Arthur Smith: I got arrested for breach of the peace and possession of a megaphone

Arthur Smith: I got arrested for breach of the peace and possession of a megaphone

From the bomb sites of post war South London to the stages of the Comedy Store and the studios of Radio 4, Arthur Smith’s life has been driven less by ambition than by curiosity. The son of a Second World War prisoner of war turned police officer, and a grammar school girl who filled the house with books and poetry, Arthur grew up in a home where humour and humanity went hand in hand.

In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits down with the comedian to trace a journey that begins in Bermondsey and winds its way through the birth of alternative comedy, and the strange alchemy that turned a literature graduate into one of Britain’s most distinctive comic voices. Arthur reflects on discovering the thrill of laughter as a child playing Captain Hook, on being elected head boy, and on why poetry and stand up share more in common than most people realise.

They revisit the early days of the Comedy Store, the emergence of a new kind of comedy in the 1980s, and the moment television fame arrived via Grumpy Old Men. Arthur speaks candidly about the seductions of drink, the shock of acute pancreatitis, and how a brush with mortality reshaped his relationship with success. For Arthur, comedy has never been about domination or design, but about delight: finding the precise word, the perfect pause, the unexpected turn.

Find out more about Arthur Smith’s upcoming gigs here

Jaksot(318)

Arabella Weir: At nine my mum said, “I can’t bear the sight of you”

Arabella Weir: At nine my mum said, “I can’t bear the sight of you”

Actor, comedian and bestselling author Arabella Weir grew up in a family that prized intellect and appearances but struggled to offer love. In this episode of Full Disclosure, she tells James O’Brien ...

12 Syys 20251h

Natalie Haynes: Greek Myths, Medea and the Comedy of Classics

Natalie Haynes: Greek Myths, Medea and the Comedy of Classics

Natalie Haynes has never been easy to categorise. A stand-up comedian turned broadcaster and best-selling author, she has built a career out of making the ancient world vivid, funny and urgent. In thi...

5 Syys 20251h 4min

From The Vault: Brian Cox

From The Vault: Brian Cox

From a childhood in Dundee marked by loss, poverty and resilience, to becoming one of the most respected actors of his generation, Brian Cox’s life and career have been defined by an unrelenting pursu...

29 Elo 20251h 9min

From The Vault: Miriam Margolyes

From The Vault: Miriam Margolyes

From a childhood in Oxford shaped by unconditional love, Jewish heritage and a keen sense of curiosity, to a career spanning stage, screen, voice work and bestselling memoir, Miriam Margolyes’ life ha...

22 Elo 20251h

Cariad Lloyd: Talking About Grief Changed My Life

Cariad Lloyd: Talking About Grief Changed My Life

Cariad Lloyd never set out to become the voice of modern grief, but after losing her father at just fifteen, the silence around death stayed with her. In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien...

15 Elo 20251h 1min

Kevin Rowland: Beyond Come On Eileen

Kevin Rowland: Beyond Come On Eileen

From a shifting childhood split between Wolverhampton, rural Ireland and London, to fronting one of the most distinctive and uncompromising bands of the 1980s, Kevin Rowland’s life has been defined by...

8 Elo 202559min

Irvine Welsh: We’re More Addicted Now Than in Trainspotting

Irvine Welsh: We’re More Addicted Now Than in Trainspotting

From the high-rises of Muirhouse to the heart of countercultural Britain, Irvine Welsh has built a literary universe fuelled by punk energy, dancefloor euphoria, and radical empathy. In this episode o...

1 Elo 20251h 1min

David Lammy: I’ve had imposter syndrome my whole life- until now

David Lammy: I’ve had imposter syndrome my whole life- until now

From a working-class childhood in Tottenham to the Cabinet table, David Lammy’s path to becoming Foreign Secretary was anything but straightforward. Raised by a single mother after his father disappea...

25 Heinä 202554min

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