Alan Davies Returns

478 episodes later… Alan Davies returns! He’s an all-round fixture of British comedy as a respected stand-up, writer and actor - from the unflappable Jonathan Creek to the permanent mischief-maker on QI.His second memoir Just Ignore Him was widely praised for its honesty, and his follow-up, White Male Stand Up, continues that deeply personal journey. He’s now back on the road for the first time in a decade with Alan Davies: Think Ahead.We discuss Alan’s choice to open up onstage for the first time about his traumatic childhood, the breakthrough moment when a WIP becomes “a real show”, the trick to building momentum with monkey bars, how writing offered Alan emotional relief as well as a record for the future and why when dishonesty is everywhere, being honest matters.Please note: this episode includes discussion of child sexual abuse. If you’ve been affected by these issues or need support, please visit napac.org.uk and 1in6.org.I need YOUR HELP for Episode 500! Complete the ComComPod survey 👉 stuartgoldsmith.com/surveyJoin the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can WATCH the full episode and get access to 20 minutes of exclusive extras inc Alan’s rare ability to openly admit failure, navigating the pull between creative integrity and financial opportunity and the crisis of confidence that lead to a 10 year break in stand-up.Support the Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod✅ Exclusive access to full video and ad-free audio episodes✅ 20 minutes of exclusive extra content with Alan✅ Early access to new episodes (where possible!)✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!Catch Up with Alan:Alan Davies: Think Ahead is now on tour throughout the UK, find all the dates and more at alandavies.live.You can also now read Alan’s newly published memoir, White Male Stand-Up, available wherever you get your books!Everything I'm up to:See me live (when there's dates!)… Find out all the info at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.Discover my comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.See Stuart live on tour - www.stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Emma Doran did her very first stand-up gig while on maternity leave - she won best act that night and hasn’t stopped gigging since! As well as sold out tours across Ireland and the UK, Emma has appeared on Last One Laughing hosted by Graham Norton and published a bestselling memoir which explored family, friendship, young motherhood and taking risks.We discuss how becoming a parent built discipline, focus and work ethic, why Emma has never released a full show and why she now wishes she had, why it’s easier to express anger and vulnerability on stage than in real life, the connection between self-worth and performance, why comedians are so hard on themselves and is Emma Doran happy…I need YOUR HELP for Episode 500! Complete the ComComPod survey 👉 stuartgoldsmith.com/surveyJoin the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can WATCH the full episode and get access to 30 minutes of exclusive extras inc the incremental (not viral) approach to building an audience that sells tickets, knowing when to kill a joke and why comics need to step outside the Edinburgh bubble.Support the Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod✅ Exclusive access to full video and ad-free audio episodes✅ 30 minutes of exclusive extra content with Emma✅ Early access to new episodes (where possible!)✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!Catch Up with Emma:Emma Doran is on tour with EMMACULATE throughout the UK and Ireland until April 2026.Find all the dates and more at emmadorancomedy.com.Everything I'm up to:See me live (when there's dates!)… Find out all the info at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.Discover my comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.See Stuart live on tour - www.stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Lucy Pearman is one of the most inventive and original comedians in the UK, her shows are gloriously surreal, full of clowning, characters, props, audience interaction and ideas that feel like they’ve tumbled straight out of a wonderfully strange imagination.Her one-off BBC Three original comedy, Please Help, was nominated for a BAFTA, and she won the Malcolm Hardee Award for Comic Originality.We discuss exploring the vulnerability beneath the absurd, Lucy’s process of discovering characters onstage, how embracing strangeness is an act of connection, the reality of making art in our current economy, how the death of director Adam Brace impacted her creative process, the challenges of bringing clowning to a wider audience and is Lucy Pearman happy…I need YOUR HELP for Episode 500! Complete the ComComPod survey 👉 stuartgoldsmith.com/surveyJoin the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can WATCH the full episode and get access to over 10 minutes of exclusive extras inc why Lucy used to lie about wanting a career on stage, the chaotic pantomime mishap that sparked her desire to pursue comedy and the struggle of being an outsider at drama school.Support the Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod✅ Exclusive access to full video and ad-free audio episodes✅ Over 10 minutes of exclusive extra content with Lucy✅ Early access to new episodes (where possible!)✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!Catch Up with Lucy:Lucy Pearman: Lunartic is at the Soho Theatre from Monday 29th September through to Saturday 4th October!You can find all the dates and more at LucyPearman.com.Everything I'm up to:There’s THREE opportunities to see me live over the next few weeks… Find out all the info at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.27th September - The Comedy Box, Bristol 29th September - Hippodrome, Bristol (SOLD OUT)4th October - Aberystwyth Comedy FestivalDiscover my comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.See Stuart live on tour - www.stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to this bonus episode where Georgia Elliott-Smith and I have joined forces to take on the grubbiest little sustainability secrets of my fellow comedians. We'll be offering compassion, insight and some counter-argument, if not actual absolution to both Ivo Graham and Laura Lexx!We'll be back to regular scheduled programming in the next few weeks in the run up to the BIG EPISODE 500! Don't forget to take part in our ComComPod survey at stuartgoldsmith.com/survey where we want to know your favourite episode, most memorable moments and what you want to see in the future...Where to find everyone:Ivo Graham: ivograham.comLaura Lexx: lauralexx.co.ukGeorgia Elliott Smith: linkedin.com/in/georgiaelliott-smithStuart Goldsmith: stuartgoldsmith.comKeep up-to-date with all things The Comedian's Comedian Podcast:YouTube: youtube.com/@ComComPodInstagram: instagram.com/ComComPodTikTok: tiktok.com/@ComComPodSee Stuart live on tour - www.stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Complete the ComComPod survey 👉 stuartgoldsmith.com/surveyWell, episode 500 is nearly here... who'd have thought it?!To mark the milestone, we're gathering SOME DATA. Your favourite guests, moments, future plans and all that jazz which will be used in some extremely self indulgent special plans. The majority of the questions are optional, so feel free to skip if needed.As a thanks for taking part, we'll be gifting an Insider's Insider 12-month membership on Patreon to one lucky respondent (just make sure your email is correct!).Any questions, you know where I am! Thanks so much for all your support, exciting times ahead... 👀Keep up to date with all things The Comedian's Comedian PodcastYouTube: youtube.com/@ComComPodInstagram: instagram.com/ComComPodTikTok: tiktok.com/@ComComPodYou can also support the Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod where you'll get:✅ Exclusive access to full video and ad-free audio episodes✅ Hundreds of hours of extra content✅ Early access to new episodes (where possible!)✅ Additional membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”Everything Stu's up to:Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate. Find everything else at stuartgoldsmith.com.See Stuart live on tour - www.stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aparna Nancherla is a self-described “silly-billy” with her dry sense of humour mixed with hints of the existential, absurd and whimsy.She’s the author of Unreliable Narrator: Me, Myself and Impostor Syndrome, and the voice behind Hollyhock on Bojack Horseman. Aparna has also appeared in A Simple Favor and Bob’s Burgers and written for Late Night with Seth Meyers and Mythic Quest. Rolling Stone named her one of “The 50 Funniest People Right Now,” and she’s even starred in a Super Bowl ad with Michael Bublé!We discuss navigating the tension between vulnerability and self-deprecation, the risk of commodifying trauma, using comedy to control the narrative around your perceived flaws, does success cure imposter syndrome and is Aparna Nancherla happy…Join the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can WATCH the full episode and get access to 20 minutes of exclusive extras including staring in Comedy Central's Corporate, the worst comedy advice she's ever received (it's shocking!), voice acting and navigating creative tension in a work environment.Support the Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod✅ Exclusive access to full video and ad-free audio episodes✅ 20 minutes of exclusive extra content with Aparna✅ Early access to new episodes (where possible!)✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!Catch Up with Aparna:Keep up-to-date with all things Aparna Nancherla at aparnacomedy.com, and find her on Instagram @aparnapkin.Everything Stu's up to:Come and help me figure out some NEW STUFF at the Edinburgh Fringe until the 17th August 2025. Find all the dates and more at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate. Find everything else at stuartgoldsmith.com.See Stuart live on tour - www.stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Abby Wambaugh is an American comedian, writer, and improviser who has made their mark on the UK comedy scene with The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows, which earned them the Best Newcomer ISH Edinburgh Comedy Award. This month, they return to the Fringe with their hit show before it transfers Off-Broadway in the Autumn.We discuss the cultural shifts moving from New York to Denmark, creating an environment to worm, Abby shares how the grief of a miscarriage became the unlikely starting point for her journey into comedy, the impact of content warnings on a show's structure, what it's like returning a show to Edinburgh, expectations for a career in comedy and is Abby Wambaugh happy...Content warning: this episode includes discussion of miscarriage.Join the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can WATCH the full episode and get access to 15 minutes of exclusive extras including refining clown instincts through Gaulier, building her own humour and social change degree and how performing changed her view of stand-up audiences.Support the Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod✅ Exclusive access to full video and ad-free audio episodes✅ 15 minutes of exclusive extra content with Abby✅ Early access to new episodes (where possible!)✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!Catch Up with Abby:Abby Wambaugh: The First 3 Minutes of 17 Shows is at the Pleasance Courtyard from the 12th (that’s next Tuesday!) to the 25th August before it heads Off-Broadway in the Autumn. Find all the info and more at abbywambaugh.com.Everything Stu's up to:Come and help me figure out some NEW STUFF at the Edinburgh Fringe: 11th (next Monday!) -17th August, 2025. Find all the dates and more at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate. Find everything else at stuartgoldsmith.com.See Stuart live on tour - www.stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kemah Bob is a bold, fearless and sharply funny comedian, writer and producer originally from Houston, Texas and now based in London. Her debut show Miss Fortunate, which explored resilience, recovery and self-acceptance, was one of The Guardian’s Top 10 Comedy Shows of 2024.We discuss valuing authenticity over polished craft, navigating a bipolar diagnosis and turning a mental health episode into art, the healing power (and challenges) of using comedy as an open dialogue with strangers, how moving from the US to the UK gave her space to truly find herself, when to say no to club gigs, how the Black Lives Matter movement opened doors but also exposed performative allyship within UK TV and is Kemah Bob happy…Join the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can WATCH the full episode and get access to 15 minutes of exclusive extras including losing a role from pilot to broadcast to a mega popstar, how Kemah made just £23 from a super successful sold-out Fringe run and the reality of self-producing.Support the Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod✅ Exclusive access to full video and ad-free audio episodes✅ 15 minutes of exclusive extra content with Kemah✅ Early access to new episodes (where possible!)✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!Catch Up with Kemah:You can find out more about all the wonderful things Kemah Bob is up to at kemahbob.com, including her new podcast Icerberg which explores what it means to truly live your best life.You can also stay up-to-date on Instagram, @kemahbob.Everything Stu's up to:Come and help me figure out some NEW STUFF at the Edinburgh Fringe: 11th-17th August, 2025. Find all the dates and more at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate. Find everything else at stuartgoldsmith.com.See Stuart live on tour - www.stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marjolein Robertson is an award-winning stand-up, improviser, and storyteller originally from Shetland. Nominated for the Channel 4 Sean Lock Comedy Award and the Sir Billy Connolly Spirit of Glasgow Comedy Award, her Fringe shows Marj and O both sold out and earned rave reviews!We discuss how she accidentally started with hour-long comedy shows, being influenced by Shetland folklore, why she won’t do the “small island” material anymore, the themes within her trilogy of shows, death, the pressure to turn trauma into material, choosing between art or algorithms and is Marjolein Robertson happy…Join the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can WATCH the full episode and get access to 25 minutes of exclusive extras including how a mysterious mind-reader told her to do stand-up, seasonal rhythms, cultural influences and the two-star review which led her to commit full-time.Support the Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod✅ Exclusive access to full video and ad-free audio episodes✅ 15 minutes of exclusive extra content with Marjolein✅ Early access to new episodes (where possible!)✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!Catch Up with Marjolein:Marjolein Robertson is at the Edinburgh Fringe this summer with Lein, taking place at the Pleasance Dome from the 30th July to the 24th August.Find all the dates and more at marjoleinrobertson.com.Everything Stu's up to:Come and help me figure out some NEW STUFF at the Edinburgh Fringe: 11th-17th August, 2025. Find all the dates and more at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate. Find everything else at stuartgoldsmith.com.See Stuart live on tour - www.stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel Foxx is an award-winning comedian, writer and viral sketch sensation. His debut show VILLAIN earned rave reviews at the 2023 Fringe and has recently completed a worldwide tour.Off stage, Daniel co-wrote the hit musical Unfortunate: The Untold Story of Ursula the Sea Witch, and is now developing a series based on one of his much-loved online characters.In this episode, we discuss the production of VILLAIN (selling out, losing money and poster tactics), the crossover between musical theatre and stand-up, the creative burnout which nearly led to retraining as a surgeon, how “camp gay men” are perceived differently on stage, aligning stage persona with online content, Bedtime Stories for Privileged Children and is Daniel Foxx happy…This episode is sponsored by Bits: Bits a robust app for crafting the perfect standup sets for stand-up comedians. Capture punchlines, reorder sets, and walk onstage fully prepped. Start free at thebits.club.Join the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can WATCH the full episode and get access to 15 minutes of exclusive extras including forming personas, unlocking internalised homophobia and the difficult second show…Support the Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod✅ Exclusive access to full video and ad-free audio episodes✅ 15 minutes of exclusive extra content with Daniel✅ Early access to new episodes (where possible!)✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!Catch Up with Daniel:Daniel Foxx is at the Edinburgh Fringe from the 5th - 9th August with a work-in-progress show but it's sold out already!Stay up-to-date on future shows at danielfoxx.co.uk.Everything Stu's up to:Come and help me figure out some NEW STUFF…Find all the dates and more at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy.Oxford Comedy Festival: 15th July, 2025Cheltenham Playhouse: 23rd July, 2025Edinburgh Fringe: 11th-17th August, 2025Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.Find everything else at stuartgoldsmith.com.See Stuart live on tour - www.stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.