Episode 323

full
Published on:

22nd Mar 2026

Britains got talent ventriloquist Steve Hewlett

In this episode of The Comedian’s Paradise, Marvin McCarthy and Jack Wheeler sit down with the "Supremo of Ventriloquism", Steve Hewlett. With a career spanning 40 years, Steve discusses his journey from the "bread and butter" of the holiday park circuit to becoming a Britain's Got Talent finalist.

Steve opens up about the reality of touring with The Osmonds in America, why he wouldn’t step onto the BGT stage in the current climate, and a fascinating story about his fan, the late John Hurt. We also explore the technical challenges of the craft and whether Simon Cowell is truly qualified to judge variety acts.

Timestamps:

[[02:41]] Going on Britain’s Got Talent, my bread and butter, touring with The Osmonds, and why I wouldn’t do it now [[11:42]]

[[05:40]] Why I wouldn’t do Britain’s Got Talent [[06:12]]

[[06:30]] My advice for talent shows [[09:16]]

[[11:42]] Why I love small rooms and why I became a ventriloquist [[19:14]]

[[19:14]] The struggles of a ventriloquist and the reward of the craft [[20:30]]

[[19:14]] The struggles of being a ventriloquist [[19:50]]

[[20:30]] Can Simon Cowell judge ventriloquists? [[42:23]]

[[51:43]] The great things about live comedy [[01:03:59]]

[[01:04:00]] If you don’t like something, don’t watch it [[01:07:12]]

[[01:04:30]] John Hurt was a big fan of mine [[01:05:24]]

[[01:07:12]] Performing a show for my mum [[01:09:50]]

[[01:10:00]] My influences and advice [[01:26:00]]

To find out more about Steve Hewlett, you can go on his website at https://stevehewlettventriloquist.com/. You can follow this podcast on Youtube at https://bit.ly/41LWDAq, Spotify at https://spoti.fi/3oLrmyU,Apple podcasts at https://apple.co/3LEkr3E and you can support the pod on:https://www.patreon.com/thecomediansparadise.


#stevehewlett #thecomediansparadise #ventriloquism #bgt #britainsgottalent #varietycomedy #johnhurt #comedyinterview #ukcomedy #theosmonds

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The comedians paradise
Speaking to mavericks across the comedy world.
Join comedian and promoter, Marvin McCarthy each Sunday at 8pm UK time as he interviews the mavericks of the comedy world.

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