Some Laugh: Stand-up Marc Jennings on how hit Scottish comedy podcast took off

At the beginning of each episode of one of Scotland’s top comedy podcasts, listeners are promised that it’ll be Some Laugh.

The show, hosted by stand-ups Marc Jennings, Stephen Buchanan and Stuart McPherson, has, however, proven to be more than just that.

Launched in May 2022, it has helped boost the profile of its hosts to sell out Fringe runs and live gigs, pulled in titans of Scottish comedy as guests, and provided a platform to get to know rising stars.

Perhaps most importantly, though, the Some Laugh podcast has won over a legion of fans who can dive into tales from some of the funniest people the country has to offer as a bit of escapism from day-to-day life.

Podcast escapism

“With stand-up it’s immediate in terms of the reaction you get,” Marc said, ahead of the podcast’s biggest live show yet as part of the Glasgow International Comedy Festival.

“With podcasts, though, you don’t really know when and where and even who’s listening to it. When you get messages from people telling you that they have and it’s meant something to them, that’s certainly one of the most rewarding aspects of it.

“Even though it’s obviously just a trivial thing, sometimes these are the things that we need to help get through life.”

📣 Excited to reveal we’ll be joined by Still Game & Chewin’ the Fat star Greg Hemphill at Some Laugh Live at the Pavilion on 31st March! 🙌🏻

🎫 https://t.co/b3uJibSYvo pic.twitter.com/LgjNXkYqhn

— Some Laugh (@somelaughpod) March 15, 2024

It’s particularly poignant for Marc, who has turned his garden shed into a studio that’s welcomed some of the biggest names in Scottish comedy.

It means episodes are filmed in the same spot that his mum Marion, who died in 2021, used to help provide relief and comfort to her clients as an aromatherapist.

“It was just a wee way that she could help people in their lives,” Marc said.

“Now when we get messages from people saying that listening to us talk a lot of rubbish for an hour every week helped them through a hard time, it just makes me feel like we’re kind of carrying on the spirit of what my mum did, in the same place she did it.

“It’s certainly one of my personal motivating factors behind starting it in the first place and keeping it going.”

Marc last year made his King’s Theatre solo debut, and Stephen and Stuart both have hit Fringe shows and appearances in the likes of Scot Squad and Queen of the New Year under their belts.

Thousands of listeners are now privy to conversations between the hosts, who are best of friends outwith the studio too.

“It’s a really nice thing to be known together as friends,” Marc said. “One of my biggest joys from it is the fact that people, from listening to podcasts, know them the way I know them and they make them laugh the way they make me laugh.

“It’s interesting to get used to when you go back and do stand-up, because suddenly people get to know you on a deeper level when they listen to you every week.

“Having podcast fans in is similar to having your mates in the audience in terms of how much they know about you.”

Live show

The show has attracted big name guests from the world of Scottish comedy, including the likes of Fern Brady, Susie McCabe, Fred Macaulay, Robert Florence and Daniel Sloss.

Appearing as guests on stage at the live show later this month at Glasgow’s Pavilion Theatre are stand-up Christopher Macarthur-Boyd, veteran comic Raymond Mearns and Still Game’s Greg Hemphill.

“The fact that they want to come and do our show is always a real buzz,” Marc said.

“Greg is such a legendary figure in Scottish comedy. He did a brilliant episode with us that he was kind enough to do not long after we started and he was so lovely, funny and open and gave us lots of great stories.

“Raymond was probably one of our best ever episodes. He’s the sort of guy that we’d just be sitting backstage with and would love listening to all his stories.

“As good as Raymond is on stage, he’s also such a riot off it. With podcasts you can kind of capture what that’s like. It’s really good that we can showcase people like that and give folk a wee insight into life as a comic.”

With many coming along to Marc, Stephen and Stuart’s solo stand-up shows off the back of the podcast, the aim is to grow Some Laugh even bigger over the coming months.

“We’ve done everything off our own back,” Marc said. “We started off at zero and didn’t know if anyone would listen.

“Some of the funniest conversations I’ve had have been ones we’ve recorded for the podcast. The fact they’re up there now forever and people can also enjoy them as well is brilliant.

“The power of being able to put your stuff out there online is incredible. There’s still a bit in your head that thinks unless you’re on the telly sitting on the couch with Graham Norton or something you’re not reaching anyone, but you can just do it from a shed in your back garden and get to a lot of people – it’s pretty cool.”

Some Laugh Live At Glasgow International Comedy Festival, Mar 31, Pavilion Theatre. For tickets and episode links visit linktr.ee/somelaugh