The Comedy Bureau – Q&A with Laura Lexx

Forget surface-level banter – The Comedy Bureau is where comedy gets dissected, debated, and delightfully nerdy. Comedian Laura Lexx sat down with us to talk about why she’s joined forces with academic Dr Oliver Double for a new podcast that asks the questions comics don’t usually ask out loud.

Tell us about the show…

The show is a fusion of everything that’s great about a history podcast with everything that’s great about a comedy discussion podcast. I’m hosting The Comedy Bureau alongside Dr. Oliver Double and we both love comedy in a deep way. We wanted a space to explore all the nooks and crannies of comedy’s history, as well as its present day existence and its scientific eccentricities. It’s been put together so that you can listen from any level of comedy knowledge – it’s full of fascinating insights into neurology, sociology, history and performance technique. As an academic and a practising comedian we have endless experience to draw from as we get really chatty about our favourite subject.

Why did you decide to do a show exploring the mechanics of comedy?

Because it’s my lifelong obsession. As a comedian, you’re forever getting emails from scouts of producers saying “we’re looking for a comedian with a background in nursing” or “a comedian whose hobby is horses” for example and I would always look at those and think… “well I’m a comedian whose background is comedy and my hobby is comedy so I guess I don’t fit in!” I’ve always hidden a bit from the fact that I’ve studied stand-up because it feels a little uncool to admit I got a Master’s in it and I still continue to analyse it completely. But, I guess I’m 40 next year and I’ve stopped caring if I’m uncool. I want to pull comedy apart and show other people how interesting it is and Olly is the perfect person to do that with.

Why are you using YouTube as the main platform – and will you be showing it anywhere else?

We’re doing it on YouTube because we wanted to create The Comedy Bureau as a tangible, physical space which is harder to do on audio. We wanted it to be a working office and to have a feeling of location. YouTube is an enormous platform and video really is consumed so broadly – we wanted to be able to make something special feeling and invite people into our world.

It will also be released as audio on all podcast platforms for people who prefer to listen on the go, but we’re hoping most people will watch and enjoy all the tidbits that Olly brings in from his own personal comedy archive.

What were the biggest challenges in making the show?

Er… all of it! I’m completely out of my depth! hahaha! I have brought on as many fantastic people to help as budget permits but I am completely self-funding it so it is largely a labour of love.

I’m learning as I go as to how to promote it, how to research well enough, how to film and edit. I think it will blossom and grow so much as we move through the process.

Who do you think will be the biggest fans of the Comedy Bureau?

I think anyone who listens to shows like The Comedian’s Comedian or WTF with Marc Maron will find a lot to enjoy. If you like hearing the world behind comedy then we have a lot for you, and we have the extra might of an academic who has studied it for decades.

I also think general history fans will find a lot to love too and there’s even something for the true crime fanatics.  We’ve recorded an entire episode on The Tichborne Claimant – a sensational Victorian legal battle that was so captivating to the public that it held the country’s attention for over two years… but how does that relate to comedy?! Well, not only was it the longest running legal battle in history but it also spawned one of the most successful and beloved Variety performers of the early 20th Century. A performer so popular he actually coined a word that was added to the dictionary!

What have you learned from the creative process so far that could help other creators?

For me it’s been about asking for help to bolster the areas where I fall down. I know I am terrible at marketing and promoting which means I end up pouring my heart into things that I don’t show off properly. That’s really been something I’m trying to solve for this project – conquering the algorithms so that all of Olly’s genius and my passion actually gets in front of viewers!

The Comedy Bureau launches on Thursday, 25 September 2025 on YouTube and wherever you listen to podcasts.