Book Shambles

Recorded live at the Bristol Old Vic as part of the Slapstick Festival, Robin chats with Prof Sophie Ratcliffe and Joanna Neary about the work, and slapstick credentials, of PG Wodehouse. They chat about his letters (collected and edited in a volume by Sophie), turns of phrase and favourite Jeeves and Wooster moments. There's also chat of Joanna's character Celia, Sophie's new book about about life, death, love and trains, Mills and Boons and much more. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode. Around 15 bonus minutes await pledgers this week where you can find out why Raymond Chandler cost Robin a pub quiz victory...

At this year's Slapstick Festival in Bristol, the Cosmic Shambles Network team were there across the festival recording all sorts of events we were taking part in for a special series of podcasts. In this first episode Robin chats with Stephen Merchant about the enduring legacy of Laurel and Hardy, their favourite Laurel and Hardy films and some fun stories from a Laurel and Hardy book Stephen got second hand. In the second segment, as part of a celebration of At Last the 1948 Show, Robin chats with Tim Brooke-Taylor about the show, working with Cleese and Chapman and especially Marty Feldman as Robin regales stories from Marty's recently found autobiography. Support the Cosmic Shambles Network on Patreon and get extended editions of each episode, including this one. Go to patreon.com/bookshambles

In a Shambles Extra, Robin chats to comedian, poet and activist Chris McGlade. Robin became interested in Chris' work after reading about it online, specifically his new show Forgiveness in which he talks about his father's murder and so Robin and he caught up. Support the show at patreon.com/bookshambles

A Book Shambles / Film Shambles episode as author and film critic Mark Kermode joins Robin and Josie to talk his own books on films, great books about films and some of the best, and worst, film tie in novelisations. And Robin and Mark realise they are both huge fans of the same three obscure films. Patreon supporters get a very special bumper episode this week with almost an entire bonus half hour of film chat as Mark reveals regrettable reviews, Josie has it in for Raa Raa the Noisy Lion and lots more. You can become a Patreon supporter by going to patreon.com/bookshambles

Recorded live in Thirsk at the Podcast Social Festival, Robin is joined by Laura Kidd (who you might better know as She Makes War) and psychologist and author Charles Fernyhough. Using the book edited and by Charles, Others: Writers on the Power of Words To See Beyond Ourselves as a launching pad they chat about the nature of storytelling, the power of books and the importance of seeing the world through the eyes of 'others'. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode.

Recorded live at the British Library as part of the Chortle Comedy Book Festival Robin chat to actor, comedian and broadcasting icon Les Dennis. They talk about his autobiography, Must the Show Go On and share tales of Little and Large, Tommy Cooper and their like as well as discuss favourite showbiz memoirs before Les and Josie swap stories from when they were both of Celebrity Masterchef. Support the show by pledging at patreon.com/bookshambles. This week Patreon supporters get a bonus 15 minutes of conversation not on the public feed.

This week's in studio guest is a regular at our live events and joins Robin and guest co-host Helen Czerski to chat about his new book, The Crowd and the Cosmos. Prof Chris Lintott is probably best known as the co-host of The Sky and Night and he chats with us about the Zooniverse Project, why we probably won't find aliens, citizen science and what he's been reading lately. Also Helen lets us know her badminton coach would be a good scientist. Support the podcast and get extended episodes by pledging at patreon.com/bookshambles

This week Robin is joined by the author, journalist and activist Joan Smith, alongside guest co-host Bec Hill. They focus on Joan's new acclaimed book Home Grown: How Domestic Violence Turns Men Into Terrorists as well as touch on some of her previous work of both fiction and non fiction. Due to the subject nature of her most recent book please be aware this episode contains open discussion about domestic violence, sexual violence and terrorism. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode.

In the first Book Shambles of 2020, Robin is joined by his Science Shambles co-host Helen Czerski to chat with comedian and author Russell Kane. They chat about Russell's new book Son of a Silverback, the reactions to it from other alpha-man silverbacks and children thereof, as well as Evelyn Waugh, personalising comedy, emotional equality, Michael Rosen and much more. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles to get extended editions of each and every episode. 15 bonus minutes await pledgers this week including a discussion about why Brian Cox doesn't like jokes about octopuses...

It's our annual books of the year edition of Book Shambles recorded with various guests back stage at the Compendium and Nine Lessons shows. In this year's edition Robin chats to Josie Long, Michael Legge, Pete Etchells, Claudia Hammond, Gecko, Chris Lintott, Chris Hadfield, Jo Neary, Suzi Gage, Lucie Green, Ben Moor, Tim Peake, Lucy Rogers, Peter Buckley Hill, Melinda Burton and Trent Burton. Support the podcast at patreon.com/bookshambles