55: Reaching for Perfection (with Lenny Henry)

Alexei and Talal talk the US election, Victorian lesbian romps, finding happiness and going back to Liverpool. This episode also features the inaugural Alexei Sayle Film Club with 2014's Edge of Tomorrow! Link for new series recordings of Sandwich Bar below! BE THERE when Alexei records his new Sandwich Bar episodes! https://www.bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/shows/alexei-sayle-sandwich-bar-dec24 WATCH Talal and his fellow funny Arabs and raise money for Gaza, Lebanon & Sudan https://artscanteen.com/event/stand-up-for-palestine-lebanon-sudan/ ATTEND THE Stop The War Xmas Fundraiser: https://www.stopwar.org.uk/events/xmas-fundraiser/ SEE Alexei do stand up and raise money for Palestine!! https://www.jokepit.com/comedy-in/london/stand-up-for-gaza-with-alexei-sayle-and-friends/17057 BE PRESENT FOR The Comic Strip Presents... at The Pheonix Arts Club: https://phoenixartsclub.com/events/comic-strip-presents/ Become a Patron here to support the show and get access to live episodes of The Alexei Sayle Podcast and more - patreon.com/AlexeiSaylePodcast Send your fan art, thoughts and questions to [email protected] Please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to Alexei's YouTube channel here and join him for his Bike Rides. The Alexei Sayle Podcast is produced and edited by Talal Karkouti Music by Tarboosh Records Photograph from the Andy Hollingworth Archive 

Please enjoy this guest-less episode where Alexei tells Talal about his recent appearances on genial daytime telly and Radio 4's Screen Shot. We also talk upcoming gigs (links below), Palestine and answer some listener questions! You've got homework, dear listener! Watch 2014's Edge of Tomorrow starring Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt before you listen to the next episode. Email or message us your thoughts because we'll be discussing the film at the end of next episode. You can also chat about it in our brand new Patreon chat room! Alright, here come the links... *DEEP BREATH* Buy tickets to ALL NEW SANDWICH BAR SHOWS!! https://museumofcomedy.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873648779 Attend the Stop The War Xmas Fundraiser: https://www.stopwar.org.uk/events/xmas-fundraiser/ See Alexei do stand up and raise money for Palestine!! https://www.jokepit.com/comedy-in/london/stand-up-for-gaza-with-alexei-sayle-and-friends/17057 Be present for The Comic Strip Presents... at The Pheonix Arts Club: https://phoenixartsclub.com/events/comic-strip-presents/ Become a Patron here to support the show and get access to live episodes of The Alexei Sayle Podcast and more - patreon.com/AlexeiSaylePodcast Send your fan art, thoughts and questions to [email protected] Please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to Alexei's YouTube channel here and join him for his Bike Rides. The Alexei Sayle Podcast is produced and edited by Talal Karkouti Music by Tarboosh Records Photograph from the Andy Hollingworth Archive 

Alexei and Talal get into it with bestselling author Ben Macintyre (Operation Mincemeat, SAS Rogue Heroes, Colditz) about his new book The Siege. It's all about the 1980 Iranian embassy siege where 6 terrorists took over the London embassy for 6 days holding dozens of people hostage... including Talal's dad! Bombs! SAS! Heroes! Villains! Thatcher! Buy tickets to ALL NEW SANDWICH BAR SHOWS!! https://museumofcomedy.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873648779 See Alexei do stand up and raise money for Palestine!! https://www.jokepit.com/comedy-in/london/stand-up-for-gaza-with-alexei-sayle-and-friends/17057 Check out Medical Aid for Palestinians new film!!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiiZaF6zNRw&rco=1&ab_channel=MedicalAidforPalestinians Become a Patron here to support the show and get access to live episodes of The Alexei Sayle Podcast and more - patreon.com/AlexeiSaylePodcast Send your fan art, thoughts and questions to [email protected] Please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to Alexei's YouTube channel here and join him for his Bike Rides. The Alexei Sayle Podcast is produced and edited by Talal Karkouti Music by Tarboosh Records Photograph from the Andy Hollingworth Archive 

It's only bloody LENNY HENRY! Alexei's old pal Sir Lenny Henry finally joins the podcast family! Topics include the working men's club circuit, Tiswas and OTT, Lenny's brief stint in Hollywood and diversity in entertainment.  And Wilf's cat acupuncturist swings by... obviously. Stick around till the end for some depressing conversation about world news! Hooray! Become a Patron here to support the show and get access to live episodes of The Alexei Sayle Podcast and more - patreon.com/AlexeiSaylePodcast Send your fan art, thoughts and questions to [email protected] Please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to Alexei's YouTube channel here and join him for his Bike Rides. The Alexei Sayle Podcast is produced and edited by Talal Karkouti Music by Tarboosh Records Photograph from the Andy Hollingworth Archive 

Author and columnist Andy Beckett joins Alexei to discuss his new book The Searchers: Five Rebels, Their Dream of a Different Britain, and Their Many Enemies. The book covers 5 rebel Labour MPs and their journeys through the growing and changing Britain around them. Featuring top-tier interruptions by Wilf the cat. Become a Patron here to support the show and get access to live episodes of The Alexei Sayle Podcast and more - patreon.com/AlexeiSaylePodcast Send your fan art, thoughts and questions to [email protected] Please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to Alexei's YouTube channel here and join him for his Bike Rides. The Alexei Sayle Podcast is produced and edited by Talal Karkouti Music by Tarboosh Records Photograph from the Andy Hollingworth Archive 

The Mack is back! Part 2 of Alexei's conversation with Lee Mack dives deeper into Lee's TV career and his journey to becoming a household name. Become a Patron here to support the show and get access to live episodes of The Alexei Sayle Podcast and more - patreon.com/AlexeiSaylePodcast Send your fan art, thoughts and questions to [email protected] Please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to Alexei's YouTube channel here and join him for his Bike Rides. The Alexei Sayle Podcast is produced and edited by Talal Karkouti Music by Tarboosh Records Photograph from the Andy Hollingworth Archive 

Alexei sits down with Lee Mack to explore his early life and career. Fruit picker, bingo caller, Pontins Bluecoat, world-famous stand-up comedian and actor... He's done it all! Tune in next time for part 2! Become a Patron here to support the show and get access to live episodes of The Alexei Sayle Podcast and more - patreon.com/AlexeiSaylePodcast Send your fan art, thoughts and questions to [email protected] Please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to Alexei's YouTube channel here and join him for his Bike Rides. The Alexei Sayle Podcast is produced and edited by Talal Karkouti Music by Tarboosh Records Photograph from the Andy Hollingworth Archive 

Alexei and Talal hang their feet up and reflect on 50 episodes of The Alexei Sayle Podcast! Thank you all so much for tuning in for some or all of our episodes. We make this show with love and hope you stick around for many more wonderful adventures! Become a Patron here to support the show and get access to live episodes of The Alexei Sayle Podcast and more - patreon.com/AlexeiSaylePodcast Send your fan art, thoughts and questions to [email protected] Please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to Alexei's YouTube channel here and join him for his Bike Rides. The Alexei Sayle Podcast is produced and edited by Talal Karkouti Music by Tarboosh Records Photograph from the Andy Hollingworth Archive 

Alexei is joined by comedian Paul Currie who - for the first time - shares his side of a story that made headlines back in February 2024. His run at Soho Theatre came to a bitter end thanks to the slander and false accusations made by the CAA, Soho Theatre and gullible journalists - despite all the eye-witness reports and blatant absurdity of the claims. Here, for the first time, we will hear what actually happened from Paul's point of view. Please share and help spread the word! We have a new bike ride out - Cycling to Gaza with Alexei Sayle. Watch it here! Help those in Gaza by visiting map.org.uk Become a Patron here to support the show and get access to live episodes of The Alexei Sayle Podcast and more - patreon.com/AlexeiSaylePodcast Send your fan art, thoughts and questions to [email protected] Please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to Alexei's YouTube channel here and join him for his Bike Rides. The Alexei Sayle Podcast is produced and edited by Talal Karkouti Music by Tarboosh Records Photograph from the Andy Hollingworth Archive 

The A-Z of Leftist Politics is back! This time Alexei sits with Fred Weston to discuss his organisation (Revolutionary Communist International) and the history and future of communism in general. Visit their website marxist.com to find out more. We have a new bike ride out - Cycling to Gaza with Alexei Sayle. Watch it here! Help those in Gaza by visiting map.org.uk Become a Patron here to support the show and get access to live episodes of The Alexei Sayle Podcast and more - patreon.com/AlexeiSaylePodcast Send your fan art, thoughts and questions to [email protected] Please consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe to Alexei's YouTube channel here and join him for his Bike Rides. The Alexei Sayle Podcast is produced and edited by Talal Karkouti Music by Tarboosh Records Photograph from the Andy Hollingworth Archive