Hard Lines

Drew Stearne and Shalaka Kurup break down a classic Roast Battle UK clash between Shalaka and Helen Kay. They get into the writing, the callbacks, the stereotypes, the comebacks, and why this battle still stands out as one of the best. Plus: joke theft, mic technique, and what makes a battle truly work.

In this episode Drew and Shalaka break down James Mileham vs Adam Riley in one of the best battles in recent history. Delve into the genius of their joke writing and the expertise (or otherwise) in which it's performed.

In the first episode of Hard Lines, Drew Stearne and Roast Battle UK champion Shalaka Kurup introduce the show, look back at a recent live night, and then break down a standout battle from the 2024 tournament: Luke Hall vs Steph Aretone. From joke structure and rebuttals to timing, crowd reaction and persona, they dig into what made it such a strong clash, and why Luke edged it. A funny, filthy and surprisingly nerdy deep dive into Roast Battle craft.