Former BBC Radio Newcastle host and comedian Steffen Peddie has launched a comedy podcast with GP Steven Hamm.
Steven was a weekly guest on Steffen’s late-night show, where he covered a different medical topic each week. The pair got on well on and off air and became good friends.
Sadly, Steffen’s radio show recently came to an end following the much-reported BBC changes where some of the funding from its local radio was redeployed into online.
“Steffen and I used to have such a good time working together and we wanted to continue doing so,” says Steven. “We then came up with the idea of creating a comedy podcast. It’s called Agony Island.
“We now give light-hearted advice as agony uncles with a comedy spin, and we hope to bring joy to people and keep the magic of Steffen’s late show alive.
“It’s no longer medical advice, but people do say laughter is the best medicine, although as a doctor I very much dispute this claim,” he joked.
The format of Agony Island is around two friends discussing their week. There are occasional features, which vary in nature from week to week, and answering problems sent in by listeners.
The show ends with Becky’s Question – Becky is Steffen’s wife, who is American. Each week she asks a social etiquette question such as… how do you tell someone they have food in their teeth? Can you ask someone to remove their shoes before they enter your home? Steffen and Steven answer it, usually with different opinions!
Many of the show’s listeners know Steffen from his time at BBC Radio Newcastle and as a comedian. Steven says those listeners are also seeing the personality behind the doctor coming through. In fact, one listener described him as the Kenneth Williams of podcasts, apparently because he loves an innuendo!
Although the podcast is relatively new, Steffen says he wants to do a live show at a Northern venue within the next year or so.
New episodes of Agony Island are released every Monday, available wherever you get your podcasts.
