RHLSTP with Richard Herring

Book Club #127 - The Centrist Dad Handbook - Rich chats to Nico Tatarowicz about the book he cowrote with Jason Hazeley, The Centrist Dad’s Handbook. What is a Centrist Dad? Is it essentially just Rich? Why is this a stereotype that seems both fair and ripe for the picking? Is it really so bad to be someone who compromises and what does it have to say about the state of masculinity in general? Would it be possible to do an entire book of headlines parodying Adrian Chiles’ columns? Also some interesting chat about the state of comedy writing for TV and why the decline of sketch shows might have serious implications for the future of the craft.Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-centrist-dad-handbook-jason-hazeley/7725471?ean=9781526681997Come to a RHLSTP live! - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This very special episode is brought to you in paid partnership with Cancer Research UK. At the end of last year, myself, Matt Forde and Mark Steel sat down to have a frank, raw, funny and open conversation about something that has affected us all - cancer. We were later joined by Dr Sam Godfrey, the Science Engagement Lead at Cancer Research UK, who gave us invaluable insight into the incredible work Cancer Research UK are doing and why the future is looking bright. Disclaimer for this one - very strong language and discussions of cancer diagnosis and treatment are used throughout. Disclaimer: CRUK can only accept donations from countries where we are a registered charity. Cancer Research UK is a registered charity in England and Wales (1089464), Scotland (SC041666), the Isle of Man (1103) and Jersey (247). #adDonate here - https://donate.cancerresearchuk.org/donate Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#547 Armadillo - Richard is lonely enough to consider taking up cycling, but is he prepared to cycle 47 miles to end up where he started? His guest is posho stand up Ivo Graham. They discuss the biscuity temptations of writers’ rooms, a dangerously unfocused attitude towards Wordle, disastrous appearances on the Weakest Link, how you can’t really dine out forever on a 15 year old competition win, coming last in Taskmaster, whether we should have sympathy for someone who boarded at Eton and why it’s admirable to embrace rather than hide your privilege as a comedian. Check out Ivo’s gigs here https://www.ivograham.com/Watch his special here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2E4eQ6_bvESUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #126 - Munichs - Richard dials up Japan to talk to one of his favourite writers David Peace about his book about the Munich Air Disaster, Munichs. They talk about how David’s father made him want to cover this harrowing story, after his funnier books about Brian Clough and Bill Shankly, the delicate balance of combining history and imagination to create this relentless and mesmerising novel, the brilliance of Christopher Ecclestone as an audiobook reader, the magical boots of Tommy Taylor, the surprising rapidity of opposing supporters turning against United, giving a voice to ordinary people, the lottery of survival and the inevitable what ifs and David’s plans to take the story further.Buy the book here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Munichs-Novel-David-Peace/dp/0571381154Come to a RHLSTP live! - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#546 Smash or Pass? Richard is considering becoming a sex worker, but there’s a line he will not cross. His guest is hilarious newcomer Chelsea Birkby. They chat about what it's like to do support in big theatres (and in your home town), making a gimmick of unusual physical features, the blurred area between objectification and flattery, being made to dress up as a baby by a Frenchman, whether Chelsea is bipolar or not, if the Cheeky Girls know more about philosophy than Plato and attempting to send the lottery results psychically to yourself in the past.Chelsea’s gig details can be found here https://www.chelseabirkby.com/See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #125 - The Peepshow - Dip My Brain In Joy - Richard chats to Yvonne Innes about her fabulous and moving book about her fabulous husband, Neil Innes, Dip My Brain In Joy. They talk about Neil’s amazing and wide-ranging career, his freewheeling personality which may not have made him the greatest businessman, but probably meant he had a lot more fun and joy in his life, the wide range of his work from the Bonzos to Raggy Dolls to the Idiot Bastard Band, the various disputes and fallings out that scuppered some of his projects, getting paid by Oasis and Rich failing to say hello when they got in and out of the same taxi in Melbourne.Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/dip-my-brain-in-joy-my-life-with-neil-innes-the-official-biography-yvonne-innes/7695395?ean=9781785121692Come to a RHLSTP live! - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#545 Who Chooses The Sperm? Richard is back in Birmingham, after having iodine squirted through his veins (for some reason). His guest is Twitter sensation and fine stand up comedian Josh Pugh. They talk about how lockdown led to his hilarious videos on social media, his many caps for England, the Atherstone Purge, the disappointment of hosting the coverage of the Paris Paralympics, being a bicycle version of a pantomime horse, wanking in a hospital during lockdown, getting stuck in a puffer jacket for over a day, performing on Live at the Apollo and the lack of realism within Paw Patrol.See Josh’s special for free here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgLxdII5msgSee a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Retro 88 - Carry On Cocaining - Richard is worried that his comments about a royal might lead to his ultimate demise... buy he's more worried about extreme vaginal temperatures. He's got two great gigs to distract his lazy ass, Isma Almas and Tony Slattery. With Isma he discusses how it's possible to tick too many boxes, performing in a burkha, why comedy is the perfect job if you hate working and they hatch a foolproof plan to get back at their critics.. Tony chats about his career and the factors that led to its implosion, how much coke he might have been taking a week, Kenneth Branagh's campness, the harshness of an industry that loves you when you're winning and the lessons he has learned. It's really brilliant, so stop reading this and listen to it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #124 - The Peepshow - Richard talks to former obituary writer, Kate Summerscale about her fantastic book about murder and post-war London, Kate Summerscale. They discuss whether the crimes of Christie are as familiar to younger people as they were to us in our childhoods, how you approach writing about such a gruesome and sensitive subject and the modern day events that inspired the book, how the 1950s were rather more grim in general than people seem to remember and how misogyny and racism pervade this story, trying to understand the kind of monster who would commit these crimes and why we want to read about them (and why journalists and authors want to write about them), the importance of making sure the victims of the crime are respectfully remembered, the enduring mystery of why Timothy Evans confessed to two of the murders and the chilling monster of the invisible everyman at the heart of these terrible crimes.Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-peepshow-the-murders-at-10-rillington-place-kate-summerscale/7681034?ean=9781526660480Come to a RHLSTP live! - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#544 Is This About Up the Arse? - Richard returns to Birmingham Town Hall for another couple of weeks of Brum based podcasts. His guest this week is Twitter sensation, Ruth Husko. They discuss how she has shared some great comedy on the moribund social media channel and why she got banned from it, the cockfighting of Wednesbury, why Freddie Starr is schmokin’, Richard’s plan to win the lottery, how much the public would give up to save Bob Mortimer, Scooby Doo porn, Richard’s erotic prejudice against cockneys, how Ruth failed to marry Stewart Lee and whether she should make the leap to full time comedian.Follow Ruth on Twitter @dank_ackroyd. You won’t regret it.See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #123 - You Don’t Have To Be Mad To Work Here - In the first of a new series of Book Club Richard talks to psychiatrist and former stand up Benji Waterhouse (if that is his real name) about his terrific memoir about working for the NHS and the importance of prioritising mental health. They discuss how to treat this subject with humour and sensitivity, as well as providing your patients with anonymity, the short-sightedness of underfunding and ignoring our mental health, the difficult decisions that NHS staff are forced to make, why Benji wanted to include his personal issues in the book, the shadow of Adam Kay and writing the screen play. Plus why Richard definitely doesn’t need a psychiatrist! Buy the book here - www.amazon.co.uk/You-Dont-Have-Work-Here/dp/1787333175See Benji on tour - www.livenation.co.uk/benji-waterhouse-tickets-adp1542142Come to a RHLSTP live! - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#543 House of Losers - Richard has had a worrying dream, but what can it all mean? His guest is an alien from outer space and not a man in an impressive but ridiculous costume, the artist formerly known as Lord Buckethead, Count Binface. They discuss his reasons for travelling light years to take on sitting Prime Ministers in UK elections, some of his excellent policies involving hand dryers and Ceefax, whether snooker is already in 3 dimensions, losing a bind, whether old people should lose the vote, improving the House of Lords and how the UK’s future span out of control due to the Olympic opening ceremony and a bacon sandwich. Will Count Binface become Mayor of Croydon? Watch this (outer) space.Check out the Count’s live dates and more on his website https://www.countbinface.com/See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best of 2024 - Part 6 - And there we have it, the final Best of 2024 compilation episode. This time, guests include Tommy Cannon talking about his partnership with Bobby Ball, and Peter Serafinowicz on his optimism about technology fusing with art. If you're getting tired of all this looking back, don't worry - new episodes start up again next Wednesday! If you prefer this to the normal podcasts, also don't worry - there will be a new compilation in approximately 50 weeks. In fact, just try not to worry in general.See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best of 2024 - Part 5 - IIIT'S NEEEW YEEAAAR'S! Don't celebrate too hard - surely now more than ever we should be looking back on the ups and downs of 2024. But especially the ups, and especially 2024 viewed through the lens of RHLSTP releases. This time, guests include Tommy Tiernan talking about how he thrives in stressful environments like The Tommy Tiernan Show, and Charlotte Church on how her career changed as she grew up.See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best of 2024 - Part 4 - It's not Christmas any more. But here's another RHLSTP compilation! This time, guests include Jon Ronson on the time he stayed up all night with real-life superhero Phoenix Jones, and Neil Hannon talking about his cricket album The Duckworth Lewis Method - plus, the Edinburgh Fringe run begins!See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best of 2024 - Part 3 - IIIT was just CHRIIIISTMAAAS! Why not take some time to relax, play with your new Scalextric, and listen to your eighth favourite podcast? This time, guests include Bob Mortimer talking about The Satsuma Complex and a new off-the-cuff TV concept, and Rob Brydon on meeting Paul McCarney with Steve Coogan.See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best of 2024 - Part 2 - IIIT'S CHRIIIISTMAAAS! And we are continuing our fortnight-long trawl through every episode that was released this year (2024). This time, we hear about Julia Sawalha's relationship with Rich, and Ross Noble's coincidentally Christmassy game of weed charades - and much more besides.See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best of 2024 - Part 1 - IIIT'S nearly CHRIIIISTMAAAS! And we are choosing to look back on the year as any self-respecting podcast should - by putting out a series of highlights from every episode that released in 2024. That said, this time, we're still within the episodes that were recorded in 2023 - including Lee Mack talking about being in the secret Inside No. 9 episode "3 By 3", and Steve Pemberton on the Christmas he spent in a German hospital.See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #122 - The Anglo Saxons - It’s the last Book Club of the year and we’re heading back to pre-conquest Britain for the history of the Anglo Saxons with Marc Morris. Rich and Marc talk about how little people know about this period and how most of the things they do know never happened, why having very few sources to work from doesn’t make this light and easy work, how Marc discovered the best way to cover this sprawling and tumultuous half a millennium was to tell it through the stories of various individuals and why unfortunately all these individuals had to be male, why the Venerable Bede is good if you have an ill cow, but not always so good if you want the facts of what happened, which Anglo Saxon king allegedly shat in the font at his baptism, which king had a threesome with his wife and her mum and which king came close to becoming a cropper in Cheddar Gorge. Plus the skill required to combine academia with readability and whether comedians and historians would have survived the departure of the Romans and the arrival of the Vikings (no they wouldn’t).Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-anglo-saxons-a-history-of-the-beginnings-of-england-marc-morris/5048642?ean=9781529156980See you next year! - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#542 Twirling Scary Spice - Richard has been to the Taskmaster experience and is furious to have broken his perfect record of victory. His guest is another Taskmaster alumni, who has turned her appearance into ticket sales (unlike Richard) Fern Brady. They discuss her triumph at the Sky Arts Awards and why she gave a shout out to Irvine Welsh, magic mushrooms, why her tour poster involves her lactating into someone’s mouth, why she doesn’t want to follow the narrative of TV shows regarding her autism, why Richard thinks she is one of the best stand ups we have (though doesn’t seem to know where she’s from), how a doctor made her think she was going to die for a night and how that helped her write her book, coping and not coping with her new found fame and why Richard is funny even when he’s just in the audience.Watch Fern’s Netflix special here https://www.netflix.com/title/81717099Check out her tour dates here https://fernbradycomedian.com/See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #121 - Impossible Things - Rich talks to Dan Schreiber from off of No Such Thing As A Fish etc about his kids’ book attempting to answer the world’s weirdest questions. They chat about trying to kill the Loch Ness Monster, how sceptical people can see ghosts, Dan’s origin story where he saw his sister levitate and smash a glass, imaginary characters coming to life, Richard’s flirtations with mental illness in some of his work, whether we’re living in a simulation, why time travellers shouldn’t poo in the past and the responsibility of keeping the book intriguing without being too scary and not creating a generation of conspiracy nuts. Plus a great tip for winning the lottery and more.Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/impossible-things-unbelievable-answers-to-the-world-s-weirdest-questions-dan-schreiber/7616253?ean=9781526366382See RHLSTP recorded live - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#541 Hairy-legged Cinderella - Richard is fitting in in his new town and is surprisingly not the weirdest person there. His guest this week is On The Hour alumni, actor and campaigner Doon Mackichan. They talk about a show down with Jim Davidson, 1980s feminism, whether it’s possible to carry on swimming after you are dead, how taking no shit seems to have helped Doon’s career, fighting against stereotyping and turning violent crime into entertainment, the revolutionary sketch show Smack The Pony and how the stars doubted it would be a success and why Richard is doing his best to redress the sexist balance of the TV industry by getting his cock and arse on screen as much as possible.Buy Doon’s Book “My Lady Parts” here https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/my-lady-parts-a-life-fighting-stereotypes-doon-mackichan/7448426?ean=9781838856366See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #120 - The Origin of Football Manager Part 1 - Richard meets one of his childhood heroes Kevin Toms, a pioneer of videogame development and the face on the box of the legendary original Football Manager games. They talk about incompetent careers advisors, loving statistics, the genius of making a game about management rather than playing and text rather than graphics and that never ended, how the game became a phenomenon and how it has reappeared on your phones and computers today (with a new version out very soon). Plus why Kevin wanted to document this period and how the internet has allowed him to see how much his work was loved. Plus find out if he never had to work again due to the game’s success!Buy the book here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Origin-Football-Manager-Part-Beginning-ebook/dp/B0CW18V2M2/For info on Kevin and the games head here https://kevintoms.games/See RHLSTP recorded live - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#540 You Must Think I’m a Terrible Flirt - Richard is trying out material for his Oh Shit I’m 60! Show and surprise surprise, it’s all about his fading genitals. His guest is a man who can inhabit the soul of Nye Bevan, but also talk about his dick, Michael Sheen. They discuss the fantastic interview from The Assembly and how it knocks all of Richard’s interviews out of the park, playing Chris Tarrant and the guilt or innocence the coughing major, the dangers of engendering sympathy for the Duke of York and who should have played the role, the Heaven and Hell of being a dad in later life and what being a not-for-profit actor actually means. Another absolute classic episode. Don’t miss it.Subscribe to Richard’s substack here https://richardherring.substack.com/subscribeSee a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #119 - Loki - A Bad God’s Guide To Making Enemies - Richard talks to author Louie Stowell about her fabulous Loki series and other children’s books. They chat about writing a kids’ book for kids who don’t like reading, fusing Norse myth with everyday school life, how kids are in some ways little mischivous gods who need to learn empathy, why the UK doesn’t embrace its Viking heritage more, how a sentient diary is the perfect antidote for an unreliable writer, the biggest fossilised human poo in the world (perhaps) and whether celebrity children’s authors are a good or bad thing - or do we just let the kids decide if their books are any good or not?Buy the Loki books herehttps://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/loki-a-bad-god-s-guide-to-being-good-louie-stowell/6431933?ean=9781406399752See RHLSTP recorded live - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#539 Did You See Me in Ghostbusters? - Richard has been haunted by his smoke alarm. His guest is movie star James Acaster. They talk about his new Sky 1 special “Hecklers Welcome”, revitalising the love of stand up and spinning wheel based trauma, the surprise of being in the latest Ghostbusters film and how Rich plans to trump this, some of the secrets behind Celebrity Hunted (one of which was too juicy to share - come and see the show live), why James is not scared of bats, Springleaf, Party Gator and telling Bill Murray about the Bill Murray pub.Watch James’ special on Sky Comedy from December 10th and look out for the couple that leave.Subscribe to Richard’s substack here https://richardherring.substack.com/subscribeSee a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #118 - All That Matters - Richard talks to the winner of 6 Olympic gold medals (and one silver) Chris Hoy about his fabulous, moving and positive autobiography All That Matters. Although Chris says it’s not Top Trumps his cancer makes Richard’s look like a paper cut and the book is bold and matter of fact about the impact of a non-sugar coated stage 4 cancer diagnosis, but whilst acknowledging the spiral of grief that this inevitably caused, Chris discusses the catharsis of writing about it, applying sports psychology to the situation and seeing the positives of life rather than constantly worrying about death, which could come to any of us at any time. He talks about his own particular deeply unpleasant chemotherapy and the reasons he endured it and how he got through it, how comedy can help us through and how he hopes he might be around for a while yet. Plus how he coped with life after the Olympic victory and trying to avoid Alan Partridgisms. And how making the most of life isn’t just about bucket lists, but realising what matters in your life and how lucky we are to be here. A remarkable Olympian and incredible man and yet a regular guy too. Don’t miss this oneBuy the book herehttps://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/all-the-matters-chris-hoy/1219695?ean=9781399741842See RHLSTP recorded live - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#538 Pocklington - Richard has just moved house and is mourning the items that didn’t make the grade. His guest is another comedy hero, Adrian Edmondson. They talk about bad Brummie accents, the shadow that is cast on his life from the 14 weeks he spent on the Young Ones, cutting Rik Mayall’s head open with a metal jug, the boarding school experience that he’s still recovering from to this day, how the tweenager Ade may have passed the toddler Rich on the streets of Pocklington, how lockdown and birds and vegetables finally gave Ade calm, performing in Star Wars without being allowed to see the script, the secrets of a successful showbiz marriage, getting to perform in the band you were a superfan of, getting kissed by Joni Mitchell and keeping David Bowie off the top of the charts.Buy Beserker here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/berserker-the-riotous-one-of-a-kind-memoir-from-one-of-britain-s-most-beloved-comedians-adrian-edmondson/7595333?ean=9781035014316Subscribe to Richard’s substack here https://richardherring.substack.com/subscribeSee a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #117 - Jokes Jokes Jokes - Richard talks to old Edinburgh flatmate Jenny Eclair about her cut-above-the-rest autobiography, Jokes, Jokes, Jokes. They discuss how you maintain a career in their weird business over several decades, the envy and bitterness that can eat you up, how getting older changes your priorities, how little either of them remember about Jenny Eclair Squats, how winning the Perrier award left Jenny feeling like a fraud, appearing (though not) in the Karma Chameleon video, being mistaken for Su Pollard, who really came up with the girl that smelled of spam and coping with death and becoming an orphan in your sixties and the lives of the aunts and uncles from the 1950s.Buy the book herehttps://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/jokes-jokes-jokes-my-very-funny-memoir-jenny-eclair/7648041?ean=9781408732052See RHLSTP recorded live - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#537 New York Ticks and Cockroaches - He loved it so much last week that he came back a week later to do it again. A second interview with the very relaxed Peter Serafinowicz. This time they talk about his film and TV work in America, how getting the dream job of playing The Tick turned into a filming nightmare, general indifference to appearing in the greatest ever episode of Rick and Morty, screwing up your lines in front of of Keanu Reeves’ beautiful face and working with Michael Caine and wondering if you can talk about the impression you do of him. Plus why the Beatles song A Day in the Life needed to be much longer (listen here https://soundcloud.com/bren-murphy/a-full-day-in-the-life-by-peter-serafinowicz), why some accents are difficult even for Peter (not for Richard though) and both men’s not fully positive experiences of Camp America.Buy Peter’s Brian Butterfield book here - https://brianbutterfield.limitedrun.com/products/807187-theres-no-business-like-businessSee a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #116 - Somebody Told Me - Richard talks to journalist and humourist Danny Wallace about his latest book about the dangers of conspiracy theories, Somebody Told Me. They discuss how the death of Danny’s father and an odd email message prompted this dive into why people get sucked into sometimes outlandish plots and ideologies, why Covid made the whole situation worse, the friends that have gone down the rabbit hole, either for belief or for monetary gain, how it’s possible, though difficult to escape from it all, the divisions within conspiracy theorists themselves, the bot farms that add to the problem and the fears for the future that propaganda and AI may lead to. Plus find out about Richard and Danny’s first meeting!Buy the book herehttps://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/somebody-told-me-encounters-with-liars-conspiracists-trolls-and-those-fighting-back-danny-wallace/7599038?ean=9781529931181See RHLSTP recorded live - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#536 Elephant Man Love Token - RHLSTP is back for its 30th series! Can this thing go on forever? Or does it just feel like it. Rich has had a sitcom experience with his bins and his son is disappointed with God. His returning guest is the great Peter Serafinowicz. The pair discuss Peter’s embracing of live work and technology, the return of Brian Butterfield and why Peter stayed in character for two hours after each show, using Deep Fakes on stage to bring the dead back to life, whether Abba turned up every night to do the curtain call for their hologram show, filming Sassy Trump with the guys from South Park and performing with Brian Eno in Venice. Plus which celebrity did Peter live round the corner until recently and is he able to get them on the podcast?Buy Peter’s Brian Butterfield book here - https://brianbutterfield.limitedrun.com/products/807187-theres-no-business-like-businessSee a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

RETRO RHLSTP #87 - I’ve Never Stabbed Anyone…Oh No, I Have. - A tired and possibly ill Richard Herring tries to get through another podcast without vomiting on his guest, the disaster-magnet that is Janey Godley. She talks candidly about marrying the son of a Glasgow gangster, her many family tragedies and how she survived them plus how Jerry Sadowitz was almost killed at one of his first gigs, what she’d like to do with Roland Gift, witnessing horrific accidents and heart-warming scenes from daily life. Plus the Bay City Rollers, Vesta curries, working with your daughter, performing in a prison and that wonderful moment when you forget that you’ve stabbed someone. Some truly incredible stories from this brilliantly funny, mildly terrifying, but ultimately rather lovely woman. Check out her book “Handstands in the Dark”, her blog (www.janeygodley.blogspot.co.uk/) and her podcasts (www.janeygodley.podomatic.com/)SUPPORT THE SHOW!Check out our website http://rhlstp.co.ukSee details of the RHLSTP tour dates http://richardherring.com/gigsBuy DVDs and Books at http://gofasterstripe.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #115 - The Elsie Drake Letters - Richard talks to the creator of Friday Night Dinner and Look Around You, Robert Popper, about his collection of letters from Elsie Drake (aged 104) to various unsuspecting companies and people of note. They chat about the genesis of his previous letter writing campaign, The Timewaster Letters, what made him decide to take on the persona of Britain’s sixth oldest woman, how the replies usually show the good in people, the many calls from the police and other institutions that came about as a result of the letters, whether Robert was wasting people’s time, Richard’s own attempts at spoof letters, including a campaign to legalise a sex act that is illegal for heterosexuals and a fantastic new idea for a Look Around You Movie (that will crop up again in the upcoming Peter Serafinowicz podcast)Buy the book herehttps://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-elsie-drake-letters-aged-104-robert-popper/7697478?ean=9781399817875See RHLSTP recorded live - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#535 Rock On! - Richard is at Hull City Hall with the biggest RHLSTP audience we’ve had and he’s angry about the city claiming to have the smallest window in the country. His guest is legendary comedian and actor Tommy Cannon. They talk about how Cannon and Ball met at a welding factory, how Bobby cajoled him into forming an act and what he might have seen in Tommy, playing working men’s clubs, coming last on Opportunity Knocks and how the pair were propelled to fame in the seventies. Plus falling out and falling in, a double act being like a marriage, learning the wrong script for Emmerdale, the power of their theme song, working with Rik Mayall and Little Richard and the impact of losing your partner after sixty years. A fine end to the tour with a guest whose sprightliness belies their 85 years,See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Richard was a guest on a whole other podcast - ‘Rich Beyond My Wildest Dreams’, the podcast where guests talk through all the absurd ways they’d spend a £200 million EuroMillions jackpot. Join Sarel & Richard as they break down all of Richard’s wild plans - we’re talking... a teleportation device, a live-in dental hygienist, and paying every restaurant in London to ban James Acaster and Ed Gamble from Off Menu!Follow Rich Beyond My Wildest Dreams…On YouTube: https://tinyurl.com/ycyfv2fc On TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/mrxtansd On Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/ykumd329 On Apple Podcasts: https://tinyurl.com/29z8xrme On Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/4ths7ned Get that EuroMillions feeling every Friday with brand new episodes. Brought to you by EuroMillions from The National Lottery and Acast Creative Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #114 - Herald of a Restless World - Richard is not the only Herring to be a published author and his niece Emily comes on the podcast to talk about her impressive book about Henri Bergson, his life and philosophy. If like Richard you only know Bergson as a punchline to a Monty Python sketch then you will get to know a lot more about this unassuming and shy man who achieved rock star status as a philosopher. Rich and Emily chat about the Bergson’s respect for laughter and comedy, his fascination and sympathy with spiritualism, how he revolutionised philosophy and why he just as quickly faded from view, his death-bed lecture and the fellow lecturer who had his own talks disrupted by Bergson’s legions of fans.Buy the book herehttps://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/herald-of-a-restless-world-how-henri-bergson-brought-philosophy-to-the-people-emily-herring/7697499?ean=9781529371918See RHLSTP recorded live - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#534 Keenan Wayans - Richard is in Glasgow and by the time you hear this he should have an exciting announcement about a new acting role, as long as he doesn’t blow it by getting angry and slagging the show off. His guest is legendary broadcaster and comedian Fred MacAulay. They chat about why he left the world of accountancy behind to become a stand-up, resisting the temptations of post gig debauchery to go home and change nappies, skiing with Tara Palmer-Tompkinson, climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, how he felt when he was unceremoniously dumped from his long-running radio show, why he’s still gigging in his sixties, the only two words that Billy Connolly ever said to Fred and running naked through a field with Al Murray.See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #113 - Life Lessons From Historical Women - Richard talks to comedian and writer Eleanor Morton about her book about some notable women from history (some famous, others not so much) Life Lessons From Historical Women. Should Richard with his 2:1 in history have know about more of them than he does? Perhaps. They chat about why women (and non-royalty generally) are so badly represented in history, how history is more fun if you’re allowed to be judgemental about the clearly horrible stuff, how even stories from as recently at the 60s show how pervasive certain ideas of women can be, how Eleanor chose her 18 people/groups to write about and how the book is more serious than one might have expected (but still has plenty of funny stuff in it too).Buy the book herehttps://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/life-lessons-from-historical-women-eleanor-morton/7670509?ean=9781804192276See RHLSTP recorded live - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#533 Eternal Wee - Richard is back in Bedford, reminiscing about his second appearance on Top of the Pops. His guest is ex-Bedford public schoolboy Al Murray. They chat about how many pints you can drink during Ravel’s Bolero, the weirdness of being sent away to boarding school at the age of 9, but the disappointing lack of psychological damage that resulted from this, how Al got into drama and comedy to meet girls, playing Charles II in a Restoration romp, pretending to machine gun trains in a World War Two plane, thirty years of the Pub Landlord and whether he caused Brexit and which PM would Al have sex with if he had to?See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #112 - One Sinha Lifetime - Richard chats to doctor turned comedian and quizzer, Paul Sinha about his fantastic and heart-felt book about family, love, failure, success and getting through difficult times with positivity. They discuss how he never actually came out to his parents but their very human reaction to the news, the stereotypes of the quiz world and how they maybe miss something important, the desire to compete and win even if you’re no good at sport, the vagaries of the stand-up scene and how the same material can storm or die in the same night, turning a gay man straight, why Michael Palin has a better attitude than John Cleese and the Mastermind records of these two complete losers.Or buy the books here (quickly) -https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/one-sinha-lifetime-a-bengali-boy-s-search-for-the-meaning-of-life-paul-sinha/7546634?ean=9781529908534See RHLSTP recorded live - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#532 Seat for a Sex Doll - Richard is back in Coventry where he was once scared by a picture in the Cathedral like some kind of Maurice Mitchener. His guests are Mark and Anthony from the internet sensations The Exploding Heads and also a disgruntled Colin from Portsmouth. We find out about how this age-mismatched double act got together, how the TV station they worked on seemed to have no idea what they were up to, the genius behind ex-footballer Ian Fiveankles, whether their fans can miss the irony of their material, working with Ron from Goodnight Sweetheart, crashing into the Tottenham Hotspur stadium and a potentially tactless emergency question works out OK.See the Exploding Heads on tour - http://socomedy.co.uk/artist/colin-from-portsmouth/See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

EQ: Which Celebrity Would You Like To Stroke Your Hair While You’re Dying? - It’s another EQC as the cool kids call it and this time we’re finding out about which celeb our guest celebs would like to stroke their hair, while they’re dying. Richard gets confused about his own choice, but you’ll be able to hear answers from such luminaries as Susan Calman, Milton Jones, Cariad Lloyd, Katherine Ryan and many more. It’s a surprisingly good question. Apart from when Richard answers it.See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Come and see us live GIGSWatch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #111 - The Unfinished Harauld Hughes - Richard talks to the extraordinary Richard Ayoade about his incredible multi-book releases about writer Harauld Hughes (including books of his plays, films and prose) and his equally brilliant “The Fairy Tale Fan Club” kids book. They chat about the questions children ask about the stories they are told and why it’s fun to attempt to answer them, how to get Wes Anderson to narrate your audiobook (be Richard Ayoade and ask him) and why bad characters appeal to children. Plus what it’s like to be in the brain of Richard Ayoade, why he wanted to create the character of Harold Hughes, why he put himself in the book, the joy of a book that it takes a little while to tune into, another incredible audiobook and how to create parody that occasionally transcends humour, but where you come to care for the people you are mocking. How has he been allowed to do this? He definitely should have been allowed to do it, but it’s still amazing that he’s done it and that it’s available for you to read!There is also a chance to win all four of the limited edition Harauld Hughes books - rare unsigned copies too!Or buy the books here (quickly) - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-book-that-no-one-wanted-to-read-richard-ayoade/7098935?ean=9781529500752https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-unfinished-harauld-hughes-richard-ayoade/7688891?ean=9780571377893https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571393107-the-models-trilogy/https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571393084-plays-prose-pieces-poetry/https://www.faber.co.uk/product/9780571393060-four-films/See RHLSTP recorded live - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#531 Hello Pervert -  It’s the final London RHLSTP for a while and a time for goodbyes to the film crew and a very special member of the Leicester Square Theatre staff, whilst Rich discusses the rare occasions when your kids make your hard work on their behalf seem worthwhile. His guest is 8 times interviewee/interviewer in the RH universe, Adam Buxton. They discuss Milky Way adverts, Richard’s attention seeking testicle, Adam’s possibly career ending onanistic habits, Adam’s frankly inappropriate dreams about Richard’s wife, interviewing Werner Herzog, playing the Hammersmith Apollo, and who will be the last person to ever listen to one of the Herring or Buxton pods. Will it be soon or will their voices echo down the ages? Let us know if you’re the last person to ever listen.See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #110 - Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things? - Richard talks to comedian Pierre Novellie about his fabulous book (and guide book) about autism, Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things? They chat about Richard’s disappointment of his pretty regular test scores, why people react badly or suspiciously towards people with autism and ADHD, why Richard is better than Isaac Newton, why Pierre wanted the book to be different than the excellent stand up show of the same name, how this whole project started with a heckle, why it’s OK to be obsessed with pop music or sport but not Byzantine history, how the book will be helpful for autistic and non-autistic people alike and how the cover art was chosen!Buy the book here https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/why-can-t-i-just-enjoy-things-a-neurodivergent-guy-in-a-neurotypical-world-pierre-novellie/7610702?ean=9781785121012See Pierre on tour https://www.pierrenovellie.com/See RHLSTP recorded live - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#530 Tudor Spring Onion -  Richard is back in Sheffield, questioning the Curse of the Crucible. His guest is pop star and song-writing genius Paul Heaton. They talk about Paul’s propensity to collect and audit, why Happy Hour gives Richard unhappy flashbacks, how censorship made one song both worse and also slightly better, the acts of financial generosity which one suspects might just be the tip of the iceberg, how Paul didn’t really win awards until he got a big one at 60, but still carries on regardless, writing realistic love songs for older people and the positives and negatives that booze has had on his life.See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #109 - Earth To Moon - Richard chats to the fantastic Moon Zappa about her honest, funny and heart-breaking book Earth To Moon, about growing up in a somewhat dysfunctional family, having a world famous dad and trying to make her own way in the world. They chat about their previous meeting in 1997 and how Richard failed to pick up on some mild flirtation, meeting Snow White and being disappointed that she wasn’t a cartoon, the difficulty of finding balance in an autobiography, what Frank Zappa would have been like as a president and having your first kiss stolen by one of the Chips. Plus the negative side of being a Nepo Baby.The book is fabulous and hugely recommended.  Buy the book here - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Earth-Moon-Unit-Zappa/dp/1474623832See RHLSTP recorded live - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#529 Fulcrum - Richard is in Sheffield where people still remember the rainbow of 1994 whilst he confuses Electric Dreams with Electric Blue. His guest is brilliant story-telling comedian Tom Wrigglesworth. They chat about sharing an Edinburgh flat in 2010, how organising a whip round for a fellow train passenger led to Tom’s arrest and a fantastic Edinburgh show, how a resemblance to an American sports star impacted on his own life, how as a younger comedian you can go with whatever life throws at you and being the highest comedian at the highest comedy gig ever.See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!Watch our TWITCH CHANNELSee extra content at our WEBSITE Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Book Club #108 - The Time Machine Next Door - It’s series 7 of Book Club book-loving biatches and Rich's first guest of the new series is comedian, broadcaster and author, Iszi Lawrence. They discuss the paradoxes and possibilities of time travel, how to meld education and entertainment, the fantastic facts that Iszi weaves into her books, the incredible length and lack of change in the Ancient Egyptian empire, Henry VIII’s surprisingly high voice, what happens to the Marty that Marty replaces in Back to the Future and much more.Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-time-machine-next-door-explorers-and-milkshakes-iszi-lawrence/7198858?ean=9781801991049See all her other work here https://iszi.com/See RHLSTP recorded live - https://richardherring.com/rhlstp Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.