Radio Rental

Bonus Tape: One Night in Essex

21 snips
Nov 19, 2025
Ed Hedges, a stand-up comedian and writer from a small English village, shares a chilling childhood tale. He recounts returning home for a charity gig, reflecting on his anxiety over past bullying. The night takes a terrifying turn when he wakes up to his mother’s urgent warning amid violent banging at the front door. As police are called, the family barricades themselves in the bathroom, fearing for their lives. The next morning’s news reveals the shocking truth of a nearby double murder, linking back to that harrowing night.
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ANECDOTE

Homecoming Comedy As Personal Reckoning

  • Ed Hedges returns to his tiny English village expecting hostility after becoming a comedian.
  • He uses the headliner gig as a healing homecoming to confront his past and fears about Brett.
INSIGHT

Bullying Fueled A Career Escape

  • Persistent bullying shaped Ed Hedges' drive to leave his village and become someone different.
  • His disabilities and outsider status motivated him to seek escape through comedy and travel.
INSIGHT

Reinvention Through Performance

  • Success in comedy allowed Ed to reinvent himself and avoid returning to old social roles and judgments.
  • Performing at home felt like a test of that new identity and ultimately became healing.
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