John Robins is a highly regarded stand-up comic known for his work on BBC Radio 5. He has achieved significant success at the Edinburgh Fringe, winning multiple Chortle Awards, including Best Compere and Best Radio. In 2017, he won The Edinburgh Comedy Award for his show ‘The Darkness of Robins’, which led to a 68-date UK tour, ending with a sold-out performance at the Hammersmith Eventim Apollo in London.
John has made numerous television appearances, including shows like Live At The Apollo, Mock The Week, and Drunk History. In 2018, he took a break from the Edinburgh Fringe to host ‘Beat The Internet’, a quiz show on Dave.
He is well-known for his radio and podcast collaboration with fellow comedian Elis James. They began their show on XFM in 2014, taking over a slot previously held by notable figures like Ricky Gervais. Their podcast gained immense popularity, with over half a million downloads each month. After the station rebranded to Radio X, they continued their show on Saturday afternoons and occasionally filled in for Johnny Vaughan. In 2019, they moved to BBC Radio 5Live for a two-hour Friday afternoon slot.
Throughout their radio career, John and Elis have openly discussed mental health, partnering with charities such as Mind and CALM. Their show inspired two national tours and a book titled The Holy Vible, published by Trapeze.
In addition to his work with Elis, John has appeared on various Radio 4 programmes, including The News Quiz and The Now Show. He is a frequent guest on popular podcasts like The Adam Buxton Podcast and Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast.
In 2019, John launched a YouTube channel called Bad Golf with comedian Alex Horne. The channel showcases their experiences on the golf course and highlights that everyone can enjoy golf, regardless of skill level.
John also writes a regular column for The Metro and is a voiceover actor for major brands such as Ford and The BBC. He speaks to corporate audiences about his mental health challenges and completed a 48-date sell-out tour in 2023 with his show ‘Howl’.
