London’s first comedy podcast festival, Cheerful Earful, opens this Thursday with a line-up of 12 live podcast recordings, including both established and emerging shows.
The festival will run from October 6 - 9 across The Bedford Pub in Balham and The Princess Victoria in Shepherd’s Bush. The venues, which are operated by the Three Cheers Pub Co, have hosted regular comedy nights including its iconic 38-year show, Banana Cabaret.
"Seeing Cheerful Earful finally come to life after 2 years in the making is a dream come true,” said Giles Gear, Production Manager of Giddy Aunt Comedy. “We wanted to create an opportunity for audiences to see their favourite funny podcasts up close and personal as well as discovering new shows.
“It's fantastic to see so many shows & cult classics coming together in one festival, as well as titans of the British comedy world as guests, including Rachel Parris, John Robins, Rosie Holt & Jordan Gray. It's the UK's first comedy-podcast festival and we're over the moon to see it come to life - plans for 2023 are already afoot!"
Video recordings of the performances will also be available to watch live online via the NextUp comedy streaming platform, starting at 7.00 pm on October 6th with comedy duo Max Olesker and Ivan Gonzales, hosts of the Sound Deals podcast - in which they give improvised sales pitches for fictional products - alongside a special guest appearance by award-winning comedian and actress, Rosie Holt.
Holt is also the presenter of the NonCensored podcast, which comprises highlights from the fictional radio show of her alter-ego, right-wing pundit Harriet Langley-Swindon. She and producer Ed Morrish will be discussing their transition from radio into the podcasting world in an upcoming episode of PodPod.
Other podcasts included in the Cheerful Earful lineup include “The Podfather” Richard Herring’s award-winning series, The Richard Herring Leicester Square Theatre Podcast, with guests including Stephen Fry and Sally Phillips. Comedians Helen Bauer and Catherine Bohart will also be bringing their podcast Trusty Hogs to the festival. Full details of the festival lineup are available on the Cheerful Earful website.
