Sally Phillips - ‘I saw Colin Firth and thought - he’s mine!’

Sally Phillips - ‘I saw Colin Firth and thought - he’s mine!’

Author: Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment April 16, 2025 Duration: 50:20
This episode of How To Fail was recorded in front of a live audience at London’s Barbican Theatre. Sally Phillips has appeared in a string of the most influential and hilarious comedy series of all time - from Smack The Pony, Miranda, The Thick of It and Veep. Not forgetting, of course, her star turn as Bridget Jones’s best friend, Shazza, in the hugely popular movie franchise.  Alongside her professional success, Phillips has also been an important voice in the neurodivergent community. Her eldest son, Olly, has Down syndrome and Sally is a tireless campaigner for disability rights. So why, then, does she never feel she’s made it as a ‘serious’ actress? And why is she so obsessed with Clown School? And - pressing question - why have she and Colin Firth never been a thing? ✨ IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Intro 02:39 Bridget Jones Memories 07:26 Veep and Women in Comedy 09:19 Smack the Pony: A Revolutionary Comedy 10:45 Clown School and Its Life Lessons 12:55 Failures of Courage 19:06 Reflections on Marriage and Divorce 22:55 Reflecting on Mutual Support 23:16 Aspirations of a Serious Actress 24:14 Comedy vs. Serious Roles 24:50 Auditioning for Terrence Davis 30:56 Embracing Weaknesses and Comedy 32:57 Ethical Review of NIPT 36:16 Ollie's Impact and Parenting 43:25 Ollie's Adventures and Lessons Over on Failing with Friends, Sally answers questions from the live audience at the Barbican: they discuss red and green flags in partners, and what Hugh Grant is REALLY like and whether Sally and Renée Zellweger really are friends or whether she might just be making it up? To hear Sally tackling your failures join our community of subscribers here: https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content Have something to share of your own? I'd love to hear from you! Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com 🌎 Get an exclusive 15% discount on your first Saily data plans! Use code [howtofail] at checkout. Download Saily app or go to to https://saily.com/howtofail ⛵ Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan Engineer: Matias Torres Sole & Gulliver Lawrence-Tickell Live Engineer: Will Kontargyris Producer: Hannah Talbot Executive Producer: Carly Maile Head of Marketing: Kieran Lancini How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There's a quiet revolution happening in how we think about success, and How To Fail With Elizabeth Day is right at the heart of it. This isn't about schadenfreude or wallowing in misfortune. Instead, Elizabeth Day has created a space where the most interesting conversations begin with a simple, radical premise: our lowest moments are often our greatest teachers. Each episode, a guest-from celebrated artists and thinkers to everyday people with extraordinary stories-sits down to examine three significant failures from their own life. The magic lies in the excavation, as Elizabeth guides the discussion toward the unexpected wisdom and resilience that emerged from those setbacks. You'll hear the raw honesty in their voices, the laughter that comes with hindsight, and the profound clarity that failure can uniquely provide. This podcast, presented by Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment, digs into the messy, human stuff of life that connects us all, transforming shared vulnerability into a source of collective strength. It’s a reminder that the path to any meaningful achievement is rarely a straight line, but a series of instructive detours. The show actively invites listeners to reflect on their own stories, fostering a genuine community around the idea that we can all succeed better by understanding where we've previously stumbled. Tune in for conversations that are as comforting as they are challenging, and which might just change your perspective on what it means to live a well-lived life.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day
Podcast Episodes
How To Date: BONUS EPISODE - Your dating questions answered… [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:49
For this bonus episode, Elizabeth and Mel open up the post bag to answer the burning questions YOU have when it comes to dating… And, let’s just say, we cover A LOT of ground. After you’ve listened, you can get all the r…
How To Date: The most important relationship you’ll ever have [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:48
For the final episode of How To Date (sob!) Mel and Elizabeth look at the most important relationships any of us can have in our lives: the one with ourselves. We unpack what this means in practical terms. How do we nurt…
How To Date: How to cope with heartbreak and rejection [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:43
Elizabeth and Mel face one of the most challenging parts of dating: heartbreak and rejection. We are joined by life coach and author Michelle Elman who went through a devastating, public break-up after being notified via…
Erin Doherty - ‘Lean Into Your Truth’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:41
To hear more of Erin offering advice on listener failures, join our community of subscribers here: https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content Erin Doherty’s big break came playing Princess Anne in The Crown. She’s now…
How To Date: Taking it to the next level [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:15
Things are going well… So Elizabeth and Mel are taking it to the next level where they are getting just that little bit more serious. In this episode, Mel and Elizabeth look at exclusivity and commitment and what it take…
How To Date: Red and Green Flags [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:04
Mel and Elizabeth look at the subtle (and not-so-subtle) signs that can help us understand whether a potential partner is right for us. That’s right, we’re exploring the red flags that should have us running for the hill…

«1...678910