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 refuge, a wonderful caravan. It’s a marvellous listen. 

Joanna’s written a book about her extraordinary life, and  it’s called ‘Lush! From Swansea to Stacey and everything in between’. It’s full of Joanna’s brilliant stories told with wit and flair. Incredibly enjoyable and as we head to the winter months, maybe it would make a good present?

Get one by following this link here. 

We recorded a second show with Joanna and if you’re even a little bit of a Dr Who fan, you cannot miss the extraordinary story Joanna tells about playing Queen Elizabeth in the special episode. The whole thing is just so traumatic. Check it out by following this link. 

patreon.com/RussellHoward  

Thanks for being with us in this nest of delights, hope you’ve had a nice snuggly warm time in here being all protected by the mother bird’s big comfy ass. But it’s now time for you to become the hero of your own story. Get out. Go on. Be free. FLY! 

Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music

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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!

Watch Phil on Taskmaster on Channel 4 right now. 

Then go to watch him live on tour because he’s so great - he’s out all across 2026 so get your tush over to philelliscomedy.com and book tickets, alright? You’ll thank me. 

And if you enjoy this podcast, you can get it with the brakes off by joining our Patreon where you get the whole thing without adverts, you get an extra exclusive show every week and you get it all a day before everyone else. 

We recorded an extra show with Phil and it was dead funny!

Click this link to join or just have a sniff around:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  

Alright, so we have successfully navigated the choppy waters of another podcast blurb without hitting an iceb…hand me those binoculars….

Goddammit. TELL THE BAND TO KEEP PLAYING!

Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music

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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 walnut. 

An hour in the company of Taylor and Russell talking about all the things that make them tick. It’s a big yes please. 

Taylor’s got plenty of dates left on her current ‘Save Me’ world tour so if you’re in the US or Canada then get involved - find out where and when by going to https://taylortomlinsoncomedy.com

The rest of you can use that website to find Taylor’s incredible specials online or watch episodes of her TV show. 

✨ And hey, why not consider joining our Patreon Crew? You’re already the kind of freak who reads the show notes - why not take the next step? You will get hours and hours of exclusive extra shows with all our guests, including Taylor!

Find out how great it is by clicking here. ✨ 

Kaboom! That explosion is a sign that it’s very nearly the end of the blurb. Very nearly indeed. Ver..

Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music

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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. Even if Georgia has unusual opinions about potatoes. 

Georgia stars as Ash in The Horne Section that is on Channel 4; You can watch that on 4 On Demand.

You can also keep up with all her projects by following her on Instagram where she’s @GeorgiaTennantofficial. 

We also recorded our extra show with Georgia where she grappled with questions from you lot, including a fantastic bit about AI and dolphins as well as some rather frank discussions about the birds and the bees. 

It’s all on our Patreon show here, as well as so much more…

patreon.com/RussellHoward  

There! Do you hear it? The gentle chug of the steam engine as the train starts to pull away down the platform. I put my ham-fist up against the glass, and you put your trotter up to join it. Your little stupid legs start going faster and faster as you try to keep up with the train, refusing to let physics tear us apart but, as many before us have found out, you can’t fuck with physics.

You tumble into a messy, broken heap off the end of the platform and I settle to the crossword and a lovely cup of tea. 

Adieu.

Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music

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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 and if you hear something you like why not circle back and chow down on the whole episode?

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

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 mentioned in the show Ardal is about to embark upon a major tour of the UK and Ireland, beginning this September. He’s going to be appearing all over the place. The show is called ‘Not Himself’ and it’s a brand-new stand-up show from Ardal, who is seriously one of the best in the game. 

Visit Ardal’s webpage HERE to find out when he’s going to be in your area, then follow the links to book tickets for a fantastic night out. 

That concludes this day’s play. We’ll be back next week with more action from centre court, but until then please stay dry and enjoy the strawberries. Best to eat them today or they’ll go mushy. 

Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music

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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 laughs from start to finish. A treat. 

Red is not touring at the moment but he surely will be in the future, and he’s always making new comedy videos - you can keep up with all his stuff on Instagram @redrichardsoncomedy

And if you enjoy this podcast, you can get it with the brakes off by joining our Patreon where you get the whole thing without adverts, you get an extra exclusive show every week and you get it all a day before everyone else. It’s super easy to join and it costs less than one cup of fancy coffee every month. 

Click this link to join or just have a sniff around:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  

That’s your full diagnosis for this week, I hope you’re not too disappointed; it’s a severe case of Podcastitis. The good news is you’re going to live, and the rest of it I’m sure you can learn to live with. It’s better that we caught it early to be honest. Let’s keep an eye on it and make sure that it doesn’t mutate into something worse like a fondness for Vodcasts. NEXT PLEASE!

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

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 @jakelambertcomedy

🌞 Jake is also out on tour, so if you want to see his latest live show 'The Sunshine Kid' then you can grab tickets at www.jakelambertcomedy.com 🌞

Would you prefer to get this podcast without adverts?

And get a free extra show every week?

And get it all a day before everyone else? 

And join a bunch of like-minded happy people?

Well you’re in luck. You can do this and much more by clicking this here: 

patreon.com/RussellHoward  

And that's the end for this week! Hope you've enjoyed the podcast and while we are here hope you've also enjoyed the blurb. There will be more podcast and blurb next week for all you blurb fans. Stay tuned!

Producer: Dan Atkinson

Line Producer: Daisy Knight

Exec Producer: James Taylor

Composer: Fat Lady Music

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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 for the brilliant things. And of course to discover what this blasted Umarell could be. 

Tiff is at the Edinburgh Fringe right now with her latest solo show! It’s called Post Coital, and it’s on at 2:50pm every day at the Monkey Barrel, so if you are in Edinburgh please check it out, you will enjoy. 

You can buy an advance ticket here.

As always we recorded a second whole show with our guest and that is available exclusively to our Patreon members. Basically you get a whole second show, and you are free from adverts and there will be priority tickets live shows when they happen too. Just have a look, I think it might be something you would like?

⁠patreon.com/RussellHoward⁠  

That brings today’s sermon to a close. As I snap shut the Holy Book (and whimper because I left a finger in it) you can think on these wise words to live by and take them out into the wider world and spread our word and get more people to join our CREEPY CUUULLTTT! Mwahahahahaha! That took a turn didn’t it?!

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

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 Cook.

Please enjoy responsibly.

Thanks.

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