Dave Cohen is a British comedian, author, and multi-award-winning comedy writer with a career spanning over four decades in UK television, radio, and live performance. He is best known as the lead lyricist for the hit BBC children's series Horrible Histories, which earned him eight BAFTA Awards. Here is an overview of what we discussed:

[[02:06]] How I got started in comedy: why many great comics actually started out as punks [[10:28]]

[[10:28]] Comedy in the 80s and 90s, the 2008 economic crash and how it hindered stand-up’s recovery, and how Covid almost killed the industry [[15:00]]

[[15:00]] Why I stopped performing stand-up, and the ongoing clashes between this generation and the last [[17:00]]

[[21:00]] Why everything you’ve heard about the legendary Malcolm Hardee is probably true [[27:24]]

[[27:32]] Why being a stand-up comedian and a sitcom writer are two very different disciplines [[31:39]]

[[49:19]] Is a deep understanding of human behaviour essential to becoming a brilliant comedy writer? [[59:10]]

If you would like to know more about Dave, you can find his podcast, The Shakespeare Mindset, on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/2baFbflqUTH35qbKRSftoQ. If you want more information on him, you can go to his website to buy his book at https://www.davecohen.org.uk/. You can follow this podcast on Youtube at https://bit.ly/41LWDAq, Spotify at https://spoti.fi/3oLrmyU,Apple podcasts at https://apple.co/3LEkr3E and you can support the pod on:https://www.patreon.com/thecomediansparadise.

Welcome to The Comedian's Paradise! In this episode, we sit down with the critically acclaimed, award-winning UK stand-up comedian Tom Mayhew (BBC Radio 4’s Benefit Scum, Soho Theatre). Known for his fiercely funny, authentic working-class perspective and hit Edinburgh Fringe solo shows (I, Tom Mayhew). Here is an overview of what we discussed:

[01:05] Never Been Called Tantalising & What Do You Need for the Fringe? [05:32]

Tom shares a hilarious opening anecdote and looks at why the Edinburgh Fringe remains so brilliant.

[01:05] The Fringe: Do What You Want, Not What Everyone Else Is Doing [14:57]A deep dive into making money at the Fringe and why it remains the absolute best place to build an audience.

[14:20] The Best Place to Get an Audience [14:42]

Why the live festival environment offers unparalleled opportunities to connect with real comedy fans.

[15:03] Are You a Club Comic or a Festival Comic & The Cost of the Fringe? [20:30]

An honest breakdown of circuit comedy versus solo shows, alongside the rising financial expenses.

[15:03] Are You a Club Comic or a Festival Comic? [15:21]

The core differences in performance style, joke structure, and material needed for these two distinct worlds.

[20:30] Being a Working-Class Comedian [22:43]

A raw, authentic conversation about class representation and navigating the modern British creative industry.

[26:55] You Can Joke About Anything & There Is No Such Thing as Bad Press [34:08]

Tom debates the limits of stand-up and whether negative media attention can actually boost a career.

[28:00] Dealing with Bad Press [29:26]

How modern comedians navigate public backlash, media criticism, and cancel culture on the UK circuit.

[26:55] Is It Funny Because It's Shock? [27:46]

An analysis of shock humour and the mechanics behind why taboo subjects trigger laughter.

[34:08] Controversy in Comedy [34:58]

Where the line is drawn in modern stand-up and how changing audience sensibilities impact comedians.

[42:00] Why Alternative Acts Struggle to Make It [43:45]

The unique hurdles that quirky, unconventional, and alternative comedy performers face in the mainstream.

[43:45] Why Taskmaster Is the Making of Comedians & Why You Need to Watch It [49:21]

How the hit TV show transforms comedy careers and why it has become essential viewing.

[52:23] Why I Respect Live Comedy Promoters [01:01:00]

A backstage look at the hard-working promoters who support grassroots talent and keep British comedy alive.

You can find out about Tom on his Linktree at https://linktr.ee/TomMayhew.

You can follow this podcast on Youtube at https://bit.ly/41LWDAq, Spotify at https://spoti.fi/3oLrmyU,Apple podcasts at https://apple.co/3LEkr3E and you can support the pod on:https://www.patreon.com/thecomediansparadise.

#thecomediansparadise#tommayhew #comedypodcast#standup#comedian#edfringe#edinburghfringe#fringe#comedycircuit#alternativecomedy#workingclassartist#creativeindustry

#taskmaster#taskmasteruk#comedycontroversy

In this episode, we sit down with international comedian Fedor Ikelaar to pull back the curtain on the booming European English-speaking comedy circuit. We dive deep into how the continental scene operates, the unique challenges of performing for multi-national crowds, and what it takes to build a career as a touring road comic in Europe. Here are the various chapters of the episode:

[[00:00]] My start in comedy and why I don’t use local comedians [[10:36]]

[[10:36]] Not needing gatekeepers and the work needed [[15:50]]

[[15:50]] Mid-show break / Behind-the-scenes thoughts [[18:27]]

[[18:27]] The cost of travelling and the truth of festivals [[30:00]]

[[30:00]] Intermission / Tour logistics breakdown [[33:16]]

[[33:16]] A story of advertising [[42:07]]

[[42:07]] How I got mugged by the airport police in Zagreb [[49:00]]

[[49:00]] How to find out what goes in a country [[52:19]]

[[52:19]] Living life a little and how do big names keep being funny [[58:00]]

[[58:00]] The transition to fame and staying grounded [[01:01:42]]

[[01:01:42]] Being famous and being nice [[01:05:00]]

[[01:05:00]] Being a people pleaser and comedians being bad with business and admin [[01:10:00]][[01:10:00]] Don’t be an arrogant prick [[01:13:46]]

[[01:13:46]] Wrap-up and final thoughts from The Comedian's Paradise [[01:16:00]]

You can follow this podcast on Youtube at https://bit.ly/41LWDAq, Spotify at https://spoti.fi/3oLrmyU,Apple podcasts at https://apple.co/3LEkr3E and you can support the pod on:https://www.patreon.com/thecomediansparadise. #thecomediansparadise#standupcomedy#comedypodcast#fedorikelaar#touringcomedian#comedybusiness #redmic #touringcomedyineurope