Cult podcasts Comics Solving Problems and Let’s Kill Twitter are taking each other on in a special showdown in which they both make their live debuts, having formed during lockdown. The event will happen at the Bill Murray in London, N1 on Sunday, 6th February from 4.30pm - 6.30pm.
Taking part will be Steve N Allen & Erich McElroy, Sajeela Kershi & Julian Hall. With special guest for Let’s Kill Twitter: Ria Lina
Comics Solving Problems
In April 2020, comedians Steve N Allen (as seen on BBC2’s The Mash Report) and Erich McElroy (from BBC Scotland’s Breaking the News, Sky News, BBC Breakfast) set up webcams in their spare rooms and started broadcasting to the world. Since then, they’ve presented their humorous look at the headlines and attempted to solve the world’s problems. Arguably, most things are worse since they started.
The show has ‘travelled’ to the Brighton Festival and the Free Edinburgh Fringe Festival, survived two house moves, dodgy internet, a ‘rigged’ presidential election and the global pandemic.
Some memorable moments include: Steve’s Lockdown rap, Erich’s interview with an insurrectionist, Steve hosting a Neighbourhood Watch Group to keep an eye on the Rule of Six and Quiz time with Erich, Steve and the audience.
“We have tried to solve nearly every problem that’s come up in the last year,” says Steve, "a frequent target are anti-science and anti-vaccines types. So far the solution has been to make jokes about them and upset them on social media. It doesn't solve the problem but it makes us feel better.”
Erich says: “It’s not been an easy year for anyone, but we look at Comics Solving Problems as doing our part to bring a smile to people - it’s not the same as a vaccine in less than 12 months, but it’s pretty close."
Little did the two realise that the lockdown, and their new show, would still be going a full two years later…now it’s time for the pair to come out of their sheds and into the light…
Steve N Allen is a stand-up comedian and broadcaster. As a comedian, Steve had performed across the country and taken topical comedy shows to several festivals. Steve is a regular cast member on BBC 2’s Bafta nominated satirical show The Mash Report and has been heard on the BBC’s Steve N Allen's Week, a topical comedy podcast. He has been a guest contributor on Channel 5’s The Jeremy Vine Show, BBC Radio Five Live’s Question Time Extra Time and talkRADIO.
Erich McElroy is a stand-up comedian and writer. Originally from Seattle, he moved to the UK in 2000 and in 2007 collected his British passport. In addition to playing UK venues up and down the country, Erich regularly appears on TalkRadio doing the papers with Julia Hartley-Brewer. His other broadcasting credits include BBC Radio Scotland’s Breaking the News, BBC Radio 4’s Moral Maze, BBC News, BBC Breakfast, Good Morning Britain, Newsnight, BBC Radio 5 live, Sky Sunrise, Murnaghan, and STVLive.Comics Solving Problems streams live Tuesdays, 9pm on YouTube.
Let’s Kill Twitter
The first and only video chat show based on tweets was born in November 2020, just before the second (?), third (?) lockdown, the really shit one, anyway.
Hosted by freelance writer and PR Julian Hall and comedian Sajeela Kershi, Let’s Kill Twitter aims to detox your timeline with the start of conversation, and guests helping them to trawl through - and heal - Twitter have included: Viv Groskop, Konstantin Kisin, Leo Kearse, Shazia Mirza, Rosie Jones, Sooz Kempner, Francis Foster, Gráinne Maguire, Andrew Doyle, Ayesha Hazarika, Iain Dale, Ria Lina, Erich McElroy, Steve N Allen, Shobu Kapoor, Lucy Porter, Sean McLoughlin, Alex Kealy, Anna Morris, Josh Howie, Paul Tonkinson, Darius Davies, Craig Deeley, Cally Beaton, Nathan Caton, Matt Winning, Kate Smurthwaite, Matt Green and Luisa Omielan.
Julian says: “Let’s Kill Twitter takes apart the Twitter threads and hashtags that count and finds the gems buried under the pile-ons. With the help of comedians and commentators, we cover what’s hotting up in the Culture War, take the temperature of the Covid situation, check in on what’s shaking in Westminster and also in the worlds of entertainment and sport. We’ll also cast an eye on what’s new with cats, dogs, alpacas and any other animal doing anything fun – within reason.”
Sajeela says: “The USP for LKT is that it's immediate and live with the guests and the Twitter feed, and the audience can be involved. There's a lovely frisson and element of surprise as you never know what guests will say or where the conversation will end up. It's completely uncensored! Yes, we are discussing and detoxing our Twitter feeds, but we can also get to the heart of what makes our guests and ourselves tick. This happens very organically.”
Highlights since November 2020 include:
Tory Xmas parties; Duck runs New York marathon; Louis CK’s ‘Sorry’; Cher’s Crazy Christmas tweet; Iain Dale on Scottish independence; Covid Christmas 2020 and The power social media companies.
Let’s Kill Twitter’s debut live outing will feature Ria Lina, known for her appearances on Have I Got News For You ,The Now Show and Mock The Week. Ria was named as one of The Evening Standard’s ‘Hottest Comedians You Should Be Watching Now’, and is in the most recent series of BBC’s ‘Live At The Apollo’.
Julian Hall (@TextualHealing2) is a freelance writer and PR at his own company, Textual Healing. He was The Independent's comedy critic for ten years between 2003-2013 and wrote The Rough Guide to British Cult Comedy. Julian has also worked as a political researcher and gossip columnist but doesn't remember much about the latter.
Sajeela Kershi (@SajeelaKershi) is a multi-award winning comedian, writer, actor and activist who has worked all over the UK and internationally. She regularly writes and contributes as a pundit for various BBC Radio & TV. She was touring her critically acclaimed shows Immigrant Diaries and Fights like a Girl in real live theatres till the pandemic shut down live creative spaces. Now you can see Sajeela perform on zoom dressed waist up only!
Sunday, 6th February from 4.30pm - 6.30pm. Book here.
