Russell Howard’s Wonderbox Avalon Television

If you find influencers ridiculous, this is the episode for you. TikTok sensation Shabaz Ali spends his time finding their most ridiculous promotions and videos and rips the piss out of them from inside his burrito hoodie.
Shabaz sits down with Russell to talk about the most insane things he’s seen online (a café for gourmet water? Sellotape roll as a luxury bracelet?) and also chats about his day job as a teacher (including that class where they ate the glue sticks).
 
It’s a fun chat that then develops into a discussion about the creeping harm of this online nonsense. Interesting stuff!
 
Shabaz is on TikTok and his handle there is @shabazsays. He’s also released his first book all about his adventures in the ridiculous world of the influencer which is called ‘I’m Rich You’re Poor’. It’s in them bookshops right now so get one!
 
Producer: Dan Atkinson
Line Producer: Daisy Knight
Exec Producer: James Taylor
Composer: Fat Lady Music

It’s only bloody Joe Wilkinson! The Cats Does Countdown people’s favourite is in the studio to chat about his struggles with his high-tech hoover, the beauty of watching online cooking videos and how to embrace middle-age. It’s packed full of wisdom and comedy which is kind of why podcasts exist.
 
Joe’s acclaimed podcast (with David Earle) is called Chatabix, and it’s a thrice weekly morning dollop of excellent nonsense. Search for it on your podcast app and subscribe hard. Here’s a link to it on Apple Podcasts.
 
If you prefer to hold something in your hand then get out to a bookshop and get your mitts on Joe’s recently-published autobiography. It’s illustrated by another excellent comedian in Henry Paker, and it’s cover to cover nonsense of the highest calibre. You could also buy it on Amazon, if you can live with that stain on your conscience.
It's published by Penguin – have a look here.
 
There will be more piping hot Wonderbox for you next week. Byeee!
 
Producer: Dan Atkinson
Line Producer: Daisy Knight
Exec Producer: James Taylor
Composer: Fat Lady Music

Podcasting royalty Richard Herring is here! Richard commits his dearest items to the Wonderbox; his stone cairn (with an incredible story about the fine line between art and insanity), his manky old ventriloquist’s doll and his purged bollock.
You want a fascinating account of the last forty years of British comedy? It’s here. You want to hear which celebrity attacked Richard Herring when he was an 18 year old in Edinburgh? You got it. Alongside an incredibly poignant account of what it’s like when your doctor tells you you’re seriously ill. What a ride!
 
Richard Herring is one of British comedy’s most continually interesting and prolific performers. He is out on tour after a six-year hiatus. This tour is called ‘Can I Have My Ball Back’ and it will run until July 2024 and probably beyond. You can find out the tour dates, book the tickets and catch up with all of Richard’s borderline insane challenges and projects at www.richardherring.com.
 
OH! Also in case you were wondering, yeah, we’re back next week getting all up in the grill of another Wonderbox.
 
Producer: Dan Atkinson
Line Producer: Daisy Knight
Exec Producer: James Taylor
Composer: Fat Lady Music

Laura Smyth is a comedian who is going stratospheric, quick. She’s a brilliant performer with a wicked turn of phrase who’s going to be on all the shows and in all the theatres before you know it.
 
Laura comes into the studio to fill her Wonderbox, and gives it both barrels. She talks about telling drunk lies to her kids and about the thrill of being given a secret gift from Stephen Fry.
 
Laura is on tour-a! She’s on her first full tour of the UK, in theatres and arts centres near you. It's called ‘Living My Best Life’ and it’s happening right now. Find out when Laura is near you and grab some tickets by going to laurasmyth.com. 
That’s quite enough Wonderbox for one week. But there’s surely more next week. We’ll see you then. Take is easy, my friend.
 
Producer: Dan Atkinson
Line Producer: Daisy Knight
Exec Producer: James Taylor
Composer: Fat Lady Music

Russell Kane joins Russell in an all-Russell Wonderbox. And it takes in so much; why English people have such trouble dancing with freedom, some serious advice on making home curry taste like takeaway curry and just so many fascinating little pockets of information and chatter in this one. A podcast that just keeps giving.
 
Russell Kane has just set out on his latest tour of the UK (and further afield). It’s called ‘Hyperactive’ and it’s a tour that is going everywhere with dates right up until the end of 2025. You can find out when he’s near you, and book tickets for a very funny night out by going to www.russellkane.co.uk.
 
Please be with us again next week for another Wonderbox, when there will only be a single Russell, which will mean I don’t have to refer to everyone by their full name when I’m writing these bits.
 
Producer: Dan Atkinson
Line Producer: Daisy Knight
Exec Producer: James Taylor
Composer: Fat Lady Music

Stand-up comedian Fatiha El Ghorri is in the studio to talk Russell through her Wonderbox offerings, including ramadan, baby fat and birds in the wind. It’s a fascinating chat that covers Moroccan family life, and what it’s like being a female Muslim comedian in the UK. It's a lot of fun; Fatiha doesn't hold back.
 
Fatiha is currently working on her first novel ‘The Perks of my Hijab’ which is coming out in April 2025. It’s a YA book about a 13-year old growing up in the UK wearing her hijab, and it promises to be funny and uplifting. You can pre-order it from many good book websites, not just the big one named after a river.
 
You can check out the pre-release webpage on Simon & Schuster’s website (for they are the publishers) here.
 
Russell will be back with more Wonderbox next week. Until then have a lovely week, don’t rush, take it slow, enjoy yourself.
 
Producer: Dan Atkinson
Line Producer: Daisy Knight
Exec Producer: James Taylor
Composer: Fat Lady Music