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Russell Howard’s Five Brilliant Things

Avalon Television

Each week Russell sits down with fantastic guests to chat about their Brilliant Things; the items, places and people that make life worth living.

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Today · 54 min
October's Moments of the Month
Welcome to September's Moments of the Month. In case you’re new here, this is a compilation show with a little flavour of each guest we’ve enjoyed this month, but not the whole show. Then if you like the taste of any of them you can double-back and listen to the whole episode. It’s a good way to discover someone you would never have thought of clicking on before. In this episode you have Taskmaster's Isy Suttie, you have SNL's George Foreacres, you have the Irish comedy star Catherine Bohart and British Comedy Acting National Treasure Ralf Little. That’s a little taste of what October was like. All of those shows are available in full right now, so if you got a taste for it, go and get some more. Thanks as always for listening and there will be a new show, as usual, this coming Wednesday. Goodbye to YOU. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Wednesday · 57 min
Tez Ilyas
Comedian Tez Ilyas, from Man Like Mobeen (among many other things) has arrived in the studio with his Five Brilliant Things! You can hear Tez eulogise about his wedding, his nieces and nephews, Istanbul and the joys of a big old wet-ass pudding. Yum. Tez is currently on tour! He’s doing his latest show ‘Tez Things I Hate About You’ up and down the country and you can find out the dates and book tickets by going to https://tezilyas.com. You can also watch his specials there and, er, also look at some pictures of him. There’s your lot. ‘Ave 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
October 28 · 1 hr
Ralf Little
One of Britain’s favourite actors, from The Royle Family, Two Pints of Lager, Death in Paradise and so, so much more - Ralf Little has brought his Five Brilliant Things in to the studio and this one’s a cracker! Ralf has found himself in some extraordinary situations thanks to his acting, and each of the Brilliant Things he talks about prompts another fantastic yarn told with such fluency and charm: From a game of five-a-side with an England Football Legend, to flying around the globe and finishing off in a remarkably heart-felt and moving end place for the show. Recommend! Ralf is next starring alongside Simon Pegg, Amanda Abbington and many other big names in the hotly anticipated Channel 4 mystery thriller ‘Hunting Alice Bell’. The six-part series written by David Baddiel will be on C4 this Autumn so keep your eyes on that, or catch it on Channel 4’s on demand by going to channel4.com That is everything we have for you this week, hope your umbrellas have stayed intact, please stay warm, dry and full of toast. 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
October 21 · 58 min
Isy Suttie
Current Taskmaster contestant and musical comedian Isy Suttie is here and you’d imagine that she would have oodles of brilliant things…and she does! Adrian Mole features for the first time ever on the show, and Isy talks through the unbeatable feeling and potential that comes with a brand new ball of wool (that ends up in a tale of tragedy turned triumph regarding a dinosaur cardigan…). It’s a feel-good show with a strong vein of craft running through it. There’s only one mention of nose hair too. Isy is one of the contestants in the latest series of Taskmaster! You can watch it on Channel 4, or on their catch-up, or look for clips on social media. To keep up to date with all of Isy’s upcoming projects and exciting plans, follow her on Instagram where she’s @IsySuttie. That’s all! Toody doody doo! 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
October 14 · 59 min
Catherine Bohart
One of the leading lights of Irish comedy: it’s Catherine Bohart and she brings bucketloads of her trademark charm and wit into the podcast studio. I mean it’s worth coming for the Hockey Smut alone. Catherine wrestles with her new found passion for racy Ice Hockey fantasies. We then take a violent turn into the less racy but arguably healthier world of porridge. And you won’t want to miss Catherine trying to explain to Russell the art of Irish hospitality - working like a dog then pretending that it was nothing. Catherine has extended her latest tour ‘Borrowing Trouble’ and you should for sure go and get a ticket and get involved. She’s got a handful of dates across the UK and Ireland and you can find them all, and book tickets by going to https://www.catherinebohart.com/ You can also find there videos, podcasts and all those other things that you might quite rightly expect to find on a comedian’s website. Thank you for your indulgence, it has been noted. TO THE SPURTLE! 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
October 11 · 1 hr 6 min
September's Moments of the Month
Welcome to September's Moments of the Month. In case you’re new here, this is a compilation show with a little flavour of each guest we’ve enjoyed this month, but not the whole show. Then if you like the taste of any of them you can double-back and listen to the whole episode. It’s a good way to discover someone you would never have thought of clicking on before. First up we’ve got the vintage star of stage and screen, comedian Brian Conley. Then we had one of the best one-liner comics in the business - Mark Simmons. Following that was one of the most fascinating and quirky comedians on the circuit - Alisdair Beckett King. Then Russell sat down with the pop icon Natasha Bedingfield. And lastly it was the legend of British comedy, reflecting on his life on stage and trying to change the world - Alexei Sayle. So there we go! That’s a little taste of what September was like. All of those shows are available in full right now, so if you got a taste for it, go and get some more. Thanks as always for listening and there will be a new show, as usual, this coming Wednesday. Byeeee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
October 7 · 1 hr 4 min
George Fouracres
He’s one of the breakout stars of SNL UK and a sketch and comic actor of the highest calibre - it’s George Fouracres! George’s Brilliant Things are signs of an inquisitive and sideways brain, for example ‘roads’ are definitely brilliant but maybe the rest of us take them for granted? Likewise the month of September. It’s not for everyone but George makes a bloody good case as to why it’s A Brilliant Thing. Please have a delve around, audio-wise and enjoy what is definitely in our top three Midlands-focussed episodes of the show. George is starring in the latest season of SNL UK on Sky right now, so if you’ve got Sky then get involved, and if you haven’t…well…you could get it? Or you can enjoy the clips across social media of all kinds. For all of George’s other work, you can keep up with him by following him on the old Instagrams, where he’s @fowerairkers And that, as the old saying goes, is that. Hope you have a lovely week and make sure to take advantage of all of those lovely opportunities that come your way. Xxx 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
September 30 · 1 hr
Alexei Sayle
One of the forefathers of modern British Stand-up comedy, Alexei Sayle sits down with Russell to talk through his brilliant things and they show sides to Alexei that demonstrate the forces in him that make him such an interesting voice; nobody else has chosen both a poem and a gun among their brilliant things! It’s a fascinating interview, not taken in a rush, that goes from demonstrations to Alexei’s formative years and his ill-fated experiments in Hollywood. Alexei’s latest book is called ‘How I’ve Tried to Change the World (by walking down the middle of the street shouting’)’ - and as you will have heard in the show, it’s a record of his life through the various demos he’s attended. It’s written with his trademark beautiful prose style and humour and it’s definitely a cracking read. You can order it in hardback by clicking here. Or use your local independent bookshop. That’s it for today. Toodle-pip! 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
September 23 · 49 min
Natasha Bedingfield
The pop megastar is in the studio and her brilliant things are as wholesome as you might hope; a swim through the importance of connecting with nature, the vitality of comedy and there’s a fascinating chat about the creative process. Oh! And chocolate. Natasha’s new single ‘Dot Dot Dot’ is out now and it’s an absolute banger; the kind of upbeat, optimistic pop that has earned Natasha a place among the greats. You can hear it, buy it and find so much more music at natashabedingfield.com You can also follow Natasha on Insta where she’s @natashabedingfield. Enjoy these final late summer days, listen to some music, walk your dog unless you don’t have a dog in which case steal a dog and walk that dog. 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
September 16 · 59 min
Alasdair Beckett-King
ALASDAIR BECKETT-KING A tremendous comedian with a distinct voice (and hair) and a talent for making some of the best videos to ever grace the internet - it’s the unstoppable ABK! A man like Alasdair, with an interest in life’s niches, was always going to produce a good episode of Five Brilliant Things, but who knew it would be this good? We career from things you definitely can touch (rocks) to things you definitely can’t (strippers - only joking - ghosts actually) and it’s just the kind of focussed, funny bimbling that was the reason podcasts were invented. And until late November, ABK is touring his latest full-length show ‘King of Crumbs’. It’s great, you should most certainly go if he’s in your area, and to find out if he will be in your area at a time that works for you, go to abeckettking.com where all the tour dates and booking links may be found. Also you can check out his utterly incredible online videos too. There we go. Another week’s listening pleasure parcelled up and delivered into your ear. 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
September 9 · 1 hr
Mark Simmons
Mark Simmons, one of the sharpest joke writers in the country (maybe the world? Maybe the universe?) is here and his five brilliant things give an insight into the man behind the gags. From Taekwondo tournaments to Wrestling and the thrills of Mr Miyagi, you can see that his discipline in joke-writing comes from a deep love of Eastern sports and arts. And…um…wrestling? Mark is about to start the Autumn leg of his ‘Jest to Impress’ tour, and basically you won’t get more jokes per pound spent at any other show. He’s a terrific comedian and you should go. You can get tickets and find all the dates at https://marksimmons.co.uk Do you want to watch his last special ‘Quip off the Mark’? It’s on the website. Free. You want to listen to his podcast ‘Jokes’? It’s on the website. ALSO FREE! Lucky ducks. So much Mark Simmons so little time. I’m off to watch a load of Mark Simmons. There’s so much there I’ll barely have finished by next week. Taraaaaa! Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 2 · 56 min
Brian Conley
Brian Conley has been one of the biggest names in UK comedy and theatre for the past generation. From being the biggest comedian on TV to the most in-demand stage performer, he’s done it all. Come in and listen to a fascinating chat between Russell and Brian, two comics who sit, and have sat, at the top of their game at different periods in history. As we spoke about on the show, Brian has just competed in Celebrity Hunted on Channel 4, and you can watch the whole series, including his victorious final show on the Channel 4 player right now! Link is here or you can just search for it when you get back to your big telly. The Prat Pack also have some September shows which are selling fast - find out more about that by going here. And this is where we part company. I’ll see you in next week’s blurb no doubt. We MUST stop meeting like this. Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 1 · 53 min
August's Moments of the Month
Hello there! Welcome to August’s Moments of the Month. In case you’re new here, this is a compilation show with a little flavour of each guest we’ve enjoyed this month, but not the whole show. Then if you like the taste of any of them you can double-back and listen to the whole episode. It’s a good way to discover someone you would never have thought of clicking on before. First up we’ve got the comedian, actor and star of SNL UK, Scarborough’s finest… Paddy Young. Then we had Dan Tiernan just getting ready for Edinburgh, using the power of crystals… Following that was a special episode with Russell’s close friend, the US film director Joe Maggio who waxed lyrical about the greatest film of all time - La Dole Vita And lastly it was the firebrand honesty of Alfie Brown, who wears his personal history on his sleeve for our entertainment! So there we go! That’s a little taste of what August was like. All of those shows are available in full right now, so if you got a taste for it, go and get some more. Thanks as always for listening and there will be a new show, as usual, this coming Wednesday. Byeeee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
August 26 · 1 hr 3 min
Alfie Brown
One of the most interesting, honest and self-eviscerating comics around at the moment, Alfie Brown brings his happy things to the studio including the city of Liverpool, Love Songs, his own wife and the levelling, life-saving properties of cannabis. Alfie has been in Edinburgh but if you haven’t been there yet you ain’t going now, but luckily for you his latest hit show ‘The Entertainer’ is touring the UK. You can find out all the dates and book tickets in a couple of quick clicks by going to alfiebrowntour.com. You can also follow Alfie on Instagram where he’s @alfiebrowncomedian and you can search for his and Jessie’s podcast (which has terrific metrics if you read the data) - just look for ‘Before we Break Up Again’ on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Well done for reading the blurb, which is the modern equivalent of DVD extras, in that a huge amount of love and energy goes into them but really we’re only slaving away for a very select bunch of nerds like you. Nerd. Yeah you heard me (but totally thanks for making this worthwhile). Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
August 19 · 1 hr 3 min
Joe Maggio
Today, the first guest Russell nearly killed. American director Joe Maggio is here, miraculously, after nearly losing his life on Russell’s stag-do some years ago. He’s written a show about the near-fatal mistake of trying to keep up with a feral UK stag-do and it’s at the Edinburgh Festival right now. The brush with death has led to a deeper, more profound love of life for Joe, so his Five Brilliant Things are unusually rich; told with a story-telling flair that betrays his many years creating, teaching and loving films.In many regards this episode shows Five Brilliant Things at its best: a person you may not have heard of but with beautiful takes on slices of life of which you weren’t even previously aware. Edinburgh every day at The Mash House, tickets from edfringe.com. Also follow Joe on Instagram where he's 'thejoemaggio'. That will do I think. Thanks for your attention and please be cautious when playing five-a-side with a bunch of feral louts. x Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
August 12 · 57 min
Dan Tiernan
Award-winning stand-up comic Dan Tiernan is here! If you thought you’d heard about torturous writing process before, just wait until you hear Dan’s extraordinary stories. He’s been to some tricky places and come back. He’s also a strong poker player and tells another cracker about winning BIG in a tournament in slightly awkward circumstances. All good things! Dan’s out there right now with his new show ‘Quartz and All’ and it’s about the crystal madness he talks about in this podcast. If that’s anything to go by it will be a very very entertaining hour of bonkers and heart-felt comedy. It’s in Edinburgh now, and then after August out on tour across the UK and Ireland. You can get tickets for that, check dates, and watch Dan’s previous special by going HERE. That’s all for today’s crystal-bathing session, hope your aura is all shiny and new. Thanks for checking in and double thanks for reading to the end of the blurb. I often feel this bit of writing will be read by nobody, but here you are, validating me. I FEEL 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
August 5 · 55 min
Paddy Young
Utterly charming, utterly chaotic and singing the praises of cold flannels. The SNL UK star Paddy Young is here, and is the first guest to arrive to the recording with a bottle of milk in hand. Why? It’s all in this delightful hour of chat that includes banned Scrabble words and why you should walk out of more plays and films. Paddy’s new live show is called ‘Will Sir be Laughing Alone?’ And it’s at the Edinburgh Festival right now. His Fringe show is at 9pm at Monkey Barrel but that’s all sold out. Check out his extra shows in Edinburgh HERE at 2.25pm on 10-12 Aug And his BIG show that we talked about in the podcast is on 14th Aug at Pleasance at 11.15pm. After that the show will be out on tour. The tour dates are HERE. And you can catch Paddy doing weekend update with Ania on SNL UK this Autumn. Sayonara dickwads. 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
August 1 · 52 min
July's Moments of the Month
It's July's Moments of the Month: no new shows, just a smattering of the best bits of all the shows from the past month. Try some, and if you like it, go back and listen to the whole episode! First up in July it was the Eastenders star turned super-podcaster, Natalie Cassidy. Then it was the comic actor extraordinaire, Peter Serafinowicz. Following Peter was one of the bright lights of comedy, SNL writer Bella Hull. Then we had the choreographer turned comedian Christopher Hall. And we finished off with the mod-comedian turned cosy-crime sensation, Ian Moore. So there we go! That’s a little taste of what July was like. All of those shows are available in full right now, so if you got a taste for it, go and get some more. Thanks as always for listening and there will be a new show, as usual, this coming Wednesday. Cheerio. 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
July 29 · 1 hr 4 min
Ian Moore
Death and Croissants author and comedian Ian Moore is in the studio! The best-selling author of France-based cosy crime novels, Ian has never lost that razor-sharp comedian instinct and gives a belting show that takes in the unbridled pleasure of judging others on how they dress, the simple beauty of a cheese sandwich and the arcane insanity of French bureaucracy. Hard recommend. Right. Go and listen to the show. Then you’ll see why Ian’s got such an engaging brain and why you should, if you already haven’t, acquire and read his brilliant books. His latest ‘cosy crime’ is called Death and Deja Vu, and his more serious procedural is called ‘A Very French Corpse’. You can get the audiobook of ‘Death and Deja Vu’ by going HERE. You can enjoy the audiobook of ‘A Very French Corpse’ by going HERE. But basically you can get the whole selection in any good independent bookshop. Bon. C’est le fin. Merci beaucoup pour votre attention. Alors…oui. A bientôt mes amis. A demain. 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
July 22 · 1 hr 1 min
Christopher Hall
He’s danced for Kylie and Shania, he’s a viral sensation, a comedian and a born showman; Christopher Hall is in the studio. Christopher explains why there’s nothing more liberating than pottering around the shops, enjoying punny names for businesses and the nostalgic taste of a home-made Middlesborough chip. Christopher has created a brand-new stand-up show! It’s called Pizazz and it will be on at the Edinburgh Fringe this August and then out on tour, starting in Margate on 30th September and finishing in London on 18th November. Tickets are on general release and you can get them HERE. Get the Edinburgh Fringe tickets by going to edfringe.com. And there we go. I’ve given you all the information you need. I straighten my tie, reach into my pocket and pull out some mysterious looking dust. I throw it at the floor and there is a flash, a poof of smoke and I’m gone. You look around wondering what this magic is, and see me hiding behind the door. 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

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