Best Sooz Kempner Podcasts (2025)

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Maniac | Sooz's One Hit Wonders #5 1:05:22

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4d ago1:05:22

1:05:22

Sooz's One Hit Wonders series returns with a look at Michael Sembello's 1983 megahit 'Maniac'. But what's Michael's story? Why did he not follow up 'Maniac' with more superhits, where else might you have heard him, what are the song's original, unused lyrics and which ads do Masud and Chris come up against on YouTube? Find out as Sooz deep-dives us…

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Episode 196: The Trump is Dead Rumour 45:29

11d ago45:29

45:29

Our summer holidays are over and bringing us back to school, Sooz talks us through the recent rumours of Trump being dead. Where did they come from, was there ANY truth to them whatsoever (even just a kernel) and just what is the mystery of the White House windows...? ______ An exclusive extended, ad-free version of this episode with almost 30 minu…

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24. Sarah Callaghan - Spoken word artist & award-winning comedian 56:26

1M ago56:26

56:26

Jo's back with a bang, after a summer hiatus, with the multi-talented, Sarah Callaghan who was named a Time Out One to Watch. Tune in for a frank and inspiring chat about comedy, performance poetry, her experience on BAFTA Award-winning spoken word series Life & Rhymes on Sky Arts - Hosted by Benjamin Zephaniah featuring Kae Tempest, John Berkavitc…

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Lucy Porter, Rosco McClelland, Jessica Fostekew and Marc Jenning 28:02

1M ago28:02

28:02

Des and the teams are at the Edinburgh Festivals to break up the week's big news, including discussions between the US and EU about ending the war in Ukraine, plans to review the pension age in the UK, the first ever michelin star water menu in the UK, the couple who got married at the Edinburgh Fringe and more. Lead Writer: Elaine Malcolmson Addit…

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Ray Bradshaw, Marjolein Robertson, Jamie MacDonald and Amy Matthews 28:03

1M ago28:03

28:03

Des Clarke hosts Scotland's award-winning satirical news quiz.By BBC Radio Scotland

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Edinburgh Festival Special: Val McDermid, Connor Burns, Chloe Petts and Ignacio Lopez 28:02

2M ago28:02

28:02

Des and the teams are at the Edinburgh Festivals to break up the week's big news, including deputy first minister Kate Fobes’s announcement about stepping down at the next election, calls for Scotland to have a minister for nightlife, Tom Holland filming the latest Spider-Man in Glasgow, Oasis landing in Edinburgh for their comeback tour and more. …

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Athena Kugblenu, Chris Thorburn, Alasdair Beckett-King and Kathleen Hughes 28:02

2M ago28:02

28:02

Des and the team break up the week's big news. Including: The aftermath of US President Donald Trump’s visit to Scotland, changing TV viewing habits in Scotland, the number of steps we need per day to be healthy, Michael Flatley’s bit to be President of Ireland and more. Lead Writer: Rebecca Bain & Alex Garrick Wright Additional material: Tamarin F…

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Susie McCabe, Alex Kealy, Krystal Evans and Scott Agnew 28:02

2M ago28:02

28:02

Des and the team break up the week's big news, including US President Donald Trump’s visit to Scotland, concerns about overtourism in Edinburgh, a study about optimism, Green MSP Patrick Harvie and more. Lead Writer: Jennifer WalkerAdditional material: Paul Brown, Chris Ballard, Scott Graham, Gregor Paton, Rebecca Bain & Alex Garrick Wright, James …

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Episode 195: The Phone Found in Fiji 43:17

2M ago43:17

43:17

In our first recording together we take a look at a mystery Chris stumbled upon when compiling mysteries for our very first season! Since then, there have been developments in the case... This is the story of a mobile phone found in Fiji in the back of a taxi in 2014 which contained a disturbing video of four men being shot dead in the middle of th…

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Robin Ince, Amanda Dwyer, Gareth Waugh and Diona Doherty 28:03

2M ago28:03

28:03

Jay and the team break up the week's big news, including President Donald Trump's surprise interview with the BBC, a proposal to replace ferries with tunnels for Shetland, a new 'height filter' for dating, and the theft of Beyonce's unreleased music. Lead writer: Chris BallardAdditional Material: Kate Smurthwaite, Lee Jevon and Garth Apthomas, Chri…

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Chris Forbes, Kate Hammer, Rosco McClelland and Sooz Kempner 28:02

3M ago28:02

28:02

Des and the team break up the week's big news. Including: The state visit to the UK by French President Emmanuel Macron, inaccurate AI books about First Minister John Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon, fans lending a spare room to Partick Thistle football club, the new Superman and more. Lead Writer: Nathan CowleyAdditional material: Mike Grace, Kate Smu…

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Episode 194: The Big Grey Man [Guess the Mystery Part III] 41:30

3M ago41:30

41:30

The third and final instalment in our current Guess the Mystery trilogy as Sooz and Masud have to guess the mystery from the title alone, and this week it's the Big Grey Man... A myth of Scottish folklore of a tall grey spectral presence which roams the Cairngorms OR John Major challenging people to feel his muscles in the streets of Preston? Liste…

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Jay Lafferty, Stuart Mitchell, Tiff Stevenson and Daliso Chaponda 28:03

3M ago28:03

28:03

Des and the team break up the week's big news. Including: The dramatic vote in Westminster over the UK government's welfare bill, President Donald Trump's flagship spending policy, new technology at Wimbledon, Debbie Harry at 80 and much more. Lead writer: Adele CliffAdditional material: Alice Bright and Darren Phillips, Evan Gilsenan, Nathan Cowle…

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Episode 193: The Campden Wonder [Guess the Mystery Part II] 35:24

3M ago35:24

35:24

The second in our Guess the Mystery miniseries sees Sooz and Masud having to work out what the heck The Campden Wonder is. Is it a batshit insane 1660 case of robbery, murder and coming back from the dead or is it the theft of a chandelier from a pioneering gay bar? Listen to find out! ______ An exclusive extended, ad-free version of this episode w…

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Episode 192: The Kentucky Meat Shower [Guess the Mystery Part I] 35:01

3M ago35:01

35:01

With Chris away on holiday, Sooz and Masud attempt to guess the mystery from the name alone. How close do they get? Well you'll be surprised! Chris certainly was... In Bath County, Kentucky in 1876 chunks of red meat fall from the sky. What are they? How did they fall from the sky? Despite science coming on leaps and bounds since then, there's stil…

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The Ken Brennan Trilogy #3 - Shootout at Spanky's [RE-RELEASE] 1:18:46

3M ago1:18:46

1:18:46

Our revisiting of our Ken Brennan trilogy comes to a close. December 2008 in Jackson, Tennessee bar owner and sheriff's deputy Euhommie Bond is tragically killed in a shootout outside his bar and grill, Spanky's. With so much gunfire concentrated in such a short space of time, finding out who killed him is no mean feat, one main reason why the poli…

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The Ken Brennan Trilogy #2 - The Vanishing Blonde and the Mercury Man [RE-RELEASE] 1:17:48

4M ago1:17:48

1:17:48

It's the second in our Ken Brennan Trilogy and come with us to Florida in 2005 as we look at how a woman got out of a hotel she couldn't possibly have left without being seen and ended up 8 miles away and left for dead. What happened to her, who did it and just who on Earth is the Mercury Man and might he be the key to the whole affair? This case, …

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The Ken Brennan Trilogy #1 - The Body in Room 348 [RE-RELEASE] 52:07

4M ago52:07

52:07

Revisiting our Ken Brennan trilogy over the next 3 weeks, we begin with our first Ken episode from way back in January 2020 as we meet Ken solving the bizarre mystery of Greg Fleniken, who was found dead in his hotel room, locked from the inside, with internal injuries that were similar to having been pulverised by a car. So what the hell happened?…

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Episode 191: The Mysterious Lori Erica Ruff 59:24

4M ago59:24

59:24

This week's episode is the story of Lori Erica Ruff, who took her own life in 2010. She was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound in her car, parked on her estranged in-laws' driveway. Erratic behaviour following the separation from her husband is only the beginning as the true nature of Lori is slowly uncovered. So who was she really? ______ A…

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Episode 190: The Fate of the Flower Doctor 43:47

5M ago43:47

43:47

This week's episode is the story of Charles Budd Robinson - a botanist from Canada who went missing while on an expedition to an Indonesian island in December 1913 never to be seen again... So what happened? Does the answer lie in Kew Gardens? And would he have survived if he'd packed his phrase book? ______ An exclusive extended, ad-free version o…

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23. Sooz Kempner - Actor, comedian, singer 50:10

5M ago50:10

50:10

Jo sets the world to rights with super talented, award-winning comedian, actor and singer, Sooz Kempner. You may recognise Sooz from her hugely successful appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe, this year is her eleventh show. She's created tons of character comedy sketches that have gone viral and starred as Doom from The Dr Who spin-off, Doom's Day.…

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Episode 189: Does the Pope Have a Time Machine? 45:44

5M ago45:44

45:44

Coinciding with the papal conclave of 2025 as cardinals reverently decide who will be the new Pope, we dive into a pervading mystery that the Vatican once had (and possibly still has) its hands on a working time machine... A story which takes in Nobel Prize winners and Nazi scientists, let's find out the answer to the question 'does the Pope have a…

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Jew Talkin’ To Me? With comedian Aaron Levene! 59:04

5M ago59:04

59:04

Join Jewish Comedians Rachel Creeger & Philip Simon for their comedy podcast, a chat show about all things Jewish, produced by Russell Balkind. This week we're joined by comedian Aaron Levene! Subscribe to our Patreon: @JewTalkin Facebook: @JewTalkin Twitter: @JewTalkin Instagram: @JewTalkin Lots more fantastic episodes waiting to be released, so d…

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You Get What You Give | Sooz's One Hit Wonders #4 58:51

5M ago58:51

58:51

In the latest in our Sooz's One Hit Wonders series, we are transported to 1998 and take a look at a serious contender for song of the 90s as we learn all about what led to (and came from) the utter smash hit You Get What You Give... Dreadful solo albums, a right-place-right-time capturing of the zeitgeist plus a more surprising subsequent career th…

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Episode 188: The Severed Feet of the Salish Sea 46:50

5M ago46:50

46:50

This week we uncover Sooz's fear of the ocean as we discuss the bizarre phenomenon of loads of severed feet washing up at various points along the British Columbia and Washington State coast... Just why did the amount increase between 2007 and 2018? And, more importantly, why does Chris now own Conclave on physical media in 2025!? The answers lie w…

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Episode 187: What Happened at the Ole Miss Riot? 1:08:35

6M ago1:08:35

1:08:35

This week's episode is the story of (among others) Paul Guihard, Ray Gunther and James Meredith, whose lives intersect and, in two of their cases, come to an end at the fateful Ole Miss Riot of 1962 in Mississippi. So what happened? And boy had you better not mention to Masud that you don't like tomatoes! ______ An exclusive extended, ad-free versi…

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VHGuess #3 | Urgh, It's Not Stripes Is It? 1:17:26

6M ago1:17:26

1:17:26

Our favourite game is back this week and has some of the very best and some of the very worst guesses Chris and Masud have made. And it may also be the closes game yet PLUS Sooz goes rogue with awarding points. ______ An exclusive extended version of this episode with almost 20 minutes of bonus extra chat can be found over at our Patreon! Extended …

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Episode 186: The World's First Aerial Murder? 49:58

6M ago49:58

49:58

This week we take a look at possibly the world's first aerial murder, which is certainly what it was called in newspapers at the time. In 1923, daredevil BH DeLay was putting on an extraordinary aerial display of aviation stunts - something he had made a great living doing in the movies - when the wings of his plane snapped off and crashed into the…

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22. Josephine Lacey - Stand Up Comedian, 'Autism Mama' and writer 55:38

6M ago55:38

55:38

Funny, heartbreaking and inspirational in equal measure, this is a Real Folk to remember... Jo takes a deep dive into the background of stand-up comedian and writer, Josephine Lacey, creator of the hit five star comedy show, 'Autism Mama', 'The straight-talking comic’s debut hour is cheerfully rude and glowing with maternal love, as she describes p…

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Episode 185: Robert Johnson & The Devil at the Crossroads 1:19:37

6M ago1:19:37

1:19:37

While you may be forgiven for thinking that Robert Johnson is our guest for an episode about the devil at a crossroads, don't let the naming convention fool you. This is the tale of pioneering musician Robert Johnson who is simultaneously one of the most influential musicians of the 20th Century AND a complete mystery... Perhaps the first member of…

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The One & Only | Sooz's One Hit Wonders #3 53:19

7M ago53:19

53:19

The next in Sooz's series of the stories behind some of the biggest one-hit wonders. This week, she walks us through Chesney Hawke's 1991 mega-hit 'The One & Only' while we of course manage to get in a Jurassic Park reference and Masud learns about the chain of shops John Menzies... ______ An exclusive extended version of this episode with almost 3…

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21. Sophie Haydock - Author, editor, journalist 49:49

7M ago49:49

49:49

Jo catches up with Sophie Haydock, Sunday Times and Guardian journalist, author of The Flames 'One of the finest historical authors of 2022', The Times. Her latest book, Madame Matisse, is released on 6th March 2025. Sophie delicately weaves fact and fiction to flesh out the stories surrounding the women that inspired Egon Schiele and Henri Mattise…

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Episode 184: The Calvine Sighting 57:53

7M ago57:53

57:53

This week's episode is the twisty story of what is considered to be the greatest photo ever taken of a UFO... In August 1990, two men hiking near the Scottish hamlet of Calvine saw a strange craft hover silently in the sky, be approached by a Harrier jet and then fly away vertically. Stranger than this sighting, though, is the story of the photogra…

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Spoilerific Oscars Chat 1:01:40

7M ago1:01:40

1:01:40

This week's episode is a relaxed chat about this year's Best Picture nominees just ahead of the Oscars ceremony. We give our opinions (with SPOILERS) on those we've seen plus Chris shares some potentially controversial opinions about Dune! ________ An exclusive extended version of this episode with extra chat can be found over at our Patreon! Exten…

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Episode 183: The Rey Rivera Mystery 47:27

7M ago47:27

47:27

This week's episode is the bizarre story of Rey Rivera, who was missing for 8 days in 2006 before turning up dead in the strangest of circumstances, circumstances which were eventually ruled a suicide. Except it would have been physically impossible for Rey to have taken his own life in this way... An exclusive extended version of this episode with…

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Sue Kelvin 55:38

8M ago55:38

55:38

Join Jewish Comedians Rachel Creeger & Philip Simon for their comedy podcast, a chat show about all things Jewish, produced by Russell Balkind. This week we're joined by actor and cabaret artiste, Sue Kelvin! Join Jewish Comedians Rachel Creeger & Philip Simon for their comedy podcast, a chat show about all things Jewish, produced by Russell Balkin…

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VHGuess #2 | Four People Who Haven't Written For The Simpsons [LIVE] 44:50

8M ago44:50

44:50

A live edition of our favourite game! And joining us in an echoey room to an intimate crowd is returning friend of the show and host of the fantastic Evil Men podcast, Michael Balazo! Who will win this round and which VHS treasure will be unearthed? An extended version of this episode, along with a huge back catalogue of exclusive bonus content suc…

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20. Dan Parkes - Author & Director of Photography 1:03:02

8M ago1:03:02

1:03:02

If, like Jo, you have always been intrigued by the stories that surround the Titanic tragedy, you should definitely tune in to discover more about Dan Parkes debut book, Titanic Legacy: The Captain, the Daughter and the Spy. More twists and turns than a twisty turny thing. Jo 'dives' in to Dan's DOP work, his drone training and what triggered his l…

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Episode 182: The W*nking Man of Pompeii 40:02

8M ago40:02

40:02

Following the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79AD Pompeii was devastated by an intense burst of intense heat, smoke and ash, leaving many of the thousands of people killed preserved in their final positions. Cue much sniggering when one man was discovered in the position of apparently pleasuring himself. But was that really what he was …

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Jew Talkin’ To Me? With Ben Caplan 1:02:34

8M ago1:02:34

1:02:34

Join Jewish Comedians Rachel Creeger & Philip Simon for their comedy podcast, a chat show about all things Jewish, produced by Russell Balkind. This week we're joined by actor and director, Ben Caplan! Subscribe to our Patreon: @JewTalkin Facebook: @JewTalkin Twitter: @JewTalkin Instagram: @JewTalkin Lots more fantastic episodes waiting to be relea…

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Episode 181: Murder of a Marine 51:28

8M ago51:28

51:28

This week we take a look at the 1994 murder of former marine David Cox. David had been missing for 3 months when his body was found next to a river in Massachusetts, killed execution style with 4 bullet wounds. But what possible motive could there have been? His killer has never been discovered but his past may be more well known than first appears…

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Jew Talkin’ To Me? With Howard Jacobson 59:52

9M ago59:52

59:52

Join Jewish Comedians Rachel Creeger & Philip Simon for their comedy podcast, a chat show about all things Jewish, produced by Russell Balkind. This week we're joined by Man Booker Prize winning novelist and broadcaster, Howard Jacobson! Subscribe to our Patreon: @JewTalkin Facebook: @JewTalkin Twitter: @JewTalkin Instagram: @JewTalkin Lots more fa…

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Me & Mrs Jones | Sooz's One Hit Wonders #2 1:06:13

9M ago1:06:13

1:06:13

The next episode in our occasional new series called Sooz Kempner's One Hit Wonders where Sooz takes us through the story of some of the very best (and worst) one hit wonders. Where are they now? Why did their one hit hit so hard and then other songs fail to replicate the success? For this second episode, Sooz tells us the brilliant story of Billy …

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19. Ben Rufus Green - Actor, comedian, writer 59:25

9M ago59:25

59:25

Jo catches up with fellow actor, comedian and writer, Ben Rufus Green. On our TV screens Ben played 'David Cockfield' in both series of, Joe Wilkinson's, hilarious family comedy 'The Cockfields'. He most recently starred in Scottish BAFTA Award winning 'Dinosaur' Ashley Storrie's, new comedy show. Also in 2024 he starred in his first feature film '…

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Episode 180: The Cape Intruder and the Halifax Sleepwatcher 56:23

9M ago56:23

56:23

Two creepy (and possibly) connected crimes this week and we take a look at the Cape Intruder, a man whose identity remains a mystery, who broke into people's houses in Cape Elizabeth, Maine in 2005 to... Watch them sleep. Upon his prey awaking, he would bolt out of the house and evade capture completely. This photofit was issued to help identify th…

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18. Mel Larsen - International Coach & Consultant 56:47

9M ago56:47

56:47

It's the start of a New Year. What are your personal, career or business plans/goals/challenges for 2025? Grab a cuppa and join Jo and the marvellous, Mel Larsen, International Coach & Consultant who has been helping entrepreneurs for over three decades to joyfully trust their vision. Her work has taken her around the world, including Russia, The C…

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Episode 179: The Warminster Thing 46:50

9M ago46:50

46:50

Happy New Year! The second in our festive episodes is a brief curio - in the English town of Warminster at Christmastime in 1964, plenty of independent witnesses experienced a bizarre wave of sonic attacks, for which there remains no explanation to this day... Hosted by Masud Milas, Chris Stokes, and Sooz Kempner Mystery on the Rocks is a high conc…

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17. Darren Walsh - Comedian, Tik Tok Pun Guy, Director, Writer 36:13

9M ago36:13

36:13

TikTok Pun Guy, Darren Walsh, chats to Jo about his comedy career, the fact he is absolutely NOT the other Darren Walsh, a famous animator who created Angry Kid, plus insider info on how Darren creates his viral Tik Tok Puns on the Street. You can catch Darren's latest show 'Do You Like Puns?' at Leicester Comedy Festival in Feb, Glasgow in March, …

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Episode 178: 'Twas The Night Before Christmas... 42:57

9M ago42:57

42:57

'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house... Possibly one of the most famous Christmas verses yet itself the subject of a pervading mystery. Submitted anonymously to a New York newspaper in 1823, any potential author didn't come to light until over 20 years later. But then, an ownership contest began... Join us for the first of thi…

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VHGuess #1 | Oh Golly, I've Fallen Into Your Rectum 1:07:44

10M ago1:07:44

1:07:44

Joining Sooz Kempner's One Hit Wonders as another occasional new series, our favourite game returns! Discovered during the recording of our Gentleman of Heligoland episode, VHGuess sees Chris and Masud have to guess which particular VHSes are in a bundle Sooz finds at random on eBay. With new rules, structure and lifelines added, join us as we play…