The Oasis reunion at Wembley Stadium on July 25, 2025, was a night that will be long remembered by fans and music lovers alike. Anticipation buzzed through the air long before the doors opened, as generations of fans gathered under clear summer skies, transforming Wembley Way into a living tribute to Britpop’s heyday. The event marked not just a concert, but a celebration—one capturing the spirit of an era and the enduring appeal of the Gallagher brothers’ music.

From the support acts to the final encore, the evening was a testament to Oasis’s profound cultural footprint. Opening with spirited performances from Cast and Richard Ashcroft, the atmosphere only grew more electrifying as dusk settled. Vintage footage and iconic Manchester imagery set the stage, creating an immersive nostalgia trip that connected the audience with the band’s roots and musical journey.

When Liam and Noel Gallagher finally took the stage, any lingering doubts about their reunion vanished. The band launched into their signature hits, each song met with a stadium-sized chorus as 90,000 voices became one—belting out “Morning Glory,” “Supersonic,” and “Wonderwall” with raw energy. The sibling banter was on display, but so was a genuine affection, making the set both powerful and personal.

Emotion reached its peak during “Don’t Look Back in Anger” and a moving tribute to Ozzy Osbourne, moments that reminded everyone of the music’s power to unite and heal. The closing fireworks during “Champagne Supernova” were more than spectacle—they marked the realization of countless fans’ dreams, and a hopeful promise for the future of British rock.

This episode isn’t just a concert review; it’s an invitation to relive a cultural milestone. From backstage anecdotes and crowd vibes to unexpected heartfelt moments on stage, listeners will feel as if they stood shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow fans, singing their hearts out and believing, however briefly, that glory days can return.

Talk2TheHand is an independent throwback podcast run by husband and wife, Jimmy and Beth. Obsessed with 90s nostalgia and 90s celebrities, we'll rewind the years and take you back to the greatest era of our lives.  

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at [email protected] or [email protected]

In this week’s deep dive into 90s nostalgia, we revisit one of British television’s most shocking and talked-about scandals—Richard Bacon’s abrupt firing from Blue Peter in October 1998. Once the face of Britain’s most wholesome children’s show, Bacon found himself at the center of a tabloid frenzy after admitting to cocaine use. It was the first time in the program’s 40-year history that a presenter had been dismissed, and the fallout shook viewers, parents, and the BBC itself.

Beth and Jimmy explore the incident from two very different angles. Beth sees Bacon's actions as an unforgivable breach of trust—especially given his status as a children’s role model—while Jimmy argues the reaction was wildly disproportionate and driven more by tabloid hysteria than real concern. Their spirited debate unpacks the moral expectations placed on public figures in the 90s, especially those working with children, and how those expectations may have evolved over time.

We chart Bacon’s early rise—from his roots in Mansfield and his breakout role on The Big Breakfast, to earning the coveted Blue Peter badge. But it’s the cocaine scandal that forms the crux of this episode, with all its messy, cultural implications. We examine how the BBC responded, how the public perceived the scandal, and how Bacon’s downfall was amplified by a media machine eager for blood.

Yet this isn’t just a story of disgrace—it’s one of resilience. From commercial radio gigs to his triumphant return on BBC Five Live, and eventually his reinvention as a respected broadcaster, documentary maker, and media entrepreneur, Bacon’s comeback is as compelling as his fall. We unpack how he managed to move past the stigma, what his journey says about redemption in British culture, and why he remains a fascinating—and complicated—figure in UK media history.

Whether you remember watching the scandal unfold in real time or are discovering it for the first time, this episode delivers a compelling mix of nostalgia, debate, and insight. Tune in as we explore how one bad night nearly ended a career—and how that career came back stronger, smarter, and stranger than anyone expected.

Talk2TheHand is an independent throwback podcast run by husband and wife, Jimmy and Beth. Obsessed with 90s nostalgia and 90s celebrities, we'll rewind the years and take you back to the greatest era of our lives.  

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at [email protected] or [email protected]

In this episode, we turn our spotlight on Maid Marian and Her Merry Men, one of the most inventive, anarchic, and subversively brilliant children’s shows ever to grace British television. Airing from 1989 to 1994 on BBC1, the series took the well-worn legend of Robin Hood and flipped it on its head—putting Marian in charge, packing in satire, and setting it all to music. With its wild humor, catchy songs, and fearless rewriting of folklore, it wasn’t just a kids’ show—it was a revolution in tights.

Created and written by Blackadder’s Tony Robinson, the show emerged from a frustration with how the Robin Hood story traditionally sidelined Marian. Robinson gave her center stage, crafting a heroine who was clever, tough, and completely unimpressed by Robin’s vanity. The result was a feminist reimagining wrapped in slapstick and song, starring Kate Lonergan as the no-nonsense leader of the gang, and Wayne Morris as the hilariously clueless Robin.

The cast included a dream team of comedic talent, from Danny John-Jules as reggae-rapping Barrington to Tony Robinson himself as the gloriously petty Sheriff of Nottingham. Behind the scenes, Robinson’s writing combined medieval mayhem with razor-sharp satire—skewering bureaucracy, gender roles, and even the BBC. The show constantly broke the fourth wall, embraced anachronisms, and gave kids a taste of social commentary disguised as comedy.

Original songs by Nick Russell-Pavier and David Chilton helped cement the show’s unique identity, with unforgettable tunes like “Mud” and “Call The Dentist” becoming instant classics. But what truly made Maid Marian special was its refusal to patronize its young audience. Instead, it treated them as smart, curious, and capable of catching both the fart jokes and the political ones.

Whether you're a long-time fan or a curious newcomer, this episode is a joyous celebration of a show that dared to be different. We’ll revisit its origins, its enduring cultural impact, and the reasons why Maid Marian and Her Merry Men remains one of British TV’s greatest hidden treasures. So grab your green tights, cue the music, and join us as we return to the forest where the real brains of the operation wore a dress—and carried the whole legend on her shoulders.

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at [email protected] or [email protected]

In this episode, we dive headfirst into one of the most defining – and divisive – social phenomena of 1990s Britain: Lad Culture. From the beer-soaked pages of Loaded to the banter-fuelled chaos of TFI Friday, Lad Culture reshaped British masculinity, media, and nightlife in its own cheeky, irreverent image. Whether you loved it, hated it, or just got swept along with it, this cultural moment left a legacy that’s still felt today.

We trace its roots to the mid-90s launch of Loaded magazine, a publication that celebrated lager, football, music, and women with a wink and a smirk. With its tagline “For men who should know better,” the magazine ignited a publishing revolution and sparked a nationwide identity shift. Soon, the lads weren’t just in magazines – they were all over our screens too, from the lovable oafs in Men Behaving Badly to the raucous party atmosphere of TFI Friday.

Lad Culture wasn’t confined to print and television. It bled into fashion, music, and the national psyche. Britpop bands like Oasis became lad anthems, while Paul Smith suits and Adidas Gazelles became part of the dress code. And of course, no discussion of Lad Culture would be complete without a visit to the pub – the spiritual home of the 90s lad and the birthplace of “banter” as both bonding ritual and social defence mechanism.

But for all its charm and cultural clout, Lad Culture had a darker side. Its objectification of women, celebration of binge drinking, and paper-thin irony around political correctness drew increasing criticism as the decade progressed. As digital media rose and political realities shifted in the early 2000s, Lad Culture lost its edge – and its influence.

Still, its impact lingers. From our advertising to our online discourse, echoes of Lad Culture remain part of how Britain talks, jokes, and remembers its recent past. In this episode, we unpack the rise and fall of the lads, and ask what their moment in the sun tells us about gender, identity, and the 1990s spirit of rebellion – both real and performative.

Talk2TheHand is an independent throwback podcast run by husband and wife, Jimmy and Beth. Obsessed with 90s nostalgia and 90s celebrities, we'll rewind the years and take you back to the greatest era of our lives.  

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at [email protected] or [email protected]

To celebrate our 100th episode, we’re diving deep into the four-fingered, doughnut-fuelled world of The Simpsons—the show that changed TV forever. What began as a quirky sketch on The Tracey Ullman Show grew into a cultural juggernaut that redefined animation, comedy, and family dysfunction for the 90s generation and beyond. In this episode, we trace its chaotic origins, legendary writing, and the surprisingly heartfelt soul at the centre of Springfield.

We revisit The Simpsons' golden age—those glorious mid-90s seasons packed with razor-sharp satire, perfect one-liners, and unforgettable episodes like Marge vs. the Monorail and Homer’s Enemy. We also explore its genius for social commentary, and how it tackled everything from class and politics to religion and environmentalism—all while making us laugh out loud and somehow care deeply about a man who once tried to block out the sun.

Of course, we couldn’t talk Simpsons without shouting out the talent behind it—both in the writers’ room and behind the mic. We discuss the impact of legends like Conan O’Brien and Greg Daniels, and celebrate the voice actors whose performances gave life to characters who are still household names. From Dan Castellaneta’s existential “D’oh!” to Nancy Cartwright’s eternal troublemaker Bart, these voices became the sound of the 90s.

We also chart the show’s place in pop culture history—from merchandise mania and school bans on “Eat My Shorts” t-shirts, to guest star glory and uncanny future predictions (President Trump, anyone?). The Simpsons didn’t just reflect culture—it bent it around itself, changing how we saw animation and, arguably, ourselves.

So whether you’re a Lisa at heart or more of a Moe, this 100th episode is a tribute to the cartoon that shaped a generation. It’s heartfelt, hilarious, a little bit nerdy—and yes, it’s filled with more Simpsons trivia than Comic Book Guy’s bookshelf. As always, thanks for listening. Now sit back, press play… and don’t have a cow, man.

Talk2TheHand is an independent throwback podcast run by husband and wife, Jimmy and Beth. Obsessed with 90s nostalgia and 90s celebrities, we'll rewind the years and take you back to the greatest era of our lives.  

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at [email protected] or [email protected]

Step into the squeaky blue plastic chairs of yesteryear as this episode of our 90s nostalgia podcast takes you back to the glorious chaos of British school life in the 1990s. From answering the register too early (a social death sentence) to the unspoken rules of the pencil case hierarchy, we’re diving into the details that made school in the 90s an unforgettable blend of awkward, hilarious, and occasionally traumatic moments.

We reminisce about the horror of forgetting your PE kit, the misery of lost property boxes that smelled like regret, and the quiet panic of mufti day wardrobe decisions. Whether you were the kid with a Woolworths multi-compartment pencil case or someone scribbling with a chewed-up biro, you’ll recognise the everyday drama that came with trying to survive the playground and the classroom alike.

Remember the reverence for Parker pens? Or the moment a TV trolley wheeled into the room, promising a blessed break from long division? From recorder lessons that sounded like a goose fight to the magical healing powers of green paper towels, we relive the bizarre, brilliant details of 90s school culture with the affection only time can bring.

We also celebrate the rituals that shaped us – forging sick notes, jostling for seats on school trip coaches, pretending to understand blurry OHP slides, and typing “5318008” into calculators with absolute glee. These moments didn’t just define our school days—they bonded a generation together in a uniquely British, mildly traumatising way.

So whether you survived swimming lessons with chlorine-sensitive excuses or found yourself emotionally changed by a particularly stressful Ofsted visit, this episode is your invitation to laugh, cringe, and nod along. The 90s school experience was a world of chaos and camaraderie—and we wouldn’t trade it for anything (except maybe to never play the recorder again).

Talk2TheHand is an independent throwback podcast run by husband and wife, Jimmy and Beth. Obsessed with 90s nostalgia and 90s celebrities, we'll rewind the years and take you back to the greatest era of our lives.  

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at [email protected] or [email protected]

The 11 o Clock Show

In the twilight years of the 1990s, The 11 O’Clock Show exploded onto Channel 4 as a sharp, satirical late-night comedy that would come to define a cultural shift in British humour. Launched in 1998, the show embraced controversy, irreverence, and chaos—offering a blend of current affairs commentary, anarchic sketches, and daring character work. What began as an experimental format with modest expectations quickly grew into a breeding ground for some of the most iconic comedic voices of the next two decades.

This episode explores how The 11 O’Clock Show served as the launchpad for then-unknown talents like Sacha Baron Cohen, Ricky Gervais, and Mackenzie Crook. We revisit Ali G’s legendary rise from fringe character to cultural juggernaut, Ricky Gervais’ early incarnations of cringe comedy, and Crook’s subtle brilliance in darkly offbeat sketches. All three would go on to revolutionise British and global comedy in their own ways, but it was this chaotic Channel 4 late-nighter where the seeds were first sown.

Behind the camera, the writing talent was equally impressive, with future stars like Charlie Brooker and John Oliver contributing to the show’s jagged, boundary-testing tone. With contributions from Father Ted creators and Borat collaborators, The 11 O’Clock Show was a nexus of comedy evolution, fusing tabloid cynicism with Gen X sarcasm.

The episode also unpacks the cultural moment that gave rise to the show: a time when New Labour’s gloss was beginning to crack, political correctness was being loudly challenged, and the media was becoming increasingly self-aware. The 11 O’Clock Show didn’t always get it right—it could be juvenile, offensive, and uneven—but it helped pave the way for the next era of British satire.

More than two decades later, the show’s influence can still be felt in the tone, style, and structure of modern comedy. From Ali G’s real-world interviews to the cringe-laced realism of The Office, The 11 O’Clock Show helped rewrite the rules of televised humour. This episode takes you back to the messy, brilliant, late-night chaos that changed the face of comedy—whether Channel 4 knew it or not.

Talk2TheHand is an independent throwback podcast run by husband and wife, Jimmy and Beth. Obsessed with 90s nostalgia and 90s celebrities, we'll rewind the years and take you back to the greatest era of our lives.  

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at [email protected] or [email protected]

Before he became a global box office superstar, Will Smith was a debt-ridden rapper given a shot at acting by Quincy Jones—and the result was one of the most iconic sitcoms of the 1990s. In this episode, we unpack the unlikely origin story of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, from an impromptu audition at a house party to the creation of a cultural phenomenon that redefined what a Black-led sitcom could be.

We take a look at the show's signature mix of humor and heart, exploring how the Banks family—Uncle Phil, Aunt Viv, Carlton, Hilary, Ashley, and Geoffrey—provided the perfect backdrop for Will's street-smart charm. But this wasn’t just a fish-out-of-water comedy. The show cleverly tackled race, class, identity, and adolescence, offering both laughs and life lessons in equal measure.

From Carlton’s unforgettable dance moves to powerful storylines about absentee fathers and racial profiling, Fresh Prince blended silliness with substance in a way few shows managed. We revisit emotional highlights like “Papa’s Got a Brand New Excuse,” and explore how James Avery’s Uncle Phil became one of TV’s most memorable father figures.

We also dive into the real-life drama behind the scenes—including Janet Hubert’s controversial departure as Aunt Viv—and discuss how the cast ultimately found reconciliation decades later. With insights into the show’s impact, its long-running syndication success, and its bold 2022 reimagining Bel-Air, we explore why this series remains a cultural touchstone more than 30 years after its debut.

Whether you watched it live on NBC or discovered it through streaming, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air still has the power to make you laugh, cry, and sing along to that legendary theme tune. Join us as we look back at the show that took Will from West Philly to global fame—and changed the sitcom game forever.

Talk2TheHand is an independent throwback podcast run by husband and wife, Jimmy and Beth. Obsessed with 90s nostalgia and 90s celebrities, we'll rewind the years and take you back to the greatest era of our lives.  

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at [email protected] or [email protected]

Few sitcoms defined the 1990s quite like Men Behaving Badly. In this episode, we dive deep into Simon Nye’s laddish comedy that helped shape a generation’s humour—examining how it balanced crude jokes with surprising warmth, and why Gary and Tony’s childish chaos was more endearing than offensive. Though some aspects haven’t aged as gracefully, its cultural impact is undeniable.

We explore the origins of the show, tracing it back to Nye’s lesser-known novel and the sharp instincts of legendary producer Beryl Vertue. Her belief in the project led to a series that would become a post-watershed hit—moving from ITV to the BBC, where it truly found its voice. Vertue’s influence wasn’t just behind the scenes; her approach to nurturing cast and crew was rare and heartfelt.

The chemistry between Martin Clunes and Neil Morrissey became the show’s beating heart. We unpack how Morrissey’s arrival as Tony transformed the show after Harry Enfield’s original run as Dermot. Enfield’s performance was strong—but Morrissey brought a laddish charm that made Men Behaving Badly an iconic bromance long before the term entered pop culture.

From memorable episodes like In Bed with Dorothy to that unforgettable Kylie Minogue Comic Relief sketch, we celebrate the sitcom’s most classic moments. We also touch on the lesser-known behind-the-scenes stories—like Simon Nye’s own silent cameo and the US remake that never quite captured the magic.

Finally, we reflect on the cast’s lasting affection for the series and why calls for a reunion never quite die down. With heartfelt recollections from Clunes, Ash, and Nye himself, this episode is a love letter to one of the UK’s most chaotic, lovable, and enduring comedies.

Talk2TheHand is an independent throwback podcast run by husband and wife, Jimmy and Beth. Obsessed with 90s nostalgia and 90s celebrities, we'll rewind the years and take you back to the greatest era of our lives.  

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at [email protected] or [email protected]

From a plumbing-free house in post-war Austria to the glamour of Hollywood and the Governor’s mansion in California, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s life story is one of the most remarkable in modern history. In this episode, we trace the extraordinary rise of the “Austrian Oak,” a man who didn’t just chase the American Dream — he body-slammed it into reality.

We begin with Arnold’s tough upbringing under a strict father in rural Thal, and how cinema and bodybuilding became his escape. From going AWOL to win his first competition to becoming Mr. Universe by age 20, Arnold’s relentless ambition was evident early on. But it was his leap to the United States that truly set the stage for global superstardom.

Arnold’s charisma and dominance reshaped bodybuilding, but his ambition didn’t stop there. With Conan the Barbarian and The Terminator, he broke into Hollywood, creating an iconic image of the action hero that defined a generation. We explore the peaks of his film career, including T2, Predator, and even his turn to comedy in Kindergarten Cop.

Then came the ultimate plot twist: politics. Arnold’s time as Governor of California was filled with both unexpected accomplishments and public controversy, culminating in a dramatic personal scandal. Yet, like all great screen icons, he refused to stay down for long.

Now in his seventies, Arnold has stepped into the role of public philosopher, environmental advocate, and nostalgia icon. In this deep-dive episode, we explore how one man conquered three careers — bodybuilding, acting, and politics — and redefined what it means to be a self-made legend.

New episodes bursting with nostalgia of the 90s released on Tuesdays.

Please subscribe to our podcast and we'll keep you gooey in 1990s love.

Find us on Twitter @talk2thehandpod or email us at [email protected] or [email protected]