Russell Howard’s Five Brilliant Things

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 far corners of words and meanings; if you’re even remotely interested in finding out some new language-based tidbits then you won’t be disappointed in here.

And with Christmas fast approaching, here’s some gift ideas for friends and relatives of any age: Susie’s brand new books! 

For the younger members of the family Susie’s book ‘The Roots We Share’: Susie has searched far and wide to unearth words and phrases - old, new, and long-forgotten - that celebrate harmony, unity, and the universal languages that connect people across the world. That book can be found HERE.

And for older readers, Susie’s just released ‘Words for Life’. From wabbit to dust bunnies, and from the strange history of arse to the best ways to describe moonlight, Words for Life offers a full year’s supply of verbal vitamins guaranteed to brighten and boost every day. Here you will learn of the Mother-in-Law’s Dream as well as the Yuleshard, and discover expressions that can fix (or at least nail) the problems of modern life, whether dealing with unrequited love or unsatisfactory politicians, eating a whole packet of biscuits or forgetting someone’s name. Grab yours from HERE. 

And Russell has just released a whole load of extra dates for his brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk

 We also recorded a second show with Susie for our Patreon listeners; there’s a clip at the end of the episode and for fans of the podcast so please have a listen. If you’ve already had a listen and you’re here to find out more…click the link here for ad-free shows, early access and a special extra show just for you every week - have a look!

patreon.com/RussellHoward  

Please enjoy the multitudinous gratifications contained within this audio chronicle of lexicography.

I fly! 

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

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 (!), the beauty of a good pen and there are some really good tips for buying wine in a supermarket.  

Tom has a book and it’s just come out now! It’s called THIRSTY and it’s about wine (of course)!

It’s full of the same no-nonsense advice and tips that you got in this podcast: how to read the label, how to choose in a restaurant and how to talk about it without sounding like a twat. 

It’s available now from this link or pop into a lovely independent bookshop. 

Might I suggest it could make an excellent Christmas present for that relative you don’t know very well but enjoys a glass of wine?

Also you should follow Tom on Instagram where he’s @tomgilbeywine.

And Russell has just released a whole load of extra dates brand new show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk

 We also recorded a second show with Tom for our Patreon listeners; there’s a clip at the end of the episode and for fans of the podcast it’s genuinely an excellent extra to get involved with. 

Honestly if you like the show it’s a super-good deal giving you ad-free shows, early access and a special extra show just for you every week - have a look!

patreon.com/RussellHoward  

Thank you so much for joining us in this giant snifter of podcastery. Hope you’ve enjoyed the nose, legs and body on this beast.  x

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

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 is touring her latest show right now! It’s called Bandwidth and you can find out when she’s near you and buy tickets by going to https://kerrygodliman.com. She’s a superb live comic and it will be an excellent night out. 

Let’s not forget Russell! Russell is also touring in 2026 with his brand new show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk

 We also recorded a second show with Kerry for our Patreon listeners; there’s a clip at the end of the episode and for fans of the podcast it’s genuinely an excellent extra to get involved with. 

Honestly if you like the show it’s a super-good deal giving you ad-free shows, early access and a special extra show just for you every week - have a look!

patreon.com/RussellHoward  

And that’s the end of all that. Hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it although I doubt that very much because I’m on a cocktail of highly illegal and incredibly strong drugs. 

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

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 choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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!

Lots of fun and he’s got (as Russell will shortly point out) a lovely voice. 

Pete Firman is also on tour! His latest tour show is called ‘Tricks and Giggles’ and it’s coming to a beautiful old theatre near you very soon. It’s a brilliant night out full of the best illusions delivered with Pete’s trademark comedy… to book tickets go to https://www.petefirman.co.uk/live/

You can also follow Pete on Instagram or TikTok where he’s @PeteFirman. 

Let’s not forget Russell! Russell is also touring in 2026 with his brand new show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk

And Pete stayed with us in the studio for a special extra show where he answered your questions about the inner workings of the magic world. It was a fascinating and revealing chat and it’s available as part of our Patreon offering. Honestly if you like the show it’s a super-good deal giving you ad-free shows, early access and a special extra show just for you every week - have a look!

patreon.com/RussellHoward  

Thank you for all your attention, it was more than enough. Hope to see you here deep in the blurbs next week. X

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

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 his solo tour show ‘Return of the Space Cowboy’ throughout November, ending with some special shows in London. Check out the dates and book tickets here.

Russell is also touring in 2026 with his brand new show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk

There’s a whole second show’s worth of Horatio on our Patreon which also means you get the main show without adverts and everything a day early; Check out our Patreon offering at this link:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  

That concludes today’s AGM, thank you for being present and so well turned out. See you same place next year (well - next week really but I couldn’t carry off the AGM thing and not pretend it was Annual. It’s in the bloody title).

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

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 Mohammed fan’s dream hour.

Oh, and if you’re here after listening to the podcast, this is the link to the final scene of Star Wars with the music taken off it.

Why not go to see Nick performing LIVE?! He’s touring his show ’Show Pony’ right now across the UK. There are dates in all different corners of the UK so he’s bound to be near you soon. Find out everything and book tickets by going to https://www.nickmohammedlive.com

Russell is also touring in 2026 with his brand new show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk

We also recorded a second show with Nick that’s available exclusively to our Patreon listeners, where Nick gives the inside scoop on his time on Taskmaster and we find out everyone’s most accurate animal impressions. Check out our Patreon offering at this link:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  

Thank you very much for being a dedicated blurb reader. A rare beast indeed. Your commitment has not gone unnoticed and if you keep up this behaviour you’ll be in line for a promotion. All you need to do is another five or six years of hard blurb reading and the carriage clock will be yours. Good work old thing. Pip pip!

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

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 Mysteries and you can find that paragon of cosy crime on Netflix or Channel Five. 

And if you want to know Russell’s wrestler name and walk-on music, then it’s all in this week’s extra show available on our Patreon offering. If you listen to this podcast regularly then you get a lot of bang for your buck. Check out our Patreon offering at this link:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  

And that’s the end for today, please let tomorrow be all your yesterdays or some shit. I don’t know, it was meant to be profound. 

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

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 show takes us across the globe, through dangers and back out the other side to silliness and nonsense. 

To celebrate 25 years since Trigger Happy TV hit our screens, Dom Joly is bringing his most iconic characters and sketches to the stage in the Trigger Happy TV – Live! 25th-anniversary tour.

Fans will experience beloved moments from the show, including The Giant Snail, The Traffic Warden, The Morris Dancer, The Scout, A Gang of Squirrels, and THAT Big Mobile Phone. 

There are dates across Britain in different cities across October so get your tickets now and find out more by clicking HERE. 

As always we recorded a whole second show with Dom where he answered some marvellous questions from our Patreon listeners. You can get that show and the whole catalogue of back-episodes (there’s hours and hours of listening for you in there!) check out our Patreon offering at this link:

patreon.com/RussellHoward  

Lovely to have you here, you’ve been an impeccable guest, please come around any time. That bit where you spat on the dog was a bit weird but I assume it was some private grievance between the two of you. 

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

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 brilliant comedian Phil Ellis!

And Stacey from Gavin and Stacey - Joanna Page!

Please enjoy responsibly. See you on Wednesday for more brand new episodes.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices