Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (RHLSTP)

RHLSTP #634 - Heckled by Van Morrison - The second part of this extraordinary interview with comedian, actor and writer Lenny Henry. Rich quizzes Lenny about his attempt to break America with the film Eddie Murphy rejected, True Identity and how it led to Lenny taking control of his future projects, how the Three of a Kind were chosen and why it triumphed over other sketch shows of the era, Lenny’s illustrious acting career and the tricky role that both Rich and he have played, plus appearing on the brilliant The Assembly. Lenny’s latest tour show Still at Large will continue in late 2027.Look out for more dates for Lenny’s tour in late 2027 https://www.fane.co.uk/lenny-henry#event-listingSUPPORT 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 WalkerRecorded at the Podcast RoomGet an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans! Use code RHLSTP at checkout. Download Saily app or go to https://saily.com/rhlstp

#460 Perfectly Plated Avocado Toast - Richard records his sixth podcast in four days (how is that even possible?) and has a new question about what constitutes cheating. His guest is gazebo building stand-up, Ed Byrne. They discuss why he hasn’t been on the show as often as Sara Pascoe, how many lives he has saved, how Angela Griffin possibly got the edge over Ed and his wife on Mr and Mrs and the humour that can be found in the worst circumstances and why Ed has chosen to write a show about the death of his brother, Paul. Rich also attempts to replace Ed with AI (not so he can cheat with him though) and possibly for the second time questions his Neanderthal heritage.Watch Tragedy Plus Time here - https://www.edbyrne.com/discography/tragedy-plus-time/See Ed live - https://www.edbyrne.com/live-dates/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 STRIPEGet an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans! Use code RHLSTP at checkout. Download Saily app or go to https://saily.com/rhlstp

27/10/26 Nuclear Perineum - Rich and Ally are back. Or are they? Is this even happening? Let’s hope not because our PM has advised us to stuck up on legumes for an upcoming and unspecified disaster. Well, it can’t be worse than what’s happening here.29/10/26 Take Me To Poundland - Rich and Ally cover the big news of the day, the fact that Poundland might be going out of business. What could have caused this? Plus a report from a Poundland where you can get batteries for a pound, but probably not very good ones.30/10/26 Cryptocuntacy - It’s the last Newsround of the week and the month and maybe ever if it keeps nose-diving at this rate. Rich and Ally discuss the daring theft of some imaginary money by some people who don’t deserve it from some people who did nothing to earn it. Plus a report from inside a Cryptomine.See RHLSTP in real life http://richardherring.com/rhlstpOr support this with a badge - https://gofasterstripe.com/badges

RHLSTP Book Club #199 - I Think My Name is Brodie - Rich interviews the legendary interviewer Clive Anderson about his career and his surprising new book from a dog’s point of view, I Think My Name is Brodie. Find out how Clive performed on the first night of the Comedy Store, how he wrote most of the defining sketch for Smith and Jones, how his interviewing technique got him into occasional trouble (which Rich can identify with) and what really happened with the Bee Gees. They also talk about the unique bond between a dog and its human, why Clive wanted to write a memoir for a dog, how he chose the voice for the audiobook and what prompted this unexpected direction. Plus some stuff about Edward I and what a strong and unpleasant man he was.Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/i-think-my-name-is-brodie-a-straight-from-the-dog-s-mouth-memoir-clive-anderson/67b6b0acf87cef44SUPPORT 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

RHLSTP #633 - OoooooKaaaaaay - Rich is back at the Podcast Room talking to someone who first rang his comedy bell, it’s Sir Lenny Henry. They chat about the early years of Lenny’s long and varied career, why Lenny feels comfortable talking about some of the more personal and difficult parts of his childhood in his latest stand up tour “Still At Large”, why Tiswas was so important to Richard (and arguably more important to Lenny), working with Cannon and Ball at the height of their fame, the transition from working men’s club to the alternative comedy circuit (and how Lenny is one of the last links to the comedians of the 70s) and the madness of the Black and White Minstrel Show and Lenny’s reluctant part in it. Incredible stories from a comedian who has really seen it all over the last 50+years.See Lenny at the Hackney Empire on the 3rd November https://www.fane.co.uk/lenny-henrySUPPORT 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 WalkerRecorded at the Podcast Room

#457 Platinum Heart - Rich is back in New Milton to continue his Edinburgh Fringe without going to Edinburgh run and is a bit perplexed by a T shirt that Twitter has been trying to make him buy. His guest is veteran stand-up and cheater of death Markus Birdman. They chat about his journeyman status on the circuit, whether being at a school where your dad worked propelled both Rich and Markus towards comedy, Markus' decision to go on Britain’s Got Talent and whether Simon Cowell understands comedy, how Markus has turned two strokes and a heart operation into comedy, a scary ghost story and why two motorcycle accidents was enough to stop Markus getting on a bike again (not Rich though - he loves motorcycling).Check out Markus’ tour dates here https://www.markusbirdmantour.com/book-ticketsCome 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

19/10/26 Ameliorate the Situation - Rich and Ally start a brand new week covering the only news stories that matter: the non-discovery of Amelia Earhart’s plane and Andy Burnham coming down hard, but not hard enough on people playing music on public transport. All packed into five minutes as usual, with limited same phrases.20/10/26 Potty Trained Interloper - Rich and Ally attempt to talk about a serious news story, but their studio is invaded by a malicious force which they have to deal with. At least they nearly kept to their time this time.22/10/26 Dirty Pigeons - Rich and Ally are here to talk about Kyle Maclachlan and very expensive Pokemon cards. Lots of singing in this one, so if you don’t like that then best avoid this. I’d say best avoid the whole thing in general, but I can’t tell you what to do.23/10/26 Sticky Globes - Rich and Ally would like to apologise to the pigeon community for any offence caused by yesterday’s Newsround. Today we look at smashed historical artefacts and who will be the next BondJamesBond. Will it be Ally? Watch this space.See RHLSTP in real life http://richardherring.com/rhlstpOr support this with a badge - https://gofasterstripe.com/badges

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 cope when we lose them? Why did people get so upset about the loss of a tree when there might not be the same level of anger over an actual murder? What drove the men who did this and can we ever be sure? And is there a new trend of authors questioning themselves and their own lives in their work?Buy this fascinating book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/felled-the-killing-at-sycamore-gap-andrew-hankinson/6c702f9374218f79SUPPORT 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 #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 forehead, how activism got him a free trip to the cinema, his surprising love of Kung Fu films and much more. See Mark on tour - https://markthomasinfo.co.uk/tour-dates/See RHLSTP 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 STRIPEAudio mix by Ben Evans (NTO)Thanks to Chris Evans (NTO) and Ben Walker