The comedians paradise

Marvin McCarthy
  • 5.0 (8)
  • Stand-Up
  • Updated Weekly

Join comedian and promoter, Marvin McCarthy each Sunday at 8pm UK time as he interviews the mavericks of the comedy world.

  1. 2d ago

    15 years of puppets

    Professional puppeteer and clown Michelle Stein joins the podcast to chat about her 15-year career and her solo show Always Sometimes Maybe at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. We dive deep into the rich history of alternative theatre, the art of physical comedy, and why the Fringe has shifted from a haven for eccentric artists into an expensive party for the elite. Plus, we debate the merits of Chicago deep-dish pizza and plug The Pieces—a spectacular circus show performing at the Underbelly Circus Hub. If you would like to know more on Michelle, you can go on her website at https://www.michelejoystine.com/ or go to her edinburgh fringe show:https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/always-sometimes-maybe. You can follow this podcast on Youtube at https://bit.ly/41LWDAq, Spotify at https://spoti.fi/3oLrmyU,Apple podcasts at https://apple.co/3LEkr3E and you can support the pod on:https://www.patreon.com/thecomediansparadise. #standupcomedypodcast #comedypodcast #interviewingcomedians #podcastinterview #standupcomedian

    15 years of puppets

  2. Aug 9

    40 years of stand-up wisdom

    We interview Martin Mor, the Northern Irish powerhouse who transitioned from a successful career as a circus performer to take the unsuspecting comedy circuit by storm. With over 40 years of experience as a professional entertainer, Martin has established himself as one of the UK’s most popular and in-demand comedians. Now back in Northern Ireland, he works as a leading comedy tutor, sharing his decades of stage wisdom with the next generation of comics. Here is an overview of what we discussed: [[00:00]] How I got started in stand-up comedy [[07:48]] [[08:26]] The evolution of booking female comedians on the circuit [[11:38]] [[17:05]] How to approach hosting a comedy night [[19:00]] [[19:00]] The difference between a comedy closer and a headliner [[20:30]] [[20:30]] Why social media comedians should transition to live stage shows [[22:46]] [[22:46]] Writing for theatre shows vs preparing for different audiences [[24:29]] [[24:29]] Knowing your value: Why I don't take fifty-pound gig spots [[26:10]] [[26:10]] TV comedy acts, bill advertising, and the state of the modern circuit [[33:00]] [[33:00]] How to get paid work as a comedian [[35:05]] [[36:44]] Doing a favour for an act: Why comedy is a team game [[38:13]] [[38:13]] What to do if you're bombing on stage & the 10-year rule to get good [[38:54]] [[39:30]] Why five gigs a week isn't enough & rising to a closer in months [[41:11]] [[42:00]] New acts vs how hard the top professional comedians actually work [[44:03]] [[44:03]] The massive difference between good and bad crowd work [[46:22]] [[47:50]] The ultimate key to mastering crowd work on stage [[51:40]] [[01:00:00]] Treat every show as a big gig & dress for the job you want [[01:04:18]] [[01:04:18]] What to do when your comedy set is going brilliantly [[01:05:21]] [[01:05:21]] The critical mistakes to stop doing when you are doing well [[01:06:41]] [[01:06:41]] Bad clowns vs bad stand-up & getting robbed by Croatian police [[01:09:00]] [[01:09:00]] Performance vs writing: How many comics master both skills? [[01:15:00]] [[01:15:00]] Building an audience that will actually pay to see you live [[01:16:02]] [[01:16:02]] Joke theft: Does your material get stolen because you're not original? [[01:19:00]] [[01:19:48]] The link between ADHD and stand-up comedy performance [[01:22:00]] [[01:38:00]] The problem with École Philippe Gaulier students leaving clown school [[01:41:00]] [[01:41:00]] The issue with Edinburgh Fringe shows from Gaulier clowns [[01:44:00]] [[01:52:57]] Landing your big break in the entertainment industry [[01:55:15]] [[01:55:15]] Debunking the biggest BS in comedy: The struggling artist myth [[01:58:00]] [[01:58:00]] Creating alternative income streams and scaling your opportunities [[02:04:00]] [[02:04:00]] How comedians lose their biggest career opportunities [[02:13:00]] #martinmor #standupcomedy #comedycircuit #comedymasterclass #comedyadvice #crowdwork #ukcomedy #stagecraft #thecomediansparadise #comedycoach If you would like to know more about Martin, you can go on his website at https://martinmor.com/. You can also follow this podcast on Youtube at https://bit.ly/41LWDAq, Spotify at https://spoti.fi/3oLrmyU,Apple podcasts at https://apple.co/3LEkr3E and you can support the pod on:https://www.patreon.com/thecomediansparadise.

    40 years of stand-up wisdom

  3. Jul 19

    Script writer and editor Andrew Ellard

    We chat to Andrew Ellard, he is a premiere British screenwriter, script editor, and story producer famed for his work on critically acclaimed shows like The IT Crowd, Red Dwarf, Miranda, Detectorists, and Chewing Gum. Here is an overview of what we discussed: [[03:03]] Should Idris Elba play James Bond and the challenge of casting directors [[07:34]] [[07:34]] Why I stopped watching Doctor Who when Peter Capaldi left [[10:26]] [[11:14]] My comedy journey: Starting with Red Dwarf and getting into The IT Crowd [[17:09]][[17:20]] Why you need a unique perspective and flawed characters to write good scripts [[24:00]] [[24:00]] How sitcoms differ from traditional TV shows: Why Del Boy’s stupidity creates the comedy [[33:06]] [[33:06]] Why the American Inbetweeners didn’t work: How US sitcoms differ from British versions and the cultural psyche [[39:19]] [[39:19]] What made Chandler so good, the brilliance of Friends, and why the Joey spin-off failed [[44:28]] [[45:21]] Do you work with a lot of comics? [[49:00]] [[49:00]] Why you need your characters to be broken [[53:46]] [[56:00]] Why we fall in love with characters on TV shows and sitcoms [[01:02:05]] [[01:02:05]] How to get your sitcom commissioned [[01:06:25]] [[01:06:25]] What I’ve noticed about the best scripts and the danger of writers getting stuck [[01:12:00]] [[01:13:51]] Being a better writer and my definitive advice to comedians [[01:26:17]] You can follow this podcast on Youtube at https://bit.ly/41LWDAq, Spotify at https://spoti.fi/3oLrmyU,Apple podcasts at https://apple.co/3LEkr3E and you can support the pod on:https://www.patreon.com/thecomediansparadise. #standupcomedypodcast #comedypodcast #interviewingcomedians #podcastinterview #standupcomedian

    Script writer and editor Andrew Ellard

  4. Jul 12

    The Silent Interview with Mime Artist Silent Rocco

    How do you interview a mime on an audio podcast? In this episode of The Comedian’s Paradise, we welcome viral mime star Silent Rocco! Known to millions on Instagram and TikTok for his mind-bending street performances and physical comedy, Rocco breaks his silence (metaphorically) to share his journey. Here is an overview of what we discussed: [[01:25]] Handling drunk Scots, connecting with audiences, and why I became a mime [[16:22]] [[05:00]] Channeling stage fright: Why I will stop as soon as I am not nervous [[05:30]] [[16:22]] The good and the bad of social media algorithms for creators [[17:39]] [[17:39]] Self-taught vs. mime school: How both independent study and formal training helped me [[21:36]] [[21:36]] Why what works for one person won’t work for another, the problem with middlemen, and the issues with modern films [[27:53]] [[28:00]] Suffering from a disease called people-pleasing, connecting with your tribe, and deciding what affects you [[30:22]] [[34:20]] Why we let people decide what affects us, and why what we think isn’t that important [[36:53]] [[36:53]] Working in terrible venues, how to stop getting offended, and taking accountability [[41:52]] [[41:52]] A comedian's take on mental health: Why you don’t need therapy [[44:00]] [[45:00]] The problem with performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival [[53:50]] [[53:50]] Word of mouth and grassroots marketing: The best form of advertising [[58:24]] If you would like to know more on Rocco, you can go on his website at https://silentrocco.com/ , or you can purchase tickets for his latest show if you are in London here:https://greenwichtheatre.org.uk/events/untold-stories/. You can follow this podcast on Youtube at https://bit.ly/41LWDAq, Spotify at https://spoti.fi/3oLrmyU,Apple podcasts at https://apple.co/3LEkr3E and you can support the pod on:https://www.patreon.com/thecomediansparadise. #silentrocco #comediansparadise #mime #physicalcomedy #standupcomedy #mimeartist

    The Silent Interview with Mime Artist Silent Rocco

  5. Jul 5

    BJJ Black Belt Instructor and Comedian

    Our guest today is Sam Diplock a comedian, combat coach and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt instructor. Here is an overview of what we discussed: [[01:00]] The reality of the BJJ community and the people who train [[07:24]] [[01:13]] The Conor McGregor effect on modern combat sports [[02:26]] [[07:24]] My personal journey into traditional martial arts [[13:56]] [[13:00]] Underhand tactics and dirty tricks used in a live fight [[15:58]] [[15:58]] Unconventional combat strategies and tactical psychology [[19:07]] [[19:07]] The truth about fighting vs professional slap fighting [[24:00]] [[24:00]] How to spot who can actually fight and who cannot [[28:11]] [[28:11]] Bouncer secrets: How to de-escalate aggressive people [[32:00]] [[44:00]] The physical and mental benefits of training Jiu-Jitsu [[46:17]] [[46:27]] Sakuraba: The legendary story of the Gracie Killer [[47:48]] [[48:39]] What BJJ taught me about the stand-up comedy circuit [[54:44]] [[54:44]] The eccentric and unique personalities you meet in BJJ [[59:55]] [[59:55]] What statistically happens in a real street fight [[01:01:00]] [[01:01:00]] Which martial art is actually the most effective [[01:03:00]] [[01:03:00]] Why martial arts instructors change gyms so often [[01:09:00]] [[01:06:00]] Should stand-up comedians train in martial arts [[01:06:30]] [[01:09:00]] How I broke into the British comedy industry [[01:14:00]] If you would like to know more on Sam, you can follow his Instagram at samolee91 and follow his podcast and production, the comedy mansion on their website at https://thecomedymansion.com/. You can follow this podcast on Youtube at https://bit.ly/41LWDAq, Spotify at https://spoti.fi/3oLrmyU,Apple podcasts at https://apple.co/3LEkr3E and you can support the pod on:https://www.patreon.com/thecomediansparadise. #bjjuk #bjjpodcast #bjjblackbelt #bjjblackbeltinstructor #brazilianjiujitsublackbeltinstructor #comedypodcast #bjjinstructorandcomedian

    BJJ Black Belt Instructor and Comedian

  6. Jun 28

    Why Stand-Up and Sitcom Writing Are NOT the Same

    Dave Cohen is a British comedian, author, and multi-award-winning comedy writer with a career spanning over four decades in UK television, radio, and live performance. He is best known as the lead lyricist for the hit BBC children's series Horrible Histories, which earned him eight BAFTA Awards. Here is an overview of what we discussed: [[02:06]] How I got started in comedy: why many great comics actually started out as punks [[10:28]] [[10:28]] Comedy in the 80s and 90s, the 2008 economic crash and how it hindered stand-up’s recovery, and how Covid almost killed the industry [[15:00]] [[15:00]] Why I stopped performing stand-up, and the ongoing clashes between this generation and the last [[17:00]] [[21:00]] Why everything you’ve heard about the legendary Malcolm Hardee is probably true [[27:24]] [[27:32]] Why being a stand-up comedian and a sitcom writer are two very different disciplines [[31:39]] [[49:19]] Is a deep understanding of human behaviour essential to becoming a brilliant comedy writer? [[59:10]] If you would like to know more about Dave, you can find his podcast, The Shakespeare Mindset, on Spotify at https://open.spotify.com/show/2baFbflqUTH35qbKRSftoQ. If you want more information on him, you can go to his website to buy his book at https://www.davecohen.org.uk/. You can follow this podcast on Youtube at https://bit.ly/41LWDAq, Spotify at https://spoti.fi/3oLrmyU,Apple podcasts at https://apple.co/3LEkr3E and you can support the pod on:https://www.patreon.com/thecomediansparadise.

    Why Stand-Up and Sitcom Writing Are NOT the Same

  7. Jun 21

    10 Years as a Working-Class Comedian at the Fringe

    Welcome to The Comedian's Paradise! In this episode, we sit down with the critically acclaimed, award-winning UK stand-up comedian Tom Mayhew (BBC Radio 4’s Benefit Scum, Soho Theatre). Known for his fiercely funny, authentic working-class perspective and hit Edinburgh Fringe solo shows (I, Tom Mayhew). Here is an overview of what we discussed: [01:05] Never Been Called Tantalising & What Do You Need for the Fringe? [05:32] Tom shares a hilarious opening anecdote and looks at why the Edinburgh Fringe remains so brilliant. [01:05] The Fringe: Do What You Want, Not What Everyone Else Is Doing [14:57]A deep dive into making money at the Fringe and why it remains the absolute best place to build an audience. [14:20] The Best Place to Get an Audience [14:42] Why the live festival environment offers unparalleled opportunities to connect with real comedy fans. [15:03] Are You a Club Comic or a Festival Comic & The Cost of the Fringe? [20:30] An honest breakdown of circuit comedy versus solo shows, alongside the rising financial expenses. [15:03] Are You a Club Comic or a Festival Comic? [15:21] The core differences in performance style, joke structure, and material needed for these two distinct worlds. [20:30] Being a Working-Class Comedian [22:43] A raw, authentic conversation about class representation and navigating the modern British creative industry. [26:55] You Can Joke About Anything & There Is No Such Thing as Bad Press [34:08] Tom debates the limits of stand-up and whether negative media attention can actually boost a career. [28:00] Dealing with Bad Press [29:26] How modern comedians navigate public backlash, media criticism, and cancel culture on the UK circuit. [26:55] Is It Funny Because It's Shock? [27:46] An analysis of shock humour and the mechanics behind why taboo subjects trigger laughter. [34:08] Controversy in Comedy [34:58] Where the line is drawn in modern stand-up and how changing audience sensibilities impact comedians. [42:00] Why Alternative Acts Struggle to Make It [43:45] The unique hurdles that quirky, unconventional, and alternative comedy performers face in the mainstream. [43:45] Why Taskmaster Is the Making of Comedians & Why You Need to Watch It [49:21] How the hit TV show transforms comedy careers and why it has become essential viewing. [52:23] Why I Respect Live Comedy Promoters [01:01:00] A backstage look at the hard-working promoters who support grassroots talent and keep British comedy alive. You can find out about Tom on his Linktree at https://linktr.ee/TomMayhew. You can follow this podcast on Youtube at https://bit.ly/41LWDAq, Spotify at https://spoti.fi/3oLrmyU,Apple podcasts at https://apple.co/3LEkr3E and you can support the pod on:https://www.patreon.com/thecomediansparadise. #thecomediansparadise#tommayhew #comedypodcast#standup#comedian#edfringe#edinburghfringe#fringe#comedycircuit#alternativecomedy#workingclassartist#creativeindustry #taskmaster#taskmasteruk#comedycontroversy

    10 Years as a Working-Class Comedian at the Fringe

  8. Jun 14

    How to Book and Tour Comedy Shows Across Europe

    In this episode, we sit down with international comedian Fedor Ikelaar to pull back the curtain on the booming European English-speaking comedy circuit. We dive deep into how the continental scene operates, the unique challenges of performing for multi-national crowds, and what it takes to build a career as a touring road comic in Europe. Here are the various chapters of the episode: [[00:00]] My start in comedy and why I don’t use local comedians [[10:36]] [[10:36]] Not needing gatekeepers and the work needed [[15:50]] [[15:50]] Mid-show break / Behind-the-scenes thoughts [[18:27]] [[18:27]] The cost of travelling and the truth of festivals [[30:00]] [[30:00]] Intermission / Tour logistics breakdown [[33:16]] [[33:16]] A story of advertising [[42:07]] [[42:07]] How I got mugged by the airport police in Zagreb [[49:00]] [[49:00]] How to find out what goes in a country [[52:19]] [[52:19]] Living life a little and how do big names keep being funny [[58:00]] [[58:00]] The transition to fame and staying grounded [[01:01:42]] [[01:01:42]] Being famous and being nice [[01:05:00]] [[01:05:00]] Being a people pleaser and comedians being bad with business and admin [[01:10:00]][[01:10:00]] Don’t be an arrogant prick [[01:13:46]] [[01:13:46]] Wrap-up and final thoughts from The Comedian's Paradise [[01:16:00]] You can follow this podcast on Youtube at https://bit.ly/41LWDAq, Spotify at https://spoti.fi/3oLrmyU,Apple podcasts at https://apple.co/3LEkr3E and you can support the pod on:https://www.patreon.com/thecomediansparadise. #thecomediansparadise#standupcomedy#comedypodcast#fedorikelaar#touringcomedian#comedybusiness #redmic #touringcomedyineurope

    How to Book and Tour Comedy Shows Across Europe
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5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Join comedian and promoter, Marvin McCarthy each Sunday at 8pm UK time as he interviews the mavericks of the comedy world.

Information

  • Creator
    Marvin McCarthy
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    300
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Marvin McCarthy
  • Show Website
    The comedians paradise

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