PRsonal: God, ghosts and Britain’s Got Talent - Meet presenter and podcaster Alfie Joey

In this series of podcasts, Charlotte Nichols, managing director of PR agency Harvey & Hugo, gets up close and PRsonal with a variety of well-known business faces. Nothing is off limits as she digs deep to get to know the person behind the professional…

In this episode…

Alfie Joey really has enjoyed a career path like no other.

He’s been a comedian, actor, radio presenter – and even a monk.

On the latest PRsonal episode, he discusses his incredible professional journey which took him from the priesthood to YouTube fame and Britain’s Got Talent – plus a house haunted by Elvis himself!

Now a successful podcaster, communications coach and an illustrator, he tells host Charlotte Nichols about his lifelong grapple with faith and spirituality, his one-word answer about the afterlife – and an infamous run-in with a male stripper which left him red faced.

This is an episode not to be missed.

Key moments:

0:00:07 - Introduction to the podcast and guest, Alfie Joey
0:00:48 - ‘A statue’s arms opened up and beckoned me in’
0:02:59 - How a desire to break into showbiz lead him to the priesthood
0:04:01 - ‘Poverty and celibacy’: Alfie’s change to becoming a monk
0:05:11 - The day in the life of a monk – from brekkie to a spot of chit chat |
0:09:35 - ‘Alfie – is there a god?’
0:11:33 - What it is like working with an exorcist
0:11:58 - Visiting a house haunted by Elvis
0:12:34 - ‘Father help! My son is possessed!’
0:15:29 - Alfie’s one word answer as to what happens when we die
0:16:52 - Finding solitude and relaxation through drawing
0:18:20 - ‘I felt otherworldly’: Trying stand-up comedy for the first time
0:20:25 - How making a comedy legend laugh at a wedding lead to a life in showbiz
0:26:09 - His shock at how some BBC staff ‘were waiting for a pension’
0:29:17 - How success should really be measured
0:33:21 - Alfie’s wise words for children today
0:37:01 - How Alfie feels after leaving BBC Newcastle
0:38:30 - The variety of working on radio – from interviewing Keir Starmer to chats about breastfeeding
0:39:00 - How the radio show left Alfie frazzled
0:43:23 - When a listener turned up to a children’s event ‘as she missed listening to Alfie’s voice’
0:44:42 - Alfie’s embarrassing run in with a male stripper that left him red faced
0:47:20 - ‘The gatekeepers are gone’: Alfie’s advice for breaking into presenting
0:48:01 - Anyone can create their own content with technology.
0:48:46 - Alfie Joey’s ‘bizarre’ experience on Britain’s Got Talent – and his ‘banned’ Ant and Dec impression.
0:58:10 - Alfie reveals his best impression