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

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

Full Disclosure with James O'Brien
Podcast Episodes
Matt Forde: Doctors said I would never walk again [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:55
Matt Forde is an eternal optimist. From growing up on a council estate to a single mother on benefits, to playing sold out nights at the London Palladium, he's a comedian and broadcaster with a very different story to mo…
Zoe Lyons: My mum screamed about me..."I can't cope anymore" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:58
Zoe Lyons is a comedian that has graced our screens for over two decades, being a regular panelist on Mock the Week as well as numerous appearances on Have I Got News For You and Live at the Apollo. She grew up in rural…
Dr. Rangan Chatterjee: This breathing exercise will save your life! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:59
Dr. Rangan Chatterjee is a British physician, author, television presenter, and podcaster, known for his alternative approaches to health and wellbeing, aiming to find the root cause of disease rather than simply treatin…
Full Disclosure is taking a short break, but we will be back! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:01
Full Disclosure is taking a short break over Christmas but don't worry, we'll be back at the end of January with a line up of exceptional guests.If you can't wait until then, why not catch up on some of the episodes you…
Best of... Full Disclosure 2024 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:10
As we take short break for Christmas – here's a selection of some of our favourite conversations from 2024.Full Disclosure will be back in the new year with more brilliant guests. In the meantime, why not listen back to…
Rob Brydon: Rejection, manifesting success & meeting Steve Coogan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:06
Rob Brydon has done pretty much everything you can. From radio DJ & Voice over artists, hosting one of the UKs most loved panel shows to being the star of Gavin & Stacey and acting alongside Margot Robbie in smash-hit Ba…
Alex James: 'Modern Life is Rubbish' was our last chance at success [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:52
Alex James is the bass player in one of Britain's biggest bands, Blur. With millions of record sales and 2 sold-out nights at Wembley in 2023, he sits down with James O'Brien to discuss his early childhood, the emergence…
Baroness Lola Young: From foster care to the House of Lords [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:52
"As I grew up, I realised I had to look after myself because no one else was going to do it for me."Baroness Lola Young of Hornsey joined the House of Lords in 2004, becoming one of its first Black female members. But fr…
Dan Snow: I'd die if my kids said they wanted to be broadcasters [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:49
Dan Snow makes history exciting. Whether it’s through his award-winning documentaries, bestselling books, or popular podcast History Hit, he has a gift for bringing the past to life and showing us why it still matters to…