Welcome to literary friction. I'm Carrie Plitt here as always with my co-host Octavia Bright. Hello, Octavia. Hi, Carrie. Today's theme is vile bodies. The body, especially the female body, has been the object of fascination and desire throughout the pages of literature. But what about the intimate bits that make a squirm? the pungent underarms, the abject anuses?

Delicious.

I was quite proud of that one when I wrote the copy.

Anyway, we'll be talking about literature's uncomfortable relationship with the body from

Philoctetes' festering foot to James Joyce's filthy letters to his wife to the vagina monologues.

You just did some excellent alliterating there.

It's kind of like writing 101.

Yeah, it is.

But go on.

I enjoyed it greatly.

Yes, we are indeed talking about vile bodies and we're incredibly excited about our guest today,

who is writer, comedian and actor Sarah Pasco.

As a stand-up comedian, you've probably seen her as she starred on Live at the Apollo, QI,

Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Room 101 and 8 out of 10 cats.

She's a regular contributor on two series of Stand Up for the Week.

And her first book, Animal, is an illuminating and hilarious tour of the female body that isn't afraid to tackle topics like abortion, pubic hair, and consent. Narlie.

Yeah, totally gnarly. And she just killed it on Graham Norton as well. Yeah, totally killed it.

So in addition to interviewing Sarah,

we'll be talking more generally about the theme, vile bodies, and recommending books. So come along

with us for our most intimate show yet. And that's quite a promise, Carrie. Here's our interview

is Sarah Pascoe. We'll let you decide for yourselves. Sarah Pascoe, welcome to literary fiction.

Thanks so much for being on.

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