Hellish

Actor Jodie McNee gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!We talked to Jodie about the first production of the Broadway musical Fun Home, in which she plays legendary cartoonist Alison Bechdel. We also discussed taking jobs that make you uncomfortable, how an actor knows when something is good or not, fake tan, and whether anyone wants any wine.This week we have decided to give you, the non-Patreon listeners, the gift of the Patreon content this week. We only do this once a season, and Jodie has some pretty interesting things to say, so we thought we'd let EVERYONE hear them. If you want this sort of extended amusement and wisdom every week then please consider subscribing to the Patreon, or you can still do us a huge favour by tipping us at www.ko-fi.com/hellishpodFun Home is currently on at the Royal Exchange, Manchester (if you are reading this in the week the episode goes out). These performances are left:Tue 28th 18:00Wed 29th 14:30 & 19:30Thu 30th 19:30Fri 31st 19:30Sat 1st August 14:30 & 19:30Get your tickets here

Comedian RACHEL FAIRBURN gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!We are back after four weeks away, and who better to drag you all back to Hell than top comedian Rachel Fairburn? Rachel tells us about her new show, Vexy Beasts, and making the switch between character comedy and stand up. We also talk about working in a library, how Rachel's hit serial killer podcast, All Killa No Filla, increased her confidence as a comedian, and discuss whether Liam Gallagher ever calls his mum after a gig.Rachel is about to appear at the Edinburgh Festival. She's at the Monkey Barrel from August 6th - 30th, tickets for that are here.Then, in October and November, she takes Vexy Beasts on a tour of Great Britain. Dates and tickets can be found here.Watch Rachel in action for free! Rachel's show, Showgirl, is on YouTubeRachel's short story podcast, Harpurvale, is available here.

Hellish has been taking a break for the last few weeks, but as we didn't want you to be without something to listen to we called in some of our top podcast pals to help us out. We've been running a mini series we're calling 'HELLISH PRESENTS ...' Each week we've introduced you to a podcast we love: there's a short intro from Daniel, and then a whole episode of the show of the week.This week is our final 'Hellish presents ...' and we're presenting MAKING TROUBLE WITH MOLLY NAYLOR. Molly was our guest on episode 56 in September 2025, and she's very kindly loaned us her episode with podmaster ADAM BUXTON. If you're not already a troublemaker, this will make you into one. You're gonna love it.Listen and subscribe to MAKING TROUBLE WITH MOLLY NAYLOR here.Hellish is back next week with episode 72!

Hellish is taking a break for the next few weeks, but as we didn't want you to be without something to listen to we've called in some of our top podcast pals to help us out.We're running a mini series we're calling 'HELLISH PRESENTS ...' Each week we're going to be introducing you to a podcast we love: there will be a short intro, and then we'll let you enjoy a whole episode of the show of the week.This week we're bringing you THE WELSH MUSIC PODCAST. In this show, James Cuff and Neil Collins usually invite a guest to nominate an album by a Welsh artist for inclusion in the Welsh music Hall of Fame. HOWEVER .... in the episode they've given us for your listening pleasure, they present a documentary about the Super Furry Animals album Mwng, with contributions from members of the band!Listen to more of THE WELSH MUSIC PODCAST here

Hellish is taking a break for the next few weeks, but as we didn't want you to be without something to listen to we've called in some of our top podcast pals to help us out.We're running a mini series we're calling 'HELLISH PRESENTS ...' Each week we're going to be introducing you to a podcast we love: there will be a short intro, and then we'll let you enjoy a whole episode of the show of the week.This week we're bringing you STARSHIP ALEXANDRIA. In this show, Emma Newman and Adrian Tchaikovsky take it in turns to recommend a work of sci-fi or fantasy to each other, all from the comfort of the titular spacecraft. There are complex narrative reasons, Emma and Adrian will explain when you hear the show! The peiosde you're about to hear features a discussion on 1980 sci-fi spectacular Battle Beyond the Stars.Listen to more STARSHIP ALEXANDRIA here

Hellish is taking a break for the next few weeks, but as we didn't want you to be without something to listen to we've called in some of our top podcast pals to help us out.We're running a mini series we're calling 'HELLISH PRESENTS ...' Each week we're going to be introducing you to a podcast we love: there will be a short intro, and then we'll let you enjoy a whole episode of the show of the week.This week we're bringing you SONGS FROM A PADDED ENVELOPE. In this show, Ben Clay and Steve Swindon talk to their guests about their old demo tapes. They've had loads of awesome guests, including Stuart Braithwaite, Mike Peters, and James Acaster. The episode you're about to hear, however, has two guests you will all be very familiar with: us.Listen to more SONGS FROM A PADDED ENVELOPE here

Writer and storyteller JOHN OSBORNE gives us the five tracks he will meet in Hell!Music is a massive part of John's work as a writer and performer: his career kicked off with a Edinburgh show called John Peel's Shed, and he's also written and performed work called The New Blur Album, and My Car Plays Tapes. As well as getting him to select his Infernal Playlist, we talked about the eighties cartoon that has no lore, working with Craig Cash (Early Doors/The Royle Family), 'Three Lions' and why it shows the UK is unfair (again), and the nature of truth when creating something that is presented as autobiography. John also relentlessly tries to make everything into a positive, and Alex and Daniel do their best to foil him. This is Hell, after all.John's Bandcamp, where you can listen to many of his shows, is hereJohn's new poetry anthology Sandy Arse is out now. John says: "it's the first publication from a brand new (tiny) publishing company I have set up with Katie Cooper called Paper Boat ... [it's] a collection of seaside poetry. It has poems from some of our favourite poets, including Salena Godden, Inua Ellams, Luke Kennard, Ella Frears, Joe Dunthorne, Luke Wright, Henry Normal, Phill Jupitus, Martha Sprackland and Anna Jordan." 

Writer DAISY BUCHANAN gives us the five tracks she will meet in Hell!Daisy tells us all about her new novel, All Grown Up, which is a modern British reimagining of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. We also talk about tribute bands, indie sleaze, what all the cool kids at the Tory Party Conference listen to, and the ahem suggestive number one record that was bouncing round her head when she had to talk about Salman Rushdie on television.All Grown Up came out on June 4th. Get it here.The bookshop Daisy talks about is Simply Books https://www.simplybooks.co.uk