Episodes

  • Desert Island Improv - with Dave & Ebe

    Desert Island Improv - with Dave & Ebe
    May 18 2026
    This week on The Liverpool Comedy ImprovCast, Iain trials a brand new format: Desert Island Improv, putting friends of the show Dave and Ebe firmly in the spotlight. In this episode, the pair are asked to imagine themselves stranded on a very specific kind of desert island, where survival depends entirely on improv. Each guest chooses the improv skill or format they couldn’t live without, the improv person they’d want alongside them, and a key improv memory they’d take with them into exile. Along the way there’s plenty of chat about their journeys in improv and the people and influences that have shaped them. Naturally, there’s also time for a bit of appreciation for the fundamentals, including the ever-essential Yes And, and how it shows up in their work and thinking. A warm, funny and reflective chat with two brilliant improvisers, and a reminder that even on a desert island, someone is probably still trying to justify a completely unearned character choice. So sit back, relax and enjoy our first visit to Desert Island Improv.
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    47 mins
  • Iain Luke Jones: The Man Under the Hat

    Iain Luke Jones: The Man Under the Hat
    May 4 2026
    This week on The Liverpool Comedy ImprovCast, the format is… gently ignored. With no guest and no improv deep dive in sight, host Iain Luke Jones takes the bold (and potentially reckless) decision to go solo and slightly off-piste. The reason? His brand new album, Iain Luke Jones: The Man Under the Hat. In this special episode, Iain talks through the making of the album, the ideas behind it, and the journey from “this might be fun” to “well, it’s happening now”. Expect a peek behind the curtain, a few stories along the way, and the occasional detour that may or may not find its way back. Improv fans, fear not. The spirit of it is still very much alive… just pointed in a slightly different direction this week. Iain Luke Jones: The Man Under the Hat is available to download and stream from May 22nd.
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    45 mins
  • Cynthia Drabble

    Cynthia Drabble
    Apr 20 2026
    This week, host Iain Luke Jones is joined by the wonderful Cynthia Drabble (the pocket-sized rocket with a twinkle in her eye) for a brilliant and gloriously unpredictable chat. Cynthia is here to introduce her brand-new show, 'Babble with Drabble', bringing her irrepressible spirit and unique perspective to the podcast. We delve deep into what really makes Cynthia tick, from her fascination with crown green bowling and her godson Neville to the world of controversial biscuits. Together, they explore her unique journey into improv and how her unscripted, inquisitive style gives her a platform to tell her extraordinary story. So pour yourself a cuppa, sit back, relax… and enjoy some babble with Drabble.
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    1 hr and 3 mins
  • Jennifer Carss

    Jennifer Carss
    Apr 6 2026
    This week, host Iain Luke Jones is joined by the wonderful Jennifer Carss for a brilliant and heartfelt chat about how a “one-off favour” turned into a full-blown love affair with improv. Jen shares the story of how she accidentally stumbled into the improv world and somehow never quite left, becoming deeply embedded in the thriving scene in Manchester. What started as helping out a friend has grown into a rich creative life filled with performance, collaboration, and producing her own work. We talk about her passion for bringing improv to younger audiences, including the shows she runs where children don’t just watch — they become part of the action and experience the magic of making it up for themselves. Along the way, we chat about some of the fantastic projects she’s involved with, including Murder Inc, Anything Could Happen, Drunk Classics, Acting Up from ImproQuo, and Curly Tales. It’s a joyful conversation about saying yes to opportunities, building creative communities, and discovering where improv can take you when you least expect it. So grab a brew and settle in as we find out all about Jen's true story about making stuff up.
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    46 mins
  • Improv Book Suggestions

    Improv Book Suggestions
    Mar 23 2026
    On this episode of the Liverpool Comedy ImprovCast, host Iain Luke Jones flies solo and dives deep into the world of improv literature. Rather than sitting down with a guest, Iain takes a thoughtful and entertaining look at ten of the most influential improv books ever written, the texts that have shaped the way improvisers think, perform, teach, and occasionally argue about the art form. From status and spontaneity to “finding the game”, group mind, structure versus freedom and everything in between, he explores the ideas that have defined modern improv and the debates that continue to surround them. Are certain formats placed on too high a pedestal? Has the language of improv made us clearer or more cautious? And what can these books still teach us about stepping on stage with nothing but trust, instinct and a willingness to leap? Whether you’re a seasoned improviser, a curious newcomer, or someone who just loves peeking behind the curtain, this episode is a celebration of the thinkers, teachers and provocateurs who helped shape the craft. So pour yourself a cuppa, sit back, relax… and enjoy another true story about the art of making stuff up.
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    28 mins
  • Ebe McInerney

    Ebe McInerney
    Mar 9 2026
    This week marks a milestone as we hit Episode 150! Host Iain Luke Jones is joined by the brilliant Ebe McInerney for a joyful and wide-ranging chat. Though relatively new to the improv scene, you would never know it from watching her perform. With razor-sharp instincts and a natural flair for comedy, Ebe is already making her mark as one of the newest members of The Oickers. In this episode, we dive into her journey into improv, what fuels her creativity, and how her other passions — from fantasy worlds to intricate crafts and the science of tiny living things — all feed into the performer she is becoming. It’s a warm, funny, and inspiring conversation with a performer who has an incredibly bright future ahead of her. So sit back, relax, grab a brew and join us for Episode 150! It's time to find out Ebe's true story about making stuff up.
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • A-Z of Improv - The Letter J

    A-Z of Improv - The Letter J
    Feb 23 2026
    This week we return to the A–Z of Improv series with the letter ‘J’. Host Iain Luke Jones is joined by good friend and fellow Oicker Dave Hodgson for a lively, thoughtful, and wide-ranging chat about what this letter brings to the world of improv. Together, they explore how it shows up in scenes, training, and everyday life, with plenty of laughs and reflections along the way. So sit back, relax, and grab a brew, it’s time to journey through the letter J.
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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • Hannah McGowan - A Stand Up Woman

    Hannah McGowan - A Stand Up Woman
    Feb 9 2026
    This week we welcome Hannah McGowan back to the show to talk about her transition from improviser to stand-up comedian. Hannah joins Iain to explore how her improv background continues to give her an edge when performing stand-up, from thinking on her feet to connecting with an audience in the moment. It’s been five years since Hannah first appeared on the podcast, and a lot has changed in that time. This episode is a chance to reconnect, reflect, and find out what she’s been up to since we last spoke, as well as digging into the similarities and differences between improv and stand-up along the way. So grab a brew, sit back, relax, and enjoy a thoughtful and entertaining chat about comedy, confidence and finding your voice on stage.
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    58 mins