Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!

This week, we move between silence and sound, ruins and renewal, stars in the sky and treasures in the mud.

First up, our Pub Quiz heads to the true north strong and free for “Maple Leaf or Make Believe: Pizza Edition”. From syrup-soaked slices to bears with strong topping opinions, can you spot the real Canadian headline?

Then Kevin sits down with legendary theatre-maker Wendy Gorling to explore the true meaning of mime. From training in Paris at École Jacques Lecoq, to co-creating groundbreaking productions like The Overcoat, to a surprise appearance as the very first infected human in HBO’s The Last of Us, Wendy’s story reveals how physical presence and imagination can transform both stage and screen.

On the Parish Notice Board, we visit St Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace. Destroyed by an IRA bomb in 1993, this 800-year-old London church has been rebuilt as a hub for community, connection, and healing—an extraordinary symbol of resilience and hope in the heart of the city.

Next, Kevin takes us to his childhood summer haunt Shawnigan Lake in British Columbia, where the clarity of the night sky inspires both awe and humility. What does it mean to feel small in the face of the cosmos—and why might awe be the most human emotion of all?

Finally, we return to the Thames foreshore with Sean Clark the Mudlark, whose latest discovery—a pristine Elizabeth I silver shilling—offers a window into Tudor life before potatoes, tobacco, or the Spanish Armada.

Don’t forget to follow the show, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with a friend who loves a good story. Until next time—stand tall, speak true, and we’ll see you soon in The Big Smoke.

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Links

🎙️ Fill out our short survey for a chance to win a copy of The Philosophy of Board Games! Take the survey

✨ Become a patron and unlock your Backstage Pass: patreon.com/TheBigSmokeVarietyShow

🕊️ Learn more about St Ethelburga’s Centre

🍁 Maple Leaf or Make Believe Article

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Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(01:54) Maple Leaf or Make Believe

(03:56) Wendy Gorling Interview

(54:21) Parish Notices

(1:01:04) Shawnigan Lake

(1:08:56) Sean Clark the Mudlark's Latest Find

(1:13:23) Maple Leaf or Make Believe Answer

(1:15:07) Outro

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Credits

Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett

Produced & Edited by Alex Graham

Assistant Produced by Adam Wright

Original music by Giles Terera

Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins

Parish Notices research by Ahmad Wonly

Are you ready to break free from your algorithmic prison and join us for some enlightening — and silly — entertainment?

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! A podcast filled with comedy, conversation and community.

Join us every fortnight for pub quizzes, mini radio plays, and stories from all corners of London and beyond.  

So, take a seat, join the crowd, and celebrate all that is The Big Smoke Variety Show.

This week’s Silly Season episode is bold, rich, and possibly a bit risky. Back in the Comedy Café Mark Silcox takes the spotlight with tales of his latest obsession: gold trading. Kate Sharp and Alex Farrow join in as we debate financial wisdom, summer side-hustles, and whether pursuing security is ever truly secure. It’s a silly, spirited, and slightly speculative conversation about where your mind goes when your sunhat’s on and your common sense takes a holiday.

In Parish Notices, our Summer Correspondent Morgan sends us out with a final creative mission: grab some sidewalk chalk and turn your neighbourhood into an open-air gallery. Then, we meet Lydia Wood, profiled in The New York Times, who set out to draw every single pub in London. What started during lockdown has become a full-time tribute to the emotional architecture of the city — turning beer-soaked buildings into sketched love letters. Explore with your imagination, and you might just map out meaning where you least expect it.

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Links

sketching pubs article

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Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(00:50) Comedy Café

(19:30) Parish Notices

(23:36) Outro

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Credits

Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett

Produced & Edited by Alex Graham

Assistant Produced by Adam Wright

Original music by Giles Terera

Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins

Welcome to another Big Smoke Silly Season! This week in our Comedy Café, we stroll into deeper waters. Alex Farrow takes centre stage in a thoughtful chat about the meaning of summer, the philosopher’s mindset, and the timeless role of the fool in society. Joined by Kate Sharp and Mark Silcox, we riff on Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and how some people can make anything a fish!

In Parish Notices, our Summer Correspondent Morgan encourages you to try a new path, find a muddy puddle and see what wildlife you can discover. And we head outside London to join the rising tide of Gen Z hiking groups, like Overground and Dykes Who Hike, highlighted in The Financial Times. These aren’t just walks — they’re joyful, sober, social movements reclaiming nature as a place for community, healing, and new friendships. So put down your phone — and pick up your walking shoes.

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Links

walking groups article

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Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(00:50) Comedy Café

(20:36) Parish Notices

(25:07) Outro 

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Credits

Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett

Produced & Edited by Alex Graham

Assistant Produced by Adam Wright

Original music by Giles Terera

Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins

This week’s Big Smoke mini-episode is like a perfectly pulled cortado for your ears — short, sharp, and slightly sweaty. Stand-up comedians Kate Sharp, Alex Farrow, and Mark Silcox return for a slightly damp but deeply funny session at the Comedy Café, focused around Kate’s caffeine habits, medication mishaps, and the sweaty truths of summer. From towelling methodology to microphone hygiene, it’s a gloriously soggy ode to showing up, sweating it out, and having a laugh in the mess of it all.

In Parish Notices, our Summer Correspondent Morgan gives us another top tip: don’t just sit there — join in! From spontaneous bandstand performances to silly summer classes, connection begins with saying yes. We also meet the Yarn Bombers of Hertford, featured in The Times, a group of mostly retired rebels who sneak out at 4am to dress their towns in colourful knitted toppers. What started as a festive prank has grown into a nationwide act of joyful resistance — and a powerful reminder that mischief and community go hand in hand.

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Links

Yarn Bombers article

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Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(00:50) Comedy Café

(17:55) Parish Notices

(21:54) Outro

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Credits

Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett

Produced & Edited by Alex Graham

Assistant Produced by Adam Wright

Original music by Giles Terera

Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show — and to our Summer Silly Season! While the team takes a well-earned break until September, we’re serving up mini-episodes to help you make the most of summer, starting with Jump In! This bite-sized audio macchiato features some of London’s funniest stand-up comedians — Kate Sharp, Alex Farrow, and Mark Silcox — who pop into the Comedy Café for iced coffees, heatwave hacks, and a guessing game about the true price of staying cool in the capital.

In Parish Notices, our Summer Correspondent Morgan shares her top summer tip: don’t wait for perfect timing — jump in now! And we spotlight Stephen Peel, whose mission to taste-test over 120 fish and chip shops across Britain became a national headline in the BBC. From deep-fried Mars bars to vinegar-splashed stories, his journey led him home to Green Lane Chippy in Leigh, Greater Manchester — proof that sometimes the best treasure is just around the corner.

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Links

fish and chip tasting tour article

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Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(00:50) Comedy Café

(17:08) Parish Notices

(21:48) Outro

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Credits

Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett

Produced & Edited by Alex Graham

Assistant Produced by Adam Wright

Original music by Giles Terera

Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!

This week, we’re taking to the skies — and far beyond — with a celebration of whimsical, surprising, and deeply human modes of travel.

First up, we pop to our local, where the ceiling’s low but our questions are sky-high. This week’s Pub Quiz? A History of Basket Cases.

Then, Kevin meets legendary hot air balloon pilot Robin Batchelor to explore the history, his daring exploits, and the sheer joy of ballooning. From flying presidents and movie stars, to championing the heritage of flight in all its glory, Robin offers a delightful conversation packed with storytelling, adventure, and just the right amount of hot air.

After all those airborne antics, it’s time for our Parish Notices. This week, we explore modes of travel that don’t just move you — they connect you. From float planes to rickshaw rides, penny-farthings to tall ships, Kevin shares some of the most unique ways people around the world move with meaning — and what they reveal about our need for each other.

Feeling queasy from all that movement? Better book in with our resident GP… Dr. Quack returns with another historical deep-dive into medical madness. This week’s treatments include urine mouthwash, mouse-based wart remedies, and the slightly overzealous use of a hot poker. You’ll laugh, you’ll wince, and you’ll be glad you live in the modern age.

And don’t miss our Victorian Parlour Game of the week — Catch the Sausage — a competitive meat-based spectacle that’s perfect for your next summer BBQ.

Want more?

Visit thebigsmokevariety.com to sign up for our free newsletter.

Don’t forget to follow the show, leave a 5-star review, and share this episode with a friend who needs a little lift.

Until next time — float free, travel weird, and we’ll see you soon in The Big Smoke.

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Links

British Balloon Museum and Library

British Balloon and Airship Club

Harbour Air seaplanes

Rickshaw article

Penny Farthing article

Cutty Sark the historic tea clipper 

Clipper Stad Amsterdam

Dr. Quack’s historical medical procedures

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Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(01:30) Pub Quiz: A History of Basket Cases

(02:30) Interview with Robin Batchelor

(45:02) Parish Notices

(53:28) Dr. Quack

(1:02:46) Victorian Parlour Game: Catch the Sausage

(1:05:06) Pub Quiz Answers

(1:07:13) Outro

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Credits

Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett

Produced & Edited by Alex Graham

Assistant Produced by Adam Wright

Original music by Giles Terera

Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins

Dr. Quack written and performed by Jolyon Coy

The British Balloon Museum and Library is generously supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!

This week, we’re celebrating Pride from every angle—through folklore, resistance, and the hidden treasures history leaves behind.

First, Kevin sits down with Sunday Times bestselling author Sacha Coward to explore Queer as Folklore—a book that traces the hidden queer history in myths, monsters, and stories we’ve told for centuries. From the otherworldly deep sea in The Little Mermaid, to the far away aliens in Star Trek, Sacha reveals how folklore has always been a home for the in-between, the beautiful, and the feared.

In our Parish Notices, we look beyond our borders at the state of LGBTQ+ rights around the world—where Pride is both celebration and defiance. From Malawi to Thailand, East Timor to Washington DC, we spotlight the brave acts of visibility that remind us: connection can outshine ignorance. Kevin also shares a personal reflection on The Laramie Project and the true story of Matthew Shepard—an example of how stories, spoken aloud and repeated, can echo outward to help create a better world.

Then, fan favourite Sean Clark the Mudlark returns with a treasure plucked from the River Thames just in time for Pride: a gleaming copper farthing from the reign of King James I—Britain’s first openly queer monarch. Four hundred years later, his story re-surfaces.

Sign up for our free newsletter at thebigsmokevariety.com.

Don’t forget to subscribe, share the show with a friend, or leave a quick review—it really helps us grow.

Until next time—stay proud, stay curious, and we’ll see you soon in The Big Smoke.

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Links

Queer as Folklore Book 

Thailand Marriage Equality Article

Budapest Pride Article

Australians Cancel Travel to USA Article

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Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(1:30) Sacha Coward Interview

(1:03:15) Parish Notices

(1:06:56) Reflections on The Laramie Project 

(1:15:52) Sean Clark the Mudlark’s Latest Find

(1:20:08) Outro

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Credits

Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett

Produced & Edited by Alex Graham

Assistant Produced by Adam Wright

Original music by Giles Terera

Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!

This week, we’re tracing lines—political, personal, and poetic—as we examine how borders, behaviours, and the body shape our place in the world.

First, Kevin speaks with political journalist and bestselling author Jonn Elledge, whose book A History of the World in 47 Borders explores how the lines drawn through history continue to define our present. From colonial maps to the Canada–US border, Jonn unpacks the strange power of straight lines—and what they reveal about war, power, and human invention. 

Then, in our Parish Notices, we unplug from the algorithm and ask: how are people breaking digital habits to reconnect with the real world? From phone-free hikes to London’s rapidly growing Offline Club, we share ideas—and stories—from those reclaiming their attention, one notification at a time.

Next up, it’s a new Neuro Nugget from our in-house brain-whisperer Archie. This week, he explores interoception—the science of feeling your own body—and how tuning into your heartbeat, breath, or muscle tension might be the key to emotional wellbeing.

And finally, poet Nehassaiu deGannes returns with three mesmerising pieces. Through memory and the rhythm of water, she draws us into deeper stillness—rooted in history, and the ground we stand on.

For a peek behind the scenes and more info on our fantastic guests, sign up for our free Periodical at thebigsmokevariety.com.

Thanks for listening. We’ll see you soon—in The Big Smoke!

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Links

Jonn Elledge in The New Statesman

Jonn Elledge's Substack Newsletter

‘A History of the World in 47 Borders’

Guardian - Phone Detox Article

Business Insider - Phone Free Trek Article

Economic Times - London ‘Offline’ Nights Article

The Offline Club

Learn more about Archie's work

Nehassaiu's Book of Poetry

Maple Leaf Answer

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Chapters

(00:00) A note from Kevin

(1:29) Intro – Today’s Episode

(2:57) Maple Leaf or Make Believe

(4:16) Jonn Elledge Interview

(49:26) Parish Notices

(54:32) Archie’s Neuro Nugget

(56:29) Nehassaiu deGannes Poetry

(1:06:29) Maple Leaf or Make Believe Answer

(1:07:39) Outro

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Credits

Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett

Produced & Edited by Alex Graham

Assistant Produced by Adam Wright

Original music by Giles Terera

Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins

Thank you to Kieron, Maddie & Andy for their contributions

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! This week’s episode is a little different. We’re turning inward and asking—as King Lear put it—“Who is it that can tell me who I am?” It’s time for a bit of productive navel-gazing.

So today, the mic turns around. Our assistant producer, Adam Wright, puts host Kevin Bennett in the hot seat as we explore the origins of this delightful circus we call The Big Smoke. From childhood curiosities to theatrical obsessions, it’s a revealing conversation about the twists and turns of a life in showbiz, and what makes this variety show tick.

Then, after all that introspection, we felt it fitting to book a check-up. So it’s off to visit our resident GP in this week’s comedy sketch… Dr. Quack. 

Only problem? Dr. Quack is currently on trial for medical malpractice. This historical parody sees him defend his treatment of the Earl of Kent. Let’s just say: you may want to reschedule any future appointments you have with this particular medical professional.

And finally — we introduce you to the very first Victorian Parlour Game Kevin ever played. It’s called Poor Pussy and it’s every bit as silly as it sounds. 

Thanks for joining us — whether you’re curled up on the sofa or crawling on all fours.

We’ll see you next time… in The Big Smoke!

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Links

The Earl of Kent’s Story

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Chapters

(00:00) What is a Podcast?

(05:01) Intro – Today’s Episode 

(06:30) Kevin Bennett Interview

(52:20) Dr. Quack

(59:25) Victorian Parlour Games

(1:02:16) Outro

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Credits

Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett

Produced & Edited by Alex Graham

Assistant Produced by Adam Wright

Original music by Giles Terera

Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins

Dr. Quack written and performed by Jolyon Coy