Author Hattie Williams ( Bitter Sweet ) talks about Nick Park’s lovable Oscar-smashing plasticene cheesepunk technologists, the joy of vegetable puns, silent villains and doomed romances, and the comforts of slow, careful, human craft. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jul 07, 2025•1 hr 10 min•Season 5Ep. 4
Writer Gabby Hutchinson-Crouch ( Horrible Histories, Cursed Under London, Darkwood ) talks about Hayao Miyazaki’s 2004 beautiful animated adaptation of Diana Wynne Jones’ Howl’s Moving Castle, and how the Studio Ghibli masterpiece subverts fairytale tropes and flips hackneyed gender roles, while remembering to include sufficient wisecracking fireplaces and hot emo wizards. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon....
Jun 15, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Actor Geoffrey McGivern ( Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy, Ghosts, Back ) talks about the bittersweet Viennese comforts of Graham Greene and Carol Reed's blackly comic thriller 'The Third Man'. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 14, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Season 5Ep. 2
Writer John Finnemore ( Cabin Pressure, Souvenir Programme ) talks about the comforts of Alexander Mackendrick's classic 1955 Ealing comedy 'The Ladykillers' , and explains how the film cleverly subverts the audience's expectations, while satisfying them at the same time. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast....
Mar 06, 2025•1 hr 13 min•Season 5Ep. 1
Comedian John-Luke Roberts picks the 1990 LP by They Might Be Giants (the one that contains their hit single Birdhouse In Your Soul, and 18 other wildly inventive songs) and talks about the idea of ‘too much’, of overwhelm, of an invigorating deluge of ideas, and how that connects the worlds of music and comedy. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi....
Dec 12, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 4Ep. 9
Writer and comedian Robin Ince ( The Infinite Monkey Cage, Cosmic Shambles Network ) talks about the comforts of Carol Reed’s masterpiece The Fallen Idol, the beautiful film he made between Odd Man Out and The Third Man , and touches on the links between film and our memories of loved ones. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted o...
Nov 14, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 4Ep. 8
Writer Neil Forsyth ( The Gold, Guilt , Bob Servant ) talks about the comforts of Molly Dineen's 1989 fly-on-the-wall documentary 'Heart Of The Angel', a surprisingly deep study of the people working in a failing London Underground station. The documentary is available on the BBC iPlayer here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b0074tkn/40-minutes-heart-of-the-angel Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/...
Oct 30, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Writer Will Maclean (The Apparition Phase) talks about John Carpenter's classic 1982 sci-fi horror film The Thing, and why its tale of gruff short-tempered men failing to deal with an impossible situation in a pitiless white landscape is a comforting place to return to again and again. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Aca...
Sep 18, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Season 4Ep. 6
Sunday Times bestselling author Beth Morrey ( Saving Missy, Lucky Day ) talks about Sue Townsend's definitive comic coming-of-age novel The Secret Diary Of Adrian Mole Aged 13 3/4. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Sep 04, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Comedian and writer Sara Barron ( Firecrotch & Normcore, They Like To Watch ) celebrates the comforts of 30 Rock , Tina Fey's sitcom skewering of network TV, and the joy of seeing relatable character Liz Lemon surviving and thriving (even if she has lettuce in her hair). Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See aca...
May 15, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Comedy producer Ed Morrish ( Non-Censored, Soundheap, John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme ) brings his personal comfort blanket, Ben Stokes' 2019 Ashes innings at Headingley against Australia (and more broadly "all sport") to try and persuade Comfort Blanket umpire Joel that it's allowed - and makes a case for sport as the perfect improvised long-form narrative. It's all about the story... Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: htt...
Mar 07, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Season 4Ep. 3
Actor, comedian and broadcaster Tom Price ( Torchwood , Magic FM, My Mate Brought A Toaster ) talks about the lifelong comfort he draws from Allo Allo , Perry & Lloyd's broad and shameless French resistance farce. Listen very carefully, we will say this only once: it's actually brilliant. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted...
Feb 22, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Writer Naomi Alderman ( The Power, The Future ) chooses as her comfort blanket, the 1949 Ealing black comedy 'Kind Hearts And Coronets', with its mixture of revenge (served cold, of course), and vicious social satire, managing to possess, one might say, "all the exuberance of Chaucer, without, happily, any of the concomitant crudities of his period..." Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketp...
Feb 08, 2024•1 hr 11 min•Season 4Ep. 1
In the second part of our two part look at definitive 1990s sitcom Friends , Larry Rickard (Ghosts, Horrible Histories) talks about how comedy reflects its times, how audiences want (and don't want) things to change for their favourite comedy characters, and when it's time to say goodbye. This is PART TWO of a two part episode. If you haven't heard PART ONE, please go back and start there... Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: h...
Oct 12, 2023•49 min•Season 3Ep. 17
Writer and actor Larry Rickard ( Ghosts, Horrible Histories ) talks about his love for the smash hit 1990s sitcom Friends , and the craft of making warm, gag-filled, ensemble television comedy with your... er... friends. This is Part ONE of a two part episode. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy ...
Oct 11, 2023•45 min•Season 3Ep. 16
Writer and broadcaster Danny Robins ( Uncanny, 2:22 A Ghost Story ) talks about the unexpected comforts of Nic Roeg's classic 1973 supernatural thriller Don't Look Now, a masterful study of how humans try and make sense of life, death and the unexplained. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for m...
Sep 20, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Actor and writer Jim Howick ( Ghosts, Horrible Histories ) talks about his love for Bruce Robinson's 1987 film ' Withnail & I' , the studied debauchery of the striving, starving artist, its ache of regret for the 60s, and the strange, romantic comforts of desperation, booze and enormous herb-laced joints (lamb and otherwise). Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi ...
Sep 10, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Actor Rufus Wright ( Rogue One, Quantum of Solace, The Audience ) talks about the comfort he gets from the often overlooked 1974 debut album by Canadian heavy prog rock trio Rush, and we share our thoughts on the appeal of heavy metal for teenage boys, the gawky magic of school bands, and the sweet horror of adolescent lyrics. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at:...
Aug 23, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Comedian and writer Bec Hill ( Makeaway Takeaway, Horror Heights, A Problem Squared ) talks about the comforts of Michael Schur's philosophical afterlife sitcom The Good Place , and how comedy can tackle the really, really big stuff. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Aug 09, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 12
The second part of our 2-part celebration of the sound shorts of Laurel & Hardy, with journalist Andrew Male ( Sight & Sound, Mojo, Sunday Times ), talking about Towed In A Hole, Their First Mistake, Them Thar Hills , and its sequel, Tit For Tat. Please do listen to part one first! Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on...
Jul 20, 2023•40 min•Season 3Ep. 11
Journalist Andrew Male ( Sight & Sound, Sunday Times, Mojo ) talks about the sound shorts of Laurel & Hardy, and the leap forward in comedy instigated by their unique, warm double act adapting to the new technology of sound. Part one of two, dealing with Stan and Ollie's craft, and looking at their Oscar winning 1932 short, The Music Box. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or ...
Jul 19, 2023•47 min•Season 3Ep. 10
PART TWO of actor and writer Carrie Quinlan talking about Spider-Man, and the endlessly retellable tale of the nerd-turned-neighbourhood superhero. This part talks in more depth about the latest Spider-Man film 'Across the Spiderverse'. If you haven't heard part one, please find it and start there! This is PART TWO of TWO. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: htt...
Jun 29, 2023•41 min•Season 3Ep. 9
Actor and writer Carrie Quinlan (Home, Agendum, John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme) talks about her love of the comic character Spider-Man, in all his (and her, and its) incarnations, and what enables the story of the teenage nerd turned neighbourhood crime fighter to be endlessly reinvented, to provide life-long comfort for alienated kids, teens and grown-ups. This is part ONE of TWO. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https:...
Jun 28, 2023•33 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Comedy actor and podcaster Margaret Cabourn-Smith ( Crushed, John Finnemore, Penny Dreadfuls ) talks about the uplifting British comedy film Pride (2014) with its story of unlikely alliances and the power of unity, and the winner of an imaginary BAFTA for best White Writing At The End In A Motion Picture. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gra...
Jun 07, 2023•1 hr 4 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Comedian and YouTuber Jay Foreman ( Map Men, Politics Unboring-ed ) talks about the comforts of Goscinny and Uderzo’s indomitable Asterix, about the sort of jokes and storytelling that can only work in comic form, and how good it is to read something from a neighbour's point of view. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast...
May 31, 2023•1 hr•Season 3Ep. 6
Author and journalist Daisy Buchanan ( Insatiable, How To Be A Grown Up ) talks about the comforts of Bridget Jones's Diary, by Helen Fielding, and how book Bridget differs from the version we now think we know, how the book acts as a manual for self-acceptance, and how it might open a door to grown-up life if you read it when you're anxious and thirteen. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblank...
May 17, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Comedian Michael Spicer ( The Room Next Door, Mandy, The Mash Report ) talks about the comforts of Monty Python's final, short and strange TV series (the one nobody really talks about), why sketch shows are all-hit-and-no-miss (provided you love them enough) and why enjoying the weird stuff is sometimes the most comforting part of being a fan. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or don...
May 10, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Comedian and artist Jo Neary ( Ideal, Man Down ) on illustrator Ronald Searle, in particular his school satires: St Trinian's and the immortal Molesworth books, with Geoffrey Willans. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Apr 26, 2023•1 hr 3 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Writer and actor Abigail Burdess ( Mother's Day, Mitchell & Webb ) talks about the comforts of the 1995 BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, and talks about the invention of the romcom, and whether Jane Austen is the most successful comedy writer ever. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy fo...
Apr 19, 2023•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 2
If you like Comfort Blanket, we are launching a Patreon so you can join in and show your support. www.patreon.com/comfortblanketpod Patreon membership gives you early ad-free access to future episodes of Comfort Blanket, as well as our exclusive companion podcast 'Home Comforts'. Here's a sample episode to whet your Patreon appetite, with Julia picking Jennifer Saunders' classic sitcom 'Absolutely Fabulous'... Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris....
Mar 27, 2023•29 min
