Henry Naylor: From Bora Bora to the Frontlines of Political Theatre
About this episode
Henry Naylor discusses his journey from television to political theatre, sharing insights and stories from his career.
Award-winning writer, comedian, and playwright Henry Naylor joins Steve Otis Gunn for a conversation that spans BBC sketch comedy, blockbuster global ad campaigns, and some of the most politically charged theatre of the past decade. Henry shares how he broke into the industry on Smith & Jones, fell into the world of Spitting Image, and ended up starring alongside Rowan Atkinson in a series of million-pound Barclaycard commercials filmed around the world — a strange, lucrative detour that funded everything that came next. There are great stories along the way: the legal battles and weekly chaos of producing live political satire, what it's actually like to stand in front of a camera on a big-budget international shoot, and how Henry eventually walked away from television entirely to make theatre about Afghanistan, North Korea, and the parts of the world that don't get much of a look-in. Funny, sharp, and surprisingly candid about what the industry looks like from the inside. Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times. 🎭 About Henry Henry Naylor is an award-winning writer, comedian, and playwright. After early success on Smith & Jones and…
Topics covered
- political theatre
- comedy
- interviews
- media industry
- live satire
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