Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (RHLSTP)

RHLSTP Book Club #198 - Felled - Richard chats to author Andrew Hankinson about his new book about the destruction of the Sycamore Gap, Felled. They also discuss his previous books about Raoul Moat and New York’s Comedy Cellar, plus whether modern UK comedy is failing to push boundaries in the same was as US comics. Then they chat about the new book and how it’s as much about Andrew as the tree or the crime. What does it all say about the crisis of masculinity? Are we all trying to impress our repressed dads and how do we c...

RHLSTP #632 - Bin Face vs Bin Juice - Rich is feeling a bit better. Is it because of God? If so God has also sent him a loquacious guest at this difficult 8th gig of the Fringe - it’s stand-up veteran and agitator Mark Thomas. Mark reminisces about the crazy acts that populated the circuit when he started 40 years ago, how he got the Kurdish National Medal of Honour, how he is the world’s most arrested comedian (impressive given the competition), what it’s like to have the red dot of a sniper rifle appear on your forehe...

#454 Thigh-Eyed - Richard’s non-Edinburgh Edinburgh Fringe continues as he reveals the latest put downs from his much-funnier-than-him children. His guest is podcast king and fine stand up Adam Rowe. They discuss how doing an advert led to threats of violence, putting your stand up specials on Youtube for free, turning romantic heartbreak into comedy, how the Have A Word podcast has taken the UK by storm, whether sharks are better than dolphins, how you can still say whatever you like in comedy and whether therapy is good for comedians.

Links for tour tickets, podcasts and Ad...

13/10/26 Andy Burnham Is a Liar - Rich and Ally are back to discuss the result of the Pottery Throwdown and the proof that Andy Burnham’s pants on on fire, with proof straight from the crocodile’s mouth. Also how did Ziggy lose her arms? We might find out today. Don’t miss it. Makes GB News look woke as fudge.

14/10/26 Are You Taking The P*ss - Rich and Ally are back for a post-prandial Newsround which you probably don’t want to watch while you’re eating, especially if you’re eating a Solero, about a dast...

RHLSTP Book Club #197 - 31 Inventions That Built Our World - In a book club first an author (that I am not married to) has come to Hitchin for a face to face chat. Jonn Elledge is here to discuss his latest book 31 Inventions That Built Our World as well as how close he came to being in a Harry Potter film. They chat about his previous books about borders and conspiracy theories (and a possibly true one about Britney Spears) and then discuss the infrastructure of our modern world that we take for granted and how it got here...

RHLSTP #631 - Champagne Supernova - Richard is four shows into his Fringe run and has crossed the one line that Ricky Gervais fans will not tolerate and he’s a bit under the weather and immune compromised so this may be his last show. Luckily his guest is a healing force of nature - Felicity Ward. They talk about Covid, death, divorce and cancer and how these things are all comedy gold, plus Dancing with the Stars, being the Australian David Brent (and a second red line for Gervais fans), getting cast in another one series but brilliant show, Ti...

#453 Unchained Melody - Richard has got very angry with a cold caller - was he in there right? His guest is brilliant stand up and creator of new TV comedy “The Change”, Bridget Christie. In an explosive opening they discuss why Richard isn’t presenting the Masked Singer (amongst much else) and why he is evil for eating chocolate buttons, but then things calm down a bit as they discuss Bridget’s major TV debut, whether men do an equal share of household duties and the app that might help, why there are so few comedy shows about middle aged wom...

5th October 2026 - Randrew Andrew’s No Can Do - It’s a new week on Newsround, but same old rubbish. Today Rich, Ally and channel-mandated co-host Ziggy look at Andrew Mountbattenburg-Iceburg-Lettuce-Withagladsomemind- Windsor-Peppapigland attempt to prosecute the police who dared arrest him when he’s (apparently) done nothing wrong. With the interview that the lamestreamers would kill for Randrew Andrew himself.

7th October 2026 - Penile System - It’s a serious topic for today’s Newsround - is it OK to kill a murderer or does that just make you a murderer too? Who better to work this...

RHLSTP Book Club #196 - Things I Took From The Dark - Richard returns to the Podcast Room (he’s actually been sitting in here for four straight hours) to talk to top RHLSTP guest Reece Shearsmith about his new memoir crossed with an adult Usborne book of Ghosts , Things I Took From the Dark. They chat about Reece’s spooky childhood, failing to catch bats in a net and having his magic tricks spoiled by his Uncle Geoff, how schools in the 70s had a definite echo of the Victorian about them, an horrific car crash (thankfully with no fata...

RHLSTP #630 - Spot The Ball - Richard is appalled by an email recommendation and what it says about him, but doesn’t have time to think about it too much as his guest is the brilliant stand-up Susie McCabe. They chat about all the terrible things that have happened to her since her last appearance, which make Richard’s puny cancers seem pathetic, finding the funny in your own father’s funeral, why Susie ended up with Thatcher as her Mastermind specialist subject, generational differences and why our parents were more worried about appearances than our grandparents, bouncing back from a...

#451 Ragmags - Richard has had some disturbing text messages from one of his kids, but he’s not going to help them. His guests are super nerd magic geniuses, Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman. They discuss why Jeremy chose not to appear on stage with the League of Gentlemen, why Andy is non-plussed to be in Star Wars, how the pair met at a summer camp, the Vagina Monologues production at the Arts Theatre led to TWO new theatre shows that have been performed all over the world, why Andy and Jeremy wanted to retain control of the film ve...

29th September 2026 - No Speculation - Rich and Ally cover a story that you won’t have read about it in LSM, some suspicious activity around RAF Fairford. Even if you’ve got wind of it then I don’t think any of your news sources will have come at it from this angle. There will be no speculation in this one. Just cold hard facts based on stuff that we’ve heard from strangers on social media. Plus an on the spot report from… ooops nearly told you.

1st October 2026 - County Fair Merkin - Rich and A...

RHLSTP #629 - Throwing a Pound Coin at Howard From Take That’s Head - Rich reflects on the upcoming end of RHLSTP and bemoans how his newly found TV mild-fame is curtailing his lifestyle. His guest is multi-talented comedian, actor and writer, Isy Suttie. They discuss the true history of the A to Z, Isy’s knack for creating niche erotica, what might dangle out of a pair of perished pants, Isy’s medical ailments and why Rich’s are better/worse, who would be up for a Peep Show Movie and Rich’s sexual adventures in moving transport. Plus a bea...

#450 Am “I” Bovvered? - Richard is now wax free, but contemplating a career change, His guest is actor, writer, stand up and phenomenon Catherine Tate. They discuss whether Catherine and Tom Cruise are friends now, crying in Twickenham station, how Mcfly were the launchpad for Lauren, whether Noel Edmonds is a monster, doing sketches with war criminals and Brexiteers, not being told your series has been cancelled, why the Queen of Oz is NOT based on any ginger prince. Plus find out if Catherine would rather date a man who was a six foot penis or a man with a ti...

Wednesday 23rd September 2026 - Shrinkflaktion - After a brief personal spat Rich and Ally look at Ebola and chocolate bars, but not at the same time. Has chocolate got smaller? Did it get bigger under Tony Blair’s leadership? Why didn’t Ally sing “Twix can only get bigger” at that point? Is brand curator a job that you can be proud of? And a special report from inside a chocolate factory, but by which character?

Thursday 24th September 2026 - News 101 - The latest opinion polls are out and it’s bad news for Nigel Farage, but not pa...

RHLSTP Book Club 195 - King Zero - Rich is at the Podcast Room talking to the multi-talented Charlie Higson about his new James Bond novel, King Zero. They talk about how this is Richard’s first Bond book and how his expectations were confounded, how Higson is so knowledgeable about the deserts of Saudi Arabie, whether Bond is now woke and the difficulties of placing him in a different era, whilst still acknowledging his past, why Charlie wanted to resurrect the Sado-masochism of the original novels and was able to indulge some horrible thoughts in the mouths of his mo...

RHLSTP #628 - Ultrasound Tester - It’s the second recording of the 2026 Edinburgh Fringe and Rich is still trying to keep fit and also wondering if he knows where he has stayed in Edinburgh in the past. His guest is SNL UK star, Paddy Young. They chat about the power of the moustache, Scrabble tactics, Paddy slicing his hand with a samurai sword, how Rich plans to save himself from his ageing groupies, whether Rich is delighted to be on the housing ladder whilst everyone of Paddy’s generation has to share the same flat, if there’s any danger...

#449 Podcast Teeth - Richard risks some Jingle/Mingle material, topical at time of recording, but hopefully nostalgic by the time the podcast comes out. Plus good news for those of you who come to live recordings - he’s clearing out his garage, so you might get presents! His guest is Welsh sex-mountain Mike Bubbins. They discuss whether croissants should be wrapped, the power of the moustache, the infamy of Barry Island, the wonder of Parkinson and the unusual combination of confidence and not being an arsehole that Bubbins exudes. Plus news on his new TV series, why he sto...

Wednesday 16th September 2026 - No Immediate Protocol - Rich and Ally discuss pottery, dead dogs and the impact of our mackerel report, before reporting on another story that the lamestream media won’t touch, an athlete pooing themselves during a contest. With a special report from Istanbul and lots of lovely songs. The BAFTA is in the bag. For news obvs.

Thursday 17th September 2026 - Fraternal Grief - Can Cloud Reason and Colour Memory - Rich and Ally bring you the news that you won’t have read about in the LSM- Earl Spencer’s accusation that t...

RHLSTP Book Club #194 - The Lost Films of Hollywood - Rich has a remote chat with two men who have collaborated on an amazing book and art project yet never spoken to each other before, David Quantick and Chris Barker. They discuss where the idea to create a calendar and book imagining that famous movies were remakes, and showing the poster of the original came from, how it became an immediate kickstarter success story, getting the tone it all right, deciding to self-publish and why it’s such an appealing concept. Plus David talks about his new novel The Hy...

RHLSTP #627 - Sponge Bunnies - Rich is back at the Podcast Room and his guests are two of the world’s top magicians Penn Jillette (sadly without Teller, although let’s say he was there, you’d never know the difference and Piff the Magic Dragon, currently in the UK with their urine soaked magic show, Piff and Pop’s Magic Shop. Penn, who said before that he wouldn’t be saying much, says a lot and gives us some great background on his reluctant appearance on Miami Vice, Piff performs some audio-described magic (whilst not doing magic) and Rich regret...

#446 Hi di Hi - Richard is doing more topical jokes that will be slightly out of date at time of broadcast but a valuable resource for the people of the future. His guest is comedian, author and potato hat wearer Jenny Eclair. They chat about the Bay City Rollers, the portrait of Les Gray, how cystitis ruined the bingo, the sexual allure of Greg Davies, childish comedians coping with the devastation of middle age, whether Richard will survive to have any life after his children have left home, their various ear complaints and how Jenny met her husband under a...

Tuesday 8th September - Monkey Glue - Rich and Ally get a visit from the politician who never listens, before looking into the blackheads of Dover and their multiple use balaclavas. Plus why the RNLI are the worst people in Britain.

Wednesday 9th September 2026- Eleclution- Rich is in the news again (broadly speaking) but only on Newsround will you find out the real reasons. But the other less important news that no one would lead with is the 10% chance of the extermination of humanity. But don’t worry about that…

Thursday 10th Sept...

RHLSTP Book Club #193 - All About My Mother - Richard chats with actor and now brilliant writer, Rachael Stirling about her biography of her mother, Diana Ring, All About My Mother. They discuss how you remain objective when you are writing about a relative, how as well as being a wonderful portrait of Rigg, this is a book about mothers and daughters and the love and complications that entails and also the power of talking about intimate moments like squeezing cysts or biting your baby’s bum. Also find out how Rachael cashed in her laminated shag card, Benny Hi...

RHLSTP #626 - Maths is Sh*te - Rich is back at the Edinburgh Fringe, 39 years after his first appearance. His guest is fiery MP turned brilliant comic, Mhairi Black. They talk about how she became the youngest MP since 1667 (maybe), why the toxic, alcohol-sodden Houses of Parliament was not the place for her, her record breaking swearing, calling Rishi Sunak a dickhead (or not), impressing David Cameron and the media attention and death threats that come with it all. Plus thoughts on Farage, Scottish Independence and Brexit in Mhairi’s usual uncompromising stance. Plus ghosts, ham hands, how Mhairi pi...

Friday 4th September 2026 - Aunty Christ - Rich and Ally have been shook by their interloper this week, but now he’s back at school and everything is quiet and to be honest it all feels wrong. He may have broken this thing. But the team attempt to get to the bottom of the crocodile’s transgressions and work out who the anti-Christ is before wisely giving up before their five minutes is up. You’ll probably like it.

Wednesday 2nd September 2026 - Crocodile Rock - In today’s Newsround we interview the crazy character who interlop...

#445 The Drug Rats of Porthcawl - Richard is delighted to be back for series 27 of RHLSTP and to be within the short-lived window where he can do topical stand up material. It’s going to be the last time in a while, though there’s talk of a RHLSTP tour! Hie guest is dancer turned comedian turned actor and writer Thanyia Moore. They chat about the lost Tango ads, why she wrote a stand up show about being a bully, the mystery of how the unusual spelling of her name came about, what she did to upset some of the pe...

RHLSTP Book Club #192 - You Don’t Have To Have A Dream - Richard talks to the first ever RHLSTP guest, Tim Minchin, about his book “You Don’t Have To Have A Dream”. They chat about the possible futility of having to spread wisdom to the young, how success will never be what you imagine it to be and how it won’t fill the hole in your soul, why comparing yourself to others is poison, how fortunate we are to live now, how Tim’s Hollywood adventures helped him to recalibrate his career and whether it’s ever too late...

RHLSTP #625 - Beating Leonardo at Poker - Rich is back at the Podcast Room, talking to the wonderful Lucy Porter. They discuss selling out to the man, writing links for Anthea Turner’s Homemaking show from a leaking shack, working with Mrs Merton and whether Caroline Aherne gets the credit she deserves, appearing on Celebrity Poker in the early noughties and what career opportunities that led to and have Rich and Lucy let themselves go? Plus appearing on Eastenders and why Lucy will keep on touring forever. Hooray!

See Lucy on tour https://www.lucyporter.co.uk...

#444 Sploshing - Richard has some stand up material topical to the week of 20th March 2023 and is cross about the Edinburgh Fringe again. His guest is Taskmaster and Mastermind Champion, Sophie Duker. They talk about the weird and wonderful chemistry between Alex Horne and Sophie, whether kids Taskmaster will crush the souls of the participants, Richard’s jealousy at pansexuality and a revelation about what else the young people are getting up to these days, French pickles, terrible tour accommodation, being on a cruise with 700 older lesbians, what the point of anything might be and why neither Sophie or Ric...

RHLSTP #624 - Cake of Shame - Rich is chatting to the man who has been on RHLSTP more than anyone but Rich, John Robins. They talk about acting in a sexy film with no sexy bits for you, Taskmaster (maybe we did talk about this before, even though Rich says we didn’t), bad financial advice, their Wordle based schism, comedy geniuses Ian Cognito and Phil Kay, Rich chastising his parents for buying the wrong stereo and why no one should be allowed more than 10 million dollars and running the Marathon and who is best at it.

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RHLSTP Ed Fringe 2019 #11 Richard Osman - The Oldest Person In Scotland - Richard has hopefully the definitive list of what people should avoid putting inside their chuffs and maybe we can leave that behind now - HIs guest will finally reveal what nationality he is - it’s TV’s Richard Osman. There is some discussion of who from Lee and Herring has had the more successful career (no spoilers) and whether there is any danger of a Slattery style breakdown from doing too many episodes of Pointless, whether House of Games will ever offer psychological training, how to get...

RHLSTP #623 - Crystal In Her Pocket - Rich is back at the Podcast Room talking to writer and comedian Bella Hull. They talk about her early start at stand-up, talking about the worst things in your life, getting the writing job on SNL UK and whether this job needs to be as tricky and rock n roll as the Americans make out, whether the woman behind the counter at Pret should be asking you about religion and a ghost called Paula.

See Bella at the Fringe https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/bella-hull-mad-cow-disease

See...

Ed Fringe 2011 #25 - Cock Bongo - It's the end, my friends and someone is set to win half a bottle of olive oil, some Weetabix and the monarchy of Edinburgh. And we've saved the best till last as Count Buckules is here to tell us about the times he has said inappropriate things on 6Music, how his computer cable must be placed "just so", a trip to New Zealand with a ventriloquist, what a cock bongo would involve and what it would take for him to fellate Keith Allen. Rich is remarkably indiscreet as always, spreading possibly libellous rumours a...

RHLSTP #622 - Cheesy Sisyphus - Rich is at the Podcast Room talking to some proper big TV/film stars, Charly Clive and Ellen Robertson. They talk about why the Hell they are returning to the Fringe to do a sketch show, their enduring friendship and how that informs their work together, Charly’s brain tumour and why she called it Britney and why that led to them both being called Britney, clouds in film studios, judging pizza with Steve Carrell, living another life in a coma and why Richard would only be a very specialist interest on wikifeet.

Ed Fringe 2011 #14 - The Oxfam of Comedy - What's that unusual atmosphere in the air today? Could it be genuine reverence. Rich is joined by one of his absolute comedy heroes, Barry Cryer and is trying to be on his best behaviour. Barry's butterfly brain means he has a story about everyone and everything that gets mentioned from Nicholas Parsons to Stewart Lee and Jack Benny to Richard Pryor. He also comes up with the best answer yet to the Keith Allen Question (as it is known in parliament). So just sit back and listen to a comedy legend (w...

RHLSTP Book Club #191 - Middle Aged Women Get Sh*t Done - Richard is at the Podcast Room chatting to friend and comedian Lucy Porter about her fun and fascinating book, Middle Aged Women Get Shit Done. Is it just for women or should men read it too? Should it be pulped because of what it says about Scrabble? What does it mean to be a Linda? Would the NHS collapse without middle-aged women? What about the middle-aged men? Plus some chat about quizzing and whether Rich is the best at Mastermind.

Buy the book here...

RHLSTP #621 - Cyberman Having a Fag - It’s another remote RHLSTP and Rich is talking to writer, artist and stand up Tom Neenan. They chat about building a Dalek in your house, Tom’s fantastic art and Rich’s less impressive pottery and why it’s good for comedians to use the other side of their brain sometimes, the Spitting Image “Is Nothing Sacred?” Video insert booklet, whether Rich personally knows the Naked Man and Naked Woman from the Fist of Fun cash in book, why men are so rubbish (not all men) and Tom’s attempt to do ventriloqui...

Come Closer To The Screen

We’re on the road still and at the Lowry in Salford where the lightest local headline is not really ripe for frivolity, but at least they are paying fitting tribute to their greatest painter. And it’s possible that the theatre is literally on fire, but Richard is not letting that stop him. The guest tonight is showbiz legend and punster extraordinaire, Jimmy Cricket and something that the RHLSTP audience might not be used to, proper jokes.

But amongst the silliness, Jimmy reveals some fabulous stories about the...

Ed Fringe 2019 #21 - Nine Minutes - Rich has just hit the 200 average crowd he coveted and worked out just how much his landlord has made from each ticket sold and there’s an end of term atmosphere as he meets Flo and Joan and John Kearns. With Flo and Joan the talk revolves around time travelling gang bangs, Bros’ Cheddar antics, double act rivalry and memories of Tring.

With John, Richard is skittish from lack of sleep and counting down the time, but still manages to find out whether a plastic cup can substitute for false teeth...