...in which Ruth is not impressed by boy students weeing in the sink, prompting dad to reveal the secret of Butlin's bum. Ruth and dad discuss initiation rituals in Uni, the upcoming strike, and the class divide among students - if there is one. In the wider world, Ruth nominates Kate Garraway as the most annoying person in the world, and although the de-clutterer Marie Kondo has helped Ruth with sock storage, her latest initiative isn't de-cluttering anything. Musically Girl In Red takes on Billy Bragg.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...in which Ruth falls asleep on a nightclub toilet at 2am, when she could have been in the University of York's 24-hour library. Also, despite Armistice Day and the season of remembrance, patriotism is not flavour of the month with Ruth. Meanwhile she is chosen as boxer of the week. Musically, youngster Matt Maltese takes on Arlo Guthrie.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

...in which Ruthie, now fully at home at the University of York, dresses up as Hugh Hefner, while her college chums pretend to be Playboy bunnies. Why going home for the first time feels strange, why house-hunting for next year has already started, and how her French teacher is, er, really French

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ruth is settling in at the University of York, coping with a demanding French and Spanish degree course. She's uncomfortable with the banning of a campaign against the crackdown on the Hong Kong protestors by the Chinese government, and wonders what it says about free speech on campus. With an election in the offing she's not sure she and her fellow students will dutifully march out and vote Labour as expected. Meanwhile, back on campus, Ruth reveals the horrors of Oriental Night in the cafeteria!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Boy George once said of sex that he'd rather have a cup of tea, a metaphor taken up by York University, in their lectures on sexual consent. Ruth also talks of dating rituals and boxing training at Uni as she starts her degree in French and Spanish.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which Ruth embarks on the difficult business of making friends at University, falls over drunk causing cuts and abrasions, stands up for Leeds in the face of kids from Surrey, a tribe she hadn't previously come across. She reveals that among the societies soliciting members at the Freshers' Fair was a fetish club, and asks dad if he went to University in California or Strathclyde. Musically, 87-year-old Petula Clark takes on 16-year-old Alfie Templeman

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A compilation of extracts of Ruthie Me & My Dad from the last year's episodes; includes Fiona Bruce taking over Question Time, Ruth's views on Piers Morgan, what is OK to make jokes about these days, with reference to Inbetweeners - could that even be made in #MeToo era? Liam Neeson's revenge story, Pride marches becoming too commercial, teenage boys' frightening thoughts on rape, and the Intelligence Trap. Musically, Toots & The Maytals take on Tom Misch.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Trepidation and excitement mingle as Ruth prepares to start university. Meanwhile, as someone who likes a chocolate Minstrel, she rejects sugar-free diets as recommended by influencers and bloggers. Dad picks out some dodgy lyrics in pop songs, and an emailer writes in to tell Ruth not to worry about student debt; 'it's a myth.'

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ruth talks about her uncertainty on the eve of her university career. Also how no-one wants to see a revival of Friends - fiftysomething Ross and Rachel would be in therapy after a toxic relationship and a bitter divorce, how Dolly Parton's doormat lyrics are OK for feminists, and how Ruth bought a newspaper for the first time ever in her life, and what a revelation it was.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ruth believes you can't tell the story of the Pope being stuck in a lift without doing a transubstantiation joke or something similar, she tries a Black Country accent in honour of hero Caitlin Moran, whose Wolverhampton childhood is being made into a movie, but mostly she insists her other hero Margaret Atwood, whose public appearance she went to see, has lots to tell us about the way we live now. Musically, Martin chooses 1950s doo wop, Ruthie a remake of 10CC's I'm Not In Love.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.