Don't Lets Chart - Comedy. History. Stupidity.

We've all got a favourite game show. Like the BBC point based one hosted by the lad with the ears or its ITV rival in which a chaser chases some contestants in a chase...I forget the title. (Speed 2?)  But which is the BEST quiz or game show ever? Well, that's what Ben Baker and Christine Coulson are hoping to find out in this new series pitting two examples of the genre against each other.   

In this first episode both put forth a mighty example of shows that used time in an interesting way with Christine's choice of Paul Daniels' multiple choice classic "Every Second Counts" and Ben going with the lesser known daytime series "1000 Heartbeats". The programmes will be put through their paces on the things that truly matter like host, set, interactivity, prizes and, most important of all, if you can sing the name of the show to the theme tune...

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We watched two specific episodes to review and if you want to see them too, you can watch "Every Second Counts" (10th May 1986) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1Xcq272trg 

Whilst the first episode of "1000 Heartbeats" is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceMEQCym-lM   .

You can see pictures from these shows and other game show nonsense we like here: https://www.instagram.com/gameforaquiz/ 

And if you liked this first episode, have ideas where we should go next or any general chit chat, contact us at our Twitter feed here: https://twitter.com/GameForAQuiz

Phil loves big giant fighting space robots. Ben has never seen the appeal.

Now, after years of in-fighting and insults, Ben is finally conceding to try and understand his friend's genuine obsession with the whole Transformers franchise. As an outsider he's going to learn about all aspects of the Autobots and Decepticons' long history of interplanetary punch-ups over the past four decades from the good to the impossibly rotten. 

And we start our journey at the very beginning with the opening three-part mini series from 1984 "More Than Meets The Eye". On the way we'll-

- learn how YouTube are taking their cue from TV-am;

- explore why oil rigs are dangerous and not a right laugh like you thought; 

- debate how important a "The" is when discussing massive robots;

- uncover the Gordon Brittas of the Decepticons; 

- rage at the toys that never were;

- investigate how Ronald Reagan, "Kidd Video" and Richard Pryor fit into all this; 

- question if a "rear axle" equates to a part of the human body;

- reveal which one of us hates Muppet Babies;

- and scratch our heads to see so very many wet robots.

So if you're a robo fan or metal sceptic, there should be something for you in here. Now to take you for the ride of your life....

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"Transformers 101: The Education of A Robophobe" is presented by Phil Catterall with Ben Baker who edited it together. If you want more or want to suggest where in the franchise we should go next, let us know via @dontletschart on Twitter or [email protected]

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As you all know Ben Baker and Phil Catterall are incredibly professional young men with all their own teeth and they definitely don't make a noise every time they sit down. But what of those rare moments where things went wrong? Or funny but unnecessary tangents were followed? Or sections were simply too long to fit into the regular episode? You're about to find out in half an hour of cocks going up Denis Norden's aunt's bloomers whilst an animated David Walliams looks on disinterested...sorry, we mean funny outtakes and deleted sections from "Don't Lets Chart".

Merry Christmas VT!!!!!!!!!!1111111

Happy New Sort Of A Year! Ben and Phil are here with a bit of New Year Cheer which will be as delicious as the injection man coming round with all of your vaccines! There are resolutions, celebrations and confusing traditions for everyone as part of this new year we've been slung into. Plus all the spines you can eat! Think of it as Advent Day 263 if you will. Merry Yearmas! 

Between 1958 and 1972, the BBC would run a big programme entitled "Christmas Night with the Stars". In it you could find mini versions of all your favourite shows of the time plus sketches, monologues and other seasonal nonsense. Today, Don't Lets Chart are reviving that tradition with a big beefy feature length special containing bite-sized editions of some of our favourite podcasts including "Retrospecticus", "The Big Beatles Sort Out", "Looks Unfamiliar" and "Round The Archives". There's also an exclusive story from Twitter favourite Darrell Maclaine plus your top presents of all time, the seasonal episodes of a certain sitcom are ranked, too many Shreks, one of those quizzes we used to do before the war and the usual facts, events, idiocy and shouting presented by Ben Baker and Phil Catterall.

Merry Shreksmas!

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Find Retrospecticus here: http://retrospecticus.org/

Find Round The Archives here: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/round-the-archives-524254

Find Looks Unfamiliar here: https://timworthington.org/looksunfamiliar/

Find The Beatles Big Sort here: https://anchor.fm/garry-abbott

Find Darrell Maclaine here: https://twitter.com/maclockdown

With thanks as ever to Simon Tyers and Paul Abbott.

Thanks to everyone who has been downloading our Advent shows throughout December, it was a huge undertaking but we're very proud of it. Thanks to all our pastry pals for sticking with us through 2020 too. If you want to support the making of the podcast and get early access to new episodes, alongside hours of bonus material? Visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dontletschart

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Ben's new book "I Was Bored On Christmas Day: 90s Christmas Telly from Ant and Dec to Zig and Zag" is still available now!

BUY IT ON LULU: https://www.lulu.com/en/gb/shop/ben-baker/i-was-bored-on-christmas-day/paperback/product-7wkjmd.html

BUY IT ON AMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08NS9J76Z

BUY IT FOR KINDLE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08NXTJBCB

Shut up Chris Rea, its podcast time. Thank you to everyone who has downloaded the entire set of these festive fripperies. We had huge fun and we hope you did too. And that is very definitely the end. Yes. 

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Want to support the making of the podcast and get early access to new episodes, alongside hours of bonus material? Visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dontletschart

Ben's new book "I Was Bored On Christmas Day: 90s Christmas Telly from Ant and Dec to Zig and Zag" is available now! 

BUY IT ON LULU: https://www.lulu.com/en/gb/shop/ben-baker/i-was-bored-on-christmas-day/paperback/product-7wkjmd.html

BUY IT ON AMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08NS9J76Z

BUY IT FOR KINDLE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08NXTJBCB

Was 1973 the most Christmas year ever? And is it still remembered in the 2020 charts? All this plus your best Christmas hit singles ever inside a bumper festive Don't Lets and Chart! 

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Want to support the making of the podcast and get early access to new episodes, alongside hours of bonus material? Visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dontletschart

Ben's new book "I Was Bored On Christmas Day: 90s Christmas Telly from Ant and Dec to Zig and Zag" is available now! 

BUY IT ON LULU: https://www.lulu.com/en/gb/shop/ben-baker/i-was-bored-on-christmas-day/paperback/product-7wkjmd.html

BUY IT ON AMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08NS9J76Z

BUY IT FOR KINDLE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08NXTJBCB

We all know our classic British traditions, unless we dont, but what of more old fashioned Christmas activities? Phil gots a list and he's only mildly afraid to use it! MEAT WILL BE SHOWN!

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Want to support the making of the podcast and get early access to new episodes, alongside hours of bonus material? Visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dontletschart

Ben's new book "I Was Bored On Christmas Day: 90s Christmas Telly from Ant and Dec to Zig and Zag" is available now! 

BUY IT ON LULU: https://www.lulu.com/en/gb/shop/ben-baker/i-was-bored-on-christmas-day/paperback/product-7wkjmd.html

BUY IT ON AMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08NS9J76Z

BUY IT FOR KINDLE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08NXTJBCB

Right, no more of your lolligagging! Its time for the big shop and the vote for the best Christmas food for mouth is on. Will pigs beat blankets? When was the best Cadbury selection box era? And which is better: "Spuds" or "Just meat"? Slooooooooooo.....

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Want to support the making of the podcast and get early access to new episodes, alongside hours of bonus material? Visit our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/dontletschart

Ben's new book "I Was Bored On Christmas Day: 90s Christmas Telly from Ant and Dec to Zig and Zag" is available now! 

BUY IT ON LULU: https://www.lulu.com/en/gb/shop/ben-baker/i-was-bored-on-christmas-day/paperback/product-7wkjmd.html

BUY IT ON AMAZON: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08NS9J76Z

BUY IT FOR KINDLE: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08NXTJBCB