Best Mr. Magnificent Podcasts (2025)

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#473 - James Acaster, The Sad Van and Anne Tuna 56:40

Play Pause

16m ago56:40

56:40

473 episodes in and there is still room to excavate the vast intricacies that make up the Pompeii dig of John Robins’ mind. Grab your JCB because there’s a dump truck’s worth to uncover off the back of the latest adventures from the Sad Van. And it all boils down to one thing, as the hotels John’s willing to stay in simply say so much about the man…

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#469 Dominican New York: A History In The Heights 1:22:21

4d ago1:22:21

1:22:21

Dominicans comprise the largest immigration group in modern New York City, and Dominican culture has become embedded in the city's rich fabric of immigrant history. And in one place in particular -- Washington Heights. This historic neighborhood of Upper Manhattan is named for George Washington, who led the Continental Army in an early, pivotal bat…

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#472 - 47 Kisses, #NoPowerUps and The More Money than Sense Boys 1:01:58

25m ago1:01:58

1:01:58

Move over Oxford Union, debating has a new home! As Elis and John towers has turned into a hotbed of discourse and deliberation. The big topics are given the respect they deserve and the order of service for today is as follows: What’s the saddest song ever written? Hotels: budget or bespoke? And finally, are baths rubbish? Aside from heated argume…

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#471 - John’s Critical Path, Elis’s 0.0% Curry and Dave’s Not So Silent Alarm 1:05:18

8d ago1:05:18

1:05:18

What starts off as a huge day for John (book deadline day) turns into a massive (massive it is) day for poor old Dave. As the saying goes: ‘The best laid plans of podcast producers often go awry’, and Dave’s idea for the team to record remotely gets derailed quite spectacularly by a faulty alarm system. Brace yourselves for the most stressed you wi…

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19th Century NoHo: Glamour, Greed, Money, and Murder 1:05:03

11d ago1:05:03

1:05:03

Today's New York neighborhood called NoHo, wedged between Greenwich Village and the East Village, holds the stories of many people and places that then went on to become deeply associated with the great Gilded Age. The Astor family began their dynasty here in both investment and real estate as did the well-known Dutch-American merchant family the S…

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#470 - Old Man Bum, A Dream A Dream of Beef and Lust: 12 Bodies That Changed My Life 1:16:28

14m ago1:16:28

1:16:28

The boys have been busy bees recently and the show’s in danger of turning into a Michael Palin travelogue. Elis has returned from France and regales us with stories of visits to ex-military factories, intense chats with German families and Isy’s attempts at speaking French. Then it’s time for the first instalment of Elis and John’s Road to Nowhere,…

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#469 - The New Beans, In John’s Time and Eating Margaret Mountford’s Hair 48:53

4d ago48:53

48:53

The boys are fresh from driving around the country for charity with Ian Botham, which of course means Elis is exhausted and tour newbie Dave is absolutely fine. And there’s more bad news for Mr James as the Elis vote is being split in the Listeners’ Choice vote at the British Podcast Awards. He’s going to get pilloried by one co-host or maybe both.…

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The Boy Mayor of New York 49:15

18d ago49:15

49:15

As New York City enters the final stages of a rather strange mayoral election in 2025, let’s look back on a decidedly more unusual contest over 110 years ago, pitting Tammany Hall and their estranged ally (Mayor William Jay Gaynor) up against a baby-faced newcomer, the (second) youngest man ever to become the mayor of New York City. John Purroy Mit…

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#468 - Noble John, Sugar Me Twice and Good Old Gent 54:50

14d ago54:50

54:50

The ripples of last week’s Elis James mega-rant are still being felt right across the BBC, and despite vowing to ignore the call to pen John’s obituary, Elis has rowed back and done just that. Brace yourself for some emotional heft and candid commentary on John’s propensity for darts at university. But John’s made of sterner stuff these days and re…

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#467 - Chiles Miltree, Toddler Watson and King of the Nerds 59:36

18d ago59:36

59:36

There’s a surprise in the offing for John. Not that that’s a surprise to him. Nothing gets past old Sherlock Robins. Especially Producer Dave positioning a phone on a table at a very slight angle. But said surprise leads to some incredible finds about Johnny JR which leave Elis and Dave’s jaws on the floor. This was not what had been intended. Else…

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#468 Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue": A Jazz-Age Drama 1:06:27

25d ago1:06:27

1:06:27

On January 3, 1924, 25-year-old George Gershwin was shooting pool in a Manhattan billiard hall when his brother Ira Gershwin read aloud a shocking newspaper article: "George Gershwin is at work on a jazz concerto." There was just one problem—George had never agreed to write any such piece. What happened next would change American music forever. In …

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#466 - The UK’s Dumb Plums, The McFlurry Route and The Menutality Monster 1:11:08

24d ago1:11:08

1:11:08

Today’s episode is filled with the big questions of our age. These are the things that government top brass are pouring over day in, day out: Is Martin Lewis up there with Galileo and Mozart? Can you put goodwill on your shelf? And most divisively, is wee ever fine in a paddling pool? It’s a show that asks questions rather than answers them, and yo…

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#465 - Mr Headinhands, Kirsty’s USP and The Stomach Microbiome of My Instagram 50:24

18d ago50:24

50:24

Elis made a bad decision the other day. And if you had a million guesses as to what that decision was then you won’t even get close, even when given the clue "Welsh culture". He's insistent it isn’t the outcome he wanted but John and Dave aren’t sure they believe him. Quite frankly it’s one of the most baffling conversations ever had on this show. …

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History Daily: Pirate Tales! 32:49

1M ago32:49

32:49

We love the podcast History Daily, a co-production from award winning podcasters Airship and Noiser, so we're presenting two episodes with a very similar theme -- pirates! -- July 6, 1699. The arrest of Captain William Kidd ends the reign of plunder of one of history's most infamous pirates and sparks rumors of buried treasure -- November 16th, 172…

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#464 - Aloof Disinterest, Raised By Rats and A Sixth Form State of Mind 1:02:19

21d ago1:02:19

1:02:19

Memory lane is today's destination of choice, as John dons his rose-tinted glasses to reminisce about the time 'an arrangement was made' for him to return to his secondary school to assist in its production of Guys and Dolls. Was he officially invited back? Did John simply turn up because he had nothing else on? We're still not entirely sure, but t…

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#463 - The Trifecta of Value, Celya AB and A Bin Bag of Marmite 1:02:17

25d ago1:02:17

1:02:17

There’s huge news in the rural Bucks area as the Trifecta of Value begins to take shape - pending planning application rulings. It’s one of many wins for John, but the spectre of the biggest loss in many a year hangs over him. But he is unwilling to reveal it in his losses column. Someone should have cottoned on to this sly behaviour by now. Away f…

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#467 The Brooklyn Theatre Fire: The Forgotten Gilded Age Tragedy 48:53

1M ago48:53

48:53

On the evening of December 5, 1876, the glorious Brooklyn Theatre caught fire, trapping its audience in a nightmare of flame and smoke. The theater sat near Brooklyn City Hall (today's Brooklyn Borough Hall), and the blaze which destroyed it could be seen as far away as Prospect Park. The terrible truth emerged by the morning -- almost 300 people d…

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#462 - Burger, Sell Me Your Suitcase and Topless Dave In Front of An Olive 1:12:29

29d ago1:12:29

1:12:29

John’s been chained to a typewriter diarising his life experiences, and he's so confident about his memoir that he’s written “this is a good book” in Bic on its cover. Something all the great authors do, and he clearly has confidence in his witty emotionally hefty prose. But anyway, in this chapter of the Elis James and John Robins show we’re whisk…

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#461 - Elis, Man City’s Back Four and Will The Drummer From Coldplay 1:01:42

1M ago1:01:42

1:01:42

We start in the anecdote Wild West. Specifically it was wild [north] west London for Elis as he’s been to Oasis in credibility damaging seats. The best seats in the house, surrounded by some of the most famous people in the country. He *could* have asked for General Admission. But he didn’t and that suggestion is shoved up the tunnel of anguish. Ci…

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#466 Pete's Tavern and McSorley's Old Ale House 1:23:56

2M ago1:23:56

1:23:56

The ultimate bar crawl of Old New York continues through a survey of classic bars and taverns that trace their origins from the 1850s through the 1880s. And this time we're recording within two of America's most famous establishments, joined by the people who know that history the best. In Part One, we introduced you to the origin story of New York…

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#460 - John’s 50 Kids, Nish Kumar and The Cobbles Sing Their Plaintive Lament 1:01:03

1M ago1:01:03

1:01:03

It’s a lament time of year. It’s an Edinburgh time of year. A time when John yearns for the crippling comedic examination which is the Edinburgh Festival. For he cannot experience that emotional rollercoaster this year. He can’t sit on a stage and call himself a C*** after someone shouts “have you had a ploughman’s” during the most emotionally heft…

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#459 - Josie Long , Verge Christ and Mammary Glands In The Runner Beans 53:47

1M ago53:47

53:47

Elis has secured a last minute Oasis ticket, but the big question is… what *does* he wear??? Will Liam stop during Champagne Supernova and pick him out specifically? Meanwhile, John has had two prawn vindaloos and there’s been ‘interest’ down below. This is all amidst the great wildflower debate which continues apace, and Elis is on the end of a lo…

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#465 The Oldest Bars in New York City 1:20:03

2M ago1:20:03

1:20:03

We’ve put together the ultimate New York City historic bar crawl, a celebration of the city’s old taverns, pubs, and ale houses with 18th- and 19th-century connections. And along the way, you’ll learn so much about the city’s overall history — from its changing shoreline to the everyday lives of its working-class immigrant populations. Being an old…

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#458 - Simon Davies’ Uncle, #CigsNotPigs and The Protective Wall of Human Community 59:53

2M ago59:53

59:53

It’s a big show for Elis’s confidence. After failing to clinch the first quint-connection last week, he was already on the ropes. But throw in a Made Up Game question harking back to school maths, and another tense outing of the Cymru Connection, and he may (does) turn into a man on the edge. And for said Made Up Game we have a very special guest i…

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#457 - Becoming Compost, Squire Dave and #SenseTheSoil 1:03:20

2M ago1:03:20

1:03:20

Elis and John vibes in the areoh! Producer Dave has been to see Oasis and talks the boys through the various ‘ingredients’ that made it a night to remember. He also recounts a living nightmare he’s just experienced including missing equipment, an excitable crowd in Oxford, and a cat that can’t stop weeing. Elsewhere there’s all the accoutrements th…

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#464 New York: The City of Oysters 1:24:27

2M ago1:24:27

1:24:27

Once upon a time New York City oysters were not only plentiful and healthy in the harbor, they were an everyday, common food source. The original fast food! For that reason, the oyster could be an official New York City mascot. Oyster farming was a major occupation. Oyster houses were an incredibly common place for people to eat. The greatest resta…

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#456 - Mad Foxes, Papa Podium and 40 Rhodris 57:52

2M ago57:52

57:52

Elis is on the precipice of glory. Just two things stand between him and immortality. First up is the chance to be crowned the fastest dad in all of key stage 1 at his son’s sports day. We know he plays football a lot and we know he cycles to Brighton sometimes, but can Elis do it on an overcast Thursday in South London? Secondly, our very own son …

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#455 - Badly Well, Warm Panic and A Defence of Yodelling 43:26

2M ago43:26

43:26

It's a very smell heavy show today but the aromas aren't good as listeners inform Elis and John of a quite literal VW barrel of eggs and a queasy French exchange tale. Meanwhile Maisie Adam is very very hungover after England’s dramatic quarter final win, and Dave gets sacked twice in the first 10 minutes after his lads trip to Mallorca. Of course …

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#463 Gilded Age Golden Girls (Live At City Winery) 1:27:10

2M ago1:27:10

1:27:10

A special presentation of our live show Bowery Boys History Live, recorded at City Winery, July 2, 2025 Bowery Boys History Live is a storytelling cabaret of all-true tales and spellbinding secrets from the past, hosted by Greg Young of the Bowery Boys Podcast and brought to you by a rotating roster of the city’s greatest historians. And for this s…

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#454 - Swiss Arrogance, All Cars are the Same and One of the UK’s SUVs 52:05

2M ago52:05

52:05

Elis needs a new car. But how can John advise him on his next whip when shackled by the understandable constraints of undue product prominence? Well John has been on a special course, the Balance BBc (Hons) at a local uni, in order to undertake this difficult task and be What Car?* for the impartial content generation. Can he navigate such tricky w…

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#453 - Decking or Necking, Dad of the Year and Too Handsome to Focus 50:44

2M ago50:44

50:44

Elis is back from Euros Trip No. 1 and he’s Dad of the Year. A far more prestigious award than the 2008 accolade of the same name won by Peter Andre and sponsored by “Daddies Sauce”. Yes, his daughter not only experienced an unforgettable time watching the Welsh women, but she also saw her two favourite artists in eight days. Could Elis now become …

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Spirits Podcast: Urban Legends with Greg Young 54:03

2M ago54:03

54:03

Ready for a little summertime spookfest? This week we're thrilled to present to you a podcast appearance Greg made back in April on the Spirits Podcast. Hosted by Amanda McLoughlin and Julia Schifini, the Spirits Podcast is a weekly conversational show about all things ghosts, mythology, folklore and urban legends. If you like fun spooky things, ad…

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#452 - Here Lies The Volkswagen Barrel of Eggs 58:09

2M ago58:09

58:09

After many moons of service the mobile terrarium / paint dump / dodgem, the VW Barrel of Eggs, is no more. And today’s show is in tribute to that trusty steed. Currently lying in state, when it makes its final journey on the back of a low loader to the scrapheap make sure to line the streets of South London and doff your cap. Yes this is the only p…

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#451 - OG Guffer, Rodders (A) and The Man Is Your Husband 1:18:52

2M ago1:18:52

1:18:52

John’s annoyed because Elis and Dave have used all their material before the mics came on. Chin wagging like old ladies at the salon. But as is often the case we are saved by delving into the depths of insignificance. Some people think that the mines of inconsequentiality had run dry on this show. That the pick axes couldn’t uncover anything more m…

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#462 The Jersey Shore Shark Attacks of 1916 48:58

3M ago48:58

48:58

TERROR ON THE BEACH! Seaside resorts from Cape May, New Jersey, to Montauk, Long Island, were paralyzed in fear during the summer of 1916. Not because of the threat of lurking German U-boats and saboteurs. But because of sharks.On July 1, 1916, Charles Epting Vansant was killed by a shark while swimming at a resort in Beach Haven, a popular destina…

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#450 - Backing Framed Content, Backing the Compliance Form and Backing the Riff 1:12:16

2M ago1:12:16

1:12:16

The time has come to pick a side: are you pro-riff or anti-riff? Do you think that caution kills the riff? Would you wilfully step into the riff matrix and do your damnedest to see it through to the bitter end? In short, do you back the riff? This is what Producer Dave must decide. But he’s not the only one facing tough questions this week. Elis is…

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#449 - Rodmas Day, Magnificent Lions and Every. Journey. Counts. 1:05:55

3M ago1:05:55

1:05:55

It’s a strange old time for Elis James. On the one hand he’s being called a thirst trap on the carra (the Instagram carousel, for those not in the know); people can’t seem to get enough of his floppy hair, his jawline, and his interesting t-shirts. On the other hand, he’s getting hammered for slagging off Belgium, and having some harsh words direct…

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The Gilded Age Mansions of Fifth Avenue 1:29:27

3M ago1:29:27

1:29:27

At the heart of New York’s Gilded Age — the late 19th-century era of unprecedented American wealth and excess — were families with the names Astor, Waldorf, Schermerhorn, and Vanderbilt, alongside power players like A.T. Stewart, Jay Gould and William “Boss” Tweed. They would all make their homes — and in the case of the Vanderbilts, their great ma…

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#447 - Davie vs Horse, Bin Gear and The Gulag of Truth 56:02

3M ago56:02

56:02

There’s some good upstanding British gear flying around today. Bin chat. Which bins? What goes in what? What blooming colours have you got? Show us your bins on [email protected] or WhatsApp on 07974 293 022. In less disposable content, there’s a right to reply from one of Colin’s holiday companions and he may have to be sent to prison for tell…

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#461 The Story of Inwood and Marble Hill 1:36:11

3M ago1:36:11

1:36:11

People who live in Inwood know how truly special it is. Manhattan's northernmost neighborhood (aside from Marble Hill) feels like it's outside of the city -- and in some places, even outside of time and space. Unlike the lower Manhattan's flat avenues and organized streets, Inwood varies wildly in elevation and its streets wind up hills and down in…

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#446 - Bowie Crocs, Knee Length Utility Socks and Courteeners of Comedy 1:17:05

3M ago1:17:05

1:17:05

Elis James has become the story, and not for the right reasons. No matter how much he talks about ‘Zoe on the train’, there’s no doubt that our Cymru Connecting prodigy has lost his way. He’s in the Bobby Gould years. Today we attempt to correct his woeful form with some expert help. Colin makes a welcome return to proceedings as John shares more i…

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#445 - Colin, Carras and A Big Frozen Bag of Mince 57:42

3M ago57:42

57:42

You can tell John’s been on holiday because he starts the show by giving a promotion to someone who doesn’t even work on the show. The mood is high. And he’s come back a new man. He’s Colin now. An even more chill and organised version of Johnny JR. He’s the opposite of pura vida - i.e. not the same as his travel companions, who included someone wh…

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Children of the Gilded Age 50:01

3M ago50:01

50:01

The children of the Gilded Age were seen but not heard. Until now! Listener favorite Esther Crain, author and creator of Ephemeral New York joins The Gilded Gentleman for a look at the world of children during the Gilded Age. As she shared in the episode “Invisible Magicians: Domestic Servants in Gilded Age New York” with writings by actual servant…

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#444 - Tim Key, He Needs A Cup Run and Bit Early For A Pint So I Have An Easter Egg 1:04:26

3M ago1:04:26

1:04:26

William Wordsworth, Carol Ann Duffy… Tim Key. Just a few of the great poets this fair nation has produced. But there are two more names to add to the pantheon, two new kids on the block: Elis James and John Robins. Our heroes have picked up their pens (opened their laptops), unfurled their manuscripts (opened Word), and trawled their creative depth…

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#443 - Mockproof Robins, Medium Cod +1 and Good Black Eps 57:12

3M ago57:12

57:12

After a week when John offered apology texts to Elis, Dave and the production team for being in a bad mood, he’s back to his Billy best. There’s a bright ray of sunshine in his heart and nethers which clears the studio air. No black eps today and Elis can leave the studio without an impending sense of worry. But there are challenges afoot for our h…

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#460 The Brooklyn Museum and the Birth of a New City 52:03

4M ago52:03

52:03

While you may know the Brooklyn Museum for its wildly popular cutting-edge exhibitions, the borough's premier art institution can actually trace its origins back to a more rustic era -- and to the birth of the city of Brooklyn itself. On July 4, 1825, the growing village laid a cornerstone for its new Brooklyn Apprentices Library, an educational in…

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#442 - Tara Me Sue, More Pear Puddings and Dark Days in Denbigh 50:27

3M ago50:27

50:27

Wagon wheels, mushy pea hummus and baked bean daal. Move over Rick Stein, there’s new gastronomic broadcasters in town. Yes, food is the order of the day as the delectable George Egg rides into the studio to serve up a delicious Made Up Game for Elis and John. And the theme doesn’t stop there, for before you can say ‘Ready, Steady, Cook’ there's a …

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#441 - Full Fibre Content, Ladies Lashathon and Taking a Mini Retirement 44:43

3M ago44:43

44:43

It’s the TFI Late Review on the show as a night-time recording has Elis at his energetic peak. He's ready to throw a chair at a wall and also discuss the latest avant-garde Spanish melodrama. It’s a different vibe altogether, the boys don’t even know what day it is. But in such a circular audio environment, what even are days? We speak to the chatt…

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#440 - Beefcake Alert, The Lust King and Producer Dave’s Handsome Surprise 1:03:09

4M ago1:03:09

1:03:09

Every week on this show you think that the last vestige of John’s weird past is revealed. You think there cannot be any more layers peeled back. And then bam(!), another one, as yet another aspect of intense Robins c.1994-2004 hits you smack in the face. This is one such episode. But don’t worry it’s not all too harrowing, for there’s a huge and ex…

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#439 - Inverting The Pilaumid, Winning 18 Apples and The Mayor of Thornbury 54:56

4M ago54:56

54:56

There’ve been contrasting weeks for our two heroes. It’s a non-stop all anecdote premiere for Elis. For he has as follows… met Hugh Grant, attended Ken Clarke’s curry house, been to film screenings and had his greatest ever stag - apart from the one organised by John he stresses. *And* Mo Salah thinks he matters. John meanwhile has been asleep for …