Share
Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (RHLSTP)
Martin Fitzgerald on The Umbrella Man and Other Stories - Book Club
Ep. 190
•
RHLSTP Book Club 190 - The Umbrella Man and Other Stories - Another remote Book Club where Rich talks to author Martin Fitzgerald about his book about the JFK assassination, which looks at everything from a very different perspective by examining the witnesses and not worrying about whodunnit. Was the Umbrella Man really signalling to all the assassins that it was time to shoot (and wouldn’t that be a bit of a distraction rather than a help)? What was it that attracted these people to the relatively quiet part of the route in Dealey Plaza rather than the ticker tape of Main Street? Is it possible to understand the amateurish nature of the detective work from a 21st Century perspective? Why did some witnesses hog the limelight whilst others disappeared immediately and did some people insert themselves into the story who weren’t there? How did the racism endemic in Dallas at the time affect the responses of the African- American witnesses? What effect did the assassination have on Dallas as a whole? And how easy is it to be a reliable witness or a truly impartial judge of what happened? It’s a terrific book and a really interesting approach to the event and I thoroughly recommend it.
Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-umbrella-man-and-other-stories-what-we-talk-about-when-we-talk-about-the-jfk-assassination-martin-fitzgerald/80bddf3b35dec416
SUPPORT THE SHOW!
See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES
Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL
Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE
Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE
Audio mix by Ben Evans (NTO)
Thanks to Chris Evans (NTO)
More episodes
View all episodes
26. Rich and Ally's Craven Newsround Compilation Sweet Perineum
41:24||Ep. 26Thursday 30th July 2026 - Sweet Perineum - Rich and Ally are back with more news that you won’t hear anyone else, all squished into a five minute bulletin. Today they are looking at the wildfires sweeping in the world and wondering if they could be anything to do with global warming. Plus a very disturbing report from France or maybe Spain where the fires are going on (though that’s not what is disturbing). Plus a surprise visit. Keep watching til the end.Friday July 31st 2026 - Egg Head - Second Newsround of the week - oh ambassador with these Newsrounds we are really spoiling you. Today we look at something the Lamestream media won’t touch, because they are in the pay of the billionaires, corruption in FIFA or UEFA, whichever one it is. With the interview that everyone wants. And some very impressive songs from Ally.See RHLSTP at the Ed Fringe http://richardherring.com/rhlstpOr support this with a badge - https://gofasterstripe.com/badgesTitles by Andy BobbinMusic by Mike CosgraveDirected by Chris Evans.Any similarity to John Craven’s Newsround is entirely coincidental
28. Rosalie Minnitt - "Greggs Chicken Bake"
56:26||Season 33, Ep. 28RHLSTP #620 - Greggs Chicken Bake - Rich is doing a few remote podcasts again due to a medical condition, so tonight we’re going to party like it’s 2020. He is chatting to character comedian and writer Rosalie Minnitt who is about to do her second hour about her Fringe breakout success Clementine. They chat about how she Peter Kayed her student play, her itinerant childhood, the genesis of her crazy Jane Austen influenced stage persona and how it sometimes surprises here with how far it goes, how men brought up to play stooges all think Rosalie might genuinely be into them and what happened when she actually went on a date with one of them, working with Alan Partridge and the difficulty of finding new subjects for Horrible Histories.Tickets for Rosalie’s Edinburgh show here https://www.pleasance.co.uk/event/rosalie-minnitt-clementine-2Tickets for RHLSTP at the Ed Fringe here 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 STRIPEAudio mix by Ben Evans (NTO)Thanks to Chris Evans (NTO) and Ben Walker
154. Janet Ellis (Retro) - "Blew Peter"
01:00:51||Ep. 154#443 Blew Peter - Richard has not drunk alcohol for 27 months, but should he go back to his drunken (and more amusing ways). As is now traditional his final guest of the series is a member of the Ellis family, it’s the brilliant Janet Ellis. They discuss day time drinking with John Thaw and Dennis Waterman, the irritatingly slow speed of K9 from Doctor Who and the embarrassing googlewhack that happened when Richard searched for his favourite episode of Jigsaw. Plus the sinister presence of Noseybonk, the health and safety nightmare of 1980s Blue Peter, being a nepo mum and what prompted her to become a novelist and the potential awkwardness of reading the steamier bits for the audiobook.Come and see RHLSTP live - all dates and confirmed guests here 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
25. Rich and Ally's Craven Newsround Compilation " Deam Me Up, Scotty"
16:31||Ep. 25Deam Me Up, Scotty - Rich and Ally are back, if only briefly, for more news that the lamestream media ignores. Today some bad news for fans of dogs and Doctor Who as Richard questions the wisdom of the royals using a Tardis. And then an exciting adventure as someone steals the time machine and makes diabolical plans. Should Ally be the new Doctor? Could be!See Rich at the Ed Fringe http://richardherring.com/rhlstpOr support this with a badge - https://gofasterstripe.com/badgesTitles by Andy BobbinMusic by Mike CosgraveDirected by Chris Evans.Any similarity to John Craven’s Newsround is entirely coincidental
189. Paul Tonkinson on Running Through Sand - Book Club
50:19||Ep. 189RHLSTP Book Club #189 - Running Through Sand - Richard chats remotely with stand up and extreme runner Paul Tonkinson about his attempt to complete the 250km Marathon des Sable through (a little bit of) the Sahara desert. They chat about what drives someone to do such an insane thing, midlife crises, how men don’t talk enough about getting older, working with Michael McIntyre, the wisdom that comes with experience and whether anyone should listen to you, writing a book that is partly about writing the book and having hallucinations in the desert.Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/running-through-sand-an-ageing-comedian-s-ill-thought-out-ultra-in-the-sahara-paul-tonkinson/7f395e6f5eac21c8SUPPORT 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)
27. Chris Cantrill - "Daily Branch Whack Punishment"
59:16||Season 33, Ep. 27RHLSTP #619 - Daily Branch Whack Punishment - It’s another remote RHLSTP, with another Edinburgh bound member of the SNL UK writing team, Chris Cantrill. They chat about working with the delightful Amy Gledhill, the relentless process of writing Saturday Night Live and how it might not live up to the coke-fuelled ego-fest of the original American series, Chris’ new stand up show Rewilding, which centres around the appalling act of vandalism at the Sycamore Gap, why he likes performing at lunchtime and why the Fringe has never been the booze-fuelled holiday that it was for Rich in the 1990s. Plus getting to play small parts in hit sitcoms and an overhaul of our judicial system.Tickets for Chris’ Edinburgh show here https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/chris-cantrill-rewildingTickets for RHLSTP at the Ed Fringe here 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 STRIPEAudio mix by Ben Evans (NTO)Thanks to Chris Evans (NTO) and Ben Walker
153. Count Binface (Retro) - "House of Losers"
55:30||Ep. 153#543 House of Losers - Richard has had a worrying dream, but what can it all mean? His guest is an alien from outer space and not a man in an impressive but ridiculous costume, the artist formerly known as Lord Buckethead, Count Binface. They discuss his reasons for travelling light years to take on sitting Prime Ministers in UK elections, some of his excellent policies involving hand dryers and Ceefax, whether snooker is already in 3 dimensions, losing a bind, whether old people should lose the vote, improving the House of Lords and how the UK’s future span out of control due to the Olympic opening ceremony and a bacon sandwich. Will Count Binface become Mayor of Croydon? Watch this (outer) space.Check out the Count’s live dates on his website, and vote for him in Clacton on 13 August if you can https://www.countbinface.com/See a live recording of RHLSTP - https://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
188. Turi King on The Secrets of Our DNA - Book Club
48:27||Ep. 188RHLSTP 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)