The Comedy Club on BBC Radio 4 (R4) is hosted by a comedy writer (Paul Garner). On December 15^th Jimmy dropped in to see the old friend he’s been collaborating with since 2001 (original blog post, here).

It’s basically around a 20-minute chat, split across 4 episodes, with Paul trying to make it seem like Jimmy was leaving and returning to the studio.

Episode 1 / 2026 01 01

Here

Jimmy arrives at 3 minutes 30 and they cover:

• Ticket sales in Aus, NZ, Can and US
• Wanting to break America
• Working with Chappelle, Louis CK and Chris Rock
• Paul reminding Jimmy of how, shortly after leaving Shell, he would play the Hen and Chickens and Karoline would be in the audience, making notes
• Split testing jokes on stage

Episode 2/ 2026 01 03

Here

Jimmy arrives at 1 minute (until 6 min 20) and they cover:

• Fackham Hall / difficulty of getting a film out
• Working on the script during the pandemic
• SVOD is the thing, movies have a long tail
• Hanging out on set

Episode 3 / 2026 01 04

Here

Jimmy arrives at 1 minute (until 7 minutes) and they cover:

• What did he want to be, when at school?
• Multi-Coloured Swap Shop and wondering about the studio audience and where Wood lane was
• Kick Start with Peter Purves – asking his mother for a motor bike
• Music was a big part of his life, learning guitar and writing songs
• Love of Morrissey and Elvis Costello, word play
• Comics desperately want love on their own terms
• Noticing people on TV fake laughing at things that are not funny
• Comedians that are hilarious on stage but choose to present a safe version
• Wanting authenticity
• Podcasts are revealing
• Comedy should be taught, Rosetta Stone of Comedy

Episode 4 / 2026 01 08

Here

This one is 6.32 and Jimmy features from the start:

• Is he on British TV more than any other comedian?
• Paul went to Australia and, turning the TV on, it was one of Jimmy’s shows
• The timing of when he came up through the ranks
• Having a few of letting the plates stop spinning
• Loving performing – but also enjoying the travel
• Doing 20 minutes supporting Dave Chappelle at the Rod Laver Arena (here)
• December 2025 UK Arena gigs – walked on to Elvis Presley’s walk on music – Also Sprack Zarathustra (Them from 2001: A Space Odyssey). Elvis audio – here.
• Be out of your comfort zone every 18 months

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