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Ian Smith

May 14, 2026 · 1 h 26 min

Show notes

This week I’m joined by two-time Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee, Ian Smith! You may also know him best as the co-host of the Northern News podcast with Amy Gledhill, as well as appearances on Live at the Apollo, Have I Got News For You and on his own Radio 4 series, Ian Smith is Stressed!


He’s now back with Ian Smith: Foot Spa Half Empty - a sharp, surreal and painfully relatable look at stress, love, and the kind of life choices that include buying a magic spell off Amazon. In this episode we discuss:


  • the brutal on-the-job experience that actually makes a stand-up
  • the uncertainty of what actually leads to TV work
  • learning the value of other comedians as “outside eyes” on your material
  • why comedy as therapy is limited (but why it still helps anyway)
  • the stuff that gets cut from The Northern News
  • and we find out of Ian Smith is happy...


Join the Insiders Club at Patreon.com/ComComPod where you can instantly WATCH the full episode and get access to 20 minutes of exclusive extras including:


  • how writing for The News Quiz taught him to write on demand
  • why previews are meant to be messy
  • and how deadlines remove self-doubt and force clarity in creative decisions


👉 Sign up to the ComComPod Mailing List and follow the show on Instagram, YouTube & TikTok.



Catch Up with Ian: Foot Spa Half Empty is on its final leg of the UK tour. You can find all the dates and more at iansmithcomedian.co.uk. You can also keep-up-date with Ian on Instagram, @iansmithcomedy.



Support our independently produced Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod:


✅ Instant access to full video and ad-free audio episodes

✅ 20 minutes of exclusive extra content with Ian

✅ Early access to new episodes where possible

✅ Exclusive membership offerings including weekly(ish) Stu&As


PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else!



Everything I'm up to: Come and see me LIVE, find out all the info and more at stuartgoldsmith.com/comedy. Discover my comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.


Get in touch: If you’re listening and thinking ‘I’d love to work with ComComPod on getting something out there’ or ‘there’s someone you should absolutely have on’ - drop us an email at [email protected]!

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