Comedian Richard Herring signs with Sphere

Sphere non-fiction is publishing comedian Richard Herring's book about "conversation-savers for any situation" this October.

Herring’s “emergency questions” feature in his long-running show “Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast”, which sees him interview comedians ranging from Stephen Fry, to Kathy Burke, to Russell Brand, Dawn French. He is soon to release the 175th episode starring Brian Blessed. The show has been running for 13 series across six years and regularly attracts over 200,000 listeners. 

Herring refers to his questions frequently in these shows, which are designed to start conversations “of a sort interviewees won’t have had previously”. These range from “thought-provoking” (for instance, “If you had to invent a fifth season, which two other seasons would you put it between, and what would happen during it?”) to “philosophical” (“What do you consider your median achievement?”) to “plain silly” (“What is your third earliest memory?”). 

Adam Strange, Sphere non-fiction publisher, acquired world rights to Emergency Questions: 1001 conversation-savers for any situation from James Taylor at Avalon Management.

While Herring has already self-published two collections of the questions in the past, according to Sphere this will be the largest volume yet. It will be published as a “highly giftable” hardback with line illustrations throughout.

“I’m thrilled with this acquisition, having been a fan of Richard’s work since "Fist of Fun" (radio and television series) over 20 years ago, and the opportunity to work with such a wonderfully creative and naturally comedic author is one that doesn’t come round very often,” said Strange.

Herring added: “I am so excited that thanks to Sphere non-fiction my ridiculous, childish and occasionally accidentally deeply philosophical questions will be reaching a wider audience. I hope that it will lead to conversations between strangers on buses, successful first dates and ultimately world peace. But at the very least make your gran laugh ‘til her false teeth pop out on Boxing Day.”