If you grew up loving Not the 9 O’Clock News, Blackadder and Spitting Image, you will love this podcast! John Lloyd takes us behind the scenes of Blackadder, Not The 9 O’Clock News, Spitting Image, QI and many more award-winning comedy shows. Known as ‘The God of Comedy Producers’ he is also a writer, director and presenter and he is every bit as hilarious as the shows he’s created. This conversation is packed with humorous anecdotes but there are some important life lessons too and John generously shares the flip side of a career in comedy. I took many things from this conversation and I am sure you will too. Not to be missed!

OUR 50TH EPISODE!

How lucky was I to be in the passport queue in Nice airport and spot my guest Henry Rowley? Even luckier that he was so lovely and agreed to have this conversation with me. Henry Rowley is a writer, actor and comedian who has amassed 1.3 million followers on TikTok and rising doing the most hilarious point of view sketches from posh girl Minty to The Creepy Teacher to Soho House Member to almost any other stereotype you can think of. He has just finished his standup tour “Just Literally” of the UK and Ireland. It was laugh out loud magic. It turns out that, not only is he the new comedian to watch for, he is also a wonderful human being. This podcast will make your day and, if you follow him on TikTok, all the days that follow will also be brighter!

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Follow Henry on TikTok

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Toby Spence is an award-winning tenor, who has played the lead roles across the world in every major opera theatre from The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden to The Met in New York to La Scala in Milan. A frequent performer at The Proms and on acclaimed recordings, he has also brought classical music to popular audiences through shows like The Rob and Romesh Show.

In this episode, Toby shares his journey to becoming one of the most sought-after tenors of his generation, his battle with thyroid cancer and the remarkable process of relearning to sing after surgery. Humble, witty and candid, this is a rich, touching and inspiring conversation.

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Toby the Tenor

Toby’s performance of Britten’s ‘Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings’

Prince Albert Gruss an der Bruder

Toby Spence as Captain Vere in Billy Budd

Steve Hilton is a British and American political commentator. He was David Cameron’s Senior Advisor when he was Prime Minister. He is an entrepreneur, a best-selling author, a podcaster and he hosts his own television show on Fox News. With all his political experience he is considering the role of Republican candidate for governor of the state of California in 2026.

Having made his mark on both sides of the Atlantic, Steve talks about how he went from the son of Hungarian immigrants to leading construction projects at the tender age of 16 to David Cameron’s Senior Advisor to the Republican hopeful for governor of the state of California. It is a story that encompasses different occupations, nationalities and continents.

Related Links

The Steve Hilton Show


Restoring the Californian Dream Golden Together

Follow Steve on Twitter


Follow Steve on Instagram

Brent Hoberman, the visionary co-founder of Lastminute.com and Made.com, is a true force in the world of entrepreneurship. From building multi-million- dollar businesses to founding the renowned Founders Forum, Brent is now a key player in supporting the next wave of innovators. He’s an advisor to governments on tech, a board member tackling issues from cyberbullying to education and a relentless advocate for startups.

In this lively and insightful conversation, Brent opens up about his journey through the highs and lows of the dot-com boom, the lessons he’s learned, and the unique challenges of being a pioneer in the digital age. Packed with energy, hilarious anecdotes and reflections, this episode offers invaluable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and a rare glimpse into the mind of a serial innovator.

TRIGGER WARNING: This episode includes discussions around sexual abuse and violence.

David Tait is a rock star many times over.

-WORK: He is CEO of The World Gold Council having run trading desks at Goldman Sachs, UBS, Credit Suisse and Bluecrest Capital.

-CHARITY: He has single handedly raised £7.5m for the NSPCC for whom he is a speaker, ambassador and trustee.

-ADVENTURE: He has successfully summitted Everest 5 times and is the only person to have summitted from the North and descended via the South (starting in Tibet and ending up in Nepal).

-CHILDHOOD: He has achieved all the above having been sexually abused as a child by grandfather's brother, his father and others. For many years David kept this abuse a secret which nearly cost him his life. His tragic and deeply compelling story is portrayed in the movie Sulphur & White.

All the above is discussed in our conversation.

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David’s Website

The World Gold Council

NSPCC

Donate to the NSPCC (If you'd like to donate specifically to The Lighthouse, please say when you donate)

Sulphur & White trailer

Guy Chambers is a rock star in every sense of the title. He is one of the most successful and prolific musicians, songwriters and producers in the UK. He has more than 50 gold and platinum albums to his credit. He has worked with a variety of top artists, ranging from Mark Ronson and The Wanted to Katie Melua and Beverley Knight. He has also composed the music for films, musicals and even an opera.

His best known and long-standing collaboration is with Robbie Williams, with whom he wrote some of the biggest hits of the 1990s and 2000s including ‘Angels’, ‘Rock DJ’, ‘Feel’, ‘Millenium’ and ‘Let Me Entertain You’. In this conversation Guy talks about some of his present and past collaborations, how he wrote the song that changed everything for him and Robbie and what life was like under the spotlight of fame’s adulation and scrutiny. Full of wisdom, reflection, humility and candour, my conversation with Guy will fascinate and entertain!

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Guy’s Website

Andy Coulson was editor of The News of the World and was Downing Street Director of Communications for David Cameron after he became Prime Minister in 2010. He founded and now runs Coulson Partners giving strategic advice to global CEOs, entrepreneurs and philanthropists on crisis avoidance and management, on seizing opportunities and on how to drive smart, long-term decision making.

He also founded and hosts the brilliant “Crisis What Crisis?” podcast, talking to guests who have endured the worst of life’s experiences and who share their wisdom on how to survive and thrive. In partnership with the Ministry of Justice, his podcast has just been made available to thousands of inmates across UK prisons. These podcasts will inform, inspire and provide hope in what are often empty, wasted, despair-filled days. Andy understands crisis well when, 10 years ago, he himself was convicted of conspiracy to intercept voicemails and spent time in prison at HMP Belmarsh and Hollesley Bay.

In this conversation, Andy describes the highs and lows of his journey and how he has dealt with both successes and crises. Andy is very open, honest and has much wisdom to share.

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Coulson Partners

Listen to Andy's podcast: Crisis What Crisis?