Teletubbies say "Hello..." : Beyond Standup with Dave Thompson episode artwork

EPISODE · Jun 26, 2025 · 51 MIN

Teletubbies say "Hello..." : Beyond Standup with Dave Thompson

from Unusual Histories · host Danny Hurst

In this episode, Danny is joined by comedian, actor, author and comedy writer Dave Thompson. Dave has appeared in a number of TV shows, often with Harry Hill in various guises. He's also written for several shows, including Kelsey Grammer Presents The Sketch Show, and for a number of other comics, including Stuart Lee and Omid Djalili. He's appeared in Ben Elton's film Maybe Baby, and is a regular on the stand-up circuit, making headlines after being sacked from his role as the original Tinky Winky in the Teletubbies for being told that his interpretation of the role was "not acceptable." After spending several years working as a Drama Movement Therapist, Dave became a stand-up comic. He shares his interesting journey, including how raising his autistic daughter changed his outlook on life, as well as some funny stories about his celebrity life. 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 Stand-up comedy used to be a good way of opening the door to acting. Now, it's far harder to make money as a stand-up. Some people have spent 5 years only doing unpaid gigs. Some even more. Increasingly, performing abroad is more lucrative. Wearing a furry costume on a children's TV set makes no difference to how funny Dave is as a stand-up comedian, yet it has opened lots of doors. Teletubbies fans everywhere want to be photographed with Dave, especially in Asia and India Heckling comics is a very Anglo-Saxon thing. Most comics are quite different in their day-to-day life. BEST MOMENTS “We´ll get to Tinky Winky in a minute.” “I'm an aristocrat stuck in a peasant's body.” "I was sh**t, for at least the first 10 years of my stand-up comedy career, but I only did 4 unpaid guest spots before I got my first paid set." “Lots of truth in it (Dave’s book), but nothing that would get me sued.” “I entertain drunk people who don't care about me as a substitute for love.” EPISODE RESOURCES http://www.davethompson.org.uk The Sex Life of a Comedian - https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sex-Life-Comedian-Dave-Thompson/dp/1447695151/ Harry Hill´s Fruit Fancies - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLD5MJt6hf8OcseMKXER2Jg6uhxOytRKdA 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 https://twitter.com/dannyhurst https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-hurst-19574720 This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Jun 26, 2025

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Teletubbies say "Hello..." : Beyond Standup with Dave Thompson

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