Be Funny Or Die

A quick podcast with some ideas about how a Christmas classic weaves its comedy magic by playing it almost straight… This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit joelmorris.substack.com/subscribe

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit joelmorris.substack.comGeoff McGivern originated the role of Ford Prefect in Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy and has been in everything from Ghosts to Blackadder, from Back to A Bit Of Fry and Laurie, and here the legendary British comedy titan shares with us a tale of how he got over his fear of acting on camera… by working with Noel Edmonds and Mr Blobby.

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit joelmorris.substack.comThe smashing Al Campbell – directing supremo behind everything from It’s Kevin to Man Down, from Inside No 9 to Cunk – talks about how the original dimbulb pundit Barry Shitpeas came about, and reveals the answer to the mystery of Barry’s trademark bandaged hands…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit joelmorris.substack.comI’m going to record some pub-table style eavesdrops on chats with people in comedy who know stuff. Loads more of these to come…Adam Tandy is the hugely successful producer behind Inside No9, Detectorists, The Thick Of It, The Armando Iannucci Shows, Alan Partridge and countless other brilliant bits of comedy.I recorded us talking about what could be see…

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit joelmorris.substack.comIn this first edition of the Be Funny Or Die podcast, I’m looking at Monty Python’s Dead Parrot Sketch, broadcast for the first time 55 years ago in December 1969, and wondering what on earth’s going on in there.I want to look at how the sketch’s accidentally perfect balance of familiarity and absurdism made it the unexpected signature sketch of the gro…