Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (RHLSTP)

RHLSTP Book Club #188 - The Secrets of Our DNA - Richard has a remote chat with Professor of Genetics and archaeologist Turi King about her fantastic book encompassing the many advances in our understanding of DNA, a surprising number of which overlap with Richard’s interests. Find out how Cheddar Man is not as related to Richard’s history teacher as Somerset likes to claim, how some of Richard III’s bones ended up in York (for a little while at least), whether Hitler actually had one ball and whether DNA can tell us how big historical figures genitals are (and if not, what’s the point). It’s such a fun chat, also including the Princes in the Tower, bringing back dinosaurs, the guilt or innocence of OJ Simpson and catching serial killers via DNA websites. Plus find out what Richard’s surname reveals about his origins.Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-secrets-of-our-dna-how-genetics-has-changed-the-world-professor-turi-king/c2eeb0f1c0ed98daSUPPORT THE SHOW!See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPEAudio mix by Ben Evans (NTO)Thanks to Chris Evans (NTO)

RHLSTP #618 - Two Large Fifty-Something Tiny Tims - Rich is back in salty Droitwich with last week’s guest Mitch Benn. They discuss the huge number of Edinburgh shows Mitch has done, his fandom of Tom Lehrer, Mitch is the 37th Beatle, an unexpected Dickens connection, whether satire is best done from an apolitical perspective and why fascism is ultimately doomed, not being retained by the Now Show after 17 years, how all the old satirical songs some around again, Mitch’s prodigious work ethic and how he gets so much done whether we need proportional representation, Gilbert and Sullivan’s Dracula and the return of a classic emergency question.See Mitch in Edinburgh - https://underbellyedinburgh.co.uk/event/mitch-benn-asking-elvisSee RHLSTP in Edinburgh - https://www.thestand.co.uk/fringe/2925/richard-herring-rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPEAudio mix by Ben Evans (NTO)Thanks to Chris Evans (NTO) and Ben Walker

#442 Hungover Mastermind - Richard is basking in the possibly short-lived approval of one of his kids and is trying to make money off the ideas of the other one. His guest is Mock the Week favourite, Rhys James. They discuss the tallest building in Swindon, the worst place in Hertfordshire, writing right wing and left wing material on the same subject, what Richard said about Rhys when he saw him in a new act competition, the enduring problem of the last packet of crisps falling into a volcano, whether it’s better to have one ball or one kidney, wearing a tuxedo on Pointless, why people might think Rhys is deaf and more sad tales of romantic embarrassment.Come and see us live http://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE

Monday 6th July 2026 - Old Red Eye is Back - Rich has got out of his sick bed to bring you all the news that you won’t hear on the lamestream media. Today finally Pizza Express has done an investigation to find out whether Andrew Battenberg-Cake came there in March 2001 and the results are frankly astonishing. We hear from the man himself to see where his life may go now.Tuesday 7th July 2026 - Farage Above the Garage - Rich and Ally are back with breaking news about Farage’s resignation and Richard’s health. The badinage is strong. The news is balanced and unbiased.Wednesday 8th July 2026 - Imagine There’s a Heaven - Rich and Ally are back tacking the really big news stories that others are too scared to handle. Today they report on what happens when you die and get a report direct from Heaven to see if that idea is correct.Friday 10th July 2026 - Stamford Brook - It’s the last Newsround for a little while as the team head off for a much deserved holiday, but we’re covering a big story - the cock infested Reading Embroidery. Should the British Museum keep it or should it be censored. Expect some strong opinions and a factually dubious song.

RHLSTP Book Club #187 - Neurodivergent Moments - Richard chats to Joe and Abigoliah about their book of humorous essays, Neurodivergent Moments. They discuss whether neurodivergence is an advantage as a comedian, why you can hate being in crowds, but love performing in front of crowds, how comedy remains the best way to educate people without them noticing, why this book is nonetheless primarily about making jokes rather than teaching lessons (but still does both jobs), what masking involves and why it is necessary, how risk taking can present itself in having loads of sex with strangers and why it’s OK to make mistakes about this kind of stuff, as long as you’re genuinely interested in learning about it.Here’s all the places you can buy the book https://linktr.ee/ndm_bookSUPPORT THE SHOW!See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPEAudio mix by Ben Evans (NTO)Thanks to Chris Evans (NTO)

RHLSTP #617 - Wild-Eyed Loner at the Gates of Oblivion - Rich is in salt-obsessed Droitwich at the second Rik Mayall festival and reads a bit of the never produced script of Man Down that he wrote for Rik (who would have done it better). His guest is Rik-fan, musician and comedian (usually at the same time) Mitch Benn. They chat about the remarkable cast of the Edinburgh show “The Bootleg Bootleg Beatles” and their varying fortunes, what Rik meant to the kids back in the early 80s, how Mitch was secretly the most popular comedy character in the UK for several years and getting to play Zaphod Beeblebrox alongside the original radio cast. It’s a solo performance to match the great Brian Blessed, but Rich manages a couple of humorous interjections!See Mitch in Edinburgh - https://underbellyedinburgh.co.uk/event/mitch-benn-asking-elvisSee RHLSTP in Edinburgh - https://www.thestand.co.uk/fringe/2925/richard-herring-rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPEAudio mix by Ben Evans (NTO)Thanks to Chris Evans (NTO) and Ben Walker

#441 Back of the Head With a Plastic Cup - Richard has been having weird dreams, but don’t try and interpret anything from them. His guest is singer, actor, presenter and legend Graham “Suggs” McPherson. They chat about how Madness might just be the defining band of the 80s, how their songs can make you travel in time, the brilliant social document of their book/documentary “Before We Was We”, the first appearance on Top of the Pops, pranking the clash, the Two Tone tour, plus the Madness sitcom that never was, appearing on the Young Ones, Suggs’ first attempt at stand up, the new album and tour in the works and his explosive acting career. Plus being caught up in a deadly riot and the best answer to the chrysalis question yet.Come and see us live http://richardherring.com/rhlstpSUPPORT THE SHOW!See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE

Monday 29th June 2026 - Farage’s Treasure - Rich and Ally are here for maybe the only time this week to discuss Farage’s 5 million and the question that no one seems to ask him. The reporting remains unbiased and factual as always.Please buy a T shirt at http://gofasterstripe.com/allyFriday July 3rd 2026 - Haggy Girthday Gargara - Rich has risen like a Lazarus from his sick bed to bring you the news the lame stream media won’t cover. He realises almost immediately that he’s made a terrible mistake, but that doesn’t stop him and Ally making a pitch to cover the next World Cup for Netflix. Your last chance to get on the Thank You Moriarty T shirt is this weekend. Order your t shirt here http://gofasterstripe.com/ally

RHLSTP Book Club #186 - Namaste Motherf*ckers - Richard is back at the Podcast Room talking to stand up, motivational speaker and former TV executive about her first book, Namaste Motherf*ckers. They talk about whether this is a book for everyone, young and old, whether the young will ever learn from the old and wise, whether this is a self help book and whether you would take a self help pill to solve all your problems, why single life can be a good life and careering towards our sixties, but not being like our grandparents were at the same ageBuy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/namaste-motherf-ckers-a-modern-manifesto-for-keeping-cool-when-you-re-a-hot-mess-the-sunday-times-top-10-bestseller-cally-beaton/6b2234553af2b4d8SUPPORT THE SHOW!See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNELBecome a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPEAudio mix by Ben Evans (NTO)Thanks to Chris Evans (NTO)Recorded at the Podcast Room