The Big Smoke Variety Show

Episódios

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  Mind the Gap: The Big Smoke Variety Show Update 31.07.2026 3min

  Hello friends! Whether you’ve been along for the ride these past two years or have just stumbled across our show now, welcome and thanks for tuning in. This is just a quick note to let you know that The Big Smoke Variety Show is taking a little hiatus. We’ve decided to recharge our creative batteries and think about how we want to continue bringing wonderful stories, fascinating conversations, and a sense of community to you. If you’re only just discovering the show, I hope you’ll dive into our archive of evergreen episodes. In true variety show fashion, there’s a little bit of everything waiting for you. You can join a world-renowned hot air balloon pilot floating thousands of feet above the Earth, explore the hidden treasures discovered by mudlarks deep beneath the mud of the River Thames, learn all about London’s unique coffee history, and even hear why humans love to see faces just about everywhere. The idea for a modern variety show comes from my fascination and love for the rich tradition of variety entertainment history, from the Jacobean masques of Shakespeare’s day, through music hall and vaudeville, to the late-night talk shows I used to stay up late watching as a kid. These shows have always brought together different kinds of entertainment under one roof while exposing people to different ideas they may not have found otherwise. And that’s exactly what we’ve tried to do here, guided by three simple pillars: comedy, conversation, and community. Comedy has given us everything from the hysterical and historical Doctor Quack to the magical and mysterious Strange Brothers. Conversation has been an enormous privilege. We’ve had the chance to sit down with experts, artists, historians, scientists, performers and authors — all people deeply passionate about their own unique corner of the world — and we’ve invited all of you to become curious alongside them. And of course, community sits at the heart of everything. The greatest joy of making the show has always been bringing people together around ideas they never expected to find fascinating, introducing listeners to remarkable people and organisations, and encouraging all of us to bravely step out into the world a little more curious than we were before. Parish Notices, in particular, has become one of my favourite segments: a chance to celebrate people doing wonderful things in their neighbourhoods and hopefully inspire you to find or build a community of your own. I truly believe that connection and community is what being human is all about. So thank you for being part of this joyful and unique experiment. Whether you’ve listened to one episode or every single one, I’m incredibly grateful you chose to spend some of your time with us. This isn’t goodbye. Just… we’ll see you again soon. Here in The Big Smoke. — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Theme Song by Giles Terera
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  Silly Season: A Double Bill of Stories You Haven’t Heard 30.07.2026 26min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! Back in 1861, the phrase “silly season” was coined to describe that sleepy stretch of summer when there wasn’t much real news to report, and newspapers filled their pages with wonderfully oddball stories instead. So, we’ve done the same—bringing you another double dose of mythical tales perfect for long summer evenings. In this week’s Silly Season we have two Stories You Haven’t Heard. These are timeless tales, reimagined and beautifully performed by the wonderful Scott Brooksbank. First, we travel to Brazil for a magical folktale about a lonely princess, a sea monster with a kind heart, an impossible dress, and the forgotten promise that, some say, still echoes through the waves today. ‘Dionyssia, or Why the Sea Moans’ is a story of friendship, memory, and the strange sounds that shape our world. Then we journey all the way back to Ancient Greece for Aristophanes’ ‘The Frogs’ where the god Dionysus embarks on an absurd adventure into the Underworld in search of the perfect playwright. Along the way there are croaking frogs, theatrical rivalries, mistaken identities, terrible disguises, and plenty of comic chaos, all wrapped around a surprisingly thoughtful exploration of why stories matter. So whether you’re listening to the waves, following the croaking of frogs into the underworld, or simply enjoying a quiet summer evening, remember: the real silly season isn’t in the newspapers anymore… it’s right here on The Big Smoke Variety Show. — Chapters (00:00) Intro & Show Menu (01:00) Dionyssia, or Why the Sea Moans (10:24) The Frogs (25:46) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins Stories You Haven’t Heard written and performed by Scott Brooksbank
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  Silly Season: A Double Bill of The Strange Brothers 23.07.2026 25min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! Back in 1861, the phrase “silly season” was coined to describe that sleepy stretch of summer when there wasn’t much real news to report, and newspapers filled their pages with wonderfully oddball stories instead. So, we’ve done the same—bringing you a double scoop of silliness  perfect for long summer evenings. This week, everyone’s favourite apprentice illusionists, The Strange Brothers, return with another dose of magical mayhem. Fresh from securing a place in an international magic competition, Salazar Strange Sorcerer Extreme and Craig set their sights on the bright lights of Las Vegas. With white tigers, gravity-defying illusions, questionable pyrotechnics and dreams of joining the ranks of magic’s greatest double acts, what could possibly stand in their way? As it turns out… quite a lot. Then, determined to prove he truly deserves the title of Sorcerer Extreme, Salazar attempts his most dangerous stunt yet: spending seven days sealed underground with nothing but a walkie-talkie, his own thoughts, and Craig in charge of the safety plan. Unsurprisingly, things don’t stay under control for very long, leading to a tale of friendship, survival, romance, conspiracy theories, and one very observant milk delivery. So pour yourself something cold, settle into the sunshine, and enjoy a slice of wonderfully ridiculous midsummer nonsense. After all, the real silly season isn’t in the newspapers anymore… it’s right here on The Big Smoke Variety Show. — Chapters (00:00) Intro & Show Menu (00:54) Viva Las Craigus and the Tiger (12:18) Sorcerer Extreme Goes Underground (24:50) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins The Strange Brothers written and performed by Jamie Sandersfield and Matthew Nicholson
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  Beneath the Muddy Waters with London’s Mudlarking Community 16.07.2026 52min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week, we take another peek behind one of your favourite recurring segments and venture down to the foreshore with Sean Clark the Mudlark's Latest Find. Kevin is joined by Sean Clark, Sam Caetoven and Angela Bridge — a true muddle of mudlarks — for a conversation about the strange, beautiful and deeply human world of searching the banks of the River Thames. Together, they explore what mudlarking actually is: following the tide out, scanning the stones and mud, and uncovering objects lost or thrown away across thousands of years of London life. From eyes-only searching to scrapers, licenses, tide tables and finds liaison officers, the group explains the rules, rituals and rhythms of life on the river. Sean, Sam and Angela also reflect on what keeps them coming back. For some, it is history. For others, it is mindfulness, community, grief, discovery, or simply the rare peace of standing beside the water while the city hums above you. Along the way, we hear about some extraordinary finds: Sam’s half-million-year-old hand axe, made before modern humans even existed; a Roman intaglio that may once have belonged to a soldier; Angela’s mysterious Prince Rupert’s drop and tiny apothecary bottle; and Sean’s medieval dog paw, Anglo-Saxon bead and beloved trade tokens. The conversation also uncovers the detective work that begins after an object is found. Trade tokens become doorways into the lives of grocers, bakers, soap sellers and ordinary Londoners who lived through civil war, plague, fire and restoration — people whose names rarely appear in grand history books, but whose stories still survive in the mud. Kevin and the mudlarks also look ahead to upcoming exhibitions, heritage events and Sean’s trade token walking tours, where finds are placed back into the streets, churches and corners of London where their original owners once lived and worked. So whether you’re scanning the foreshore for a flash of colour, holding something last touched centuries ago, or simply wondering what stories are waiting beneath your feet, this episode is a reminder that history is not only found in museums or behind glass — sometimes it is hidden in the mud, waiting patiently for the tide to go out, and ready to find us here in The Big Smoke. — Links 🪙 Sean Clark 🦴 Sam Caetoven 💧 Angela Bridge 👐 Hands On History – mudlarking walks, talks and events  🏛️ Heritage Craft and Mudlarking Festival at Southwark Cathedral — Sean Clark the Mudlark’s Latest Find 🌊 Change in Muddly Waters: Sean’s first appearance on The Big Smoke – 06/09/24  🎲 Roman Bone Die – 17/04/25 ⛪ Pilgrim Badge – 15/05/25 🪙 King James I Copper Farthing – 10/07/25 👑 Queen Elizabeth I Silver Shilling – 11/09/2025 ⚓ Quant – 06/11/25 🎄🪙 Christmas Special: Anthony Joyce Trade Token – 18/12/25  🏰 Medieval Floor Tile – 05/02/26 💰 Knop: Tudor Money Box – 19/03/26 🪙 Paul Badcock Trade Token – 21/05/26 — Chapters (00:00) Intro and Show Menu (01:54) Mudlarking Interview with Sean Clark, Sam Caetoven and Angela Bridge (51:49) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
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  Behind the Nugget: Neuroaesthetics with Archie McAlpine 09.07.2026 54min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week, we take a peek behind the nugget and explore one of your favourite recurring segments: Archie’s Neuro Nuggets. Kevin is joined by Archie McAlpine, whose quick, actionable insights have taken us through the fascinating ways our brains respond to the world around us — from fractals, ASMR and nostalgia to laughter, sound, creativity and the hidden power of paying attention. Together, Kevin and Archie explore neuroaesthetics: the emerging science of how our brains and bodies respond to art, beauty, sound, space, nature and the environments we move through every day. Archie reflects on his journey from biomedical science to Goldsmiths, growing up in a creative family, playing music, and eventually discovering the in-between space where art and science meet. Along the way, he explains how what we see, hear, touch and experience can shape our emotions, focus, stress levels and ability to rest. The conversation moves from biophilic design and the surprising power of our surroundings into the world of neurofeedback, brain training and the question of what modern life — from phones to notifications to short-form videos — might already be doing to our minds. Finally, Kevin and Archie revisit some favourite Neuro Nuggets and land on one simple place to begin: interoception — the hidden sense that helps us tune into our internal world. Whether through breathwork, yoga, meditation, movement, or simply a few slow breaths at your desk, Archie explains how noticing what is happening inside the body can help us feel more grounded in the noisy world outside it. We’re also trying something new, with episodes now coming to you every week. Join us next Thursday as resident mudlark Sean Clark welcomes a few friends to help us peek beneath the mud and discover the remarkable community uncovering London’s history, one fascinating find at a time. So whether you’re staring at your phone, trying to sleep, walking through a strangely calming airport, or simply remembering to take three slow breaths, this episode is a reminder that the world around us — and the world inside us — may be shaping us in ways we are only just beginning to understand. And those are exactly the kinds of strange, everyday mysteries we love exploring on The Big Smoke. — Links 🧠 Archie McAlpine ⚡ Neurofeedback 🧘 Yoga Nidra — Archie’s Neuro Nuggets  🌿 Fractals in Nature – 07/03/25  🙃 Hanging Upside Down – 03/04/25 ✏️ Doodling – 29/05/25 🫀 Interoception – 26/06/25 🕰️ Nostalgia – 25/09/25 🎧 White, Pink, and Brown Noise – 20/11/25 😂 Laughter – 19/02/26   🎙️ ASMR – 16/04/26 — Chapters (00:00) Intro and Show Menu (01:55) Archie McAlpine Interview (54:08) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins  
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  Loo Tour at The Princess Louise & The Strange Brothers: Hey Presto! 02.07.2026 37min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week, we throw open the doors to Variety Week and descend from one of London’s most magnificent pub loos into a magical podcast takeover from our favourite apprentice magicians. First, London’s very own Loo Lady, Rachel Cole Wilkin, returns with another stop on London Loo Tours. This time, Rachel takes us beneath the Princess Louise Pub in Holborn, a Victorian gin palace home to the only Grade II listed toilets in London. Naturally, this being London Loo Tours, there is also a deep dive into toilet language, community toilet schemes, Victorian urinal bees, the origins of the word “loo”, and the much-misunderstood legend of Thomas Crapper — the sanitary ware pioneer who did not invent the toilet, but did leave his name stamped across London’s plumbing history. Kevin and Rachel also explore the politics of public toilets, from Victorian ideas about women, bodies and respectability to the continuing debates around gendered and gender-neutral loos today. Along the way, we learn why George Bernard Shaw cared about ladies’ toilets, why pub loos have become unofficial public conveniences, and why “a meeting with Thomas” may be the finest new euphemism in the English language. Then, our favourite apprentice magicians, The Strange Brothers, return from the hallowed halls of the Xander Eldrick Institute of Illusion, Divination and, of course, Dance. This week, Salazar and Craig attempt to drag magic into the modern age by launching their very own podcast inside the podcast. But while Salazar wants to explore the deep history of magic, Craig has other ideas… What follows is a battle for the soul of magic itself, as tradition, technology, optical illusions, dodgy card tricks and one deeply questionable Hoover-based robot collide in the studio. We’re also trying something new, with episodes now coming to you every single week. So stay tuned next Thursday for more adventurous audio from across The Big Smoke. So whether you’re admiring the tiling beneath a Victorian gin palace or debating the future of AI entertainment, remember: remarkable stories are hiding everywhere — sometimes even in the loo — and we’ll keep uncovering them together here in The Big Smoke. — Links 🚽 London Loo Tours 🍻 Princess Louise Pub 🚾 Wesley’s Chapel - Thomas Crapper Toilet 🧻 More on the Crapper at Wesley’s Chapel — Chapters (00:00) Intro & Show Menu (01:53) London Loo Tours: Princess Louise (24:17) The Strange Brothers: Presto (36:39) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins The Strange Brothers written and performed by Jamie Sandersfield and Matthew Nicholson
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  More Balls Than Hands: The Art of Juggling with Sean Gandini 25.06.2026 57min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week, we step into the fascinating world of juggling — from ancient Egypt and Covent Garden street performance to opera houses, ballet studios, flying apples and the strange beauty of objects in motion. Kevin is joined by Sean Gandini, co-founder of the internationally renowned Gandini Juggling ensemble. Raised in Havana, Cuba, Sean was first drawn to magic and mathematics before discovering juggling as a teenager, sparking a lifelong fascination with rhythm, geometry and the possibilities of throwing and catching. Together, Kevin and Sean explore what juggling actually is. Is it simply “more balls than hands”? Is it choreography? Is it a theatre warm-up, a dance form, a circus skill, or something stranger depending on where and how it appears? Sean reflects on his early years performing magic and juggling in Covent Garden, his memories of sharing that street-performance world with figures including Eddie Izzard, and the moment his future wife and creative partner, Kati Ylä-Hokkala, picked up his clubs and revealed a completely different world of movement and possibility. The conversation also traces the creation of Gandini Juggling, exploring how Sean and Kati began pushing juggling beyond its traditional boundaries — from dance, theatre, opera, magic and music to ancient Egyptian images, vaudeville, circus traditions, and the tantalising possibility that juggling’s place in the cultural hierarchy might have been very different if history had taken another turn. Kevin and Sean also explore Gandini Juggling’s work on Philip Glass’s opera Akhnaten, where juggling becomes ritual, repetition, visual music and, at times, a powerful symbol of failure, death and meaning. We’re also trying something new, with episodes now coming to you every week. Join us next Thursday for more adventurous audio, including another instalment from the historical London Loo Tours and the return of apprentice magicians The Strange Brothers. So whether you’re watching three balls in the air, wondering where juggling ends and dance begins, or contemplating the strange philosophy of a dropped object, remember: sometimes the simplest actions — throwing, catching, dropping, trying again — can reveal something wonderfully human, just as we keep discovering here in The Big Smoke. — Links 🤹 Gandini Juggling  📸 Gandini Juggling Instagram  — Chapters (00:00) Intro & Show Menu (01:35) Sean Gandini Interview (56:39) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
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  Tommy Flowers’ Blue Plaque & Stories You Haven’t Heard: Savitri and Satyavan 18.06.2026 25min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week, we throw open the doors to Variety Week and journey from the secrets hiding behind London’s blue plaques to an ancient tale of love, fate and devotion from the forests of India. First, comedian and blue plaque tour guide Kate Sharp returns with another stop on her delightfully unhinged walking tour of London. This time, Kate leads us to Dollis Hill and the former Post Office Research Station, where we uncover the story of Tommy Flowers, the unsung inventor behind Colossus, the world’s first programmable electronic computer. While Alan Turing may have had the film, the fame and the Benedict Cumberbatch treatment, Tommy Flowers’ achievements stayed top secret for decades. Kate tells the story of the man whose work at Bletchley Park helped decipher encrypted German messages during the Second World War, with historians estimating that the intelligence produced there may have shortened the war by two years and saved millions of lives. Naturally, this being Kate’s Blue Plaque Tour, there are also pigeons, theatrical diversions, a deeply questionable Edinburgh Fringe plug, and a new song from her show that Tommy Flowers may or may not have wanted to hear from the front row… Then, in Stories You Haven’t Heard, actor, writer and storyteller Scott Brooksbank transports us to ancient India for the story of Savitri and Satyavan, a remarkable tale from the Mahabharata. Scott takes us into the forest for a story of prophecy, devotion and impossible resolve, as Savitri chooses Satyavan as her husband despite being warned that he is destined to die exactly one year later. When that day arrives, and Yama, the god of death, comes to claim Satyavan’s soul, Savitri follows him, using wisdom, patience and astonishing courage to outwit death itself. It is a story about love in the face of fate, the choices we make when time is limited, and the extraordinary power of staying beside the person you cannot imagine living without. We’re also trying something new, with episodes now coming to you every single week. So stay tuned next Thursday for more adventurous audio from across The Big Smoke. So whether you’re following a chaotic blue plaque tour, or walking through an ancient forest in pursuit of death itself, remember: there are remarkable stories hiding everywhere, if we take the time to listen — and we’ll keep uncovering them together here in The Big Smoke. — Links 🔵 Tommy Flowers’ Blue Plaque — Chapters (00:00) Intro & Show Menu (02:02) Blue Plaque Walking Tour: Tommy Flowers (08:28) Stories You Haven’t Heard: Savitri and Satyavan (24:45) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins Blue Plaque Walking Tour written and performed by Kate Sharp Stories You Haven’t Heard written and performed by Scott Brooksbank  
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  Why We Should Love Wasps with Seirian Sumner 11.06.2026 55min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week, we brave the sting and fly into the surprisingly fascinating world of wasps — from Shakespeare and Aristotle to cockroach hunters, paper architects, picnic pests. We explore some of nature’s most misunderstood creatures. Kevin is joined by Seirian Sumner, Professor of Behavioural Ecology at University College London and author of Endless Forms: Why We Should Love Wasps. Seirian has published more than 80 scientific papers, received numerous awards for her research, and is co-founder of the citizen science initiative The Big Wasp Survey. Together, Kevin and Seirian explore the remarkable lives of wasps, and the myths, stories and misconceptions that have shaped our view of them for centuries. From Aristotle declaring there was “nothing divine” about them, to biblical hornets, Shakespearean insults, and the wonderfully ridiculous 1959 film The Wasp Woman, they look at why wasps have spent so long as the villains of the insect world. But this conversation also reveals a very different side to them. Seirian explains how parasitoid wasps inspired Darwin’s doubts about creation, how emerald jewel wasps can effectively lead a cockroach to its underground tomb, and how bee wolves use antibiotics, waterproofing and even fungicidal gases to keep their prey safe for their young. Along the way, we learn why most wasps are nothing like the yellowjackets that bother us at picnics, why the adults are essentially vegetarians, how a simple “wasp offering” might save your summer barbecue, and why these much-maligned insects may have an important role to play in pollination, pest control, medicine, sustainable farming and even future food systems. Kevin and Seirian also travel beyond the usual Western view of wasps, exploring traditional wasp-keeping in Nagaland, India, where communities farm hornets and other wasps for food, drawing on generations of ecological knowledge and a far more tolerant relationship with these remarkable creatures. We’re also trying something new, with episodes now coming to you every week. Join us next Thursday for the next stop on Kate Sharpe’s Blue Plaque Tour and a special tale from the Mahabharata told by Scott Brooksbank in Stories You Haven’t Heard. So whether you’re guarding your picnic, watching a wasp at work in the garden, or wondering whether the insect world’s great villains might actually deserve a second chance, remember: every creature has a hidden story, and sometimes the thing we fear most is simply the thing we haven’t understood yet — just as we keep discovering here in The Big Smoke. — Links 🐝 Seirian Sumner 📚 Endless Forms: Why We Should Love Wasps 🍖🍯 Get Involved and Learn More — Wasp Picnic Survey 🐝🔍 The Big Wasp Survey — Chapters (00:00) Intro & Show Menu (01:37) Seirian Sumner Interview (55:16) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
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  The Strange Brothers’ Saw Trick & Underground Loos 04.06.2026 23min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week, we throw open the doors to Variety Week and descend into the wonderfully strange — from apprentice magicians wrestling with the laws of reality to historic London loos wrestling with the laws of plumbing. First, fan-favourite trainee magicians The Strange Brothers return from the Xander Eldrick Institute of Illusion, Divination and, of course, Dance. This time, Salazar Strange and Craig attempt one of magic’s most iconic feats: sawing a man in half. What could possibly go wrong? Quite a lot, as it turns out. Then, once the blood has been mopped up and the Wi-Fi re-connected, we head back out into London with Rachel Cole-Wilkin of London Loo Tours. This week, Rachel takes us beneath Covent Garden to explore one of the capital’s most atmospheric public conveniences. Tucked beneath the west side of St Paul’s Church, these underground loos come complete with iron gates, turnstiles, fading grandeur, old-fashioned scales, 1960s byelaws, and a rich aroma that leaves little doubt about what lies below. We’re also trying something new, with episodes now coming to you every single week. So stay tuned next Thursday for more adventurous audio from across The Big Smoke. So whether you’re attempting impossible magic or simply looking for somewhere to spend a penny, remember: there’s always something unexpected waiting beneath the surface — and we’ll keep finding it together here in The Big Smoke. — Links 🚻 London Loo Tours 🍸 Cellar Door 🍷 WC Bars — Chapters (00:00) Intro & Show Menu (01:55) Strange Brothers (13:13) London Loo Tours (22:43) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins The Strange Brothers written and performed by Jamie Sandersfield and Matthew Nicholson
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  The Wall Dancers: Searching for Freedom and Connection on the Chinese Internet with Yi-Ling Liu 28.05.2026 1h

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week, we log on and step into the complex world of China’s internet, a digital landscape shaped by innovation, censorship, and the ever-shifting boundaries of freedom and control. Kevin is joined by journalist and author Yi-Ling Liu to discuss her new book, The Wall Dancers: Searching for Freedom and Connection on the Chinese Internet. Yi-Ling’s work has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, The New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine, WIRED, and The New York Review of Books and her book has been named a finalist for the 2026 Orwell Prize for Political Writing. Together, Kevin and Yi-Ling explore the human stories behind one of the most influential digital worlds on the planet. From the Great Firewall and the rise of Chinese social media to hip hop, online censorship, queer communities, tech entrepreneurs, and the strange ‘dance in shackles’ between expression and control. Along the way, Kevin reflects on his own experiences working in China as a theatre director, from touring an English-language production of The Merchant of Venice to directing a Mandarin version of Romeo and Juliet in Beijing. Yi-Ling also shares the personal journey that led her to the book: growing up between Hong Kong and mainland China, encountering censorship for the first time as a teenage intern at China Daily, studying at Yale, reporting on Chinese hip hop in Chengdu. We’re also trying something new, with episodes now coming to you every week. Join us next Thursday for more adventurous audio from across The Big Smoke, including more magical mayhem from fan-favourite apprentice magicians The Strange Brothers, and another wonderfully unexpected trip to the loo with the London Loo Lady. So whether you’re scrolling through your feed, peering behind the firewall, or wondering how much of the internet you truly understand, remember: behind every screen are human stories, invisible boundaries, and people trying to make sense of an increasingly connected world — just as we do here in The Big Smoke. — Links 💻 Yi-Ling Liu 📕 The Wall Dancers  📝 Recommended Journalists: Viola Zhou, Sarah Wu and Vivian Wang 📚 Recommended Book "I Deliver Parcels in Beijing," by Hu Anyan.  — Chapters (00:00) Intro & Show Menu (01:34) Yi-Ling Liu Interview (1:00:09) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
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  Stories You Haven’t Heard: The Hedley Kow & A Recent Mudlark Find 21.05.2026 19min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week we wander away from the ordinary and into a world of folklore, hidden histories, and strange things waiting to be found — from shapeshifting spirits in the north of England to forgotten objects emerging from the River Thames. First, in a brand new segment, Stories You Haven’t Heard, Kevin takes us to Northumberland for the tale of the Hedley Kow — a mischievous boggart-like trickster said to haunt the village of Hedley. Sometimes appearing as a goblin, a horse or a voice at the window, the Hedley Kow was less a terrifying monster than a deeply annoying force of chaos, delighting in confusion, embarrassment, and a good mocking laugh. Through tales of milkmaids, servant girls, unlucky young lovers, startled midwives, and one wonderfully optimistic old woman who finds a mysterious pot on the road, we explore the curious place these stories hold in our imagination. Are they warnings? Explanations? Entertainment? Or simply a reminder that the world has always felt a little stranger than it first appears? Then we return to the banks of the Thames, where resident Mudlark Sean Clark shares his Latest Find from the foreshore. This time, it’s a beautifully preserved 17th-century trade token, found during a rare low spring tide and untouched for more than 350 years. Marked with the name Paul Badcock, Tower Ditch, 1669, and bearing the image of a ship, the token opens a small but fascinating window into everyday London life near the Tower of London in the late 1600s. With further research planned at the London Archives and Guildhall Library, this tiny halfpenny may still have more of its story to tell. We’re also trying something new, with episodes now coming to you every single week. So stay tuned next Thursday for more adventurous audio from across The Big Smoke. — Chapters (00:00) Intro & Show Menu (01:38) Stories You Haven’t Heard: The Hedley Kow (14:03) Sean Clark the Mudlark’s Latest Find (18:28) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins Stories You Haven’t Heard written and performed by Scott Brooksbank
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  The Age of Alchemy with Kit Chapman 14.05.2026 46min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week, we strike a match and step into the strange, smoky, and surprisingly human world of alchemy — where fire is sacred, emperors chase immortality, and one man’s glowing urine helps shape the story of modern chemistry.  Kevin is joined by award-winning journalist, adventurer, and author Dr Kit Chapman to discuss his new book The Age of Alchemy: How Early Innovators Shaped Modern Chemistry. Together, they travel through thousands of years of human curiosity, from the first use of fire to the myths, mistakes, rituals, and discoveries that eventually became modern science. Along the way, we visit Mayan ruins in Guatemala, explore the origins of alchemy in Roman Egypt, decode the strange language of alchemical recipes, and discover why chemistry is not just a laboratory science, but a story of culture, religion, politics, travel, empire, and survival. From golden idols, Egyptian blue pigments, and Chinese emperors drinking mercury in search of eternal life, to Hennig Brand’s unforgettable attempt to turn urine into gold, Kit reveals how these curious histories connect to his own travels — from the Sir John Soane’s Museum in London to the Aral Sea — and to the wider story of science, humanity, and the world around us. Then, after all that elemental adventure, we pop into the local for a quick pub quiz. This week’s round: Elemental Excellence. Test your knowledge of chemistry, curious elements, and the strange facts hiding in the periodic table. We’re also trying something new, with episodes now coming to you every week. Join us next Thursday for more adventurous audio, including mischievous folklore from the north of England and another remarkable mudlarking discovery from the banks of the Thames. So whether you’re warming your hands by the fire, wondering what the world is made from, or simply hoping your own experiments don’t get out of hand — there’s always something bubbling away in The Big Smoke — 🧪 Pub Quiz: Elemental Excellence - Answers 1) Which element was named after the Greek word meaning “green-yellow”? Answer: D) Chlorine The name chlorine comes from the Greek word chloros, meaning green-yellow — a reference to the gas’s distinctive colour. Chlorine was identified as an element by Humphry Davy in 1810. 2) Which element was once considered so valuable that Emperor Napoleon III reportedly reserved cutlery made from it for his most important dinner guests? Answer: C) Aluminium Before modern industrial methods made it cheap and common, aluminium was considered more precious than gold. In the mid-19th century, Napoleon III reportedly used aluminium utensils for honoured guests — while everyone else had to make do with gold or silver. 3)  Which element was first discovered by scientists studying the Sun — before it was ever found on Earth? Answer: A) Helium In 1868, astronomers studying a solar eclipse spotted a mysterious yellow spectral line in sunlight that didn’t match any known element. They named it helium after Helios — making it the first element discovered in space before being identified on Earth. — Links  📖 The Age of Alchemy by Kit Chapman 🧑‍🔬 Dr Kit Chapman — Chapters (00:00) Intro & Show Menu (01:39) Kit Chapman Interview (44:34) Pub Quiz: Elemental Excellence  (46:03) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
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  Flush & Fix: London Loos and the Restart Café 07.05.2026 28min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week we take a rather unexpected journey through the city — from flushing away the everyday to restoring what we might otherwise dump. This episode explores how even the most overlooked spaces and objects can tell powerful stories about how we live. First, our new segment, Let’s Go to the Loo! Kevin is joined by Rachel Cole-Wilkin, creator of London Loo Tours, for a guided exploration of the capital’s most fascinating facilities. What begins as a practical search for convenience quickly reveals something much deeper — a story of design, history, and social change. From the beautifully conceived Jubiloo near the South Bank to the Victorian origins of public sanitation, we uncover how these everyday spaces reflect shifting attitudes towards hygiene, public life, and even profit. Along the way, we encounter the Great Stink of 1858, the engineering brilliance of Bazalgette’s sewer system, and the surprising truth that even a toilet can be a piece of storytelling architecture.   Then, when the bells ring out across the city, it’s time for Parish Notices — and a visit to the world of Repair Cafés. In a culture built on convenience and disposal, these community-led spaces offer something radically different: the chance to slow down, learn new skills, and bring broken objects back to life. Through the work of The Restart Project and local volunteers, we explore how repairing a kettle, mending a coat, or fixing a clock can become something far more meaningful — a way to preserve memories, reduce waste, and reconnect with both our possessions and each other. So whether you’re navigating the city in search of relief, or taking a moment to repair what’s  broken — there’s always a place to pause, restart, and begin again in The Big Smoke. — Links 🚻 London Loo Tours ♻️ The Restart Project – Southfields Mend, Fix & Repair Café.  — Chapters (00:00) Intro & Show Menu (01:26) Let’s Go to the Loo! (16:33) Parish Notices: Repair Café (28:09) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins Parish Notices written by Blanche Coy  
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  Gaming for Social Change with Dr Richard Cole 30.04.2026 55min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week we press start on the world of video games. From ancient history to interactive storytelling, we explore not just what games are, but what they might become — and what they can reveal about how we understand the world around us. Kevin is joined by Dr Richard Cole, Senior Lecturer in Digital Futures in the Department of Classics & Ancient History at the University of Bristol. Together they trace Richard’s journey from a game-loving childhood through to a career exploring how video games, virtual reality, and AI can open up new ways of engaging with history. From Age of Empires and GoldenEye to Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, the conversation unpacks how games don’t just represent the past — they remix it, reshape it, and invite us to step inside it. But this isn’t just about entertainment. From immersive VR reconstructions of ancient sites to AI-powered museum experiences, Richard shares how games are becoming powerful tools for inquiry — “machines for asking questions” that allow us to test ideas, explore complex systems, and better understand both the past and ourselves. We also step inside the Bristol Digital Game Lab, where game design is being used to tackle real-world challenges — from algorithmic bias to postnatal mental health — revealing how play, creativity, and collaboration can unlock entirely new ways of thinking.   Then it’s time to pop into the local for a quick Pub Quiz, this round: The History of Video Games. Think you know your classics? Put your gaming knowledge to the test — then check your answers below. And we’re trying something new… The Big Smoke every week! So tune in next Thursday for more adventurous audio! So whether you’re levelling up, exploring new worlds, or simply pressing pause for a moment — there’s always a place for you in The Big Smoke. — 🎮 Pub Quiz: The History of Video Games — Answers 1) Which American pizza chain was founded by Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell? Answer: C) Chuck E. CheeseFounded in 1977 by Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell, Chuck E. Cheese was originally called Pizza Time Theatre and combined arcade gaming with family dining—essentially one of the first places to bring video games into a social, real-world setting. 2) Which early Nintendo game is widely credited as one of the first to feature a structured storyline in video games? Answer: C) Donkey KongReleased in 1981, Donkey Kong is widely credited as one of the first video games to feature a clear, character-driven storyline—introducing a hero (Jumpman, later Mario), a villain (Donkey Kong), and a rescue mission. 3) In Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, which real historical conflict forms the backdrop of the game’s story? Answer: B) The Peloponnesian WarAssassin’s Creed Odyssey is set during the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE), the major conflict between Athens and Sparta—though the game blends real history with mythology and dramatic storytelling. — Links 🎓 Richard A Cole – University of Bristol 🎮 Bristol Digital Game Lab ▶️ Bristol Digital Game Lab – YouTube Playlist 📚MA Games Design (Narrative) | Study at Bristol | University of Bristol — Chapters (00:00) Intro & Show Menu (01:38) Dr Richard Cole Interview (53:31) Pub Quiz: The History of Video Games (54:56) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins
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  Rapid Response Collecting at the V&A Museum 16.04.2026 1h 3min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week we turn our attention to the objects that surround us — the everyday things we carry, discard, and barely notice — and ask what they might reveal about who we are and the times we’re living through. From museum collections to sensory experiences and a little magical mischief, this episode explores the curious relationship between the material world and the mind. Kevin is joined by Corinna Gardner and Donata Miller-Obebe from the Victoria and Albert Museum to explore the fascinating world of Rapid Response Collecting. From single-use vapes to the mosquito emoji, the V&A is capturing objects that speak to contemporary social, political, and cultural moments as they unfold. Together, they discuss what it means to collect the present — how design reflects behaviour, how objects carry meaning, and why even the most ordinary items can become powerful markers of our time. From the museum to the brain, it’s time for Archie’s Neuro Nuggets. This week, we dive into the strange, tingling world of ASMR — exploring what happens when whispers, taps, and gentle sounds trigger sensations of calm for some, and disdain for others.  Back on our audio stage, we return once more to the corridors of the Xander Eldrick Institute, where The Strange Brothers continue their pursuit of the mystical arts. With more mind games, magical mishaps, and deeply questionable decision-making, Salazar and Craig find themselves once again toeing the line between illusion and chaos. So whether you’re noticing the objects around you a little more closely, tuning into the subtleties of sound, or simply coming along for the ride — there’s always a place for you in The Big Smoke! — Links 🔎 Explore the V&A’s Rapid Response Collection 💡 Email your Rapid Response Collecting ideas: [email protected] 🧠 Archie McAlpine & Associates Ltd. — Chapters (00:00) Intro & Show Menu (01:37) V&A Rapid Response Collecting Interview (46:39) Archie’s Neuro Nuggets: The Science of ASMR (53:13) The Strange Brothers: Conscious Subconsciousness (1:02:32) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins Archie’s Neuro Nuggets by Archie McAlpine The Strange Brothers written and performed by Jamie Sandersfield and Matthew Nicholson
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  The Redemptive Power of Coffee with Matthew Green and Thomas Clare 02.04.2026 1h 12min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week, we follow the rich and robust story of coffee in London, from smoky 17th-century coffeehouses to the modern-day communities forming around a simple cup. Kevin is joined by historian Dr Matthew Green and Redemption Roasters’ In-custody Training Manager Thomas Clare to explore the past and present of London’s coffee culture. From the first coffee house in St Michael’s Alley, to the explosion of hundreds of coffeehouses across the city, Matthew paints a vivid picture of a society waking up, quite literally, for the first time. But this isn’t just history. Thomas brings us into the present day, sharing the work of Redemption Roasters, where coffee becomes a vehicle for rehabilitation, training prisoners in skills that offer purpose, dignity, and a path forward. Together, the conversation reveals coffee not just as a drink, but as a catalyst for ideas, community, and change.  From the café to the street corner, our Parish Notices turn to the quiet magic of Little Libraries — those small, often handmade book exchanges that appear in neighbourhoods across the city. Modest in scale but rich in spirit, they transform passing strangers into neighbours, offering stories freely and reminding us that community can be built in the simplest of ways. And while we’re out wandering with coffee in hand and book tucked under arm, we stumble into comedian Kate Sharp, who leads us on a slightly unhinged tour of London’s Blue Plaques. Blending history with humour, her take on the city’s most famous markers reminds us that behind every plaque is a story — and sometimes, a punchline. Then it’s time to pop into the local for a quick Pub Quiz, this round: Coffee Curiosities — testing your knowledge of the surprising facts hidden in your daily brew. So whether you’re lingering over a coffee, wandering the streets, or simply taking a moment to breathe, there’s always space for you in The Big Smoke — ☕ Pub Quiz: Coffee Curiosities — Answers 1) What do people in Finland sometimes dip into their coffee? Answer: C) Cheese In Finland, it’s traditional in some regions to serve coffee with leipäjuusto, a mild “squeaky” cheese. Small chunks are dropped straight into the cup, where they soften and soak up the coffee — then eaten afterwards. 2) Why is one of Indonesia’s coffees among the most expensive in the world? Answer: B) The beans are eaten and then excreted by an animal before being collected In Indonesia, kopi luwak is made using beans that have passed through the digestive system of civet cats. The process is said to change the flavour profile, and its rarity has made it one of the most expensive coffees in the world. 3) What do people in Turkey sometimes do with leftover coffee grounds? Answer: B) Read them to tell your fortune In Turkey, after drinking traditional coffee, the cup is often turned upside down and the remaining grounds are read to predict the future — a practice known as tasseography. — Links 🚶 Take Matthew Green’s Coffeehouse Tour ☕ Redemption Roasters 📚 Penguin – 90 Little Bookstops 📖 Little Free Library – and how to build your own! 🎤 See Kate Sharp’s Standup Comedy 🔵 English Heritage Blue Plaques – Harry Beck — Chapters (00:00) Intro and Show Menu (02:19) Matthew Green and Thomas Clare Interview (50:17) Parish Notices: Little Libraries (1:00:55) Blue Plaque Walking Tour: Harry Beck (1:10:18) Pub Quiz: Coffee Curiosities (1:11:42) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins Parish Notices by Blanche Coy Blue Plaque Walking Tour written and performed by Kate Sharp
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  Spiritual Spring Cleaning at The Actors’ Church with Reverend Simon Grigg 19.03.2026 52min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week we lean into that strange, in-between season — when winter lingers, spring teases, and the city begins to stir once more. From the quiet reflection of Covent Garden’s Actors’ Church to the tidal rhythms of the Thames, we explore how London — and perhaps all of us — finds its way from darkness into light. Kevin is joined by Reverend Simon Grigg, rector of St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden, affectionately known as The Actors’ Church. Together they uncover the remarkable history of a parish that has cared for London’s performers since the 17th century — from the licensed playhouses of Charles II to the plaques of theatre legends that line its walls today. But beyond the history, the conversation turns to something more immediate: how we navigate the bleakness of late winter, the meaning of Lent, and why this season isn’t about “organised gloom” at all, but renewal, joy, and finding space for reflection in a world that rarely pauses.  From the pulpit to the riverbank, we head down to the Thames foreshore with our resident mudlark Sean Clark. Among the shingle, a small fragment of Tudor pottery reveals a brilliant piece of theatrical history — and the origin of the phrase “box office smash”. It’s a story that takes us back to Shakespeare’s London, where money boxes were quite literally smashed open at the start of a performance. Another reminder that beneath the surface of the city, history is always waiting to be found.  Then it’s time to pop into the local for a quick Pub Quiz, testing your knowledge of Theatrical Superstitions. From the curse of The Scottish Play to the traditions performers follow to keep fate on their side, this round celebrates the rituals and folklore that still shape life on stage. So as the days grow longer and the light begins to return, wherever you find yourself — emerging from winter or stepping into something new — there’s always a place for you in The Big Smoke. — Pub Quiz: Theatrical Superstitions – Answers The Macbeth curse ritual - Tradition says that if someone says “Macbeth” inside a theatre they must leave the theatre, spin around three times, spit (or curse), and knock before being allowed back in. Merde - French performers wish each other “merde”. The tradition dates from the 19th century, when audiences arrived by horse-drawn carriages. A successful performance meant lots of carriages waiting outside the theatre — and therefore lots of horse manure in the street. More merde meant a bigger crowd and a successful show. Whistling backstage - Many early stagehands were former sailors, and they used whistle signals to control scenery and rigging, so random whistling could accidentally trigger cues and move heavy stage machinery. — 🎭  St. Paul's Covent Garden, The Actors’ Church  🚶🏻‍♂️ Sean Clark the Mudlark’s Walking Tour  🤲🏻  Hands on History Mudlarking Exhibition  — Chapters (00:00) Intro & Show Menu (01:51) Reverend Simon Grigg Interview (43:03) Sean Clark the Mudlark’s Latest Find (50:00) Pub Quiz: Theatrical Superstitions (51:39) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins  
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  Charlie Chaplin's London with Jacqueline Riding 05.03.2026 1h 21min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week we stroll the hard streets of South London, tracing the world that shaped one of the greatest entertainers of all time, and the music halls that lit up Victorian London. Along the way we celebrate the city’s living performers too, from Underground buskers to a little magical mischief on our own audio stage.  Kevin is joined by curator and author Dr Jacqueline Riding to explore the working-class neighbourhoods that formed the young Charlie Chaplin. Drawing from her book Hard Streets: Working Class Lives in Charlie Chaplin’s London, Jacqueline reveals the vibrant, precarious world of Victorian music halls, workhouses, and the communities that produced some of the era’s most extraordinary performers. From the explosion of population south of the Thames to the gritty realities of the Poor Law system, the conversation paints a vivid portrait of the lives behind the laughter — and how creativity offered a path out of hardship.  From the stage to the subterranean, our Parish Notices turn to the buskers of the London Underground. With the help of musician Charlotte Campbell, we explore how busking transforms anonymous commuter spaces into fleeting moments of connection and community. Whether loved or loathed, street performance continues a tradition stretching back centuries — turning passing crowds into temporary audiences and ordinary journeys into something a little more magical. Back on our audio stage, The Strange Brothers return for another attempt at mastering the mystical arts. This time a mysterious spellbook appears, an ancient incantation is unleashed, and things escalate rather more dramatically than expected. Apprentice magicians Salazar and Craig may not yet have perfected their craft — but they’re certainly finding some real magic along the way. Finally, we pop into the local for a quick Pub Quiz, testing your knowledge of Cockney rhyming slang — the playful coded language born in the streets of 19th century London. So wherever you’re listening from — strolling the South Bank, riding the tube, or simply daydreaming about the magic of the city — there’s always a seat waiting for you in The Big Smoke. — Rub-a-dub (Pub) Quiz: Cockney Rhyming Slang — Answers 1. “The first question should be lemon squeezy.”Lemon squeezy = easy 2. “Watch your plates of meat. Those apples are old and rickety!”Plates of meat = feetApples and pears (apples) = stairs 3. “Got any sausage? I’m cream crackered and need some sticky toffee.”Sausage and mash (sausage) = cashCream crackered = knackered / very tiredSticky toffee = coffee — Links 📚 Get the book – Hard Streets 🎩 Charlie Chaplin’s London – Lambeth Walk  ✍🏼 Jacqueline Riding 🎶 Busker Charlotte Campbell — Chapters (00:00) Intro and Show Menu (02:02) Dr Jacqueline Riding Interview (57:54) Parish Notices: Underground Buskers (1:08:12) The Strange Brothers (1:16:57) Pub Quiz: Cockney Rhyming Slang (1:19:06) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins Parish Notices and episode research by Blanche Coy The Strange Brothers written and performed by Jamie Sandersfield and Matthew Nicholson  
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  Death, Laughter & Smart Homes with Molly Conisbee 19.02.2026 1h 16min

  Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week, we step into the ‘undiscovered country’ — and explore the one subject we so often avoid: death. But rather than dwelling in darkness, this episode asks a more vital question: what can mortality teach us about how to live? Kevin is joined by social historian and bereavement counsellor Dr Molly Conisbee, author of No Ordinary Deaths: A People’s History of Mortality. Together they explore how death was once woven into everyday domestic life — cared for at home, ritualised by communities, marked visibly through mourning dress and shared customs. From Victorian mourning warehouses, to Irish wakes, Jamaican Nine Nights, and the rise of the death-positive movement, Molly reflects on what we’ve lost as death moved behind hospital doors — and how reclaiming conversation, ritual, and radical acceptance might liberate us in the present. To balance the existential weight, Archie McAlpine returns with a fresh Neuro Nugget on the science of laughter. What actually happens in the brain when we laugh? Why is it contagious? And in an age of caution and cancellation, how do we protect humour as a force for bonding, healing and social synchronisation? This is laughter under the microscope — and a timely reminder that humour is medicine. Then, we pop to the local for a quick Pub Quiz, raising a glass to the incomparable Catherine O’Hara. From Home Alone to Best in Show and Schitt’s Creek, we test your knowledge of one of comedy’s greats. Finally, Audio Archives opens the vault once more. In this unsettling tale from an early smart home, we meet Tristan and the ever-listening Iris. What begins as weather checks and chicken cooking queries spirals into something more revealing — a story of birthday cake, Drake playlists, and the uncomfortable truth that being truly heard might mean being truly seen. So wherever you are on this strange and splendid rollercoaster of life, there’s always room for you in The Big Smoke. — Pub Quiz: Catherine O’Hara the Great — Answers At a funeral parlour ‘God Loves a Terrier’ Soap opera actress — Links ⚱️ No Ordinary Deaths by Molly Conisbee 🧠 Archie McAlpine — Neuro Nuggets — Chapters (00:00) Intro and Show Menu (02:24) Dr Molly Conisbee Interview (50:24) Archie’s Neuro Nuggets: Laughter (57:53) Pub Quiz: Catherine O’Hara The Great (1:00:23) Audio Archives: Hey, Iris (1:15:19) Outro — Credits Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Original Music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins Audio Archives: ‘Hey, Iris’ written by Aidan Parker and performed by Matthew Nicholson and Cait Roddam Jones