James Acaster: Hecklers, Mental Health & Stealing Romesh's Family

Comedian, musician and Off Menu podcast host James Acaster joins Romesh to talk about returning to stand-up, mental health… and why you definitely shouldn’t have an affair during a West End show. He pitches a new travel TV idea for Shanthi (very much without Romesh), and discusses his forthcoming album — a project 20 years in the making. A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Listen. 00:00 Intro 00:10 Don't Have An Affair 01:50 James Roasts The Set 04:22 Unwanted Gifts 06:53 Stand Up, Ego & Expectations 16:00 Josie Long 22:50 Shanthi’s Question 26:35 Visiting Sri Lanka 27:12 Travel Show Idea 35:00 Misquoted 37:20 Mental Health 40:08 Romesh on Spiralling 44:57 Misquoted Continued 46:42 James' New Album 51:00 Turning 40 51:57 Future Plans 1:00:50 Off Menu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Romesh STILL doesn't believe that Shanthi wrote the infamous festive planning list... and the cross-examination continues! The pair then dive into your dilemmas, including how to deal with mums who ignore boundaries – and a heated debate on wedding etiquette after one listener reveals their mother-in-law wore white on the big day. A Ranga Bee production in partnership with Listen. 00:00 Romesh is relaxed 00:56 Shanthi's New Year Resolutions 02:00 Shanthi's List Controversy 06:40 Hard Times 11:00 Be Kind To Your Mum 15:45 Texting Etiquette 20:40 White Dress At Someone Else's Wedding 24:55 Wedding Etiquette Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

As co-creator of era-defining titles such as The Office and Extras, followed by hits including Derek and After Life, Ricky Gervais has left his mark as one of the most successful comedians on the planet. Speaking to Romesh, he explains why writing and workshopping stand-up comedy remains one of his greatest loves, how hosting the Golden Globes could have ended his career, and why he cares more about other people’s opinions than it might seem. Ricky also shares stories behind his love for animals – including why he's donated huge sums of money to animal charities from his recent tours. A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Listen. 00:00 Crying 01:55 Best Intro Ever 03:00 Why Do Anything? 05:15 "You're A National Treasure Romesh" 09:25 Standup Comedy & Shaping Jokes 17:50 Nerves 19:00 Self Censorship 20:25 Being Relatable 26:00 Anger & Honesty 28:50 Cat DJ 30:15 Donating To Animal Charities 34:00 Veganism & Health 39:45 Romesh's Dad's Funeral 43:20 Tracksuit Bottoms: Disrespectful? 44:20 Podcast Pioneer 50:00 Social Media: Search, Don't Scroll 53:00 Fans & Cults 1:00:00 Harry Hill & Joe Wilkinson 1:01:30 Pushing It Too Far 1:02:20 Marketing & Controversy 1:09:50 Shanthi's Question 1:10:40 Upsetting Tom Hanks & Tim Allen 1:13:00 "It Could Have Been The End Of My Career" 1:18:00 Sometimes I Don't Care 1:21:00 Misquoted 1:24:20 Alley Cats 1:27:15 Kidney Transplant 1:28:32 Ricky's Shares The Name Of His Next Tour Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Unexpected, unfiltered, and ...unhinged? Our Thursday episodes featuring Romesh alongside his mum Shanthi have provided us with some of the most hilarious moments of the year. We're revisiting her best bits, including advice on girlfriends, erotic dreams, and why meringues are more saucy than you think. A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Listen. 00:00 Shanthi's Message For 2026 00:50 Girlfriends  04:00 Nude on the Podcast? 08:06 Football 09:10 Attractive Meringue  12:30 Sonic The Hedgehog vs Mr Bean 14:50 The Doctor 15:54 "Love You Mummy" 20:42 Baby Advice 26:26 Dreams  31:30 See No Evil, Hear No Evil 33:39 Wacky Podcast People Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How many mince pies is too many? Standup comedian, actor, writer and BAFTA-winning Strictly Come Dancing champion Chris McCausland, joins Romesh on the show this week – and gets subjected to a taste test. They talk about the fear and exhilaration of Chris' experience as the first blind contestant on Strictly, why "not caring" is the best thing you can do, and his new book, Keep On Laughing. A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Listen. 00:00 The Toilet Door 04:00 Alternative Christmas Message 05:20 Mince Pie Taste Test 11:55 Finding Fame 15:15 Giving Up Alcohol 17:20 Sean Lock on Live At The Apollo 18:35 Why Caring Less Is Good 21:19 Shanthi’s Question for Chris 23:00 The Jeopardy of Strictly Come Dancing 30:40 Most Nervous Strictly Moment 37:20 The Magic Is Trust 39:28 Chris's Autobiography: Keep Laughing 42:50 Bad Gigs Are Funny 47:49 Misquoted 57:03 What's next for Chris? 59:34 Secrets to Success Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does Shanthi really want this Christmas? Romesh is joined by Shanthi for a festive episode full of gifts, jokes, surprise guests and the kind of family conversations that only happen at Christmas.  A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Listen. 00:00 Intro 01:05 Shanthi’s favourite Christmas song 03:44 Christmas wishes 06:07 A surprise guest 07:45 Some gift giving 10:00 Shanthi reads us Yo Mama jokes 12:55 Dinesh updates us 14:10 Shanthi’s Christmas demands 18:53 Romesh shows some appreciation 19:41 Is wiping a dogs bum necessary? 22:09 Playing Christmas games 28:00 A Christmas message from Dinesh --- Send us YOUR questions and dilemmas! Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Whatsapp: 07731623355 --- Subscribe for new episodes! Follow us on socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/theromeshshow⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Is comedy music the hardest art form to perfect? Comedian, actor and Oscar-winning musician Bret McKenzie — one half of the legendary Flight of the Conchords — joins Romesh to unpack life at the funny end of songwriting. From winning awards for work “Disney didn’t even like” on The Muppets, to touring his “serious” new album Freak Out City, Bret shares stories from the road, recalls his unexpected appearance in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, and throws himself into a UK vs New Zealand Marmite-eating challenge. A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Listen. 00:00 Intro 03:11 Hype men gone wrong 06:05 Bret's new tour 11:45 Marmite: UK vs New Zealand  19:58 Flight of the Conchords 23:00 Work changing with time 27:05 Comedy songwriting 28:44 Touring the new album: Freak Out City 33:33 Writing music for film 39:07 That's not cool dad 42:00 Misquoted 50:22 Lord Of The Rings Extra 57:51 Shanthi’s question for Bret 59:41 Oscar Win: Man Or Muppet 1:05:45 Oasis Exclusive  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on the podcast, Shanthi and Romesh help listeners with advice on family dilemmas and resolve some of their own – covering everything from coming out, to following your partner abroad for love. They don’t always agree! A Ranga Bee production in partnership with Listen. 00:00 Shanthi's Nails 01:34 Shanthi's Favourite Sitcoms 05:53 Stand Up To Cancer 06:26 Listener Dilemmas 09:40 Unusual Food Combos 14:03 Advice On Coming Out To Family 17:31 The Naughty List Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Multi award–winning writer, actor and director, Stephen Merchant joins Romesh for a hilarious conversation about his career. They discuss how The Office reshaped comedy, why Tim and Dawn still land, Stephen’s shift into drama, his quest for “flow state," and why he regrets always playing the awkward guy. A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Listen. 00:00 Intro 02:10 Chat GPT vs Stephen's BAFTAS 04:20 Do Awards Mean Anything? 07:45 Mark Hamill’s Trousers 09:25 Teacher Trauma 16:20 Tiny Grand Piano & Music Regrets 18:30 The Flow State 24:50 How The Office Changed Comedy 28:33 Tim & Dawn 31:34 Letting The Office Evolve 34:49 Goodbye June With Kate Winslet 38:06 Shanthi’s Question & Being The Awkward Guy 42:00 Stallone, Woody Allen & The Danger of Being Typecast 44:00 The Walking Dead 46:20 Logan With Richard E. Grant 50:00 Ambitions & American Success 58:00 Misquoted 01:04:30 Being 6’7 Tall 01:07:20 Stephen’s Adult EXCLUSIVE Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week Shanthi turns on the Christmas lights and gets in the festive spirit. She talks to Romesh about why she won't let her newfound popularity get to her head, gives some hilarious baby sleep-training advice, and revisits a sore spot in Romesh's childhood: garlic curry.  Plus Romesh and Shanthi host a watch along, revisiting the best Christmas movie classics with Sky Cinema and the Friday Film Club #ad. A Ranga Bee Production in partnership with Listen. 00:00 Intro 00:17 Shanthi Turns On The Christmas Lights 03:27 Shanthi’s Cooking 5:50 Garlic and Bullying 7:34 Shanthi On Fame 9:26 Listener Questions: Parenting 18:00 Romesh's Superman Delusion  20:13 Shanthi’s Life Advice to Romesh 22:38 Sky Cinema 23:10 Shanthi in Panto 24:55 Christmas Spirit ---- 📺 Subscribe for new episodes! 📲 Follow us on socials: https://linktr.ee/theromeshshow Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices