John Lloyd on Rowan Atkinson, Spitting Image and QI

Join Rob for an exclusive interview with a true legend of British comedy. Our guest has shaped some of the most iconic shows that have kept us laughing for decades. He’s the creative genius behind the timeless "Blackadder," the innovative "QI," and the satirical "Spitting Image." It’s the one and only John Lloyd. They chat about John directing “the greatest music video of all time”. Discover how Rob and John first crossed paths, and hear John share the poignant events that inspired his son Harry, aka Waiting For Smith, to embark on a music career and release his latest track, "Raised Up."
This is an episode packed with laughter, inspiration, and a touch of nostalgia you won't want to miss!
Listen to the full podcast on all your favourite podcast streaming platforms: link.chtbl.com/RobBrydonPod
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Rob Brydon is best known for his work on The Trip, Gavin & Stacey and presenting the BBC One comedy panel show Would I Lie To You?
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🎥 This channel is a co-production with The Talent Bank

[@graceygrumble]

John Lloyd's work has made me laugh... lots and lots and lots.
Life is enhanced with a giggle or two. So, thanks.

[@nbell63]

As a consumer of so much of his output, the man in the booth has remained a phantom, rarely seen but you know that they're there. There have been little appearances (the swirl of the cape, the gleam from a flash of mask) but essentially shadow play. Remarkable then that in such a finite moment we see so much of the man - cheers! 😊

[@Elwaves2925]

I remember seeing his first time on QI. I knew he was behind the show but wondered why he was on, deciding that a guest must have pulled out last minute. It was only after, when I looked him up, that I discovered he was behind so much stuff I loved.

[@danieladams9950]

Would love to know what John thinks of career "disasters". Can't think of any. Brilliant but benign.

[@markdaly1648]

He was the pilot host for a show called newshounds. But was deemed to be so disastrous that John Lloyd never presented a tv show ever again. But out that debacle came have I got news for you.

[@crispindry2815]

Do you talk like that in real life?

[@tastewithjase]

LOVED this one. Icon is a wholly appropriate term for this man. He and Armando Ianucci are basically responsible for me laughing for the last 40 years.

[@niyanlan8928]

Many thanks for this! When you have John Lloyd on your show you really do have someone who has seen it all and it was very interesting to see Rob’s interviewing style change to try and get the best out of him. And he certainly did that certainly did that - fascinating conversation

[@DeathlyTired]

John Lloyd is right up there - I mean the Attenborough percentile - *right* up there.

[@kurisensei]

Blackadder is an interesting case - going from a huge budget to a tiny one having a hugely positive effect on

[@hamiltos2]

Usual brilliance from Rob Brydon , amongst all his other talents, we now know he can do this like the best or better. Plus he always has quality guests . John Lloyd what an enigma. So far I have been metaphorically glued to every interview in the series. Watch them all, you will not be disappointed.

[@oneworldfamily]

Oh God, there are too few intelligent conversations like this in our world today. Thanks so much for letting John speak, Rob.
John Lloyd has such a distinctive voice. I'd know it without seeing him.

[@Fcutdlady]

Never knew john Lloyd directed land of confusion . Excellent video .

[@kevincrouch2732]

What a brilliant 30 minutes - thank you both

[@darrenlong7385]

Fantastic interview, shame it had to end.

[@bletheringfool]

He was also a producer on Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy

[@acuriousmixofpeople9917]

The podcast broadcast is surreal. Rob is talking with John Lloyd about directing Barclaycard adverts. Then it breaks to Rob Bryon doing an ad for Lloyds bank. And then back to John Lloyd talking about an ad for Barclays.

[@sfshinz]

I really like the final three series of “Blackadder”, but Series One was sheer, glorious, anarchic brilliance.

[@RatKindler]

I thought I was the only one who liked the first series. I only hear people complaining about it.

[@danieladams9950]

@@sfshinz Series 1 is good, but goes up several levels for S2.

[@C64Mat]

Always a pleasure!

[@deborahgreenworld]

Great interview best you've done so far!!

[@aprilkepler1702]

I loved you two!! Best wishes to your Harrys. ❤❤

[@JolynBowler]

Truly have enjoyed this one. Thanx. 🌻

[@davideddy5877]

Excellent podcast gents. Never liked you before Rob, but will start to follow your work now.

[@bennylloyd-willner9667]

He directed Land of Confusion😮. The circle is closed, brill man🏆

[@HerbertAckermans]

John Lloyd really is that unknown, unseen, uncelebrated catalyst of so much comedy, humour, laughs several generations grew up with. Without him, so much would've never been condensed (in a good way) to be the comedy we grew up with, we enjoyed so much.

[@herseem]

The cutting down of Blackadder to fit a smaller budget was absolutely the right thing. The problem is, real animals being present as props, which is what the horses and castle were in the first series of Blackadder, are attention-grabbing, but not inherently funny if they are not inherently involved in a joke. The second series onwards was a distillation of the situation without extraneous bits, which was one of the reasons it was so funny.

[@simoncarswell3515]

Ben Elton said something like: "Rowan falling off a horse 100 feet away is no funnier than anyone else falling off a horse 100 feet away. But Rowan's face three feet away is one of funniest things in the world". I've always thought that's nice way of distilling the difference between series one and two.

[@LeeDon76]

Two of my favourite people but I wish they had mentioned the great Douglas Adams.

[@Benyboy2727]

Smashing hair sir.

[@markherzog9484]

What a really nice guy……

[@DN-ds1pk]

Now that you've had John Lloyd on, can we FINALLY get at least one his (arguably) three most famous "employees", meaning Rowan, Stephen or Sandi?

[@cheifwhat]

Why don't you upload the full podcasts on here as videos?

[@phill6859]

I thought Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy ...

[@knold20]

In England, we live in houses

[@stevej1154]

Noel Gallagher was half right about not writing the songs, but not because they arrive mysteriously out of the ether; they come from other songs. He’s a shameless ‘borrower’ and many of his best songs are those that use other people’s good ideas.

[@user-qr8up7xp7d]

At the time the life of Brian interview on NtNoN was sycophantic as fuck.

[@stewmott3763]

Just think - when JL, Mel Smith, Griff Rhys Jones, Pamela Stephenson and Rowan Atkinson started 'Not the Nine O'Clock News', they were all in their twenties. Well, don't I feel like an old failure? ;-)

[@judyharris6516]

Disappointed that you changed the subject before JL could say much about Dudley

[@arthurgordon6072]

Love John Lloyd's work. Just a pity about his musical taste. Genesis and Coldplay? Oh dear!

[@georgewaters6424]

!!!

[@barrylarry9317]

lee mack is not funny

[@craigmitcham2619]

ben elton killed off black adder, the first was brilliant then he spoilt it

[@kurisensei]

This opinion is so unusual, I’m tempted to assume you are trolling

[@BeyondOrdinary]

@@kurisensei Personally I enjoyed the first series a lot and was rather annoyed by the Queen and Nanny in BA2. Everyone comes at humour differently.

[@Gaelmart]

Genesis - Land Of Confusion (Official Music Video)
th-cam.com/video/TlBIa8z_Mts/w-d-xo.html
Peter Cook - A Life In Pieces - A Partridge In A Pear Tree
th-cam.com/video/rfEJkF9jqVI/w-d-xo.html
Harry Enfield's Norbert Smith: A Life (1989)
th-cam.com/video/jNRCadHsUqM/w-d-xo.html