Nicky Campbell’s podcast Don’t Say A Word discusses social expectations, cultural norms and why public reactions to certain things are changing. In this live recording, presented by BBC Sounds as part of the Crossed Wires Free Fringe, Campbell and a panel of fabulous comedians explored how stands ups decide where the boundaries come when they’re writing their routines.
Nicky Campbell is known as a journalist and broadcaster rather than a comedian. However he still manages to get plenty laughs in this show. Many of these come from the handful of songs he has written about certain taboo topics which boast witty and very topical lyrics. He performs these live, to very well mixed backing tracks, with great confidence and diction. Going into this show, your reviewer wasn’t expecting to be impressed by Campbell’s talent as a singer.
On the panel for this podcast discussion were David Eagle, Vix Layton, Seeta Wrightson and Pete Selwood. Whilst your reviewer had never encountered these comedians before, he will certainly be seeking them out to see perform their own stuff now. Each brought unique insights to the discussion, especially as each fell into a minority group that can be considered taboo to talk about, whether that was disability, race or sexuality. Whilst bringing important reflections to the table, each managed to impress with their comedic wit and timing making this as entertaining as it was interesting.
Staged in Sheffield’s beloved Cole Brothers building, magnificently transformed into an intimate venue by the Crossed Wires team, this live recording of Don’t Say A Word was incredibly interesting and fantastically funny.
Reviewed on 3rd July 2026
Crossed Wires is the world’s biggest podcast festival, returning to Sheffield for its third year. The
festival brings the biggest names in podcasting together for a weekend of live shows, never-
seen-before performances, special guests, DJ sets, Q&As and fan events.
The Reviews Hub Star Rating
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10
