Paul Kerensa
@paulkerensa
Writer/Comedian/Broadcast Historian Also posting BBC history things here as bbcentury.bsky.social, so follow that too, or don’t. And breathe. paulkerensa.com/oldradio
Oh I haven't said... Big Church Festival 2026 Spoken Word stage Saturday 29 August, 5:30pm + 10:30pm Woo.
Didn't we have a lovely time last night at Westbury Festival? A superb audience came to hear how the Beeb began + where it got us. Loads of great questions and comments - and the next Evening of (Very) Old Radio is next Wed in Weston-super-Mare. Then these fine places... Come, or book it for yours.
Raising a glass to fallen clowns today. Kevin and Vladimir - you stormed it.
Last week I delighted in heading to Liverpool for Blackburn Diocese’s conference o’plenty for 90mins of comedy, music and magic (yes magic). Great to see many old and new pals, inc the chap who booked me, @alexdjfrost.bsky.social - who has written a funny, fab, street-level book: Our Daily Bread.
A joy to join (woo) Gary Davies (on your radio) for Radio 2's Pause for Thought, now on BBC Sounds: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p... Saw Sara Cox too + wished her well for Monday's Breakfast Show rein-taking. My next radio slot? Oh sure, it's Monday (6 July) 9:45am for Radio 4 Extra's Daily Service.
I'll be back on BBC Radio 2 tomorrow (Wednesday 1 July) 7:15am, for the first Pause for Thought of the second half of the year. With Gary Davies - in his last few days before Sara Cox takes the reins. He and the studio will look exactly like this (except they've just bought a fax machine):
Back gigging, praise be. On which, The Gathering festival was wonderful yesternight. Tonight: Wells United Church, Wells (I can only think of Blackadder’s Bishop of Bath and Wells but I’m sure it’ll be a nicer gig than that) Diary’s open for 2027 folks! (And a bit of 2026. And a lot of 2020-22…)
On Amazon Prime, these recently added movies don’t stick around long… …oh and it’s easier to have new movies every day if they’re all the same.
After a health-based 6 weeks off (I'm on the up, if not 100% yet), I'll be eagerly returning to the stage from this weekend. Here are my live upcomings, if you're near: Sat 20 June: St Nic's GUILDFORD Fri 26: The Gathering, nr SWINDON Sat 27: WELLS United Church Google for details, come say hi
Fantastically Faithful Leaders Who Gave Their All For God - out yesterday! Book 4 of this series I’ve loved writing, with 8 inspiring lives retold for 7-11 yr olds, from Madam CJ Walker to Elizabeth II. If you’ve got one, post a pic, tag me in. If you’ve not… spckpublishing.co.uk/fantasticall...
Ooh my new children's book Fantastically Faithful Leaders Who Gave Their All For God is out today! All about Sojourner Truth, Lord Shaftesbury, Evangeline Booth, Madam CJ Walker, Billy Graham, John Glenn Jr, Elizabeth II + Desmond Tutu. Ooh those last two have almost the same surname. Wow.
My next gig? Sure... GUILDFORD - Sat 20 June - St Nicholas' Church's 150th birthday - and my first public gig post-stroke. Recovery good, BTW. I may have some jokes about it by then, depending on the old equation 'Tragedy + Time = Comedy' Do come, locals! Hear ye.
I'll be chatting on UCB Radio any mo to Ashley Andrew about these books and more! Listen in, google UCB Radio to listen... and look out for Fantastically Faithful Leaders out next month.
Tonight’s gig is at Birmingham Museum with these champs, part of Matter of Life and Death Festival - getting us talking about deathy things in a helpful way. Make a will! Pick your funeral music! Learn what a POA is before you need it! That sort of thing. With jokes. brumyodo.org.uk/event/comedy...
Last night, Brick Lane. This morning, Broadcasting House. Today’s R2 Pause for Thought was written before Trump posted his AI pic as a doctor/Jesus, but, er, it’s a bit relevant to that.
My nexts: Wed 15: Pause for Thought RADIO 2 Thu 16: An Eve of Very Old Radio CHELMSFORD Wed 22: Pause for Thought RADIO 2 Fri 24: Barnstormers Comedy SALISBURY Fri 1: Gaghouse Comedy GODALMING Sat 2: An Eve of Very Old Radio CORSHAM Wilts Come to all! (Except Radio 2; you can listen from home)
One of those odd weekends that includes both a stand-up comedy gig AND preaching in my church this morning. I THINK I got the right material for the right place, and no walkouts at either. Here's the gig (also in a church, though not a 'church gig') - the wonderful Great Dunmow Comedy Club.
Hi, I'm Paul Kerensa. This is just one of those posts to say I'm bookable for... • stand-up shows - in comedy clubs, churches etc • my one-man show on the early days of British broadcasting • writing workshops To book or for the retail details, email paul at paulkerensa dot com Thanks 'n' Bye
Back to Spring Harvest shortly! If you're there, I'll be: - Reading children's books, Wed 2:15pm Nursery - Chatshow, 8:30pm Bullseye Bay - Solo show, 10:15pm Centre Stage - Panel, Thu 11:45am, Living Room/Studio 36 From Skegness to Minehead - I just need to remember which way up to hold my sign.
What a blessed blast at Spring Harvest Skegness. A joy to praise, perform, converse, meander, ponder, lament, laugh, and more. Great to see you if I did. More at Minehead next week.
It's #LiveComedyDay - amplifying this lil' ol' industry with a comedy club in every corner of the land. Come to a gig, one of mine (google Paul Kerensa Gigs) or someone else's. Otherwise we're talking to empty rooms (done that gig, but I've also played a packed Royal Albert Hall, so they even out)
Anyone going to Spring Harvest, pondering if ol' Kerensy will be doing the same old shtick in After Hours... my show is mostly new! (With room for old 'favourites' on request) New stand-up, some magic + 2 new songs - one may be one of the best things I've done, or one of the worst. Let's see which!
Next 3 gigs: - SURBITON tomorrow (Fri 27 March), cornerHOUSE for Whole Lotta Comedy - Spring Harvest SKEGNESS Wed 1 April (mainly for After Hours 10:15pm, but also chatshow 8:45pm) - Spring Harvest MINEHEAD Wed 8 April (mainly for After Hours 10:15pm, but also book reading 2:15pm, chatshow 8:30pm)
Our new history-making Archbishop! Unexpectedly I took communion from her 2 days ago at the Bishop of Guildford's funeral. I silently prayed for her in passing. She'd just finished a 6-day London-Canterbury walk, then her own enthronement now. Hope she had a sit + cuppa on Tuesday. Bless her.