Esteemed comedy academic Dr Oliver Double has launched a new podcast. Each episode features a long-form interview with a comedian in which they discuss their craft, their unique contribution to the stand-up scene and the joys and challenges of their comedy careers.

Interviewees so far include Charmian Hughes, who talks about her ever-evolving career from the 1980s to today and Ray Campbell, who discusses his experience of performing political stand-up and talks about racism and sexism in the comedy world. 

The latest interview is with Kai Samra, who broke through with his 2019 debut show Underclass. Samra chats about the benefits and risks of including material about his own story and his family in his comedy; the advantages, alternatives and viability of taking a show to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe; the importance of industry professionals helping and mentoring newer acts; bias and nepotism; performing as a working-class comedian of colour; why more comedians should turn their political zeal upon their own industry.

Forthcoming interviewees include Elf Lyons, Tanyalee Davis and Kai Samra. Also Bernard Padden, who hasn't done stand-up since the 1990s, but was one of the first out gay stand-ups in the UK, had one of his routines turned into an animation, and also appeared in a Tom Baker Doctor Who serial. 

The podcast is produced as part of a research project at the University of Kent, documenting the contribution that diverse people have made to British stand-up comedy, and looks at what still needs to be done to recognise and promote diversity in the comedy industry.

Oliver Double co-hosts with his colleague Dr Sophie Quirk, with support from Research England’s Participatory and Co-produced Research Fund.

Stand Up Diversity is available here and most places you get your podcasts.