Stuart Goldsmith has spoken to some of the UK's biggest and most exciting comics in The Comedian's Comedian Podcast, discussing in depth their careers and the craft of writing and performing comedy.
Digital Spy had a chat with Stuart about his show's growing success, and we also have the exclusive first play of his latest episode featuring Matt Lucas, which you can listen to in full below:
One of the most recognisable faces in UK comedy, Matt Lucas charts his journey from Shooting Stars' improvising baby-grow nutcase George Dawes, to the double-act with David Walliams that made him a household name, to his most recent foray into purely physical comedy Pompidou.
Stuart Goldsmith explores his writing and creative process, and as well as unpacking the controversy surrounding key decisions in Little Britain and Come Fly with Me, we learn what drives Matt, and whether his success has brought him happiness.
Speaking to Digital Spy, Stuart also opened up about creating the show and the processes he goes through to get the best out of his fellow comics.
When did you first come up with the idea for the podcast, and did you ever expect it to be such a success?
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"I started the show four years ago and had no idea it would make such a difference to so many people! All I wanted was to learn how to be a better comedian, and I've accidentally embarked upon a quest for the very heart of creativity, asking what drives comics to create, how they cope with the results, and what legacy they strive for.
"I've also nudged (at the last count) 22 people into pursuing a career in comedy - many apologies to them."
How have you been able to get so much out of your guests? Does it help that you're also a comedian?
"I think the fact that I'm a professional comic means I can ask more specific questions, certainly. There is a certain shared understanding between comedians, a sense of being 'one of us', that is possibly based on how tough the job can be at its worst!
"You can't fake the insider quality of having been on the road and the stage, plus I also get to open a question by laying bare my own anxieties about a subject (eg, dropping perfectly good material in case you over-rely on it) and that helps open people up."
Who have been your best guests so far?
"I value all my guests in different ways. The Brendon Burns episode is regarded by comedian and listener Josh Widdicombe as 'the one where Stu became a man', because that's when I started to really challenge my guests and stopped accepting their first answers.
"Patton Oswalt is my favourite comic so that was enormously exciting, and Terry Alderton and Susan Calman have together inspired the most 'Thank god someone else feels like that' emails."
Who would you love to get on the show in the future?
"Well I'd love to get some more of the bigger US acts like Dave Chappelle, Louis CK and Sarah Silverman - but I'd also love to get some comic voices who aren't focused on stand-up, like Charlie Brooker and Miranda Hart. My dream guest is our greatest living clown, Jackie Chan. #getmejackiechan.
"It's my biggest regret with the podcast that I wasn't able to interview Sir Terry Pratchett. He's probably the comic writer who made the most difference to my life and how I see the world, and I owe him so much. I'm hoping to organise a live event in his honour with comedians reading their favourite passages from his novels, to raise money for his favourite charity RICE - check my Twitter feed for emerging details @comcompod."
Would you ever like to do a TV spinoff or does it work as an audio experience?
"There's something really special about audio as it means people share with you their commute or their marathon or bath, or probably even weirder things. But there's loads of scope to bring the qualities of the podcast to the screen.
"I'd love to host a TV show where I can combine live stand-up from me and my guests with some insight into how that material was made, and how they feel their performances on that show just went down!"
Have you ever considered a spinoff podcast where you interview non-comics in a similar fashion?
"Absolutely! There are tonnes of authors, actors, artists and other ne'er-do-wells that I'd love to get my teeth/claws/ears into... I'd start with Neil Gaiman, Jason Statham and Björk please - do me a favour and sort all that admin out, someone?"
Why do you think podcasts and comedians are usually a perfect match?
"Well, we love hearing the sound of our own voices... and I suppose stand-up and podcasting also share a DIY aesthetic. Most comedians are the sort of people who as kids would have killed to have had a bedroom radio show, and suddenly it's all there for us!
"Creative control, the freedom to pursue my own line of enquiry, the possibility of support from donors or advertisers - and best of all the chance to reach more audience members in one upload than I might perform to in a month or a year of shows!"
Stuart Goldsmith is appearing at this year's Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and will be recording live podcasts from the event at Black Medicine at 10.55pm. The shows are un-ticketed and free of charge to attend. The dates are:
August
16 - Katherine Ryan
17 - John Lloyd
18 - Tommy Tiernan
20 - Will Durst
21 - Stewart Francis
22 - TBA
23 - Joel Dommett
24 - Daniel Sloss
25 - Jason Byrne
26 - Aisling Bea
27 - Mark Steele
28 - Ronny Chieng
29 - TBA
Goldsmith will also perform his own solo stand-up show 'An Hour', which is being staged for free at 4.55pm at Canon's Galt.
Digital Spy will be unveiling three more exclusive Comedian's Comedian Podcast episodes from the Fringe next week, so stay tuned.
