Showing results by narrator "Robin Ince" in All Categories

Spanking New on 7 is BBC7's first original comedy series. Compered by Robin Ince (from BBC2's The Office, E4's The Pilot Show and Radio 4's The In-Crowd) it showcases new or unknown stand-up comedians.

Meet Dot and her friend Millie, who only communicates in catchphrases; Wendy Clapper, who thinks TV, credit cards, swimming pools and soup are nothing but trouble; and Jonathan Tudge, who just can't help putting his foot in it. You’ll also encounter the worst therapist in the world, the travel agent who won't let anyone go further than Lowestoft, a registered platitudopath, a bag lady turned sacred icon, and the furniture removal men who think they're on Antiques Roadshow.

Bertrand Russell was one of the greatest thinkers of the last century. His contributions to the fields of mathematics and philosophy are widely acknowledged as some of the most important of their kind. But he also brought his brand of rationalism and intellect to an audience far beyond the academic and political circles he routinely mixed with. His relationship with the BBC goes back almost to the beginning of its own history, and his many broadcasts brought his ideas to a whole new audience.

This collection brings together history, science, philosophy and comedy to explore our age-old search for meaning. We live in an age of self-improvement and self-examination - lifehacking, wellbeing, self-care, mindfulness retreats - but this seemingly very modern phenomenon is a pursuit that dates back for millennia.

Why do we feel anxiety? How can we get past imposter syndrome? How can we be successfully creative? How do we effectively deal with grief? In this interview Robin Ince touches on some of these questions, looks back at how childhood experiences still affect him and enthuses about the latest books he’s read. He also explains why most of us have imagined dropping a baby and why writing the book put him in therapy.