Fern Brady, a talented comedian and Taskmaster alumna, shares her journey in comedy, touching on her recent Sky Arts Awards win and the unconventional elements of her tour poster. The conversation veers into the effects of magic mushrooms versus alcohol and humor in coping with newfound fame. She candidly discusses her experiences with autism and the challenges of representation in media. Fern also reflects on the nuances of reality TV and relationships, underlining the importance of empathy and unique communication styles. A delightful exploration of humor and humanity!
Fern Brady emphasizes the importance of maintaining authenticity in her comedy career while rejecting industry expectations and narratives.
Both Richard and Fern discuss the challenges of fame, especially how public recognition can complicate their personal lives and identities.
The conversation explores relationships and communication styles, with Fern highlighting how her autism diagnosis influences her social interactions and perspectives on love.
Deep dives
Holiday Promotions and Tour Announcements
In the lead-up to the Christmas season, the speaker encourages listeners to consider gifts that support his career, such as his latest book, 'Can I Have My Ball Back', which is available in multiple formats including audiobook and e-book. He mentions an upcoming tour starting in January 2025, inviting fans to purchase tickets as a thoughtful Christmas gift. The speaker underscores the significance of ticket sales for sustaining live performances, especially since some locations have added dates. He also shares exciting news about participating in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, despite earlier reluctance, emphasizing his commitment to engaging with audiences.
Taskmaster Experiences and Reflections
The speaker recounts a recent visit to the Taskmaster experience, discussing both his expectations and his performance during tasks. He humorously reflects on the competitive nature of the event, mentioning how he didn't perform as well as anticipated despite his previous accolades, such as being a winner of the Taskmaster champion of champions. In a lighthearted manner, he shares an anecdote about competing against a younger participant and the challenges he faced during the experience. The speaker's self-deprecating humor highlights the often absurd and competitive nature of such events within the comedy world.
Fern Brady's Comedy Journey
The guest, Fern Brady, shares insights into her comedy career, mentioning her recent Sky Arts Award win and her experiences in the industry. She discusses the pressure to conform to expectations of comedians on shows like 'Taskmaster' and 'Bake Off', expressing her discomfort with the concept of creating a heartwarming narrative around her life experiences. Instead, she emphasizes her authentic style and the importance of retaining her unique voice, even when faced with industry stereotypes. This discussion highlights the challenge many comedians face in balancing personal authenticity with audience expectations.
Difficulties with Fame and Public Recognition
Fern Brady delves into the challenges of fame that come with success, particularly after appearances on shows like 'Taskmaster'. She candidly discusses her discomfort with public recognition, illustrating the difference between being recognized for her comedy and her personal distaste for fame. This struggle becomes particularly pronounced at events like music festivals, where her introverted nature clashes with unexpected interactions from fans. Fern articulates a desire to remain true to herself while navigating the complexities and disruptions fame can bring to personal life.
Navigating Relationships and Personal Growth
Throughout the conversation, both the speaker and Fern highlight their perspectives on relationships and personal growth, particularly in the context of marriage and family life. Fern shares her experience of recently getting civil partnered and reflects on the societal pressures surrounding relationships, questioning traditional norms. The conversation shifts to their views on love, communication styles, and how being in a relationship impacts their individual identities. Fern reveals her unique communication style shaped by her autism diagnosis, emphasizing how it informs her interactions and reshapes her perceptions of social norms.
#542 Twirling Scary Spice- Richard has been to the Taskmaster experience and is furious to have broken his perfect record of victory. His guest is another Taskmaster alumni, who has turned her appearance into ticket sales (unlike Richard) Fern Brady. They discuss her triumph at the Sky Arts Awards and why she gave a shout out to Irvine Welsh, magic mushrooms, why her tour poster involves her lactating into someone’s mouth, why she doesn’t want to follow the narrative of TV shows regarding her autism, why Richard thinks she is one of the best stand ups we have (though doesn’t seem to know where she’s from), how a doctor made her think she was going to die for a night and how that helped her write her book, coping and not coping with her new found fame and why Richard is funny even when he’s just in the audience.
