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

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Russell Howard’s Five Brilliant Things

Avalon Television

Comedy

Frequency: 1 episode/6d. Total Eps: 174

Each week Russell sits down with fantastic guests to chat about their Brilliant Things; the items, places and people that make life worth living.

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Apple

Data updated on 07/10/2026

Recent rankings

Latest chart positions across Apple Podcasts and Spotify rankings.

Apple Podcasts

Spotify

🇬🇧 Great Britain - top-podcasts
18/07/2026
#196
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🇬🇧 Great Britain - top-podcasts
17/07/2026
#188
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🇬🇧 Great Britain - top-podcasts
16/07/2026
#180
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🇬🇧 Great Britain - top-podcasts
15/07/2026
#180
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🇬🇧 Great Britain - top-podcasts
14/07/2026
#186
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🇬🇧 Great Britain - trending
19/06/2026
#187
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🇬🇧 Great Britain - trending
22/05/2026
#195
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🇬🇧 Great Britain - trending
21/05/2026
#190
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🇬🇧 Great Britain - trending
20/05/2026
#177
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🇬🇧 Great Britain - trending
19/05/2026
#153
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https://www.russell-howard.co.uk
34 shares
http://russell-howard.co.uk
16 shares
https://www.russell-howard.co.uk/
9 shares

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDolNU89SXI

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RSS feed quality

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Score global : 48%

Publication history

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Latest published episodes

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George Fouracres

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 • Duration 01:04:53

He’s one of the breakout stars of SNL UK and a sketch and comic actor of the highest calibre - it’s George Fouracres! George’s Brilliant Things are signs of an inquisitive and sideways brain, for example ‘roads’ are definitely brilliant but maybe the rest of us take them for granted? Likewise the month of September. It’s not for everyone but George makes a bloody good case as to why it’s A Brilliant Thing. Please have a delve around, audio-wise and enjoy what is definitely in our top three Midlands-focussed episodes of the show. George is starring in the latest season of SNL UK on Sky right now, so if you’ve got Sky then get involved, and if you haven’t…well…you could get it? Or you can enjoy the clips across social media of all kinds. For all of George’s other work, you can keep up with him by following him on the old Instagrams, where he’s @fowerairkers And that, as the old saying goes, is that. Hope you have a lovely week and make sure to take advantage of all of those lovely opportunities that come your way. Xxx 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

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Alexei Sayle

Wednesday, September 30, 2026 • Duration 01:00:00

One of the forefathers of modern British Stand-up comedy, Alexei Sayle sits down with Russell to talk through his brilliant things and they show sides to Alexei that demonstrate the forces in him that make him such an interesting voice; nobody else has chosen both a poem and a gun among their brilliant things! It’s a fascinating interview, not taken in a rush, that goes from demonstrations to Alexei’s formative years and his ill-fated experiments in Hollywood. Alexei’s latest book is called ‘How I’ve Tried to Change the World (by walking down the middle of the street shouting’)’ - and as you will have heard in the show, it’s a record of his life through the various demos he’s attended. It’s written with his trademark beautiful prose style and humour and it’s definitely a cracking read. You can order it in hardback by clicking here. Or use your local independent bookshop. That’s it for today. Toodle-pip! 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

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Natasha Bedingfield

Wednesday, September 23, 2026 • Duration 49:05

The pop megastar is in the studio and her brilliant things are as wholesome as you might hope; a swim through the importance of connecting with nature, the vitality of comedy and there’s a fascinating chat about the creative process. Oh! And chocolate. Natasha’s new single ‘Dot Dot Dot’ is out now and it’s an absolute banger; the kind of upbeat, optimistic pop that has earned Natasha a place among the greats. You can hear it, buy it and find so much more music at natashabedingfield.com You can also follow Natasha on Insta where she’s @natashabedingfield. Enjoy these final late summer days, listen to some music, walk your dog unless you don’t have a dog in which case steal a dog and walk that dog. Bye! 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

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Alasdair Beckett-King

Wednesday, September 16, 2026 • Duration 59:58

ALASDAIR BECKETT-KING A tremendous comedian with a distinct voice (and hair) and a talent for making some of the best videos to ever grace the internet - it’s the unstoppable ABK! A man like Alasdair, with an interest in life’s niches, was always going to produce a good episode of Five Brilliant Things, but who knew it would be this good? We career from things you definitely can touch (rocks) to things you definitely can’t (strippers - only joking - ghosts actually) and it’s just the kind of focussed, funny bimbling that was the reason podcasts were invented. And until late November, ABK is touring his latest full-length show ‘King of Crumbs’. It’s great, you should most certainly go if he’s in your area, and to find out if he will be in your area at a time that works for you, go to abeckettking.com where all the tour dates and booking links may be found. Also you can check out his utterly incredible online videos too. There we go. Another week’s listening pleasure parcelled up and delivered into your ear. 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

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Mark Simmons

Wednesday, September 9, 2026 • Duration 01:00:34

Mark Simmons, one of the sharpest joke writers in the country (maybe the world? Maybe the universe?) is here and his five brilliant things give an insight into the man behind the gags. From Taekwondo tournaments to Wrestling and the thrills of Mr Miyagi, you can see that his discipline in joke-writing comes from a deep love of Eastern sports and arts. And…um…wrestling? Mark is about to start the Autumn leg of his ‘Jest to Impress’ tour, and basically you won’t get more jokes per pound spent at any other show. He’s a terrific comedian and you should go. You can get tickets and find all the dates at https://marksimmons.co.uk Do you want to watch his last special ‘Quip off the Mark’? It’s on the website. Free. You want to listen to his podcast ‘Jokes’? It’s on the website. ALSO FREE! Lucky ducks. So much Mark Simmons so little time. I’m off to watch a load of Mark Simmons. There’s so much there I’ll barely have finished by next week. Taraaaaa! 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

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Brian Conley

Wednesday, September 2, 2026 • Duration 56:00

Brian Conley has been one of the biggest names in UK comedy and theatre for the past generation. From being the biggest comedian on TV to the most in-demand stage performer, he’s done it all. Come in and listen to a fascinating chat between Russell and Brian, two comics who sit, and have sat, at the top of their game at different periods in history. As we spoke about on the show, Brian has just competed in Celebrity Hunted on Channel 4, and you can watch the whole series, including his victorious final show on the Channel 4 player right now! Link is here or you can just search for it when you get back to your big telly. The Prat Pack also have some September shows which are selling fast - find out more about that by going here. And this is where we part company. I’ll see you in next week’s blurb no doubt. We MUST stop meeting like this. 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

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August's Moments of the Month

Tuesday, September 1, 2026 • Duration 53:41

Hello there! Welcome to August’s Moments of the Month. In case you’re new here, this is a compilation show with a little flavour of each guest we’ve enjoyed this month, but not the whole show. Then if you like the taste of any of them you can double-back and listen to the whole episode. It’s a good way to discover someone you would never have thought of clicking on before. First up we’ve got the comedian, actor and star of SNL UK, Scarborough’s finest… Paddy Young. Then we had Dan Tiernan just getting ready for Edinburgh, using the power of crystals… Following that was a special episode with Russell’s close friend, the US film director Joe Maggio who waxed lyrical about the greatest film of all time - La Dole Vita And lastly it was the firebrand honesty of Alfie Brown, who wears his personal history on his sleeve for our entertainment! So there we go! That’s a little taste of what August was like. All of those shows are available in full right now, so if you got a taste for it, go and get some more. Thanks as always for listening and there will be a new show, as usual, this coming Wednesday. Byeeee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Alfie Brown

Wednesday, August 26, 2026 • Duration 01:03:06

One of the most interesting, honest and self-eviscerating comics around at the moment, Alfie Brown brings his happy things to the studio including the city of Liverpool, Love Songs, his own wife and the levelling, life-saving properties of cannabis. Alfie has been in Edinburgh but if you haven’t been there yet you ain’t going now, but luckily for you his latest hit show ‘The Entertainer’ is touring the UK. You can find out all the dates and book tickets in a couple of quick clicks by going to alfiebrowntour.com. You can also follow Alfie on Instagram where he’s @alfiebrowncomedian and you can search for his and Jessie’s podcast (which has terrific metrics if you read the data) - just look for ‘Before we Break Up Again’ on Spotify or Apple Podcasts. Well done for reading the blurb, which is the modern equivalent of DVD extras, in that a huge amount of love and energy goes into them but really we’re only slaving away for a very select bunch of nerds like you. Nerd. Yeah you heard me (but totally thanks for making this worthwhile). 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

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Joe Maggio

Wednesday, August 19, 2026 • Duration 01:03:56

Today, the first guest Russell nearly killed. American director Joe Maggio is here, miraculously, after nearly losing his life on Russell’s stag-do some years ago. He’s written a show about the near-fatal mistake of trying to keep up with a feral UK stag-do and it’s at the Edinburgh Festival right now. The brush with death has led to a deeper, more profound love of life for Joe, so his Five Brilliant Things are unusually rich; told with a story-telling flair that betrays his many years creating, teaching and loving films.In many regards this episode shows Five Brilliant Things at its best: a person you may not have heard of but with beautiful takes on slices of life of which you weren’t even previously aware.Edinburghevery day at The Mash House, tickets from edfringe.com. Also follow Joe on Instagram where he's 'thejoemaggio'. That will do I think. Thanks for your attention and please be cautious when playing five-a-side with a bunch of feral louts. x Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Dan Tiernan

Wednesday, August 12, 2026 • Duration 57:59

Award-winning stand-up comic Dan Tiernan is here! If you thought you’d heard about torturous writing process before, just wait until you hear Dan’s extraordinary stories. He’s been to some tricky places and come back. He’s also a strong poker player and tells another cracker about winning BIG in a tournament in slightly awkward circumstances. All good things! Dan’s out there right now with his new show ‘Quartz and All’ and it’s about the crystal madness he talks about in this podcast. If that’s anything to go by it will be a very very entertaining hour of bonkers and heart-felt comedy. It’s in Edinburgh now, and then after August out on tour across the UK and Ireland. You can get tickets for that, check dates, and watch Dan’s previous special by going HERE. That’s all for today’s crystal-bathing session, hope your aura is all shiny and new. Thanks for checking in and double thanks for reading to the end of the blurb. I often feel this bit of writing will be read by nobody, but here you are, validating me. I FEEL SEEN. 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

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