Max Dickins is the author of Billy No Mates: How I Realised Men Have a Friendship Problem, which has been translated into multiple languages and is currently being adapted for television. A thought leader on modern masculinity and the global ‘friendship recession’, Max is an in-demand speaker and media commentator.

His writing has been featured in the Observer, Sunday Times, Daily Mail, and GQ. Meanwhile on stage, he can be seen in his acclaimed live comedy show Giant Steps. His most recent project is the scripted podcast The Inbetween Man.

Author, Performer, Speaker, Broadcaster.

Speaking

An experienced and acclaimed speaker, Max has been invited to give talks online and around the world – including at the Houses of Parliament. A multi-time author and a regular face in the TV, radio and print media, Max is a sought-after thought leader on friendship, masculinity, and male mental health.

  • Max is superb speaker – he makes a tough subject feel light-hearted (and even funny) but you’ll be thinking about it months later. Received nothing but positive feedback from attendees and have triggered conversations we should all be having.

    Laura Cruz Garcia, Atkins Realis

  • One of the most powerful learning experiences I've ever had.

    Sarah Ellis, Amazing If

  • A world class speaker. Great feedback – 100% said excellent or very good.

    Sherilynn Shackell, The Marketing Academy

  • Thank you again for a fabulous session yesterday at IDEO. It led to such interesting conversations about trust, as well as building a wonderful openness for yesterday's cohort.

    Jessica Hall, IDEO

  • Over 650 of our employees tuned in to listen to Max deliver a hugely entertaining, insightful and important talk on male friendship. From us all in ESB a big thanks for being with us and educating us on this important topic.

    Brian Samson, ESB

  • First Class. You were highly entertaining and engaging and the feedback has been great.

    Oliver Hughes, MHP Mischief

  • Thank you for a fantastic talk! I really appreciated how prepared you were, and the feedback has been wonderful.

    Erica Young, Atomico

  • Max delivered a very interesting, funny and thought-provoking talk on the difficult topic of male friendships that was well received across the office. He generated lots of positive discussion, and I’ve never seen so many blokes queue up to ask personal questions as they did afterwards.

    Jonathan Woodward, Carpmaels and Ransford

  • Max has researched this meaningful topic extensively, and the whole message is delivered with wit, humour and a level of engagement that the firm hadn’t seen in years. The session was incredibly well received at Taylor Wessing across the board.

    Edward Chapman, Taylor Wessing

Live Comedy and Presenting

Max started his career as a radio presenter for Absolute Radio, where he was nominated for a prestigious Sony Radio Award. He subsequently moved into stand-up comedy, performing thousands of gigs on the UK circuit and three solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe. Amongst other TV appearances, Dickins has featured numerous times on BBC One’s Michael McIntyre’s Big Show.

An in-demand host, he has presented corporate events for brands including Esquire, Accenture, and most notably Virgin Media, for whom he was presenter of Voom Room. A magazine TV show based around Virgin’s national Voom competition - basically Dragon’s Den but with Sir Richard Branson, Tyra Banks and Sara Blakely.

Theatre and Improvisation

As a playwright, Max is the author of four plays. ‘The Trunk,’ named by Theatre Weekly as one of their top ten theatre shows of 2016.  The critically acclaimed ‘The Man on the Moor,’ which went on to complete a national tour in 2018. ‘Kin,’ published by Samuel French in July 2018 and subsequently revived numerous times all over the UK. And his latest play, ‘Love Them to Death,’ which received an Offie Award nomination and won Stagey Place’s Award for Best Show at the 2022 Edinburgh Fringe festival.

As a performer, Max is the co-creator of the hit live improvised comedy show Giant Steps.

  • Giant Steps

    An improv comedy show… with a brilliant live band.

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  • Billy No Mates

    No one wants to end up Billy No Mates. So how does it happen to so many men? 

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  • Inbetween Man

    An immersive podcast about modern masculinity for the perplexed gent – and anyone who knows one.

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  • Speaking

    An experienced and acclaimed speaker and presenter, Max has been invited to give talks and host corporate events around the world.

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  • Books

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  • Plays

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As featured in

As featured in