Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (RHLSTP)

Andrew Hankinson on Felled - Book Club

Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (RHLSTP)

Summary

Rahalastapa, a popular podcast, prepares for its conclusion while continuing to release episodes until at least February. The host expresses gratitude to fans and highlights the success of recent live shows, including performances featuring guests like Izzy Sooty and Ed Gamble. The podcast also promotes additional content available on YouTube and a new series called Craven Newsround, which features brief discussions on current events.

The episode features a conversation with author Andrew Hankinson, who discusses his latest book, "Feld." Hankinson shares insights into his writing journey, including how the works of Ricky Gervais inspired him to pursue a career in journalism. The discussion delves into the themes of his previous books, including the complexities of male identity and societal expectations, as well as the emotional impact of personal loss.

Hankinson's new book examines the recent destruction of a beloved tree in Northumberland, exploring the motivations behind the act and its broader implications. The conversation touches on themes of anger, powerlessness, and the significance of nature in people's lives, ultimately reflecting on the human condition and the search for meaning in a chaotic world.

Show Notes

RHLSTP Book Club #198 - Felled - Richard chats to author Andrew Hankinson about his new book about the destruction of the Sycamore Gap, Felled. They also discuss his previous books about Raoul Moat and New York’s Comedy Cellar, plus whether modern UK comedy is failing to push boundaries in the same was as US comics. Then they chat about the new book and how it’s as much about Andrew as the tree or the crime. What does it all say about the crisis of masculinity? Are we all trying to impress our repressed dads and how do we cope when we lose them? Why did people get so upset about the loss of a tree when there might not be the same level of anger over an actual murder? What drove the men who did this and can we ever be sure? And is there a new trend of authors questioning themselves and their own lives in their work?

Buy this fascinating book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/felled-the-killing-at-sycamore-gap-andrew-hankinson/6c702f9374218f79

SUPPORT THE SHOW! See details of the RHLSTP LIVE DATES Watch our TWITCH CHANNEL Become a badger and see extra content at our WEBSITE Buy DVDs and books from GO FASTER STRIPE

Audio mix by Ben Evans (NTO) Thanks to Chris Evans (NTO) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More from Richard Herring's Leicester Square Theatre Podcast (RHLSTP)

Oct 21, 2026

RHLSTP #632 - Bin Face vs Bin Juice - Rich is feeling a bit better. Is it because of God? If so God has also sent him a loquacious guest at this difficult 8th gig of the Fringe - it’s stand-up veteran and agitator Mark Thomas. Mark reminisces about the crazy acts that populated the circuit when he started 40 years ago, how he got the Kurdish National Medal of Honour, how he is the world’s most arrested comedian (impressive given the competition), what it’s like to have the red dot of a sniper rifle appear on your forehead, how activism got him a free trip to the cinema, his surprising love of Kung Fu films and much more.

Oct 19, 2026

#454 Thigh-Eyed - Richard’s non-Edinburgh Edinburgh Fringe continues as he reveals the latest put downs from his much-funnier-than-him children. His guest is podcast king and fine stand up Adam Rowe. They discuss how doing an advert led to threats of violence, putting your stand up specials on Youtube for free, turning romantic heartbreak into comedy, how the Have A Word podcast has taken the UK by storm, whether sharks are better than dolphins, how you can still say whatever you like in comedy and whether therapy is good for comedians.

Oct 18, 2026

13/10/26 Andy Burnham Is a Liar - Rich and Ally are back to discuss the result of the Pottery Throwdown and the proof that Andy Burnham’s pants on on fire, with proof straight from the crocodile’s mouth. Also how did Ziggy lose her arms? We might find out today. Don’t miss it. Makes GB News look woke as fudge.

Oct 16, 2026

RHLSTP Book Club #197 - 31 Inventions That Built Our World - In a book club first an author (that I am not married to) has come to Hitchin for a face to face chat. Jonn Elledge is here to discuss his latest book 31 Inventions That Built Our World as well as how close he came to being in a Harry Potter film. They chat about his previous books about borders and conspiracy theories (and a possibly true one about Britney Spears) and then discuss the infrastructure of our modern world that we take for granted and how it got here. This includes how the car helped create the concept of teenagers and changed the world of dating, why electric cars failed to gain traction the first time they were introduced and why people thought they were only for women, how lighting destroyed the concept of first and second sleeps, how William Huskisson might not be the first person to be killed by a train and how he was the third most famous aspect of his own death anyway and how this book changes the way you look at the world,

Oct 14, 2026

RHLSTP #631 - Champagne Supernova - Richard is four shows into his Fringe run and has crossed the one line that Ricky Gervais fans will not tolerate and he’s a bit under the weather and immune compromised so this may be his last show. Luckily his guest is a healing force of nature - Felicity Ward. They talk about Covid, death, divorce and cancer and how these things are all comedy gold, plus Dancing with the Stars, being the Australian David Brent (and a second red line for Gervais fans), getting cast in another one series but brilliant show, Time Bandits and meeting Lisa Kudrow and whether Richard could do with a therapist and whether it’s worth having kids in case you lose an organ. Another really lively and fun show. Don’t skip it!

See all episodes →