RHLSTP #576 - Dog Sharpener - A big storm is supposed to hit Edinburgh today, but so far it’s just been a bit blowy, though maybe the storm will manage to make an appearance in the show. Richard is talking to comedian and rock star Andrew O’ Neill. Will Rich remember to use the correct non-binary terms or will he fuck up immediately? Who knows? There’s some great chat about changing attitudes to individuality, plus the comedic process, how surreal comedy is a rare skill and staying true to yourself, plus Andrew having to do a 90s style Edinburgh show because they broke their leg and have been on morphine, playing Jongleurs without compromising your act, the joy of connecting with one (and only one) audience member and how it’s disappointing that TV just doesn’t take a punt on interesting comedians any more.

See Andrew’s stand up show Escape here https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/andrew-o-neill-escape

See Andrew’s History of Punk (but only if you like punk) here https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/andrew-o-neill-s-history-of-punk

See RHLSTP live in Bewdley (and maybe elsewhere) http://richardherring.com/rhlstp

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RHLSTP #575 - Creepy Gandhi - It’s Richard’s second live Edinburgh podcast and he’s got some berry facts that will astound you. His guest is US comedian, actor and writer Zainab Johnson. They chat about whether her name is unique, growing up with 12 siblings, the terrible accident that changed her life, whether having one ball counts as a disability, pretending to be stupid to attract (maybe stupid) men, getting to work with Greg Daniels and annoying him at lunch, the terrific sitcom Upload and whether eternal life is all it’s cracked up to be, first impressions of Scotland and why a comedian should aim for silence and embrace failure.

See Zainab’s show https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/zainab-johnson-toxically-optimistic

Check out her special on Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Zainab-Johnson-Hijabs-Off/dp/B0CGZYS18Q

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RHLSTP #574 - Forbidden Sensations - RHLSTP returns to the Edinburgh Fringe (where it really began), though Rich is already knackered before it’s started. His guest is actor, impressionist and comedian Kieran Hodgson. They chat about why appearing in a Hollywood blockbuster didn’t go as planned, how Rich gave advice to a youthful Hodgson about comedy and crisps, how lockdown made Kieran an internet sensation, playing Prince Andrew and Ian Lavender and getting the Two Doors Down gig. Plus bad flatmates and where to avoid when travelling in time. The pair deal with a microphone malfunction, but it’s all part of the fun of the Fringe.

See Kieran’s show at the Fringe (or on tour later in the year) - https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/kieran-hodgson-voice-america

See RHLSTP at the Fringe - https://www.thestand.co.uk/fringe/2441/richard-herring-rhlstp

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RHLSTP #573 - Killer Butterfly - Richard is back at the Podcast Room to chat with actor comedian Ian Smith. They discuss whether Noah’s Ark actually happened, favourite Ian Smiths, Goole and what it means and its impact on quarries, competitive jigsawing, the most famous person Richard has given a foot spa to, acceptable Scrabble words and the success of the Northern News podcast and why sometimes northern news is darker than it at first appeared. Plus is a comedy award nom a blessing or a curse.

See Ian’s show here https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/ian-smith-foot-spa-half-empty

See RHLSTP live at the Fringe http://richardherring.com/rhlstp

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RHLSTP #572 - Fecalophilia - The Edinburgh Fringe is back upon us and somehow Richard is going back, slightly unwillingly, but his family comes first and his wife is doing a show too! Yes it’s the award winning author and comedian Catie Wilkins, who Rich likes so much he married her. In this podcast recorded in Htichin before the Fringe began, the pair discuss mathematics based sexual kinks, how Rachel Riley would have reacted to Richard doing her make-up, the state of Richard’s feet (with video evidence for badgers) why Catie’s show is called “We’ll See” and what horrible lies she tells about Richard in it, why she hasn’t done a show telling her side of Richard’s cancer experience (yet), when the right time for her to murder Richard will be and how she might do it, Richard’s plan to make sure no one has sex with Catie once he’s gone, how they divide up the funny material that their kids come up with, stuff to upset the inhabitants of Middlesbro and Ireland (but there’s nothing that they can do because we’re allowed) and Catie’s charming unawareness of one of the major news stories of 2025.

Please come and see both our shows to help offset our terrible accommodation based debts

Tickets for Catie’s show We’ll See are here https://www.thestand.co.uk/fringe/2430/catie-wilkins-well-see

Tickets for RHLSTP are here https://www.thestand.co.uk/fringe/2441/richard-herring-rhlstp

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RHLSTP Book Club #148 - For The Love of Bears - Richard is back in the Podcast Room and finally able to settle a 50 year old score with his guest, Chris Tarrant, who has written a beautiful book about bears. They talk about how Tiswas (or the lack of it) made Richard cry and how it introduced the world to Stewart Lee, why Chris wanted to write a book about bears, the horrendous violence that the creatures of capable of (usually when provoked), an amazing fact about panda’s courtship (which probably explains why it’s so ineffective), why when Edmonds goes south, Tarrant goes north, a joke about beating off a black bear that goes unnoticed by the guest, Chris’ own close encounter, plus the Mitcheldean bear and the folk of the Forest of Dean and what drives trophy hunters to try to kill these magnificent creatures.

Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/for-the-love-of-bears-chris-tarrant/7838050

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#383 Lebensmüde - Richard has been freaked out about eating fish whilst being watched by fish. His guests are Freya Parker and Celeste Dring aka Lazy Susan. They chat about the torpor of playing a 12 year old, the difficulty of coming up with a name for a sketch group, why sketch comedy is so poorly served on TV, confronting your male critics head on, appearing in Jurassic World, unsettling Peter Dinklage, licking James Acaster and what it’s like sharing a room with your double act partner. 

Check out the very funny BBC3 show on iPlayer https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p0bj333p/lazy-susan-series-1-episode-1

Live RHLSTPs coming up. Guest and ticket link info here https://richardherring.com/rhlstpt/tour

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RHLSTP #571 - Cheddar Gorge Jimmy Saviles - Richard is back at the Bill Murray in Islington with another act heading up to the Edinburgh Fringe, the brilliant Chloe Petts. They talk about disgusting farts, hypnotic breasts and the power of football to unite strangers, so pretty much the same topics as every other podcast in the world, but with a bit more/less class (delete as applicable). Also discussed: Is a Hitler salute ever appropriate in a comedy context? why does every culture insist on imagining vaginas with teeth? Is it offensive to be misgendered? What would happen in a body swap film involving a tall person and a short person? Does everyone secretly want to eat dog biscuits? Why has chemotherapy ruined root vegetables for Richard and is Ed Gamble the monster that Richard hopes him to be on tour?

See Chloe’s Edinburgh show https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/chloe-petts-big-naturals

See RHLSTP live in Edinburgh (and beyond) http://richardherring.com/rhlstp

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RHLSTP Book Club #147 - Sceptred Isle - Richard talks to brilliant historian Helen Carr about her history of the Fourteenth Century, Sceptred Isle. They chat about being the great-granddaughter of a EH Carr (come on, you know who he is), the incredible violence of the 1300s and how that juxtaposes with notions of romance and chivalry, whether Richard II was a narcissist or even worse comparable to one of the nation’s favourite entertainers, how the Black Death brought misery and opportunity, whether rumours about Piers Gaveston and red hot pokers have any truth to them, did the 100 years war have to be quite that long and how seriously was anyone taking it, severed penises thrown on to fires and much more.

Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/sceptred-isle-a-revolutionary-history-of-the-fourteenth-century-helen-carr/7738985

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RHLSTP #570 - Spectated Spaghetti Bolognaise - As the Edinburgh Fringe approaches, Richard is at the Bill Murray comedy club in Islington to talk to one of the founders of the club and the artist formerly known as Lionel Richie, Barry Ferns. They discuss the formation of this hub of comedy creativity and Richard’s part in it (not that he remembers), which Bill Murray it’s named after and what they will do if the other Bill Murray ever turns up. Barry chats about his Edinburgh Fringe show “My Seven Years as Lionel Richie” https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/barry-ferns-my-seven-years-as-lionel-richie and the many other self-destructive comedic decisions he has made, how Edinburgh left him bankrupt and homeless, how he convinced tourists they could go inside Arthur’s Seat and how his commitment to the bit led to him losing paid employment. In many ways he is a fucking idiot, but a glorious one.

See Barry’s Edinburgh show https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/barry-ferns-my-seven-years-as-lionel-richie

Check out what’s on at the Bill Murray here https://www.angelcomedy.co.uk/

See RHLSTP at the Edinburgh Fringe https://richardherring.com/rhlstpt/tour

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#382 Aer Lingus Babies - Richard has a bee in his bonnet about crescent toilet seats, but at least his photo has been in the Daily Express. His guest is actor, comedian and author Ardal O'Hanlon. They talk about how Father Dougal got free shoes, how much research Ardal did into the priesthood, annoying Morgan Freeman, why Ardal left the dream job of Death in Paradise, playing a cat trapped on the motorway in Doctor Who and why it pays to be nice to the person on the airline check in desk. They also chat about his brilliant new novel Brouhaha and why Ardal wants to try everything before he dies!

Buy Ardal’s book here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Audible-Brouhaha/dp/B09SQCZVYW

Live RHLSTPs coming up. Guest and ticket link info here https://richardherring.com/rhlstpt/tour

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RHLSTP Book Club #146 - Close Knit - Richard talks to best selling author Jenny Colgan about what it's like to make a million pounds for your first book, the incredible staying power of the term chick-lit, why she wanted to write a book about a knitting circle, how the book doesn’t have that much knitting in it, taking a flying lesson as research, but why you don’t need to worry too much about research when you’re writing, the snobbery surrounding popular fiction and why it’s a much more complex discipline than some imagine, the effect of lockdown on the young and the staying power of schoolday anxieties. Also writing for Doctor Who and why men should read Jenny’s funny and fabulous books. Also why writers shouldn’t assume they will be an overnight sensation (but it is possible).

Buy Close Knit here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/close-knit-the-brilliant-new-feel-good-love-story-from-the-global-bestseller-jenny-colgan/7666800

Come and see RHLSTP Live http://richardherring.com/rhlstp

To see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/gigs

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RHLSTP #569 - Round the Corner… - Rich is back at the Podcast Room to talk to stand up and non-puppeteer Glenn Moore. They talk about being the originator of one of the finest poems in the English language, strained relationships to famous people, how to run the Fringe Gauntlet, is it better to have accommodation in the heart of the Fringe or down by the seaside or top and tailing with two other men, the many wonderful titles of Glenn’s shows and whether he’d dare do a two word version, more about Hurstpierpoint than any other podcast will ever give you, needlessly making an enemy of Dave Berry, Richard pretending to be called Sally to get across America after nearly being burned to death, looking like all the Beatles and is Richard picturing (or failing to) the right line-up for Scouting For Girls. Also what is it like to be one of the only colour blind comedians in the world. Possibly. If your poo looks like fudge, please see a doctor.

For info on Glenn’s Edinburgh Fringe run and tour head here https://www.glennmoorecomedy.com/

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#381 Ayahuasca - Richard has a momentous father/son experience and has been made to think about the brevity of life thanks to a charity shop window. His guest is the extraordinary Deborah Frances-White. They talk about whether Dracula was ever young, but the podcast is mainly about the major decisions Deborah had made in her personal life and the way she has chosen to deal with the traumas of her past. She talks about what having an open marriage means for her and how she has reset her brain with the help of a Peruvian shaman. This might not be the way forward for everyone, but she talks openly and honestly about her spiritual experiences. Plus there’s an impromptu charity auction. Sex and drugs and RHLSTP mugs.

Live RHLSTPs coming up. Guest and ticket link info here https://richardherring.com/rhlstpt/tour

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RHLSTP Book Club #145 - Before I Go - Rich is back in St Neots, talking to John Dowie about two of his recent books, The Freewheeling John Dowie and Before I Go. Why did John sell all his records and albums and get on his bike to cycle round Europe? How did he cope with weird and rude hoteliers? How did his penis cause him to cross the continent under false pretences? Plus growing up in Birmingham in another era, his dad’s autobiography, giving Spike Milligan his address on a chip wrapper, how Ken Campbell did magic, realising why his school bully behaved in the way he did and why you should only take advice about creative jobs from someone who does it already. A couple of beautiful books from someone who might have people but who loves language and beauty. Do search out his stuff. You won’t regret it.

Buy Before I Go here - https://poniesandhorsesbooks.com/product/before-i-go/

Come and see RHLSTP Live http://richardherring.com/rhlstp

To see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/gigs

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RHLSTP #568 - The Most Influential Comedian, That You’re Probably Never Seen - Richard travels to St Neots to visit a man who might claim to have invented alternative comedy (though he doesn’t) John Dowie. With comedian Dave Cohen in Dictionary Corner providing some historical detail Rich and John chat about John’s comedy influences, how he managed to do theatrical comedy on his own when no one else was really doing that, his part (or not) in the explosion of comedy in the 80s, the podcast with Tony Allen that never was (largely due to the lack of the internet), recording with Factory records, working with Neil Innes, John’s frustration with modern life, doing a show with Victoria Wood, the secret reason he gave up stand up (which may remain a secret) the original Dogman and whether he feels he gets the credit he deserves or whether he thinks he deserves any credit.

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#380 Hinge Cringe - Richard has visited Paddington’s house and avoided using the toothbrushes, but is more excited about one of Paddington’s neighbours. His guest is online sensation Rosie Holt. They discuss why Rosie moved from acting to comedy, how her videos went viral, whether it’s good or bad that people (both stupid and clever) fail to spot that they are a joke, why subtlety is required to mock today’s unsatirisable politicians, an unsettling experience with a dating app, what motivates men to send unsolicited dick pics and why is that not illegal? Plus are the posh unfairly maligned and how easy is it to play a trombone. Less flower arranging tips that I’d hoped for.

Live RHLSTPs coming up. Guest and ticket link info here https://richardherring.com/rhlstpt/tour

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RHLSTP Book Club #144 - You Are Here - Richard meets best selling author David Nicholls in a studio in central London to discuss his latest novel (now out in paperback) You Are Here. They chat about why David moved from acting to script-writing and why he then decided to have a go at novels, whether the success of One Day is liberating or constricting (but is mainly very nice), how the premise of a novel about a geography teacher going on a hike might not seem that promising (but don’t worry, it’s great), why being alone becomes less debilitating as you get into middle-age, how to combine comedy and romance with more serious and philosophical themes, whether David is a planner or an improviser and whether he’s thinking about the TV adaptation as he’s writing the novel.

Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/you-are-here-nicholls-david-9781444715446/2754344

Come and see RHLSTP Live http://richardherring.com/rhlstp

To see Rich on tour head here http://richardherring.com/gigs

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RHLSTP #567 - Sassigassity - Richard is back in the studio to talk to charming idiot for whom he has no respect, Joe Norris. They chat about the words that Dickens did and didn’t make up, whether Rich can join the anti-woke and is it all just about being allowed to say one word, the pirates in Asterix, Richard’s new shower based podcast idea, what to do if you shit yourself in an interview, Rich’s latest crime and how he is taunting his victim

Trigger Warning - this podcast discusses trigger warnings and whether they are needed for Mother’s and Father’s Day, but so does this trigger warning. Sorry.

Cheg on Pied Piper, you am a twart! 

See Joz in Edinburgh https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/joz-norris-you-wait-time-passes 

Watch Joe’s special here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMmF8NBE3jQ

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#379 M&M Apocalypse - Richard’s son continues to come up with better material than his dad, without even trying. His guest is the unparalleled comedy genius Armando Iannucci. They chat about how Armando once again predicted the future with his hilarious new sitcom Avenue 5, the lows and deeper lows of lockdown, what inspired him to write the mock-heroic poem, Pandemonium https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pandemonium-Some-verses-Current-Predicament/dp/1408715082/, whether he’d make a good PM, why Richard is upset about the casting of David Copperfield, the smell of an angel’s fart, the precipice the world finds itself on the edge of and whether there is any hope for us and the most astonishing story of what a supporting actor chose to say to Armando on the set of Veep (which is the highlight of the series so far).

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