16 January 2026
The Meaning of Liff is 42
Richard is back at the all new Podcast Room to chat again with comedy genius John Lloyd. They discuss yet another version of the fantastic Meaning of Liff book, this time for the 42nd anniversary of the first publication. They chat about where the idea came from, how John and Douglas Adams happily collaborated on this idea, even after falling out over Hitchhiker's Guide, whether being bumped out of that project was actually the best thing for John, how money and fame never fill the hole that people who covet them hope it will fill, whether any of the definitions have achieved general acceptance, how John got Hitchhikers Guide on to the TV (even if they quickly shot him off into space), the legendary Not 1982 book that spawned the Meaning of Liff as a book (and Rich proudly brings in the copy of Not 1983 that he won at school) and how laughing til you cry at stupid ideas is one of the joys of comedy collaboration, even if the double act eventually ends in acrimony. Plus the genesis of the News Quiz, how perfectionism can lead to accusations of being difficult, why buying a yacht is a dick move and how John almost died the perfect comedy death.
Buy the book here - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/the-meaning-of-liff-the-original-dictionary-of-things-there-should-be-words-for-douglas-adams/11921
