The Boring Talks

By BBC SoundsComedy Society & Culture

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Typical duration
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The Boring Talks episodes

November 19, 2018 Jeremy Bentham's 'Auto-Icon'
James Ward introduces another curious talk about a subject that may seem boring, but is actually very interesting.... maybe.
Did Bentham leave his body to University College London? Does he still attend council meetings there? Has anyone played football with his head? Subhadra Das debunks some myths
Presenter: James Ward
Contributor: Subhadra Das
Producer: Jack Soper
25 min
November 12, 2018 #24 - The Taxonomy Of Cornflakes
From lollipop sticks, to batteries and used car headlight bulbs, the collectaholic Anne Griffiths has always made art from the 'accumulations of the bricolage of everyday life'. But how did Anne get 84 mounted cornflakes accepted in to the Royal Academy's Summer Exhibition? We take a trip to her studio to find out.
Presenter: James Ward
Contributor: Anne Griffiths
Producer: Luke Doran
21 min
November 05, 2018 #23 - NATO Phonetic Alphabet
Charvy Narain is fed up with people mispronouncing her name, especially when trying to book a taxi down the phone. Could the NATO phonetic alphabet help clarify things? Or will it just add to the confusion? And what does this have to do with Bradley Walsh?
Presenter: Juliett Alfa Mike Echo Sierra
Contributor: Charlie Hotel Alfa Romeo Victor Yankee
Producer: Lima Uniform Kilo Echo
19 min
November 05, 2018 #22 - Toilet Graffiti
Declarations of love, offers of sex, messages of hope and even film reviews. The graffiti we leave behind in toilets is strange, personal and anonymous. But is there a difference between what is written in male and female bathrooms? Scott Kelly ventures forth to find out.
Presenter: James Ward
Contributor: Scott Kelly
Contributor: Clara Nissen
Producer: Luke Doran
17 min
June 07, 2018 #21 - Thank You
James Ward says thank you for listening to series one and chooses the best word from each of the twenty talks.
Presenter: James Ward
Producer: Luke Doran
2 min
June 04, 2018 #20 - Carry On Shakespeare
Infamy! Infamy! The writer and broadcaster Samira Ahmed explains just why the Carry On films are actually better than Shakespeare.
Presenter: James Ward
Contributor: Samira Ahmed
Producer: Luke Doran
18 min
May 28, 2018 #19 - Ice Cream Vans
Good maths, a strong bladder and the ability to hold eight '99s' in one hand. Ali Coote remembers the important lessons she learned as an Ice Cream Van driver.
Presenter: James Ward
Contributor: Ali Coote
Producer: Luke Doran
16 min
May 21, 2018 #18 - Kinder Egg Linguistics
What's 119mm long & 55 mm wide, and contains a world of linguistic pleasure? Keith Kahn-Harris explores the wonders of the Kinder Surprise warning label.
Presenter: James Ward
Contributor: Keith Kahn-Harris
Producer: Luke Doran
17 min
May 14, 2018 #17 - Gasometers
Tall rusting skeletal relics of our industrial past. Why would anyone care about London's Gasometers? Sarah O'Carroll explains.
Presenter: James Ward
Contributor: Sarah O'Carroll
Producer: Luke Doran
14 min
May 07, 2018 #16 - Toilet Roll Serial Numbers
'Do you recall the fogged beef, mate?'.
The writer Nicholas Tufnell proves that poetic inspiration can be found in the most unlikely places, including a toilet roll.
But what is 'fogged beef'?
Presenter: James Ward
Contributor: Nicholas Tufnell
Producer: Luke Doran
12 min