Given Ireland and Britain’s complex history, not least over 700 years of colonisation and dominance and the most recent thorny issue of Northern Ireland’s border during Brexit negotiation, what does a comedian’s Irish accent represent in the eyes of British audience?

There are in fact quite a few Irish comedians in the UK. Peter Flanagan is our very first guest, as in addition to his identify of a professional club comic, he is also a column writer for The Irish Times, documenting his views as a Irish diaspora living in the UK and his witty take on British politics.

Peter talked about the most memorable heckle from an English woman that was akin to a racist mime, what an idealised Irishman’s image would be and how he got used to the British public’s lack understanding in the bilateral history or even just Britain’s own history (and geography).

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Follow Peter on Instagram and facebook

Follow your host Kuan-wen on Instagram

An example of Peter's column in The Irish Times (note that there's a paywall)

Kuan-wen was singing a jingo for Sheila's Wheel (click for video on Youtube) - a commercial for car insurance aimed at female drivers in the 2000s.

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00:47 Intro

03:01 Out of numerous Irish comedians in the UK, why Peter is invited

04:33 An Irish accent too strong for some yet not strong enough for some

05:53 The perception of a “Dublin” accent in Ireland

07:23 Not just one accent in Ireland (and stereotypes of a generic Irish accent/Irish comedian)

09:06 A memorable racist meme heckle

11:54 Irish used to be the main group on the receiving end of racist attitudes in the UK

13:24 How Peter feels as an Irish comedian in the UK? Is it fair to compare Anglo-Irish relationship with that between Taiwan and China?

17:42 The sweet Irish accent for BBC and the idealised Irishman - Terry Wogan

20:52 Different expressions of humour: between a column writer for The Irish Times and a club comic

24:51 Making stand up comedy informative or even using it to educate the audience?

27:18 British public’s lack of understanding of their own history and indifference to Ireland

30:11 For all the Nazi jokes British comedians make, where’s the British Empire’s South African concentration camp joke?

31:40 How Peter won over Brexit-supporting audience?

34:41 Learning to be himself and not liked by some on social media

40:04 City comedy vs rural comedy

43:18 Difference between Irish audience and British audience

45:09 Peter’s social media

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Podcast intro music by @Taigenkawabe