Oh HIYYAAAA! The Lovejoy Actually Book Club is OPEN FOR BUSINESS! Em, Pol and Helen return, summoned by a rather vague press release... hey, any excuse to get together over pizza and wine, amiright?

So, listen in and find out what we've been up to since we last spoke and what we think of Jonathan Gash's The Very Last Gambado. Em defends Lovejoy for reasons even she isn't certain of as we discuss the singular of legging, the ethics of human remains in museums, a mysterious Celtic cross and a plethora of interchangeable women all whilst bravely suspending our disbelief (in a balloon above Senate House.)

Antique of the Week: whatever we can slip in our handbags on Great Russell Street.

Your Lovejoy raconteurs and bon vivants* are back for the final time with an extra, extra long episode seeing as it's THE VERY LAST ONE!

Pol geeks out in extremis as we analyse Tinker's Dream, wonder just how many archaelogical digs one man can raid and enjoy the East Anglian Antique Dealers Association Annual Dance.

* After all, who amongst us has never told their alka seltzer to shut up?

The original Lovejoy episode was written by those Titans of British Televison, Mr. Ian La Frenais and Mr. Dick Clement and directed by our beloved Baz Taylor.

Antiques of the Week: Ruskin's letters, a mosaic floor and Tink's dressing gown.

Cocktail of the Week: Adios MelonFarmer

ps you could die of nostalgia, back in the day...

** SUPPORT ROYAL TRINITY HOSPICE BY SPONSORING OUR RUN! **

In this (very literal) episode we learn about the Cato Street Conspiracy - no thanks to UKTV Play - and enjoy, or not, an old school Lovejoy epsiode replete with tax people and an antique that just happens to be worth the exact amount of money he's short of.

Em tells a traumatic pram story, Dr. Helen tells us about hypnotherapy and we conclude Cricklewood is real as we watch Charlotte getting to grips with "having it all."

Question for listeners - what IS Tinker's tattoo? Answers on a postcard, or call 081 8111 etc etc...

You can find out more about the Cato Street Conspiracy here and give us a quid or two for our charity run round London's Royal Parks here.

The original Lovejoy episode was written by Paul Alexander and directed by Baz Taylor.

Antique of the Week: Libraries :/

Cocktail of the Week: Tequila Mockingbird

What better advice do you need? We enjoy watching a thoroughly naked (according to Em) Lovejoy getting hit by a massive mop this episode, as we also learn the difference between Tat and Valuable, remember Mr. Motivator and get thoroughly distracted by a packet of crisps.

The original Lovejoy episode was written by none other than the man himself Mr. Terry Hodgkinson and directed by Paul Harrison.

Antiques of the Week: Two very important pieces of modern art, and a nice vase.
Cocktail of the Week: A Vodka Sour - because it has Russian vodka in it, and an egg (tho Helen won’t get the reference…)

** we’re all running a half marathon in October for Trinity Hospice - please consider sponsoring us! Every little helps **

Join us as we enjoy some interesting sartorial choices and a blossoming bromance this week. There's smut aplenty as the Suffolk PD come up with a rather convuluted plan to recruit an antiques expert in their battle against a cur-ved sea captain.

The original Lovejoy episode was written by Douglas Watkinson and directed by Alex Kirby.

Antique of the Week: Cadbury's Roses, circa 1994.

Everyone wants Lovejoy to tell them who owns a godly bread bin - from the Greek Orthodox Church in London to the Dutch Land Reclamation Society - and they'll all pay him for the privilege.

Come and have a listen as we enjoy a pangolin distraction, hear about the Dunwich Dynamo and meet a generic loon who just adores "Tinky" !

The original Lovejoy episode was written by Steve Coombes and Dave Robinson. It was directed by Ian McShane.

The UK Treasure Trove rules are here and you can learn more about Gruel Thursday at the Everyday Lore Project.

** Don't forget we're still supporting Royal Trinity Hospice! **

Pol’s run out of white wine (catastrophe) on what is very much not a red wine evening - as you might be able to tell by the audio quality(!) But we still get to learn the etymology of “ponce”, that Helen hates shampoo and why you should always buy an off peak return in this episode as we’re delighted to see Lovejoy in a place very dear to our hearts - London’s Soho. Although he doesn’t go to Trisha’s.

Antique of the Week: Fluffy pink crop tops and ringing up to hear the news on the telephone
Cocktail of the Week: the suprisingly straightforward Gunfire

The original Lovejoy episode was written by John Milne and directed by Ian White.

You can sponsor our Half Marathon on our Justgiving page here!

An extra long episode with extra voices as we’re joined by the Midsomer Maniacs themselves!! We have an absolute blast discussing this episode where Jim Leonard returns, and he’s in MEGA TROUBLE. Listen in as we discover that there are no blackcurrants in North America, that Charlotte is living in the future and exactly where the Stretford End is.

The original Lovejoy episode was written by Roger Marshall and directed by Alex Kirby.

Antique of the Week: The slightly creepy rocking horse (pre-Jim’s ass.)

Cocktail of the Week: A Bloody Samurai

Many thanks to our guests Mark and Sarah from the Midsomer Maniacs podcast. Find them online @midsomermaniacs on Twitter and Instagram, or on the Midsomer subreddit! Lovejoy writers Jeremy Paul, Douglas Watkinson and of course the inimitable Terry Hodgkinson have all written for Midsomer Murders - check out which episodes and give them a go!

Lovejoy and his band of scallywags (what?) are back and we have a bit of a stare into the abyss listener, but don't worry, it's not very deep. Plenty of potential for peril this episode though as we see a sad AND forlorn AND melancholy Tink having a mope in a pub, a caravan and on a bridge - before he disappears!

So join us to learn what naughty thing Polly did with her phonecard, where the best place is to offload nicked jewellery, and what happens when you're the kind of chap to Keep Calm and Carry On, and you can't...

The original Lovejoy episode was written by Jeremy Paul and directed by Ian White.
Antique of the Week: Charlotte's jewellery, a phone card, and Wallis Simpson's rock crystal bracelet
Polly's Cocktail Recommendation: Over The Rainbow

❤ Don’t forget, wherever you are in the world, you can search online for local mental health support should you need it. If you're in the UK and you feel rotten, please tell your GP - they can help you out. You can also always contact the Samaritans for free on 116 123 on or by emailing [email protected], get help from the Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) and - if you identify as a chap and you're in the UK - why not take a look if there's an Andy's Man Club available near you ❤

Sustained peril this episode as we sit through approximately 22 hours of reckoning... Charlotte's in trouble (again) but not to worry, Lovejoy - and not the police, what are you thinking - is on the case!

Join us as we discuss the difference between a sacristy and a vestry, enjoy some omnious music and learn that everyone is taller than Helen.

The original Lovejoy episode was written by John Goldsmith and directed by Paul Harrison.

Antiques of the Week: A Queen Anne coffeepot and a chess set with more atoms than the universe.

EM’S “FUN” FACTS

Almost one in three women aged 16-59 will experience domestic abuse in her lifetime

In the year ending March 2018, nine times more women than men were killed by their partner or ex-partner

Two women a week are killed by a current or former partner in England and Wales alone

Nearly a quarter of women (almost 1 in 4!) have experienced sexual assault or attempted sexual assault since the age of 16