Birmingham Bab with Mike Parker

We’re restocking the shelves with this classic conversation with the one and only Toyah Willcox - singer, actress, punk icon, and all-round creative powerhouse.When Barbara caught up with Toyah back in 2020, the pair talked about the re-release of Toyah’s album Sheep Farming in Barnet on Cherry Red Records, the magic of connecting with audiences (even in the biggest gigs), and how performing is nothing without that shared energy between artist and crowd.Somewhere along the way they also find themselves talking wild swimming in the Avon… and yes, sheep on trampolines.(It’ll make sense when you listen: here’s the video)If you missed this one first time round - or just fancy another listen - dive back in.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Thursday!Follow Mrs Barbara Nice here: https://www.instagram.com/barbaranice42Follow Toyah here: instagram.com/toyahwillcoxand find out more at toyahwillcox.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re restocking the shelves with this classic conversation with the one and only Reg Blackwood — once introduced as “Reg as in Elton John, Nice as in the biscuit.”When Barbara spoke to Reg back in 2020, he was living in New Zealand, reminiscing about nights at Birmingham’s legendary Gag Club, where he helped shape the character that became Barbara Nice herself.They chat about the future comedy stars who passed through those doors, the glorious eccentrics who made every gig unpredictable, and how Reg found a new life performing as a hypnotist down under. He now calls Australia home.If you missed this one first time round — or just fancy another listen — dive back in.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Thursday!Follow Mrs Barbara Nice here: https://www.instagram.com/barbaranice42Follow Reg here : https://instagram.com/cleverklutz and find out about Reg here regthehypnotist.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Mrs Barbara Nice and Friends, Barbara has comedy producer Steve Doherty on the show.Steve’s first job in radio came while he was studying at Leeds University, but his career soon led him into TV - and right into the eye of the storm on Have I Got News For You. He shares what it was like to be in the office as the Angus Deayton headlines broke, and why Series 23 Episode 6 is burned into his memory forever.But Steve is quick to say he’s always been “too nice” for television - and that’s why he prefers radio. Barbara chats with him about loving your job so much it doesn’t feel like work, his (mostly positive) feelings about the BBC, and some exciting projects still to come.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Thursday!Follow Mrs Barbara Nice here: https://www.instagram.com/barbaranice42 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Mrs Barbara Nice and Friends, Barbara welcomes Brummie Legend Carl Chinn.If you're from Birmingham, you know exactly who he is. But for the others: Carl is an MBE-winning historian and writer who’s spent his life telling the stories of working-class Birmingham - and he is looking sharp today, thanks to Mrs Chinn. There's talk of the Peaky Blinders, and none of it is anything like you see on tv. Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Thursday!Follow Mrs Barbara Nice here: https://www.instagram.com/barbaranice42For more on Brum Radio Podcasts, follow Brum Radio on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brumradioThe Mrs Barbara Nice and Friends Podcast is produced by Brum Radio and recorded at Birmingham Podcast Studios in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Mrs Barbara Nice is out and about celebrating the International Day of Birmingham.She joins the colourful parade winding its way through the city centre before heading to The Old Crown, where she hosts a very special live edition of her podcast in front of an audience. It was a day full of celebrities and local legends - with appearances from Joe Lycett, Prof Carl Chinn, Mr Egg, Tat Vision, Bam Bam and even Brummie historian @randellspackman from Birmingham in Pennsylvania.New episodes every Thursday – listen now wherever you get your podcasts.Follow Mrs Barbara Nice: @barbaranicecomedyBrum Radio: @brumradioMrs Barbara Nice & Friends is a Brum Radio podcast, recorded at Birmingham Podcast Studios. This episode was recorded on location in Birmingham by Paul Hadsley. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Mrs Barbara Nice and Friends, Barbara welcomes Lee Nabbs, the man behind Digbeth’s beloved independent Mockingbird Cinema.Lee didn't pay for his parking, but he does know (maybe) who the next James Bond will be. It's one of the perks of running a cinema. Another one is interviewing cats live on stage for TikTok. It's all about embracing the chaos.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Thursday!Find out what’s on at the Mockingbird: https://www.mockingbirdcinema.comFollow Mrs Barbara Nice here: https://www.instagram.com/barbaranice42For more on Brum Radio Podcasts, follow Brum Radio on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brumradioThe Mrs Barbara Nice and Friends Podcast is produced by Brum Radio and recorded at Birmingham Podcast Studios in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Mrs Barbara Nice and Friends, Barbara welcomes the fearless and sharp Ria Lina.You'll know her from Have I Got News For You, Mock the Week, Live at the Apollo and she got rave reviews for her Edinburgh set this year.Ria explains to Barbara that she quite enjoyed lockdown times and that she spent years putting off touring (because, let’s face it, the road takes it out of you) but she’s back now with her “Riabellion” tour.She’ll be at The Glee Club, Birmingham on Sunday 19 October 2025.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Thursday!Follow Ria Lina on X: https://x.com/rialinaGet tickets for Riabellion: https://rialina.com/p/tour2025/rialina.comFollow Mrs Barbara Nice here: https://www.instagram.com/barbaranice42For more on Brum Radio Podcasts, follow Brum Radio on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brumradioThe Mrs Barbara Nice and Friends Podcast is produced by Brum Radio and recorded at Birmingham Podcast Studios in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Mrs Barbara Nice welcomes the brilliant Daliso Chaponda into the shed.Daliso was a finalist on Britain’s Got Talent in 2017, and he’s since appeared on QI, Have I Got News For You, The Royal Variety Performance, The News Quiz, and more. His stand-up clips have racked up over 300 million views online, and his BBC Radio 4 series Citizen of Nowhere was nominated for a Rose d’Or Award. He’s performed at major comedy festivals worldwide and is now touring the UK with his brand-new show Feed This Black Man Again.The pair dive into conversations about shopping (including the maximum age for shoplifting), almost getting arrested in Malawi (Daliso, not Barbara) and the importance of saying yes to everything (although Daliso drew the line at Bargain Hunt).Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Thursday!Follow Daliso on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dalisochapondaCheck out his latest tour dates and projects: https://dalisochaponda.com/ or https://www.allgigs.co.uk/view/artist/64282/Daliso_Chaponda.htmlFollow Mrs Barbara Nice here: https://www.instagram.com/barbaranice42For more on Brum Radio Podcasts, follow Brum Radio on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brumradioThe Mrs Barbara Nice and Friends Podcast is produced by Brum Radio and recorded at Birmingham Podcast Studios in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on Mrs Barbara Nice and Friends, Barbara welcomes the delightfully prickly American–British comedian Lewis Schaffer.There's lots of love in the shed this week: lean and mean looking Lewis is fully available for Barbara and shares his woes about women, GB News and Venn diagrams. He also reveals how he cured his own eyesight and that he eats raw eggs for breakfast.As Lewis himself would say: Ladies, any takers?Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Thursday!Follow Lewis on X: https://x.com/lewisschafferFollow Mrs Barbara Nice here: https://www.instagram.com/barbaranice42For more on Brum Radio Podcasts, follow Brum Radio on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brumradioThe Mrs Barbara Nice and Friends Podcast is produced by Brum Radio and recorded at Birmingham Podcast Studios in Birmingham, United Kingdom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Mrs Barbara Nice is out on the streets of Stockport, on the hunt for the perfect raffle prizes for her show.With leopard-print brolly in hand and a bag for life at the ready, Barbara scours the shops of Stockport Plaza, meeting a cafe worker who also happens to be a wrestler, and getting sidetracked by the irresistible sounds of karaoke drifting out of a pub. Overhead, planes rumble past, adding their own soundtrack to Barbara’s quest for Dettol.New episodes every Thursday – listen now wherever you get your podcasts.Follow Mrs Barbara Nice: InstagramBrum Radio: InstagramMrs Barbara Nice and Friends is a Brum Radio podcast, recorded at Birmingham Podcast Studios. This episode was recorded on location in Stockport by Harry Banks. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.