Talking to celebrities about their struggles

Elis James and John Robins are to host a new show, going out as a BBC podcast and Radio 5 Live broadcast.

In How Do You Cope?, the comics will talk to famous names about the challenges they have faced.

The first – featuring author, comedian and ex NHS doctor Adam Kay – will be available on BBC Sounds from Tuesday.

The highlights of each weekly show will then air on  5 Live on Sunday evenings from 9pm.

Other guests will include actress Sally Phillips who talks about the challenges of looking after her son who has Downs Syndrome, ex footballer David Cotterill who has battled alcoholism and depression, and Paul Sinha who was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s.

Robins says: ‘There are times in my life when I’ve not coped very well and I always told Elis about this on air in exactly the same way I would on the phone, or over a pint.And so, almost by accident, the broad theme of mental health has become a feature of our conversations over the years. 

‘By making Elis laugh, discussing the darkness and by mentioning on air the kind of things you might not hear on a typical chatty radio show, I found a way to cope, to reach some compromise with the negativity of life, and the challenges it throws up."

Elis adds: ‘It’s easy to think that people in the public eye are immune from the problems the general public suffer, but this podcast proves that everyone is trying their best to cope with something. It’s been a privilege for John and I to meet with a whole host of talented people, and ask them simply - how they cope?’

James and Robins joined BBC Radio 5 Live from Radio X in May, hosting the Friday afternoon show.

• Subscribe to How Do You Cope?... With Elis And John on BBC Sounds.

Published: 25 Oct 2019