John Lloyd: Blackadder, Spitting Image, QI and a life in search of meaning

John Lloyd: Blackadder, Spitting Image, QI and a life in search of meaning

Author: Global November 7, 2025 Duration: 1:03:46
Full Disclosure with James O'Brien
SocietySociety & CultureArtsCulture

As the creative mind behind Blackadder, Spitting Image, Not the Nine O’Clock News and QI, John Lloyd has quietly shaped British comedy for more than forty years. In this episode of Full Disclosure, he sits down with James O’Brien to look back on the work that defined his career-and the questions that have driven him ever since.

Lloyd reflects on his peripatetic naval childhood, his years at Cambridge and the realisation that comedy, not law, was his calling. He shares candid stories about discovering Rowan Atkinson, collaborating with Douglas Adams on The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy and co-creating The Meaning of Liff. Alongside the triumphs came struggle- including a midlife breakdown that forced him to re-examine success, purpose and the art of living.

Blending humour, honesty and philosophy, Lloyd explores the connection between curiosity and creativity, why he believes comedy can change how we see the world, and how even life’s disasters can turn out to be gifts.

Find out more about The 42nd anniversary edition of The Meaning of Liff here


You know that feeling when a conversation goes deeper than you expected, moving past the headlines and soundbites into something more real? That’s the space where Full Disclosure with James O'Brien lives. Hosted by the award-winning LBC presenter and author, this podcast is built on a simple but powerful premise: a genuinely curious interviewer meeting fascinating people from politics, news, and entertainment. James O’Brien brings his thoughtful perspective to each discussion, not to debate, but to understand. The result is a series of compelling dialogues that feel more like eavesdropping on a great chat between insightful minds than a formal interview. You’ll hear guests reveal layers of their experiences and opinions in a way that only happens when the questions are interested, not just interesting. It’s a refreshing take in a crowded field, focusing on the substance and the story behind the public persona. For anyone interested in the forces shaping our society, arts, and culture, this podcast offers a nuanced and engaging listen. Each episode is a chance to step away from the noise and into a conversation that prioritizes depth and disclosure, all delivered with the intelligence and clarity listeners have come to expect from James O’Brien.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Official website RSS
instagramyoutube
Full Disclosure with James O'Brien
Podcast Episodes
Leo Varadkar: Former Prime Minister of Ireland on Power and Letting Go [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:21
Before becoming Ireland’s youngest Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar was a Dublin GP with bold ambitions and a belief that politics could be a kind of medicine for society.In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien sits dow…
Natalie Haynes: Greek Myths, Medea and the Comedy of Classics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:23
Natalie Haynes has never been easy to categorise. A stand-up comedian turned broadcaster and best-selling author, she has built a career out of making the ancient world vivid, funny and urgent. In this episode of Full Di…
From The Vault: Brian Cox [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:05
From a childhood in Dundee marked by loss, poverty and resilience, to becoming one of the most respected actors of his generation, Brian Cox’s life and career have been defined by an unrelenting pursuit of truth on and o…
From The Vault: Miriam Margolyes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:08
From a childhood in Oxford shaped by unconditional love, Jewish heritage and a keen sense of curiosity, to a career spanning stage, screen, voice work and bestselling memoir, Miriam Margolyes’ life has been anything but…
Cariad Lloyd: Talking About Grief Changed My Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:05
Cariad Lloyd never set out to become the voice of modern grief, but after losing her father at just fifteen, the silence around death stayed with her. In this episode of Full Disclosure, James O’Brien speaks with the act…
Kevin Rowland: Beyond Come On Eileen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:08
From a shifting childhood split between Wolverhampton, rural Ireland and London, to fronting one of the most distinctive and uncompromising bands of the 1980s, Kevin Rowland’s life has been defined by defiance, vision an…
Irvine Welsh: We’re More Addicted Now Than in Trainspotting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:43
From the high-rises of Muirhouse to the heart of countercultural Britain, Irvine Welsh has built a literary universe fuelled by punk energy, dancefloor euphoria, and radical empathy. In this episode of Full Disclosure, J…
David Lammy: I’ve had imposter syndrome my whole life- until now [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:57
From a working-class childhood in Tottenham to the Cabinet table, David Lammy’s path to becoming Foreign Secretary was anything but straightforward. Raised by a single mother after his father disappeared when he was twel…

«12345678...10»