Russell Howard’s Five Brilliant Things

It’s the brilliant John Kearns filling his Wonderbox this week. John goes deep, educating Russell on the delights of being on your own scoffing a YumYum, and has the Wonderbox not only filled, but being held by football commentator Jonathan Pearce. You’ll have to listen to find out what it’s all about, and I recommend you do.   John is one of the greatest live stand-ups around, and his latest tour ‘The Varnishing Days’ is on sale now, and touring the UK until June. Get tickets, find out things, look at pictures, waggle your mouse at https://www.johnkearnscomedy.co.uk/tour   Russell’s World Tour is still surging around the globe. He’s in Australia right now so if you happen to be Australian, or indeed any nationality but living in that sunny land, then go to see the show. It will make you incredibly happy and make you feel good about being alive, which is cheap at any price. Get your tickets at russell-howard.co.uk.   See you next week.   Yours sincerely,   the Anonymous Blurb Scribe   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Hollywood star Jameela Jamil is in the studio with Russell this week selecting items from her life for the Wonderbox, and it’s a real treat. Jameela tells some truly exceptional stories, the highlights being when she was caught eating all the ice cream in a video shop, and an incredible story about bumping into Dustin Hoffman with five steaks between her legs. Unmissable stuff.   Jameela is the founder of the ‘I Weigh’ platform, designed to make people feel less shit about themselves and be free to express their ideas without being made to feel worthless. It helps all sorts of people from those with mental health issues to marginalised groups of all kinds. They do really good stuff and actually have had an impact on the world - they helped stop Facebook advertising dodgy diet pills to teenagers. That’s proper. Have a look and if you are inspired, send them a message and get involved.   If you haven’t caught Russell’s latest tour yet, what the hell is wrong with you? Buy a ticket to Australia and go to see him right away. He’s there now, you get your tickets at russell-howard.co.uk. Then in late Spring (early Summer? Who can say) he’s touring Europe. Dates and details on the self-same website.   I think that’s all for this week. TTFN.     Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's Wonderbox belongs to Babatunde Aleshe, star of I'm a Celeb and Celebrity Gogglebox. Babatunde gives Russ some pointers on becoming a Grime MC, how to catch a fainting believer in church and tells Russell who he's stayed in touch with from the jungle (spoiler alert: it's not Matt Hancock).  If you want more Babatunde then you're in luck, you can have more! He's taking his tour show 'Babahood' around the UK through February and into March.  Find out more and book tickets by going to https://babatundealeshe.com/   Russell's currently in the land of the TimTam and the Vegemite. There are still a few tickets left for Russell's Australian dates. Check the schedule and get yours at russell-howard.co.uk. After Australia he's taking the show around Europe. Dates and tickets are on the same website there.      Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Fin Taylor takes time away from being a bloody good stand-up and internet sensation to sit down with Russell and whack his belongings into the Wonderbox.    Fin goes on a voyage of self-discovery, uncovering some very traditional tastes (don't worry that's not a euphemism for 'he discovers he's a racist'), followed by a fairly in-depth discussion on bumholes. It's all a lot of fun.   Fin's on tour NOW! He's touring the UK with his latest show 'Ask Your Mother!' and you can, and indeed should, get tickets by going to his website.   Also you'd be mad to not check out Fin vs The Internet. It's really very very good.    Russell has begun the Australia/New Zealand leg of his world tour, so if you're in America, tough titty. But if you're in Australia, good...titty? Then Europe is next. All of it. Nearly all of it.  Find out more and get tickets right now at russell-howard.co.uk.     Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

New York-based comedy star Mark Normand sits down with Russell to tell us what gets him going. Mark is an exceptional stand-up from out of New Orleans, called the 'best young up-and-coming comic' by none other than Jerry Seinfeld.    Mark opens spicy by talking Russell through a trip to a Berlin sex club, explains the majesty of skateboarding; the punches just keep coming. It's funny, it's very open, it's a great podcast.    You can watch Mark's self-released special on Youtube, 'OUT TO LUNCH', or you can listen to Mark's podcasts: We Might be Drunk and Tuesdays with Stories or you can search for his special 'Soup to Nuts' on Netflix. That should get you going. Then if you still want more after that fly to America and see him live. And if that's not enough you need to find his address and just stand outside his house. Then get yourself some help.   Russell is in Australia and New Zealand right now, and once he's dealt with the jetlag he'll be bringing his show to all the most majestic theatres in the land. After that, in late Spring, he's off to Europe. So you, yeah you, the Danish guy - I'm talking to you - you need to buy a ticket.  Get tickets right now at russell-howard.co.uk.     Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Roisin Conaty tells Russell about the things she loves the most in the world, and commits them to her Wonderbox.    Roisin tells us about having an existential crisis inside an inflatable doughnut, how a curry opened her eyes, and why as a child she got Pat Sharpe's haircut.    Roisin's sitcom GameFace is still available to watch on Channel 4's website.   Russell will be touring Australia and New Zealand very soon, and if you haven't already you can get tickets right now at russell-howard.co.uk.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greg Davies and Russell sit down to discuss the most precious items in Greg's life. As you might expect from one of the world's greatest storytellers, it's an absolute cracker.    You'll get tales about when Greg pretended to die, when a tree spoke to him and Greg tells the story of why he started stand-up comedy in the first place. It's tremendous from start to finish.    Russell will be touring Australia and New Zealand very soon, so if you're intent on seeing the latest show and you live there, well you're in luck! If you live in the UK, you had more than enough opportunity and you've only got yourself to blame.  Antipodeans! Get tickets right now at russell-howard.co.uk.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Recorded in sunny Los Angeles, Russell sits down with one of Philadelphia's hottest stand-ups, Clint Coley.  Clint takes Russell through his extensive collection of rare music, Russell takes Clint on a tour of UK accents and they both get deep into a conversation about killer rats.    Clint has self-released his special on YouTube. This means you get to see it for free right now!  My Edible Kicked In (30 min Special)   What's that you say? You want to see Russell live but you live in Australia? Well strewth. Ain't this your lucky day? He's touring Oz and NZ this Spring. Find out where Russell is when, and get tickets right now at russell-howard.co.uk.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rising comedy star Maddie Wiener and Russell meet up in New Yeawk and chat about what it's like on the comedy circuit over there. The conversation then takes an unexpected but hugely entertaining turn when Maddie chooses to put Wilbur the syphilitic rabbit into the Wonderbox. That springboards us into a chat about the pros and cons about dropping your guts in the Disneyland queue. A festive treat for all.    Maddie's got clips of her stand-up, some of her writing and all sorts on her website, https://www.maddiewiener.com/. Check it out.    Russell is touring the Antipodes in the Springtime! He'll be bouncing from one city to the next with his outstanding tour show. If you're humming and hawing, just get a ticket you won't regret it. It's truly a great show. Visit russell-howard.co.uk and just do it. Go on. DO IT!     Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Co-creator of The Chappelle Show and one of US comedy's most influential brains, Neal Brennan, sits down with Russell. Neal explains the vitality of human connection, ayahuasca and ice cream. It's a wild trip through consciousness expansion and which ice cream flavours kick most ass.    If you want to watch Neal's specials, get onto Netflix and search his name, and there they be.    Russell is off to Australia and New Zealand at the start of the new year, so if you live in that kinda neighbourhood then inbetween all the cricket and sunbathing, get y'selves some tickets at russell-howard.co.uk.   Producer: Dan Atkinson Line Producer: Daisy Knight Exec Producer: James Taylor Composer: Fat Lady Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices