Class Clown

Stewart Lee gives his characteristically honest takes on the performers who chose to play the Riyadh Comedy festival in Saudi Arabia, why he's not into the Oasis reunion despite liking their work, why the current state of Marvel is in direct opposition to what the brand once stood for, why Star Trek is superior to Star Wars (and why Star Trek is better for people with autism). He also shares a story about getting beaten up by teenagers a few years ago, his love of Top Trumps, why you'll soon be able to buy an action figure of him and why you shouldn't use Chat GPT to write interview questions. Safe to say, this episode is an all timer! Access Part 2 right now on the Class Clown patreon 00:00 Intro, Chat GPT 04:05 Panini Stickers V Top Trumps 09:02 Riyadh Comedy Festival 10:46 Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel 20:26 Modern Comedy Industry 22:30 Oasis Reunion 26:19 Only Fools & Horses V Blackadder 27:48 Bad Behaviour 31:20 Being Beaten Up Recently 39:30 Early Drinking Stories Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The phenomenal Russell Kane talks to Seann Walsh about growing up in council housing, the pluses and minuses of having a scary "Ray Winstone"- style Dad, playing Dungeons & Dragons, the dangers of being a self proclaimed "Jester Bellend" and what makes someone statistically more likely to find success in comedy, and what makes you more likely to find success in Football and sports. We do our usual nostalgia-drenched either/or quiz where Russell makes the case that The Prodigy are the dance music equivalent of Oasis. To hear Part 2 immediately (and Ad FREE!) go to the CLASS CLOWN Patreon To help you ditch Vaping and Smoking, check out our sponsor, FUM. 00:00 - Episode Preview and Intro 01:17 - Nostalgic Either/Or Quiz 03:59 - Russell's love for Dungeons & Dragons 07:26 - Childhood Foolishness and Having A Scary dad 16:29 - Life in Council Housing in Enfield 22:45 - Family Heritage 27:07 - Aristotle, Early Performing and School Popularity 32:58 - What makes someone likely to be a Comedian vs a Footballer 37:20 - Intelligence, Power of a Strong Father Figure 49:39 - Russell Kane Part 2 Preview SHOW DESCRIPTION Part nostalgia trip, part confessional, part masterclass in unconventional success—this is no ordinary interview podcast. In Class Clown, Seann Walsh chats to the boldest rule-breakers in entertainment, uncovering the wild tales of childhood chaos, brushes with disaster, and the personal battles that shaped them. But beneath the mischief lies a powerful thread—how the very traits that caused trouble early on became the unexpected fuel for their biggest achievements. Expect laugh-out-loud memories, raw moments of vulnerability, and the kind of hard-won wisdom you won't hear anywhere else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Joel flips the the format on it's head and puts Seann under the spotlight for a moment as the pair discuss their early days gigging together. They then dig into Joel's teen years in a band, how his step Dad became a hugely influential force in shaping his psychology around work and effort, the meritocracy of the comedy circuit, how he adds his own comedy perspective into his presenting scripts (including some fun banter with Jonathan Ross when he appeared on The Masked Singer). To use our 10% Discount code foe Better Help head to ⁠BetterHelp.com/ClassClown Next week's episode will feature the hilarious Russell Kane - access 48 Hours early head to patreon.com/classclown⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you want to hear/watch Part 2 straight away head to patreon.com/classclown In Part 1 Joel Dommett chats about being dumped for being frigid, how he learned comedy from the Class Clown's around him and how a misjudged comment landed him a confrontation with the hardest lad in school. We get into why he was never into Blur or Oasis and he feels that he has never really fit neatly into any group. To use the 10% Discount code foe Better Help head to BetterHelp.com/ClassClown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adoption, anorexia, bulimia, drinking on parks, kiss chase gone wrong and school plays. Seann and Joanne cover a lot of ground in this funny, insightful and touching episode of Class Clown. Host: Seann WalshProducer: Adam HortonProducer: Marc PageCover Design: Ben TomsPhotography: Jack MargerisonMusic: Mike J Benwell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The amazing Josh James tells Seann Walsh about the effect being from Essex has had on his outlook growing up, why he got banned from the FA, his first gig impersonating Bill Clinton, how drugs and alcohol almost derailed his career and why he got suspended 4 times from school.This episode is sponsored by FIXR. Class Clown Listeners get £50 when hosting their first event. Head to fixr.co/p/class-clown for more info! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

amali Maddix joins Seann Walsh to chat growing up in the 90's and the 00's, almost being kicked out of school multiple times, having Dyslexia and Dyspraxia, a heartbreaking story about how a teacher's insensitive comment altered him as a person and how he overcame low expectations to achieve massive success as a comedian and documentary maker. Also covered: how his love for Biggie and Tupac evolved since he was a kid, why he is neither into Oasis or Blur and a very funny story about breaking a car window by accident. Our sponsor this week is Sheath underwear. Use discount code CLASSCLOWN for 20% off! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The brilliant Laura Smyth talks to Seann Walsh all about grwoing up in 80's and 90's East London, losing her father at a young age, her bad teenage years which lead to her underperforming at School. We get into her experiences as a young mum, a chance meeting with an old teacher which lead to her going back to uni and eventually pursuing a career as teacher, which she dropped in her late 30's to take on a career in comedy. Check out Laura's new pod Shouldn't Laugh But... launching August 4th! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Viral comedy sensation and regular Ricky Gervais tour support Red Richardson talks to Seann Walsh about being suspended 8 times, a misguided attempt to become a life coach, his teenage love for rapping, his thoughts on comedy and being inspired by South Park, The Office, Alan partridge, Will Ferrell and Ben Stiller.Stay toxic! Host: Seann WalshProducer: Adam HortonDigital Activation Producer: Alfie DundasCover Design: Ben TomsPhotography: Jack MargerisonMusic: Mike J Benwell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The incredible Vittorio Angelone reveals how he deals with a crippling anxiety that can cause him to hallucinate, tells us about the current status of his autism evaluation and how being part of sports teams and music groups made sense to him, in a way that the rest of his school life did not. We get into house party mischief, his failed bid to be "head boy', his admiration for his schoolmates who were the Class Clowns and how being from Belfast has influenced his comedy and career. Catch Vittorio on tour by purchasing tickets here:https://vittorioangelone.com/tourAnd come see CLASS CLOWN LIVE! at Top Secret Comedy Club on July 27th with the wonderful Josh James. Tickets below:https://fixr.co/event/seann-walsh-x-josh-james-class-clown-live-podcast-tickets-938680080?lang=en-US Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

YouTube pioneer Max Fosh discusses the impact of his parents' divorce, playing female roles in school plays, the creative methods of bullying at private school, the keys to his content creation success, why he considers himself a comedian but not a "stand up."Host: Seann WalshProducer: Adam HortonDigital Activation Producer: Alfie DundasCover Design: Ben TomsPhotography: Jack MargerisonMusic: Mike J Benwell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pop Legend Boy George chats with Seann Walsh about his distrust of authority, determination to get suspended from school, a tough upbringing, the homophobia he experienced growing up, forming Culture Club on a whim, developing his iconic look, twitter spats and how his views have matured with age. Check out Boy George's new album SE18 out now on Vinyl and CD! Host: Seann Walsh Producer: Adam Horton Digital Activation Producer: Alfie Dundas Cover Design: Ben Toms Photography: Jack Margerison Music: Mike J Benwell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The hilarious Mike Rice talks us through his troubled teen years, growing up on a farm in Ireland, being suspended 5 times(!), his smart mouth getting him into all sorts of trouble, school riots, fighting, hitting puberty late, writing his own lines in the school play, panic attacks, depression and the realisation he came to that made his career possible! Host: Seann Walsh Producer: Adam Horton Digital Activation Producer: Alfie Dundas Cover Design: Ben Toms Photography: Jack Margerison Music: Mike J Benwell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jill Scott tells Seann Walsh the surprising ways she stayed focused during big football matches, how bullies taught her resilience that lead to her later success and how her love for people is what lead to her being crowned Queen of The Jungle in I'm A Celeb. Plus she delivers the untold story behind losing her temper in the Euros 2022 finals that makes Seann cry! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fin Taylor is back with Seann Walsh! Here Fin reveals the importance of the school debating society in forming his early stand up aspirations, a telling off that lead to a headmaster apologizing and his early sketch group. He also reveals how he came to team up with Horatio Gould and Vittorio Angelone, his key collaborators behind the creation Fin Vs The Internet (which he says STILL hasn't made him any money!) and how that lead to Fin Vs History. Check out MORE EXCLUSIVE content with Fin by clicking below as he tells us what's the one thing he would want to bring from his youth into adulthood AND a listener asks him if he's ever bombed in front a celebrity... https://www.patreon.com/classclown See Seann Walsh on his This Is Torture Live Tour! Tickets below! https://www.seannwalsh.com/ 00:00 Getting In Trouble 12:08 Early Sketch Group 16:10 Starting Fin Vs Internet with Horatio Gould & Vittorio Angelone 25:46 Creating Fin Vs History 30:45 Influences 35:55 Future of Comedy Industry Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Class Clown, Seann Walsh sits down with comedian Fin Taylor to talk about how childhood, being the only boy in an all girl's dorm and having a family of performers helped shape his sharp, fearless style of comedy. From controversial jokes to pushing the boundaries of what audiences will accept, he explains why great comedy comes at the risk of being disliked and why that's totally okay with him. Seann and Fin talk about being a show off, getting in trouble for jokes, and how those early experiences influenced the comedian Fin would later become. Fin Taylor is one of the most distinctive voices in British comedy. He’s the creator and host of the hit YouTube comedy show Fin vs The Internet, and one of the biggest podcasts in the UK Fin vs History with Horatio Gould. He has appeared on Live at the Apollo, and his stand-up specials and online clips have built a huge following for his fearless, transgressive style. Topics in this episode include:• How school shaped Fin Taylor’s comedy• Why comedians shouldn’t be afraid of being disliked• The role of risk and controversy in stand-up• Getting in trouble for jokes at school• Why the context of wher you see comedy matters If you enjoy the episode, make sure to subscribe to the channel for more conversations with comedians about the moments that shaped their sense of humour. PART 2 of this conversation is available now on Patreon, where Seann and Fin go even deeper into comedy; How debating prepped him for comedy and the trouble he got into which lead to the headmaster apologising to him! You'll also find an exclusive bonus episode on there as Fin answers your questions! Also catch Seann Walsh live and on tour! Tickets here! Follow the podcast for more episodes of Class Clown, where Seann Walsh speaks to comedians about the school experiences, teachers, and childhood moments that helped create their comedy voice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maisie Adam is back for part 2 of her sit down with Seann Walsh. She talks about writing her first show while working at Fat Face, the worst trouble she ever got into as a teen, the difficulty of getting into drama school and then the problematic method acting exercises she had to indulge! For More Maisie head to Patreon where we have some exclusive extra questions and Seann shares his thoughts on the interview! See Seann Walsh On Tour! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taskmaster Champ Maisie Adam has had an incredible rise on the UK comedy scene. Here we dig into why feeling a lost and directionless in her young adulthood lead to her diving feet first into comedy with an hour long show on her very first performance! She talks about why seeing bad theatre can be just as inspirational as watching good theatre, the mad characters in her village, the influence of her mum's storytelling ability and her tendency to over analyse. We also get into her teen years as an indie kid with a bedroom wall full of Heat Magazine's Toro's Of The Week! Watch Part 2 With Maisie and access some exclusive Patreon Content as Maisie answers YOUR questions and Seann offers his unfiltered thoughts on the interview! Buy tickets to see Seann on his This Is Tourture Tour! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Adam Hills is back for Part 2 in which he shares the best advice he has ever received which still fuels him to this day, how studying Reiki and positive energy aligns with his unique and specific comedic sensibility and how knowing his voice lead to him to fronting his ideal show with The Last Leg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The exceptional Adam Hills (The Last Leg), joins Seann Walsh to discuss what built his uplifting style of comedy, the power of having a positive outlook, his "idyllic" childhood in Australia and how having a prosthetic foot taught him a powerful lesson that he believes contributed to his adulthood success. He also tells an incredible story of gigging with Robin Williams, the amazing advice he got from Billy Connolly and how he saw a pre-fame Jim Carrey in Las Vegas. This episode is certain to inspire you! Enjoy! Access Part 2 on Patreon AND some EXCLUSIVE content you won't hear anywhere else as Adam answers one of YOUR QUESTIONS and answers what's he one thing from his youth he wishes he had in adulthood! Catch Seann Walsh on his This Is Torture Tour Now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices