This week I’m joined by one of the UK’s top one-liner comedians (and 2024’s Dave’s Funniest Joke of the Fringe winner), Mark Simmons! Known for his razor-sharp wordplay, inventive misdirection and relentless punchlines - Mark’s new special, Quip Off The Mark, is now available to stream for FREE on YouTube.

In this episode we discuss why some jokes just don’t work, discovering underground comedy, the external factors that can affect a gig and the gentle balance between gut instinct and methodical joke development.

Join the Insiders Club at patreon.com/comcompod where you can WATCH the full episode and get access to over 20 minutes of extras including discovering new joke structures, the impact of performing with Crohn’s disease, early success in the lifecycle of TikTok and the difficulty in following other one-liner comics.

Support the Podcast from only £3/month at Patreon.com/ComComPod

✅ Exclusive access to full video and ad-free audio episodes

✅ 20 minutes of exclusive extra content with Mark

✅ Exclusive membership offerings including a monthly “Stu&A”

PLUS you’ll get access to the full back catalogue of extras you can find nowhere else, including:

✅ Russell Howard on the importance of the edit

✅ Lise Mayer answering your questions on The Young Ones

✅ Rhys James on how to succeed in a writers’ rooms

Catch Up with Mark:

Mark Simmons' new special, Quip Off The Mark, is now available to stream for FREE on YouTube.

You can also see him LIVE throughout 2026 with Jest To Impress, find out all the dates and more at marksimmons.co.uk.

Everything Stu's up to:

Come and help me figure out some NEW STUFF…

22 February 2025 | Leicester

28 March 2025 | Bristol

1 April 2025 | Manchester

4 May 2025 | Machynlleth

Discover Stu’s comedy about the climate crisis, for everyone from activists to CEOs, at https://www.stuartgoldsmith.com/climate.

Find everything else at https://linktr.ee/stuartgoldsmith.

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Mark Simmons

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