the best. Such a great comic. He’s just extended his current tour ‘Guv Island’. Check out the tour dates and get tickets by visiting Al’s website www.thepublandlord.com In our Patreon Show this week, Al answers your questions, telling us which country is best at wars in history ever, he recommends the greatest drum solo ever recorded and Russell tells Al about the best/worst prank that was ever played on him. It is a cruel one. Really spicy. Go to: patreon.com/RussellHoward to get involved. We want to see you there, it’s a lot of fun and you can join for free to start with so nothing to lose!  I believe that’s all the housekeeping. If you’re still with me on this epic reading journey then well done. As a treat, I will tell you that I think the word ‘shoffice’ is the worst in the English Language. And I don’t mind mashing two words together at all, but everything about shoffice is ugly - it demeans two perfectly good words, and ideas, and the word, concept and everything about it is bleak. It’s not a shoffice it’s a shed with a computer in it.  There you go. Some ‘treat’ that was. Until next time, and remember to wrap up warm. You can’t catch a cold by going out dressed like that (it’s a virus, that’s not how colds work) but you will look like a plucked chicken. Bye bye.  Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I tell you what’s fun to listen to: someone who loves cake, talking passionately about cake. Griefcast’s Cariad Lloyd sits with Russell and waxes lyrical about Pavlova and wider cakes. There’s more! We get all down and dirty with the Moomins and then there’s a weird bit where Cariad and Russell start acting out passages from Labyrinth. Which music star was originally slated to play Jareth? It wasn’t Bowie… the answer lies in this terrific episode. Cariad talked in the podcast about her book, the Christmas Wish-tastrophe, and that is available now, and if you know an 11-14 year old just get them this for Christmas. Then that one is done, another one off your list. They will read and enjoy it.  You can get that book at your local independent bookshop, or google the name of the book and choose an independent book provider online. You can do this! Don’t just default to the monolithic behemoths! Cariad’s regular podcast is Griefcast, where she talks to all manner of people about the various ways people deal with life when things are tough. Cariad is an absolutely incredible host and it’s a wonderful podcast, whether you yourself are struggling or not. Check it out HERE.  In this week’s Patreon show of Five Brilliant Questions, Cariad answered some deep knowledge questions about Gondor (It’s Lord of the Rings apparently. I have no idea). She also reveals what kind of hat she would be (as always, really probing questions from you guys) and Russell has a crisis about hat-wearing in general.  Go to: patreon.com/RussellHoward to get involved. Looking forward to seeing you there!  And that faint glugging noise means our Bathysphere has reached the surface of the water and our underwater journey through the Great Sea of Blurb has come to an end. Let us make our soggy way into the decompression chamber and talk about all the magnificent words we saw over a lovely biscuit and a cup of tea.  See you next week. Don’t leave your Christmas shopping until the last minute. This time of year is busy enough without having to hate yourself for being disorganised too. Bye bye x Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Northern Irish Comedian is in the studio with some outstanding Brilliant Things. If you’ve never experienced Minstrels and Popcorn, if you’ve never luxuriated in the spongy floor at airport security, then this show will open your eyes and blow your mind. Or open your mind and blow your eyes. Vittorio’s jokes and stories take a ride through is formal musical training, on a detour via traditional Irish delights (Guinness, anyone?) and there’s even a bit of fun pub quizzing at the tail end. Who doesn’t love a pub quiz? 🎤 Vittorio is massively online. If you want to find out about what he’s up to and you can’t then I just don’t think you’re trying hard enough.  Go to his website to get all the things like tour dates, or to watch his stand-up special ‘Translations’ or to link to his very funny podcast that he makes with Mike.  Or get into his instagram to get regular stand-up clips and nonsense. Here’s your linky-poos:  📸Instagram 🕸️Website 📻Podcast If you’d like to get the podcast without being interrupted by adverts, and get an extra show every week, AND get it all a day before everyone else, then you can! You can join our Patreon. It’s inexpensive and we would love to have you as part of the club. Click this link to join or find out more: patreon.com/RussellHoward   Also please look out for Russell on the road. Not literally, he’s not there all flat like roadkill.  He’s out and about - India this week would you believe?! And then all sorts of European dates then some American dates - there are shows across the entire globe. And one on the moon. Stay up to date at russell-howard.co.uk - which is also where you can stream Russell’s latest smash hit hour-long special. It’s not been long out and it’s bloody good.  Thanks as always for being such a fan of podcast blurbs that you’ve read all this. It’s people like you that keep us podcast note monks in quills and low-alcohol mead.  I must go now for matins.  Amen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do you go from being a young sex columnist to a nationally acclaimed restaurant reviewer? Food writer, broadcaster, jazz pianist and egg fanatic Jay Rayner is here. If you have even a passing interest in anything foodie, there’s so much in here for you. New ways of loving tinned fish, the dark arts of restaurant reviewing, and a noble attempt by Russell to convert Jay into a football fan. Did he leave wearing a scarf and hat munching on a balti pie? You’ll have to listen to find out. Jay is now reviewing restaurants for the Financial Times, so you can find those in print or online every week.  As Jay mentions on the podcast, his latest book Nights Out At Home is out now at all good independent bookshops, and there’s a few live tour dates to go with it. 📖 Buy the book here… 📖 🎤 Find out about the tour dates and book tickets here… 🎤 🍾 Oh, and Jay mentioned his favourite food magazine Noble Rot - you can check that out here. 🍾 🇺🇸 And if you happen to be in the United States right now, then why don’t you treat yourself and get along to one of Russell’s shows! He’s doing a brief tour of some cities in America that he hasn’t played for a while - check out where he be and get those tickets by going to russell-howard.co.uk 🇺🇸 If you’re enjoying this podcastness and you want it even podcastier, as in no adverts,  an exclusive extra show every week that you help to make, and getting it all a day early… all for less than the cost of one sandwich a month… then click here to find out more.  Thanks for being a passenger on another flight here with Five Brilliant Things Air. We hope you have had a pleasant crossing, please leave your seatbelts fastened until the podcast has come to a complete standstill. The local time is (inaudible) and the weather is drizzly but should brighten up later.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s the Taskmaster’s Assistant, Alex Horne! And he’s here to tell his Brilliant things and as you would probably expect it’s a complete delight.  Did you think birdwatching was boring? Guess again! Failing to see the majesty of the French Horn? Let Alex enlighten your ass! Alex brings an array of delights in an episode that will fly by and leave you with that cosy feeling in your guts. I probably should have used a more poetic word than guts. That description really tailed off at the end there. Guts can ruin anything. Just listen to the damn episode and enjoy yourself.  📕 Alex’s novel The Last Pebble (as mentioned on the podcast) is available to pre-order now here. It’s for teens but to be honest I bet it’s an excellent read whatever age you are. 📕 🎭 And of course you can watch Taskmaster, episodes new and old either at Channel 4 or you can feast on the best bits here. 🎭 ✨ And please don’t forget you can get this whole podcast advert-free forever, and get access to our second weekly show, and get it all a day before everyone else… and for a very small amount. Click here to find out more. ✨ Thanks for joining us, we appreciate you, especially you who reads to the end of the blurb. What are you doing here? There’s nobody here but me and a small family of friendly yet hungry cockroaches. Get back to the real world. We’ll be fine.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You want rollerskating telephone operators? We got ‘em. You want arguments about how many gears a decent bike should have? It’s all here in this episode of Five Brilliant Things with Suzi Ruffell. From the rough-arse pubs of Portsmouth to the fashionable theatres of London’s West End, this lovely show touches on all corners of Suzi’s past.  Suzi’s on tour in 2025 with her brand-new show ‘The Juggle’. It’s going all over the UK to a town or city near you in the second half of the year. Tickets and dates can all be found and acquired at suziruffell.com Aaaaand Suzi’s latest recorded special ‘Snappy’ is out now, available to rent HERE. Today’s Patreon episode of Five Brilliant Questions sees both Suzi and Russell get very serious about the question ’Is it ever acceptable to eat a baguette sideways?’ If you think you know the answer then please join us and get involved and settle the debate. You can join our Patreon for free if you like, and we’d be delighted to have you on the team. Check it all out at patreon.com/RussellHoward  And who even are you, reading this far down some show notes. But thanks for sticking with me. I hope you have a wonderful 2025. Just think, you're probably the only person in the world who's read this. And that means that it's only you who's received this well-wish. It's just for you. Because you're special. Until next time! Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does Rugby's hardest man have a dog with the least hard name? It's all in this barnstorming show with England Rugby Union Prop Joe Marler, who announced his retirement just a week ago. Joe tells Russell about drug testing in Japan, he explains the fine art of shithousery and they both get incredibly passionate about biscuits. As we talk about on the show, Joe's post-rugby work is his weekly podcast that he does with Tom Fordyce, 'Things People Do'. It's well worth checking out, it really is one of the better podcasts around. You can get it on Spotify, Apple, your podcast app there on your phone, or if it's easier, just click this link to help you find it. Russell is working up some new material at the moment, popping up at gigs across the UK and for a little while in Australia. Keep up to date with all his latest gigs at Russell-howard.co.uk. Thanks once again for tuning in, and remember when the ball pops loose from the scrum you've got to just dive on it. Byeeee! Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Get an Exclusive NordVPN deal here: https://nordvpn.com/fivebrilliantthings It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Never knew David O’Doherty used to be an underground DJ?  It’s all here. Russell and David sit down in front of a live studio audience at the Edinburgh Fringe (yes, it was a few weeks ago but we recorded a few, OK!?) to discuss David’s DJ hinterland. Also there is when a 13 year old David offered to cycle around Ireland as a newspaper think-piece, and he tells Russell about hanging out with Taika Waititi.  This episode bounces along with more energy than a demented space-hopper, with a huge amount of laughs and fascinating stories from David’s wonderful brain.  You wanna get more David? You can gets you more David for HE IS ON TOUR! His Edinburgh show was brilliant (as always). It’s called Ready Steady David O’Doherty. You could get tickets from Ticketmaster, but those guys are firmly on the naughty step at the moment.  Better off - use this link HERE to go to David’s personal website and get linked directly to the theatres. It’ll probably save you some dollar too, but don’t quote me on that because I haven’t checked and it goes way beyond the call of duty for me to check all those theatre prices, cross-check with the Goliaths and then work out the difference all to save you 50p. I mean I like you, but we’ve got to have some boundaries.  Russell is packing his moose-repellent spray for his is touring in Canada in mere moments. This September, if you’re Canadian, heck even if you’re not but you happen to be there, check out the dates HERE - in one of the last opportunities to see his latest smash hit tour show live.  We shall see you, hear you and smell you next week. So long cowboy/girl/child/baby. Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Host of the Last Leg, Australian comedy royalty Adam Hills joins Russell in the studio this week for a warm and optimistic journey through Adam’s Wonderbox.  There’s some fascinating and funny stories from Adam’s childhood, about his Dad who worked on Qantas airlines ✈️, about those hot evenings on Australian balconies 🌅, and about sharing a bath with twenty two other grown men in Warrington singing drinking songs 🤪🍻. Adam has been away from live comedy for a while, concentrating on the Last Leg and his new-found responsibilities to Rugby League 🏉 (more about that on this pod).  The best way to keep up with everything Adam is doing, which includes oodles of charity work, sport representation as well as gigs and shows - Facebook is his medium. Check out his latest here.  Russell is in various countries doing his smash hit tour show. Check out the latest information about where Russell is by going to russell-howard.co.uk TTFN! Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You want wisdom? Here’s five bucketfuls of Wisdom poured into your ears. Britain’s top philosopher Alain de Botton sits down with Russell and, well, it’s an absolute belter. 🧠 He explains how to make your mind more healthy, how to get through the bad times and he tells Russell just how much he loves water parks. Yeah. You don’t get that on the other Alain de Botton interviews, do you? 🧠 There’s so much to enjoy, and so much nourishment in here for you. Give it a bloody whirl and you won’t regret it. Also, don’t double-screen it. Give it some attention. There’s proper good stuff in there, it seems a waste to have it on while your attention is 85% on finishing the next level of Balatro. So you’ve enjoyed the podcast, and you are keen to expand your curiosity further? Good. So you should. Alain’s books are available in all independent bookshops, and a good start point for your curiosity is Alain’s online home The School of Life.  Have a look around, watch some videos, check out the shop, and you can subscribe if you want to get really involved with your own mind.  In our Patreon show this week Alain answered your questions, and the show gets looser in a really fascinating way - Alain talks a bit more about himself and his own life, what drew him to his work and how he likes to organise his thoughts.  The Patreon community you can join for free, so please do join us, we’re growing and we’d love you to come along for the journey. We’ve got lots of exciting plans, but really it’s worth just getting more of Alain. I’m a big fan. Can you tell? Go to: patreon.com/RussellHoward. And that’s the end of the screed. It’s been a great ride having you along for this podcast blurb, I feel we’ve come a long way together and really connected. I hate goodbyes. Maybe it’s not ‘adieu’ but more ‘a bientot’? Same place next week? Lovely.  Until then. There’s no need to keep your ketchup in the fridge so take it out and free up some room. Better still, get rid of the red abomination you’re ruining perfectly good food.  Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Get an Exclusive NordVPN deal here: https://nordvpn.com/fivebrilliantthings It’s risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Etiquette expert William Hanson is with us, and he’s had enough of being asked the correct way to touch yourself under the table. Do you want to find out the correct way to do the incorrect things? It’s all in this podcast with one of the most charming, funny men in Britain.  🌂 William goes through his Five Brilliant Things, including Mary Poppins (you won’t believe how many times he’s seen the stage show. It’s a bigger number than the one you are thinking of). There is also a very informative discussion on the practical and sartorial pros and cons of becoming a cape wearer on the regular. 🌂 📖 William’s wit and wisdom is available for you to own and refer to at your whim, in the form of paper with ink symbols printed on it. I believe you earthlings refer to these things as ‘books’. William’s latest book is called ‘Just Good Manners’ and it is a breezy, informative and deeply fun read.  You can either get this at your local independent bookshop, or you can go online and get it here. 📖 In the Patreon episode, things take a real turn because you heathens got us to ask William to explain the dos and don’ts of rimming.  Yeah. Exactly. Thanks. Anyway it’s all in there. It’s fascinating, and obviously very funny. If you’re not a Patreon member this could be the week to get involved. 🍩👅 Click this link to join or find out more: patreon.com/RussellHoward   And that’s that. If you want to get your grubby mitts on more Brilliant Things, then you can. We’d prefer you washed them first of course, but if you like those digits dirty, then we can’t stop you. We will be back here next week with a catwalk of Brilliance for you to poke. Goodnight my pretty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to Five Brilliant Things, or as it used to be known, Wonderbox.  Like a latter-day Reginald Dwight we’ve had a wee name change - everything else is the same show that you know and love.  And this week, the irrepressible Giovanna Fletcher is in the studio to explain the beauty of silent discos (Russell disagrees), the majesty of a dibber and some top tips for dropping your guts on a mountain.  It’s a brilliant chat that bobs along at a lick, taking in Giovanna’s writing career, her performing and getting into the practical challenges of trekking across the Himalayas. Giovanna can be found weekly on her Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, and she’ll be appearing across the UK in the upcoming stage production of The Girl on the Train.  🥾 But probably most importantly, she’s in the Himalayas right now trekking to raise money for the awesome Breast Cancer Charity, CoppaFeel!  🥾 For more information about CoppaFeel! and how you can support this challenge and donate to the CoppaTrek! head to the following link - https://coppatrek-himalayas.coppafeel.org/ - to help CoppaFeel! ensure everyone has the best possible chance of surviving breast cancer.   And for those of you wondering why a podcast would change its name… you’d be surprised if you call your podcast something as suggestive as ‘Wonderbox’ just how much attention you get from spambots.  So unless ‘Brilliant Thing’ has become some kind of new euphemism we haven’t heard of then we should be safe for the time being. It’s Wonderbox. But now it’s called Five Brilliant Things. And we will return next week with another fabulous guest. Goodbye!  Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How do you become a Habbo Hotel Scammer? And why did Russell ask a bunch of young men which of them was going to pleasure him in the street?  Podcast royalty and ex-Youtube magnate JacckMaate is in the studio, and it’s as fun, breezy and enjoyable as you would imagine from a man of his mastery of chat. Jack’s stories about his days as a Habbo gangster are sensational.  JaackMaate’s Happy Hour is one of the biggest podcasts out there and it’s available exclusively through Spotify. Go listen, then explore all the things that Jaack does. He’s great. If you’d like to get the podcast without being interrupted by adverts, and get an extra show every week, AND get it all a day before everyone else, then you can! You can join our Patreon. It’s inexpensive and we would love to have you as part of the club. Click this link to join or find out more: patreon.com/RussellHoward   And that’s all folks! Have a mad good week. Mad good I tell you.  xxx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Insider tips on how to take the perfect penalty? We got ‘em. Genuinely fascinating insights from a man with a better record than many others. Troy Deeney was Watford’s talisman and striker for years, and now is on our screens as pundit with the main sports broadcasters.  He’s got a fascinating life story to tell involving some pretty hard stories about his upbringing, a stint in prison and how he’s kept himself together through it all.  OH, and one thing that’s worth mentioning… There’s a description of footballer’s toenails about a third of the way through. If you’re a little squeamish then give that a forward scrub. Footballers have the mankiest toenails. Yeurch.  ⚽️ Troy has setup Vision Football Factory in Tamworth – it plays an important role in the Birmingham area, providing a safe & quality space for young people to play football & build community. The website is www.visionfootballfactory.com and you can find them on Instagram at @visionfootballfactory You can also catch Troy on various broadcast platforms covering football, and finally you could follow Troy on Instagram to see everything he’s up to - his handle is @t_deeney. ⚽️ Russell is out on the road also, with dates across the world. He’s zipping around with such ferocity that I couldn’t possibly pinpoint where on the planet he’ll be when you read this. Stay up to date at russell-howard.co.uk - which is also where you can stream Russell’s latest smash hit hour-long special. It’s not been long out and it’s bloody good.  If you’d like to get the podcast without being interrupted by adverts, and get an extra show every week, AND get it all a day before everyone else, then you can! You can join our Patreon for less than the cost of a pint of beer a month (or maybe two pints of orange juice if you’re not a booze hound). Click this link to join or find out more: patreon.com/RussellHoward   There we go. That’s this week’s missive.  Thanks for being part of all this because really if you didn’t read this then it wouldn’t be worth writing.  Only joking. I know there’s nobody reading this far down.  It’s just me, alone with my thoughts, spurting out nonsense that nobody will ever see. I could say anything. I could say all the cancellable stuff.  Obviously I won’t because I’m nothing if not a coward. I don’t really want to be up on a work tribunal explaining why I wrote awful things in a podcast notes sign-off. That’s no way to lose it all. I’ll stick to aimless rambling in the wind.  See you later, nobody. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There is something wonderful about this episode. Jessie has been through a lot. She’s taken more life thrown at her than most other people could handle, yet there is still an emphatic positivity that shines through. These Five Brilliant Things have a bittersweet quality to them which makes for a tender, funny and terrific show. Jessie talked about her novel ‘Sunset’ on the podcast, and it really is a great piece of work, highly recommended. Please either buy it from an independent bookshop, or you could get it online HERE.   Jessie also has a podcast called ‘Whenever it Kicks’ which is about parenthood, life generally and more - give that a look HERE.  In our Patreon show with Jessie this week, her Five Brilliant Questions did tend towards the Harry Potter, I’ll be honest. But there was none of that in the main show so it was fascinating hearing what it was like on set, what cliques there were - and then we get into the real business of Jessie and Russell discussing the finer points of filming sex scenes.  Do I have your attention? It’s all in our Patreon which you can find here patreon.com/RussellHoward  And now you can see the walls coming back into focus as we descend back into the real world and leave this astral plane of blurb. It’s been a wild trip and it has been a humbling experience to be your spirit guide through this.  If you ever regain your sanity maybe we’ll see you again next week?  Good Day to You, Enlightened One. Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How awkward is it to play a surprise set for the England Football Team when they’ve just finished training? James Bay did just this and told us all about it on this week’s podcast!  James and Russell talk about tight silver trousers, they get into how to write a song and Russell tells what he believes to be the greatest joke he’s ever written. It’s a thoroughly relaxed, intimate chat with plenty of tales from a life on the road as a musician. As James revealed on the podcast he has a new album out called ‘Changes All The Time’ and it’s absolutley chock full of beautiful songs. Get it by going to https://www.jamesbay.com - obviously you can get it on Spotify but if you buy one for real then you can support the artist, which I know you care about really. Imagine having the death of music on your hands. Who would want that? Not you. I know you don’t want that.  Also please keep an eye out on Russell’s website russell-howard.co.uk for all his latest dates. He’s in all kinds of different places, like if you’re reading this on they day this podcast comes out then he’s in Galway, but if you’ve waited until Thursday then he’s no longer in Galway. You can see how there’s a limit to how much hand-holding I can provide for you. It’s time to fly the nest and find your own gig details. Be brave, you can do this. Until next week, when there will be more inane spewing into the void, take it easy and don’t climb trees in the rain if you’ve got slippy shoes. Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What’s it like to be hunted by the son of a murderous Libyan dictator? Spoiler: it’s not a Brilliant Thing, but it is an incredible story from this week’s guest Spencer Matthews.  There are tales of desert marathons, growing up on an island paradise and what it’s like when reality TV thrusts you into fame before you’re necessarily ready for it… A fascinating chat that goes in many interesting directions. 🏋️‍♀️ You can hear more of Spencer on his new weekly podcast Untapped, which he co-hosts with Jake Quickenden. The podcast explores how far you can push the human body. Whether it’s embracing fitness challenges, mastering new productivity hacks, or exploring lifestyle changes, Spencer and Jake will try it all, and share what truly makes a difference in their lives. 🏋️‍♀️ 🎤 And Russell’s about to embark on a mini-European tour including live dates in Porto, Gibraltar, Berlin, Athens, Sofia and more - check out russell-howard.co.uk for dates and tickets. 🎤 ✨ And if you are enjoying the podcast but get fed up with the adverts, you can get the whole thing advert-free forever, and get access to our second weekly show, and get it all a day before everyone else… and for a very small amount. Click here to find out more. ✨ Thanks for being you, keep being you until you can you no more. Byeeee.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why did Robbie Williams leave Sara a voicemail out of the blue? Sara actually plays Russell the voicemail live on the podcast. The moment when Sara was contacted out of the blue by her teenage crush. It’s an ELECTRIFYING podcast moment!  You’d expect Sara to be fantastic and you’d be right. What a guest. She’s a woman with a borderline psychotic obsession with soup. She tells Russell about her great grandmother who was an extraordinary woman and potentially a killer (unproven), and of course we’ve got that insane Robbie Williams moment. Because it’s a voicemail we can’t say for sure if he was man or monkey when he recorded it.  Sara has just announced a mega-tour of the UK in 2025, which is immensely exciting. She’s a really excellent, funny and thoughtful comic who will give you an amazing evening of fun, and you’ll come away with some new fizzy brain ideas too.  The tour is called ‘I am a Strange Gloop’ and it’s going everywhere.  Find out the dates and get the tickets at sarapascoe.co.uk 🚨 BIG NEWS ALERT! 🚨 Today we launch our Patreon page, which you can join for free to get some extra goodies, and if you like it then you can join as a full member, which means you'll get our spin-off show, Five Brilliant Questions - and you'll get to make the show with us.  It's looser than the main show and a lot of fun.  On this week’s show, one listener asked for the recipe for a lasagna that Sara cooked in a dream they had. It’s very weird, a lot of fun and the recipe is not what you expect.  Go to: https://www.patreon.com/c/RussellHoward to get involved. Looking forward to seeing you there!  And we’ve come colliding to the buffers at the end of the track once again. This is the last stop, all change please. If you need me I’ll be in the little room with all the other drivers having a well earned cup of Bovril.  Next week, I will be here and I hope you will too.  Sayonara, you wonderful human being.  Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Nina Conti, ventriloquist supreme, her with the monkey, is in the studio (no monkey) and chooses some incredible brilliant things (the density of an atom’s nucleus! The orange of the inside of an eyelid!). It’s a privileged ramble through the brain of an artist. Please enjoy. 🐵 Ninaontour.com is where you can find out about Nina's extended tour dates for Autumn 2025 including five dates at the Duke of York’s Theatre in London from April 29th. Get your tickets! 🐵 As mentioned on the podcast, Nina’s directorial debut film Sunlight is doing the rounds at film festivals. To keep up with that and find out where you can see it next keep your eyes on Ninaconti.net  🐎 And this is a link to the John Mulaney routine, that Russell mentioned, about a Horse in a Hospital. Worth a listen for sure. 🐎 📻 And please give some serious consideration to enjoying this podcast in its natural form. No adverts, an extra weekly show and access to a community of many other like minded excellent people. Click here to find out more. 📻 And that’s the end. Let’s all do our best to make the next seven days life-changing and unbeatable. Let’s change the world. See you back here in a week for a debrief. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From a town planner, to dressing as a burger, to conquering the world of podcasts, Vogue Williams strides across this podcast like a Colossus, taking us to mad Irish Christmases in the pub, to sleeping with unfeasible numbers of pillows (6?!) to wild Podcast tour shows.  It’s a real blast. You’ve probably heard Vogue on many podcasts so you know she’s just great to hang out with, and this is no exception. A conversation that bounces along gleefully from one Brilliant Thing to another.  Now go and subscribe to one or all of Vogue’s podcasts: 🤭Never Live it Down with Vogue Williams 👻 My Therapist Ghosted Me 👩‍❤️‍👨 Spencer and Vogue As ever we recorded an episode of our Patreon show ‘Five Brilliant Questions’ with Vogue, and this week it was actually useful thanks to the question ‘I’m lazy, how can I get fit with minimum effort’ and there’s an answer! A real, useful answer! Check out our Patreon which you can find here patreon.com/RussellHoward and you can join on a basic level - for free!  Here endeth the sermon of blurb. Thank you for attending church this week, please pop a few pennies in the collection box on the way out and do be careful of falling masonry. They stole all the lead, the blighters.  Amen.  Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russell sits down with Liverpool stand-up legend Adam Rowe, resident at the famous Hot Water Comedy Clubs and host of the ‘Have a Word’ Podcast with Dan Nightingale.  Adam and Russell talk over the finer points of Liverpool the city, the football club (if you’re a Man Utd fan you can forward over that bit). Adam talks costumes, and we find out whether he finds a blow-up dinosaur costume or a banana costume more sexually attractive.  There’s also a great bit of advice for a way of driving that makes you look sexy. So if you’re on the hunt for tips on how to get sexy (and we could all do with a bit more of that. Look at you now, sitting there, crisps in hand, reading show notes for a podcast. I mean who does that?) then this is the episode for you.  📺 Adam’s stand-up specials are all available for you to watch FOR FREE on that there YouTube, and his latest one is out THIS FRIDAY! Here’s a link to the Have a Word Youtube channel to make that all a bit easier for you. No thanks necessary. 📺 🎤Aaand of course, like all stand-ups Adam is best eaten in a live setting, so you can get all the details of where he is when by going to his website https://www.adamrowe.co.uk/  🎤 🚴‍♂️ Adam’s off on his charity bike ride in aid of the Baby Hospice Zoe’s Place. If you’d like to sponsor Adam and donate to that brilliant cause then please go to https://cycle4zoes.enthuse.com/pf/adam-rowe 🚴‍♂️ Russell is in various parts of the world doing his tour show, and occasionally popping back to the UK to try out some new bits in smaller clubs. Often found at Top Secret Comedy Club in London. Find out his dates and get some trinkets if that’s your thing at Russell-howard.co.uk We go. We come back again same time week on from now. Egg Man say bye bye.  Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hear Rachel Riley's plan for pay-as-you-go giant adult prams! You'll find this and all your other must-know insights into Britain's most well-known maths genius in this episode of Five Brilliant Things! Rachel has a passion for all sorts of things and it was pure pleasure to hear her talking about the excitement of travel, of food, and of course, maths. In there there's some really simple ideas as well about how you, who is intimidated by maths, can instantly get better. Have a listen, feel fuzzy, get good at maths. What a way to spend an hour. 🧮 As talked about in the episode, Rachel has made a Tonie to help kids who are 5+ to get confident with maths. If you've got young kids or friends with young kids, give them the gift of not shitting themselves every time someone says 'long division'. Here's the link to find out more. 🧮 Russell's just got back from touring Europe, gearing up for his next international dates which are in various parts of the United States, which is turning into a very interesting place. Stay up to date at russell-howard.co.uk - which is also where you can stream Russell’s latest smash hit hour-long special. It’s not been long out and it’s bloody good.  And as always, please check out the Patreon for this show. Look. Let's admit it. You're reading the blurb. You're clearly into it. Just give in to the vibes. Who reads the blurb? Legends like you, that's who. Anyway. The Patreon costs about five quid a month and for that you're going to get the show without those accused adverts, and every week (yeah!) you'll get a second show - Five Brilliant Questions - where you get to make the show with us and decide what we ask the guests. Lots and lots of fun. Also coming soon will be exclusive live recordings of the podcast and our Five Brilliant Things Patreon Army will get super discounts and first tickets. Woof woof. Click this link to join or find out more: patreon.com/RussellHoward   And now let's all go back to what we were doing before we embarked upon this voyage of blurb. I personally have to go to buy some lentils. Red ones, as it happens, to make a particularly creamy daal. Byeeeeeee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did Tom Kerridge save a chef’s life by putting him in a gigantic fridge? It’s quite possible. But why? It’s all in today’s culinary chinwag.  Tom Kerridge brings his Five Brilliant Things, and as you might expect from a chef it takes in some of life’s extremes. There’s an incredible retelling of what it’s like to be on a racing car grid, and Tom’s tales of his old drinking days are the stuff of legend. Please do enjoy.  Do you want to be just as good as Tom is at cooking perfect barbecue food? Well as luck would have it you can do just that. His new BBQ book is out now, ready for you to practise a little before impressing all your friends at the garden party/beach rave/prison yard.  🔥🍖 It’s simply called ‘The BBQ book’ and you can get hold of a copy HERE. 🍖🔥 Otherwise, if you can get a table, and you’ve got a special occasion, Tom’s pubs serve some of the very best food in Britain. It’s worth doing at least once if you can get the money together some time. In this week’s Patreon show our Patreon team came up with some excellent questions for Tom (‘Do you ever get bored with being asked how to cook the perfect Roast Potato?’) and Tom reveals which country has the best cuisine, and it’s maybe a surprising answer? Please join us at Patreon by following the link here: patreon.com/RussellHoward  It’s a really excellent community of people and it’s genuinely great fun to come up with the interview questions together. Come in, the water’s lovely! That’s all for today. Don’t forget to water your house plants, especially that one in the bathroom you always forget. Ciao baby. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What family game is Rose Ayling-Ellis banned from playing in her own home? Find out in the first ever podcast appearance by the actor and Strictly Come Dancing champion! Rose takes Russell through the majesty of playing Catan, eating Posh Crisps and how the pandemic had a weird side-benefit for the deaf community.  It’s a great fun hour and well worth your time. In this episode there’s a lot of chat about British Sign Language… if it’s piqued your curiosity and you want to find out more then get your ass (and hands) down to https://www.british-sign.co.uk 🚨Watch out for Rose playing the lead in the new ITV drama ‘Code of Silence’. 🚨 📚 Also, Rose’s book that she talked about in the show ‘Marvellous Messages’ is out now and you can get it here.  It’s about all the different ways that communication happens and it’s a cracking book for kids who are 7-9. 📚 🇺🇸 And if you happen to be in the United States right now, then why don’t you treat yourself and get along to one of Russell’s shows! He’s doing a brief tour of some cities in America that he hasn’t played for a while - check out where he be and get those tickets by going to russell-howard.co.uk 🇺🇸 If you’re enjoying this podcastness and you want it even podcastier, as in no adverts,  an exclusive extra show every week that you help to make, and getting it all a day early… all for less than the cost of one sandwich a month… then click here to find out more.  And we’re done. Time to put the microphone, keyboard, feather boa and udder lube back in the cupboard for another week. Time to get dressed again and leave the key under the doormat for the cleaners to do their thankless task.  Hope your week is filled with rainbows and flowers, unless you’ve got hay fever in which case maybe just go with some plastic flowers. Goodbye to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Secrets from the Pussycat Dolls tour bus! And more! Comin’ atcha in Russell’s absolutely delightful chat with Ashley Roberts.  Find out what life is like being a pop mega-star, what kind of mischief happened backstage and an alternative, let’s call it unconventional, use for a burrito.  You can hear more of Ashley by getting out your digital radio (or analog? Did they turn off the signal yet?) for she is on Heart FM every week. Ashley is a showbiz correspondent on the Heart FM’s breakfast show, and presenter on Heart 00’s every Saturday, 4-7pm. You can also catch he as the host of Netflix’s series ‘Dance Monsters’. Russell is out on tour, doing massive gigs at the end of the 2024 show, and doing smaller gigs working up material for whatever comes next…keep up to date with Russell’s movements (professional movements not bowel movements) at Russell-Howard.co.uk That’s all for this episode of show notes.  We should probably leave you on a cliffhanger but that’s not really the style of the…hang on…there’s somebody at the door…oh God. Oh no. Not you…But I thought you were deeeaaaaddddd! Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why did a young Stephen Merchant sneak a boat onto a Devon beach under cover of darkness? It's all in this absolutely spankingly good podcast episode where Russell and Stephen sit down in a Bristol-born meeting of titans! Stephen is as brilliant as always, taking us through some less-covered areas of his life, talking through hilarious old family holidays, his experiences trash-talking with strangers in online chess and he also gives some incredible insights into his creative process. This is an hour of your time that you'll find entertaining AND nourishing. Stephen is now a huge Hollywood star isn't he, so if you want to see more of him he'll be in a-list films. He's in the next season of The Walking Dead! His comedy 'The Outlaws' is on BBC iPlayer and the latest series is up there now. Get over and have a look and enjoy because it's an excellent piece of work. Russell is out touring all sorts of places and countries over the next year, so have a look at russell-howard.co.uk for details especially if you live somewhere weird like Berlin. Not specifically Berlin. It's only weird to me because I've never been. But it's on the list. Berlin's not weird, that's a bad example. Jupiter would be weird but there aren't any dates programmed in there (watch this space, martians...). BYE BYE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

David Baddiel has a story to tell about his upbringing and it’s… one of the most incredible stories you’ll hear in a long time. You may have read about it in his book, or seen his show, but if not then get involved in this Wonderbox and you’ll never look at a golf club in the same way ever again. David takes Russell through a blow-by-blow account of a family life that was let’s say unusual, and he doesn’t spare any details.  It’s funny, it’s astonishing, it’s just a fascinating hour in the company of a brilliant brain, telling a hell of a story.  For more things David, his website is a great start-point for watching things, buying books, all that fun: https://www.davidbaddiel.com/ And the book that we chat about in the podcast, it’s called My Family: The Memoir, and you can get that at your local independent bookshop. I read it and recommend so much. It flies by.  Russell is in various countries doing his smash hit tour show. Check out the latest information about where Russell is by going to russell-howard.co.uk Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is Russell a Paladin, a Warlock or a Rogue? Scottish comedy powerhouse Daniel Sloss introduces Russell to his world of D & D with his customary passion and flair. He also sings the praises of sneezes, and makes a convincing case for self-medicating in airports.  Daniel Sloss fans who are waiting for a new show, well you are in luck. He’s working up material now for his next tour, so if you live in Scotland you’ll be able to see him popping into your local comedy club and throwing ideas around. If that’s geographically inconvenient, then you’ll probably have to wait for the real thing.  Keep those beautiful eyes of yours on danielsloss.com where you’ll find news of the tour when it drops, and in the meantime you can stream all of Daniel’s existing shows. So go do that. Now.  Would you prefer to get this podcast without adverts? And get a free extra show every week? And get it all a day before everyone else?  And join a bunch of like-minded happy people? Well you’re in luck. You can do this and much more by clicking this here:  patreon.com/RussellHoward   If you want to give it a whirl for a month, then cancel, you can do that.  🇺🇸 Russell’s going to America! 🇺🇸 He’s got a bunch of East Coast dates coming around the corner, so if you’re in that part of the world then have a look at Russell-howard.co.uk to find out where the shows are and get your tickets.  That’s also the place to stream Russell’s latest special. Have a look. And well I never we come to the end of another week of blurby blather. I can see the earth rising now, as we complete another full orbit. I sometimes wonder if it’s worth mentioning that we’re the first podcast to be entirely produced from orbit, but it feels a bit showy. Anyway, time I floated to the second module to have a breakfast of pureed croissants. Stay safe down there.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A Wonderbox is a place where you keep little reminders of what makes life worth living. Each week Russell will chat to a special guest about what they’d keep in their Wonderbox, recounting the most memorable and funniest moments of their lives.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stand-up comedian and star of The Voice Jordan Gray joins Russell this week, selecting precious memories to put into the Wonderbox.  Jordan explains why a marijuana seed has deep resonance, talks Russell through the agony of a kidney stone and Russell tells a heart-warming story about his brother showing his arse to a whole hot-air balloon full of people.    Jordan is on tour at the moment, and you can (and should) get tickets by visiting https://www.jordangraylive.co.uk/.   Russell is currently on tour in the US and UK: visit russell-howard.co.uk to find out more and book tickets.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Ghosts, from Stath Lets Flats, from Sewing Bee it's Kiell Smith Bynoe!  Kiell tells Russell about being trapped by some weird Scottish children, about the importance of massive birthday parties and the one feeling he would bottle and sniff forever... A lovely, jaunty episode that zips along and covers a good amount, only getting side-tracked once for an in-depth discussion on feet and what can and can't be achieved... I'm talking in euphemisms. You'll have to listen to that bit. It's good.  When he's not dominating the TV comedy landscape, Kiell is a live improv comedian and he's taking his own show 'Kool Story Bro' to the Edinburgh Fringe this August!  So if you're up there between 15th - 21st, do go. It's at the Pleasance and tickets are on sale now, here.  I realise relatively few of you will be going to the Fringe because it's so damn expensive, so for the rest of you, watch Ghosts and Sewing Bee on BBC iPlayer. If you don't live in the UK, get a VPN. I'd recommend a specific one, except we're not being paid to say all that stuff. Yet.  Russell's off on tour to Canada and Sweden and Norway in Autumn so if you're one of those kinds of people then get some tickets at www.russellhoward.co.uk We're back next week with another terrific Wonderbox, in the meantime please drive safely, and if you can't drive safely then make sure you have a good alibi.  Goodbye, you beautiful human being. x   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Jen Brister! Russell and Jen work through the perils of sad nipple syndrome, get nostalgic about the delightful stench of Bangkok and pore over the best food to eat if you're planning an evening of sexual gymnastics.    Jen is still touring her never-ending tour around the UK, and if you haven't seen the show yet you should. Tickets and dates can be found at jenbrister.co.uk   Russell is currently on tour in the US and UK: visit russell-howard.co.uk to find out more and book tickets.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does Joel Dommett have beef with Alan Titchmarsh? And how did Davina McCall make Joel cry? The answers are all in this week's Wonderbox! Joel and Russell sit down across a rather fetching table to talk about the things that makes Joel such a happy chap.  It's a lot of fun and covers everything from pig orgasms to bogling. Have a listen. A really splendid way to spend your next fifty-odd minutes. Then come back and read the next bit.  Hello again! I told you it was fun. You will now be thinking 'but can I listen to even more Joel?' and yes you can. Turn on your telly in the daytime and he'll be there. Also, he and his wife Hannah have a podcast called 'Never Have I Ever' where they get people to write in with ideas of new experiences, then they do them. Sounds bloody dangerous to me. But it's a lot of fun and you can find it in those places where the podcasts dwell.  Russell's off on tour again, this time to Canada and Scandinavia so if you are one of those hairy types who live in those places, check out www.russellhoward.co.uk for all the details.  That'll do pig.      Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Stand-up comedian Fatiha El Ghorri is in the studio to talk Russell through her Wonderbox offerings, including ramadan, baby fat and birds in the wind. It’s a fascinating chat that covers Moroccan family life, and what it’s like being a female Muslim comedian in the UK. It's a lot of fun; Fatiha doesn't hold back.   Fatiha is currently working on her first novel ‘The Perks of my Hijab’ which is coming out in April 2025. It’s a YA book about a 13-year old growing up in the UK wearing her hijab, and it promises to be funny and uplifting. You can pre-order it from many good book websites, not just the big one named after a river.   You can check out the pre-release webpage on Simon & Schuster’s website (for they are the publishers) here.   Russell will be back with more Wonderbox next week. Until then have a lovely week, don’t rush, take it slow, enjoy yourself.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rising comedy star Maddie Wiener and Russell meet up in New Yeawk and chat about what it's like on the comedy circuit over there. The conversation then takes an unexpected but hugely entertaining turn when Maddie chooses to put Wilbur the syphilitic rabbit into the Wonderbox. That springboards us into a chat about the pros and cons about dropping your guts in the Disneyland queue. A festive treat for all.    Maddie's got clips of her stand-up, some of her writing and all sorts on her website, https://www.maddiewiener.com/. Check it out.    Russell is touring the Antipodes in the Springtime! He'll be bouncing from one city to the next with his outstanding tour show. If you're humming and hawing, just get a ticket you won't regret it. It's truly a great show. Visit russell-howard.co.uk and just do it. Go on. DO IT!     Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live from the Edinburgh Festival! Recorded in front of a beautiful audience at the Fringe, Russell goes through the Wonderbox of the exquisite Scottish stand-up, Larry Dean! This podcast goes from the serenity of the hills of Bhutan, to tender intergenerational moments of true connection, to a terrifying home-made nightmare of a sex doll.  If you’re a regular listener, you’ll notice that the live audience really adds a bit of spice to the occasion, and despite our afternoon time-slot, the show really goes the extra mile. It’s a bit filthier, a bit funnier. Get in there. Larry continues to perform his show Dodger until the end of the Fringe. It’s on every day at Monkey Barrel at 8:30pm and one can acquire tickets here.   For those of you who refuse to be blackmailed by Edinburgh tenancy companies and wait for the best shows to come to you, well you’re in luck. Larry will be touring the show around the UK in the months after August. Visit larrydeancomedy.com for all the information and to get yo tickets.   In other news…   Canucks and Scandos, get ready for some Russell stand-up shows flying at you like a rocket (a rocket full of mad good comedy show). Find out what the hell I’m talking about HERE. But only click if you’re in Canada or Scandinavia. The link is rigged to blow your phone up in your hand if you’re not geolocated in one of those spots. I might be bluffing. But do you really want to take that risk?   Enough blither. Until next time, padawan.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Did Linford Christie take part in the Dad’s race at his kids’s school sports day?   Russell and Linford discuss what it’s like to be bloody quick, what it’s like to win an Olympic gold medal, and why Linford used to growl like a tiger at his competitors on the starting blocks.   It’s a really interesting and intimate chat with a British legend, seeing a side to him that we rarely get to see.   It’s really worth watching the documentary all about Linford’s career and life. It’s called simply ‘Linford’, which is on BBC iPlayer, or if you’re abroad it’s on iPlayer with a VPN (wink wink). It really tells the story well, with fascinating insights and at times it gets pretty emotional.   You don’t need me to give you a link to iPlayer. If you can’t find that with a search engine then you deserve to have your internet taken away from you.   Russell is back out on the road doing all sorts of bits and bobs, with Canada coming up, also Sweden, Norway…check out his movements at Russell-howard.co.uk   That’s all for this week. I’m off for a quick 13 minute nap. That’s the golden number apparently for efficient napping. I’ll let you know how it goes.   Goodbye for now, old friend.     Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Live from the Edinburgh Festival! Irish story-telling powerhouse and ignorer-of-the-basic-format Jason Byrne is with Russell and a packed out audience at the Fringe.   Jason is famous for his sprawling, gregarious, infectious irrepressible comedy and this podcast is no different. Who cares that he ignored the idea of the Wonderbox completely? It was a huge slice of fun.   Stories of rural Irish madness abound. I’d mention specifics here but you wouldn’t believe me. Get it in your ears because it’s a crazy old bunch of stories!   Jason’s at the Fringe (I mean - when is he not?) doing his show, which is called ‘No Show’. It’s on every day at Assembly Main Hall (a lovely room) at 8:40pm until the end of the Fringe. Check it - LINK.   It’s then getting the full tour treatment, Jason will be barrelling into a town near you with this show No Show. All dem tickets, all dem dates, all dem deets, all dem be here.   Ta ta x   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week, host of Late Night Mash Rachel Parris sits down with Russell to select her most precious items for the Wonderbox.  Russell finds out why the world is a better place because of tiny lederhosen, Tunnock's Teacakes and Rachel recalls her once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to normalise British sex toys. Rachel will be taking a show back out across the UK in 2024 so keep your eyes peeled for that. Rachel's book, Advice from Strangers, is available now and it makes a terrific Christmas present actually. You could buy a copy from here. Russell's tour continues with dates in various UK cities over December and January. Would those tickets also make good Christmas presents? Why yes they would. Here they are... Thanks for listening and as always there will be more Wonderboxery for your ears next week. Bye! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Co-creator of The Chappelle Show and one of US comedy's most influential brains, Neal Brennan, sits down with Russell. Neal explains the vitality of human connection, ayahuasca and ice cream. It's a wild trip through consciousness expansion and which ice cream flavours kick most ass.    If you want to watch Neal's specials, get onto Netflix and search his name, and there they be.    Russell is off to Australia and New Zealand at the start of the new year, so if you live in that kinda neighbourhood then inbetween all the cricket and sunbathing, get y'selves some tickets at russell-howard.co.uk.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How did Emmanuel Sonubi end up doing a shift as a bouncer in full drag? Emmanuel Sonubi brings his majestic legs and superb comedy into the studio and tells Russell about his gender reveal mistake and gives some handy tips on how to perform a slam dunk.  Emmanuel has just finished his latest tour 'Curriculum Vitae' so you'll have to take our word for it that it was incredibly successful and very good. He's working up his new stuff now for the next outing, so please mosey on over to www.emmanuelstandup.com to find out his latest performing dates.  Russell's just going through his wardrobe to find his fluffiest undies for he is scheduled to embark to the land of the ice bears. If you are Canadian or Scandinavian then listen up, cos I've got two things for you. Thing one is respect for your incredible way with logs. Thing two is Russell's about to bring his tour to your country so get over to www.russellhoward.com and find out which theatres he's at when, then get out your loonies and grab a ticket! If you're not Canadian or Scandinavian then why are you still here reading this? It's not for you. Go away. I mean it.  Have they gone? I SAID GO AWAY! Some people. See you next week for some more box of the wonder flavour.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Man Like Mobeen creator, star and comedian of rare talent - it's Guz Khan. Guz and Russell come together for an electric episode of Wonderbox. It's got everything from putting your noo-nah in a VHS player, childhood quirks like wrapping trees in sellotape, and the episode ends with one of the funniest and most moving stories you'll hear in a long time.  After listening to this episode, y'all are gonna be like 'How can I get more Guz Khan in my ears?'. Well luckily for your hungry ears, he's touring right now. Oodles of dates in oodles of UK cities and towns. OODLES! Get over to https://guzkhanlive.co.uk/ to find out more and book those sweet tickets.    If you haven't yet seen Russell's latest tour show, then you really should. It's the best yet. Some tickets are available for the few dates remaining, but don't dick about.  Here they are... And if you live in Australia or New Zealand, well that's fortunate because Russell will be landing on your sunny shores in Spring. Check the website for more details... That's all for this week. Enjoy your hot nuts and mulled wine.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hollywood star Jameela Jamil is in the studio with Russell this week selecting items from her life for the Wonderbox, and it’s a real treat. Jameela tells some truly exceptional stories, the highlights being when she was caught eating all the ice cream in a video shop, and an incredible story about bumping into Dustin Hoffman with five steaks between her legs. Unmissable stuff.   Jameela is the founder of the ‘I Weigh’ platform, designed to make people feel less shit about themselves and be free to express their ideas without being made to feel worthless. It helps all sorts of people from those with mental health issues to marginalised groups of all kinds. They do really good stuff and actually have had an impact on the world - they helped stop Facebook advertising dodgy diet pills to teenagers. That’s proper. Have a look and if you are inspired, send them a message and get involved.   If you haven’t caught Russell’s latest tour yet, what the hell is wrong with you? Buy a ticket to Australia and go to see him right away. He’s there now, you get your tickets at russell-howard.co.uk. Then in late Spring (early Summer? Who can say) he’s touring Europe. Dates and details on the self-same website.   I think that’s all for this week. TTFN.     Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When did Mo Gilligan have a kick about with Rod Stewart and Madonna's son? And what's it got to do with his most precious items? It's all in this week's Wonderbox.  Mo takes Russell on a ride through his life and it's full of fascinating tidbits: How to sell a suit, how to curate a perfect collection of trainers. Also in a wild Antiques Roadshow rip-off moment, Mo finds out live on the podcast if his rare action man figure is worth thousands of pounds... Mo is currently touring his live show. If you're in Australia or New Zealand, now's your time to catch him. Mo's UK dates are from September onwards and you can get those tickets now, baby.  Find out all the find-outs at www.mogilligan.com   Aaaaand Russell's back out on tour soon. He'll be bothering mooses in Canada, then bothering polar bears in Scandinavia (and doing some gigs inbetween). Check out the dates and get the tickets on them internetses. www.russellhoward.com   For all the rest of you...there it is. The end of the written words. Well done for making it this far, we live in an age of reduced attention spans and to be here now - well you're a goaddam hero. Keep it up, you living legend. See you next week for what I assure you will be a most wonderful Wonderbox.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

  US comedy megastar Iliza Sheslinger is in the studio! Russell and Iliza talk about the what happens when an audience member drops their guts during a show, a single fingerless glove and the beautiful stench of a closed bar.   Iliza is in the UK right now with her ‘Hard Feelings’ tour. She’s playing the Hammersmith Apollo on the 6th and 8th December, and you can buy those tickets right now from their website here.   If you live in another European country, check out Iliza’s website here to find out when the tour is coming to a city near you.   Russell has a few tickets left this year for his tour, and then he’s off to Australia and New Zealand, because it’s only fair that they get to enjoy the show too. Would those tickets also make good Christmas presents? Why yes they would. Here they are...   Happy days. Have a good week, don’t work too hard, and see you next week for another Wonderbox.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The golfer and comedian John Robins has plonked his behind in the studio this week to wax lyrical about the things that light up his life.  These things include the Wikipedia page of snooker machine (and human if we're getting technical) Ronnie O'Sullivan, and John's massive bag of ketchup and mayonnaise, without which he never leaves the house.    It's a podcast for the ages. Like a well-constructed swimming pool it has both deep and shallow ends, but it is better than a swimming pool because there's zero chance of catching a verruca. John has an admirable stab at making golf sound like fun. Russell and John talk over some episodes from when they lived together as fledgling comedians in Bristol, and John talks candidly about his more recent battles with his own brain. It's a real feast, d'y'get me? You know those podcasts that are great to have on a run, or while you're exercising, that kind of thing? This is the quintessential podcast for those moments.    To increase your JRPM (John Robins per Minute) you can listen to his show on Radio 5 Live, which is also available as a podcast. He's also on the current series of Taskmaster wearing the clothes that are discussed in this very podcast! You can find all John's podcasts HERE. Try one. Go on. Hope you enjoy it. There will be more uplifting Wonderbox goodness to squirt into those fit little ears of yours next week. Just you see if there isn't. Until then, keep it real.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s the brilliant John Kearns filling his Wonderbox this week. John goes deep, educating Russell on the delights of being on your own scoffing a YumYum, and has the Wonderbox not only filled, but being held by football commentator Jonathan Pearce. You’ll have to listen to find out what it’s all about, and I recommend you do.   John is one of the greatest live stand-ups around, and his latest tour ‘The Varnishing Days’ is on sale now, and touring the UK until June. Get tickets, find out things, look at pictures, waggle your mouse at https://www.johnkearnscomedy.co.uk/tour   Russell’s World Tour is still surging around the globe. He’s in Australia right now so if you happen to be Australian, or indeed any nationality but living in that sunny land, then go to see the show. It will make you incredibly happy and make you feel good about being alive, which is cheap at any price. Get your tickets at russell-howard.co.uk.   See you next week.   Yours sincerely,   the Anonymous Blurb Scribe   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jack Whitehall takes a few minutes away from his brand new baby to chat to Russell about his most precious possessions. Jack tells the most insane story about Jamie Laing seeing his undercarriage, then explains what it's like to party with Man City the day after they've won the Champion's League. Sensational stuff.  Jack's on tour at the moment, and you can get your lovely fingers all over those tickets by going to https://www.jackwhitehall.com/   What's that you said? You like the podcast but you'd like to see Russell performing live? Well lucky you. He's on tour right now across the UK. Click this hyperlink to find out where, when and how: russell-howard.co.uk    Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Laura Smyth is a comedian who is going stratospheric, quick. She’s a brilliant performer with a wicked turn of phrase who’s going to be on all the shows and in all the theatres before you know it.   Laura comes into the studio to fill her Wonderbox, and gives it both barrels. She talks about telling drunk lies to her kids and about the thrill of being given a secret gift from Stephen Fry.   Laura is on tour-a! She’s on her first full tour of the UK, in theatres and arts centres near you. It's called ‘Living My Best Life’ and it’s happening right now. Find out when Laura is near you and grab some tickets by going to laurasmyth.com.  That’s quite enough Wonderbox for one week. But there’s surely more next week. We’ll see you then. Take is easy, my friend.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New York-based comedy star Mark Normand sits down with Russell to tell us what gets him going. Mark is an exceptional stand-up from out of New Orleans, called the 'best young up-and-coming comic' by none other than Jerry Seinfeld.    Mark opens spicy by talking Russell through a trip to a Berlin sex club, explains the majesty of skateboarding; the punches just keep coming. It's funny, it's very open, it's a great podcast.    You can watch Mark's self-released special on Youtube, 'OUT TO LUNCH', or you can listen to Mark's podcasts: We Might be Drunk and Tuesdays with Stories or you can search for his special 'Soup to Nuts' on Netflix. That should get you going. Then if you still want more after that fly to America and see him live. And if that's not enough you need to find his address and just stand outside his house. Then get yourself some help.   Russell is in Australia and New Zealand right now, and once he's dealt with the jetlag he'll be bringing his show to all the most majestic theatres in the land. After that, in late Spring, he's off to Europe. So you, yeah you, the Danish guy - I'm talking to you - you need to buy a ticket.  Get tickets right now at russell-howard.co.uk.     Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Podcasting royalty Richard Herring is here! Richard commits his dearest items to the Wonderbox; his stone cairn (with an incredible story about the fine line between art and insanity), his manky old ventriloquist’s doll and his purged bollock. You want a fascinating account of the last forty years of British comedy? It’s here. You want to hear which celebrity attacked Richard Herring when he was an 18 year old in Edinburgh? You got it. Alongside an incredibly poignant account of what it’s like when your doctor tells you you’re seriously ill. What a ride!   Richard Herring is one of British comedy’s most continually interesting and prolific performers. He is out on tour after a six-year hiatus. This tour is called ‘Can I Have My Ball Back’ and it will run until July 2024 and probably beyond. You can find out the tour dates, book the tickets and catch up with all of Richard’s borderline insane challenges and projects at www.richardherring.com.   OH! Also in case you were wondering, yeah, we’re back next week getting all up in the grill of another Wonderbox.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Beloved voice of radio Shaun Keaveny is this week’s Wonderbox guest and he chooses some belters to box up for posterity. Shaun tells some amazing stories; about being backstage with Dave Grohl, about his own band ‘Mosque’, and Russell and Shaun share memories about being the least cool people at BBC Radio 6 Music.   Shaun has transitioned from radio to podcast with style. He now makes a radio show as a podcast: Shaun’s Daily Grind is on Global Player which you can find here (and I’m sure you can find it in other places too, right? That’s just how podcasts work innit)   For Russell's next live dates, keep your eyes on russell-howard.co.uk.   Peace out brethren. Until next week. Be safe, be seen.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greg Davies and Russell sit down to discuss the most precious items in Greg's life. As you might expect from one of the world's greatest storytellers, it's an absolute cracker.    You'll get tales about when Greg pretended to die, when a tree spoke to him and Greg tells the story of why he started stand-up comedy in the first place. It's tremendous from start to finish.    Russell will be touring Australia and New Zealand very soon, so if you're intent on seeing the latest show and you live there, well you're in luck! If you live in the UK, you had more than enough opportunity and you've only got yourself to blame.  Antipodeans! Get tickets right now at russell-howard.co.uk.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Abi Clarke, comedian, Tik Tok sensation and viral bobbing-in-the-garden-with-parents superstar. Abi discusses her love of a plastercast of the female down-belows, her failed attempts to win back a man with Cherry Bakewells and Russell contemplates becoming a cheerleader.   Abi is taking her solo show (Role) Model to the Edinburgh Fringe this August and you must cancel your existing plans, get up there and get in that show. Book your tickets, get the times, find out everything you need to know and do it HERE. We're doing Wonderbox LIVE at the Edinburgh Festival! Three special shows with three special guests, on 1,2 and 4 August. Come and see us record an episode in the flesh! Tickets and details HERE. Russell is touring Canada and Scandinavia, and should you be there, and hankering to see this stunning show, then get the dates, times and tickets HERE.  See y'next week!  Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

James and Clair Buckley join Russell to preserve their best memories in the Wonderbox. It’s quite a ride. James explains why a man would need five barbecues. Clair explains why five barbecues is too many for anyone. The highlight is probably a story about saving Sonic the Hedgehog from a drugs gang. Sounds implausible but it’s true. Get in there.   James and Clair are prolific online. If you haven’t already come across their stuff then you aren’t on the internet in any way and won’t be reading this. Their podcast ‘In Sickness and in Health’ deals with all things marriage, and you can watch their regular vlogs about their lives on their YouTube Channel .   For Russell's next live dates, keep your eyes on russell-howard.co.uk.   That’s all. Hope you enjoy the podcast. See you next week!   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He's a regular panellist on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, he gone done Taskmaster, he's a fabulous touring comedian and he's made some insane documentaries: Jamali Maddix is in the studio with Russell!  Let's get straight to the meat and potatoes about this episode - there's a fantastic story about the time Jamali had his Megadrive confiscated by his Mum. Also find out about his history as a paintball referee. Proper funny stuff all over the timeline. It's just a great hour spent with one of those guys who effortlessly spins great tales.  Jamali will be hosting a new documentary series later this year on Dave, called Follow The Leader. It's the kind of insane shit he usually does, this time meeting leaders of fringe movements and culty sorts. It will be amazing. There isn't a specific release date yet, but if you just watch Dave from now on, and never turn it off, you'll see it sooner or later.  He's also always touring, doing new stand-up and shows - find out about all that at https://www.jamalimaddix.com/   Hey - here's something exciting. We're doing three LIVE Wonderbox shows at the Edinburgh Fringe on 1, 2 and 4th August! Live audience, special guests, maybe a foam party? No OK so maybe no foam party but still pretty exciting. They'll be mad good and you should attend or at the very least listen when we put 'em out as poddies. Find tickets at www.edfringe.com And then Russell's doing tour shows in Canada, Scandinavia and other places - get the latest at www.russellhoward.co.uk   And now our time, my old friend, has once again come to an end. It's been a wonderful ninety seconds or so we've spent together but this too shall pass. I'm off to do a big old burp. Until next time, traveller.    Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sitting down with Russell today is Britain’s singing sensation Sam Ryder! Sam and Russell discuss Sam’s love of Formula One racing, Sam tries to get a whole branch of Zizzis into the Wonderbox, and he explains why a sheriff’s badge brings back the best memories of all. Russell is currently on tour in the US and UK: visit russell-howard.co.uk to find out more and book tickets.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's Wonderbox belongs to Babatunde Aleshe, star of I'm a Celeb and Celebrity Gogglebox. Babatunde gives Russ some pointers on becoming a Grime MC, how to catch a fainting believer in church and tells Russell who he's stayed in touch with from the jungle (spoiler alert: it's not Matt Hancock).  If you want more Babatunde then you're in luck, you can have more! He's taking his tour show 'Babahood' around the UK through February and into March.  Find out more and book tickets by going to https://babatundealeshe.com/   Russell's currently in the land of the TimTam and the Vegemite. There are still a few tickets left for Russell's Australian dates. Check the schedule and get yours at russell-howard.co.uk. After Australia he's taking the show around Europe. Dates and tickets are on the same website there.      Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today’s guest is internet comedy star, Munya Chawawa, who chats to Russell about why he loves Streets of Rage, the importance of a slice of pizza and reveals his jaw-dropping hidden ability.   Russell is currently on tour in the US and UK: visit russell-howard.co.uk to find out more and book tickets.   Munya is also on tour now and you can get tickets for his show at livenation.co.uk     Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jimmy Carr joins Russell today to put his most treasured possessions into the Wonderbox. Jimmy explains the importance of a tennis scoreboard, why there’s nothing better than a perfectly made suit and Russell explores the idea of Jimmy having a hype-man at his gigs.   Jimmy currently has tour dates in the US and the UK, and you can buy tickets at jimmycarr.com.   Russell is currently on tour in the US and UK: visit russell-howard.co.uk to find out more and book tickets.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is this simultaneously the most uplifting and heart-rending episode we've done to date?    Matt Forde is Britain's foremost political comedian. Until the end of last year he seemed unstoppable, then from nowhere was diagnosed with a rare condition that saw him having to go through life-saving surgery.    His story is astonishing and it's told with such verve, such humour and humanity that it's required listening. Make a little bit of time to consume this one properly because it will touch every part of your heart. And make you laugh a lot too.    Matt is now well on the road to recovery...and on the road! He's touring his show 'End of an Era' around the UK. It summarises the last few years of British politics taking in Truss, Sunak and having a good poke at the current Labour Party as well. I saw it in Edinburgh and it's well worth your time. Proper good stuff.  Find out where, when, how and why Matt is by going to 🎟️  https://www.mattforde.com/live-shows  🎟️   See you next week for more delicious Wonderbox.         Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

One of the most iconic voices of the 21st century is with us - the inimitable Iain Stirling! He takes an hour off his busy Love Island voice-over schedule to fill his Wonderbox. Iain lifts the lid on what it’s like behind the scenes in Spain when Love Island is being filmed, he tells Russell about his surprising past as a lawyer (!?) and reveals who is the most reckless man in kid’s TV.   From March, Iain is taking his solo show on tour. It’s called ‘Relevant’ and it’s going everywhere in the UK. It will be great, because Iain is great. You should go. Find out where he is performing and buy tickets at https://www.iaindoesjokes.com/   Russell is still in Australia (give us a break guys, it’s a really massive country) making sure that everyone from the city dwelling urban socialites to the dust-covered country farmers get a chance to enjoy this year’s incredible live show. If you are in Australia and want the best evening out that money can buy, go go go. Get your tickets at russell-howard.co.uk.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Does Rosie Jones have a wardrobe full of Nazi clothes? She wasn’t aware of it until she sat down for this podcast and opened her Wonderbox.   This absolute rip-snorter of an episode has got absolutely everything you would want and expect from the ebullient Rosie - waxing lyrical about Scotch Eggs, a slightly controversial side-track into the Third Reich and the most eloquent, beautiful explanation of disability rights history that you’ll hear in a long time.   Rosie has been touring her show for time, innit, so any mad fans will have already been at least twice. But for those of you who were unlucky enough to miss out on tickets, you’ve got a couple more opportunities and then that really will be it. Rosie will be performing her show Triple Threat at the Pleasance Grand in Edinburgh during the Fringe. 14th and 15th August only, 9:20pm. Tickets and information can all be found at www.edfringe.com.   Rosie’s children’s book ‘Moving on Up’, about growing up with confidence is out now in paperback, so next time you’re in your local independent bookshop you should pick up a copy. Very good stuff.   We're doing Wonderbox LIVE at the Edinburgh Festival! Three special shows with three special guests, on 1,2 and 4 August. Come and see us record an episode in the flesh! Tickets and details HERE.   Russell is touring Canada and Scandinavia, and should you be there, and hankering to see this stunning show, then get the dates, times and tickets HERE.    What a lot of information. And you only came here to while away a few more moments before getting on with that thing you’ve got to do. Well bad news - time’s up. You need to do that thing now. Stop putting it off. Swallow that frog. Get it done. Then reward yourself with a historic Wonderbox episode you’ve not got around to yet.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

US Comedy superstar Michelle Wolf is with us!  And as well as effortlessly funny, Michelle is a wonderful big bag of fascinating contradictions. She's a glamorous comedy star who runs ultramarathons and attends Paris Fashion Week. She also can't think of anything better than getting a hot Wigan-style pie in her hands and face. Seriously mate. You haven't heard love until you've heard Michelle Wolf talk about pies.  It's an absolute romp of an episode; a globe-trotting special covering Michelle's adopted home of Barcelona, her worries for the future of America (seems legit) and a good twenty-minute ode to the British Pie.    Now listen and listen good. If you get the chance to see Michelle live, you've got to take it. One of the very best comedians on the planet, and some of the most insightful and funny material out there. She's written some of your favourite jokes of other big comics.  So have a wander through her website, and find out when she's in your country then go see her live. You'll hunt me down and thank me for the  tip off.  Russell is doin' the do in Canada. He's speakin' the speak in Scandanavia. By which I mean performing his tour show. That's all coming up in the next few months. So get yourself some plane tickets and make a holiday of it. Tickets and dates are all here. It's guaranteed to be both cheaper and funnier than Oasis.   If you're here next week then we'll be here next week.   Slay.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s Paul Chowdhry this week. The dead-pan British Asian comedy sensation sits down with Russell and selects some topics to chat about that vaguely might represent items for the Wonderbox if you look at them carefully in the right light. Paul tells a story about getting mugged whilst holding a gearstick, and Russell explains why acting up in school might actually be the best thing to do.   Paul is a busy guy with lots going on - his Pudcast is as popular as ever and has just started a new series, and he’ll be touring the UK very soon with a whole new live show. You can keep up to date with all of his exploits at his website right here.   For Russell's next live dates, keep your eyes on russell-howard.co.uk.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's only John flippin' Oliver! One of Britain's most-loved exports after cheddar cheese and trains, John Oliver is the host of US late-night show Last Week Tonight as well as being a sensational stand-up comic in his own right.  John reveals what it's like to do a gig to one person, why Michael Bolton is a bona fide comedy hero and reveals when, how and why he likes dressing as a cat.   Russell is touring the UK right now with his latest live show, which is among the best work he's ever produced. Honestly, I'm not sure why you haven't been already. Get tickets right now at russell-howard.co.uk.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The world’s most exciting clown opens his Wonderbox, sort-of. Either you know who Zach Zucker is and you love his work, or you’re going to soon; he is one hell of a comedian. It’s worth mentioning that his healthy distain for rules makes him an insanely good comic but also makes him not exactly follow the rules of a podcast.   So while most people turn up with an idea of the podcast, Zach brings some incredible stories about faking a broken leg at school, about trying to date someone while tripping and vomiting… I mean it’s sensational stuff.   Zach is hosting his insane late-night spectacular Stamptown at the Edinburgh Fringe this year, at the Pleasance on 3rd, 15-17, 22-24. Go to EdFringe.com to get those tickets. Strong recommend.   Russell’s off to Canada and Scandinavia soon with his touring show. You need to click some russellhoward.co.uk for mad deeds.   See you on the flip, you damn dirty ape.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why is Lou Sanders moving to a farm in Portugal? What noise does Lou Sanders make when she snowboards? The answers are all in her Wonderbox, as well as how to have meaningful interactions with a cat. This is one of the most entertaining Wonderboxes to have been filled in a long time. You know who Lou is, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this far; if you’re just here as an intrepid explorer of random blocks of text then we salute you, and would urge you just to listen to the first ten minutes of the podcast – you’ll quickly get the idea and want more Lou. She’s ace.   If you’ve just enjoyed the podcast, give yourself a moment to calm down, then get yourself some more Lou Sanders. Her book ‘What’s That Lady Doing’ comes out in paperback in July and it’s already had many rave reviews… so you should strut down to an independent bookshop and snap it up.   Also as she so deftly mentioned in the podcast she’s off on tour next year with her brand new stand-up show 'No Kissing in the Bingo Hall' and those tickets are available NOW! For information and tickets you must visit https://www.lousanders.com   That is all the words for this hypodermic of Wonderbox. Get back here next week for another hit in the veins. Feels soooooo goooooood.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hawk Tuah! You've got to listen to this thang! Comedian Maisie Adam is in the studio. You'll have seen her on A League of Their Own or Have I Got News For You perhaps. It's a wonderfully thoughtful and funny episode; covering inspirational teachers, Victorian pornography and the time Russell bought a magic wand.  Oh, and in case you didn't believe it, here's a photo of Jimmy Carr, Stephen Hawking and the cast of Book of Mormon. Get it in your ears!  Maisie is a terrific comedian (and a handy footballer but that's not relevant now). She's off on tour this Autumn, so if you want some great comedy in September, October or November then Maisie's show 'Appraisal' is a good place to begin.  Tickets and dates available through www.ticketmaster.co.uk Russell himself will be continuing to tour his latest fabulous show, this time in Canada and Scandinavia so if you live in one of those places, or you have a private jet, then you can do so this Autumn. Get the skinny at www.russellhoward.co.uk and navigate the website to find the dates. If you can't find the dates on the website then you've got bigger problems and you won't understand the show.  That's all for now. Have a blissful week and we'll be back with more junk for your trunk in seven days. And you know that big thing on your mind? Don't overthink it. Just get on with it.  You're welcome.    Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you find influencers ridiculous, this is the episode for you. TikTok sensation Shabaz Ali spends his time finding their most ridiculous promotions and videos and rips the piss out of them from inside his burrito hoodie. Shabaz sits down with Russell to talk about the most insane things he’s seen online (a café for gourmet water? Sellotape roll as a luxury bracelet?) and also chats about his day job as a teacher (including that class where they ate the glue sticks).   It’s a fun chat that then develops into a discussion about the creeping harm of this online nonsense. Interesting stuff!   Shabaz is on TikTok and his handle there is @shabazsays. He’s also released his first book all about his adventures in the ridiculous world of the influencer which is called ‘I’m Rich You’re Poor’. It’s in them bookshops right now so get one!   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s only bloody Joe Wilkinson! The Cats Does Countdown people’s favourite is in the studio to chat about his struggles with his high-tech hoover, the beauty of watching online cooking videos and how to embrace middle-age. It’s packed full of wisdom and comedy which is kind of why podcasts exist.   Joe’s acclaimed podcast (with David Earle) is called Chatabix, and it’s a thrice weekly morning dollop of excellent nonsense. Search for it on your podcast app and subscribe hard. Here’s a link to it on Apple Podcasts.   If you prefer to hold something in your hand then get out to a bookshop and get your mitts on Joe’s recently-published autobiography. It’s illustrated by another excellent comedian in Henry Paker, and it’s cover to cover nonsense of the highest calibre. You could also buy it on Amazon, if you can live with that stain on your conscience. It's published by Penguin – have a look here.   There will be more piping hot Wonderbox for you next week. Byeee!   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What’s the link between Tom Grennan and Peter Andre? It’s all in this fantastic episode of Wonderbox with British musical superstar, Tom Grennan.   Tom talks about early life, how he made it, his surprising background in physical theatre (!) and what it’s like to play Glastonbury in front of thousands.   It’s an amazing insight into the life of someone living his music superstar dream.   And you know what’s the perfect chaser to this podcast? Go to see Tom this Saturday! Tom’s playing a massive outdoor gig alongside Blossoms (and others) at Gunnersbury Park in North London on Saturday August 10th. Tickets can be acquired from Ticketmaster HERE.   Russell’s out on tour again soon doing those Canadian and Scandinavian dates, so if you live in those exceptionally beautiful places then get all your information and buy your tickets from russellhoward.co.uk   Barring some kind of unimaginable freak act of God like a lightening strike, we’ll be back next week with more wonderful Wonderbox.   Don’t forget to brush for the full two minutes.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Seann Walsh! One of the most naturally talented comics of his generation, Seann tells us about choosing his flat so that he could still get to QPR while hungover. He explains why Blink 182 mean so much to him. And he reveals some of the people who were most helpful after the grisly business of Strictly.  You want more Seann? You got it. He's touring his solo show 'Back from the Bed' around the UK now - tickets and dates are all at www.seannwalsh.com. Don't fanny about if you want to get those tickets cos they sell quickly. On Seann's website you can also see some of his older specials for free (they're great) and find his podcasts - 'What's Upset You Now' with Paul McCaffrey (another excellent comedian) and 'Oh My Dog' with Jack Dee. That should keep you going for Seann-related stuff for the time being.    For Russell's next live dates, keep your eyes on russell-howard.co.uk.   Also if you're reading this far I think it's safe to say that you're either a fan of the podcast or you're having a really, really tricky poo. Whichever it is, if you're able to give us a quick good review or spread the word, share the podcast with some people you think would like it - you know, all that stuff really helps and keeps the wheels on the rails.    Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ed Gamble is in the house! Ed chooses his most precious items to wang into the Wonderbox, which includes some food-based choices (as you might expect from one who foods as passionately as Ed). Come for the food, then stay for Ed waxing lyrical about his love of Mr Blobby.    Ed is touring next year, going hither and thither to some of the most delicious performance venues the UK can offer. If I wrote them all here it would take up a ridiculous amount of time and space, so for more information clicky clicky on the hyperlinky here: edgamble.co.uk   Ed's also got a book out just in time for Christmas, and if it's not a perfect present them I'm a giant toad with access to a keyboard (I'm not). It's called GLUTTON and you should consider buying it from an independent bookseller rather than Amazon. You'll feel better about yourself and delay the robot apocalypse by a few seconds.    Russell is currently hurtling up and down the country performing in theatres near you: if you're feeling saucy and fancy buying a ticket (why not treat yourself, you deserve it) get your sweet ass down to russell-howard.co.uk .   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russell and Jon are reunited from their time years ago hosting BBC Radio 6 Music shows together and as you might expect it’s a great episode. Jon and Russell disagree about the need to rehabilitate a happy old woman, Jon waxes lyrical about a wild-west themed pub. He then praises a man who threatened a crowd with a hand grenade. It’s a lot of fun and very much worth your time.   Jon is one of the patrons of The Children’s Hospital Charity, which works bloody hard raising money to provide better care and conditions for the kids at Sheffield Children’s Hospital. As far as causes go it’s about as good as it gets. They're currently trying to raise £2 million to build a new research and technology centre. Click the link up there to find out more and make a small donation. Please do.   For Russell's next live dates, keep your eyes on russell-howard.co.uk.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fin Taylor takes time away from being a bloody good stand-up and internet sensation to sit down with Russell and whack his belongings into the Wonderbox.    Fin goes on a voyage of self-discovery, uncovering some very traditional tastes (don't worry that's not a euphemism for 'he discovers he's a racist'), followed by a fairly in-depth discussion on bumholes. It's all a lot of fun.   Fin's on tour NOW! He's touring the UK with his latest show 'Ask Your Mother!' and you can, and indeed should, get tickets by going to his website.   Also you'd be mad to not check out Fin vs The Internet. It's really very very good.    Russell has begun the Australia/New Zealand leg of his world tour, so if you're in America, tough titty. But if you're in Australia, good...titty? Then Europe is next. All of it. Nearly all of it.  Find out more and get tickets right now at russell-howard.co.uk.     Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Russell Kane joins Russell in an all-Russell Wonderbox. And it takes in so much; why English people have such trouble dancing with freedom, some serious advice on making home curry taste like takeaway curry and just so many fascinating little pockets of information and chatter in this one. A podcast that just keeps giving.   Russell Kane has just set out on his latest tour of the UK (and further afield). It’s called ‘Hyperactive’ and it’s a tour that is going everywhere with dates right up until the end of 2025. You can find out when he’s near you, and book tickets for a very funny night out by going to www.russellkane.co.uk.   Please be with us again next week for another Wonderbox, when there will only be a single Russell, which will mean I don’t have to refer to everyone by their full name when I’m writing these bits.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Roisin Conaty tells Russell about the things she loves the most in the world, and commits them to her Wonderbox.    Roisin tells us about having an existential crisis inside an inflatable doughnut, how a curry opened her eyes, and why as a child she got Pat Sharpe's haircut.    Roisin's sitcom GameFace is still available to watch on Channel 4's website.   Russell will be touring Australia and New Zealand very soon, and if you haven't already you can get tickets right now at russell-howard.co.uk.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recorded in sunny Los Angeles, Russell sits down with one of Philadelphia's hottest stand-ups, Clint Coley.  Clint takes Russell through his extensive collection of rare music, Russell takes Clint on a tour of UK accents and they both get deep into a conversation about killer rats.    Clint has self-released his special on YouTube. This means you get to see it for free right now!  My Edible Kicked In (30 min Special)   What's that you say? You want to see Russell live but you live in Australia? Well strewth. Ain't this your lucky day? He's touring Oz and NZ this Spring. Find out where Russell is when, and get tickets right now at russell-howard.co.uk.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices