All this month we are going behind the scenes with Robin Morgan as he embarks on his biggest tour to date called The Spark. We go behind the scenes of what it is like to perform to audiences, how to prepare for tour, writing a show and much much more! Today we find out how Robin got into comedy and writing for radio and television…

Hello Robin how have you been? What have you been up to in the last few months?

Hello Phoenix Remix, I’m well thanks, how are you? I’ve been up to all sorts! Preparing to get this show ready, writing a few scripts here and there, and also hosting my (now-award-winning) topical radio show What Just Happened? for BBC Radio Wales. I’ve also been hosting some daytime shows on Radio Wales, which I’ve loved doing.

“The show’s called The Spark – it’s about, in part, how to keep the spark alive in a marriage, but also in yourself...”

How did you get into the world of comedy?

I was always a big comedy nerd: I’d find any comedy programme on TV or radio and watch/listen to it as a teenager, and I spent my days on YouTube watching a tonne of stand-up. I then got a job working behind the bar of the Glee Club in Cardiff, met a lovely person called Becky who told me all about the world of open-mic comedy, and here we are. HERE WE ARE.

When did you decide you wanted to be a stand up and how did you get into it?

I honestly didn’t know you could be a stand-up until I started working at the Glee. I just assumed there were comedians off the telly, and that was that. But seeing the acts working on the circuit, it made me realise “oh! There’s tonnes more!” My friend Becky who worked on the bar, and told me how to pour a Guinness, was doing a bit of open-mic comedy, and she introduced me to it.

Which comedians are your inspirations?

Russell Howard was the first comic I bought a ticket to see. I’ve still got the ticket stub on my office wall. I then booked to see a mixed-bill show at the Cardiff Glee in 2008, he was appearing, and I saw they were advertising for bar staff. 

You are on tour a lot this year and next year – it sounds like it is going to be exciting – what can you tell us about it?

It is exciting! Biggest tour to date and I’m thrilled. It still feels mad that people are coming to see me. I’ve worked a lot on the circuit for the past decade, so the idea that people are coming to see ME and not just “the comedy” means a great deal. The show’s called The Spark – it’s about, in part, how to keep the spark alive in a marriage, but also in yourself. But it’s not as profound as I’ve just made it sound. It’s very silly, but I think I’m the most honest I’ve ever been on stage also. So that’s fun for the whole family.

Tell us about your show What Just Happened? How did it come about and what has been the reaction to it?

Oh I love it. I grew up on topical comedy panel shows, so the fact I host one now is huge to me. Myself and the late, great (he’s not dead but is great and is sometimes late) Henry Widdicombe pitched it to Radio Wales during lockdown. It had a pilot, and we’ve now had two radio series. And we just won Best Audio Show at the Celtic Media Awards recently. So that’s lovely. We’re hugely proud of it – we’re giving some writers and panellists their first credits, and the whole production are incredible. 

“Russell Howard was the first comic I bought a ticket to see. I’ve still got the ticket stub on my office wall...”

You also write for many television shows – are there many differences for writing comedy for television and for radio? – Is there anything that is similar? 

I think in radio there’s nowhere to hide. You don’t have the privilege of being seen, and also your listener will be driving or cooking or running, so the jokes have to be bloody brilliant. I’m really glad I started in radio – it made me a much better writer. What’s similar? The excitement I get when someone reads one of my jokes out. I love it.

Finally, three words to describe your type of comedy?

Quick, warm, cheeky.