Wisecrack: When Stand-Up Comedy Unearths a Killer

On July 22, 2015, a 23-year-old man murdered his family in a small English village—and hours later, arrived at the home of UK stand-up comedian Edd Hedges. What followed was the scariest night of Hedges' life, an experience he would eventually transform into *Wisecrack*, a groundbreaking six-part podcast that fuses stand-up comedy, true crime documentary, and personal trauma into something altogether new.

*Wisecrack* launched September 2, 2025, as a limited series produced by Tenderfoot TV and iHeartPodcasts. It marks an unconventional marriage of genres: part stand-up comedy special, part nail-biting true crime thriller. The first episode, "Knock, Knock," premiered on the same day, available ad-free through Tenderfoot+ subscription. Apple Podcasts named the series among its "Best of 2025" shortly after release.

The podcast's architecture is unusual and deliberate. Hedges performs his comedy routine—material he developed over years of processing what happened that July night—while the narrative simultaneously unravels the true story. The perpetrator, known to Hedges and his family as a neighbor and former classmate, had experienced a dramatic downward spiral before committing the double homicide. After killing his family members, he made his way to Hedges' house, where he knocked or pounded on the door. Hedges awoke to a woman standing at the foot of his bed, warning him: "Whatever you do, do not turn on the lights."

That moment—raw, visceral, and potentially life-threatening—became both a personal turning point and the genesis of artistic material.

From Comedy to Crime

Hedges had already established himself as a serious comedian before 2015. In 2013, at just 19 years old, he won "So You Think You're Funny?" at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, making him one of the youngest ever to claim the award. He went on to perform at Just For Laughs in Montreal, Adelaide Fringe, Machynlleth Comedy Festival, and secured appearances on BBC Radio. He was a rising talent in UK stand-up—until one night changed everything.

Instead of abandoning comedy, Hedges channeled his trauma into his craft. He developed material that wove together his childhood experiences, the people and places in his village, and the night that reshaped his life. When producer Jodi Tovay heard this routine performed in Scotland, she was struck by its power. What began as appreciation for Hedges' comedic skill evolved into a nearly decade-long investigation that would ultimately become *Wisecrack*. Tovay, an established TV crime producer, recognized that this story—and this comedian—deserved a larger platform.

The Live Experience

The podcast success has already spawned a live tour. "Wisecrack Live," hosted by Jodi Tovay, premiered at CrimeCon 2025 in Denver (September 6, 8:00–9:30 PM at Gaylord Rockies). Additional tour dates are scheduled for London, New York City, Atlanta, and other major cities, extending the podcast's reach into live venues where audiences can experience Hedges' performance alongside Tovay's investigative insights.

*Wisecrack* represents a rare convergence of comedy, true crime, and personal testimony. It asks an unconventional question: how do we process unbearable trauma? For Hedges, the answer was laughter, investigation, and storytelling—ultimately creating a series that stands apart in the true crime landscape.

Sources

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wisecrack/id1831347408

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDyw7k__xFM

https://www.crimecon.com/wisecrack

https://www.iheartmedia.com/press/tenderfoot-tv-and-iheartpodcasts-announce-wisecrack-stand-comedy-routine-unravels-chilling

https://q1043.iheart.com/content/2025-09-04-comedy-true-crime-combine-in-new-nail-biting-thriller-wisecrack/