We sat down with some of the UK's most talented comedians and chatted about their loves, hates and why human rights matter to them. 

Recorded backstage at the 2014 Balham and Edinburgh Comedy Festivals Richard Herring, Reginal D Hunter, Shappi Khorsandi, Tim Vine, Rob Newman, Mary Bourke, Kevin Day, Zoe Lyons, Tony Law, Mark Steel, Phil Jupitus, Lucy Porter, Marcus Brigstock, Jeremy Hardy, Tiffany Stevenson, Felicity Ward, Sarah Kendall and John Moloney shared with us their funniest experiences as comedians and why they do what they do.

Get the album

Amnesty's Comedy Conversations

We chat to Jeremy Hardy at the Balham Comedy Festival about Tuesdays being the new Fridays, closet right-wing comedians and supporting free speech when you like to tell people to 'shut up!'. www.balhamcomedyfestival.com

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free podcast and we hope we made you laugh. If you can, please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY">chipping in a few quid</a> to support our work. Thank you! <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY">Donate</a>

Jeremy Hardy talks to Amnesty @ Balham Comedy Festival 2013

John Moloney, founder of the Balham Comedy Festival, recants some of his one-liners from the early days, tells us why John Hegley is one of his comedy heroes and why he stands up against injustice. 'If you have no enemies you have no principles'. www.balhamcomedyfestival.com

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free podcast and we hope we made you laugh. If you can, please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY">chipping in a few quid</a> to support our work. Thank you! <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY">Donate</a>

John Moloney talks to Amnesty @ Balham Comedy Festival 2013

John Hegley serenades us with his memories of Edinburgh and what universal right he would like to bestow on everyone. www.balhamcomedyfestival.com

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free podcast and we hope we made you laugh. If you can, please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY">chipping in a few quid</a> to support our work. Thank you! <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY">Donate</a>

John Hegley talks to Amnesty @ Balham Comedy Festival 2013

Stephen K Amos talks to us about his weirdest gig, his new documentary about gay rights and what he would do if he wasn't a comedian. www.balhamcomedyfestival.com

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free podcast and we hope we made you laugh. If you can, please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY">chipping in a few quid</a> to support our work. Thank you! <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY">Donate</a>

Stephen K Amos talks to Amnesty @ Balham Comedy Festival 2013

Our Secret Comedy Podcast is back at this year's Edinburgh Festival and better than ever. As a tiny bite sized taster of what you are in for have a listen to some of the best bits from 2012 along with interviews and stand up from some of this year's guests including: Julian Clary, Al Murray, Lee Mack, Jenny Eclair, Ed Byrne, Jo Caulfield, Alan Davies and more.&#13;
&#13;
There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free podcast and we hope we made you laugh. If you can, please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chipping in a few quid</a> to support our work. Thank you! <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Donate</a>

Secret Comedy Podcast 2013 Preview - Julian Clary, Al Murray, Lee Mack, Jenny Eclair + more

Ed Byrne hosts the first of our Secret Comedy Podcasts recorded live at this year's Edinburgh Festival with Jenny Éclair telling us how she got fired from Loose Women, Ben Van de Velde starts a joke chain letter to Putin and Marcus Brigstocke tells us a secret about how he told Elton John not to play the piano in his own house. Plus we've got stand up from the amazing Aisling Bea, a memory palace from the master of one-liners Gary Delaney and David O'Doherty with an inspiring (and factually accurate) song about a man having a wank on a bike. Yep a bike.&#13;
&#13;
There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free podcast and we hope we made you laugh. If you can, please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chipping in a few quid</a> to support our work. Thank you! <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Donate</a>

Secret Comedy Podcast 2013 #01 - Ed Byrne, Aisling Bea, Jenny Éclair + more

In our second podcast recorded live at the Edinburgh Festival David Baddiel laments his fading fame, Caroline Rhea tells us about her relationship with her fans and we have stand up from James Acaster telling us about his sky writing ambitions and Zoe Lyons lets us in on how to reveal the visible signs of ageing. Plus The Boy With Tape On His Face reveals Ian Rankin's shocking secret about a real life murder he committed.&#13;
&#13;
There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free podcast and we hope we made you laugh. If you can, please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chipping in a few quid</a> to support our work. Thank you! <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Donate</a>

Secret Comedy Podcast 2013 #02 - David Baddiel, Ian Rankin, Caroline Rhea + more

Christian O'Connell hosts episode four of our podcast live from Edinburgh with Sandi Toksvig on why she won't be competing in the Winter Olympics, John Lloyd on Sandi Tosvig [not literally, Ed.] and Lucy Porter exposes the personal grooming tactics of male celbs. Plus we have stand up from Eric Lampaert on the close nit community of Milton Keynes, Nish Kumar on the essence of Britishness and Abandaman plays us out with a rap inspired by the show.&#13;
&#13;
There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free podcast and we hope we made you laugh. If you can, please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chipping in a few quid</a> to support our work. Thank you! <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Donate</a>

Secret Comedy Podcast 2013 #04 - Sandi Toksvig, Nish Kumar, Lucy Porter + more

In episode five Josh Widdicombe makes a mess, Mark Thomas reveals to Christian O'Connell which political party he'd least like to make a donation to and Jason Byrne tells us about being upstaged by Chris Hoy. Plus we've got stand up from Muffragette Mary Bourke on the best time of day to log on to MumsNet and Benny Boot on when you are at your most vulnerable to monster attacks. Entertaining and educational. The very definition of Edutainment!&#13;
&#13;
There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free podcast and we hope we made you laugh. If you can, please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chipping in a few quid</a> to support our work. Thank you! <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Donate</a>

Secret Comedy Podcast 2013 #05 - Mary Bourke, Jason Byrne, Mark Thomas + more

THIS IS SPECIAL! One of the best US comics around Michael Che poses a big decision for a goat. Dan Nightingale asks what is the only thing better than cheese? Sean Hughes thinks back to a time before the Internet and former strip club manager Brett Goldstein talks about giving up porn. Plus, with sketch comedy from the brilliant Shirley and Shirley, listening to this podcast is the best way to slack off half an hour.&#13;
&#13;
There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free podcast and we hope we made you laugh. If you can, please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chipping in a few quid</a> to support our work. Thank you! <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Donate</a>

Secret Comedy Podcast 2013 #07 - Michael Che, Sean Hughes, Shirley and Shirley + more

Mark Dolan chats to our new host John Moloney about being brought up by drunken strangers and Alfie Moore talks about being a real life secret policeman. Plus stand up from Lee Camp on the rights we have given up in the name of the 'War on Terror', Diane Spencer on being a victim of racism and lyrical shaman Beardyman plays us out.&#13;
&#13;
There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free podcast and we hope we made you laugh. If you can, please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chipping in a few quid</a> to support our work. Thank you! <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Donate</a>

Secret Comedy Podcast 2013 #08 - John Moloney, Diane Spencer, Mark Dolan + more

In the first of two special podcasts hosted by Julian Clary, Al Murray tells us what the Pub Landlord thinks of the Euro and Helen Arney sings about the 2001 Foot and Mouth crisis.&#13;
There is also stand-up from Al Lubel who discovers himself live on stage, Carl Donnelly who reminds us of an important Lesson from the Bible that heterosexual relationship don't always end well and Stephen Carlin explains what it takes to be a top flight alcoholic. Plus Julian sings us out with a very special song about gay rights. It is cool to be queer.&#13;
&#13;
There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free podcast and we hope we made you laugh. If you can, please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chipping in a few quid</a> to support our work. Thank you! <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Donate</a>

Secret Comedy Podcast 2013 #10 - Julian Clary, Al Murray, Carl Donnelly + more

We hope that you enjoy our comedy podcasts and we have given you a good laugh. If you can, please consider chipping in a few quid to support to support our work and make sure that we can keep on producing sounds to make you chuckle. To make a donation via PayPal please go to <a href="www.amnesty.org.uk/chipin">www.amnesty.org.uk/chipin</a>

Special message to Soundcloud listeners from Michael Che

Janeane Garafolo tells our host Mark Dolan about seeing the light and Tig Notaro reveals what kept her laughing through cancer. Plus we've got sketch comedy from Foil, Arms and Hogg on the joys of Ryan Air and stand up from Matt Okine on how to make good toast and Shaun Keaveny on being addicted to Breaking Bad, a show about addiction.&#13;
&#13;
There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free podcast and we hope we made you laugh. If you can, please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">chipping in a few quid</a> to support our work. Thank you! <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&amp;hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Donate</a>

Secret Comedy Podcast 2013 #12 - Tig Notaro, Janeane Garafolo, Shaun Keaveny + more

A quick preview of Radio 1's Make Some Noise! documentary, asking whether the protest song is dead, and featuring our Amnesty Youth Award songwriting winners. Find out more at www.amnesty.org.uk/youthawards

BBC Radio 1's Make Some Noise: 3 min version

The winner of Amnesty International UK's protest song competition - Full Score is written and performed by Gypsy's Anchor from Truro + Penwith College, Cornwall. Find out more about this year's competition and how you can enter this year at http://amn.st/AIyouth
Produced by Steve Brown www.stevebrown.info 
Recorded by Paul Cradik at Goodmerry Farm Studios http://goodmerrystudios.co.uk/
Musical arrangements and mixing by Guy Gyngell and Ben Hood http://www.ggmusicandaudio.com/
Mastered by Dick Beetham http://www.360mastering.co.uk/

Full Score by Gypsy's Anchor (Gyngell & Hood Mix)

Recorded during Amnesty's run of Secret Comedy Podcast shows at the 2013 Edinburgh Festival, Julian Clary sings a very important message.

Buy the album

Julian Clary - It's Cool To Be Gay

We sat down with Rob Newman at the Balham Comedy Festival in London to chat with the deep thinking comedian. He told us about his one hour show 'New Theory of Evolution' and his trepidation at returning to the Edinburgh festival after a seven year break.  

Rob Newman 'I'm available for shenanigans'

Listen to stand up and Mock the Week regular Zoe Lyons tell us why she's choosey about festivals, reminisce about her worst moment on stage and perfecting her turkey in an oven impression. She also reveals her belief that in the right hands, comedy can make people think differently.

Zoe Lyons ‘I don’t like big groups of people’

We went backstage at the Balham Comedy Festival 2014 to catch up with the pioneer of the podcast. Fresh from performing his new show 'Lord of the dance settee', he reminisces on his most memorable podcast moments, including some unexpected answers from Stephen Fry. He also defends fellow comedian Frankie Boyle and his own material on the holocaust and there's even time for some chat about demonic monks and mechanical dogs!

Richard Herring 'A humiliating and upsetting experience'

We went backstage at the Balham Comedy Festival to chat with comedian and star of 'Not Going Out' Tim Vine. We find out about his new show, musically entitled 'Timtiminee, Timtiminee, Tim Tim to you'. We also hear his thoughts on England's disappointing exit from the World Cup and how he and fellow comedian Terry Alderton have perfected the art of a very long goodbye.

Tim Vine 'I'm daydreaming again Tim'

Backstage at the Balham Comedy Festival in London Mark Steel tells us about the easiest standing ovation he ever got, soulless football stadiums and how FIFA don’t give a flying Pukka for the game. He also chats to us about his bid to uncover idiosyncrasies of every place he tours.

Mark Steel ‘Folkestone is different to Margate’

We went backstage at the Balham Comedy Festival to have a chuckle with the hilarious Reginald D Hunter. He reveals how he started out as an actor and only got into comedy because of a dare and discusses his latest BBC documentary. We also discuss Britain's pride in it's sarcasm and comic traditions and his hilarious extended family.

Reginald D Hunter 'The Enterprise has been diverted'

Listen to renowned comedian, satirist and ski jumper, Marcus Brigstocke tell us how he’d love to do more reality TV despite the injuries, perils of performing while on crutches and the ups and (sometimes very fast) downs of life as a comedian. It’s a slippery slope (No!. ed)

Marcus Brigstocke ‘It’s all about me’

We went backstage at the Balham Comedy Festival in London to chat to the extremely funny stand up and novelist Mary Bourke. She reveals her thoughts on the rape jokes, the power of a dress and heels and dispels a few myths on heckling. She also explains how you never want to upset an audience in Glasgow.

Mary Bourke ‘Why should male be the gold standard?’

We caught up with Shappi as she stepped off the stage after performing her show 'Because I'm Shappi...' at the Edinburgh festival. She fills us in on the unusual occourences during that night's show; weird noises, ghosts and an unwelcome hug to name a few. We also found time to chat about her theory on why men are more successful than women in the world of comedy and she reveals the joke she wishes she'd never told.

Shappi Khorsandi 'Come back everyone I've figured it out'

We invited ourselves round to Lucy Porter’s palatial temporary home in Edinburgh where she's been performing her latest show 'Me Time' to talk about her new play, her love of shocking comedy and what it's like to perform to a room full of babies. 

Lucy Porter ‘Don’t give a damn what anyone else thinks’

We had a chat with Tiffany Stevenson in the Loft Bar at the Gilded Balloon in Edinburgh, fresh from performing her show 'Optimist'. Tiff reveals the first time she recognised sexism at age 14, she talks about the importance of 'punching up' when you're telling jokes, and finally - the secret waterslide confession she wishes she'd kept to herself! 

Tiffany Stevenson 'I just accidentally head-butted someone in the front row'

We caught up with Sarah Kendall in Brooks Bar at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. She was performing her latest show, 'Touchdown'. We find out why you shouldn't shake up your set even after 35 shows, she reveals how she practices the rudest thing you can do on twitter! And why she doesn't mess around with her stage 'uniform'.

Sarah Kendall 'It's the happiest I've been all festival'

We caught up with Felicity Ward in Abbatoir Bar at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where she was performing her latest stand-up show 'The Iceberg'. She talks us through one of the worst gigs she ever played, how terrifying her first 12 minutes of stand-up comedy were, and getting her comeuppance on a radio show.

Felicity Ward 'This is the worst thing I've ever done'

Joss Stone and Dave Stewart perform in this exclusive preview of a track due to be released in April, in support of Amnesty International’s campaign for a bulletproof Arms Trade Treaty.



The song was written by war photojournalist Paul Conroy following his first-hand experience in 2011 of the devastating effects of the arms trade in Libya.

Find out more about Amnesty’s campaign at www.amnesty.org.uk/arms

The full track will be released in April 2012.

Take Good Care (preview) - Joss Stone and Dave Stewart

Live from Edinburgh in this episode we have Jimeoin, Daniel Sloss, Rhys Darby, Lucy Porter, Adam Kay and Shappi Khorsandi all kept in order by Susan Calman.

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free podcast and we hope we made you laugh. If you can, please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY">chipping in a few quid</a> to support our work. Thank you! <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY">Donate</a>

Subscribe on iTunes

Secret Comedy Podcast 2012 #01 - Shappi Khorsandi, Rhys Darby + more

In episode three our host Susan Calman brings some of the world's best comedians to a tiny stage in Edinburgh for your listening pleasure. There's QI's Alan Davies, Sarah Pascoe and Michael Mittemeir having a chat. As well as performances from the hilarious David O'Doherty, the rib tickling Jo Caulfield, the smiley Rob Becket and a phenomenal wrap up rap from Abandoman!

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free podcast and we hope we made you laugh. If you can, please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY">chipping in a few quid</a> to support our work. Thank you! <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY">Donate</a>

Secret Comedy Podcast 2012 #03 - Alan Davies, Sarah Pascoe, David O'Doherty + more

In episode four Susan Calman chats it up with Mark Thomas about his new show and gets Tiffany Stevenson and Mark Little to confess their secrets. Phil Nichols tells us about how Fernando Torres improved his love life, Helen Arney sings about making love, ahh... and Loretta Maine performs a little ditty about little things. We really couldn't squeeze anymore in.

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free podcast and we hope we made you laugh. If you can, please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY">chipping in a few quid</a> to support our work. Thank you! <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY">Donate</a>

Secret Comedy Podcast 2012 #04 - Mark Thomas, Phil Nichols, Helen Arney + more

Amnesty’s Secret Comedy Podcast returns with Jeremy Hardy sharing one too many secrets about working with Burt Reynolds and Chris McCausland reveals how he cheated in a school exam. There’s a song about the future from self-confessed nerd Helen Arney and Tom Allen gives us a right good giggle with his award-winning stand up comedy.

There may be no such thing as a free lunch, but there is such a thing as a free podcast and we hope we made you laugh. If you can, please consider <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY">chipping in a few quid</a> to support our work. Thank you! <a href="https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=K3H8GNJJJ9ZJY">Donate</a>

Secret Santa Comedy Podcast 2012 #02 - Jeremy Hardy, Helen Arney + more

Amnesty International stands up for justice, fairness, freedom and truth worldwide.

Amnesty International UK

Pinned to spotlight

Popular tracks