heretics.

598. Why Geoff Norcott Felt Forced to Self-Censor


Listen Later

🔥 Geoff Norcott on Comedy, Brexit, the BBC, Men’s Issues & Why Comedy Lost Its Balls 🔥


In this explosive episode of Heretics, I’m joined by comedian, writer and broadcaster Geoff Norcott — often described as the only conservative comedian allowed on the BBC — for a brutally honest conversation about comedy, politics, culture wars and free speech.



SPONSORS:


  • Use my code Andrew25 on MyHeritage: https://bit.ly/AndrewGoldDNA 
  • Grab your free seat to the 2-Day AI Mastermind: https://link.outskill.com/GOLDNOV4 
  • Start fresh at tryfum.com/products/zero-crisp-mint . Over 500,000 people have already made the switch — no nicotine, no vapor, no batteries. Just flavor, fidget, and a fresh start.
  • Get up to 45% off Ekster with my code ANDREWGOLDHERETICS: https://partner.ekster.com/andrewgoldheretics 
  • Plaud links! Official Website: Uk: https://bit.ly/3K7jDGm US: https://bit.ly/4a0tUie 
  • Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hQVyAm Get an automatic 20% discount at checkout until December 1st.
  • Cut your wireless bill to 15 bucks a month at https://mintmobile.com/heretics 


  • Geoff opens up about voting Leave, being labelled a “token Tory”, navigating BBC comedy, and why the 2010s broke comedy through fear, self-censorship and ideological purity. We talk about Brexit, cancel culture, topical comedy, Mock the Week, The Mash Report, and what really happens behind the scenes at the BBC.


    We also dive deep into:


    - Why 98% of comedians lean left

    - How Brexit changed everything in British comedy

    - Self-censorship, fear, and why comics stopped taking risks

    - The Ava Santina / Politics Live moment and the fallout

    - Men’s mental health, male identity, and whether we need a Minister for Men

    - Why discussions about men get derailed — and who benefits

    - Class, working-class voices, and BBC “diversity” panels

    - Why comedy works best when left and right actually clash

    - Why podcasts replaced TV as the home of honest comedy

    - Whether comedy has finally got its balls back


    Geoff also reflects on Laurence Fox, GB News, cancel culture on the right and left, and why ideological purity is killing real conversation. This is a rare, long-form discussion that doesn’t shout slogans — it actually thinks.


    If you’re interested in:

    free speech, British comedy, politics, men’s issues, BBC bias, cancel culture, culture wars, Brexit, or why comedy stopped being funny, this episode is for you.


    👇 Subscribe so YouTube actually shows you the next episode

    👍 Like to help this reach people who want honest conversations

    💬 Comment — even if you usually don’t — the algorithm cares


    🎤 Geoff Norcott Tour: Basic Bloke 2: There’s No Bloke Without Fire

    🎧 Geoff’s Podcast: What Most People Think


    Join the 30k heretics on my mailing list: https://andrewgoldheretics.com 


    Check out my new documentary channel: https://youtube.com/@andrewgoldinvestigates 


    Andrew on X: https://twitter.com/andrewgold_ok  

    Insta: https://www.instagram.com/andrewgold_ok

    Heretics YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@andrewgoldheretics


    #GenderDebate #TransDiscussion #HereticsPodcast


    Chapters:

    00:00 Why This Comic Was Never Meant to Exist on the BBC

    03:42 The Moment Comedy Stopped Being Funny

    07:58 Voting Brexit in a Room That Hated You

    12:41 The Unwritten Rules Every BBC Comedian Knows

    18:09 How “Diversity” Quietly Replaced Talent

    23:37 Why 98% of Comics Think the Same Way

    28:54 The Joke That Would End a Career Today

    34:06 Self-Censorship Is Worse Than Cancel Culture

    39:22 The Incident That Changed Everything On Air

    44:51 Why Talking About Men Makes People Panic

    49:36 The Class Conversation No One’s Allowed to Have

    54:48 Podcasts Became Dangerous for a Reason

    59:31 What Really Happens When You Disagree Publicly

    1:04:27 The Line You’re Never Supposed to Cross

    1:09:15 Has Comedy Finally Got Its Balls Back?

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    heretics.By Andrew Gold

    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3
    • 4.3

    4.3

    502 ratings


    More shows like heretics.

    View all
    The spiked podcast by The spiked podcast

    The spiked podcast

    200 Listeners

    The Peter McCormack Show by Peter McCormack

    The Peter McCormack Show

    2,182 Listeners

    TRIGGERnometry by TRIGGERnometry

    TRIGGERnometry

    2,206 Listeners

    Anything Goes with James English by Anything Goes with James English

    Anything Goes with James English

    324 Listeners

    The Brendan O'Neill Show by The Brendan O'Neill Show

    The Brendan O'Neill Show

    358 Listeners

    Last Orders - a spiked podcast by Last Orders - a spiked podcast

    Last Orders - a spiked podcast

    58 Listeners

    Planet Normal by The Telegraph

    Planet Normal

    161 Listeners

    UnHerd with Freddie Sayers by UnHerd

    UnHerd with Freddie Sayers

    212 Listeners

    The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters by lotuseaters.com

    The Podcast of the Lotus Eaters

    547 Listeners

    Conversations with Peter Boghossian by Peter Boghossian

    Conversations with Peter Boghossian

    242 Listeners

    The Winston Marshall Show by Winston Marshall

    The Winston Marshall Show

    443 Listeners

    The Dozen with Liam Tuffs by The Dozen Media

    The Dozen with Liam Tuffs

    84 Listeners

    The Current Thing by Nick Dixon

    The Current Thing

    28 Listeners

    Dan Wootton Outspoken by Dan Wootton

    Dan Wootton Outspoken

    97 Listeners

    Beyond Gender by Stella O'Malley, Mia Hughes, Bret Alderman

    Beyond Gender

    62 Listeners