https://www.jasonnewland.com/

"Favourite Comedy Characters | Monday’s Boring Objects | LMBYTS #1461 | Jason Newland | 13th October 2025"

⏱️ Duration: 1 hour, 30 minutes

🎙️ Host: Jason Newland

📌 Series: Let Me Bore You To Sleep (LMBYTS)

🧠 Core Themes:

Reflection on favourite comedy characters from British and American TV.

Musings on the relaxing and therapeutic effect of Jason’s recordings.

Tangents into personal anecdotes, observations about everyday life, and occasional gentle humour.

🔍 Detailed Breakdown:

🛋️ Intro & Podcast Purpose (0:00 – 10:00)

Jason opens with his usual calming intro.

Mentions he's returning to routine after a break.

Reiterates the three main aims of his recordings:

Help listeners sleep.

Provide relaxation.

Offer companionship for those who live alone.

🧘 Reflections on Medication & Mood (5:00 – 9:00)

Talks about medication changes affecting his energy.

Mentions listening to his own recordings to self-evaluate and unwind.

Compares himself to a chef tasting his own food — joking that if he were a real chef, he'd be "massive."

📺 Main Topic: Favourite Comedy Characters (10:00 – 1:27:00) Jason goes through decades of British (and later American) sitcoms, offering a mix of:

Nostalgia

Critical opinion

Humorous tangents

He reflects on both the shows and the characters, grouping them loosely by era or theme: 🇬🇧 British TV Characters & Sitcoms: Classics & Old School Favourites:

Tony Hancock, Steptoe and Son, Dad’s Army — respected but not personal favourites.

Basil Fawlty (Fawlty Towers) — cited as one of the best.

Only Fools and Horses — Del Boy is crowned as Jason’s favourite comedy character overall.

Praises the entire ensemble: Rodney, Uncle Albert, Trigger, Boise, etc.

1980s-1990s Shows:

Blackadder — appreciates the format and Rowan Atkinson’s character.

The Young Ones — highlights Rick as a favourite but likes all four main characters.

Heidi High, Yes Minister, Keeping Up Appearances (Hyacinth Bucket), One Foot in the Grave (Victor Meldrew).

2000s and Beyond:

Alan Partridge — noted for longevity (over 30 years).

The Office — liked Gareth more than David Brent.

Peep Show, Inbetweeners (Jay), Little Britain, Mrs. Brown’s Boys, Count Arthur Strong, Motherland, Vicar of Dibley, Absolutely Fabulous (especially Patsy).

He notes that some shows like Gavin & Stacey and The Royal Family didn’t click as much for him despite their popularity. 🇺🇸 American Comedy Characters: He explores iconic characters from US sitcoms:

Cheers – Loves the ensemble cast. Names Frasier as a standout character.

Frasier – Highlights Frasier and his brother as brilliant characters.

Friends – Enjoys Joey and Phoebe, but not a mega-fan of the show.

Everybody Loves Raymond, Golden Girls, Mork & Mindy, The Cosby Show, Taxi, Roseanne, Naked Gun (Frank Drebin) — all receive praise.

He highlights Mork (Robin Williams) as one of the most beloved characters from his youth.

🐶 Vinny’s Cameos: Throughout the episode, Vinny the dog gets frequent mentions, especially:

When he’s chilling under the table or flat on the floor.

When he does a particularly "smelly" fart.

When he distracts Jason during serious thoughts.

Jason wonders if Vinny also falls asleep listening to him — possibly the show’s most loyal listener. 🐾

🎯 Key Takeaways & Sentiments:

Del Boy (Only Fools and Horses) is ultimately named Jason’s favourite comedy character.

Jason is deeply reflective about how comedy, repetition, and familiarity can aid relaxation and help with chronic pain.

He touches on themes of isolation, routine, and personal growth, using humour and self-deprecating wit to connect with listeners.

The episode is full of gentle digressions — from banana splits and WD-40 to 80s doorbells and late-night LBC talk shows.

💡 Highlights of Jason’s Humour:

Comparing himself to a massive chef who’d need “walls that collapse.”

Explaining why he had to re-educate himself after growing up on 80s TV.