What happens when John Cleese personally selects you to play Basil Fawlty in the West End revival of one of the most iconic sitcoms in TV history? If you're Adam Jackson-Smith, you say yes… and then quietly panic. In this special episode of The Leadership Enigma, we go behind the curtain with the man trusted to resurrect Basil on stage. Adam shares the rollercoaster ride from virtual auditions (complete with tweed jacket and moustache) to 300+ physically demanding performances that quite literally sweated the weight off him. From Zoom auditions with Cleese himself to hilarious backstage stories (including what Jonny Vaughan whispered before curtain up), Adam lifts the lid on the resilience, leadership, and full-body slapstick needed to become a comedy legend — without simply mimicking one. 🎬 Hear about: The surreal moment John Cleese said, “You’re my Basil.” Why preview night made every nerve jangle. The hidden pressures of leading a West End cast. And why his most stressful performance wasn’t opening night. Whether you're a fan of Fawlty Towers, the theatre, or just love a tale of high-stakes transformation, this episode is a brilliantly funny and deeply human story about legacy, leadership, and living up to legends. 📺 Hit play, don't mention the war, and definitely don’t miss this one. #LeadershipEnigma #FawltyTowers #JohnCleese #BasilFawlty #WestEnd #ActingLife #BehindTheScenes #comedylegends This episode was powered by "Where The Evidence Takes Us" is available from Amazon Connect with Kevin O'Leary (Red Leadership) https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevoleary/ https://www.redleadership.co.uk/
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.