
Page One - The Writer's Podcast
New episodes every Friday!On Page One - The Writer's Podcast, we talk to writers of all descriptions (authors, screenwriters, comic writers and more) about their writing process and how they craft their next great works. We also explore their career, including how their first big break happened, and discuss the ups and downs along the way. We learn something new every episode, and we hope you do as well.Page One is brought to you by Write Gear, creators of Page One - the Writer's Notebook. Order yours now: https://www.writegear.co.uk/shop. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Aug 26, 2022 • 1h 3min
Ep. 128 - Kasim Ali talks to us about writing without planning, the importance of representation in fiction and... vampires?!
Kasim Ali works at Penguin Random House. He was longlisted for the B4ME Short Story Prize (hosted by his now UK publisher Fourth Estate), and GOOD INTENTIONS was shortlisted for the Mo Siewcherran Prize. He's also had a short story published in The Good Journal.We had great fun chatting with Kasim, whilst also hating him (not really!) as he told us about his ridiculously prolific rate of writing and how he is able to write his novels without ANY planning... We also had a great discussion about the importance of representation in fiction and look at the current state of the publishing industry. Oh, and we also talk vampires and Marvel...!Links:Buy Good Intentions now!Follow Kasim on TwitterVisit Kasim's websitePage One - The Writer's Podcast is brought to you by Write Gear, creators of Page One - the Writer's Notebook. Learn more and order yours now: https://www.writegear.co.uk/page-oneFollow us on Twitter: @ukPageOneFollow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ukPageOneFollow us on Instagram: @ukPageOne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 19, 2022 • 1h 3min
Ep. 127 - Adam Simcox talks about using script-writing as a way to plan his novels and how he dealt with rejection during the submission process
Adam Simcox is a London-based filmmaker who has shot commercials for brands such as McLaren, Primark and Unilever, and music videos for Britpop veterans as well as fresh on the scene alt-country stars. He began his film career by writing and directing three features: the first sold to Netflix before Netflix was Netflix; the second and third won awards and critical acclaim at festivals worldwide, and so didn’t sell at all. He moved into the world of novel-writing with his hit debut, The Dying Squad, all about a ghost cop who investigates his own murder. His latest novel in that series, The Generation Killer, is just out.It was great fun chatting to Adam and hearing how he moved from the world of films to novels, including treading the hard path of over 150 submission letters to agents (along with the accompanying rejections or silence). He told us how he still uses his film experience to help him in writing his novels and why he would love to continue working in both worlds.Links:Buy Adam's books now!Follow Adam on TwitterPage One - The Writer's Podcast is brought to you by Write Gear, creators of Page One - the Writer's Notebook. Learn more and order yours now: https://www.writegear.co.uk/page-oneFollow us on Twitter: @ukPageOneFollow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ukPageOneFollow us on Instagram: @ukPageOne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 13, 2022 • 39min
Ep. 126 - Michael Spicer tells us how he created the world-famous Man in the Room Next Door sketches and more!
This is one of a special series of short episodes speaking to some of the best comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! These episodes will be released daily during the week of 8 August 2022.Michael Spicer literally became an overnight sensation when he posted his first-ever Man in the Room Next Door sketch on Twitter. Since then, he has become one of the biggest comedians on Twitter and appeared on The Late Late Show with James Corden, as well as acting in programmes such as Bridgerton and After Life. This month, he brings the Room Next Door to the Edinburgh Fringe.We loved chatting with Michael and hearing how he owes his success to Boris Johnson, talking about how he finds and edits material for his sketches, and also discussing how to stand out as a comedian on social media. We also hear about his show at the Fringe and find out what is planned after the Room Next Door...Links:Buy tickets for Michael's show, The Room Next Door, at Assembly George Square Studios at the Edinburgh Fringe 2022Follow Michael on TwitterVisit Michael's YouTube channelPage One - The Writer's Podcast is brought to you by Write Gear, creators of Page One - the Writer's Notebook. Learn more and order yours now: https://www.writegear.co.uk/page-oneFollow us on Twitter: @ukPageOneFollow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ukPageOneFollow us on Instagram: @ukPageOne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 12, 2022 • 26min
Ep. 125 - Tom Lucy talks about getting into comedy at the age of 16, and tells us how he generates his ideas
This is one of a special series of short episodes speaking to some of the best comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! These episodes will be released daily during the week of 8 August 2022.Starting at just 16 Tom Lucy quickly rose through the comedy club circuit to became one of the youngest professional stand-up comedians in the world. As well as performing all over the UK, Tom has toured internationally in the Middle East, across Europe and a few select US shows in New York and Los Angeles. He has performed two sell-out runs at the Edinburgh Festival, in 2017 and 2018, picking up rave reviews and adding extra shows due to demand. In Spring 2019, Tom embarked on his first headline UK tour which included a sold out show at London’s Leicester Square Theatre. Tom is a regular face on various comedy TV shows on Comedy Central, BBC and ITV, and returns to the Edinburgh Fringe this year with a new show called Melt.We loved chatting with Tom and hearing how he got started in comedy so young (and how that helped dampen any nerves he may have had), and also chatting about how he generates his ideas for his shows.Links:Buy tickets for Tom Lucy's show, Melt, on at the Pleasance Courtyard at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022Follow Tom on TwitterVisit Tom's websitePage One - The Writer's Podcast is brought to you by Write Gear, creators of Page One - the Writer's Notebook. Learn more and order yours now: https://www.writegear.co.uk/page-oneFollow us on Twitter: @ukPageOneFollow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ukPageOneFollow us on Instagram: @ukPageOne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 12, 2022 • 24min
Ep. 124 - Amy Gledhill tells us why she tries to avoid writing when preparing her stand up shows
This is one of a special series of short episodes speaking to some of the best comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! These episodes will be released daily during the week of 8 August 2022.Amy Gledhill is a comedian, actor, writer and winner of The BBC Caroline Aherne Bursary. As well as being one half of surreal comedy double act, The Delightful Sausage (nominated for an Edinburgh Fringe award), she also has also written for and appeared on numerous TV shows, and is back at the Fringe this year with her solo show, The Girl Before The Girl You Marry.We had great fun chatting with Amy and hearing about how Fawlty Towers inspired her to become a comedian, hearing where the name "The Delightful Sausage" came from, and talking about why she hates writing anything down when she is preparing for her solo shows.Links:Buy tickets for Amy's show, The Girl Before The Girl You Marry, on at the Monkey Barrel at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022Follow Amy on TwitterVisit Amy's websitePage One - The Writer's Podcast is brought to you by Write Gear, creators of Page One - the Writer's Notebook. Learn more and order yours now: https://www.writegear.co.uk/page-oneFollow us on Twitter: @ukPageOneFollow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ukPageOneFollow us on Instagram: @ukPageOne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 11, 2022 • 23min
Ep. 123 - Sunil Patel tells us why he always felt destined for comedy and talks about how he crafts his shows
This is one of a special series of short episodes speaking to some of the best comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! These episodes will be released daily during the week of 8 August 2022.Sunil Patel is a comedian who found early success as a finalist in the BBC New Comedy Award and as a Chortle Best Newcomer nominee. He is best known for his starring role in Channel Five’s mockumentary series Borderline (Channel 5) and as John Robbins’ sidekick in Beat the Internet (Dave). He also co-hosts the BBC Sounds podcast series But Where Are You Really From?.It was great fun speaking with Sunil, talking about how he always knew he was destined for comedy and hearing how he goes about planning his shows.Links:Buy tickets for Sunil's show, Faster Horses, on at the Monkey Barrel at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2022Follow Sunil on TwitterVisit Sunil's websitePage One - The Writer's Podcast is brought to you by Write Gear, creators of Page One - the Writer's Notebook. Learn more and order yours now: https://www.writegear.co.uk/page-oneFollow us on Twitter: @ukPageOneFollow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ukPageOneFollow us on Instagram: @ukPageOne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 11, 2022 • 26min
Ep. 122 - Jack Barry tells us why he became a comedian rather than a spy, and talks about the analytical process that goes into stand up
This is one of a special series of short episodes speaking to some of the best comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! These episodes will be released daily during the week of 8 August 2022.Jack Barry is a comedy actor, writer and stand-up who can most recently be seen as series regular in Mae Martin’s sitcom Feel Good series 1&2 (Netflix) and Rose Matafeo’s Starstruck (BBC/HBO). Jack stars in the new series of ITV2's The Stand Up Sketch Show. Other recent TV credits include The Russell Howard Hour (Sky One), Dad’s Army: The Lost Episodes (Gold), Catastrophe (Channel 4/Amazon), Cuckoo (BBC Three/Netflix) and Turn Up Charlie (Netflix). Not to mention he had a brief stint gracing screens and crisp packets nationwide as the face of McCoy’s crisps for most of 2017-18. Jack has written for Mock the Week (BBC2) and one of his viral sketches Get Staffed was shortlisted for Best Comedy Short at the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival and won Single Funniest Moment at the Portland Comedy Festival.A sought after live act, Jack was selected as one of eight comedy shows in the Sunday Times’ ‘Best of what’s on at the Edinburgh Festival’ and has provided tour support for comedians including Russell Howard, Marc Maron, James Acaster and Joe Lycett.We loved speaking with Jack, hearing how he made that difficult decision we all have to consider - whether to become a stand up or a spy! We also hear about the craft of stand up and the analytical process that goes on behind the scenes to make sure he is getting the biggest laughs from the audience.Links:Buy tickets for Jack's show, Don't Happy Be Worry, on at Monkey Barrell at the Edinburgh Fringe 2022Follow Jack on TwitterVisit Jack's websitePage One - The Writer's Podcast is brought to you by Write Gear, creators of Page One - the Writer's Notebook. Learn more and order yours now: https://www.writegear.co.uk/page-oneFollow us on Twitter: @ukPageOneFollow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ukPageOneFollow us on Instagram: @ukPageOne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 10, 2022 • 30min
Ep. 121 - Schalk Bezuidenhout on why he doesn't write out his jokes in advance, the differences between UK and South African stand-up and more!
This is one of a special series of short episodes speaking to some of the best comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! These episodes will be released daily during the week of 8 August 2022.Schalk Bezuidenhout was born in Kempton Park or as he calls it - 'The New York of the East Rand'. His family and friends stood back as they watched Schalk evolve from an Afrikaans conservative caterpillar into a beautiful dramaqueen butterfly, complete with a moustache and furry afro. It was obvious to Schalk's parents that he would study drama, and to help numb the pain they sent him away to study at the University of Cape Town. While studying in Cape Town Schalk slowly began to realise that there was so much more to life than boerewors and rugby, and started doing stand-up in April 2011.We had great fun chatting to Schalk and learning how he got into stand-up, including hearing about his... interesting venue for his first paid gig, the differences between South African and UK stand ups, and much more!Links:Buy tickets for Schalk's show, I’ll Make Laugh To You (Like You Want Me To), on at Gilded Balloon at the Edinburgh Fringe 2022Follow Schalk on TwitterVisit Schalk's websitePage One - The Writer's Podcast is brought to you by Write Gear, creators of Page One - the Writer's Notebook. Learn more and order yours now: https://www.writegear.co.uk/page-oneFollow us on Twitter: @ukPageOneFollow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ukPageOneFollow us on Instagram: @ukPageOne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 10, 2022 • 39min
Ep. 120 - Tessa Coates discusses writing stand-up, creating talking TV mice with Greg Daniels and much more!
This is one of a special series of short episodes speaking to some of the best comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! These episodes will be released daily during the week of 8 August 2022.Tessa Coates is a writer, performer, journalist, comedian and one third of critically acclaimed sketch group Massive Dad. Her debut solo show Primates sold out the entire run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and ran at the Soho Theatre to more sell out audiences. She also performed her show in LA at the Lyric Theatre and Improv Lab following which there was a competitive situation to develop her first comedy series for TV in the US. The project landed at ABC Studios with Greg Daniels (The Office) and Howard Klein (3 Arts) attached to exec produce alongside her.We loved chatting with Tessa about her comedy writing career, hearing about how she plans her stand-up, how she found herself writing a TV show with Greg Daniels, and much more!Links:Buy tickets for Tessa's show, Get Your Tessa Coates, You've Pulled, on at the Pleasance Courtyard at Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2022Follow Tessa on TwitterVisit Tessa's websitePage One - The Writer's Podcast is brought to you by Write Gear, creators of Page One - the Writer's Notebook. Learn more and order yours now: https://www.writegear.co.uk/page-oneFollow us on Twitter: @ukPageOneFollow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ukPageOneFollow us on Instagram: @ukPageOne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 9, 2022 • 22min
Ep. 119 - Jessica Fostekew tells us about how she writes her brilliant stand-up shows
This is one of a special series of short episodes speaking to some of the best comedians appearing at this year's Edinburgh Fringe! These episodes will be released daily during the week of 8 August 2022.Jessica Fostekew is a comedian, actor and writer. Star of Motherland BBC and Cuckoo BBC/ Netflix, host of The Hoovering Podcast and regular co-host of the behemoth The Guilty Feminist. The Guardian say she “wears her smarts on her sleeve, great stuff” and Fest called her “consistently hilarious.”We had great fun chatting with Jessica about how she got into comedy, hear about how she prepares her shows and chat about writing for comedy panel shows on TV.Links:Buy tickets for Jessica's show, Wench, on at the Monkey Barrell at the Edinburgh Fringe FestivalFollow Jessica on TwitterVisit Jessica's websitePage One - The Writer's Podcast is brought to you by Write Gear, creators of Page One - the Writer's Notebook. Learn more and order yours now: https://www.writegear.co.uk/page-oneFollow us on Twitter: @ukPageOneFollow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/ukPageOneFollow us on Instagram: @ukPageOne Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.