Tony Slattery's Rambling Club

With a thump and a grinding of gears, Tony's magic bingo machine has kicked back into action. Yes, normal service has finally been resumed at the Presidential Shed, and, as if to make up for lost weeks, it's a double guest episode today. Alternative comedy icon Rowland Rivron and actor Jess Mann have both vaulted the outer keep and made their way inside the shed, just in time to go a-rambling. And it's just as well we have four heads as the bingo machine is in a particularly brain-stretching mode today. The first number is the distinctly cerebral 221.32: Specific Subdivisions for Historical or Geographical Narratives Within the Old Testament . Straight into the good stuff! We delve into the religious upbringing of our guests, mull the higher matters, and ponder the question of why Paul keeps finding himself in a wicker statue full of candles. But there's no time to castigate Paul for his pagan idolatory! The bingo machine moves us on to 843: French Fiction . Our idiots four can barely read, let alone master the belles lettres of la belle France . We swerve onto safer intellectual ground immediately, wavering through musicals to Adrian Mole and finding time to share stories of the much-missed Rik Mayall . Both our special guests worked with that comedy legend and one of them even lived with him, but maybe not the one you think. Then we stagger on to 334: Cooperatives . Does the bingo machine mean the economic model or the supermarket? We know which one we're more comfortable chatting about - and it's neither of them, it's funerals, graves, death and other hilarious matters. Come and join us for a conversation that covers a lot of ground, in such a wafer-thin layer than you might finish it thinking you've learned nothing at all... Presented by Paul Carmichael & Allan Lear Music composed and performed by Michael Livesley & Andy Frizell The voice of Pwfthhh- Michael Livesley www.michaellivesley.com Series Producers- Erica Lear and Mark Hutchinson Executive Producer- Mark Strickson Join the rambling club and receive your club membership card, badges, exclusive content and access to early release episodes, an exclusive extra podcast you won't hear anywhere else and exclusive club-only perks! www.patreon.com/SlatteryLive Official Website- www.tonyslattery.com Twitter/X: @SlatteryLive Instagram: tony_slattery_official BlueSky: @ramblingclub Paul's Threads: @paul.carmichael.1213 Paul's Bluesky: @paulcarmichaeluk © Fanfaronade Productions 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The emergency continues. Owing largely to the fact that Paul insists the Presidential Garden Shed contains no technology newer than a black and white Magnavox television with a three-inch screen, plus a water-powered radiogram, once again we find ourselves without a shiny new episode this week. However, Paul and Allan are still joined by the ever-welcome Mark Hutchinson, Tony Slattery's partner for almost forty years. This is another of our Patreon-exclusive conversations, in which our patrons provide the Dewey numbers. Wendy Slattery (no relation) starts us off with a bid of 636: Animal Husbandry . Much appreciated, I'm sure. Paul regales us with tales of his animal hostel and Mark reintroduces us to Molly the Wondercat before Allan relives some childhood trauma. One hopes there is a psychiatrist on call this evening. Blue Peter rears its cobwebby head with its elderly dogs from the olden days, and we think of happier days in Edinburgh with Tony. Paul also has some reproductive tales for us - his own and other animals'. Wendy also asks us how Mark spends his days now he's up on the sunny Wirral with all the nice people, so we get some personal insight as well as more memories of lovely Tony and we engage in some fantasy casting as well as talking about the fabled documentary What's the Matter with Tony Slattery? . Next, the mysteriously mononymous Rachel asks us to take a point at topic 191: Modern Western Philosophy of the United States and Canada . Are there any two nations who enjoy a closer bond than the US and Canada? Apart from maybe North and South Korea, or England and France, or literally any two nations at all. We enjoy a good moan about America, Allan forgets what languages the Canadians speak (dolt), and we sympathise with Americans for their current plight. Probably none of us are getting through US immigration again any time soon, but nevertheless let's draw a hasty veil over that one. Then Rachel redeems herself with a lovely question about theatre and theatres . More memories, and the lovely Kiki Dee makes an appearance. Digressions digress. Tangents tange. Rambling occurs. And we hope you've enjoyed this further emergency gibberish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A slightly unusual Rambling Club this week. There was supposed to be a lovely ramble with a celebrity guest. Unfortunately, the computer on which the episode was edited has decided that this is not a thing it wishes to participate in. Rather than leave you entirely ramble-less, however, we have opened the Patreon cupboard and brought out something rather special. So this week we remain firmly inside the Presidential Garden Shed , where Paul and Allan are joined by the ever-welcome Mark Hutchinson, Tony Slattery's partner for almost forty years. This is one of our Patreon-exclusive conversations, in which our patrons provide both the Dewey numbers and the questions and, on this occasion, there is plenty to talk about. We begin with a question from Linda Craig: which of Tony's performances remains particularly special to us? That turns out to be rather more difficult to answer than you might imagine. There's Radio Times , and Tony singing "My Thanks to You" with nothing but a piano. There's an extraordinary evening of Noël Coward with the BBC Radio Orchestra, a balcony scene from Private Lives with Lorraine Chase and Tony singing Coward with forty musicians behind him. There's Neville's Island , The Head of the Class , I Got News for You and a remarkably obscure Lost in Space VHS voiceover. And then there is the performance that Eric has chosen for entirely different reasons. In other words, the question is answered. Sort of. Then the magic bingo machine produces 787: Stringed Instruments . And suddenly we're talking about the cello, the violin, Paul Tortelier, Truly, Madly, Deeply , Cynthia Erivo and the extraordinary emotional power of strings. We discover that Paul's mother played the cello, that Allan once played the violin, and that Tony himself encouraged Allan to take his long-neglected instrument out of the wardrobe and play it again. There's even the story of a nine-year-old Allan conducting an orchestra at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. From there we begin wondering whether our tastes change as we grow older. Country music enters the conversation. So does The Archers . So does the extraordinary ability of music to transport us instantly back to another time and another place. And then we get rather more philosophical. What was it like being a child who didn't quite fit in? What happens when the thing that makes you different suddenly becomes your superpower? We hear about music teachers, terrifying Welsh women, clarinets, singing in school assembly and the extraordinary moment when being the quiet, awkward child suddenly becomes an advantage. That leads us into education, opportunity and the arts . Why is access to drama and music becoming increasingly difficult? What has happened to the idea of education as something more than preparation for employment? And what happens when the arts become something available primarily to those whose parents can afford to support them? Along the way there are memories of Cadbury's remarkable drama department, Jacqueline Hill, RADA, university life, the social importance of education and the simple joy of learning for its own sake. There are, naturally, tangents. There are musical digressions. There is some fairly robust criticism of the 1990s. And there is a great deal of affection for the man whose name is on the door of the Club. It's not our usual ramble. But perhaps, in the circumstances, it's exactly the ramble we needed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are few people better suited to a Rambling Club than a writer. After all, if anyone understands the importance of starting somewhere and having absolutely no idea where you're going to end up, it's a playwright. This week, our guest President is the remarkable Tim Firth, writer, dramatist, screenwriter, songwriter and the man behind everything from Neville's Island and Calendar Girls to The Girls , Our House and The Rottentrolls . With Tony's magic bingo machine selecting our destinations, we leave the Presidential Garden Shed and head into the great outdoors , where the rambling can begin. And perhaps appropriately for a man whose career has taken so many unexpected turns, the first number sends us somewhere rather useful. 371.3: Methods of Instruction and Study. Do we actually need a particular methodology when it comes to teaching and learning? And how did Tim's own experiences of education eventually lead him towards a career in writing? His story includes an extraordinary turning point: an Arvon writing course in Yorkshire run by Willy Russell , attended when Tim was just 18. But what happens when the lessons end and the professional world begins? How has the process of commissioning scripts changed? What does a writer actually have to navigate before an idea ever reaches an audience? And, somewhere along the way, what on earth is all this about a modern Macbeth in the style of Marillion? Next, the machine produces 788: Wind and Percussion Instruments . Which, naturally, means musicals . Tim's career has taken him into some extraordinary musical territory, from Our House , created around the music of Madness, to The Girls , his musical collaboration with Gary Barlow , and The Band , built around the music of Take That. So how did a writer of plays find himself working with Madness? What happens when you collaborate with someone like Gary Barlow? And where does the musical instinct come from in the first place? That takes us back to Tim's childhood and his father, Gordon Firth , whose creativity would eventually become part of one of Tim's best-loved achievements: Roger and the Rottentrolls . 614: The Incidence and Prevention of Disease. There could hardly be a more appropriate route into one of the Rambling Club's most important subjects: Tony Slattery . Tim and Tony worked together on Neville's Island , Tim's hugely successful comedy about four businessmen whose team-building exercise goes catastrophically wrong. The original West End production featured Tony alongside Jeff Rawle, James Fleet and Paul Raffield, and the play has subsequently travelled around the world. Tony, of course, possessed a particular fascination with disease and all its component parts. So what could possibly connect Tim, Tony, a theatre and some dead rats ? You'll have to join us in the great outdoors to find out. And as the ramble winds its way through education, music, writing, theatre, television and memories of an extraordinary performer, one thing becomes increasingly apparent: Tim Firth knows how to tell a story. Which is fortunate. Because once Tony's magic bingo machine has finished with him, there's every chance we'll be here for a while. Presented by Paul Carmichael & Allan Lear Music composed and performed by Michael Livesley & Andy Frizell The voice of Pwfthhh- Michael Livesley www.michaellivesley.com Series Producers- Erica Lear and Mark Hutchinson Producers- Alan Dyebing & Stuart Morris Executive Producer- Mark Strickson Join the rambling club and receive your club membership card, badges, exclusive content and access to early release episodes, an exclusive extra podcast you won't hear anywhere else and exclusive club-only perks! www.patreon.com/SlatteryLive Official Website- www.tonyslattery.com Twitter/X: @SlatteryLive Instagram: tony_slattery_official BlueSky: @ramblingclub Paul's Threads: @paul.carmichael.1213 Paul's Bluesky: @paulcarmichaeluk © Fanfaronade Productions 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There are guests who arrive at the Tony Slattery's Rambling Club shed expecting a conventional interview. And then there is Mark Strickson. As Executive Producer of the Club from Day One, Mark knows rather more about what happens inside the Presidential Garden Shed than most. So perhaps we'd better all be on our best behaviour as this week's President takes us on one of our regular rambles into the great outdoors. Mark is, of course, best known to many as Vislor Turlough , companion to Peter Davison's Fifth Doctor. But that is only the beginning of the story. Since leaving the TARDIS, Mark has forged an extraordinary second career as a television producer and director, particularly in the world of wildlife and natural history. His work has taken him around the world and included the programme that helped bring Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, to international attention . And so, with Tony's magic bingo machine having selected our destinations, we set off. First stop is 378: Higher Education . How did education shape the man who would eventually move from acting into zoology and then into the world of international television production? Mark's own journey is rather remarkable: after leaving Doctor Who , he moved to Australia, taught Theatre Studies and studied for an honours degree in Zoology. Somewhere along the way, one career became another. But what exactly does Mark make of education, and where might this particular ramble lead us? As ever, the number is only the starting point. Then we're heading for 804: Literature and Rhetoric, an especially appropriate destination for someone born in Stratford-upon-Avon . Mark attended King Edward VI Grammar School in his home town, the same school traditionally associated with Shakespeare, and was a chorister at Holy Trinity Church, where his father was organist and choirmaster. So Shakespeare is inevitably somewhere on the horizon. But once the Rambling Club starts walking, there's no guarantee where it will end up. What does the Bard mean to someone who grew up surrounded by Shakespeare's legacy? And what happens when an actor's relationship with words and storytelling develops into a career spent telling very different kinds of stories? Finally, the bingo machine gives us 577: The General Nature of Life . And here, perhaps inevitably, we arrive at the world that has dominated so much of Mark's later career: wildlife, natural history and the extraordinary business of making television about the living world . Mark has produced and directed programmes for major international broadcasters including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Discovery and Animal Planet. His work has taken him from the world of acting into some very different and occasionally dangerous environments. Eventually, after our journey through the great outdoors, Tony's magic bingo machine does what Tony's magic bingo machine does best and transports us back to the Presidential Garden Shed . The walking stops. The rambling doesn't. And perhaps, given that Mark has been helping to steer this particular ship since the very beginning, we should be grateful that he hasn't yet revealed everything he knows about us. Presented by Paul Carmichael & Allan Lear Music composed and performed by Michael Livesley & Andy Frizell The voice of Pwfthhh- Michael Livesley www.michaellivesley.com Series Producers- Erica Lear and Mark Hutchinson Producers- Alan Dyebing & Stuart Morris Executive Producer- Mark Strickson Join the rambling club and receive your club membership card, badges, exclusive content and access to early release episodes, an exclusive extra podcast you won't hear anywhere else and exclusive club-only perks! www.patreon.com/SlatteryLive Official Website- www.tonyslattery.com Twitter/X: @SlatteryLive Instagram: tony_slattery_official BlueSky: @ramblingclub Paul's Threads: @paul.carmichael.1213 Paul's Bluesky: @paulcarmichaeluk © Fanfaronade Productions 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you believe it? This week's guest President is the extraordinary Paul Rhys, one of Britain's finest and most respected actors. From Vincent & Theo and A Discovery of Witches to Shakespeare's greatest roles and, most recently, Russell T Davies' acclaimed drama Tip Toe , Paul has quietly built one of the most remarkable careers in British theatre and television. Despite that, he rarely gives interviews and has never before appeared on a podcast, making this a particularly special Rambling Club. So pull on your walking boots and join us as Tony's enchanted bingo machine once again chooses three entirely unexpected destinations. As ever, Sir Stephen Fry's reassuringly omniscient voice keeps watch while the rest of us happily lose ourselves in conversation. Our first stop is 292 – Greek & Roman Religion . Since the theatre itself was born from religious ceremony in Ancient Greece, this proves a surprisingly fitting place to begin. Paul's Catholic upbringing, spirituality and the enduring relationship between faith and performance soon come to the fore, before we ask whether modern theatre has lost something by turning its back on the spiritual. Along the way we celebrate King Lear , explore Paul's lifelong fascination with William Blake, and discover how a self-confessed introvert copes with the modern expectation that actors must become their own publicists on social media. Next, the machine produces 629 – Other Branches of Engineering . None of our ramblers claim to possess much practical engineering ability, but President Rhys immediately confounds expectations by revealing that he once built rather more than a career... he built a house! The conversation gently wanders through family, parents and the curious guilt many of us feel about whether we've somehow let them down, before arriving at a rather different form of engineering altogether. How do you construct a character? How do you breathe life into words on a page? Using his acclaimed performance in Tip Toe as a guide, Paul offers a fascinating insight into the meticulous craft of acting and the invisible work that audiences rarely get to see. Finally, Tony's bingo machine lands on 179 – Cruelty and Ethics . What begins as a discussion about morality soon develops into a thoughtful conversation about politics, empathy and the responsibilities of artists in an increasingly polarised world. Paul reflects on his father's upbringing and the beliefs it instilled, while considering how today's cultural climate affects actors and the stories they're able to tell. We also celebrate his recent collaboration with the legendary Russell T Davies , asking whether drama still has the power to challenge prejudice, change minds and make us look at one another with greater compassion. Then it's back to the Presidential Shed, where William Blake is still providing the poetry, nobody has successfully engineered a flat-pack bookcase, and the bingo machine is quietly contemplating the meaning of existence. Presented by Paul Carmichael & Allan Lear Music composed and performed by Michael Livesley & Andy Frizell The voice of Pwfthhh- Michael Livesley www.michaellivesley.com Series Producers- Erica Lear and Mark Hutchinson Producers- Alan Dyebing & Stuart Morris Series Executive Producer- Mark Strickson Join the rambling club and receive your club membership card, badges, exclusive content and access to early release episodes, an exclusive extra podcast you won't hear anywhere else and exclusive club-only perks! www.patreon.com/SlatteryLive Official Website- www.tonyslattery.com Twitter/X: @SlatteryLive Instagram: tony_slattery_official BlueSky: @ramblingclub Paul's Threads: @paul.carmichael.1213 Paul's Bluesky: @paulcarmichaeluk © Fanfaronade Productions 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you believe it? This week's guest President is the wonderful Liza Goddard, one of Britain's most beloved actresses, whose remarkable career has spanned more than six decades, from Skippy the Bush Kangaroo and Take Three Girls to the stage, television and beyond. So pull on your walking boots and join us for another ramble as President Goddard guides us through three destinations selected entirely at random by Tony's enchanted bingo machine. As ever, the reassuringly omniscient voice of Sir Stephen Fry keeps watch while the rest of us happily lose our way. Our first destination is 909 – World History . Liza's love of history stretches right back to her school days, with the Vikings and Romans holding a particular fascination—perhaps unsurprising for someone whose family can trace its ancestry back to William the Conqueror. But her own history is every bit as compelling. We celebrate her father, the pioneering television producer David Goddard, whose work at the very dawn of television led to one unforgettable childhood moment when a young Liza found herself sitting on Jesus's knee during a live broadcast. Before long we're discussing Take Three Girls , the BBC's groundbreaking first colour drama series and the first to centre on three young women, issuing Gaelic curses from the stage, and heading to Australia when David became Head of Drama at ABC. Which naturally raises the question everyone has wanted answered for years... what was it really like working with Skippy the Bush Kangaroo ? And how did an ambition to travel to Siberia ultimately bring Liza back to Britain? Next, the machine offers 719 – Natural Landscapes . Growing up surrounded by woodland gave Liza a lifelong love of the natural world, and the conversation soon embraces everything from birds and the effects of climate change to the challenges posed by vast new data centres. Artificial intelligence may concern our ramblers, but Liza remains convinced that nothing will ever replace the magic of live theatre. Along the way we celebrate the intelligence of horses, the unconditional love of dogs, and discover why a life spent close to nature has always appealed far more than the trappings of celebrity. Finally, Tony's bingo machine lands on 104 – Not Assigned , giving our ramblers licence to wander wherever curiosity takes them. Philosophy somehow leads us to Give Us A Clue , where the truth behind Lionel Blair's legendary death stare is finally revealed. Before long we're considering whether Monopoly was secretly designed to destabilise capitalism, discovering a surprisingly gripping board game about managing a haulage company, and asking what Liza really looks for in a script. How do you bring a fresh perspective to a well-loved character? And how do you make an audience believe every word when you're acting opposite... a rubber monster in Doctor Who ? Then it's back to the Presidential Shed, where the birds are singing, the dogs are waiting patiently for a walk, and nobody is quite brave enough to challenge Skippy to a game of charades. Presented by Paul Carmichael & Allan Lear Music composed and performed by Michael Livesley & Andy Frizell The voice of Pwfthhh- Michael Livesley www.michaellivesley.com Series Producers- Erica Lear and Mark Hutchinson Producers- Alan Dyebing & Stuart Morris Series Executive Producer- Mark Strickson Join the rambling club and receive your club membership card, badges, exclusive content and access to early release episodes, an exclusive extra podcast you won't hear anywhere else and exclusive club-only perks! www.patreon.com/SlatteryLive Official Website- www.tonyslattery.com Twitter/X: @SlatteryLive Instagram: tony_slattery_official BlueSky: @ramblingclub Liza's Instagram: lizagoddardofficial Paul's Threads: @paul.carmichael.1213 Paul's Bluesky: @paulcarmichaeluk © Fanfaronade Productions 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you believe it? This week, Tony Slattery's enchanted bingo machine has escaped the Presidential Shed and rolled all the way to New Brighton for a very special live edition of Tony Slattery's Rambling Club . Joining Allan and Paul are TWO guest Presidents: Roland Rivron, actor, comedian, musician and one of Britain's great raconteurs, and fellow adventurer James Payton , actor, broadcaster and writer, whose encyclopaedic knowledge of theatre and television is matched only by his willingness to follow the conversation absolutely anywhere. With Sir Stephen Fry once again guiding proceedings, it's time to pull on your gloves and see where the bingo machine takes us... First up is 443 – Dictionaries of Standard French . One member of the Club admits to cheating in their GCSE French exam... and still failing. Along the way, an outbreak of jazz drumming prompts an unexpected cheer from the audience before everyone reluctantly accepts that foreign languages may not be the group's strongest suit. Next comes 872 – Latin Dramatic Poetry and Drama . We begin by enthusiastically preparing to slit a goat's throat before discovering that this isn't actually what "Latin drama" means at all. Thankfully, the conversation soon wanders into much more familiar territory... namely the curious etiquette of urinating in your own trousers. Finally, 351 – Public Administration somehow leads us to Russian meerkats, inquisitive ferrets and an important discussion about what should—and definitely shouldn't—go down your trousers. How did we get there? That's the joy of a free-associating ramble. And then it's back to the Presidential Shed... assuming anyone can remember the way. Presented by Paul Carmichael & Allan Lear Music composed and performed by Michael Livesley & Andy Frizell The voice of Pwfthhh- Michael Livesley www.michaellivesley.com Series Producers- Erica Lear and Mark Hutchinson Producers- Alan Dyebing & Stuart Morris Series Executive Producer- Mark Strickson Join the rambling club and receive your club membership card, badges, exclusive content and access to early release episodes, an exclusive extra podcast you won't hear anywhere else and exclusive club-only perks! www.patreon.com/SlatteryLive Official Website- www.tonyslattery.com Twitter/X: @SlatteryLive Instagram: tony_slattery_official BlueSky: @ramblingclub Paul's Twitter: @PaulCarmichaelV Paul's Bluesky: @paulcarmichaeluk © Fanfaronade Productions 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you believe it? This week's guest President is Michael Greco; actor, football fanatic and forever remembered by millions as EastEnders' charismatic Beppe di Marco. Tony's enchanted bingo machine is on particularly fine form this week, sending our ramblers on a journey that encompasses dreams, Italy, criminal law and one or two stories that were probably never meant to be told. So pull on your gloves and join us for another ramble as Sir Stephen Fry's reassuringly omniscient voice guides us through three entirely unpredictable destinations. Our first stop is 135 – Dreams . Michael has one recurring dream that sounds like heaven for any football fan: pulling on the famous blue shirt of Chelsea. Sadly, the dream rarely goes according to plan. Football has always been a huge part of Michael's life and, remarkably, he even played against the legendary Diego Maradona at Old Trafford in front of 75,000 people. But how did life steer him towards the Guildford School of Acting instead? Along the way we discover how a performance by a certain Tony Slattery inspired him to pursue acting, and the unforgettable feeling of receiving that first pay cheque. We also explore how EastEnders unexpectedly brought Michael into contact with an Oscar-winning director, his latest project alongside the phenomenal 50 Cent , and whether theatre, television or film truly feels like home. His recent appearance in Twelve Angry Men may just provide the answer. Our next destination is 479 – Other Italic Languages , which turns out to be wonderfully apt. With parents and grandparents from Italy, Michael reflects warmly on his family's heritage and his regret that he no longer speaks Italian as fluently as he once did. The conversation becomes a celebration of family, identity and the Mediterranean way of life. From Sicily and sunshine to olive oil, walking, fresh food and abandoning the dreaded beige diet, our ramblers happily embrace everything that makes Italian culture so enduringly appealing. We also discover how the discipline instilled during Michael's training at the Guildford School of Acting continues to shape his professional and personal life—and why, on occasion, being spat at on stage can actually be a compliment to everyone's craftsmanship. Finally, Tony's bingo machine delivers 345 – Criminal Law . We begin with some of Britain's more gloriously absurd laws, including the curious prohibition on handling salmon under suspicious circumstances. Before long, however, the conversation turns to policing of a rather different kind, as Michael reflects on playing Detective Beppe di Marco in EastEnders . Would he ever consider returning? Along the way Michael shares memories of working alongside television legends Barbara Windsor and Mike Reid, talks about his time as a professional poker player, and reveals that, impressive though his career has been, his greatest achievement has nothing to do with acting at all. For Michael Greco, nothing comes close to being a father to his two sons. Then it's back to the Presidential shed, where Chelsea are apparently winning the league, the olive oil is flowing freely, and nobody is brave enough to pick up a suspicious salmon. Presented by Paul Carmichael & Allan Lear Music composed and performed by Michael Livesley & Andy Frizell The voice of Pwfthhh- Michael Livesley www.michaellivesley.com Series Producers- Erica Lear and Mark Hutchinson Producers- Alan Dyebing & Stuart Morris Series Executive Producer- Mark Strickson Join the rambling club and receive your club membership card, badges, exclusive content and access to early release episodes, an exclusive extra podcast you won't hear anywhere else and exclusive club-only perks! www.patreon.com/SlatteryLive Official Website- www.tonyslattery.com Twitter/X: @SlatteryLive Instagram: tony_slattery_official BlueSky: @ramblingclub Michael's Instagram: thegrecs Paul's Twitter: @PaulCarmichaelV Paul's Bluesky: @paulcarmichaeluk © Fanfaronade Productions 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you believe it? This week's guest President is Thorsten Nickel, actor, martial artist and one of those performers whose career has taken him to some truly unexpected places. Born in Germany before forging a career in Hong Kong action cinema, Thorsten has shared the screen with the likes of Jackie Chan in the movie spectacular Thunderbolt and built a remarkable life that spans continents, cultures and more than a few spectacular fight scenes. So pull on your gloves and join us for another ramble as President Nickel guides us through three destinations selected entirely at random by Tony's enchanted bingo machine. As ever, the reassuringly omniscient voice of Sir Stephen Fry keeps watch while the rest of us happily lose our way. Our first destination is 005: Computer Programming . Was the world really better before the internet? Are our ramblers simply becoming unapologetic Luddites? Before long we're discussing artificial intelligence, deepfakes and whether we can trust anything we see on a screen anymore. Fortunately, Thorsten is able to steer us back towards happier digital memories, recalling his involvement in the 1995 video game Jackie Chan in Fists of Fire , created during his years working in Hong Kong alongside one of cinema's greatest action stars. Computers, it seems, aren't all bad after all. Next, the machine offers 355: Military Science . Paul and Allan confess that, as thoroughly artistic souls, military matters are somewhat beyond their expertise. Luckily, President Nickel knows rather more. Before embarking on his acting career, Thorsten completed his national service with the German Air Force , serving in a rocket defence battalion . It's a world far removed from film sets and television studios, and provides a fascinating glimpse into a chapter of his life that eventually led him from Germany to London, and ultimately to the Hong Kong film industry. Our third and final destination is 393: Death Customs . Every culture has its own rituals surrounding life, death and remembrance, and what begins as a conversation about tradition soon develops into something altogether more thoughtful. Together the ramblers reflect on grief, memory, faith and the nature of God, proving once again that the most unexpected numbers often lead to the most rewarding conversations. And then it's back to the Presidential shed, where the bingo machine is behaving itself for once, nobody has challenged Jackie Chan to a fight, and artificial intelligence has, mercifully, failed to replace the kettle. Presented by Paul Carmichael & Allan Lear Music composed and performed by Michael Livesley & Andy Frizell The voice of Pwfthhh- Michael Livesley www.michaellivesley.com Series Producers- Erica Lear and Mark Hutchinson Producers- Alan Dyebing & Stuart Morris Series Executive Producer- Mark Strickson Join the rambling club and receive your club membership card, badges, exclusive content and access to early release episodes, an exclusive extra podcast you won't hear anywhere else and exclusive club-only perks! www.patreon.com/SlatteryLive Official Website- www.tonyslattery.com Twitter/X: @SlatteryLive Instagram: tony_slattery_official BlueSky: @ramblingclub Paul's Twitter: @PaulCarmichaelV Paul's Bluesky: @paulcarmichaeluk © Fanfaronade Productions 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you believe it? This week’s guest President is the wonderful Karen Ford — actor, writer and director, perhaps best remembered by millions as art teacher Miss Booth in Grange Hill, but with a career that has embraced theatre, television and film in equal measure. As ever, Tony’s enchanted bingo machine has no idea who our guest is… and somehow knows exactly where to take us. So pull on your wellies and join us for another ramble as President Ford guides us through three destinations selected entirely at random. Above it all, the reassuringly omniscient voice of Sir Stephen Fry keeps watch while the rest of us wander happily off the beaten track. Our first destination is 819: Not Used (818 – Writings, Miscellaneous). A gift for any actor. Karen takes us back to childhood, when her father first introduced her to Shakespeare through Charles and Mary Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare, igniting a lifelong love of the Bard. We follow that thread through one of her earliest roles as Juliet, discussing how actors discover character, what separates a good script from a great one, and why precious rehearsal time has become such a rarity in modern television. Fond memories of the legendary Acton Hilton rehearsal rooms follow before we arrive in the present day with Karen’s acclaimed new play, All of Them Dead (TICKET LINK BELOW!), and ask the question that concerns everyone who loves live performance: how do we restore theatre to the heart of our cultural life? Next, the bingo machine presents 922: Travel and Geography of Europe. Naturally, we leave Europe almost immediately. Instead, we head for Japan, where Karen toured with Macbeth, before one delightfully tenuous conversational leap lands us at the White House. Somehow, this becomes the gateway to Britain’s most famous comprehensive school: Grange Hill. Karen reflects on seven memorable years playing Miss Booth, revisiting the programme’s groundbreaking storylines, including Zammo Maguire’s heroin addiction and the unforgettable “Just Say No” campaign. We also celebrate the joy—and occasional unpredictability—of working alongside young actors, remember the magnificent Michael Sheard as the fearsome Mr Bronson, and lament the passing of the days when television brought the entire nation together around a shared story. Our third and final destination is 132: Not Assigned (133 – Parapsychology). Theatre has always been rich in myths, rituals and superstitions. Never utter the name of the Scottish play. Never whistle backstage. And whatever you do, don’t leave knitting needles in the wings. Karen shares some of the rituals that have accompanied her throughout her career, before reflecting on a life spent performing across stage and screen. Is it possible to choose a favourite medium after such a varied and distinguished career? The answer, as with so much in the Rambling Club, proves rather more interesting than the question itself. And then it’s back to the Presidential shed, where the props have all been accounted for, nobody has tempted fate backstage, and the bingo machine is already plotting next week’s adventure. TICKETS TO KAREN'S SHOW----> www.linktr.ee/everybodypanic Presented by Paul Carmichael & Allan Lear Music composed and performed by Michael Livesley & Andy Frizell The voice of Pwfthhh- Michael Livesley www.michaellivesley.com Series Producers- Erica Lear and Mark Hutchinson Producers- Alan Dyebing & Stuart Morris Series Executive Producer- Mark Strickson Join the rambling club and receive your club membership card, badges, exclusive content and access to early release episodes, an exclusive extra podcast you won't hear anywhere else and exclusive club-only perks! www.patreon.com/SlatteryLive Official Website- www.tonyslattery.com Twitter/X: @SlatteryLive Instagram: tony_slattery_official BlueSky: @ramblingclub Paul's Twitter: @PaulCarmichaelV Paul's Bluesky: @paulcarmichaeluk © Fanfaronade Productions 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you believe it? This week's guest President is the marvellously inquisitive Robin Ince — comedian, broadcaster, author and co-host of the hugely successful The Infinite Monkey Cage . Robin returns to the Presidential shed armed with an insatiable curiosity and the sort of mind that delights in asking impossible questions before wandering happily off in search of even stranger answers. So pull on your gloves and join us for another ramble as President Ince guides us through three destinations selected entirely at random by Tony's enchanted bingo machine. Above it all, the reassuringly omniscient voice of Sir Stephen Fry keeps watch while the rest of us attempt to keep pace. Our first destination is 121: Epistemology – The Theory of Knowledge . A gentle way to begin. Should we spend our lives theorising about knowledge, or simply acquire it for the sheer joy of doing so? Before long we're blagging our way through a wine tasting, discovering why Coca-Cola appears to light up the brain in extraordinary ways, and pondering how something can be both a myth and simultaneously true. William Blake joins the conversation, as does the surprising revelation that horse riding may be considerably more dangerous than recreational drugs... and, under the right circumstances, can even persuade you to resign from your job. Next, the machine presents 464: Not Assigned (Formerly Spanish Dictionaries and Grammar) . Remarkably, none of the ramblers have ever been to Spain... until two of them suddenly remember that they have. This happy confusion allows us to revisit the gloriously ill-fated BBC soap Eldorado before wandering into tales of a cathedral whose architect met an unfortunate end at the hands of his own creation. Along the way we ask whether Christianity owes more than a passing debt to hallucinogenic mushrooms, leaf through The Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue , and somehow uncover Franz Kafka's alleged collection of pornography. Our third and final stop is 417: Dialectology and Historical Linguistics . Wilfred Pickles gets the ball rolling before we discover why modern American English may actually be closer to Elizabethan speech than many realise. We also learn why people from Tokyo often think everyone in Britain sounds like Chaucer, and finally tackle one of civilisation's great unanswered questions: precisely how much money does it take for your chicken to become a fish? And then it's back to the Presidential shed, where the dictionary remains open, the bingo machine insists it knew exactly what it was doing all along, and knowledge—useful or otherwise—has once again increased considerably. Presented by Paul Carmichael & Allan Lear Music composed and performed by Michael Livesley & Andy Frizell The voice of Pwfthhh- Michael Livesley www.michaellivesley.com Series Producers- Erica Lear and Mark Hutchinson Producers- Alan Dyebing & Stuart Morris Series Executive Producer- Mark Strickson Join the rambling club and receive your club membership card, badges, exclusive content and access to early release episodes, an exclusive extra podcast you won't hear anywhere else and exclusive club-only perks! www.patreon.com/SlatteryLive Official Website- www.tonyslattery.com Twitter/X: @SlatteryLive Instagram: tony_slattery_official BlueSky: @ramblingclub Paul's Twitter: @PaulCarmichaelV Paul's Bluesky: @paulcarmichaeluk © Fanfaronade Productions 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Would you believe it? This week's guest President is the incomparable Don Warrington, one of Britain's finest actors, whose remarkable career has spanned more than half a century. Beloved by millions as the effortlessly cool Philip Smith in the classic sitcom Rising Damp , Don has graced stage, screen and radio with equal distinction, from Shakespeare to sitcom, bringing intelligence, warmth and unmistakable charisma to every role. So pull on your boots and join us for another ramble as President Warrington guides us through three destinations selected entirely at random by Tony's enchanted bingo machine. As ever, the omniscient voice of Sir Stephen Fry keeps a gentle eye on proceedings while the rest of us follow wherever the conversation chooses to wander. Our first destination is 374: Adult Education . Education, it seems, never truly ends. Don takes us back to his school days in Newcastle, where an early appearance in a school play changed everything. A local vicar became so convinced that Don's character had genuinely encountered a ghost that the young actor realised he might just have found his calling. From there we explore his family's rich musical heritage through The West Indian Mellotones , before drama school leads to the glamorous world of... sweeping stages in repertory theatre. Yet even that had its rewards, including the chance to watch the magnificent Leonard Rossiter command the stage as The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui . Before long, the conversation turns to Don's own experiences working alongside Rossiter on the much-loved Rising Damp , and the extraordinary talent behind one of British television's greatest comedies. Next, the bingo machine offers up 809: History, Description and Critical Appraisal of Literature . Which, naturally, opens the door to Shakespeare. Don reflects on playing King Lear , one of the theatre's greatest challenges, and shares his lifelong love of the Bard. We discuss the importance of unlocking Shakespeare's language, finding the humanity within the verse, and why these remarkable plays continue to speak to every generation that encounters them. Our third and final destination is 388: Ground Transportation . This could easily have become an extended discussion about the famously troubled BBC soap Triangle ... but mercifully Don remembers almost nothing about it. Instead, we set off on a rather more enjoyable journey through his love of travel. Don admits he'd quite like the speed and energy of a predator on the hunt, although this ambition is somewhat undermined by one small problem: he possesses almost no sense of direction whatsoever. Fortunately, getting gloriously lost often makes for the best stories. And then it's back to the Presidential shed, where the kettle is on, the bingo machine is quietly plotting its next surprise, and the quickest route home remains, as ever, entirely open to interpretation. Presented by Paul Carmichael & Allan Lear Music composed and performed by Michael Livesley & Andy Frizell The voice of Pwfthhh- Michael Livesley www.michaellivesley.com Series Producers- Erica Lear and Mark Hutchinson Producers- Alan Dyebing & Stuart Morris Series Executive Producer- Mark Strickson Join the rambling club and receive your club membership card, badges, exclusive content and access to early release episodes, an exclusive extra podcast you won't hear anywhere else and exclusive club-only perks! www.patreon.com/SlatteryLive Official Website- www.tonyslattery.com Twitter/X: @SlatteryLive Instagram: tony_slattery_official BlueSky: @ramblingclub Paul's Twitter: @PaulCarmichaelV Paul's Bluesky: @paulcarmichaeluk © Fanfaronade Productions 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, in a feat of engineering that absolutely nobody signed off on, we've attached wheels to the Presidential shed and towed it all the way to the Leicester Comedy Festival . There, amidst the laughter and general confusion, we encounter actor, comedian, broadcaster and all-round raconteur Rowland Rivron . As ever, Tony's enchanted bingo machine is waiting for us. Our first destination is 747: Interior Decoration . Are professional interior decorators worth the expense? Does any man genuinely have a say in how his home looks, or is that battle lost before it begins? Is it perhaps simpler to live in a skip, provided it's facing a pleasant direction? Along the way we encounter a hungover DJ, a missing collection of records, and a morning that went catastrophically wrong. Next, we're off to 372: Elementary Education . What starts as a discussion about learning soon takes a sharp turn into the strange and unsettling world of The Wombles , where Uncle Bulgaria somehow finds himself defending the Channel Islands from Nazi invasion. Naturally, this leads us to ponder whether Madonna's infamous Sex book was groundbreaking artistic expression or simply the work of a particularly mischievous provocateur. Our third stop is 832: Literature of the Reformation (1517–1750) . Astonishingly, it takes less than two minutes before things become alarmingly rude. We encounter the legendary Prickus and his quest for the Golden Dildo, wander through memories of a student production that culminated in a very real assault, and arrive at an interview with Gary Oldman concerning a film memorably described as "disgusting". Then something unusual happens with our magical bingo machine. Instead of another number, the voice of Sir Stephen Fry produces just three words: Lovely Tony Slattery. At that moment we are joined by Geoff Rowe , founder of the Leicester Comedy Festival and a man who knew Tony from the festival's earliest days. Together, the ramblers remember their dear friend, recalling the laughter, generosity, talent and warmth that made him such an important part of their lives and of the festival itself. And after that, there's only one thing left to do. Lock up the shed, wander into Leicester, and find a magnificent curry. Tony Slattery’s Rambling Club is a free-associating conversation, involving very special guests. It drops every Friday on every podcasting outlet known to man. We’d love it if you came along for the walk. If nothing else, it’ll help you get your steps in! Presented by Paul Carmichael & Allan Lear Music composed and performed by Michael Livesley & Andy Frizell The voice of Pwfthhh- Michael Livesley www.michaellivesley.com Series Producers- Erica Lear and Mark Hutchinson Producers- Alan Dyebing & Stuart Morris Series Executive Producer- Mark Strickson Join the rambling club and receive your club membership card, badges, exclusive content and access to early release episodes, an exclusive extra podcast you won't hear anywhere else and exclusive club-only perks! www.patreon.com/SlatteryLive Official Website- www.tonyslattery.com Twitter/X: @SlatteryLive Instagram: tony_slattery_official BlueSky: @ramblingclub Paul's Twitter: @PaulCarmichaelV Paul's Bluesky: @paulcarmichaeluk © Fanfaronade Productions 2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guest President is none other than the legendary Peter Purves, actor, broadcaster, presenter, teacher, explorer of television history, and one of the most familiar and beloved faces in British broadcasting. From travelling through time and space with the First Doctor Who to surviving the organised chaos of Blue Peter , Peter has accumulated enough stories to keep the Rambling Club supplied for several series! So lace up your walking boots and join us as President Purves leads us through three destinations selected entirely at random by Tony's enchanted bingo machine. As ever, the omniscient voice of Sir Stephen Fry keeps a watchful eye on proceedings while the rest of us do our best to stay on the path. Our first destination is 370.9: The History of Education . Peter originally trained as a teacher, which raises the obvious question: how did a future television legend find himself standing at the front of a classroom? Then we're transported back to the golden age of Blackpool , a town boasting no fewer than seventeen theatres, where young performers could learn their craft by doing it. Peter reflects on the education that shaped him, why he ultimately left teaching behind, and how the lessons he learned never really stopped proving useful. Next, the bingo machine delivers 070: Journalism . This leads us to an unforgettable encounter with the great Louis Armstrong , whom Peter found himself sitting remarkably close to at precisely the right moment. Peter recounts how he was rather cleverly hoodwinked into attending the first screening in sixty years of two long-lost episodes of Doctor Who , stories he had originally appeared in alongside William Hartnell . Naturally, this opens the floodgates for memories of his time aboard the TARDIS, working on one of television's most enduring programmes, and what it was like helping to shape those pioneering early adventures. Our third and final destination is 636: Animal Husbandry . Peter's lifelong affection for dogs immediately takes centre stage, and we're soon strolling across the Derbyshire hills with his first canine companion, the much-loved Rusty . Another dog who played a significant role in his life was Petra , the famous Blue Peter dog. How exactly did a television superstar end up moving in with the Purves family? Tales of live television and the formidable influence of the legendary Biddy Baxter await. Finally, the conversation brings us right up to date with Peter's latest venture, The Peter Purves Podcast , where he continues to share stories, memories and reflections from an extraordinary life and career. If this episode leaves you wanting more Peter Purves, and it certainly will, you'll know exactly where to go. Then it's back to the Presidential shed, where the dogs have settled by the fire, and somewhere in the distance a Blue Peter badge is probably being awarded to somebody for surviving the ramble. Tony Slattery’s Rambling Club is a free-associating conversation, involving very special guests. It drops every Friday on every podcasting outlet known to man. We’d love it if you came along for the walk. If nothing else, it’ll help you get your steps in! Presented by Paul Carmichael & Allan Lear Music composed and performed by Michael Livesley & Andy Frizell The voice of Pwfthhh- Michael Livesley www.michaellivesley.com Series Researcher- Soula Carmichael Series Producers- Erica Lear and Mark Hutchinson Producers- Alan Dyebing & Stuart Morris Series Executive Producer- Mark Strickson Join the rambling club and receive your club membership card, badges, exclusive content and access to early release episodes, an exclusive extra podcast you won't hear anywhere else and exclusive club-only perks! www.patreon.com/SlatteryLive Official Website- www.tonyslattery.com Twitter/X: @SlatteryLive Instagram: tony_slattery_official BlueSky: @ramblingclub Peter's Facebook: Peter John Purves www.peterpurves.net And check out The Peter Purves Podcast. It's a wonderful show! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week's guest President is the wonderful Jenny Seagrove, acclaimed stage and screen actor, passionate animal welfare advocate! So pull on your walking boots and join us for another ramble as President Seagrove guides us through three destinations selected entirely at random by Tony's enchanted bingo machine, a device that continues to demonstrate a remarkable ability to connect the seemingly unconnectable. Above it all hovers the omniscient voice of Sir Stephen Fry, keeping watch over proceedings as we set off into the unknown. Our first stop is 367: Clubs . Now there's a challenge, because Jenny has never been especially fond of rules. Clubs, committees and organised membership schemes all seem suspiciously restrictive to a woman who prefers to make her own path through life. Nevertheless, what begins as a discussion about astronomy and stargazing soon takes an unexpected turn toward Everton Football Club and the extraordinary legacy of the late Bill Kenwright , Jenny's beloved partner. Along the way we ponder what clubs really mean: communities, shared passions, and the people whose influence can be felt long after they've left the room. It's all dangerously close to anarchy, which naturally suits the Rambling Club perfectly. Next, we're off to 599.7: Wolverines . Fortunately, this turns out to be rather less niche than it first appears. Born in Kuala Lumpur and raised amidst the landscapes and wildlife of Malaysia, Jenny brings a lifelong love of animals to the conversation. Before long we're wandering through jungles, discussing remarkable encounters with creatures great and small, and hearing tales from a life spent championing animal welfare. There's also the small matter of Jenny once playing a nanny who turns into a tree, because this is the Rambling Club and such things must be accepted without question. Founder of the remarkable Mane Chance Sanctuary for rescued horses, Jenny speaks movingly about the animals she has cared for over the years, while somehow also finding time to extol the underrated pleasures of keeping chickens. Our third and final destination is 819: Literature and Rhetoric (Not Used). Here we find ourselves deep in the world of theatre. Jenny recalls playing Gertrude opposite a Hamlet portrayed by Sir Ian McKellen, requiring audiences to exercise a healthy degree of theatrical imagination. From Shakespeare we move to Chekhov, discussing the challenge of bringing great texts to vibrant life, and whether questions of age, gender and convention really matter when it comes to casting. Which naturally leads to Jenny's long-held dream role: Malvolio . The Rambling Club can think of few people better suited to torment yellow stockings into theatrical immortality, and sincerely hopes somebody is taking notes. And then it's back to the Presidential shed, where the chickens are roaming freely, the bingo machine is pretending innocence, and the rules, if there ever were any, have once again been quietly ignored. Tony Slattery’s Rambling Club is a free-associating conversation, involving very special guests. It drops every Friday on every podcasting outlet known to man. We’d love it if you came along for the walk. If nothing else, it’ll help you get your steps in! Presented by Paul Carmichael & Allan Lear Music composed and performed by Michael Livesley & Andy Frizell The voice of Pwfthhh- Michael Livesley www.michaellivesley.com Series Researcher- Soula Carmichael Series Producers- Erica Lear and Mark Hutchinson Producers- Alan Dyebing & Stuart Morris Series Executive Producer- Mark Strickson Join the rambling club and receive your club membership card, badges, exclusive content and access to early release episodes, an exclusive extra podcast you won't hear anywhere else and exclusive club-only perks! www.patreon.com/SlatteryLive Official Website- www.tonyslattery.com Twitter/X: @SlatteryLive Instagram: tony_slattery_official BlueSky: @ramblingclub Jenny's Instagram: jseagrove2 Jenny's X: @springmeister Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome, one and all, to Series 2, Episode 1 of Tony Slattery's Rambling Club ! The shed has survived another winter, the kettle is cautiously optimistic, and Tony's enchanted bingo machine has spent the break quietly plotting new ways to confuse everybody. With Sir Stephen Fry once again watching over proceedings from his omniscient vantage point, a brand-new series of rambling adventures begins. And what a way to start. Our first guest President of the new series is Pete Bennett — musician, actor, Tourette's campaigner, and, of course, winner of Big Brother . Pete arrives at the shed with a lifetime of stories, an infectious enthusiasm for life, and a willingness to follow the ramble wherever it may lead. Our first destination is 211: Concepts of God . Nothing too challenging for the opening episode, then. What exactly do we mean when we talk about "God"? Before long we're discussing the Gaia Hypothesis, the curious relationship between belief and manifestation, and whether the universe is perhaps a little stranger than we often give it credit for. Along the way, magic mushrooms make an appearance, philosophical certainty departs the building entirely, and a compelling case emerges that Pete was somehow pre-determined to win Big Brother long before he ever entered the house. Next, the bingo machine deposits us at 591: Zoology . This proves considerably more chaotic than expected. Pete's love of dogs leads to a heartfelt discussion about what our canine companions can teach us about loyalty, trust and living in the moment. From there, the conversation takes flight with the proposition that pigeons may actually be superior to human beings in several important respects. Matters deteriorate further when the ramblers attempt to establish how a doorknob, a mouse and a spider can become hopelessly confused with one another, often with alarming consequences. Our third and final destination is 702: Miscellaneous (The Arts) . Raised by musicians, Pete grew up surrounded by creativity, making this the perfect opportunity to explore his remarkable and eclectic career. We discuss music, performance, acting, and the joys of men wearing make-up long before it became fashionable to debate such things. The conversation also turns toward the recent controversy at the BAFTAs, before widening into a celebration of artistic expression in all its forms and the many unexpected roads a creative life can travel. And then, with the first ramble of the new series complete, it's back to the Presidential shed. The machine is still humming, the biscuits remain under threat, and Series 2 is officially underway. Tony Slattery’s Rambling Club is a free-associating conversation, involving very special guests. It drops every Friday on every podcasting outlet known to man. We’d love it if you came along for the walk. If nothing else, it’ll help you get your steps in! Presented by Paul Carmichael & Allan Lear Music composed and performed by Michael Livesley & Andy Frizell The voice of Pwfthhh- Michael Livesley www.michaellivesley.com Series Researcher- Soula Carmichael Series Producers- Erica Lear and Mark Hutchinson Producers- Alan Dyebing & Stuart Morris Series Executive Producer- Mark Strickson Join the rambling club and receive your club membership card, badges, exclusive content and access to early release episodes, an exclusive extra podcast you won't hear anywhere else and exclusive club-only perks! www.patreon.com/SlatteryLive Official Website- www.tonyslattery.com Twitter/X: @SlatteryLive Instagram: tony_slattery_official BlueSky: @ramblingclub Paul's Twitter: @PaulCarmichaelV Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stand by for a whole host of stars who will be joining us in the Rambling Club shed. Series 2 begins this Friday at 5 to 5! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a very special meeting of Tony Slattery’s Rambling Club . It’s Christmas Day, and we find ourselves once again in the company of our much-loved and much-missed President, Tony Slattery. His absence is felt, of course — how could it not be? — but so is his presence: in the laughter, the mischief, the curious turns of thought, and the unmistakable warmth that shaped this club from the very beginning. Today’s ramble is offered with affection, gratitude, and a quiet smile, just as Tony would have wanted. And so, gloves on, collars up, we set off as normal, guided by Tony’s enchanted bingo machine and the familiar rhythms of the club. The shed door swings open, Sir Stephen Fry’s omniscient voice settles in above us, and the ramble begins. Our first destination is 702: Fine and Decorative Art . Almost immediately we’re into the strange and wonderful world of surreal bingo, followed by recollections of Tony breaking a priceless ornament on television — an act that somehow manages to be both horrifying and completely inevitable. From there, the conversation drifts into the long and symbiotic relationship between art and religion, before taking a diarist’s turn toward Samuel Pepys , proving once again that no subject is ever truly finished, only temporarily paused. Next, the bingo machine whirs and delivers us to 621: Applied Physics — a category that sounds orderly enough until it isn’t. Before we quite realise what’s happened, we find ourselves stumbling into the Whose Line Is It Anyway? studio, encountering a dentist with an infamous skull structure, and grappling with the very real dangers of misremembering the words to the Lord’s Prayer. Physics, it turns out, is less about equations and more about consequences. And then, as always, we drift back toward the shed — a little wiser, a little warmer, and grateful for the company. On Christmas Day especially, this feels like exactly where we’re meant to be. Presented by Tony Slattery, Paul Carmichael & Allan Lear Music composed and performed by Michael Livesley & Andy Frizell The voice of Pwfthhh- Michael Livesley www.michaellivesley.com Series Researcher- Soula Carmichael Series Producers- Erica Lear and Mark Hutchinson Producers- Alan Dyebing & Stuart Morris Series Executive Producer- Mark Strickson Join the rambling club and receive your club membership card, badges, exclusive content and access to early release episodes, an exclusive extra podcast you won't hear anywhere else and exclusive club-only perks! www.patreon.com/SlatteryLive Official Website- www.tonyslattery.com Twitter/X: @SlatteryLive Instagram: tony_slattery_official BlueSky: @ramblingclub Paul's Twitter: @PaulCarmichaelV Paul's Bluesky: @paulcarmichaeluk © Fanfaronade Productions 2025 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Christmas, we are honoured to share a very special recording: Tony Slattery’s reading of The Tell-Tale Heart . Recorded in December 2024, this was the final performance Tony ever gave. It stands as a profound testament to his extraordinary gifts as an actor — his musicality with language, his emotional precision, and his instinctive understanding of character and rhythm. In this recording, Tony brings a rare intimacy and control to the piece, guiding the listener deep into its fractured psyche with clarity, menace, and compassion. The Tell-Tale Heart , written by Edgar Allan Poe and first published in 1843, is one of the most enduring works of Gothic literature. A study of guilt, obsession, and the unreliability of the human mind, it unfolds as a confession from a narrator who insists on their sanity while revealing the very madness they seek to deny. Its power lies not in spectacle, but in voice — making it uniquely suited to a performer of Tony’s calibre. To hear Tony inhabit this story is to be reminded of his command of language and his fearless emotional intelligence. This is not simply a reading, but a performance of rare stillness and intensity — one that lingers long after the final line. We present this recording with love, gratitude, and deep respect, in memory of our friend Tony, and in celebration of a remarkable artist at the height of his craft. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.