IN CONVERSATION: James Acaster

Shameless

Shameless Media

Society & Culture

4.7 • 1.8K Ratings

🗓️ 5 September 2025

⏱️ 54 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Well ‘ello ‘ello from London! Welcome to our first Shameless Takes interview for 2025 – and what better way to kick things off than with the incredible James Acaster. In today’s chat, we discussed James’ ever-changing relationship to fame, how he decides how much of his personal life to include in his stand-up performances, why he pivoted from music to comedy (and back again, a few times over) and what he loves the most about making Off Menu with Ed Gamble. This episode of Shameless is brought to you by Samsung. Fold or Flip the new Galaxy Z series today. Shameless Podcast is hosted by Zara McDonald and Michelle Andrews, produced by Annabelle Lee and Eilish Gilligan, executive-produced by Lucy Hunt and audio-edited by Eilish Gilligan. Our social media team consists of Naima Fatema, Charlotte White, Emily Li and Eilish Gilligan, and our partnerships manager is Cindy Luu. Also, an extra special thank you to Lucy Hunt and Jonathan Last for their help with this episode. Finally, a really, really massive thankyou to James Acaster for chatting with us. If you want to know what James is up to, and where you can see him live next, check out www.jamesacaster.com. You can listen to the Off Menu podcast on Apple and Spotify. Want to support our show? Clicking ‘follow’ on Apple and Spotify is the best way to do that, and we're super grateful to anyone who leaves a five-star review while they're at it. Also! An old-fashioned 'Tell a Friend In Real Life' is equally appreciated. Want more? We've got more… Subscribe to our newsletter Smart, Dumb Stuff: https://tinyurl.com/4yasjphn Follow us on Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/2mf557ux Aaaand we’re on TikTok: https://tinyurl.com/2hchchrp Everything else your heart could ever desire is here: https://linktr.ee/shamelesspodcast Thanks for listening! We’re huge fans of yours. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Shameless Media This episode of Shameless is brought to you by the Samsung Galaxy Z series. Fold or Flip, it's the ultimate travel sidekick. I'm Hello and welcome to this very special in-conversation episode of Shameless
0:43.2	with one of the most celebrated and beloved comedians of our time, James A. Castor.
0:47.9	As you guys know, it's Mish here. I didn't introduce myself, sorry, but I wasn't able to travel
0:52.8	to London and Dublin this year. But I am very excited to be the one to introduce myself, sorry, but I wasn't able to travel to London and Dublin this year.
0:54.6	But I am very excited to be the one to introduce every interview to you.
0:59.4	It's very exciting to start with this one.
1:01.5	I absolutely adored listening to it, Zara really smashed it.
1:04.1	You might know James A. Castor from his unforgettable stand-up specials, including cold Lazzania, Hate Myself, 1999.
1:11.8	I actually recommended that comedy special on Shameless.
1:15.4	I think it was last year because I am just obsessed with it and I'm obsessed with James.
1:20.3	Of course, James is also known for his brilliant work as the co-host of one of my favorite podcasts of all time.
1:25.2	He is the co-host of Off Menu alongside Ed Gamble.
1:29.1	I have also recommended that show multiple times. The thing about James Aicaster is that he's
1:34.1	just so good at so much. He's funny. And yes, his comedy specials are incredibly clever. But he's
1:40.5	also written two books called Classic Scrapes and Perfect Sound Whatever, as well as producing
1:45.2	an entire studio album called Party Gator Pergatory under the experimental collective tempts.
1:52.2	A lot going on.
1:53.2	He's basically a genius.
1:54.7	James is currently on tour with a brand new work in progress show.
1:58.5	It is touring all across the UK.
2:00.5	Hopefully it will make it to
2:01.7	Aussie shores eventually. If you are in the UK, there are still a handful of tickets available.
	...

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