Podcast Summary: Wrong Turns with Jameela Jamil - Episode Featuring Katherine Ryan and Alan Carr
Introduction
In the August 14, 2025 episode of Wrong Turns with Jameela Jamil, host Jameela Jamil brings together two of the UK's most beloved comedians, Katherine Ryan and Alan Carr, to share their most embarrassing and disastrous life stories. True to the podcast's theme—where "dignity goes to die"—the trio delves into moments of personal mortification without any moralizing, simply reveling in each other's misfortunes.
Guest Introductions and Banter
Jameela welcomes Katherine Ryan, highlighting her as one of her favorite comedians with multiple Netflix specials and her own podcast, Telling Everybody Everything. She then introduces Alan Carr, a BAFTA-winning comedian known for his work on television and his podcast Lights of Beach. The introduction sets a light-hearted tone as Katherine and Alan engage in playful banter about their introductions.
Notable Quote:
- Jameela Jamil [01:06]: "Welcome to Wrong Turns. ... you’re done."
- Katherine Ryan [03:12]: "Violet's the best one. ... She's fine."
Embarrassing Moments in Careers
The conversation swiftly moves to their professional missteps. Alan Carr recounts his experience with the live broadcast of Grease Live, which was notoriously panned and labeled the "worst show on telly of the year" for two consecutive years. He humorously describes the chaos backstage, including technical difficulties and his own visible sweating.
Notable Quotes:
- Alan Carr [06:11]: "It was voted the worst show on telly two years in a row."
- Alan Carr [07:49]: "I had trouble sweating. So we did a dance number at the beginning."
Katherine shares her own humiliating moment during an audition for Electric Circus, a Canadian dance show. Misaligned with the show's urban aesthetic and feeling out of place, she describes how she and her roommate, branded as "K Squared," failed to impress the casting directors, leaving her with lasting secondhand embarrassment.
Notable Quotes:
- Katherine Ryan [15:05]: "I was gaslit the whole time. ... I just laughed in my Wellington boots."
- Katherine Ryan [19:30]: "That ruined Grease for you."
Personal Wrong Turns and Relationship Disasters
Katherine opens up about her tumultuous romantic relationships, particularly focusing on a disastrous relationship with a "philanderer." She narrates a specific incident where she unintentionally became a third wheel during her boyfriend's date with another woman, leading to deep personal embarrassment.
Notable Quotes:
- Katherine Ryan [24:22]: "All my wrong turns have involved men and romantic relationships with really bad men."
- Katherine Ryan [28:22]: "And what's most mortifying is I kept dating him for a number of months."
Alan adds to the conversation by sharing his own embarrassing moments, including an incident where he mistakenly sang the wrong song during a live performance featuring Adele, leading to awkward exchanges and audience confusion.
Notable Quotes:
- Alan Carr [32:04]: "I was straight up there, and she sings Rolling in the Deep on the autocue."
- Alan Carr [34:12]: "He bit my ear. I said, I've got AIDS."
Public Embarrassments and Social Faux Pas
The trio explores various forms of public embarrassment beyond their own stories. Jameela shares anecdotes about others' embarrassing moments, including a listener's story about a disastrous surprise party where excessive gas led to an awkward reveal.
Notable Quotes:
- Jameela Jamil [39:29]: "She just looked like a couple of perverts."
- Taylor Watson's Story [39:14]: "I let three more massive farts rip, and they're terrible."
Katherine also discusses societal expectations and personal discomfort with public displays of bodily functions, highlighting the universal nature of such embarrassments.
Notable Quotes:
- Katherine Ryan [43:56]: "But at least being asleep, you have an excuse somehow."
Humorous Reflections and Closing Remarks
As the episode draws to a close, Jameela expresses her admiration for both Katherine and Alan, thanking them for their candidness and ability to laugh at themselves. Katherine teases about undergoing a facelift in 2026, while Alan humorously reflects on his many wrong turns with a light-hearted attitude.
Notable Quotes:
- Jameela Jamil [46:00]: "You've both been a fucking joy."
- Katherine Ryan [46:28]: "I need to get dancing. I need to get drunk."
The episode wraps up with warm goodbyes and shout-outs to the guests' current projects, leaving listeners with a sense of camaraderie and the comforting reminder that everyone has their own "wrong turns."
Conclusion
This episode of Wrong Turns successfully blends humor with humility, offering listeners a candid look into the embarrassing mishaps of three beloved comedians. Through shared stories and laughter, Jameela, Katherine, and Alan demonstrate that everyone navigates their own path of missteps, and sometimes, embracing these moments is the best way to move forward.
Where to Find the Guests:
- Jameela Jamil: Hosts Wrong Turns and maintains a Substack titled "A Low Desire to Please."
- Katherine Ryan: Hosts the podcast Telling Everybody Everything, releases comedy specials on Netflix, and has a special tour coming to Sky during Christmas.
- Alan Carr: Hosts the podcast Lights of Beach and continues to tour and perform stand-up comedy.
Note: This summary omits advertisements and non-content sections to focus solely on the engaging and humorous discussions between Jameela, Katherine, and Alan.