A RICH COMIC LIFE PODCAST

EPISODE 73: JASON COOK

In this episode, I talk to the wonderful comedian Jason Cook about his comedy career.

Beginning his comic journey as part of the sketch group, Soup in 2005, Cook is an award-winning stand-up comedian and writer is based in Tyne and Wear in the North-East of England.  Regular comedy club headliner Cook was the co-writer (with Graham Duff) of the BBC TV comedy series Hebburn which featured Chris Ramsey and Vic Reeves (as well as Cook) which ran from 2012 to 2013.  More recently, Jason Cook’s Comedy Club based in South Shields has played host to popular comedians, with Cook as the regular host.

I have seen Cook perform for The Best of The Comedy Store in London in both 2006, for the Big Comedy Gala in Aid of Macmillan Cancer Support at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2011 and again for The Comedy Store in London in 2014.

Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview.

Please read Jason Cook’s blog at:

www.arichcomiclife.blog/2020/10/04/jason-cook/

Jason Cook’s Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jasoncookcomedy

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jasonlovescomedy/

Website: www.jasoncookcomedy.co.uk

 

EPISODE 72: JEFF INNOCENT

In this episode, I talk to the fantastic comedian Jeff Innocent about his comedy career.

Innocent has been a comedian, writer, and actor for over twenty years and regularly headlines comedy clubs.  Winner of British Comedian of The Year in 2021, as well as numerous other awards, he has created the Jeff Innocent Comedy Academy teaching budding stand-up’s the tricks of the trade, and his unique influence is somewhere between looking like a London hard-man and his refined, thoughtful approach to comedy. 

I have seen Innocent perform regularly for Always Be Comedy in 2017 and 2019, Bearcat Comedy in 2018, Headliners Comedy Club in 2021 and the Ealing Comedy Festival in 2022.

Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview.

Please read Jeff Innocent’s blog at:

www.arichcomiclife.blog/2019/02/09/jeff-innocent/

 

Jeff Innocent’s Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/jeffinnocentcomedian/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/InnocentJeff

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jeffinnocentofficial/

Website: www.innocentacademy.com

 

EPISODE 71: ALEX LOWE

In this episode, I talk to the wonderful comic actor Alex Lowe about his comedy career.

Lowe is an English actor, comedian and voice artist.  He is the creator and performer of brilliant comic characters Barry from Watford and Clinton Baptiste.  Barry is an eighty plus Motivational Speaker with a fine line in comic smut, as featured on Steve Wright In The Afternoon on BBC Radio 2.  Lowe’s most famous comic creation Clinton Baptiste, the impatient medium, clairvoyant and psychic best known for his appearances on Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights broadcast on Channel 4.  Lowe isA regular headliner at comedy nights and is an extremely funny performer

I have seen Lowe perform as Barry from Watford at Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of The Fringe at the Edinburgh Festival in 2013 and as Clinton Baptiste at Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights Live at the Manchester arena in 2015, Always Be Comedy in London in 2018 and 2019 and Epic Comedy in Chichester in 2022. Lowe is a regular headliner at comedy nights and is an extremely funny performer.

Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview.

Please read Alex Lowe’s blog at:

www.arichcomiclife.blog/2019/09/07/clinton-baptiste/

www.arichcomiclife.blog/2018/03/04/barry-from-watford-aka-alex-lowe/

 

Alex Lowe’s Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/realclintonb

Twitter: www.twitter.com/alexlowe51

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BarryFromWatford

Instagram: www.instagram.com/baptisteclinton/

Website: www.clintonbaptiste.com

 

 

 

 

EPISODE 70: STEVIE MARTIN

In this episode, I talk to the wonderful comedian Stevie Martin about her comic career.

Martin is a comedian, actor, writer and podcaster.  Online output includes a regular improvised comedy book club on Twitch and two successful podcasts Might Delete Later with Gina Martin and Nobody Panic with Tessa Coates.   Her many TV appearances include Starstruck opposite Rose Matafeo, Comedians Giving Lectures and Russell Howard’s Good News who she has also written for.  On radio, her credits include Tom Neenan Is Not All Men and Sketchorama.

I have seen Martin perform at Always Be Comedy and the London Comedy All Stars both in 2019 as well as her highly acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe solo show Hot Content in 2021 at the Soho Theatre in London.  

Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview.

Please read Stevie Martin’s blog at:

www.arichcomiclife.blog/2019/07/07/stevie-martin/

Stevie Martin’s Links:

Twitter: www.twitter.com/5tevieM

Instagram: www.instagram.com/5teviem/

Website: www.steviemartin.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EPISODE 69: ANDY SMART

In this episode, I talk to the great comic improviser, actor, comedian, and writer Andy Smart about his career in comedy.  Having watched him perform as a permanent member of the infamous Comedy Store Players on various dates between 1995 and 2019, Smart was incredible at creating characters and improvising scenes based on audience suggestions.  Before the Comedy Store Players, he was one half of The Vicious Boys with Angelo Abela.

 

I have also seen Smart perform as part of Paul Merton’s Impro Chums in 2005, and as a guest for Phill Jupitus Quartet: Made Up in 2011 both at the Edinburgh Fringe as well as The Comedy Store Players 30^th Birthday shows at The Comedy Store in London in 2015.

I was extremely saddened to read in May 2023 that Smart had died suddenly and hope this interview is a fitting tribute to a wonderful improvised comedian.

Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview.

Please read Andy Smart’s blog at:

www.arichcomiclife.blog/2021/06/05/andy-smart/

 

Andy Smart’s Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/andy.smart1

Twitter: www.twitter.com/AndyCSP

Website: www.comedystoreplayers.com

 

 

EPISODE 68: MICHAEL LEGGE

In this episode, I talk to the wonderful London-based Irish comedian MICHAEL LEGGE about his comedy career.  As well as an acclaimed stand-up comedian, Legge won a Chortle award for his blog, and a Sony silver award for his podcast Do The Right Thing.

I first saw Legge perform as part of the sketch group Theatre Sports Downstairs at The Kings Head, Crouch End in 1992 and then as a regular warm-up comedian for recording of The Jack Docherty Show for Channel 5 at The Whitehall Theatre (now Trafalgar Studios) in London from 1995 to 1998.  I also saw one of his many wonderful solo shows, The Idiot at The Edinburgh Fringe in 2019.

Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview.

Please read Michael Legge’s blog at:

www.arichcomiclife.blog/2020/07/19/michael-legge/

Michael Legge’s Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/michaelleggecomedy

Twitter: www.twitter.com/michaellegge

Instagram: www.instagram.com/michaellegge/

EPISODE 67: JEN SMITH

In this episode, I talk to the wonderful musical comedian JEN SMITH about her comedy career. 

Smith’s comic act with her ukulele has an enthusiastic warmth and exuberance on stage producing hilarious songs about her native Welsh roots.  Indeed, her comic style is reminiscent of the late, great Victoria Wood.

I have seen Smith perform for Live @ Limehouse in 2019 and the Musical Comedy Awards, Live @ Piccadiily and Vix Leyton’s Comedy Roulette online all in 2020.  She is extremely entertaining and highly recommended.

Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview.

Please read Jen Smith’s blog at:

www.arichcomiclife.blog/2020/06/19/jen-smith/

Jen Smith’s Links:

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/JenSmithComedy/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/jenegademastery/

EPISODE 66: MERVYN STUTTER

In this episode, I talk to the wonderful satirical songwriter, comedian, actor, scriptwriter, and Edinburgh Fringe legend MERVYN STUTTER about his comedy career. 

Stutter has been entertaining audiences in cabaret and comedy clubs and on TV and radio for over forty years.  For visitors to the Edinburgh Festival every August, he is infamous as the creator of and compere for his daily Pick of The Fringe lunchtime showcase where his team search every day to find the best acts which cover all genres of the arts – comedy, theatre, music, circus, poetry, everything - making a great variety show, and a wonderful start to the Fringe day.   Armed with faithful guitar and dressed in famous pink suit, in 2022, legendary Stutter will have been hosting the Pick of The Fringe for an incredible 29 years!  

I first watched Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of The Fringe at the Edinburgh Festival in 2011 for its 20^th Anniversary Gala and I have been going every year as long as the Fringe has taken place.  Most years, I see the show several times in the week that I am at the Fringe as each show is different every day.  For me, the showcases have provided so many happy memories and I cannot recommend Mervyn Stutter’s Pick of The Fringe and its amazing compere highly enough.

Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview.

Please read Mervyn Stutter’s blog at:

www.arichcomiclife.blog/2019/08/26/mervyn-stutter/

Mervyn Stutter’s Links:

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/MervynStutterOfficial

Facebook: www.facebook.com/mervspotfringe/

Twitter: www.twitter.com/mervynstutter

Website: www.mervynstutter.com

Website: www.mervspotfringe.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EPISODE 65: RICHARD MORTON

In this episode, I talk to the fantastic comedian RICHARD MORTON about his comedy career.

Geordie comedian Richard Morton combines music and comedy to create a unique comic act.  With hilarious comedy songs and stand-up, the energetic funny man has forged an impressive status as a live act, and supported many great comedians on tour including Lee Evans, Jack Dee, Jo Brand, Phill Jupitus and Eddie Izzard.  In a long and established career, Morton had performed several sell-out shows at the Edinburgh Fringe and other festivals, has regularly appeared on TV and radio, was one half of the musical duo The Panic Brothers (with Reg Meuross) before turning solo, and is a founder member of London’s legendary Comedy Store’s Cutting Edge show. Morton is determined to make an audience laugh, is extremely likeable and highly recommended.

I have seen Morton perform many times over the years including The Comedy Store in 1988, supporting Jack Dee on tour in 1999, performing as one half of The Panic Brothers for Nicholas Parsons’ Happy Hour at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2014 and at Headliners Comedy Club in 2016.

Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview.

Please read Richard Morton’s blog at:

www.arichcomiclife.blog/2021/05/08/richard-morton/

Richard Morton’s Links:

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/rich.morton.58

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/RichMortonSound

 

 

 

 

 

 

EPISODE 64: NICOLE HARRIS

In this episode, I talk to the wonderful comedian NICOLE HARRIS about her comedy career.

Award-winning comedian Nicole Harris is dedicated to performing a rare mixture of spoken word, visual and improvisational comedy material.  Superb at audience participation, her delivery and material is surprising and hysterically funny as the crowd never appears to know what is going to happen next.  Harris has gone from strength to strength after winning the Jewish Comedian of The Year competition in 2016 going on to be a finalist at the Hackney Empire New act of The Year in 2019.

I have seen Harris perform live at Birdies Comedy showcase at the Savoy Tap pub in London in 2017 and 2019, as well as her own solo show No Brainer at the Brighton Fringe in 2022 and she is highly recommended.

Thank you so much for listening to my podcast, if you like what you hear, please subscribe and I hope you enjoy the interview.

Please read Nicole Harris’ blog at:

www.arichcomiclife.blog/2019/03/10/nicole-harris/

Nicole Harris’ Links:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NicoleHarriscomedian

Twitter:  www.twitter.com/NicoleHcomedy

Instagram: www.instagram.com/nicoleharriscomedy