The Backstage Pass has something special for you.. Grab a cup of tea and join The Comedy Store players at https://players.backstagepass.show for Episode 1 of a new podcast from The Comedy Store

This week Jenny Collier, Leo Kearse, Ian Stone and Rob Deering show their age and go back to their roots with some classic dualisms: VHS vs Betamax, bleak vs psychotic optimism and unionisation vs the lone gunman. While ignoring all the other people in the world, this cheerful troop laugh their way through this week’s latest in the demise of comedy, Scottish Independence and the rise and fall of football hooliganism. The second half of this landmark episode shares a sad announcement and The Edge’s producer John Connor joins us with stories of how the show started, broke new ground and found joy through bloody persistence.

Emmanuel Sonubi, Tiff Stevenson, Ben Norris & Jarred Christmas put on their glasses to take a deep look into the root of the world’s problems. Airing some robust opinions, the team exercise their freedom of speech and leave us with some life changing advice and an excellent T-shirt slogan. Jarred and Ben are joined on stage by Jenny Collier & Scott Capurro for a ridiculous ride through royalty, politics and knife crime.

Ria Lina, Ian Stone, Luke Toulson and Funmbi Omotayo laugh through crashing waves and prison breaks in this wonderfully dysfunctional family zoom. These funny folk prove their essential worth with sharp insights into the always blagging and sometimes sleepy world of world leaders. Ian is joined by Sean Meo and Allyson June Smith for the burning issues of gossip and aliens and the sage advice to put down our phones.

This touching episode with Abigoliah Schamaun, Allyson June Smith, Leo Kearse & Scott Capurro starts with the news and quickly goes deep with stories from their past and thoughts about the future. With the wonderful world of fad diets, old school phones and thermometers bringing light relief, the team turns to American politics for a true role model. Ian Stone and Paul Thorne join Abigoliah Schamaun and Leo Kearse to costume up and tackle mopeds, otters, marketing and being Knights.

This week we cover bike hunting trees, perfect sick cat photos and the health of Trump’s mind voter base. Steve Gribbin, Jenny Collier, Stephen Grant & Rob Rouse ask this week’s important questions: Could coronavirus actually save lives? Should comedians become our national censors? Can we drink through this whole episode? Rob is joined onstage by Tiff Stevenson, Alistair Barrie and Funmbi Omotayo for an entertaining food-focused episode. The team takes on fibre, meatballs and how to reduce the taste of self-righteousness in your cooking.

Deep in a forest of analogies, Geoff Norcott, Roger Monkhouse, Alex Kealy & Eleanor Tiernan tackle the latest restrictions, vaccine hopes and the future. While this deeply insightful episode touches on virtue licensing and the existential lived experience, the team keep coming back to their love of comedy and the desire to gig again. Rob Rouse & Lauren Pattison join Geoff and Roger onstage as they disappear into a vortex of innuendo and confusion over phallic vegetables. In this salacious world, tennis stars remind us of late night kebabs, Trump might be an art installation and we’d prefer not to talk about our national shame.

In an episode of contrasts Emmanuel Sonubi, Rob Deering, Jojo Sutherland & Ria Lina compare everything from the joys of parenthood to the number of press ups achieved. With paperboys currently making more money than comedians, maybe our universal experiences will lead to that all-important fresh material they may someday need. There’s socks-pulled-up confidence and much laughter over forgotten punchlines, playing covid chicken and even beer pong. Jarred Christmas, Sean Meo & Luke Toulson join Ria on stage to take on footballers faking it and why clowns are scarier than global warming.

To celebrate 30 years of The Edge at the Comedy Store, Jo Brand, John Connor, Abigoliah Schamaun & Ian Stone discuss the challenges of getting paid work on a Tuesday night. They think Tom Cruise is fairly normal and everyone is sure that the virus isn’t the worst thing that will happen this year. This deep episode covers everything from #metoo to who might form the next government. John gets pissed off when people do as he asks and Abigoliah gets googled by a statesman. Jo rounds off with an optimistic note but Ian just wants to watch the football.

As Allyson June Smith, Alistair Barrie, Leo Kearse & Rob Rouse dig into this week’s breaking news we learn that the pandemic is over, a Moose is not an Elk and jingle writers should all move cities. There’s a sticky end to part one before Geoff Norcott & Paul Sinha join us on stage to put the focus on monkeys, Nazis and Trump. With outrage running high, this is a wonderfully bitchy segment followed by a rather special announcement.

With an abundance of good news Abigoliah Schamaun takes the lead as Luke Toulson, Mick Ferry and Jenny Collier try to keep up with the new HR rules. Have some fun learning the oldest joke and the power of tiktok. And remember - however nice you make your garage, life still sucks unless you have a wood burning hottub. Alistair Barrie and Jarred Christmas join us to deal with crazy world leaders and dubious billionaires. There’s a serious Nordic rivalry in the audience, a whole different take on nuclear testing and Jenny has a brand new phrase.

Abigoliah Schamaun, Paul Thorne, Funmbi Omotayo and Jarred Christmas get focused on the things that matter. Should Moby have a statue and where the hell is Ham? Pigeons are inspired but ducks get bored of us exploring our place in future’s history. There might be some resistance in the room when Sean Meo helps Luke Toulson and Abigoliah to give Funmbi an education on US governance. The snowflake generation learn that Oprah doesn’t fancy a pay cut and it’s not just ducks who need cages. Ben Norris rounds off the show with just the right song for the moment.

Ria Lina, Imran Yusuf, Scott Capurro, Steve Gribbin continue the conversation about injustice and the power of education. Steve had statue plans for North Korea and Ria might be in love with Michael Gove. Imran wants a wombat to teach us how to love and everyone is serious about helping to change the world. Back at the club Paul Thorne tries to make one thing very clear as Jarred Christmas, Dave Fulton and Ria Lina join a feisty paramedic in discussing their royal Uber issues in London and Hong Kong. Taylor Swift does very well apparently but politics continues to show it’s ugly side.

Emmanuel Sonubi, Funmbi Omotayo, Jojo Sutherland and Ian Stone have big news to deal with this week. How should we all respond and how could anyone believe we are all in this together? Meanwhile, the long wait to return to the stage produces nervousness and some creative preparation techniques! Back in the club Funmbi Omotayo enjoyably fails to keep Eleanor Tiernan, Sean Meo and Ian Stone on topic while they join the Pope and Mugabe in a Chinese lift. We learn what’s more important to ban than dick pics and Sean asks the deep question we are all secretly asking... “is that funny enough for you?”

Jenny Collier & Ben Norris can’t drive to Durham or get any other first world problems off their chests. Stephen Grant knows which budget hotel is best for quarantine and Eleanor Tiernan just wants a hug from a stupid politician once all this is over. Jenny is joined by Funmbi Omotayo, Paul Thorne and Alistair Barrie as they take questions on racism and violence in sport, but get diverted onto Fraggle rock and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! With that kind of childish misdirection they could run this country!

It’s a feisty episode as Tiff Stevenson, Mick Ferry, Leo Kearse & Alistair Barrie question the sense of the current government and the motivations of the rich. On the lighter side, plans are made to drink out of date beer in a caravan in central London. On stage Ian Stone, Tania Edwards and Sean Meo brace themselves for fishy wars, assassins and expensive tastes. They eventually find fulfilment in silent applause as Americans try to colour in between the lines without crossing borders.

Alex Kealy, Allyson June Smith, Rob Deering and Rob Rouse work up a cheerful sweat as they exchange puns and plumbing tips. Everyone’s trying to gain the respect of their colleagues and we finally learn the secret of what every woman wants. On stage Alistair Barrie and Rich Hall join Rob and Allyson as we fight confusion over stockpiling dildo permits and warding off gay cake stormtroopers.

Geoff Norcott & Abigoliah Schamaun need help, Ian Stone’s kids are killing next door and Jarred Christmas seems to have been left out of some top party nights! New Zealand's finally has big news and we uncover the great untrodden subject for a new comedy. The stakes are very high this week. Back at the Comedy Store age is a raw subject for Roger Monkhouse and Paul Thorne as Greg from the audience makes himself part of the show and Extinction Rebellion come under serious fire.

Alistair Barrie, Leo Kearse, Ria Lina and Emmanuel Sonubi dive right into war crimes, chinese whispers and of course lockdown life. Raised beds, heart attacks, dubious job choices and cycling to Hertfordshire are all up for discussion. On stage Tania Edwards, Ian Stone and Funmbi Omotayo join Leo Kearse to walk up hills, dance in protest and maybe even take off their jackets. There’s even some science and an emotional debate on how sexy Rod Stewart might be!

Steve Gribbin, Jenny Collier, Roger Monkhouse and Paul Thorne dive straight into episode 12 with thoughts on lockdown’s economic impact and the plural of “mullet”. Should we wash our shopping and go walking in masks? The team is starkly divided. Back on the Comedy Store stage, Ian Stone and Funmbi Omotayo join us to continue the strong opinion theme. We cover climate change, young people and of course badgers!