Comedian and writer Sara Barron (Firecrotch & Normcore, They Like To Watch) celebrates the comforts of 30 Rock, Tina Fey's sitcom skewering of network TV, and the joy of seeing relatable character Liz Lemon surviving and thriving (even if she h

Ben Stokes' 2019 Ashes Innings - with Ed Morrish

Mar 7th, 2024 1h 5m

Comedy producer Ed Morrish (Non-Censored, Soundheap, John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme) brings his personal comfort blanket, Ben Stokes' 2019 Ashes innings at Headingley against Australia (and more broadly "all sport") to try and persuade Com

Allo Allo - with Tom Price

Feb 22nd, 2024 1h 9m

Actor, comedian and broadcaster Tom Price (Torchwood, Magic FM, My Mate Brought A Toaster) talks about the lifelong comfort he draws from Allo Allo, Perry & Lloyd's broad and shameless French resistance farce. Listen very carefully, we will say

Kind Hearts And Coronets - with Naomi Alderman

Feb 8th, 2024 1h 10m

Writer Naomi Alderman (The Power, The Future) chooses as her comfort blanket, the 1949 Ealing black comedy 'Kind Hearts And Coronets', with its mixture of revenge (served cold, of course), and vicious social satire, managing to possess, one mig

Friends - with Larry Rickard (PART TWO)

Oct 12th, 2023 48m 41s

In the second part of our two part look at definitive 1990s sitcom Friends, Larry Rickard (Ghosts, Horrible Histories) talks about how comedy reflects its times, how audiences want (and don't want) things to change for their favourite comedy ch

Friends - with Larry Rickard (PART ONE)

Oct 11th, 2023 44m 54s

Writer and actor Larry Rickard (Ghosts, Horrible Histories) talks about his love for the smash hit 1990s sitcom Friends, and the craft of making warm, gag-filled, ensemble television comedy with your... er... friends.This is Part ONE of a two p

Don't Look Now - with Danny Robins

Sep 20th, 2023 1h 12m

Writer and broadcaster Danny Robins (Uncanny, 2:22 A Ghost Story) talks about the unexpected comforts of Nic Roeg's classic 1973 supernatural thriller Don't Look Now, a masterful study of how humans try and make sense of life, death and the une

Withnail & I - with Jim Howick

Sep 10th, 2023 1h 8m

Actor and writer Jim Howick (Ghosts, Horrible Histories) talks about his love for Bruce Robinson's 1987 film 'Withnail & I', the studied debauchery of the striving, starving artist, its ache of regret for the 60s, and the strange, romantic comf

Rush - with Rufus Wright

Aug 23rd, 2023 1h 1m

Actor Rufus Wright (Rogue One, Quantum of Solace, The Audience) talks about the comfort he gets from the often overlooked 1974 debut album by Canadian heavy prog rock trio Rush, and we share our thoughts on the appeal of heavy metal for teenage

The Good Place - with Bec Hill

Aug 9th, 2023 1h 5m

Comedian and writer Bec Hill (Makeaway Takeaway, Horror Heights, A Problem Squared) talks about the comforts of Michael Schur's philosophical afterlife sitcom The Good Place, and how comedy can tackle the really, really big stuff. Hosted on Aca

Laurel & Hardy - with Andrew Male (PART TWO)

Jul 20th, 2023 39m 32s

The second part of our 2-part celebration of the sound shorts of Laurel & Hardy, with journalist Andrew Male (Sight & Sound, Mojo, Sunday Times), talking about Towed In A Hole, Their First Mistake, Them Thar Hills, and its sequel, Tit For Tat.P

Laurel & Hardy - with Andrew Male (PART ONE)

Jul 19th, 2023 46m 35s

Journalist Andrew Male (Sight & Sound, Sunday Times, Mojo) talks about the sound shorts of Laurel & Hardy, and the leap forward in comedy instigated by their unique, warm double act adapting to the new technology of sound.Part one of two, deali

Spider-Man - with Carrie Quinlan (PART TWO)

Jun 29th, 2023 40m 36s

PART TWO of actor and writer Carrie Quinlan talking about Spider-Man, and the endlessly retellable tale of the nerd-turned-neighbourhood superhero. This part talks in more depth about the latest Spider-Man film 'Across the Spiderverse'.If you h

Spider-Man - with Carrie Quinlan (PART ONE)

Jun 28th, 2023 33m 2s

Actor and writer Carrie Quinlan (Home, Agendum, John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme) talks about her love of the comic character Spider-Man, in all his (and her, and its) incarnations, and what enables the story of the teenage nerd turned neigh

Pride - with Margaret Cabourn-Smith

Jun 7th, 2023 1h 3m

Comedy actor and podcaster Margaret Cabourn-Smith (Crushed, John Finnemore, Penny Dreadfuls) talks about the uplifting British comedy film Pride (2014) with its story of unlikely alliances and the power of unity, and the winner of an imaginary

Asterix - with Jay Foreman

May 31st, 2023 59m 49s

Comedian and YouTuber Jay Foreman (Map Men, Politics Unboring-ed) talks about the comforts of Goscinny and Uderzo’s indomitable Asterix, about the sort of jokes and storytelling that can only work in comic form, and how good it is to read somet

Bridget Jones's Diary - with Daisy Buchanan

May 17th, 2023 1h 1m

Author and journalist Daisy Buchanan (Insatiable, How To Be A Grown Up) talks about the comforts of Bridget Jones's Diary, by Helen Fielding, and how book Bridget differs from the version we now think we know, how the book acts as a manual for

Monty Python (Series 4) - with Michael Spicer

1 May 10th, 2023 1h 7m

Comedian Michael Spicer (The Room Next Door, Mandy, The Mash Report) talks about the comforts of Monty Python's final, short and strange TV series (the one nobody really talks about), why sketch shows are all-hit-and-no-miss (provided you love

Ronald Searle - with Jo Neary

Apr 26th, 2023 1h 2m

Comedian and artist Jo Neary (Ideal, Man Down) on illustrator Ronald Searle, in particular his school satires: St Trinian's and the immortal Molesworth books, with Geoffrey Willans. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pride and Prejudice - with Abigail Burdess

Apr 19th, 2023 1h 5m

Writer and actor Abigail Burdess (Mother's Day, Mitchell & Webb) talks about the comforts of the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, and talks about the invention of the romcom, and whether Jane Austen is the most successful comedy writ

Bonus

Home Comforts: Absolutely Fabulous (Sample episode)

1 Mar 27th, 2023 29m 14s

If you like Comfort Blanket, we are launching a Patreon so you can join in and show your support.www.patreon.com/comfortblanketpodPatreon membership gives you early ad-free access to future episodes of Comfort Blanket, as well as our exclusive

The Last Of Us - with Melanie Gutteridge

Mar 10th, 2023 1h 7m

Actor Melanie Gutteridge (Salisbury Poisonings, Undeclared War, The Bill) talks about the comforts of the 2013 video game The Last of Us - recently adapted into the hit HBO series - the power of interactive fiction, and how video games are more

Bonus

Home Comforts: Close Encounters Of The Third Kind (Sample episode)

Feb 28th, 2023 34m 45s

We are launching a Comfort Blanket Patreon. Please join and throw some coins in the lovely Patreon hat if you feel you want to support the podcast...www.patreon.com/comfortblanketpodYou'll get early ad-free access to forthcoming episodes, as we

BEST OF COMFORT BLANKET series one and two

Feb 2nd, 2023 1h 4m

A look back at some favourite moments from the first two series. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Doctor Who (Classic Series) - with John Higgs

Jan 19th, 2023 1h 14m

Author John Higgs (Love & Let Die, The KLF: Chaos Magic...) talks about the comforts of classic Doctor Who, and how a science fiction series for children seems to have almost willed itself into being as something far bigger, more powerful, and