Phil and Lily host The Banters without Joe and welcome guest Simon Clark, president of the non-profit cultural association Atelier des Art du Noble Val (founded 2022 in Saint-Antonin-Noble-Val) promoting music and the arts across the region. Simon describes moving to France after buying a property at 50, drawn by the area’s scenery and a barn he converted into a concert/rehearsal space, plus gîtes that help fund retirement. He shares his musical beginnings in a high-standard church boys’ choir, his career path from university singing to overseas travel operations (including Thomas Cook), then retraining as a language teacher and later running language courses. Simon explains forming the association to avoid local politics, outlines year-round programming, and previews upcoming events: a May 10 sacred Italian music concert in Vieux with 60 singers, organ, soloists, and conductor Mark Opstad; Shakespeare productions (Twelfth Night, then The Winter’s Tale); and a July 24 Albi concert by Gérald Toto with live ikebana. The episode ends with “word of the week” and recommendations.

Recommending’s

Phill recommended a programme called HOME which can be found on Apple TV+

Lilly recommended the 2019 version of Upstairs Downstairs starring Keeley Hawes which is on Amazon Prime in France

Simon recommended a singer/guitarist called Gerald Toto https://www.geraldtoto.net/about-gerald-toto/

Our podcast music is called  ‘The best jazz club in New Orleans’

Music by Paolo Argento from Pixabay

Phill, Jo, and Lily are back for another wide-ranging conversation covering listener mail, cringe-worthy memories, the origin of a surprising word, and a deep dive into their favourite artists and artworks.

In this episode:

📬 Listener Mail

• Ian from France writes in about Episode 1 (favourite films) — correcting the group on Wuthering Heights in French cinemas, Bob Hope's Road Movies co-star (Bing Crosby), and sharing his views on The Singers and French Exit.
• Joe from London recommends I Swear (Netflix) — a BAFTA-winning film about a man with Tourette's — and the Channel 4 documentary Dirty Business, a hard-hitting look at how UK water companies are polluting waterways and beaches.

😳 Cringe Moments

• Joe: Attempting mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on her dead guinea pig, Giles, before wrapping him in tinfoil for burial.
• Lily: Using phrases taught by a "friend" at a racecourse abroad… which turned out to be extremely offensive suggestions directed at a stranger's entire family.
• Phil: Singing Memory from Cats at a charity fashion show — brilliantly, until "that big note."

🔤 Word of the Episode: Heckle

Joe traces the word back to 14th-century Middle Dutch textile workers, through Scottish political agitators, to the comedy clubs of today. Highlights include a sharp comeback from Jo Brand, a misguided Glastonbury request for Oasis to play "Parklife" (a Blur song), and a possibly apocryphal Churchill quip from the lavatory.

🎨 Favourite Artists

Lily's picks:

• Jan van Eyck – The Virgin with the Chancellor Rolin (c. 14th century): rich iconography, royal colours, and a hidden Paddington Bear.
• Vermeer – Lady Reading a Letter at an Open Window (1657–59): evocative, luminous, and possibly aided by a camera obscura.
• The Scottish Colourists – Ferguson, Hunter, Peploe, and Cadell: vibrant, impressionistic works with a particular focus on the Isle of Iona.

Jo's picks:

• Picasso – From deconstructed bull sketches to Child with a Dove; a celebration of cubism, colour, and artistic evolution.
• David Hockney – His Polaroid works, animated sunrise at Piccadilly Circus, and intimate still-life scenes.
• Vanessa Bell – Sister of Virginia Woolf, co-founder of the Omega Workshops, and painter of the Fifty Famous Women dinner service at Charleston House.
• Honourable mention: the Pre-Raphaelites, the Impressionists, and William Morris (appreciated, not loved).

Phill’s picks:

• Dante Gabriel Rossetti & the Pre-Raphaelites – Introduced through the Athena poster shop; captivated by the lush colours, dramatic hair, and androgynous beauty.
• Edward Hopper – Nighthawks and beyond; foreboding urban scenes full of unspoken tension and narrative.
• Paul Klee – Cubist, surrealist layering and extraordinary colour depth.
• Toulouse-Lautrec – Born nearby in Albi; pioneer of the lithograph, prolific creator despite dying at 36.
• Photography as art – A plea for more recognition, including immersive art exhibitions (Monet currently touring).

🎬 Recommendations

• Lily: Fool Me Once (Prime Video) – directed by Guy Ritchie, starring Helen Mirren, Pierce Brosnan & Tom Hardy. Surprisingly great.
• Joe: Seeking listener tips for visits to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, the Henry Moore Foundation, Elizabeth Frink sites, and Charleston House. Also vowing to finally see Picasso's Guernica in Madrid within six months.
• Phil: Fault Lines by Family Stereo – Blake Watt (son of Everything But the Girl's Tracey Thorn & Ben Watt) has a new single out, with album The Thread due in July. Find him at familystereo.net.

Got an unusual word for the group? Send it in! And if you've visited the Yorkshire Sculpture Park or Henry Moore Foundation, Joe would love to hear your tips.

Our podcast music is called  ‘The best jazz club in New Orleans’

Music by Paolo Argento from Pixabay

#TheBanterists #Podcast #Workaway #FilmReview #TravelStories #SoloEpisode #NewEpisode

This week, Phill, Jo and Lilly take a trip down memory lane as they share some of their most unforgettable life moments… but not before a bit of classic Banterists chat about zombie filler.

From magical weddings in Italy 🇮🇹 to camel riding adventures in Morocco 🐪, the gang swap stories that will make you laugh, reminisce, and maybe even feel a little nostalgic. They also dive into incredible cultural moments – from catching the very first matinee of Les Misérables, to seeing Catherine Zeta-Jones light up the stage in 42nd Street, and the pure joy of live music with Black Pumas in Paris.

Recommending’s

Books

‘Love Lane’ and  ‘A place called winter’ by Patrick Gale 

 Horse by Geraldine Brooks 

Film

Jo is off to see the film ‘The Drama’ Staring Zendaya, Robert Pattinson and Alana Haim

In this episode, Phill takes the hosting reins solo while Lilly and Jo are off on other adventures—but he’s not alone for long! Joining him is special guest Banterist Tori, all the way from New York, currently exploring life abroad through Workaway.

🌍 Main Topic: Workaway Life
Phill and Tori dive into the world of Workaway—what it is, how it works, and why it’s becoming such a popular way to travel. Tori shares her first-hand experience of doing Workaway for the first time, including:

• What inspired her to try it
• The benefits of cultural exchange and travel on a budget
• The realities (and surprises!) of living and working abroad
• Tips for anyone thinking of giving it a go

🎬 Film Reviews
As always, there’s time for a bit of movie banter! Phill and Tori chat about three films they’ve recently watched:

• 28 Years Later – Does this long-awaited follow-up live up to the hype?
• https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10548174/
• The Ballad of Wallis Island – A quirky watch with plenty to unpack
• https://www.imdb.com/title/tt27674982/?ref_=fn_t_1
• Eternity – A deeper, more reflective film—did it hit the mark?
• https://www.imdb.com/title/tt24950660/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_eternity

Expect honest opinions, a few laughs, and maybe a disagreement or two!

Workaway Website link

https://www.workaway.info/en/hostlist/europe/gb

Join Phill and Tori for a relaxed, funny, and insightful episode full of travel stories and film chat.

📩 Got thoughts on Workaway or seen any of the films? Get in touch—we’d love to hear from you!

Please email us [email protected] or send us a message via our social sites you can find us by searching for The Banterists

Our podcast music is called  ‘The best jazz club in New Orleans’

Music by Paolo Argento from Pixabay

#TheBanterists #Podcast #Workaway #FilmReview #TravelStories #SoloEpisode #NewEpisode

Episode Summary:

Jo, Lily, and Phill dive into the always-contentious topic of favourite films - with Phill’s self-described "highbrow" choices raising a few eyebrows. Before getting into other films, the episode opens with a chat about Oscar-winning short films, including A Friend of Dorothy's (starring Miriam Margolyes) and the intriguing French film Two People Exchanging Saliva, joint winners of the Best Live Action Short Film Oscar alongside Singers.

Films Discussed:

• Carry On Films (Phil) 
• Rebecca (1940) (Lily) 
• The Age of Innocence (1993) (Jo)  
• Gosford Park (2001) (Jo & Phill) 
• Howard's End (1992) (Jo) 
• Torch Song Trilogy (1988) (Phil) 
• Jane Eyre (2011) (Lily) 
• The Birdcage (1996) (Lily) 
• A Fish Called Wanda (1988) (Lily) 
• Some Like It Hot (1959) (Phill) 
• Sinners (2025) (all hosts) 
• Chinatown (1974) (Jo) 
• Hamnet (2026) (Jo) 

The Wuthering Heights Anticipation: All three are eager to see Emerald Fennell's Wuthering Heights (with Margot Robbie), though it hasn't arrived in their local cinemas yet.

Recommendations:

• Lilly: Is recomending all her films
• Jo: Parasite (Korean Oscar winner), A Friend of Dorothy's (YouTube), and Sinners
• Jo: A History of the World in 100 Objects – BBC Radio 4 / British Museum podcast series presented by Neil MacGregor (available on most podcast platforms, ~15 min episodes)
• Phil: The Green Roasting Tin by Rukmini Iyer – a vegan/vegetarian one-tray cookbook, part of a series including the Red, Pink, and Yellow Roasting Tins

Drag Name Game:

• Phil → Mary Patch
• Joe → JJ Fitzneal
• Lily → Oliver Nursery

Have a question? or would like to suggest a topic? We would love to hear from you please email us [email protected] or send us a message via our social sites you can find us by searching for The Banterists

Our podcast music is called  ‘The best jazz club in New Orleans’

Music by Paolo Argento from Pixabay

In the first episode of The Banterists, hosts Phill, Jo, and Lilly introduce the podcast and discuss TV, color, and the Oscars. Phill recommends the TV series Small Prophets, written and directed by Mackenzie Crook, set in Manchester and centered on Michael searching for his vanished girlfriend using homunculi prophecies; they praise its observational humor, set design, and cast including Pierce Quigley, Crook, Michael Palin, Paul Kaye, Sophie Willan, and Shola Adewusi. Jo explores International Klein Blue, its patenting in 1961, Yves Klein’s use of nude models as “living brushes,” and related blue references from denim and Picasso’s Blue Period. They review Oscars history and red-carpet fashion trends, note winners including Best Picture One Battle After Another, and end with recommendations: the Wes Anderson exhibition at London’s Design Museum, BBC’s The Other Bennet Girl, Pat Barker’s Troy trilogy, and the short film A Friend of Dorothy’s on YouTube.

00:00 Introduction

00:48 Small Profits (TV Pick)

08:28 Yves Klein Blue

12:15 The Oscars

12:47 Oscar Fashion

22:36 Oscar Winners

27:55 Recommendings

Books mentioned this podcast are 

The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker

My Life in Design by Terence Conran

Conran on Colour by Terence Conran

Our podcast music is called  ‘The best jazz club in New Orleans’

Music by Paolo Argento from Pixabay

The Banterists is a brand-new podcast where three friends dive into big ideas, small obsessions and everything in between. Expect lively conversations, plenty of laughs, and honest opinions on everything from books, theatre, TV and fashion to music, art, exhibitions and whatever else grabs their attention. Thought-provoking, entertaining and full of personality, it’s like eavesdropping on your friends conversations over a drink. 

Coming soon to wherever you get your podcasts — tune in, join the conversation, and become one of The Banterists.

Our theme tune is The best jazz club in New Orleans 

Music by Paolo Argento from Pixabay