Comedian and Actor Tez Ilyas has designs on being Doctor Who's first Asian Doctor, acting on stage at the Royal Shakespere Company and landing a dream role on the TV soap Neighbours. In the meantime he talks to Barbara Nice about being a naughty kid at school, being even more of a handful in Mosque class and his new Book "The Secret Diary of a Brit…

It's International Women's Day 2021, so to celebrate Barbara sits down with Award Winning Irish comedian Gráinne Maguire to talk about all female bills at gigs, all female flats at the Edinburgh festival and how Gráinne has been using lockdown to become a learned master of comedy. Plus, stick around at the end to hear about Barbara's 7pm Podcast ra…

Barbara appears this week hot off being vaccinated against COVID-19, but the experience didn't shake her world. She celebrates her normality with Chef and restaurateur Glynn Purnell of Purnell's Bistro to talk to him about how he's cooking through lockdown, how a restaurant business survives during a pandemic and what he is doing to help others. Pl…

Poet and performer Jodi Ann Bickley became known to the world for her "million letters" campaign where she would write a letter to anyone who needed a bit of a mental health boost. But she caught Barbara's eye by her latest campaign, doodles of famous local faces on teatowels to raise money for charities affected by lockdown. And of COURSE, Barbara…

Like every podcast going this week, Mrs Barbara Nice and Friends was fortunate to be able to chat with comedian Stewart Lee to talk about the film he has in part funded, produced, interviewed and promoted along with Michael Cummings (Brass Eye, Toast of London): King Rocker The film focuses on Birmingham alternative rock band "The Nightingales" and…

Comedian Seymour Mace isn't sure if he wants to still be a comedian when the pandemic is finally over. But while the world is on pause, he's damn sure going to use that time to educate himself and follow other passions. In this episode, he talks to Mrs Barbara Nice about his art course, breaking himself down to build himself up again, rambling abou…

Happy New Year F.O.B.s! Mrs Barbara Nice returns for the new year and has recently starred with Les Dennis on the BBC comedy pilot Learners so she brings him into her world of podcasting for a chat. She invites her new friend Les to about his 51 years in showbusiness, gig venues they've played, Les' toughest gigs and of course behind the scenes ane…

In this episode we learn that not only is Mrs Barbara Nice a comedy sensation in her own right, she has also plyed her time in teaching up and coming comedians the ins and outs of the comedy world through her various comedy courses Many of her former students have gone on to great things including this week's guest: Lovedev Barpaga They talk about …

Comedian Olga Koch has a fantasy where there's a museum filled with items from her career in comedy, and she wants YOU to visit She explains to Barbara what you can expect to see in her Museum as well as the lockdown activities she's allowed to talk about.... Follow her on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/rocknrolga Or find her Pink Vinyl versions…

Comedian Rob Deering chats to Barbara Nice about his Running Podcasts, lockdown vegan cooking, the best Elvis songs for Tortoises and everything wrong with Auto Correct on your phone Stick around until the end for your comments and feedback from previous weeks and answers to the big questions. Follow Rob on Twitter here: https://twitter.com/Deering…

Many people will be aware of the work of Comedian Reginald D Hunter through his many stage shows, TV panel appreances and documentaries but what they may not know is he got his start in Birmingham at the Gag Club under the watchful gaze of Mrs Barbara Nice Now, reunited on her podcast, they reminisce about the early days of Reg's career, Reg making…

Mrs Barbara Nice is joined by Comedian Paul McCaffrey who she has only met a couple of times before but still gets on with like they're old mates During their conversation they talk about the best improvised lockdown drinks, gigging in Lockdown vs gigging in the between-lockdown period and they take a long detour through the world of music, via Wes…

From Britain's Got Talent to Trollied via Eaten By Lions, Jack Carroll has had quite the career at such an early age He talks about it to Barbara who quizzes him on his relationship with his mother, his stance on Halloween and the unfortunate side effects of Ju Jitsu in Lockdown. Follow Jack on Twittter here: https://twitter.com/fatjacko And if you…

Author Helen Rutter Appeared in the background of her Husband Rob Rouse's episode earlier this year. This time the tables are turned as Helen joins Barbara to talk about her new novel "The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh" and Rob is relegated to chopping trees in the background. Not only does Helen have to combat some background chainsawing, but a late…

Mrs Barbara Nice chats to Toyah Willcox about the re-release of her album "Sheep Farming in Barnet" on Cherry Red Records The become fast, firm friends as they discuss the coincidence in their locations, interacting with individual audience members amid big gigs. the importance of the audience to a performer and somehow, wild swimming in the Avon A…

Episode 81 of Mrs Barbara Nice and Friends is part of the Birmingham Comedy Festival and also finds Barbara in an upbeat mood as her own piece of comedy, her Radio 2 sitcom, is being repeated, so she's getting to be heard by the masses again. Happy days! Joining her on her wavelength is comedian and storyteller Chris Stokes who compares storytellin…

To start this week's podcast, Barbara has to admonish producer Paul for losing her end of the interview with Alex Lowe, but lets see if anyone notices the difference first shall we? When they finally get to the reconstructed interview with Alex, they talk money for doing nothing, dogs and how people want to socialise with you on a walk and the joy …

This Week, Barbara has been swimming in cold water but it is having a benefit and she is feeling rejuvinated and rejigged and ready for more wide-ranging chats She talks to "funny chap" Jack Gleadow about his sleeping patterns and how he's just dragging himself back to normality, his late night bird encounters (until Boris gets ahold of them anyway…

Barbara Nice is finally back from her Summer Holiday and is ready to chat to comedy Character Ada Campe Or is it real person Dr Naomi Paxton that she's chatting to? Whichver one it is, they talk pre-gig motivation, Barbara's story idea about time travelling showbusiness women and the gigs they have been performing in the current climate, thin on th…

One Week ago, Mrs Barbara Nice performed a triumphant return to live comedy at the Frog and Bucket club in Manchester. The gig was supposed to be a new dawn for comedy under the restrictions of the pandemic, but alas it wasn't to be. The day after it happened, the government announced it was back into lockdown for many parts of the north. To this e…

In his time, Liam Jones has been a comedian, compere, promoter and teacher. Now he spends his time in China teaching English and promoting comedy over there while planning his return home. He talks to Barbara about the best comedy in Asia, catching up with her Britain's Got Talent performance last week and spending Glastonbury Weekend with Norman L…

Playwright and Screenwriter Tanika Gupta joins Barbara Nice from the deserted streets of the ghost town of London to talk about her latest projects, how to get theaters back going after lockdown is over and how garden parties are an acceptable replacement for socialising in the pub Plus, how to motivate yourself when you have nothing else going on …

Harry Jenkins is involved with Digbeth Dining Club, the street food company that has taken Birmingham's catering scene by storm On this episode Harry talks to Barbara Nice about how the pandemic has affected the business as well as what age is perfect for Disney land, why Barbara's friend is talking rubbish about Megabus and how he needs to get Bar…

On today's Podcast, producer Paul has returned to the shed to meet up with today's guest in Person. Barbara however, is still in her back bedroom but she still manages to have a chat with legendary music promoter Dave Travis, who has promoted gigs all over the 2nd city of Birmingham over the years, including Nirvana, Oasis, Ocean Colour Scene and m…

Jan Ravens is a comedian and impressionist who may have lost a lot of work to lockdown, but she's still battling on In this episode she talks to Barbara Nice about the problems she had with the Church not accepting her well meaning grandad, 2 or 3 of her favourite Percy's and how she is still battling on as one of the Dead Ringer impressionists eve…

Chris Fitchew is a comedian that has taken to lockdown and made it work for him On today's podcast he talks to Barbara about controlling every detail of his cabaret shows, resisting the temptation to order every single thing on Amazon and also has time to suggest improvements to Barbara's online shows. His show is https://www.soulpride.org/ (but do…

Jen Brister is a comedian and author who has seen the majority of her upcoming work decimated by Covid-19 and Lockdown But it's not all doom and gloom as her book "The Other Mummy" is doing very well and has been nominated for a Polari award, which leads to her teaching Barbara about the meanings of some everyday polari words. She's also cracking o…

In this Episode, Barbara is reeling from being made aware of a review of the podcast in the "I" newspaper that called her "Unintentionally Funny" but will take the extra attention nonetheless. She is joined by comedian Craig Deeley to talk Kenneth Williams (and Craig does a mean impression of him to boot), Coronation Street, female comedians that b…

Before her Guest arrives, Barbara has been ruminating on the recent airings of the performance of David Bowie at Glastonbury and what she can learn from the master for her act. Then she is joined by Comedian Maureen Younger, a veteran of many comedy gigs with Barbara who also runs the Mycomedy Nights, which at the moment are running online (check t…

Barbara Nice and UB40's Brian Travers go back a long way. A very long way in fact, though maybe not quite as long as Brian ribs Barbara through the medium of music Here, they reminisce about early gigs they shared together, why bucket lists are a waste of time and Brian's artwork Brian also managed to turn the tables on Barbara and ask her about he…

After Barbara's first well earned Lockdown Break, she's back , and this time she's talking to comedian Harriet Dyer Harriet comes to visit Barbara electronically, but if she had traveled she'd have set off from sunny Glossop and noted down all the animals she saw on her journey. She still does that anyway, but she also finds time to talk about her …

Another week for Barbara Nice and Friends and Barbara is in a bit of a technical stress, despite being in a great place off the back of her latest "Piggin' Lockin" show She is joined, and cheered up by, Jenny Eclair as they both visualise each other's locations, fantasise about being in the wings at a comedy club and discuss what they think about o…

Ninia Benjamin was one of the Three Non-Blondes, has performed with Lenny Henry and, of course, has gigged with Barbara Nice Now she is a comedian who is wondering what else she can do, as the great comedy gap we are all suffering means she is considering her options. But for now, she's entertaining her audience on her Instagram walks and keeping a…

Comedian Shappi Khorsandi was part of one of the last gigs Barbara Nice took part in before lockdown. She has missed all her deadlines since then and she's kind of ok with it. Here she talks to Barbara about perfect parenting in lockdown, how to adjust your work deadlines to fit around parenting and tidying up the mess after your killer pets have c…

Barbara Nice has been "borrowing" Kirsty Newton to perform comedy and music at her Piggin' Lock-in gigs and realises that she isn't the only comic to do that. In the past, Kirsty has been "borrowed" by Phil Nicholl, Robin Ince and Paul Merton, but now it's Barbara's turn to talk to her about why she isn't a massive name, how busy a comedian's life …

It's MONDAY in the world of Barbara Nice and Friends (your listening day may vary) and today Barbara is joined by award winning Dramatist Terry Johnson for a view on how the world of theatre is coping through lockdown Terry was one of the first adopters of the performing on zoom we almost take for granted now, and his show on Ken Loach at the start…

Reg Blackwood, formerly known as "Reg as in Elton John, Nice as in the biscuit" joins Barbara Nice all the way from New Zealand to reminisce about their times at the "Gag Club" in Birmingham and how he had a hand in creating the legend that is Barbara Nice to be his comedy mother. Along the way they talk about other acts that graced the Gag Club st…

Steve Neill is an actor, comedian and writer who has met Barbara Nice on the circuit back in the times when people gathered solely for the purpose of laughter. Now he regales Barbara with tales about how the social distancing rules may well have improved his audience levels, how he can impress any child by revealing his is the voice of an owl and h…

Firstly, Steve Day's wife was an Olympian in the 1996 Games. She probably wants us to mention that right off the bat. That said, it's Steve Day himself who has joined Barbara Nice for a conversation today. Steve realises he has a lot of lockdown jokes and assumes that when it all ends, no-one will want to hear anything about lockdown any more, so s…

It's the first day of a new month, and Barbara is on a high after another successful lock-in comedy show over the weekend. While she is in such a good mood, she talks to comedian Lindsey Santoro, with whom she has shared many a car journey back in the day comedy was live. Lindsey tells her of her lockdown life, how her husband is hiding from her in…

Today, we find Barbara Nice in her Garden and as she ruminates about the slugs and birds, comedian and improviser Pippa Evans bursts in. They talk about the confusion over where they first met, how to take an idea from the first initial thoughts to into reality as well as share interesting rumours about jelly-tots Plus, Pippa gives us an impromptu …

Barbara Nice is planning her next lock in comedy night, but the related technology is giving her some trials and tribulations She is joined by promoter and broadcaster Maryam Snape to talk about such technology and how Maryam keeps herself busy by planning multiple social events to keep Birmingham busy during Lockdown They also talk about the time …

Comedian Mark Watson is famous for his extra-long shows that usually take place at the Edinburgh festival. Barbara herself joined the last one at the start of the month which didn't go spectacularly but certainly made an impression Now Barbara and Mark re-unite to talk the best ideas they've had during lockdown, why Mark wants to return to dawdling…

One podcast begats another, Lorraine Cheshire is not only an actor of repute, appearing on such shows as Early Doors, Trollied and currently, Ackly Bridge on Channel 4, but she also used to frequent the Golden Garter, home of previous podcast guest Sing-a-Long-a-John She tells us stories of that venue as well as all the best gossip from the make up…

Today, Barbara has invited 200th @podcastnice twitter follower (perhaps known for more than that) Arthur Smith onto the podcast to receive the benefit of his lockdown wisdom Arthur was a man who regularly held gigs inside his Ballam property, so he is well suited to this lockdown comedy situation we all find ourselves in at the moment They also tal…

It's the Monday after the Piggin' Lock-In and Barbara is on a high. To further pep up her spirits, she talks to pianist and performer John Orchard, known as "Sing-a-long-a-John about the power of a good sing-song, the many famous acts he has shared a bill with, and how performing without an audience isn't the drawback you might think And of course,…

50th Episode Spectacular! Broadcaster Nick Owen and Barbara Nice go back a long way, back to when Nick was a fresh faced reporter on the Birmingham Post and Barbara was hiding in her house away from the noise of the Birmingham Superprix So following on from that nice comedian Joe Lycett's mention of him in yesterday's podcast, Nick appears to chat …

On the 14th of May 2019, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham officially declared Joe Lycett's Kitchen extension open. On the 14th of May 2020, Barbara Nice has a big anniversary too: the big 49th episode of her podcast. On this episode they come together to celebrate both landmarks and have a great chat about gardening as well as Joe's impromptu cat adopt…

Christopher Green has found fame with his many great comic creations, such as Ada Barr, Tina C and many more. Here he catches up with old pal Barbara Nice to chat about the new projects they're both creating in lockdown, how a delivery a day can keep the COVID-19 blues away and being part of the performance problem and not part of the performance s…

Adrian Goldberg has recently recovered from some kind of illness, but what could it be? He chats to Barbara about being a parenting and teaching machine at the moment, but doesn't expect much sympathy from the female members of his household. They also talk a resurgence of subbuteo, mishaps on live radio broadcasts and the "punk rock" aspect of pod…