Russell Howard’s Five Brilliant Things

British Sketch Comedy Royalty in the studio. One of the core cast of the iconic Fast Show is here and his name is Charlie Higson! He lays out the Five Things that make life interesting - get ready for a delightful journey through James Bond, what is and isn’t included on the Golden Record that we yeeted into space. How did Charlie go from being a Punk Band frontman to a decorator to a comedian… and a best selling James Bond author? What a life.  📖 Charlie has just released his latest book; it’s an History of Britain’s Kings and Queens; but less funny hats and pageantry and more treachery, incest and murder.  It’s called ‘Willie, Willie, Harry, Stee’ and it’s also illustrated by Jim Moir, who you probably know better as Vic Reeves. Anyway it’s fascinating and funny and it’s available from bookshops or online now, or you can just follow this link 📖 🎟️ YOU WANT LIVE COMEDY? Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’ is starting its grand journey across the UK: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️ And like the Voyager Space Probe, this blurb continues its endless journey into the void long past the point where anyone can receive it, and long past the point where anyone cares about it. Just bibbling its way aimlessly into the darkness, without purpose, getting slowly smaller and further away. 🛸 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

Fascinating, delightful company. That’s what Historian Dan Snow is. I suppose the skill of any historian worth their salt is to use that historical knowledge and make it relevant today, and this endlessly interesting podcast does exactly that. Dan’s passions go way beyond history, drawing in sailing tall ships, democracy and most importantly of all, his greatest passion beyond all other things: GHERKINS. 📖 Dan’s treatment of history is available to us all through History Hit: A series of podcasts and documentaries about all different periods of history, arranged into clever and neat topics and original angles. You can explore the whole catalogue through that link, or you can search for ‘History Hit’ on your podcast app to find all the many channels they run. This writer listens to them. It’s good stuff.  📖 🎟️ The Good Ship Russell Howard has set sail! Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’ is starting its grand journey across the UK: Don’t miss this fantastic show of all brand-new material. Find out more at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk 🎟️ And here we are. At the end of the history of this particular blurb. We have seen empires (sentences) rise and fall yet we have endured like some kind of literary Roman Empire. But we all know how that ended. 😬 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

Tom Rosenthal is a comedian with a deep interest in all things: His Brilliant Things include The Danish Gambit, The Golden Ratio and Trip Reports. This is a repeatedly fascinating conversation where Tom is completely unguarded and enthusiastic in his descriptions of these corners of humanity. He also conjures, from nowhere, the most outstanding improvised acid trip you’ll ever hear. It’s well worth your time.  We talked about it on the show; Tom’s latest show is out on tour. It’s called ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I Am’.  You can find out when Tom is near you, and get your hands on those tickets by going to https://tomrosenthal.net Also there are still a handful of tickets left for Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk Well played, you have acquitted yourself throughout reading this blurb with great dignity. It speaks volumes of your character that you’ve made it this far and are still willing to read this guff. Have a special sticker.  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

Why is it the ruder the waiter, the more it gets Daniel Foxx excited? The laconic comedian is here to explain the beauty of surly service, the simple serenity brought by a scented candle, and you’ll experience some of the worst ASMR in podcast history.  Russell also relates the time Louis Theroux gyrated aggressively at him. That’s worth the admission fee alone.  Daniel’s latest tour ‘How Lovely’ is about to hit UK theatres, so to get yourself a whole evening of this very funny comic please check out where the tour is near you and book tickets - you can find it all HERE. Also there are still a handful of tickets left for Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk And we said in the show we’d link in the show notes to the comedian/chef George Egg’s cookbook, which can be found HERE, and very good it is too. That’s it for today, thanks for popping in, hope you’ve enjoyed the tea and biscuits. Thank you for taking off your shoes at the door and putting on the ceremonial slippers, shin-pads and fez. You looked radiant.  Until next time. 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

Superb comedian Bridget Christie is here. She’s won the Edinburgh Award, she’s been nominated for oodles of comedy prizes, she’s written and performed in two series of her own show ‘The Change’ for Channel 4 and now she sits down with us to reveal her Five Brilliant Things.  It’s as thoughtful and funny as you would imagine from a comic as good as Bridget, including why empathy is disappearing, why we underestimate water and driving a motorbike through London at night. Zoom zoom.  Bridget has written a brand new full length show, and as anyone who’s seen her before can tell you it will be thought-provoking, fascinating and definitely very funny. It’s called ‘Jacket Potato Pizza’ (full explanation on the Patreon show as to why it’s called that). It’s touring the UK across 2026 and you can find out the dates and book tickets by going here.  You can also watch both series of Bridget’s series ‘The Change’ on the Channel 4 player.  There’s a whole second show’s worth of Bridget on our Patreon which also means you get the main show without adverts and everything a day early; Check out our Patreon offering at this link: patreon.com/RussellHoward   Also there are still a handful of tickets left for Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk I think it’s appropriate to say Happy New Year. Whatever you wish for over the next twelve months I hope it comes to you, but in appropriate amounts. If you want custard but end up drowning in a surfeit of custard that would be a tragedy (albeit a deliciously ironic and vanilla-y one).  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

From our December shows, here's a little taster of each episode so you can get a flavour of the things we got up to with our wonderful guests: Doctor/Writer Adam Kay Taskmaster star and stand-up Ania Magliano Stand-up comedy legend Ross Noble and one of the most fascinating people in Britain, Rory Sutherland. If you hear anything you like, circle back and enjoy the whole episode - they are all there waiting for you to listen. Happy New Year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Marketing expert and thinker-outside-the-box, Rory Sutherland is here with his Five Brilliant Things and they all begin with the letter C: Consumerism, Contradictions, Cars, Commuter Towns, Cornbread and the Commonwealth.  You’ll notice that’s more than five things, which typifies this episode. The ideas and conversation flowing out of Rory and Russell was abundant and it’s one of the most densely packed interesting shows we’ve made in ages.  If you are sparked off by the way Rory thinks then you can get a real schooling in unconventional thinking by enrolling on Rory’s Masters Course. It’s a distance learning course with Rory himself that teaches you new ways to approach problems and think in a creative and unexpected fashion. Follow this link to find out more and enrol.  Also there are still a handful of tickets left for Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.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

Happy Christmas! This week Russell looks back over all of the shows from 2025 and picks his favourite moments from 52 x 5 Brilliant Things (So…quick bit of maths…that’s…260 Brilliant Things). We’ll be back in a week with a brand new show and loads of super-exciting guests in the new year.  On our Patreon show something a bit special this week - Russell and Dan sit down and talk about how they made the TV show Good News. For anyone who enjoyed that show, it’s a real treat and an insight into what went on behind the scenes… ⁠patreon.com/RussellHoward⁠   Also there are still a handful of tickets left for Russell’s brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk Thank you for listening, you lovely lot. X 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

One of Britain’s most mercurial and naturally talented stand-ups of all time, Ross Noble sits down with Russell to explain how he went from a school drop-out with a couple of circus skills to one of the greatest stand-ups Britain’s ever produced. He also goes into detail about Cuttlefish.  Ross is in the middle of his latest live tour, called ‘Cranium of Curiosities’. It’s a full show of brand-new stand-up and it is going to all those UK theatres, then to Australia with dates all through 2026. Find out the specifics and book your tickets by going to https://www.rossnoble.com/#/shows And Russell has just released a whole load of extra dates for his brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk And if you’re a fan of the show you can experience every element of it, and be rid of adverts forever by joining our perfectly formed Patreon Crew. You will get an extra show every week, get it all early and we’ve got a very special surprise planned for Xmas for fans of Russell and Good News… patreon.com/RussellHoward   That is all of the everything for this week, thanks for tuning in and we look forward to spending more time with you next week. Nearly Xmas now!!! 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

Ania Magliano loves gossip, and she’s here to share some CHOICE cuts of the stuff. From Taskmaster, Stand-up Ania is in the studio and she’s running us through her favourite things which takes us on a journey through some unashamedly indulgent birthday parties, the perils of being bold with your hair and some fascinating chat about writing process and generating comedy ideas. Oh, and did I mention the excellent gossip?! Ania is about to embark upon her next UK tour (well - she’s going to have Christmas first, then go go go!) and she’s travelling across the whole of the UK and Ireland. The show is called ‘Peach Fuzz’ and if you like what you hear of Ania on this show then get y’self tickets! All the information and dates and tickets are available at https://aniamagliano.com. And Russell has just released a whole load of extra dates for his brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk And if you’re a fan of the show you can experience every element of it, and be rid of adverts forever by joining our perfectly formed Patreon Crew. You will get an extra show every week, get it all early and we’ve got a very special surprise planned for Xmas for fans of Russell and Good News… patreon.com/RussellHoward   So long and thanks for all the fish.  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

Doctor, author, comedian, musician Adam Kay tells Russell about the things that he’s discovered that are brilliant. It’s a laugh-out-loud funny show that begins with a tale of conception, takes what it feels like to be spied on by Ben Wishaw, and by the end we are all getting acquainted with the inside of Adam’s nostrils.  As spoken about in the show, Adam has published his first novel that is a thriller with plenty of laughs and tension. It’s called A Particularly Nasty Case and it’s available right now - get it for a Christmas present!  For younger family members (or friends??!) Dexter Proctor is Adam’s story about a fantastic 10 year old doctor. And there’s also the poo-tastic puzzle book. All of the books can be found HERE and if you buy them through that link a small donation goes to the Lullaby Trust, supporting families of bereaved babies and young children. Adam is also doing a series of live dates in Ireland and Northern Ireland at the beginning of 2026. Should be a lot of fun and you can find out more about those here.   And Russell has just released a whole load of extra dates for his brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk If you’re looking to join the Patreon crew we’d love to have you as part of the inner circle. There’s a whole extra show with Adam and Russell and it’s available now, alongside so many other benefits. Check out how you can join here: patreon.com/RussellHoward   Are we feeling festive yet or is it too early? Trick question, it’s too early. No trees before mid-December please. Byee! 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

Hello, here's a round up of the best bits from the last month of shows, featuring the fantastic comic Kerry Godliman (she's so funny), wine expert Tom Gilbey with a great story about Iron Maiden, dictionary corner's Susie Dent and the American-Palestinian comic Mo Amer. If you hear something you like you can double-back and take in the whole episode if you like! 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

Palestinian-American stand-up sensation Mo Amer is here! He’s on a tour of Europe, he’s in the UK for a couple of days and he came into the studio to tell us all about his Five Brilliant Things and he did not disappoint.  Mo has an easy Texas charm coupled with seriously funny bones. His relationship between his American upbringing and Middle-Eastern heritage is fascinating and you can see that in the things he chose for the show: Coffee, bidets, air-travel… and he tells an epic story about a night out with Dave Chappelle… And if you’re not a Mo fan but we’ve turned your head with this podcast, then there’s a whole lot more to enjoy - most of it is on Netflix. His narrative show ‘Mo’ is a work of genius, and his stand-up shows are excellent too. But that sitcom…boy it’s good. You can find your way to all of Mo’s recorded stuff and find out what he’s up to live by going to his website - https://moamer.com And Russell has just released a whole load of extra dates for his brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk For this week’s Patreon we’ve done something a little different; in summer Russ went to Montreal and recorded a special live show of Five Brilliant Things with the incredible Australian comic Celia Pacquola.  That show is very very funny and it’s available exclusively on our Patreon. Check out how you can join here: patreon.com/RussellHoward   That’s all for this week. I hope you stay warm in this inhospitable squall rolling in off the coast. Hunker down, get cosy and binge podcasts. That’s my advice.  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

From Countdown's Dictionary Corner it’s Susie Dent!  Susie is here with her Five Brilliant Things and they are as fascinating and vocabulary-expanding as you might hope; but it’s not all words, Susie also tells us about her special relationship with a rock. Is it Dwayne Johnson? You’ll have to listen to the show to find out! Alongside these revelations Russell and Susie luxuriate in some of the far corners of words and meanings; if you’re even remotely interested in finding out some new language-based tidbits then you won’t be disappointed in here. And with Christmas fast approaching, here’s some gift ideas for friends and relatives of any age: Susie’s brand new books!  For the younger members of the family Susie’s book ‘The Roots We Share’: Susie has searched far and wide to unearth words and phrases - old, new, and long-forgotten - that celebrate harmony, unity, and the universal languages that connect people across the world. That book can be found HERE. And for older readers, Susie’s just released ‘Words for Life’. From wabbit to dust bunnies, and from the strange history of arse to the best ways to describe moonlight, Words for Life offers a full year’s supply of verbal vitamins guaranteed to brighten and boost every day. Here you will learn of the Mother-in-Law’s Dream as well as the Yuleshard, and discover expressions that can fix (or at least nail) the problems of modern life, whether dealing with unrequited love or unsatisfactory politicians, eating a whole packet of biscuits or forgetting someone’s name. Grab yours from HERE.  And Russell has just released a whole load of extra dates for his brand new tour show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. There are shows across the whole UK in 2026: You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk  We also recorded a second show with Susie for our Patreon listeners; there’s a clip at the end of the episode and for fans of the podcast so please have a listen. If you’ve already had a listen and you’re here to find out more…click the link here for ad-free shows, early access and a special extra show just for you every week - have a look! patreon.com/RussellHoward   Please enjoy the multitudinous gratifications contained within this audio chronicle of lexicography. I fly!  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

Wine Wine Wine! Tom Gilbey is one of the UK’s top wine experts and he also talks about it like a normal person! This podcast takes us through the things that makes a wine buff happy (some of them are, and I don’t want to spoil things, wine-related). Russell does a live wine-tasting of some rock and roll wine.  Tom takes us through his marathon that he ran while drinking wine every mile (!), the beauty of a good pen and there are some really good tips for buying wine in a supermarket.   Tom has a book and it’s just come out now! It’s called THIRSTY and it’s about wine (of course)! It’s full of the same no-nonsense advice and tips that you got in this podcast: how to read the label, how to choose in a restaurant and how to talk about it without sounding like a twat.  It’s available now from this link or pop into a lovely independent bookshop.  Might I suggest it could make an excellent Christmas present for that relative you don’t know very well but enjoys a glass of wine? Also you should follow Tom on Instagram where he’s @tomgilbeywine. And Russell has just released a whole load of extra dates brand new show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk  We also recorded a second show with Tom for our Patreon listeners; there’s a clip at the end of the episode and for fans of the podcast it’s genuinely an excellent extra to get involved with.  Honestly if you like the show it’s a super-good deal giving you ad-free shows, early access and a special extra show just for you every week - have a look! patreon.com/RussellHoward   Thank you so much for joining us in this giant snifter of podcastery. Hope you’ve enjoyed the nose, legs and body on this beast.  x 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

She’s the star of Whitstable Pearl, AfterLife and Taskmaster. She’s a phenomenal stand-up comedian and she’s Kerry Godliman, here to tell Russell about the things that make life worth living and it’s a nostalgic romp through Portobello Market, living off-grid in India and how to parent without being a beg.  Loads of fun, really great funny episode; this is a big ‘recommended’ sticker.  Kerry is touring her latest show right now! It’s called Bandwidth and you can find out when she’s near you and buy tickets by going to https://kerrygodliman.com. She’s a superb live comic and it will be an excellent night out.  Let’s not forget Russell! Russell is also touring in 2026 with his brand new show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk  We also recorded a second show with Kerry for our Patreon listeners; there’s a clip at the end of the episode and for fans of the podcast it’s genuinely an excellent extra to get involved with.  Honestly if you like the show it’s a super-good deal giving you ad-free shows, early access and a special extra show just for you every week - have a look! patreon.com/RussellHoward   And that’s the end of all that. Hope you’ve enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it although I doubt that very much because I’m on a cocktail of highly illegal and incredibly strong drugs.  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

It's all the best bits from October's shows! A tasting plate of the shows we've already broadcast this month and if you've been too busy to listen to the whole shows this is a way to get a morsel and who knows... maybe head back and listen to the whole thing if you like the sound of it. Featuring Dom Joly, Sally Lindsay, Nick Mohammed, Horatio Gould and Pete Firman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You know Pete Firman. He’s charming. He’s northern and he pops up on your Instagram or TikTok with fantastic magic tricks, illusions and comedy. Pete is one of Britain’s most accomplished comedy magicians and he’s here with his Five Brilliant Things which take him from Chip Sauces, through Old Theatres and the whole thing wraps up with a love-letter to the very particular British art of CONKERS! Lots of fun and he’s got (as Russell will shortly point out) a lovely voice.  Pete Firman is also on tour! His latest tour show is called ‘Tricks and Giggles’ and it’s coming to a beautiful old theatre near you very soon. It’s a brilliant night out full of the best illusions delivered with Pete’s trademark comedy… to book tickets go to https://www.petefirman.co.uk/live/ You can also follow Pete on Instagram or TikTok where he’s @PeteFirman.  Let’s not forget Russell! Russell is also touring in 2026 with his brand new show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk And Pete stayed with us in the studio for a special extra show where he answered your questions about the inner workings of the magic world. It was a fascinating and revealing chat and it’s available as part of our Patreon offering. Honestly if you like the show it’s a super-good deal giving you ad-free shows, early access and a special extra show just for you every week - have a look! patreon.com/RussellHoward   Thank you for all your attention, it was more than enough. Hope to see you here deep in the blurbs next week. X 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

From the hit podcast Fin vs History, it’s the nascent comedy superstar Horatio Gould!  He’s here to explain why Men need to start doing more Business in saunas. He tells us just how violent and disgusting it should be to eat chicken. And everyone gets sidetracked in a discussion about a man who went into a cave and made sweet love to a chicken. Horatio is performing the last extended run of his solo tour show ‘Return of the Space Cowboy’ throughout November, ending with some special shows in London. Check out the dates and book tickets here. Russell is also touring in 2026 with his brand new show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk There’s a whole second show’s worth of Horatio on our Patreon which also means you get the main show without adverts and everything a day early; Check out our Patreon offering at this link: patreon.com/RussellHoward   That concludes today’s AGM, thank you for being present and so well turned out. See you same place next year (well - next week really but I couldn’t carry off the AGM thing and not pretend it was Annual. It’s in the bloody title). 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

Star of Celebrity Traitors, and Ted Lasso, and Slow Horses…Nick Mohammed is here revealing the five things that make him happiest. What happened when he was asked to perform one-on-one for his hero Andrew Lloyd Webber (awkward!)? Who was the inspiration for his hit character Mr Swallow? And what invaluable tips did he get from Paul Daniels? That’s all in here and so much more. It’s a Nick Mohammed fan’s dream hour. Oh, and if you’re here after listening to the podcast, this is the link to the final scene of Star Wars with the music taken off it. Why not go to see Nick performing LIVE?! He’s touring his show ’Show Pony’ right now across the UK. There are dates in all different corners of the UK so he’s bound to be near you soon. Find out everything and book tickets by going to https://www.nickmohammedlive.com Russell is also touring in 2026 with his brand new show ‘Don’t Tell The Algorithm’. You can book tickets at https://www.russell-howard.co.uk We also recorded a second show with Nick that’s available exclusively to our Patreon listeners, where Nick gives the inside scoop on his time on Taskmaster and we find out everyone’s most accurate animal impressions. Check out our Patreon offering at this link: patreon.com/RussellHoward   Thank you very much for being a dedicated blurb reader. A rare beast indeed. Your commitment has not gone unnoticed and if you keep up this behaviour you’ll be in line for a promotion. All you need to do is another five or six years of hard blurb reading and the carriage clock will be yours. Good work old thing. Pip pip! 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