Russell Howard’s Five Brilliant Things
Each week Russell Howard sits down with fantastic guests to chat about their Brilliant Things; the items, places and people that make life worth living.
Episodes
Joe Maggio
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 F
Dan Tiernan
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 wit
Paddy Young
Utterly charming, utterly chaotic and singing the praises of cold flannels. The SNL UK star Paddy Young is here, and is the first guest to arrive to the recording with a bottle of milk in hand. Why? It’s all in this delightful hour of chat that includes banned Scrabble words and why you should walk out of more plays and films.
Paddy’s new live show is called ‘Will Sir be Laughing Alone?’
July's Moments of the Month
It's July's Moments of the Month: no new shows, just a smattering of the best bits of all the shows from the past month. Try some, and if you like it, go back and listen to the whole episode!
First up in July it was the Eastenders star turned super-podcaster, Natalie Cassidy.
Then it was the comic actor extraordinaire, Peter Serafinowicz.
Following Peter was one of the bright lights of c
Ian Moore
Death and Croissants author and comedian Ian Moore is in the studio! The best-selling author of France-based cosy crime novels, Ian has never lost that razor-sharp comedian instinct and gives a belting show that takes in the unbridled pleasure of judging others on how they dress, the simple beauty of a cheese sandwich and the arcane insanity of French bureaucracy. Hard recommend.
Right. G
Christopher Hall
He’s danced for Kylie and Shania, he’s a viral sensation, a comedian and a born showman; Christopher Hall is in the studio.
Christopher explains why there’s nothing more liberating than pottering around the shops, enjoying punny names for businesses and the nostalgic taste of a home-made Middlesborough chip.
Christopher has created a brand-new stand-up show! It’s called Pizazz and
Bella Hull
Horror gig stories are always fun; Comedian and SNL UK writer Bella Hull serves up some of the best in the business. If art is suffering then Bella is Leonardo da Vinci. Bella is one of the most exciting newer voices on the UK comedy circuit and even a brief listen to this episode demonstrates why: her strong feelings about duvets, pies and the sensation of going downhill are told with panache and
Peter Serafinowicz
Comedian and Actor Peter Serafinowicz takes an hour out of his hectic filming schedule to sit down and explain why we should listen to the Oh-Sees, why the Bionic Commando soundtrack was so groundbreaking and he gives us the most iconic death noise in video-game history.
If you want to see Peter, get onto Netflix and watch Million Dollar Secret which he hosts. If you want to be Peter, then get
June's Moments of the Month
Hello there!
Welcome to June's Moments of the Month. In case you’re new here, this is a compilation show with a little snippet of each guest we’ve enjoyed this month, so you can get a flavour.
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 in studio in
Natalie Cassidy
A lovely chat with a lovely guest: Natalie talks about her time behind the scenes on Eastenders (and her prodigious ability to nap on command), her more recent time spent working with the care system and sharing memes that people have made out of her own face!
There’s loads to enjoy, please dive in and have a great time.
We talked about it on the show - Nat has her podcast ‘Life with Nat’ al
Al Nash
AL NASH
From SNL UK and your favourite online viral sketches, it’s comic and actor Al Nash!
Al popped in to chat to Russell about why there’s nothing quite as enjoyable as a School Fair, the simple delight of the ‘umble crumpet and and extraordinary story about the time his flat was raided by the police. Yeah! You did’t see that one coming did you?
The chat also goes into fascinating detai
Aziz Ansari
He’s only one of the biggest comics in the whole of the US! You know him from Parks and Rec, his own brilliant Netflix show Master of None and most recently from his incredible turn on SNL as Kash Patel.
He’s here in the studio with his Five Brilliant Things which show a real meticulous, thoughtful side to him: whether it’s Martinis, Espressos or the feeling of real pen on paper, Aziz is here
Sindhu Vee
Comedian and Actor Sindhu Vee is in the studio and she’s brought stories galore! Her Five Things serve as catalysts to some of the funniest and most excellent stories we’ve had on the show in some time.
From ‘the ability to cry on demand’ to Free Bibles and Fake Hotdogs, this is a tremendous show. Hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed making it.
You should go to see Sindhu live, and
Serge Pizzorno
Serge from Kasabian and Russell sit down and discuss the creative process, what it means to be an artist in the digital age, how to age gracefully and how to make the perfect egg. There’s something utterly engaging about listening to artists from the top of different fields discussing the similarities and differences between the ways they work and this show is no exception. Get involved, get inspi
May's Moments of the Month
Hey there!
It's all the best bits from our May shows, all tied up with a fancy bow for your enjoyment!
You will find in this pick n mix episode:
Satirist and comedian Cody Dahler doing an impeccable Ed Miliband impression.
Comedian Jess Fostekew taking us through the glorious triumph that is BEANS.
Comedian Josh Pugh standing for the Italian National Anthem despite having no Italian heritage
Rhys James
Do you want to show Rhys James a good time? All you need to do is take him to a hotel gym with Harry Styles, under the influence of general anaesthetic. At least…that’s what we have taken away from this fantastically breezy, genial show with the Mock the Week star (well…two of them really). Rhys’s Five Things include being rendered senseless, having that first pint after a sporting endeavour and t
Josh Pugh
The brilliant comedian Josh Pugh lays out his favourite things and they are quintesentially British: Greggs! Garden Centres! The…Italian…National…Anthem? Josh brings his trademark authenticity and easy charm to this fabulous hour of chat that celebrates some of the simplest pleasures in life (and the rousing pomp of a certain nation’s patriotic ditty).
Josh is a fantastic live comedian with so
Jess Fostekew
Comedian, power-lifter, soccer mom, bean fanatic… Jess Fostekew is all these things and more. In this funny, fun and fascinating episode there’s laughing and learning…Why you should never wear gloves in the gym, why y’all need to be eating more beans, and why hugging, within certain parameters, could be the best thing you can do for your wellbeing…
Keep up with Jess by following her on Instag
Cody Dahler
How did Cody go from working for Matt Hancock to being one of the sharpest satirists online? And what has it all got to do with a pub in Cyprus? It’s all in this delightful podcast with comedian and writer Cody Dahler who takes you on a ride through the hills of Cyprus to Spanish Music Festivals and a recommendation of the book that changed Cody’s life (love a good book recommendation!)
And whi
April's Moments of the Month
Hey there!
It's all the best bits from our April shows, wrapped up in a convenient bundle for your pleasure!
Gasp at Dara O Briain's secret life as a nightclub dancer.
Oooo at Mike Rice's Dairy Farming History
Be amazed at Janine Harouni's story of squeaking thighs
Pick your jaw off the floor after listening to Sean McLoughlin wax lyrical about Star Trek: The Next Generation
And be wowed by
Jamie Hutchinson
Jamie Hutchinson, the voice of Manchester, the wildly popular comedian is with us and it’s a fantastic romp through the most intense made-up games, the frenzy of horse-racing commentary and the simple pleasure of answering obscure quiz questions with your mates.
There’s also a top tip for comedy writing in there towards the end. Genuinely useful…
🎤 Jamie is on tour RIGHT NOW! His latest show
Janine Harouni
Blisteringly talented comedian Janine Harouni is in the studio this week picking out the things that make her happy which include nerds, digital clocks… and a great story about how to get her thighs to stop squeaking in front of Robert Pattinson. It’s all in here, so please enjoy at your leisure!
Janine’s current tour is called ‘This is What you Waited For’ and we waited a bit too long to pro
Sean McLoughlin
He’s often called the Comic’s Comic, he’s a really excellent stand-up and his Five Things are a fantastically esoteric collection ranging from Moshing to Ice Hockey to Star Trek.
Sean hosts his very own late-night talk show, but for free and on YouTube starring one of the funniest comics from the UK and World circuits. It’s called ‘The Sean McTalk Show’ and it’s frankly criminal that you can g
Mike Rice
The acerbic, charming Irish stand-up is here with his Five Brilliant Things and tales from an extraordinary career, spanning from the milking sheds of Ireland to travelling the world performing to thousands, via regular visits to a shed to hang out with a tiny mystic man.
Mike’s touring! We talked about it on the podcast and we weren’t lying. It’s Mike’s most accomplished solo comedy show to da
March's Moments of the Month
Hello there!
Welcome to March’s Moments of the Month. In case you’re new here, this is a compilation show with a little snifter of each guest we’ve enjoyed this month, so you can get a flavour.
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 in studio
Dara O Briain
The hugely acclaimed Irish Stand-up and host of Mock the Week gives a fascinating and funny hour of anecdotes. Travel with Dara on debating tours of Ireland, stand in a field with him doing astral photography and hear Dara’s trick for finding his own personal nightclub dance floor.
Dara has some date left for his smash show ‘Re:Creation’. It helps if you’re Scandinavian, as many of the dates
Andrew Mensah
Comedian Andrew Mensah joins us with tales of playing Padel with Wayne Rooney, the economics of Air Force One Trainers and why there’s nothing better than sitting down for a game of Articulate.
There’s also a fascinating insight into the way British society interfaces with its cultural landscape; Andrew’s account of how he managed to move from the gang culture of his childhood to become well-lov
Ben Shephard
One of the most popular faces from British TV is here; from This Morning, from Tipping Point and so much more it’s Ben Shephard!
What comes through in this ebullient show is Ben’s love for life and thirst for experiences (and thirst for drinks with bubbles in them).
Ben takes us on a trip on the back of a motorbike through the London traffic, lifts the lid on how you go about doing a Men’s H
Pierre Novellie
Pierre is a formidable stand-up comedian and it’s a pleasure to take this wander around the corners of his fascinating brain. This fun and fascinating episode of Five Brilliant Things takes in the majesty of beef, the efficiency of Grahame Greene, the mystery of thunder and finally why you must go out, find a child, and make it watch you read a book. Curious? You should be; all is revealed within
February's Moments of the Month
Welcome to our best of February's shows, with a little snippet of each of the four shows we slung into the world across the last month.
This show features Charlie Higson talking about the wonders of the Voyager Space Probe...
Comedian and podcaster Amy Gledhill eulogising about some of the most Northern sandwiches you could imagine...
Comedy legend Harry Enfield on the utility and beauty of
Shane Todd
You want strong opinions about bananas? You’ve come to the right place. Northern Irish powerhouse comedian Shane Todd has flown in to give Russell his Five Brilliant Things, and bananas are right out of the traps. Even the hardest of hearts will be turned by his impassioned defence of the bendy yellow berry.
Shane also make the case for simply pottering around, keeping sock drawers in check and h
Stevie Martin
This is a cracking episode with a cracking comedian. The Taskmaster star Stevie Martin speaks with completely unguarded honesty about her favourite things which leads to not one but several introspective spirals! What is it about chonky penne, pyrex jugs and interior design that could lead to a live-on-air existential episode? Get your bobbles in your ears, press play and find out. It’s lots of fu
Harry Enfield
A true icon of British TV Comedy - it’s Harry Enfield! It’s no exaggeration to say that he redefined a whole generation of comedy in this country, with his jokes and catchphrases reaching millions every week.
Harry sits down with Russell to explain his brilliant things and also give a candid insight into how they created those iconic characters and sketches - a behind-the-scenes look at how some
Amy Gledhill
This week we have the winner of the 2024 Edinburgh Best Show! One of Britain’s fastest rising comics is with us; it’s the fabulous Amy Gledhill and this is an absolute banger of an episode.
Hull’s most exciting product since the White Phone Box explains why cheap white bread is better than all your fancy Italian nonsense, how working in a dungeon gave her existential dread and why she enjoys spe
January's Moments of the Month
From our January shows, here's a little taster of each episode so you can get a flavour of the things we got up to with our wonderful guests:
Comedian and star of ‘The Change’ on C4, Bridget Christie
Comic and social media sensation Daniel Foxx
Actor and stand-up Tom Rosenthal
And the endlessly fascinating historian, Dan Snow.
If you hear anything you like, circle back and enjoy the whole epi
Charlie Higson
British Sketch Comedy Royalty in the studio. One of the core cast of the iconic Fast Show is here and his name is Charlie Higson! He lays out the Five Things that make life interesting - get ready for a delightful journey through James Bond, what is and isn’t included on the Golden Record that we yeeted into space. How did Charlie go from being a Punk Band frontman to a decorator to a comedian… an
Dan Snow
Fascinating, delightful company. That’s what Historian Dan Snow is. I suppose the skill of any historian worth their salt is to use that historical knowledge and make it relevant today, and this endlessly interesting podcast does exactly that. Dan’s passions go way beyond history, drawing in sailing tall ships, democracy and most importantly of all, his greatest passion beyond all other things: GH
Tom Rosenthal
Tom Rosenthal is a comedian with a deep interest in all things: His Brilliant Things include The Danish Gambit, The Golden Ratio and Trip Reports. This is a repeatedly fascinating conversation where Tom is completely unguarded and enthusiastic in his descriptions of these corners of humanity. He also conjures, from nowhere, the most outstanding improvised acid trip you’ll ever hear. It’s well wort
Daniel Foxx
Why is it the ruder the waiter, the more it gets Daniel Foxx excited? The laconic comedian is here to explain the beauty of surly service, the simple serenity brought by a scented candle, and you’ll experience some of the worst ASMR in podcast history.
Russell also relates the time Louis Theroux gyrated aggressively at him. That’s worth the admission fee alone.
Daniel’s latest tour ‘How Lo
Bridget Christie
Superb comedian Bridget Christie is here. She’s won the Edinburgh Award, she’s been nominated for oodles of comedy prizes, she’s written and performed in two series of her own show ‘The Change’ for Channel 4 and now she sits down with us to reveal her Five Brilliant Things.
It’s as thoughtful and funny as you would imagine from a comic as good as Bridget, including why empathy is disappearing,
December's Moments of the Month
From our December shows, here's a little taster of each episode so you can get a flavour of the things we got up to with our wonderful guests:
Doctor/Writer Adam Kay
Taskmaster star and stand-up Ania Magliano
Stand-up comedy legend Ross Noble
and one of the most fascinating people in Britain, Rory Sutherland.
If you hear anything you like, circle back and enjoy the whole episode - they are
Rory Sutherland
Marketing expert and thinker-outside-the-box, Rory Sutherland is here with his Five Brilliant Things and they all begin with the letter C: Consumerism, Contradictions, Cars, Commuter Towns, Cornbread and the Commonwealth.
You’ll notice that’s more than five things, which typifies this episode. The ideas and conversation flowing out of Rory and Russell was abundant and it’s one of the most dense
Russell's Best Bits of 2025
Happy Christmas!
This week Russell looks back over all of the shows from 2025 and picks his favourite moments from 52 x 5 Brilliant Things (So…quick bit of maths…that’s…260 Brilliant Things).
We’ll be back in a week with a brand new show and loads of super-exciting guests in the new year.
On our Patreon show something a bit special this week - Russell and Dan sit down and talk about how they
Ross Noble
One of Britain’s most mercurial and naturally talented stand-ups of all time, Ross Noble sits down with Russell to explain how he went from a school drop-out with a couple of circus skills to one of the greatest stand-ups Britain’s ever produced. He also goes into detail about Cuttlefish.
Ross is in the middle of his latest live tour, called ‘Cranium of Curiosities’. It’s a full show of brand-
Ania Magliano
Ania Magliano loves gossip, and she’s here to share some CHOICE cuts of the stuff. From Taskmaster, Stand-up Ania is in the studio and she’s running us through her favourite things which takes us on a journey through some unashamedly indulgent birthday parties, the perils of being bold with your hair and some fascinating chat about writing process and generating comedy ideas. Oh, and did I mention
Adam Kay
Doctor, author, comedian, musician Adam Kay tells Russell about the things that he’s discovered that are brilliant. It’s a laugh-out-loud funny show that begins with a tale of conception, takes what it feels like to be spied on by Ben Wishaw, and by the end we are all getting acquainted with the inside of Adam’s nostrils.
As spoken about in the show, Adam has published his first novel that is
November's Moments of the Month
Hello, here's a round up of the best bits from the last month of shows, featuring the fantastic comic Kerry Godliman (she's so funny), wine expert Tom Gilbey with a great story about Iron Maiden, dictionary corner's Susie Dent and the American-Palestinian comic Mo Amer.
If you hear something you like you can double-back and take in the whole episode if you like!
Producer: Dan Atkinson
Line
Mo Amer
Palestinian-American stand-up sensation Mo Amer is here! He’s on a tour of Europe, he’s in the UK for a couple of days and he came into the studio to tell us all about his Five Brilliant Things and he did not disappoint.
Mo has an easy Texas charm coupled with seriously funny bones. His relationship between his American upbringing and Middle-Eastern heritage is fascinating and you can see that i
Susie Dent
From Countdown's Dictionary Corner it’s Susie Dent!
Susie is here with her Five Brilliant Things and they are as fascinating and vocabulary-expanding as you might hope; but it’s not all words, Susie also tells us about her special relationship with a rock. Is it Dwayne Johnson? You’ll have to listen to the show to find out!
Alongside these revelations Russell and Susie luxuriate in some of the
Tom Gilbey
Wine Wine Wine! Tom Gilbey is one of the UK’s top wine experts and he also talks about it like a normal person! This podcast takes us through the things that makes a wine buff happy (some of them are, and I don’t want to spoil things, wine-related).
Russell does a live wine-tasting of some rock and roll wine.
Tom takes us through his marathon that he ran while drinking wine every mile (!), th
Kerry Godliman
She’s the star of Whitstable Pearl, AfterLife and Taskmaster. She’s a phenomenal stand-up comedian and she’s Kerry Godliman, here to tell Russell about the things that make life worth living and it’s a nostalgic romp through Portobello Market, living off-grid in India and how to parent without being a beg.
Loads of fun, really great funny episode; this is a big ‘recommended’ sticker.
Kerry
October's Moments of the Month
It's all the best bits from October's shows! A tasting plate of the shows we've already broadcast this month and if you've been too busy to listen to the whole shows this is a way to get a morsel and who knows... maybe head back and listen to the whole thing if you like the sound of it.
Featuring Dom Joly, Sally Lindsay, Nick Mohammed, Horatio Gould and Pete Firman.
Learn more about your ad choi
Pete Firman
You know Pete Firman. He’s charming. He’s northern and he pops up on your Instagram or TikTok with fantastic magic tricks, illusions and comedy. Pete is one of Britain’s most accomplished comedy magicians and he’s here with his Five Brilliant Things which take him from Chip Sauces, through Old Theatres and the whole thing wraps up with a love-letter to the very particular British art of CONKERS!
Horatio Gould
From the hit podcast Fin vs History, it’s the nascent comedy superstar Horatio Gould!
He’s here to explain why Men need to start doing more Business in saunas. He tells us just how violent and disgusting it should be to eat chicken. And everyone gets sidetracked in a discussion about a man who went into a cave and made sweet love to a chicken.
Horatio is performing the last extended run of
Nick Mohammed
Star of Celebrity Traitors, and Ted Lasso, and Slow Horses…Nick Mohammed is here revealing the five things that make him happiest.
What happened when he was asked to perform one-on-one for his hero Andrew Lloyd Webber (awkward!)? Who was the inspiration for his hit character Mr Swallow? And what invaluable tips did he get from Paul Daniels? That’s all in here and so much more. It’s a Nick Moham
Sally Lindsay
From Corrie, Phoenix Nights and the Madame Blanc Mysteries, Sally Lindsay is here with her Five Brilliant Things and they are belters.
It’s a romp through the majesty of Chas and Dave, some strong opinions about loudspeakers on public transport and taking wild train trips from England to Italy in the early 1980s.
As we talked about on the show, Sally stars in and wrote the Madame Blanc Myster
Dom Joly
Which famous author does Dom Joly feel he may have to kill in order to get his perfect job?
And why is he compelled to jump off every high perch that he comes across?
And why was he caught in the bathroom of a High Court Judge semi-clothed?
The answers are all in this fabulous podcast, where Dom Joly selects the Five Things that make his life most exciting - and it is an exciting life. The sh
September's Moments of the Month
A bumper month of truly excellent shows! This podcast contains the best bits of each of our September shows so there's no new content (unless you include some links and a little bit of chat about Beef Rendang).
But here you can enjoy a brief bit of:
Irish stand-up powerhouse Ardal O'Hanlon!
Podcaster and actor Georgia Tennant!
US comedy megastar Taylor Tomlinson!
From Taskmaster - the brillia
Joanna Page
How did Joanna Page nearly cock up her Gavin and Stacey audition? How did she end up following Kenneth Branagh around in secret?
The stories, the stories! This delightful episode with Gavin and Stacey’s Joanna Page is a delight from cover to cover (yeah yeah, podcast/book/bad analogy get lost).
Her Brilliant Things include her unhinged dog Daisy (the stories!), her Dad’s Prawn Salad and her
Phil Ellis
He’s in Taskmaster, he’s had his own Radio series and for years he’s been one of the downright funniest stand-ups in Britain. Welcome to the Five Brilliant Things of Phil Ellis!
Expect incredible stories about Rik Mayall, an awful kid’s game where you either get mauled by a dog or soaked in your friends urine. Expect the most harrowing ‘bad gig’ story you’ll ever hear in your life. Hedgehog NO!
Taylor Tomlinson
Comedy megastar Taylor Tomlinson has dropped into the studio in the middle of her world tour! And as you might imagine it’s an absolute belter of an episode. Her favourite things include siblings (where she talks about starting comedy as a 16 year old on the US Church circuit 😮)
Taylor tells a chilling tale about leaving her comedy notebook lying around, and the significance to her of the ‘umble
Georgia Tennant
Warning: This podcast starts with Very Strong Opinions about potatoes.
It continues in a similarly esoteric vein as star of The Horne Section and Dr Who Georgia Tennant gives her opinions on the versatility of the humble glue-gun, some pretty straight-talking on MoonCups and how to psyche out opponents as an older netball team. It’s a cracking good fun episode. You’re going to enjoy this one.
August's Moments of the Month
It's a taster of all the shows broadcast through August 2025, including Michael Dapaah talking about why Bernie Mac was such an influential comic, Tiff Stevenson running through some of her astonishing accent skills, Jake Lambert on the hunt for the person who shot his cat and a story about Howie Mandell from Red Richardson that you simply won't believe.
Tuck in if you haven't heard any of them a
Ardal O'Hanlon
One of the best comedians to ever come out of Ireland, Ardal O’Hanlon is a complete treat. He is brimming with excellent stories from his extraordinary life of stand-up comedy, acting and amateur tennis; illicit late-night oysters, holidays in Ireland back in the day, footballing heroics on exotic islands. This episode that is like a hot bath of delights. Get those clothes off and get on in.
As
Red Richardson
Which mega-famous US celebrity has a room full of AI holograms that he talks to? It’s all in this podcast with ‘Stay Toxic’ Instagram star and brilliant comedian, Red Richardson.
Aside from this extraordinary anecdote about being taken through rooms of madness, there’s also wonderful tales about Keith Floyd, some great stories about living wild in Devon and the whole podcast is packed full of
Jake Lambert
Food poisoning in Kyrgyzstan with Jack Dee? It's just one of the fantastic stories told by comedian Jake Lambert on today's fantastic episode of Five Brilliant Things.
Other highlights include a vigilante mission to discover the man (or woman) who shot his cat and much much more. 🙀
Jake is huuuuge on Instagram where his reels do some serious numbers - you can see him on Instagram where he's @j
Tiff Stevenson
Are you an Umarell? Or will you become one? What is an Umarell? It’s all in Tiff Stevenson’s Five Brilliant Things.
Tiff is a fantastic UK-based comic who has joined us in the studio to talk about the majesty of accents, the beauty of weddings, the taste of childhood sweets and the mysterious Umarell.
It’s worth listening just for Tiff’s wonderful way with accents. Come for the accents, stay
July's Moments of the Month
Four short clips from this month's episodes for the indecisive or time-poor podcast listener. This gives you a taster of what we did this month and if you like the sound of any of them you can go back and devour the whole thing.
July's guests were Australian comic Felicity Ward, Ironman competitor and TV presenter Ashley Cain, comedian Sophie McCartney and Internet Food Sensation, What Willy Coo
Michael Dapaah
The YouTube sensation, the brains behind Big Shaq and the international hit 'Man's Not Hot' - it's Michael Dapaah and he's in the studio to tell Russell about his Five Brilliant Things.
Michael's Brilliant Things include Bernie Mac (which has an unexpected story about Michael meeting Dave Chappelle in Ghana?!) and his ex-girlfriends.
Michael talks in the show about his new project 'Comfortably
What Willy Cook
Will can cook. And he’s become rather well-known on Instagram for his no-nonsense, chirpy recipes under the Instagram handle ‘What Willy Cook’. Well here he is with his Five Briliant Things, including the smell of mini-eggs, sandwiches in general and Portuguese food. It’s a cheeky sashay through these marvellous things and there’s some excellent food and cooking tips to take away too.
As menti
Sophie McCartney
Do you fancy a romp through 90s nostalgia? Because comedian Sophie McCartney has got you covered. Her brilliant things include the X Files, Keanu Reeves, as well as some amazing frank stories about the less glamorous side of being a Mum (as you may expect from Sophie).
Lots of fun and our Patreon episode is equally exciting with a run down of Russell’s plan to approach Dame Judi Dench to play
Ashley Cain
This episode of Five Brilliant Things is an enormously powerful listen; an emotional journey through the extraordinary life and times of the TV Host and endurance athlete Ashley Cain.
He talks with disarming honesty about finding strength and wisdom after the tragic death of his daughter, and his Five Brilliant Things are actually borne of his adversity.
He also goes into detail about what it
June's Moments of the Month
The best of our June shows!
Starring Jake Humphrey, Harriet Kemsley, Jordan Banjo and Max Fosh.
A snippet from each show that you can sample as a little amuse bouche (amuse oreille?) and see if you fancy listening to some more. It's the perfect way to find out about people you don't know or just trot away an hour or so. Please enjoy.
Normal shows are still released as always every Wednesday,
Felicity Ward
Australian actor, comedian and infectious company (can we say that positively in a post-covid world?!) Felicity Ward is in the studio with Russell today.
She’s here to talk about the five things that make her happiest, and they are belters.
Felicity shares her passion for turning up as a surprise when you said you couldn’t make it, she talks about the joy of passing on generational family weird
Max Fosh
Having dinner sitting next to a grizzly bear. Provoking a hundred muscle-bound men in Coventry. Visiting a laboratory in Spain to cook food using lightning. It could only be YouTube’s most innovative creator… Max Fosh!
Russell and Max sit down to discuss Max’s Five Brilliant Things, which include many tales of his extraordinary life and the mad challenges he sets himself. Also mayonnaise. He blo
Jordan Banjo
JORDAN BANJO
Jordan Banjo, from the Diversity street dance group, from I’m a Celeb, from Kiss FM is in the studio and his Five Brilliant Things are a huge amount of fun; from watching videos of Mums cutting fringes badly through to smelly pens and a surprising revelation about how old Jordan was before he’d tasted water…
Get thee into this podcast and enjoy Russell and Jordan talking all ove
Harriet Kemsley
From Last One Laughing it’s comedian Harriet Kemsley, who is great company and with some surprising stories; her youth flying in World War Two Fighter Planes to her snowboarding exploits PLUS find out why she could end up imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay… it’s all in this fantastic episode of Five Brilliant Things.
🎭 Harriet has just a few tour dates left, notably one on 12 June at Leicester Squar
May's Moments of the Month
Welcome to May's moments of the month; a show where we round up the highlights of all the episodes of the past month so you can have a nibble at all of them and see if they take your fancy.
May 2025 in the studio we had Kae Kurd, Jeff Innocent, Jordan Stephens and Adam Buxton. Please enjoy this new monthly taster show.
This won't change our normal shows released as usual every Wednesday (or once
Jake Humphrey
How did the F1 anchor cope when David Coulthard was so hungover he’s got a bucket between his legs just out of shot? When he was hosting the football, how badly was Jake reprimanded for jeering at the Ipswich fans from the commentary box?
Jake Humphrey from the High Performance podcast (and formerly of CBBC) is in the studio with Russell to wax lyrical about his Brilliant Things including the m
Adam Buxton
Adam Buxton, the OG, the Podfather, king of all things Pod is here and he’s not just brought Five Brilliant Things - he’s also brought a load of nearly-ran Brilliant Things!
Fascinating and funny as always, Adam takes us through why dinner is so important, how he’s unable to invent bedtime stories and which bird has a song like EDM.
It’s just great! An hour with Adam just flies by and you wi
Recommended
Psychology, Actually
Pride and Prejudice (version 6, dramatic reading)
Ancient Lives with Mary Beard
English Made Simple
Learn UK English By Podcast
The Healing Childhood Trauma Podcast
Stick to Football
Foundling | Tortoise Investigates
Frank Off The Radio: The Frank Skinner Podcast
Learning English from the News
Meet the Farmers
Sweet Nothings
