Is there a video or DVD of The Twelve Tasks of Hercules, Someone Likes Yoghurt, menage a un or Oh Fuck, I'm 40?
The Hercules, Yoghurt and menage a un DVDs are now available at www.gofasterstripe.com. Oh Fuck I'm 40 will be released soon. I will doubtless record "The Headmaster's Son" at some point in 2009. I am also thinking about trying to resurrect both "Talking Cock" and "Christ on a Bike" at some point so that we can record them as well.

How do I become a writer/comedian? I have written a script, will you read it?
Much as it is flattering to have people ask me my opinion of their work, I have a policy that I do not read any unsolicited scripts sent to me by post or email. This is partly because I get so many that there isn't time for me to read them all, partly because if I don't read them then no-one can claim that I have ripped them off. Also I'm finding it hard enough to get my own scripts produced and there's little I can do for you. On top of this most of the scripts I get sent are really shit.
It may seem like a long slog to get going in this business, but I am afraid that is just the way things are. To begin with it is a relentless procedure of sending stuff to producers and trying to get noticed. This can take time even if you are really good. Be aware of the possibility that you might not actually be any good. You might think you are (and in my experience this kind of confidence usually only comes from people who are exceptionally brilliant or terribly awful - most of us in the middle doubt our abilities. If you don't doubt yours, at least consider the possibility that you might be useless, but take comfort in the fact that you might be a genius. Oh you were already).
The great thing about being a writer and/or a comedian is that there's nothing to stop you working and working. You can put on shows at college or work or do open spots and you can always write. My advice is keep writing. Write a lot. Try it out on your friends. Listen to what they have to say. Don't give up cos one person doesn't like it. If 500 people don't like it then maybe think about trying something else or getting some new friends.
It would be nice to just get discovered and get your own TV show, but this isn't how it works and actually I think you need to put in a few years of hard work to understand your craft a bit. I am constantly learning about writing and performing. Be open to learn. I have found writing the blog extremely helpful in developing a prose style. You can easily do something like that.
A lot of people say they don't want to do stand-up or come to London or whatever and you don't have to. But if you want to do well then you will have to work hard at it and make sacrifices and do things that you don't necessarily want to do.
Send your scripts to producers whose radio or TV shows you like, or look out for shows with lots of writers and try and write something in that style and send it in. It's unlikely that anyone is going to commission your film script from nothing, so start a bit smaller. Meeting producers who like your work is a great way to get on. It will not be an overnight thing, but show willing and work hard and don't expect early rewards and if you're any good things should happen for you.
If you get a chance try and do a show in edinburgh. Again you probably won't be discovered there, but you will learn a lot from the experience. This is why I keep going back and trying new things. But it costs a lot of money (Talking Cock sold out two years ago and I lost �7000). In the early days you will probably have to sacrifice and live mainly off baked potatoes.
Good luck.
You can read more of my thoughts about comedy writing in <a HREF=""http://www.richardherring.com/archive/downloads.php?s=&p=357&f=1092">; My Guardian Guide on the subject</a>.

Is there any Richard Herring merchandise I can get my hands on? Can I have a signed photo?
I don't have signed photos, but will happily sign a Talking Cock/Hercules/Yoghurt programme for you and send it to you for a small charity donation to my justgiving page.

If you want a signed programme then donate at least �5 on http://www.justgiving.com/richardherring40 an then email me at Herring1967@googlemail.com, telling me which programme or programmes you would like and send me your address.
You can buy DVDs and posters of previous shows at <a HREF=""http://www.gofasterstripe.com/">Go Faster Stripe</a>.

Will Lee and Herring be getting back together again?
In 1999 Jane Root cancelled TMWRNJ. I think both Stew and me were upset by this. The double act just seemed to be getting somewhere interesting and it had been a great good fun show to do. I think we would have liked to have done another series or two, but were also both keen to do stuff on our own after ten fairly intense years of working together.
Given no-one was offering us work together we were forced to go off and do our own things (though Stew was a main cog in the wheel that was TGP) and have both enjoyed some success. So in the short term I think it is unlikely that we'll be getting back together to do anything. We're both pretty busy and have diversified somewhat and I think five years on going back to the same kind of schtick would seem a bit out of place. Personally I am quite glad to leave the "Herring" character from Lee and Herring behind. It was a sort of parody of myself at 18, which would seem a strange thing still to be doing at 40.
But I really miss working with Stew and I think we would still have something to offer together so you never know. There had been talk of a sit-com about Hostages back in 2000, which I'd still like to do and something like the old radio shows would be fun too. We'll have to wait and see. But for the moment Lee and Herring are safely kept in storage at the BBC, next to the Glam Metal Detectives.
We did ten minutes together at a Ted Chippington tribute show in February 2007. You can see that o Youtube.
We are also doing a gig together at the Lyric in November 2008.

When will you be back on telly?
I am doing bits and pieces of TV work every now and again. On quizzes and satellite TV mainly. I recently presented an interview show on pokerzone which should be repeated ad infinitum.
I appeared in the comedy drama "You Can Choose Your Friends" which was broadcast in June 2007. We are still waiting to hear if there is going to be a series of this.
Other than that I am open to offers, so you never know!

Is there a video/DVD of Fist of Fun, TMWRNJ or Time Gentlemen Please?
There has never been any official DVD or video release of any of the Lee and Herring TV series(there was a live Lee and Herring video from about 1996, but it's hard to find and not worth the search in my opinion). The BBC own the rights to the Lee and Herring TV series and I find it extremely unlikely that there will ever be an official release. There is nothing I can do to make this happen. You can write to the BBC if you like, but it won't make much difference. There are illegal copies available on the internet and if you ask in the guestbook here someone will probably sort you out. Don't pay loads of money for these. There are people who will do them for costs only. I don't mind people distributing the shows for no profit, but the BBC might feel differently so beware.
If you want to take part in a very flattering, but ultimately futile attempt to get the BBC to release a DVD then go and sign the petition at http://www.fistoffun.net/petition.htm
And thanks to everyone who has done that already. It is nice to be appreciated.
The first six episode of "Time Gentlemen Please" are now available of DVD though. Please buy them and that will help ensure the release of the rest of the series. If you have satellite TV you can often catch this series on Paramount or Sky anyway. Look out for the bean-faced postman.

Why are all your gigs in London? Why don't you come and gig in the theatre/arts centre in my town?
I actually don't do all that much work in London and the people here are usually forced to watch half-conceived pieces which I'm trying to get into shape to put on somewhere else. Over the past two or three years I have toured pretty extensively throughout the UK and in all likelihood have been on in a town near to you.
Sign up to the newsletter or keep your eye on my gig guide and you will be kept informed of all my gigs.
If you would like me to come to your town then get in touch with your local theatre/arts centre/comedy club and ask them to book me. Tell them to get in touch with the Avalon live department and they will know who to contact. If enough of you want to see me then the theatre will book me. I am still building up a solo live audience, so if you are a fan then it is important that you come to the gigs in order to prove to the venues that I am worth booking. In some places this is certainly working. In others (Carlisle), it is not.

I have the moon on a stick. Do you want it?
No, it was Stewart who wanted the moon on the stick. So please email him about that. You can find his email address on his webpage (see links)

Do you like Jerry Springer the Opera.
Yes, I think it's fantastic. I thoroughly recommend it. Go and see it. You would never have known that theatre could be such fun.

Someone likes yoghurt. Is it you?
I like yoghurt no more or less than any ordinary lactose tolerant person. Do not believe the rumours.