Si Hawkins Circuit Training - Live Comedy

Si Hawkins checks in with comics who've journeyed to the darkest depths of development hell - TV, radio, film or new-fangled web ventures – and are still standing.

No. 60: The peptic-fuelled Eddie Pepitone

US comedy's answer to The Hulk, mild-mannered Eddie Pepitone turns into a vein-popping rage monster on stage - and it's made him the hottest ticket in town. Trust me to upset him.

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	No. 59: Pete Firman Published 28th March Middlesbrough's own master of the mystic arts, Pete Firman follows a fine tradition of magical British comics. This chat also takes in Ronnie Corbett, David Blaine and the world's strongest [bleep]. Read
	No. 58: The Ever-Empirical Robin Ince Published 27th February Ploughing his own singular furrow as far as stand-up careers go, the accidentally influential Robin Ince returns with another science-based outing. But how will it do in the provinces? Read
	No. 57: Doc Brown is all over 2013 Published 16th January From Ronson and Winehouse to Gervais and Ayoade, 1Xtra to Radio 4, Doc Brown's life lurched in an unlikely new direction a few years back. And it just keeps on lurching. Read
	No. 56: Glenn Wool is Up in the Air Published December 2012 Making a brief festive return to the UK, the now home-free Canadian Glenn Wool talks STD's, US TV and upcoming ventures with a couple of comedy heavyweights. Read
	No. 55: An accident-prone chat with Sara Pascoe Published November 2012 She's been ranted at by Malcolm Tucker, struck dumb by David Cross and sexed-up by Will Arnett. But this week it's all about the stand-up, as Sara Pascoe: The Musical takes residence at the Soho Theatre... Read
	No. 54: Bravo, Mark Thomas, Bravo Published November 2012 In the midst of an unlikely new tour, Mark Thomas talks Hillsborough, corruption, construction, The Comedy Product, The Mary Whitehouse Experience, and opera. Read
	No. 53: I Think it's Lee Hurst Published October 2012 What ever happened to Lee Hurst? Thrust into our front rooms via a popular sporting panel game, he then retreated from TV and sent the rumour mill into TheyThinkIt'sAllOverdrive. Here the touring-again comic gives Circuit Training the full and frank. Read
	No. 52: Little Cook grows up Edinburgh Fringe 2012 Published August 2012 Dan Wright is still best known for his seminal portrayal of the smaller one in Big Cook, Little Cook, but after this year's Fringe, will we all be pointing and saying 'look, there's the Michael Jackson loon'? Read
	No. 51: Amy Lamé, definitely not lame Edinburgh Fringe 2012 Published July 2012 The cabaret queen and long-time Danny Baker sidekick ponders celeb obsessions, Celeb Air, the legacy of Gaytime TV, plus a few nuggets about the big Baker-scribed new Muppet show. Read
	No. 50: The Flashback Episode Published June 2012 For the 50th edition of the Circuit Training column, Si Hawkins looks back at some of the most interesting bits from his interviews. Featuring choice cuts from the likes of Dave Gorman, Rich Fulcher, Adam Buxton, Sean Hughes and Richard Herring. Read
	No. 49: In the moshpit with Miles Jupp Published May 2012 His CV already boasted Balamory, Rev and The Thick of It, and now includes Steve Coogan's new film and a book about cricket. Here Miles Jupp talks disastrous festival gigs, Frankie Boyle and full tosses. Read
	No. 48: Dr Sinha will chase you now Published April 2012 GP turned comic Paul Sinha is now the Dr Doom of general knowledge, as the newest know-it-all villain on ITV quiz show The Chase. It's having an intriguing impact on his live work, too. Read
	No. 47: Humphrey Ker is Smashing Published March 2012 One minute Humphrey Ker is swearing at Churchill, the next he's sticking up for Luis Suarez. We unload a Luger-full of questions at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Best Newcomer and occasional football pundit. Read
	No. 46: The Fall and Rise of Richard Herring Published March 2012 He bounced back from the full Tony Hayers treatment to become one of Britain's finest stand-ups. Here Richard Herring talks ups, downs, turnarounds, podcasts, his old partner and a more recent nemesis. Read
	No. 45: The Unexpurgated Steve Hughes Published February 2012 We're on the verge of World War 3, human rights are often evil and - most shockingly - the Daily Mail possibly isn't. These are the ravings of Steve Hughes - strap in for the sweariest Circuit Training interview yet! Read
	No. 44: The oddly unsung Owen O'Neill Published January 2012 He's been on Conan and Letterman, written scripts for Danny Boyle and Christian Slater, acted alongside Liam Neeson and won awards as a budding director - inside the curious career of Owen O'Neill. Read
	No. 43: Christmas at Tiffany's Published December 2011 She popped up in several star-laden sitcoms and is now reaping the rewards of a stint on reality TV. Time to talk turkey with Tiffany Stevenson... Read
	No. 42: The Aristocratic Paul Provenza Published November 2011 Widely blamed for fatally wounding US drama Northern Exposure, Paul Provenza went and showed 'em by making a surprise hit of dirty-mouthed doc The Aristocrats. Now he's bringing Set List to Soho, and scaring the bejeezus out of Britain's best comics. Read
	No. 41: Sean's (New) Show Published November 2011 What do teen heart-throbs do when they reach middle-age? Whatever they fecking well feel like doing. Here Hughes talks Sean's Show, Buzzcocks, drugs, drink, Hicks and his actively-unsexy new live hour, plus a gentle dig at a couple of comedy untouchables. Read
	No. 40: Dave Gorman has Visual Aids Published October 2011 Hugely popular across myriad comedic outlets, Dave Gorman also gets some stick for his part in the rise of lecture-style stand-up. Not that he ever did lecture-style stand-up, apparently... Read
	No. 39: The Stade We're In Published September 2011 Once tipped for big-time US TV success, Tom Stade ended up co-writing the infamous Tramadol Nights after numerous neglected years on the UK circuit. So is he, like Frankie Boyle, still being horrid about Jordan's offspring? Read
	No. 38: Michael Smiley's People Published September 2011 Thrust into thespianism by Simon Pegg and Spaced, Michael 'Tyres' Smiley has been flexing those acting muscles with Luther and now Kill List. So why won't his award-winning wife work with him? Read
	No. 37: Imran Yusuf, Bringing the Thunder Edinburgh Fringe 2011 Published August 2011 At the last Fringe he was doing free shows. Now he's selling loads of tickets, has a TV vehicle in the offing, and Michael McIntyre re-quoting his routines. It's been quite a year for Imran Yusuf... Read
	No. 36: Josie Long, the Agitatress Edinburgh Fringe 2011 Published July 2011 Fans of Josie Long's likable on-air persona and extensive indie-pop t-shirt collection may be blissfully unaware that she's also a soapbox-mounting Tory-bothering political firebrand. Rabbles should prepare to be roused at this year's Edinburgh Fringe... Read
	No. 35: Ian Stone, Staying at Home Published July 2011 The irascible Ian Stone is suddenly as well known for supporting Arsenal as he is for several decades of solid stand-up: that's podcasts for you... Read
	No. 34: Phil Nichol was a Pretty Naughty Boy Edinburgh Fringe 2011 Published June 2011 After pushing the envelope at last year's Edinburgh Fringe with the high-concept Welcome To Crazytown, Phil Nichol is pulling it back in with this year's low-concept Simple Hour. Oddly enough it's his most ambitious project yet. Read
	No. 33: Paraffin, Puffins and Paul Foot Edinburgh Fringe 2011 Published June 2011 Loved by fellow comics and an army of 'connoisseurs', Paul Foot is, nonetheless, unlikely to ever become the new Russell Howard. Unless Mock the Week suddenly introduce a 15-minute one-man improvised play to round things off. Again, unlikely. Read
	No. 32: Blue-Sky Thinking with Andrew Collins Published May 2011 After negotiating practically every job in the media Andrew Collins tried stand-up last year, then instantly retired. Now his first sitcom has reached Radio 4 after absolute aeons, and he's finally broken The Guardian too (well, their website). But doesn't he miss being locked in cupboards with Rod Stewart? Read
	No. 31: Tim Vine is Warm Published April 2011 The Not Going Out star is hardly ever in right now as he negotiates a nationwide tour. But we travel back to the mid-1990s, when Tim's warmth was all the rage, quiz shows came calling and he tried to break America with a chimp. Read
	No. 30: David Schneider Published March 2011 David Schneider is cursed to hear shouts of 'Smell My Cheese!' wherever he goes, such as this year's Edinburgh Festival. But how close was he to a similarly-resonant part in Lord of the Rings, and with which massive mainstream celeb did he once form a (frankly surreal-sounding) double act? Read
	No. 29: Kevin Eldon Published February 2011 Inhabiter of some of the most memorable comic creations in recent TV history, Kevin Eldon is now back doing similarly-inspired stand-up. So what's all this about Penelope Keith, evil cheese and a medieval dungeon? Read
	No. 28: Stephen Grant Published January 2011 Jokesmith for hire Stephen Grant has done everything from writing gags at Radio 1 to 'audience wrangling' on QI. So what's Simon Mayo's problem? And why does Tara Palmer-Tomkinson get warmer-uppers so excited? Read
	No. 27: John Shuttleworth Published January 2011 It's a good 25 years since John Shuttleworth first graced our screens with his mighty organ, since when he's dabbled in radio, film, even the Eurovision Song Contest, with varying degrees of non-success. Is he bitter? Perhaps just slightly tart. Read
	No. 26: Helen Arney Published December 2010 A festive chat with comic songsmith Helen Arney, whose cunning plan to get on radio is to release an album of Christmas songs and say a little prayer. Read
	No. 25: Adam Buxton Published November 2010 Adam and Joe's beguiling Mr Buxton on his little-known stand-up non-career, Thom Yorke's weeping fits and how the humungous success of The Persuasonists nearly turned him all Hollywood. Read
	No. 24: Greg Davies Published November 2010 He bestrode our biggest sitcom and was the talk of this summer's Edinburgh Festival. A good year for Greg Davies, then. Read
	No. 23: Isy Suttie Published October 2010 The nicest woman in showbusiness, Peep Show's Isy Suttie is off on tour. But will anyone in the audience actually have a clue what she does, when not Dobby? Read
	No. 22: Andi Osho Published September 2010 The Stand Up For The Week regular admits that the right vehicle has yet to pull up, and is refreshingly honest about her TV success to date. Read
	No. 21: Tom Craine Published August 2010 Just a few short years into his stand-up career Tom Craine is coming at us on several fronts. Some people are never satisfied. Read
	No. 20: Rich Fulcher Published August 2010 Are you heading up to Edinburgh this August? Do you have a pulse? Then be warned: Eleanor is on the prowl. Read
	No. 19: Lee Nelson Published July 2010 So what did we make of Lee Nelson's Well Good Show? Really? Blimey. We were going to meet for an in-depth dissection of this much-discussed series, but couldn't be arsed, so Circuit Training texted Lee a few questions and about a month later he texted them back. Read
	No. 18: David Cross Published June 2010 Think it's tricky getting stuff made on British TV? US comedy icon David Cross scoffs at the very suggestion, having spent years doing likewise in the States. Now he's trying both at once, and finding it all a bit bewildering. Read
	No. 17: Tiernan Douieb Published June 2010 Ask most stand-ups how they started and you'll usually hear lots of stuff about watching Richard Pryor as a kid then getting egged-on to do an open-spot while inebriated. Not Tiernan Douieb. He went to Clown College. Read
	No. 16: Rob Rouse Published June 2010 Remember Rob Rouse's stint on The Friday Night Project? No? Well, he has been all-but airbrushed from that particular bit of comedy history. Is he bitter? Let's find out... Read
	No. 15: Markus Birdman Published May 2010 After years of gadding about on the global stand-up circuit, son-of-a-preacher-man Markus Birdman is finally ready for some broadcast business - but will it be in the 'God Slot', again? Read
	No. 14: Crime Does Pay Published February 2010 Bennett Aaron's life was turned upside down when cyberthieves stole his identity, but the fallout has given his career a mighty boost. So does the Welsh comic still wish it hadn't happened? Read
	No. 13: We Received Answers Published January 2010 Si grills comic graftaholic Mark Watson on his unsuitability for panel shows, empty-seat anxiety and that contentious cider ad. Read
	No. 12: The Mac Factor Published January 2010 A classic case of rising without trace, Michael McIntyre is now just about the biggest stand-up in the UK. Si delves back into his dealings with the comic and searches for signs of that future success. Read
	No. 11: Keeping the Home Fires Burning Published December 2009 Comedy cuckold and sometime house-husband Andy Zaltzman on his new Radio 4 show, his old neglected classic, and how he doesn't really fancy America anyway. Read
	No. 10: Trouble Strikes Parson's Topical Paradise Published December 2009 Mock the Week stalwart Andy Parsons talks to Circuit Training about that Frankie Boyle gag, the plagiariasm scandal and why the BBC Trust are not to be, er, trusted. Read
	No. 9: After Humph Published December 2009 Si Hawkins ponders Jack Dee's promotion to the I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue hotseat, and harks back to some unheard Humphrey Lyttelton for a few words of wisdom. Read
	No. 8: Post-Fringe Benefits Published October 2009 An interview with Carl Donnelly about how things have changed for him since his Edinburgh Comedy Award nomination. Plus, his experience on Kerrang Radio, his Grouchy Young Men interview, and supporting DJ Yoda on tour. Read
	No. 7: The Word of Rhod Published October 2009 Si Hawkins chats to Rhod Gilbert about his stand-up show, Rhod Gilbert and The Cat That Looked Like Nicholas Lyndhurst, plus his eclectic TV career, his sitcom pilot, his thoughts on comics' advertising, and more. Read
	No. 6: Klang - The Inquest Published September 2009 With the first run of We Are Klang's sitcom just finished, Circuit Training gently grills Klang's Steve Hall about the road to BBC Three and where he thinks they went right/wrong along the way. Read
	No. 5b: The Fringe 2009. Sunday Published August 2009 In the second of the Circuit Training columns from The Edinburgh Fringe, Si reviews Mark Walker's Scorpio and Justin Moorhouse's Seven. Read
	No. 5a: The Fringe 2009. Saturday Published August 2009 Circuit Training comes from The Edinburgh Fringe, with reviews of Tom Craine's Comfort Blanket and Richard Herring's Hitler Moustache. Read
	No. 4b: Extras, Edinburgh - and Everett? Published August 2009 In this follow-up article, Si concludes his talk with James Dowdeswell. He finds out more about the stand-up's comedy heritage, his role in Extras, and plans for the future. Read
	No. 4a: Fuckula Gets Festive Published July 2009 Si talks to stand-up James Dowdeswell. The comic is perhaps best known for his scene-stealing appearance as Count Fuckula in Ricky Gervais' Extras. Read
	No. 3: Carr Trouble Published July 2009 A look at the broadcasting career of Alan Carr, which is at an intriguing junction right now. Following a rapid rise up the career ladder, the comic is now presenting a chat show that is picking up some tabloid stick. Read
	No. 2: Larking with Eric Published June 2009 Si looks at the impact the Ken Loach film Looking For Eric is set to have on Mancunian comedians Justin Moorhouse and Smug Roberts. Read
	No. 1: Flights of Fancy Published May 2009 Si Hawkins introduces the idea behind Circuit Training. We'll be checking in with the people who've survived that journey from circuit to studio, in one direction or another, and with those poor souls currently mired in the depths of development hell. Read

Si Hawkins has been interviewing comedians since Russell Brand was a little-known MTV presenter. He also edits the front end of a popular music magazine and pontificates about football for anyone who'll put up with him. He's @SiHawkins on Twitter.

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