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The Laughter Effect

The Laughter Effect
British Comedy
Ruthie Henshall
Karen Morgan
Ian Rankin
Tracy-Ann Oberman
British Television
Musical Theatre
BBC

A podcast where special guests reflect on the role comedy and laughter have played throughout their lives. Presenter James Hogg is a biographer, ghostwriter and live host who has written or collaborated on over 30 titles so far, including the authorised biographies of Kenny Everett, Ernie Wise, Richard Briers and James Robertson Justice. Producer Stuart Duncan has worked as a presenter, producer a... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes7Founded2 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Comedy InterviewsComedy

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Artwork for The Laughter Effect

Latest Episodes

Jeremy Vine is a television and radio presenter and journalist, best known as the host of his BBC Radio 2 lunchtime programme.

He also hosts his own weekday current-affairs show on Channel 5.

Ruthie Henshall is an English actress, singer and dancer, known for her work in musical theatre.

She began her professional stage career in 1986, before making her West End debut in Cats in 1987. A five-time Olivier Award nominee, she won the 1995 ... more

Tracy-Ann Oberman MBE is an English actress, playwright and narrator who is best known for playing Chrissie Watts in EastEnders and Valerie Lewis in Friday Night Dinner.

Following training at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, she sp... more

Sir Ian Rankin is a Scottish crime writer, TV presenter and philanthropist, best known for his Inspector Rebus novels.

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
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Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Ruthie Henshall
Actress and performer known for musical theatre and screen roles
Episode: The Laughter Effect - Ruthie Henshall
Tracy-Ann Oberman
Prolific actor and writer discussed in-depth during the episode
Episode: The Laughter Effect - Tracy-Ann Oberman MBE
Sir Ian Rankin
Crime writer and creator of Rebus
Independent author
Episode: The Laughter Effect - Sir Ian Rankin
Karen Morgan
American comedian, writer and performer
Episode: The Laughter Effect - Karen Morgan
Hugh Bonneville
Actor known for Downton Abbey and other comedy/drama work
Actor
Episode: The Laughter Effect - Hugh Bonneville
Kevin Bishop
Actor and comedian, guest on the episode
Episode: The Laughter Effect - Kevin Bishop

Host

James Hogg
Host of The Laughter Effect

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 3 ratings
  • Very entertaining new podcast

    Really enjoying this. Long chatty conversations mainly about comedy. I'm looking forward to more!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    singaporesal
    United Kingdoma month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Lively, long-form chats with lots of backstage stories.
Great balance of warmth and depth in conversations.
Guests bring strong insights into humor and craft.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Laughter Effect - Ruthie Henshall
Q: What do you think is the most important element of comedy?
Timing and delivery are everything; if those are off, even a great line falls flat, but when they're on, a simple moment can become unforgettable.
The Laughter Effect - Sir Ian Rankin
Q: Was stand-up at the Fringe a natural fit for you as a novelist?
Rankin explains that his approach mirrored a book tour—talks and anecdotes to engage an audience—so stand-up felt like a pragmatic expansion of his storytelling, though performing for a longer stretch was challenging.
The Laughter Effect - Karen Morgan
Q: How did your shift into writing sitcoms come about, and how does it differ from performing stand-up?
She describes preferring writing to performing, the broader challenges of collaboration in sitcoms, and how geography (living in Maine) can be a hurdle for joining writing teams in LA, while still pursuing long-form writing.
The Laughter Effect - Karen Morgan
Q: When did you start taking comedy seriously?
She explains that after staying home with her three children and practicing law, she sought an adult brain outlet and began attending a local comedy workshop, which sparked her transition into stand-up and later writing.
The Laughter Effect - Hugh Bonneville
Q: What's your favorite Python moment or piece?
Life of Brian and the broader Python universe resonate most for their mix of audacity and craft; the ability to combine clever wordplay with memorable visuals makes it timeless.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Age Range
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Laughter Effect

What is The Laughter Effect about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A conversational series where guests from theatre, television, and writing discuss how humor and laughter have shaped their lives and careers. Across episodes, the hosts and guests swap backstage stories, reminisce about iconic acts, and consider how comedy travels across borders and eras. The show emphasizes the human side of performing—craft, collaboration, and resilience—featuring long-form chats that blend personal anecdotes with professional insights. Noteworthy angles include adaptations of classic jokes for modern audiences, the evolving boundaries of political correctness in humor, and the crossover between stage, screen, and writing for longer-form formats.

Listeners can expect warm, reflective interviews with veteran performers a... more

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How many listeners does The Laughter Effect get?

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Which podcasts are similar to The Laughter Effect?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Laughter Effect:

1. Rosebud with Gyles Brandreth
2. Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (RHLSTP)
3. THE ADAM BUXTON PODCAST
4. Rockonteurs with Gary Kemp and Guy Pratt
5. Class Clown

How many episodes of The Laughter Effect are there?

The Laughter Effect launched 2 months ago and published 7 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Laughter Effect?

Recent guests on The Laughter Effect include:

1. Ruthie Henshall
2. Tracy-Ann Oberman
3. Sir Ian Rankin
4. Karen Morgan
5. Hugh Bonneville
6. Kevin Bishop

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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