Refreshing Pod - Fringe 2025: Footballers' Wives The Musical

It's Johnny's last Fringe Festival Interview for 2025 and he takes you back to the year 2002.

We're delighted to be joined by Ceili O'Connor, AKA Tanya Turner, from Footballers' Wives, The Musical, that ends it's run this Sunday.

A new British musical based on the iconic TV series following the fall and rise of captain's wife Tanya Turner as she schemes to save her marriage and her husband's career. Go back to 23 years, Sven as the England manager, and the WAG scene was just kicking in. Premier League football was the new rock'n'roll – with the money, glamour and bad behaviour to match.

Johnny & Ceili talk about life back in 2002 (fashion, haircuts, big mobile phones) the impact the show had, and how each character was OTT, including how well Zöe Lucker played the original Tanya.

Ohh & look out for a great piece of knowledge from Ceili regarding the whole 'Wagatha Christie' saga.

Behind the scenes of this musical, has music and lyrics by Kath Gotts (Bad Girls The Musical), based on the book by Maureen Chadwick (original creator of Footballers' Wives, ITV; Bad Girls, ITV; Waterloo Road, BBC), and choreography by Dame Arlene Phillips. The show is directed by Anthony Banks.

Spoiler alert: Contains scenes of an adult nature, drug-taking, noughties fashion, attempted murder, coercion, offensive language, outmoded attitudes, sexual impropriety, drama, heartbreak, comedy, singing, dancing – and absolutely no football! '

Gloriously OTT sass with brains and heart' (Musicals Magazine)

Nominated for 'Musical Theatre Award - Best Musical Award'

Tickets: edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/footballers-wives-the-musical

Online: www.fwmusical.com (bookmark to see what happens post Fringe Festival).

Footballers' Wives: The Musical

Music Hall at Assembly Rooms, New Town, Edinburgh.

Ends Sunday.

ITVX: Complete Footballers Wives original series available to stream now.

Refreshing Pod is a magazine style podcast, giving you ideas, interviews, big name guests, and guaranteed laughs along the way, with new content every month, now in it's 8th series.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Refreshing Pod - Fringe 2025: Alex Berr

A scientific life & personal one collide with Alex Berr's debut Fringe show .. 'How To Kill A Mouse'

The debut comedy show from a scientist reconciling her personal life with her professional one. Alex spent her adolescence studying a rare form of brain cancer; years later her mum was diagnosed with the same form of rare cancer.

Reflecting on a life dedicated to science, Alex uses humour to process her mum's death, whilst hoping for moral absolution for all the mouse casualties along the way. A deeply personal, funny and at times absurd look at grief and the human side of science.

Johnny also shares his own personal experience (about his Grandma) and how Alex's show has helped others showcase all angles of grief, it really is laugh or cry .. and finds time to chat 'Have I Got News For You USA', and the recent cancellation of the 'Late Show with Steven Colbert.'

Nominee: BBC New Comedy Awards 2024.

Get tickets:

Tickets: edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/how-to-kill-a-mouse

Online: https://linktr.ee/alexberr

Show contains distressing or potentially triggering themes.

Alex Beer - How To Kill A Mouse

Just the Snifter Room at Just the Tonic @ The Mash House

Ends 24th Aug 2025

Refreshing Pod is a magazine style podcast, giving you ideas, interviews, big name guests, and guaranteed laughs along the way, with new content every month, now in it's 8th series.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Refreshing Pod - Fringe 2025: Henry Naylor

With content of a sexual nature, & drug taking from the start, this is the story of the Fringe hit called 'Monstering The Rocketman' (winner of the Scotsman Fringe First award for 2025).

Hold The Front Page!

'EXCLUSIVE: ELTON IN VICE BOY SHAME'. When Elton John, 39, is falsely accused of having sex with prostitutes, he launches Britain's largest libel lawsuit.

Involving The Sun newspaper, it’s editor finds that sorry the hardest word, and tries bullying the Rocketman into submission with a blistering campaign of Media harassment.

Elton faces punch-ups, gangsters, bugged phone calls, a 10-million pound divorce suit and a pair of Devil Dogs. Based on a true story, it's a timely drama about press values and life in 1980's Britain.

Henry and Johnny also talk about his writing credits, including when we was putting pen to paper for comic's Griff Rhys Jones & Mel Smith, Spitting Image & Noel's House Party ... oh & those credit card adverts that helped inspire Johnny English.

Get tickets: Selling Fast (sold out until 20th Aug)

Tickets: edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/monstering-the-rocketman-by-henry-naylor

Insta: naylor.henry

Henry Naylor 'Monstering The Rocketman'

Ace Dome at Pleasance Dome

Ends 24th Aug 2025

Refreshing Pod is a magazine style podcast, giving you ideas, interviews, big name guests, and guaranteed laughs along the way, with new content every month, now in it's 8th series.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Refreshing Pod - Fringe 2025: Tamsyn Kelly .. returns to the Refreshing Podcast.

Johnny welcomes Tamsyn back, as she follows up from her 2023 Fringe debut hour, with Hot Titty Bungalow.

As ever, Tamsyn is a great guest, and you'll love her energy ... and story about her Gran's nipples in this short catch up.

Her 2025 show takes you on a journey from one end of the country to the other. After just four months of dating, Tamsyn blew her life up ditching Penzance for Glasgow. Leaving behind the matriarchs who raised her, and most importantly, her hairdresser, all for a boy. Now she’s questioning why she left a family of formidable women to start over in the rain. A hilarious hour of family, fresh starts and questionable decisions from the off.

Also, listen out for a special guest in the shape of her dog, that Tamsyn co-parents with her ex bf ... that story to be addressed at a later date.

Get tickets:

Tickets: edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/tamsyn-kelly-hot-titty-bungalow

Insta: tamsynkelly (Tamsyn will provide support for the upcoming Ardal O'Hanlon 'Not Himself' tour. Sep 2025 - March 2026)

Tamsyn Kelly 'Hot Titty Bungalow'

Monkey Barrel Comedy (Cabaret Voltaire)

Ends 24th Aug 2025

Refreshing Pod is a magazine style podcast, giving you ideas, interviews, big name guests, and guaranteed laughs along the way, with new content every month, now in it's 8th series.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Refreshing Pod - Fringe 2025: Charlie Mulliner

We're halfway through the Fringe 2025.

Johnny chats with David Elms, who mix's crowd work, with the art of clown & improv.

'David Elms Describes a Room' builds a comedy mind palace before your very eyes.

David has a small reminisce about his time at Edinburgh Uni (and how it shaped his life in a handful of ways) and the beginning of his Improv & Fringe Journey almost 15 years ago, through to his current work that combines acting, comedy and teaching workshops.

Find out about how nothing is of the cards for objects that can end up in the room David describes, and some of the one's he's had in the past.

Plus David gives johnny a small exclusive regarding his friend Nick Mohammed (who himself is appearing for 1 night only in Edinburgh on the 22nd Aug).

'You'll want to move in for good' (Phil Wang).

Get tickets & a taste of what you can expect via:

Online: www.davidelmsdescribesaroom.com

Tickets: edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/david-elms-describes-a-room

Insta: lildavidelms (will David keep his promise to his manager, about being very active on social media?)

'David Elms Describes a Room'

Baby Grand at Pleasance Courtyard

Ends 24th Aug 2025

Refreshing Pod is a magazine style podcast, giving you ideas, interviews, big name guests, and guaranteed laughs along the way, with new content every month, now in it's 8th series.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Refreshing Pod - Fringe 2025: Charlie Mulliner

Fringe Fever has taken over Edinburgh!

From now, and ending late August, the Fringe Festival is here for summer 2025.

This weekend (in-between Oasis taking over town), Johnny managed to catch up with Charlie Mulliner, who's on stage each afternoon with her show 'Love Hunt'

A recent nominee for 'Best New Show' at the 2025 Brighton Fringe, Charlie Mulliner makes her Edinburgh debut in a character comedy playing Amber in 'Love Hunt'.

After her terminally disappointing boyfriend dumps her instead of proposing on their anniversary, Amber is forced to take matters into her own hands. Join her as she meets a host of unforgettable characters on her epic Love Hunt across the universe. A hilarious exploration of what it is to find love and avoid self-awareness in your mid-30s at all costs.

In this thoughtful chat, that covers many a topic, including how in your 30's the pressure can get too much to conform with life, and asking the question 'if your single, and alone, are you actually lonely?' ... Plus, find out about Charlie's love history, time in Paris, and love for Cilla Black (ish).

Get tickets to see Charllie Mulliner 'Love Hunt'

Online: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/love-hunt

Insta: cmulliner (check out Charlie trying to balance many objects on her head as the Fringe goes on)

Charlie Mulliner - Love Hunt

Just The Wee One at Just the Tonic, at The Caves

Ends 24th Aug 2025

Refreshing Pod is a magazine style podcast, giving you ideas, interviews, big name guests, and guaranteed laughs along the way, with new content every month, now in it's 8th series.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Refreshing Pod - Fringe 2025: Kate Owens

Fringe Fever has taken over Edinburgh!

From now, and ending late August, the Fringe Festival is here for summer 2025.

In the 3rd Fringe Festival interview, Johnny (after some tech problems and getting the time wrong) finally managed to speak to Kate Owens, who brings 'Cooking With Kathryn' to Edinburgh in her Fringe debut.

Expect eggs, some slight audience/congregation participation & lots of tin foil (or Aluminium foil) for anyone from the USA in this mad, but brilliant 60 minutes.

Award-winning comedian Kate Owens presents her smash hit, critically acclaimed comedy show. Meet Kathryn: the "star" of her own community cookin' show. A wannabe Nigella Lawson, and down-home southern belle with more wine in her veins than Jesus. She's serving up a wacked-out fricassee of absurd recipes for a start, main and final course.

Kate also let’s Johnny in on the origins on the show, her relationship with her parents & what's next for this production. Johnny also discusses the recent cancellation of The Late Show with Steven Colbert on CBS, and wider opportunities for comedy stars.

Kate's show is a wild ride, but one to add to that Fringe list!

'Furious, gratuitous, and moving, this will be the best show you will see at the Fringe' (PortFringe.com)

Get tickets to see Kate Owens : Cooking With Kathryn.

Online: edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/kate-owens-cooking-with-kathryn

Insta: kate__owens

Kate Owens: 'Cooking with Kathryn'

Big Belly at Underbelly, Cowgate

Ends 24th Aug 2025

Refreshing Pod is a magazine style podcast, giving you ideas, interviews, big name guests, and guaranteed laughs along the way, with new content every month, now in it's 8th series.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Refreshing Pod - Fringe 2025: Tape Face

Fringe Fever has taken over Edinburgh!

From now, and ending late August, the Fringe Festival is here for summer 2025.

Johnny's been busy, and his second interview is now out, and it's with Sam Wills, AKA Tape Face.

Sam is the most viewed comedian on YouTube, thanks to appearances on America & Canada's Got Talent, amassing roughly 222 million views.

Tape Face is hitting the stage in Edinburgh, see him live until the 10th Aug with Tape Face: 20

Sam returns with a show going back to where the worldwide journey began looking back. Mime with noise, stand-up with no talking – drama with no acting.

Tape Face has a residency in Vegas, so don't miss out on this short UK run.

Johnny finds out the background to this years Fringe run. What's happening post Fringe (alongside Vegas). Plus how Tape Face has a double 'T2'.

Tape Face also tell's Johnny about his silent hero's, and Sam/Tape Face drops the secret ... that is .... the brand of tape used to cover his mouth daily.

 'Sublime physical lunacy... fight for a ticket' (5 Stars :Time Out).

Get tickets to see Tape Face: 20

Online: edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/tape-face-20

Insta: tapefaceboy

Tape Face : Tape Face 20

Grand at Pleasance Courtyard

Ends 10th Aug 2025

Refreshing Pod is a magazine style podcast, giving you ideas, interviews, big name guests, and guaranteed laughs along the way, with new content every month, now in it's 8th series.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Refreshing Pod - Fringe 2025: Alan Davies

Fringe Fever has taken over Edinburgh!

From now, and ending late August, the Fringe Festival is here for summer 2025.

Over the next few weeks, Johnny catches up with some top talent appearing live on stage.

We kick off with comedian, and panel show superstar Alan Davies.

Back on stage in Edinburgh for the 1st time in almost 10 years with his latest gig called 'Think Ahead'

He thinks he's Marty McFly but he's older than Doc Brown. He spends more time in the pharmacy than the gym. He needs to get his blood pressure down and somehow his manhood up. Alan say's this show is funnier than ever.

Johnny chats to Alan about his return to gigging, what's in store after Edinburgh, his latest book (White Man Stand Up out in Sep) a follow up to 'Just Ignore Him.'

Plus, he Alan makes a joke about how long he's got left on earth, but he's still young, only turning 60 this year, and does some reminiscing about comedy hero's and how he should get in a classic Vauxhall Cavalier with a A-Z & how Steve Coogan nearly killed him.

Get tickets to see Alan (please be aware, he's sold out his run, but always check with the venue for up-to date allocation, and extra shows).

Online: https://linktr.ee/alandaviesbook

Tour & Book info via Insta: alandaviescomic

Alan Davies 'Think Ahead'

Gilded Balloon (Orchard Appleton Tower)

30 JUL - 10 AUG (NOT 5 AUG) - 19:15

Refreshing Pod is a magazine style podcast, giving you ideas, interviews, big name guests, and guaranteed laughs along the way, with new content every month, now in it's 8th series.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Refreshing Pod - Edinburgh international Children's Festival 2025

it's on now, and in full swing!!

Johnny recently caught up with Noel Jordan, who's the big boss of the Edinburgh Children's Festival, and has been for the last 10 years.

Ending on the 1st June, it's something brilliant to do during half-term.

In 2025 the festival feature's 13 productions from 7 countries with a Spotlight on Flanders, a small region with a big reputation for quality and risk taking in theatre for young audiences. Plus, two Scottish commissions from new and established artists.

Noel gives some secrets to Johnny, chats about the last 10 years, and how it's grown over a total of 35 years, and even how Taylor Swift caused a slight problem recently.

From baby's to young adults and everyone in between, see some of the world’s best theatre and dance for young people and their families right now!

Check out the links below to find out more.

Online: www.imaginate.org.uk/festival

Insta: edchildrensfest

Refreshing Pod is a magazine style podcast, giving you ideas, interviews, big name guests, and guaranteed laughs along the way, with new content every month, now in it's 7th series.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.