Benji Waterstones

After a few years off (burnout / pandemic / book deal / TV deal) I’m belatedly performing my Edinburgh debut at Pleasance Below 4.30pm daily throughout August. 

Come!

An honour to mix with comedy greats (Tommy Tiernan), Man Booker prize winners (Anne Enright), philosophical gurus (Dr Ian McGilchrist) and  other masters of their craft at this medical conference for right-brained doctors. 

I had a nice chat on this podcast discussing the monetisation of misery in comedy, amongst other things. 

I took a writing break to speak to the lovely Nathan Cassidy about writing, stand-up and why psychiatric hospitals aren't full of comedians. 

Crikey. After another auction House Productions (whose credits include 'Brexit: An Uncivil War' starring Benedict Cumberbatch) have bought the television rights to my book. 

Oh my. Following a 9-way book auction my first book, a psychiatric memoir, 'You Don't Have To Be Mad To Work Here' will be published by prestigious Vintage imprint Jonathan Cape (part of Penguin Random House) in Spring 2023. 

I'm delighted to have signed with literary powerhouse Curtis Brown for writing and television. 

Something I wrote on the psychological impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and returning to the NHS a fortnight after leaving.

Podcast I did for the student BMJ's 'Sharp Scratch' series on using gallows humour to benefit doctors and patients (without getting struck off).

I'm honoured to be featured by the Royal College of Psychiatrists in their #ChoosePsychiatry campaign.

Last week I used exposure therapy on stage to cure Angela Barnes' fear of fish. A genuine phobia, she began the looong charity event literally hiding under the table and ended by walking over hot fish cakes, releasing a goldfish and kissing a cod!

I wrote an opinion piece for the Guardian arguing that Tyson Fury is now a picture of good mental health. I didn't choose choose the photo.