#536 Elephant Man Love Token - RHLSTP is back for its 30th series! Can this thing go on forever? Or does it just feel like it. Rich has had a sitcom experience with his bins and his son is disappointed with God. His returning guest is the great Peter Serafinowicz. The pair discuss Peter’s embracing of live work and technology, the return of Brian Butterfield and why Peter stayed in character for two hours after each show, using Deep Fakes on stage to bring the dead back to life, whether Abba turned up every night to do the curtain call for their hologram show, filming Sassy Trump with the guys from South Park and performing with Brian Eno in Venice. Plus which celebrity did Peter live round the corner until recently and is he able to get them on the podcast?

#537 New York Ticks and Cockroaches - He loved it so much last week that he came back a week later to do it again. A second interview with the very relaxed Peter Serafinowicz. This time they talk about his film and TV work in America, how getting the dream job of playing The Tick turned into a filming nightmare, general indifference to appearing in the greatest ever episode of Rick and Morty, screwing up your lines in front of of Keanu Reeves’ beautiful face and working with Michael Caine and wondering if you can talk about the impression you do of him. Plus why the Beatles song A Day in the Life needed to be much longer (listen here https://soundcloud.com/bren-murphy/a-full-day-in-the-life-by-peter-serafinowicz), why some accents are difficult even for Peter (not for Richard though) and both men’s not fully positive experiences of Camp America.

#538 Pocklington - Richard has just moved house and is mourning the items that didn’t make the grade. His guest is another comedy hero, Adrian Edmondson. They talk about bad Brummie accents, the shadow that is cast on his life from the 14 weeks he spent on the Young Ones, cutting Rik Mayall’s head open with a metal jug, the boarding school experience that he’s still recovering from to this day, how the tweenager Ade may have passed the toddler Rich on the streets of Pocklington, how lockdown and birds and vegetables finally gave Ade calm, performing in Star Wars without being allowed to see the script, the secrets of a successful showbiz marriage, getting to perform in the band you were a superfan of, getting kissed by Joni Mitchell and keeping David Bowie off the top of the charts.

#539 Did You See Me in Ghostbusters? - Richard has been haunted by his smoke alarm. His guest is movie star James Acaster. They talk about his new Sky 1 special “Hecklers Welcome”, revitalising the love of stand up and spinning wheel based trauma, the surprise of being in the latest Ghostbusters film and how Rich plans to trump this, some of the secrets behind Celebrity Hunted (one of which was too juicy to share - come and see the show live), why James is not scared of bats, Springleaf, Party Gator and telling Bill Murray about the Bill Murray pub.

#540 You Must Think I'm a Terrible Flirt - Richard is trying out material for his Oh Shit I'm 60! show and, surprise surprise, it's all about his fading genitals. His guest is a man who can inhabit the soul of Nye Bevan, but also talk about his dick, Michael Sheen. They discuss the fantastic interview from The Assembly and how it knocks all of Richard's interviews out of the park, playing Chris Tarrant and the guilt or innocence the coughing major, the dangers of engendering sympathy for the Duke of York and who should have played the role, the heaven and hell of being a dad in later life and what being a not-for-profit actor actually means.

#541 Hairy-legged Cinderella - Richard is fitting in in his new town and is surprisingly not the weirdest person there. His guest this week is On The Hour alumni, actor and campaigner Doon Mackichan. They talk about a showdown with Jim Davidson, 1980s feminism, whether it's possible to carry on swimming after you are dead, how taking no shit seems to have helped Doon's career, fighting against stereotyping and turning violent crime into entertainment, the revolutionary sketch show Smack The Pony and how the stars doubted it would be a success and why Richard is doing his best to redress the sexist balance of the TV industry by getting his cock and arse on screen as much as possible.

#542 Twirling Scary Spice - Richard has been to the Taskmaster experience and is furious to have broken his perfect record of victory. His guest is another Taskmaster alumni, who has turned her appearance into ticket sales (unlike Richard), Fern Brady. They discuss her triumph at the Sky Arts Awards and why she gave a shout out to Irvine Welsh, magic mushrooms, why her tour poster involves her lactating into someone's mouth, why she doesn't want to follow the narrative of TV shows regarding her autism, why Richard thinks she is one of the best stand-ups we have (though doesn't seem to know where she's from), how a doctor made her think she was going to die for a night and how that helped her write her book, coping and not coping with her new found fame and why Richard is funny even when he's just in the audience.

#543 House of Losers - Richard has had a worrying dream, but what can it all mean? His guest is an alien from outer space and not a man in an impressive but ridiculous costume, the artist formerly known as Lord Buckethead, Count Binface. They discuss his reasons for travelling light years to take on sitting Prime Ministers in UK elections, some of his excellent policies involving hand dryers and Ceefax, whether snooker is already in 3 dimensions, losing a bind, whether old people should lose the vote, improving the House of Lords and how the UK’s future span out of control due to the Olympic opening ceremony and a bacon sandwich. Will Count Binface become Mayor of Croydon? Watch this (outer) space.

#544 Is This About Up the Arse? - Richard returns to Birmingham Town Hall for another couple of weeks of Brum based podcasts. His guest this week is Twitter sensation, Ruth Husko. They discuss how she has shared some great comedy on the moribund social media channel and why she got banned from it, the cockfighting of Wednesbury, why Freddie Starr is schmokin’, Richard’s plan to win the lottery, how much the public would give up to save Bob Mortimer, Scooby Doo porn, Richard’s erotic prejudice against cockneys, how Ruth failed to marry Stewart Lee and whether she should make the leap to full time comedian.

#545 Who Chooses The Sperm? Richard is back in Birmingham, after having iodine squirted through his veins (for some reason). His guest is Twitter sensation and fine stand up comedian Josh Pugh. They talk about how lockdown led to his hilarious videos on social media, his many caps for England, the Atherstone Purge, the disappointment of hosting the coverage of the Paris Paralympics, being a bicycle version of a pantomime horse, wanking in a hospital during lockdown, getting stuck in a puffer jacket for over a day, performing on Live at the Apollo and the lack of realism within Paw Patrol.

#546 Smash or Pass? Richard is considering becoming a sex worker, but there’s a line he will not cross. His guest is hilarious newcomer Chelsea Birkby. They chat about what it's like to do support in big theatres (and in your home town), making a gimmick of unusual physical features, the blurred area between objectification and flattery, being made to dress up as a baby by a Frenchman, whether Chelsea is bipolar or not, if the Cheeky Girls know more about philosophy than Plato and attempting to send the lottery results psychically to yourself in the past.

#547 Armadillo - Richard is lonely enough to consider taking up cycling, but is he prepared to cycle 47 miles to end up where he started? His guest is posho stand up Ivo Graham. They discuss the biscuity temptations of writers’ rooms, a dangerously unfocused attitude towards Wordle, disastrous appearances on the Weakest Link, how you can’t really dine out forever on a 15 year old competition win, coming last in Taskmaster, whether we should have sympathy for someone who boarded at Eton and why it’s admirable to embrace rather than hide your privilege as a comedian.

#547 The Higher the Hair - Rich has had a bit of trouble getting to the theatre tonight as if he didn’t have enough to put up with being roasted by his kids. But he’s here and ready to give as good as he gets with the fabulous and wise Milton Jones. They chat about bat boxes, falling off stage, turning 60, Sting’s pulling power, what it would be like to be handsome, Tricorn hats, reverse engineering puns. Piers Morgan’s surprising unpleasantness, being a weather girl for a day, 10 second sermons, whether the gospels are funnier than we realise and what’s OK and not OK to joke about as a Christian and the legal case against Ha! Milton is given some evidence that will hopefully see Milton heavily sued.

#549 Noleros - Richard has taken on a huge personal challenge for charity that might affect his ability to do his job (so what was the excuse before?). His guest is crossword compiler (though we never mention that) Dave Gorman. They talk about a jacket potato based autobiography, who the Queen is, how trying to save the planet could help terrorists, why he’s returned to Modern Life is Goodish after 7 years ad the reason there are only 3 episodes in the series, rather than the recorded 4, when snacks mutate and super-long finger nails and will Dave Gorman return to Neighbours?

Rich pays tribute to a former guest who we have very sadly lost, but is trying to look on the bright side too and get some laughs as is only right at the death of a comedian. His guest is alive at time of recording, Nish Kumar. They talk about the new Tory leader (at time of recording) and how they compare with the sexiness of previous head honchos, how much we should tax billionaires and if we can change their mindset to make them less hoardy, spending millions to regain youth and why Nish should enjoy being 39 while he still can, the possible consequences of the US election (which you may know more about than us, but good to get some predictions in), ideal pre-gig food and what you shouldn’t eat, why Milton Jones (and now Nish Kumar) is the best comedian to support and what happens if his audience takes against you.

Richard has a new notebook and is making jokes that were topical in November 2024 (and probably still are) and has met one of his sporting heroes, for whom Rich is an unlikely hero. His guest this week is cricket statistician Andy Zaltzman. They talk about what it is to be a Taskmaster Champion, who might have had the most awkward introduction to their team on the show and the power of dressing like a snooker player. Also how Andy landed what must have been his two dream jobs, how to improve the game Howzat, self-playing Subbuteo, whether John Oliver is in danger in the USA, how Zaltzman has been podcasting even longer than the Podfather, whether cricket pads to Pakistan is coals to Newcastle and some unusual picks for a perennial qesugtion.

#552 The Mouse With Cumin In Its Eyes - Richard is very impressed with the thoroughness of Hitchin bins and as used to being the rudest person in any room as he is, he may have met his match in this week’s guest Poppy Hillstead. Not for those of a sensitive disposition. They discuss her brilliant new podcast, Brainwash Me and the unusual diet of the man who inspired it, which of the pair will kill the other and how on the stone-clearing field, partying with David Icke, the terrible consequences of preventing 9/11, drawing a whimsical penis and whether we need to be more sensitive and understanding of men and their innate stupidity, what you would do to a chicken on a desert island and weird driving instructors inspiring comedy. Poppy has a unique and wonderful mind and you should check out all her podcasts!

Rich has come up with a scheme where all his listeners can live in central London and make money - or one of us gets £20 million. His guest is Edinburgh Comedy Award Winner Amy Gledhill. It starts out pretty gross and doesn’t get much better, as Rich removes some clothes and part of his body (be glad it’s audio only). They chat about how winning the award wasn’t the immediate celebration/elevation that you might expect, all the amazing comedians who have never been nominated (mainly Rich, but how he came close), working with Dave Spikey on the fantastic Alma’s Not Normal and getting very drunk with Sophie Willan, the terrific podcast Single Ladies In Your Area and why women need a show about dating going wrong, but maybe men need their own version too and how Richard became a master of dating (largely because of the low bar set by other men).