Richard Herring's Meaning of Life

In a ground-breaking, new, independently produced series, Richard Herring attempts to find the answers to all of life's big questions, through the medium of stand-up, animation and an interview with an expert. First up is the creation of the Universe, where did we come from and why can neither science or religion give a satisfactory explanation of what was here before? Was the Universe created by an insect, some milk, a wanking God or a confusing explosion of nothing? What really happened in the garden of Eden? Why has science come up with such a childish name for its theory? With an interview about Quantum theory and much more with Marcus Chown.

In a ground-breaking, new, independently produced series, Richard Herring attempts to find the answers to all of life's big questions, through the medium of stand-up, animation and an interview with an expert. In episode 2, Richard takes on ghosts, ghoulies and Nostradamuses and tries to find out the truth about the paranormal. Was Joanna Lumley's house haunted? Why did Doubting Thomas doubt Jesus' resurrection after he'd seen him do all those other miracles? Who was Spring-heeled Jack? Can biscuits tell us the future? With author of Paranormality Professor Richard Wiseman on hand to discuss these phenomena from a scientific viewpoint. But can science ever truly explain why an old woman tried to strangle Richard Herring in his sleep? Yes it can, apparently.

The third episode of Richard Herring's Meaning Of Life marks a huge turning point for the production - as we finally get the smoke machine working. Once the smoke has cleared, Rich explores love from all angles. He explains about the love of a stalker, the acts of famous lovers from history, and we also hear the anecdote to love - Rich's anti-love public holiday St Skeletors Day. After listening to this episode you'll understand the potential pitfalls of using Olivio spread, buying wedding rings, and making a Ferrero Rocher based romantic gesture. The expert for this episode is Agony Aunt Virginia Ironside, who helps Rich better understand matters of the heart - things go so well that they end up sharing a cab home at the end of the night.

Meaning of Life - Death. It's episode four and Richard is visiting that undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveller returns, apart from Jesus and that bloke with the canoe - death. What happens to us when we die? Is it the same as what happened to us before we were born, or do we get to go to paradise or a big burning pit of sulphur and which would be preferable? Rich attempts to achieve immortality by getting his name to live on after his demise, looks at the odd ways that we deal with the inevitability of the cessation of existence, especially on social media, discusses the difficult choices he was forced to make regarding his own grandmother's demise and looks at the fate of the citizens of Pompeii, both ancient and modern. With an in depth discussion about the evolutionary necessity of death with Nick Lane. It's a fun-packed, laugh fest all about your certain destruction. What's not to like?

It's only taken five months, but the smoke machine is, if anything, now working far too well. Richard is looking at absolute right and absolute wrong and wondering if they even exist. Along the way he questions where the notion of Heaven came from, why the devil acts as the willing custodian of Hell, attempts to break (and then rewrite) the seven deadly sins, struggles with the devil and angel on his shoulders and comes up with 10 commandments (or suggestions) for the 21st Century. With an interview with evolutionary psychologist Lance Workman.

In this final episode of this overambitious series Richard will finally deliver on his promise to give you the meaning of life, but first he wants to look to the future. Are we able to predict what's coming up next? Which animal will take over the world and make human their slaves? Does Jesus visit all species of animal and if so is Rich the rat Pontius Pilate? Is all scientific progress evil and what are the moral implications of cloning animals and the practical implications of cloning sex slaves? With an interview with journalist and presenter Aleks Krotoski.