From Comedy Clubs to Church Performances Paul Kerensa's Unconventional Career
In this episode, Danny is joined by writer and comedian Paul Kerensa. Paul has written extensively for TV, including Miranda, Top Gear and Not Going Out and has published a number of highly popular books, including several children´s books. He claims to be the only stand-up comic without a naval and has performed in numerous countries. Paul is also the host of The Great British Broadcasting Century podcast, which is all about BBC history.
Naturally, because Paul is a bit of a BBC history nerd, this episode is peppered with fascinating insights into the subject. They also discuss the 3 types of gigs Paul does, including lots of church gigs, and his insights into how he adapts his act for these venues include several funny anecdotal stories.
If you can´t get enough of these podcasts, head to https://www.patreon.com/DannyHurst to access my exclusive, member-only, fun-filled and fact-packed history-related videos.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The BBC has had a strong influence on British culture e.g. The London-centric, Victorian/Dickensian feel of a traditional Christmas is partly down to them. Bush House, which became the BBC´s home in 1940 was the most expensive building in the world. Comedy is a great way of getting people to think, including about religion. Most churches and cathedrals are better venues than comedy clubs. The BBC was not behind the first radio broadcast in the UK. The birthplace of the microphone is now a Chinese supermarket. What people will laugh at has changed drastically, making modern audiences trickier. The BBC once hosted an evening of mass telepathy.BEST MOMENTS
“It´s one of those tours that never ends.”
“I couldn’t find a way of saying “oh by the way I go to church” without it killing the room.”
“He thought he had to speak the language of comedians to us, which he thought was just swearing.”
“People aren’t going to laugh if they feel unsettled.”
“There´s a community in Sussex that’s a little bit Amish.”
“It´s the only building outside of Israel that has been a church, a synagogue and a mosque.”
“I can’t sell one-liners like they do.”
“Guildford cathedral is still selling itself for film locations for spiritual battles.”
“You go from amateur questioner to procrastinator.”
“I´ve got no belly button…I once did a gig where there were three of us, quite rare.”
EPISODE RESOURCES
https://www.paulkerensa.com
HOST BIO
Historian, performer, and mentor Danny Hurst has been engaging audiences for many years, whether as a lecturer, stand-up comic or intervention teacher with young offenders and excluded secondary students. Having worked with some of the most difficult people in the UK, he is a natural storyteller and entertainer, whilst purveying the most fascinating information that you didn't know you didn't know. A writer and host of pub quizzes across London, he has travelled extensively and speaks several languages. He has been a consultant for exhibitions at the Imperial War Museum and Natural History Museum in London as well as presenting accelerated learning seminars across the UK. With a wide range of knowledge ranging from motor mechanics to opera to breeding carnivorous plants, he believes learning is the most effective when it's fun. Uniquely delivered, this is history without the boring bits, told the way only Danny Hurst can.
CONTACT AND SOCIALS
https://instagram.com/dannyjhurst
facebook.com/danny.hurst.9638
Unusual Histories
"History is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake." James Joyce.
That was me at school as well. Ironically, I ended up becoming a historian. The Unusual Histories podcast is all about the history you don't learn at school, nor indeed anywhere else.
Discover things that you didn't know that you didn't know; fascinating historical luminaries and their vices and addictions, the other numerous sides of every story...
We start with the Monopoly Series, in which we explore how the game came to be, the real-life connection between the cheapest and most expensive properties, the history of each location, how proportionate the values were then and are today, what the hell a "community chest" is and whether free parking really does exist anywhere in London.
If you love history; or indeed if you hate history, this is the podcast for you…
Where can you listen?
