Russell Howard’s Five Brilliant Things – Details, episodes & analysis

Never knew David O’Doherty used to be an underground DJ?  It’s all here. Russell and David sit down in front of a live studio audience at the Edinburgh Fringe (yes, it was a few weeks ago but we recorded a few, OK!?) to discuss David’s DJ hinterland. Also there is when a 13 year old David offered to cycle around Ireland as a newspaper think-piece, and he tells Russell about hanging out with Taika Waititi.  This episode bounces along with more energy than a demented space-hopper, with a huge amount of laughs and fascinating stories from David’s wonderful brain.  You wanna get more David? You can gets you more David for HE IS ON TOUR! His Edinburgh show was brilliant (as always). It’s called Ready Steady David O’Doherty. You could get tickets from Ticketmaster, but those guys are firmly on the naughty step at the moment.  Better off - use this link HERE to go to David’s personal website and get linked directly to the theatres. It’ll probably save you some dollar too, but don’t quote me on that because I haven’t checked and it goes way beyond the call of duty for me to check all those theatre prices, cross-check with the Goliaths and then work out the difference all to save you 50p. I mean I like you, but we’ve got to have some boundaries.  Russell is packing his moose-repellent spray for his is touring in Canada in mere moments. This September, if you’re Canadian, heck even if you’re not but you happen to be there, check out the dates HERE - in one of the last opportunities to see his latest smash hit tour show live.  We shall see you, hear you and smell you next week. So long cowboy/girl/child/baby. 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

Did Linford Christie take part in the Dad’s race at his kids’s school sports day?   Russell and Linford discuss what it’s like to be bloody quick, what it’s like to win an Olympic gold medal, and why Linford used to growl like a tiger at his competitors on the starting blocks.   It’s a really interesting and intimate chat with a British legend, seeing a side to him that we rarely get to see.   It’s really worth watching the documentary all about Linford’s career and life. It’s called simply ‘Linford’, which is on BBC iPlayer, or if you’re abroad it’s on iPlayer with a VPN (wink wink). It really tells the story well, with fascinating insights and at times it gets pretty emotional.   You don’t need me to give you a link to iPlayer. If you can’t find that with a search engine then you deserve to have your internet taken away from you.   Russell is back out on the road doing all sorts of bits and bobs, with Canada coming up, also Sweden, Norway…check out his movements at Russell-howard.co.uk   That’s all for this week. I’m off for a quick 13 minute nap. That’s the golden number apparently for efficient napping. I’ll let you know how it goes.   Goodbye for now, old friend.     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

He's a regular panellist on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, he gone done Taskmaster, he's a fabulous touring comedian and he's made some insane documentaries: Jamali Maddix is in the studio with Russell!  Let's get straight to the meat and potatoes about this episode - there's a fantastic story about the time Jamali had his Megadrive confiscated by his Mum. Also find out about his history as a paintball referee. Proper funny stuff all over the timeline. It's just a great hour spent with one of those guys who effortlessly spins great tales.  Jamali will be hosting a new documentary series later this year on Dave, called Follow The Leader. It's the kind of insane shit he usually does, this time meeting leaders of fringe movements and culty sorts. It will be amazing. There isn't a specific release date yet, but if you just watch Dave from now on, and never turn it off, you'll see it sooner or later.  He's also always touring, doing new stand-up and shows - find out about all that at https://www.jamalimaddix.com/   Hey - here's something exciting. We're doing three LIVE Wonderbox shows at the Edinburgh Fringe on 1, 2 and 4th August! Live audience, special guests, maybe a foam party? No OK so maybe no foam party but still pretty exciting. They'll be mad good and you should attend or at the very least listen when we put 'em out as poddies. Find tickets at www.edfringe.com And then Russell's doing tour shows in Canada, Scandinavia and other places - get the latest at www.russellhoward.co.uk   And now our time, my old friend, has once again come to an end. It's been a wonderful ninety seconds or so we've spent together but this too shall pass. I'm off to do a big old burp. Until next time, traveller.    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

Hawk Tuah! You've got to listen to this thang! Comedian Maisie Adam is in the studio. You'll have seen her on A League of Their Own or Have I Got News For You perhaps. It's a wonderfully thoughtful and funny episode; covering inspirational teachers, Victorian pornography and the time Russell bought a magic wand.  Oh, and in case you didn't believe it, here's a photo of Jimmy Carr, Stephen Hawking and the cast of Book of Mormon. Get it in your ears!  Maisie is a terrific comedian (and a handy footballer but that's not relevant now). She's off on tour this Autumn, so if you want some great comedy in September, October or November then Maisie's show 'Appraisal' is a good place to begin.  Tickets and dates available through www.ticketmaster.co.uk Russell himself will be continuing to tour his latest fabulous show, this time in Canada and Scandinavia so if you live in one of those places, or you have a private jet, then you can do so this Autumn. Get the skinny at www.russellhoward.co.uk and navigate the website to find the dates. If you can't find the dates on the website then you've got bigger problems and you won't understand the show.  That's all for now. Have a blissful week and we'll be back with more junk for your trunk in seven days. And you know that big thing on your mind? Don't overthink it. Just get on with it.  You're welcome.    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

From Ghosts, from Stath Lets Flats, from Sewing Bee it's Kiell Smith Bynoe!  Kiell tells Russell about being trapped by some weird Scottish children, about the importance of massive birthday parties and the one feeling he would bottle and sniff forever... A lovely, jaunty episode that zips along and covers a good amount, only getting side-tracked once for an in-depth discussion on feet and what can and can't be achieved... I'm talking in euphemisms. You'll have to listen to that bit. It's good.  When he's not dominating the TV comedy landscape, Kiell is a live improv comedian and he's taking his own show 'Kool Story Bro' to the Edinburgh Fringe this August!  So if you're up there between 15th - 21st, do go. It's at the Pleasance and tickets are on sale now, here.  I realise relatively few of you will be going to the Fringe because it's so damn expensive, so for the rest of you, watch Ghosts and Sewing Bee on BBC iPlayer. If you don't live in the UK, get a VPN. I'd recommend a specific one, except we're not being paid to say all that stuff. Yet.  Russell's off on tour to Canada and Sweden and Norway in Autumn so if you're one of those kinds of people then get some tickets at www.russellhoward.co.uk We're back next week with another terrific Wonderbox, in the meantime please drive safely, and if you can't drive safely then make sure you have a good alibi.  Goodbye, you beautiful human being. 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

Does Joel Dommett have beef with Alan Titchmarsh? And how did Davina McCall make Joel cry? The answers are all in this week's Wonderbox! Joel and Russell sit down across a rather fetching table to talk about the things that makes Joel such a happy chap.  It's a lot of fun and covers everything from pig orgasms to bogling. Have a listen. A really splendid way to spend your next fifty-odd minutes. Then come back and read the next bit.  Hello again! I told you it was fun. You will now be thinking 'but can I listen to even more Joel?' and yes you can. Turn on your telly in the daytime and he'll be there. Also, he and his wife Hannah have a podcast called 'Never Have I Ever' where they get people to write in with ideas of new experiences, then they do them. Sounds bloody dangerous to me. But it's a lot of fun and you can find it in those places where the podcasts dwell.  Russell's off on tour again, this time to Canada and Scandinavia so if you are one of those hairy types who live in those places, check out www.russellhoward.co.uk for all the details.  That'll do pig.      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

How did Emmanuel Sonubi end up doing a shift as a bouncer in full drag? Emmanuel Sonubi brings his majestic legs and superb comedy into the studio and tells Russell about his gender reveal mistake and gives some handy tips on how to perform a slam dunk.  Emmanuel has just finished his latest tour 'Curriculum Vitae' so you'll have to take our word for it that it was incredibly successful and very good. He's working up his new stuff now for the next outing, so please mosey on over to www.emmanuelstandup.com to find out his latest performing dates.  Russell's just going through his wardrobe to find his fluffiest undies for he is scheduled to embark to the land of the ice bears. If you are Canadian or Scandinavian then listen up, cos I've got two things for you. Thing one is respect for your incredible way with logs. Thing two is Russell's about to bring his tour to your country so get over to www.russellhoward.com and find out which theatres he's at when, then get out your loonies and grab a ticket! If you're not Canadian or Scandinavian then why are you still here reading this? It's not for you. Go away. I mean it.  Have they gone? I SAID GO AWAY! Some people. See you next week for some more box of the wonder flavour.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When did Mo Gilligan have a kick about with Rod Stewart and Madonna's son? And what's it got to do with his most precious items? It's all in this week's Wonderbox.  Mo takes Russell on a ride through his life and it's full of fascinating tidbits: How to sell a suit, how to curate a perfect collection of trainers. Also in a wild Antiques Roadshow rip-off moment, Mo finds out live on the podcast if his rare action man figure is worth thousands of pounds... Mo is currently touring his live show. If you're in Australia or New Zealand, now's your time to catch him. Mo's UK dates are from September onwards and you can get those tickets now, baby.  Find out all the find-outs at www.mogilligan.com   Aaaaand Russell's back out on tour soon. He'll be bothering mooses in Canada, then bothering polar bears in Scandinavia (and doing some gigs inbetween). Check out the dates and get the tickets on them internetses. www.russellhoward.com   For all the rest of you...there it is. The end of the written words. Well done for making it this far, we live in an age of reduced attention spans and to be here now - well you're a goaddam hero. Keep it up, you living legend. See you next week for what I assure you will be a most wonderful Wonderbox.    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The golfer and comedian John Robins has plonked his behind in the studio this week to wax lyrical about the things that light up his life.  These things include the Wikipedia page of snooker machine (and human if we're getting technical) Ronnie O'Sullivan, and John's massive bag of ketchup and mayonnaise, without which he never leaves the house.    It's a podcast for the ages. Like a well-constructed swimming pool it has both deep and shallow ends, but it is better than a swimming pool because there's zero chance of catching a verruca. John has an admirable stab at making golf sound like fun. Russell and John talk over some episodes from when they lived together as fledgling comedians in Bristol, and John talks candidly about his more recent battles with his own brain. It's a real feast, d'y'get me? You know those podcasts that are great to have on a run, or while you're exercising, that kind of thing? This is the quintessential podcast for those moments.    To increase your JRPM (John Robins per Minute) you can listen to his show on Radio 5 Live, which is also available as a podcast. He's also on the current series of Taskmaster wearing the clothes that are discussed in this very podcast! You can find all John's podcasts HERE. Try one. Go on. Hope you enjoy it. There will be more uplifting Wonderbox goodness to squirt into those fit little ears of yours next week. Just you see if there isn't. Until then, keep it real.     Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why is Lou Sanders moving to a farm in Portugal? What noise does Lou Sanders make when she snowboards? The answers are all in her Wonderbox, as well as how to have meaningful interactions with a cat. This is one of the most entertaining Wonderboxes to have been filled in a long time. You know who Lou is, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this far; if you’re just here as an intrepid explorer of random blocks of text then we salute you, and would urge you just to listen to the first ten minutes of the podcast – you’ll quickly get the idea and want more Lou. She’s ace.   If you’ve just enjoyed the podcast, give yourself a moment to calm down, then get yourself some more Lou Sanders. Her book ‘What’s That Lady Doing’ comes out in paperback in July and it’s already had many rave reviews… so you should strut down to an independent bookshop and snap it up.   Also as she so deftly mentioned in the podcast she’s off on tour next year with her brand new stand-up show 'No Kissing in the Bingo Hall' and those tickets are available NOW! For information and tickets you must visit https://www.lousanders.com   That is all the words for this hypodermic of Wonderbox. Get back here next week for another hit in the veins. Feels soooooo goooooood.   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