Published by Keep It Light Media / Travesty Media
Life’s A Beach sees Alan giving Judith Chalmers and Michael Palin a run for their money as he invites a famous guest each week to discuss their favourite places in the world. Bursting with anecdotes, laidback chat and laugh out loud travel tales - if this podcast was a suitcase you’d have to sit on it. “My Life’s A Beach podcast is the escapism we ALL need right now. I sat down and chatted with some of my famous friends about everything travel. From caravanning in Rhyl to private jetting to the Maldives, my guests spill the beans on their holiday horrors and dream destinations. Let’s face it: we might not have the sun on our faces, but after a listen to this you’ll definitely have a smile” – ALAN CARR
Listen on Apple PodcastsJoining me this episode to discuss their travel and holiday stories is the actress, comedian, writer, producer, and director - Sally Phillips. Please subscribe and review. Thanks, Alan. xx ‘Life’s A Beach’ everyone’s favourite travel podcast is here to give you all the vitamin D you need. More celebrity passengers unpack their travel suitcases dishing the dirt on their holiday high-jinks. Buckle up, sit back and enjoy the inflight entertainment!! A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: hello@keepitlightmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sally Phillips joins Alan for one of the most epic international episodes of Life's a Beach ever. From growing up in Hong Kong and Beirut to surviving salmonella in Mexico, clown school, holiday romances and Edinburgh Fringe memories, Sally has the most intriguing travel stories. Plus, they chat The Hairdresser Mysteries, niche museums, menopausal confidence and why you should never underestimate the Herring Canning Museum. Alan almost chokes on an accidental mid-flight snack too.00:00 Welcome aboard Sally Phillips00:43 Growing up with British Airways & glamorous flying01:35 Alan accidentally swallows a fly! 🪰03:14 Alan's Scottish castle04:32 Growing up in Hong Kong & England as a holiday destination06:36 Childhood in Beirut before the war08:13 Holiday romances & "No Panties in Zante"10:20 Why Sally loves clown school11:57 Adventurous food (or not!)13:27 The Hairdresser Mysteries16:43 Sally's salmonella disaster in Mexico19:57 Menopause, complaining & parenting teenagers21:35 Edinburgh Fringe memories & comedy stories26:28 Honeymooning 'with' Nicky Clarke in the Maldives27:36 Quick Fire: Mile High or Too Shy?31:40 Emotional baggage#LifesABeach #AlanCarr #SallyPhillips #TravelPodcast #Travel #Comedy #TheHairdresserMysteries #EdinburghFringe #HolidayStories #HongKong #Scotland #ClownSchool Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Joining me this episode to discuss their travel and holiday stories is the actress, comedian, writer, producer, and director - Sally Phillips. Please subscribe and review. Thanks, Alan. xx ‘Life’s A Beach’ everyone’s favourite travel podcast is here to give you all the vitamin D you need. More celebrity passengers unpack their travel suitcases dishing the dirt on their holiday high-jinks. Buckle up, sit back and enjoy the inflight entertainment!! A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: hello@keepitlightmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
One of the world's greatest storytellers is on board Alan Air! David Sedaris joins Alan to celebrate his brilliant new essay collection "The Land and Its People", and shares stories from his travels to 74 countries.From his unforgettable first trip to Greece, the holiday romance that could have changed his life forever, and why Japan completely changed him, to meeting the Pope, travelling with his wonderfully mischievous sister Amy, getting bitten by a dog, and the tiny travel annoyances that drive him mad, this is David Sedaris at his hilarious best.Packed with razor-sharp observations, outrageous stories and laugh-out-loud moments, this is one journey you won't want to miss.00:00 Welcome aboard, David Sedaris01:30 Dressing like you're in a cult02:10 The Land and Its People and the art of oversharing04:10 Visiting 74 countries and why South America keeps calling05:20 The famous "You're trash!" airline story06:20 David's unforgettable first trip to Greece08:20 The holiday romance that might have changed his life09:45 Hugh, love stories and handsome husbands13:50 Does David write for the page or the stage?15:40 Getting bitten by a dog... and blamed for it19:45 Why Japan completely changed him21:20 Adventurous eating abroad22:50 His growing list of life's biggest irritations25:30 Amy Sedaris' holiday pranks28:20 David's hidden gem in West Sussex30:20 Meeting the Pope inside the Vatican32:10 Who has real star quality?33:15 Quick Fire, making our descent#LifesABeachPodcast #DavidSedaris #AlanCarr #TheLandAndItsPeople #TravelPodcast #ComedyPodcast #TravelStories #Japan #Greece #Books #Author #Humour #Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
One of the world's greatest storytellers is on board Alan Air! David Sedaris joins Alan to celebrate his brilliant new essay collection "The Land and Its People", and shares stories from his travels to 74 countries.From his unforgettable first trip to Greece, the holiday romance that could have changed his life forever, and why Japan completely changed him, to meeting the Pope, travelling with his wonderfully mischievous sister Amy, getting bitten by a dog, and the tiny travel annoyances that drive him mad, this is David Sedaris at his hilarious best.Packed with razor-sharp observations, outrageous stories and laugh-out-loud moments, this is one journey you won't want to miss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nina Conti is on board Alan Air and it's as brilliantly bonkers as you'd expect. She reveals the skiing holiday where her dad's booming voice bolted her into action, the holiday romance with an American Marine that ended very badly, losing Monkey on a flight to Austria, why Tokyo didn't live up to expectations, and why she escapes to yurts, road trips and Arthur's Seat whenever she gets the chance. Plus, Alan and Nina reminisce about winning the BBC New Comedy Award, swap Edinburgh Fringe stories, chat about her directorial debut "Sunlight" and Nina's hilarious new C*nti Cabaret, coming to the Underbelly at Bristo Square at this year's Edinburgh Fringe. Book your tickets here: https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/nina-s-c-nti-cabaret 00:00 Welcome aboard, Nina Conti! 01:40 The skiing holiday that ended in dad shouting 03:30 Why Nina loves American road trips 04:15 Making Sunlight in a monkey suit 05:50 Returning to the Edinburgh Fringe 08:05 Inside Nina's hilarious C*nti Cabaret 12:15 Arthur's Seat and Nina's Edinburgh recommendations 14:05 Losing Monkey on a flight to Austria 16:05 Why Tokyo disappointed her 17:45 The holiday romance with a Marine 22:10 Growing up with Tom Conti and Shirley Valentine 24:00 Escaping to yurts and embracing nature 26:10 Celebrity holiday encounters, from John Travolta to Andrew Scott 29:45 Costa Rica tops Nina's travel bucket list 30:10 Quick Fire, making our descent #LifesABeach #NinaConti #AlanCarr #EdinburghFringe #Edinburgh #ComedyPodcast #TravelPodcast #Monkey #HolidayRomance #RoadTrips #TravelStories #Podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nina Conti joins Alan for a laughter-fueled flight to talk American road trips, her directorial debut "Sunlight", disastrous holiday romances, comedy awards, losing Monkey in Austria, and her fabulous new show at Edinburgh Fringe... https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/nina-s-c-nti-cabaret Please subscribe and review. Thanks, Alan. xx ‘Life’s A Beach’ everyone’s favourite travel podcast is here to give you all the vitamin D you need. More celebrity passengers unpack their travel suitcases dishing the dirt on their holiday high-jinks. Buckle up, sit back and enjoy the inflight entertainment!! A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: hello@keepitlightmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week on Life's a Beach, Alan is joined by the incomparable Caitlin Moran - writer, broadcaster and one of Britain's funniest storytellers - for an episode that goes gloriously off-piste. They somehow begin with Harry Styles' legs and Take That before diving into Caitlin's unforgettable childhood holidays, with summers migrating to a caravan in Wales with an apocalypse-prepping father. Along the way they discuss Japan, Benedict Cumberbatch undercover at Glastonbury, why gardening saved Caitlin's mental health, the joy of rewilding, Elizabeth Taylor's extraordinary life, and why we should celebrate people while they're still here. There may not be much chat about beaches... but there is plenty about beavers. Check out Caitlin's new pod: https://open.spotify.com/show/033CJY22Urz2BLJK792QRZ And her new book "How to be Hopeful" is out in September. Subscribe to Life's a Beach for brand new episodes every week. 00:00 Wanking podcasts, dogs & bagpipes 01:13 Harry Styles, Take That & celebrity gossip 06:40 Caitlin's unusual childhood holidays 09:58 Girls' holidays, Magaluf & feminist T-shirts 12:30 Why Japan completely blew Caitlin away 14:20 Getting older and "jolly" fashion 16:40 Caitlin's new podcast Outsiding 20:00 Gardening obsession & nosy neighbours 22:45 Richard Burton, Elizabeth Taylor & legendary diaries 26:00 Trees, history & why Britain's countryside matters 30:20 Why gardening is really about life, not plants 33:30 Menopause, rewilding & finding hope again 37:30 Elizabeth Taylor's extraordinary legacy 42:00 Caitlin's new book How to Be Hopeful 47:10 Benedict Cumberbatch at Glastonbury 49:00 Quick Fire Round and a wanky new format #LifesABeachpodcast #AlanCarr #CaitlinMoran #ComedyPodcast #TravelPodcast #HarryStyles #TakeThat #Gardening #Rewilding #Nature #Japan #ElizabethTaylor #MentalHealth #Menopause #BritishComedy #BenedictCumberbatch Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Caitlin Moran joins Alan for a fascinating chat about Japan, her new gardening podcast with Adam Frost Outsiding, the incredible British history of Oak trees, Liz Taylor and Caitlin's brilliant new book How to be Hopeful which is out in September. Don't miss this flight's quite literal climax at the end! Listen to/watch - Outsiding: https://open.spotify.com/show/033CJY22Urz2BLJK792QRZ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Brian Molko joins Alan for a brilliantly funny flight, from an unforgettable airport encounter with Alan that reminds Brian of David Bowie, to why he finally decided to revisit Placebo's debut album 30 years later. They talk about rebuilding his relationship with those early songs ahead of Placebo's 30th anniversary tour and the band’s debut album, newly RE:CREATED, why the Britpop era made Placebo stand out, and reclaiming Nancy Boy. Along the way there's talk of memory tricks, cannibals, Magaluf, airports, sharks in the Maldives, rehab romances, why Brian believes arriving is the best part of travelling, and an unforgettable quick-fire round. Plus, Brian reveals why this anniversary tour he's been able to celebrate Placebo's earliest music with genuine joy. 00:00 Brian's fear of flying and the luxury of Alanair01:08 The Alan airport encounter that reminded Brian of David Bowie08:00 Why Brian recreated Placebo's debut album09:57 Standing apart from Britpop and embracing difference12:11 Rediscovering the debut album after 25 years12:51 The story behind Nancy Boy14:06 Memory, the Mandela Effect and false memories15:13 Alan pitches “Pla-subo" featuring Susan Boyle16:03 Placenta parties, cannibalism and "long pigs"17:18 Forgetfulness, daydreaming and useless knowledge18:13 Loving the destination but hating the journey20:26 Smoking on planes and Brian's airport theories21:53 Placebo's 30th anniversary tour and finding joy again24:14 Brian's holiday nightmare in Magaluf26:06 Rehab romances27:32 Why kindness gets better service than complaining30:02 The Maldives, rabbits and reef sharks32:04 Eating street food in Bangkok33:16 Quick Fire: beach or pool, window or aisle?35:38 Alan's stage fright wee and Brian's bladder training tips37:40 Why everyone should tip their delivery driver #LifesABeach #AlanCarr #BrianMolko #Placebo #Placebo30 #AlternativeRock #RockMusic #DavidBowie #Britpop #NancyBoy #Travel #AnniversaryTour Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Captain Alan welcomes on board Placebo's Brian Molko! They talk first meetings, tour buses, the Maldives and Magaluf. Be prepared for the chat to take some surprisingly dark turns. And of course Brian's celebrating their new album Placebo RE:CREATED, a totally reworked version of their debut album, and their embark on 30th anniversary European and UK tour, which starts in September. A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: hello@keepitlightmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sam Campbell joins Captain Alan for one of the most unhinged episodes yet; featuring Last One Laughing doppelgängers, castle turrets, extreme heat, accidental art auctions, Hollywood near-misses, and a volcanic egg that changes everything. The inflight chat veers from Yoko Ono to Pompeii and a suspiciously life-changing souvenir from Naples. It’s hot. It’s chaotic. It’s deeply wrong in places. And it’s absolutely Life’s a Beach. Don't miss the brilliant Make That Movie: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/make-that-movie 00:00 Castle turret invitation & instant chaos 00:35 “It’s too hot to podcast” begins immediately 01:05 John Lennon & philosophical lyrical flips 01:40 Yoko Ono, art pieces & auction confusion 02:20 Sam's £5,000 bidding war misunderstanding 03:50 Sweating, steamed glasses & survival mode 04:20 Alan’s castle mythology escalates 05:40 TV fame, comparisons & “big star energy” 06:50 How Jacob Elordi almost became Sam's Hollywood bestie (and the team that intervened) 08:30 Casting Alan’s biopic & his Susan Boyle theory 10:10 Last One Laughing's “cutting room floor” chaos & doppelgängers 14:00 Sam at the A24 party & Jonah Hill and hitting it off with Jacob Elordi 16:20 Travel disasters, scary Uber & YUMMYYY pancakes 18:40 Alan's Castle, Sam's invited 23:00 Make That Movie plug & surreal pitch 25:30 Atherton Tablelands & giant rats discussion 28:00 Pigs, divorce & questionable farm survival logic 31:00 Nudist camps, prudishness & “Yummy” 34:45 Being an Aussie in London 36:40 Sam's completely off the rails Pompeii story 40:40 The tale of charcoalian egg 45:00 Quick fire round #LifesABeach #AlanCarr #SamCampbell #ComedyPodcast #BritishComedy #ComedyGold #FunnyPodcast #SurrealComedy #ComedyInterview #TravelStories #StandUpComedy Sara Morgan-Beckett Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sam Campbell joins Alan for a gloriously chaotic flight through travel disasters, strange habits, Last One Laughing, and the kind of stories only Sam could tell. Buckle up - this one goes off course almost immediately.YUMMY! Don't miss the brilliant Make That Movie: https://www.channel4.com/programmes/make-that-movie Please subscribe and review. Thanks, Alan. xx ‘Life’s A Beach’ everyone’s favourite travel podcast is here to give you all the vitamin D you need. More celebrity passengers unpack their travel suitcases dishing the dirt on their holiday high-jinks. Buckle up, sit back and enjoy the inflight entertainment!! A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: hello@keepitlightmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This week, Alan is joined by the one and only Jinkx Monsoon. The singer, actress, comedian and two-time Drag Race champion is currently wowing audiences as Judy Garland in "End of the Rainbow" (which ends Sunday!) and preparing to star in Broadway's smash-hit "Oh, Mary!". On board, Jinkx talks witchcraft, queer icons, sobriety, Broadway dreams, getting hit by a car in Amsterdam, why she loves Mexico City, and the parallels she found with Judy Garland. Expect travel disasters, showbiz stories, and plenty of laughs! Oh Mary! Tickets: https://www.londontheatredirect.com/play/oh-mary-tickets End of the Rainbow: https://www.londontheatredirect.com/musical/end-of-the-rainbow-tickets Speaking of Witch: https://myticket.co.uk/gigs/jinkx-monsoon-london-2026-07-12-19-00 00:00 - Welcome aboard Jinkx Monsoon 01:40 - Witches, Salem and reclaiming the label 07:05 - Playing Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow 10:45 - Feeling connected to Judy on stage 13:35 - The Speaking of Witch tour 15:20 - Broadway, Soho Theatre and Oh, Mary! 19:20 - Family holidays and casino trips 20:30 - Getting run over in Amsterdam 23:20 - Quitting alcohol after a near miss 24:45 - Sobriety and British drinking culture 27:45 - Mexico City and holiday favourites 29:30 - Cannabis, wellness and misconceptions 31:45 - Travel complaints and hotel disappointments 33:40 - Celebrity sightings and Wanda Sykes 35:45 - Quick Fire Questions 37:45 - Landing the plane #LifesABeach #JinkxMonsoon #DragRace #OhMary #JudyGarland #EndOfTheRainbow #Broadway #DoctorWho #TravelPodcast #AlanCarr Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Joining me this episode to discuss their travel and holiday stories is the drag queen, actress, singer and comedian - Jinkx Monsoon. Please subscribe and review. Thanks, Alan. xx ‘Life’s A Beach’ everyone’s favourite travel podcast is here to give you all the vitamin D you need. More celebrity passengers unpack their travel suitcases dishing the dirt on their holiday high-jinks. Buckle up, sit back and enjoy the inflight entertainment!! A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: hello@keepitlightmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Alan Davies joins Captain Carr on Alan Air to swap holiday horror stories, from disastrous trips to Costa Rica and eight-hour holidays in the Canary Islands to celebrity encounters with Sting and Ronan Keating.They also chat about returning to stand-up, comedy heroes, the emotional impact of Alan's memoirs, and being called Alan.✈️ Don't forget to like and subscribe for new episodes every week.00:00 First meeting at Jools Holland's Hootenanny01:20 Alan's dogs Rita and George02:31 The decline of the name Alan04:06 First holiday memories on the South Coast05:16 Favourite destinations: Australia & New Zealand05:39 Returning to stand-up with Think Ahead06:56 Christchurch and touring New Zealand08:42 The shortest holiday ever: the Canary Islands disaster10:39 Costa Rica airport chaos13:07 Costa Rica: rain, dogs and no turtles16:55 Celebrity encounters: Sting and plane etiquette19:04 Madonna's daughter and the Marbella flamenco dress21:53 Ronan Keating and the Antigua norovirus outbreak23:42 Just Ignore Him and writing about grief24:08 White Male Stand-Up and comedy life on the road26:11 Comedy heroes: Jack Dee and Eddie Izzard29:00 Where Alan would spend his final years31:20 Quick Fire Round33:00 Emotional baggage & landing the plane#LifesABeach #AlanCarr #AlanDavies #JonathanCreek #TravelPodcast #ComedyPodcast #CostaRica #StandUpComedy #WhiteMaleStandUp #JustIgnoreHim Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Joining me this episode to discuss their travel and holiday stories is the comedian, presenter and actor - Alan Davies. Please subscribe and review. Thanks, Alan. xx ‘Life’s A Beach’ everyone’s favourite travel podcast is here to give you all the vitamin D you need. More celebrity passengers unpack their travel suitcases dishing the dirt on their holiday high-jinks. Buckle up, sit back and enjoy the inflight entertainment!! A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: hello@keepitlightmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
David Morrissey joins Captain Carr for a hilarious and thought-provoking Life's A Beach flight. David talks about growing up in Liverpool, filming The Walking Dead, joining Sam Mendes' upcoming Beatles films, his friendship with Alan Cumming, and the surprising downside of a luxury trip to the Maldives. They also discuss conspiracy theories, David's work with UNHCR, Refuge and The Felix Project, celebrity encounters with Daniel Craig and Monica Lewinsky, holiday romances, and why he'd rather explore a city than lie on a beach. Plus: Alan reveals his unexpectedly popular feet and accidentally invents a new hospitality concept. ✈️ Subscribe for new episodes every week. 00:00 Intro & David admires Alan's books 02:27 Favourite musicals & seeing Les Mis for the first time 03:33 New Channel 4 thriller Tiptoe 05:01 Russell T Davies, "woke" culture & misinformation 06:51 Conspiracy theories & Buzz Aldrin 08:41 Alan's celebrity feet rating 09:22 Liverpool's hidden gems & the Beatles tourism boom 12:00 Playing Paul McCartney's dad in the Beatles films 13:42 David's first holiday memories in North Wales 14:50 Alan's castle 16:38 Holiday romances 17:45 Celebrity encounters & Peter Fonda 19:38 Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz & Alan Cumming 20:23 Monica Lewinsky & public scrutiny 22:35 David's most extravagant holiday in the Maldives 24:39 UNHCR, refugee work & global crises 26:52 Stories of hope from David's charity work 28:29 Dream destinations & why David loves cities 29:50 Quick Fire Round 30:16 The Walking Dead & Daddy Issues 31:02 Tipping anxiety and landing the plane #LifesABeach #AlanCarr #DavidMorrissey #TheWalkingDead #TheBeatles #Tiptoe #RussellTDavies #AlanCumming #TravelPodcast #CelebrityInterview #Podcast #Liverpool #UNHCR #DaddyIssues #LifeIsABeachPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Joining me this episode to discuss their travel and holiday stories is the actor and filmmaker - David Morrissey. Please subscribe and review. Thanks, Alan. xx ‘Life’s A Beach’ everyone’s favourite travel podcast is here to give you all the vitamin D you need. More celebrity passengers unpack their travel suitcases dishing the dirt on their holiday high-jinks. Buckle up, sit back and enjoy the inflight entertainment!! A 'Keep It Light Media' Production Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: hello@keepitlightmedia.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
National treasure Jane McDonald boards Alan Air! Jane joins Captain Carr for a riotous trip through cruise ships, Nashville, Bridlington holidays, giant wedges, holiday romances and why her life permanently smells of bins. They chat about Jane’s new album Living the Dream, filming Pole to Pole, nearly missing flights in Venice, bungee jumping in New Zealand, and pork pies from Wakefield. Plus: BAFTAs, sea legs, big cruise ships, South American hunks and why Jane thinks she should’ve been a country singer all along. Don’t forget to like, subscribe and collect your emotional baggage from the carousel. 00:00 Jane McDonald boards Alan Air 00:48 Alan’s BAFTA nominations & Jane’s chart success 02:44 Jane’s arena tour & Nashville album 03:33 Recording at Blackbird Studio in Nashville 04:41 “I should’ve been a country singer all along” 05:52 Pole to Pole & extreme travel filming 07:08 South America, Rio & beautiful people 08:22 Sprinting through Venice airport in giant wedges 10:09 Cruise ships in Venice & travelling with Gok 11:06 Selling Wakefield as a holiday destination 13:12 Childhood holidays to Bridlington 14:46 Jane’s many holiday romances 15:31 The Jane McDonald Cruise gets chaotic 16:34 Why touring makes Jane happiest 18:19 “My life smells like a bin” 20:27 Bungee jumping in New Zealand 22:49 Street food, purple prawns & adventurous eating 24:17 Singing at the end of every travel show 26:06 Why there’s a cruise for everyone 27:56 Quick Fire Questions 29:36 Final descent on Alan Air #LifesABeach #AlanCarr #JaneMcDonald #Cruise #TravelPodcast #LivingTheDream #Channel5 #ComedyPodcast #NationalTreasure #HolidayRomance #Nashville #CruiseShip #Bridlington Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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