Comedian Helen Lederer on evolving attitudes toward neurodiversity, how alternative comedy has developed since the 1980s, and how her definition of happiness changes with age. Helen and Gordon also get into social media and entertainers' relationships with reviews, working with great comedians like Harry Enfield, and why her candid new memoir Not That I’m Bitter proves “you can be funny about sad things”.

Helen Lederer

BBC Radio 5 Live brings you in-depth interviews with the biggest names in sport, entertainment, culture and politics. With Nihal Arthanayake, Gordon Smart, Adrian Chiles and Naga Munchetty.

Personal Journals

Society & Culture

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Toby Kebbell on his breakthrough role in Shane Meadows’ Dead Man’s Shoes, and working with huge industry names like Woody Allen, Oliver Stone, M. Night Shyamalan, Guy Ritchie, Val Kilmer and Robert Redford to name but a fraction. 
 
“There’s no such thing as a bad student, only a bad teacher.” Toby also gets into all the skills he’s learned for roles - things like horseback riding, playing the piano and most recently being trained to box by legend Carl Froch for new movie Salvable co-starring Shia LeBeouf.
 
The pair also discuss the different ways becoming a father can change you, why Toby believes theatre is still the best way for young people to learn acting (even amid the rise in social media presence and personalities), class culture wars and differences in opportunity, and why he believes discipline is responsible for his success.

Toby Kebbell

"An honour to be a part of these young people’s lives". Five-time Chortle-award winning comedian Kiri Pritchard-McLean speaks to Nihal Arthanayake about her new show ‘Peacock’, which is based on how she and her partner became foster carers.

Kiri Pritchard-McLean

Radio genius Richard Bacon is back on the 5 Live airwaves for the latest Headliners slot – so will there yet be a return of the Special Half Hour, 15 years on? 
 
A radio mastermind and no slouch in the TV department either, the pair also delve into Richard’s TV production credits both sides of the Atlantic, and discuss how his ADHD diagnosis and near death experience in adulthood have affected him: “’You were meant to die’, I think about that phrase everyday’.”
 
Oh, and how he’s technically married to Britney Spears; what happened when he played a montage of Partridge-inspired on-air moments to Steve Coogan; why he has high hopes for a high tech phone case you’ve never seen before; and how life in LA has changed his perspective of what’s realistically achievable. 
 
Enjoy, Great Britain, wherever you are!

Richard Bacon

Australian actress and comedian Rebel Wilson shot to fame in Hollywood in Bridesmaids and the Pitch Perfect trilogy, where she played a character called "Fat Amy”.  She has just released her autobiography, ‘Rebel Rising’, charting her course to fame. She also dives deep into her personal and private life, documenting her struggles with weight, romance and fertility.

Rebel Wilson

'I'm not a victim, I call myself a survivor' Former Manchester United defender, Patrice Evra, discusses how he was sexually abused aged 13, and why he's now working with the UN and WHO to ensure other children grow up in a world free of violence and abuse. He also reflects on his time at Manchester United, his early life growing up as one of 24 siblings, and how his partner Margaux changed his life.
 
As a warning to listeners - some of this podcast makes for difficult listening – with discussions of sexual abuse.

Helen Lederer

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