It wasn’t Moby. That much we can tell you.

Episode 86 begins with Tom and Rob discussing the show’s new searchable name, audio experiments and whether a broken Dell laptop can be fixed by punching it. Naturally, this leads to neighbour disputes, hosepipe bans, major water leaks and sewage-filled rivers. Nice and cheerful, then.

Next, familiar songs are stripped of their melody, rhythm and dignity in Guess the Song from the Speed-Read Lyrics. Inspired partly by William Shatner’s unique approach to music, Rob must identify well-known tracks from a completely monotonous reading. Play along and see if you fare any better.

Snack Sack returns with crispy chicken skin, Aldi vindaloo-flavoured crunchy sticks and onion bhaji-flavoured rings. Expect pet-shop aromas, questionable textures, curry debates and a surprisingly detailed discussion about what makes the perfect chipstick. No scores spoiled here.

Finally, Was It Best Left in the 90s? It’s a battle of massive power ballads, movie soundtracks and musical nostalgia—but only one can survive.

Rude. Fun. Unfiltered. It’s The Variety Show with Tom and Rob.

Pictures can be found here plus results from other episodes:

https://thevarietyshow.co.uk/episode/s4e86

#TheVarietyShow #UKComedyPodcast #MusicQuiz #SnackReview #90sMusic

What happens when you mix a true crime documentary, a walking tour, local history and two middle-aged idiots who can’t stay on topic?

You get The Summer Crime Walkabout.

For this special episode of The Variety Show from Studio:Channel84, Rob and Tom head out into the streets of St Albans to investigate five notorious crimes connected to the city. At every location, a professionally narrated story reveals a shocking murder, an infamous criminal or an unsolved mystery. There’s just one catch: one of the stories is completely fake.

Can you work it out before Rob does?

The walk takes in St Albans Hospital, St Peter Street, London Road Station, Sopwell Allotments and St Albans Cathedral, exploring the disturbing story of poisoner Graham Young, the failed IRA bombing that nearly became one of Britain’s worst terrorist attacks, historic murders, cold cases and eerie local legends that have survived for generations.

Alongside the crime stories you’ll also hear Rob and Tom’s memories of growing up in Hertfordshire, childhood adventures, beer festivals, haunted cathedrals, ghost stories, embarrassing hospital experiences and the sort of conversations that could only happen on The Variety Show.

Then, because podcast listeners deserve a little something extra, the episode continues after the video ends with an exclusive bonus section.

There’s another edition of the Taste Test, featuring Fanta Dark Cherry, Mountain Dew Dragon Fruit and Pepsi Refresh Shot, complete with completely unnecessary scoring, arguments about fizzy drinks and whether modern Pepsi still tastes like it used to.

Finally, the conversation turns unexpectedly creepy as the dads discuss children seeing ghosts, unexplained encounters, haunted manor houses, imaginary friends, unsettling things kids say and whether there might actually be something to those spooky stories after all.

Whether you’re here for true crime, British history, St Albans, unsolved mysteries, urban legends, ghost stories, food and drink reviews, parenting chat, or just Rob and Tom making each other laugh, this episode has a bit of everything.

#TrueCrime #StAlbans #BritishHistory #GhostStories #TheVarietyShow

Welcome to Tea Break.

These small bonus downloads are the place to find all our random brain farts and other improv moments.

Brought to you by our management company, Business Incorporated.

This time Tom is looking for his Summer Aesthetic.

All recorded on our phones, so sorry for the quality.

Find out more about all the shows at https://channel84.co.uk.

The Variety Show Podcast returns with one of our most ridiculous episodes yet as Rob and Tom tackle everything from podcast SEO frustrations to Melody Pops musical disasters.

We kick things off with a rant about another podcast using a confusingly similar name, why discoverability matters, and the realities of building an independent podcast in 2026. Then Tom shares his spoiler-free thoughts on Supergirl, why social media reviews can’t always be trusted, and why sometimes you simply have to make your own mind up.

The return of Guess The Link puts Rob to the test with five seemingly unrelated questions. Can you work out the connection before he does?

Next comes one of our favourite listener challenges yet. The Chipmunk and Beaver have challenged us to become Foley artists, recreating everything from a whale underwater and a heartbeat through a stethoscope to train tracks, warp drive and even… a fart in space.

Then everything descends into complete chaos.

Armed with classic Chupa Chups Melody Pops, we attempt to recreate famous movie and TV theme tunes using nothing but whistle-shaped lollipops. Expect Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, classic television themes, plenty of laughter, and two grown men questioning every life decision that brought them to this moment.

Finally, Was It Best Left In The 90s? returns with a battle between Cartoons’ Witch Doctor and Hanson’s MMMBop. Which deserves another chance, and which should stay firmly in the decade that created it?

If you enjoy comedy podcasts, movie discussions, nostalgic games, quizzes, pop culture debates, ridiculous challenges and two mates making each other laugh, this episode is packed with exactly that.

#ComedyPodcast #MoviePodcast #GuessTheLink #MelodyPops #90sNostalgia

James Gunn’s Supergirl Review | Is Social Media Getting It Wrong?

In this bonus episode of The Variety Show from Studio:Channel84, Tom heads straight from the cinema to give his immediate, spoiler-light thoughts on James Gunn’s Supergirl and asks one big question: have online film reviews become more harmful than helpful?

After seeing the latest DC Studios release, Tom shares why he believes Supergirl deserves far more credit than it’s receiving across social media. From the negativity surrounding the casting of Milly Alcock to endless online arguments about Krypto the Superdog, this is an honest, passionate review from someone who simply wants people to make up their own minds.

The episode explores why review culture can damage films before audiences even get a chance to experience them. Using examples such as Ghostbusters (2016), Tom discusses how internet outrage, YouTube reviewers and social media echo chambers can influence opinions long before release day.

There’s also plenty to discuss about James Gunn’s DC Universe, including the film’s world-building, visual effects, practical creature design, action scenes, Jason Momoa’s debut as Lobo, connections to Superman, and why Gunn’s approach to comic book movies feels fresh compared with traditional superhero films.

Without revealing the biggest plot twists, Tom explains what worked, what surprised him, and why he believes Supergirl succeeds as a character-driven adventure rather than simply trying to recreate another Superman story. If you’re wondering whether the latest DC movie is worth your time, this review gives you an honest perspective without telling you what to think.

Whether you’re a lifelong DC Comics fan, a James Gunn supporter, a superhero movie enthusiast, or simply curious about the latest blockbuster, this bonus episode is for you.

#Supergirl #JamesGunn #DCStudios #MovieReview #Podcast

The Variety Show is back and this episode somehow manages to cover football, children’s TV, floppy disks and fake hazelnuts in the same conversation.

Rob and Tom kick things off by trying to work out why the World Cup feels strangely invisible this year. Where are the flags, the mascots, the wall-to-wall coverage and the endless football hype? Is it just us, or does this tournament feel different?

Things quickly descend into chaos when a seemingly innocent Peppa Pig football story turns into a full-scale investigation into cheating, questionable refereeing decisions and what exactly we’re teaching children about winning and losing.

Then it’s time for one of the strangest things we’ve ever reviewed on the show: a classic Tweenies knife safety special. What starts as a well-meaning children’s safety video rapidly becomes a running commentary on daycare procedures, safeguarding concerns and why there appears to be a giant knife sitting in the middle of a nursery kitchen.

The Snack Sack returns with Aldi Delta Strips, a Hazelnut Twix that raises more questions than answers, and Australian Cadbury Dream white chocolate. Which snack impressed us, which one disappointed us, and why are companies obsessed with putting hazelnut flavour into everything?

Another round of “Do You Remember?” featuring a nostalgic trip back to the days of neon floppy disks, school computer rooms and transferring files one disk at a time.

Finally, a return to “Was It Best Left In The 90s?” featuring two very different chart hits battling for survival.

It’s another completely normal episode of The Variety Show. Which is to say, not normal at all.

#PeppaPig #Tweenies #WorldCup #SnackSack #90sNostalgia

Welcome to Tea Break.

These small bonus downloads are the place to find all our random brain farts and other improv moments.

Brought to you by our management company, Business Incorporated.

This time Rob tests Tom's Genius.

All recorded on our phones, so sorry for the quality.

Find out more about all the shows at https://channel84.co.uk.

Welcome to Tea Break.

These small bonus downloads are the place to find all our random brain farts and other improv moments.

Brought to you by our management company, Business Incorporated.

Find out more about all the shows at https://channel84.co.uk.

Tom and Rob are back for Episode 82 and, after the emotional ADHD special, normal service has resumed.

This week the lads dive headfirst into the wonderful chaos that is Eurovision. Was Sam Ryder robbed? Is the voting system completely broken? Should countries stop awarding points to each other and leave the whole thing to the public? And how did the UK’s entry become annoyingly catchy despite every instinct telling them it shouldn’t?

They also reveal plans for a very special upcoming Episode 85. A mystery walk around St Albans featuring five locations, five stories and one lie. With contributions from friends of the show including Karen, Adam, Simon, John and Drew Lusion, it’s shaping up to be one of the most ambitious things Studio:Channel84 has attempted.

The Chipmunk and Beaver return with another round of Badly Described Movies, sending Tom and Rob down increasingly ridiculous rabbit holes as they attempt to identify famous films from clues that are either brilliantly clever or downright cruel.

Meanwhile, the Snack Sack is packed once again. This episode features a pistachio-filled chocolate bar that feels suspiciously familiar, a cookie dough experiment that raises more questions than answers, and a new flavour of Walkers crisps that sparks an unexpectedly passionate debate about gravy.

There’s also discussion of TFL strike misery, Christmas decorations appearing far too early, questionable Eurovision ambitions, parenting realities, and a heated edition of Best Left In The 90s as two iconic 90s songs go head-to-head with only one surviving the trip back to the present day.

As always, expect pop culture, nostalgia, food reviews, terrible opinions, accidental filth, and two middle-aged dads somehow ending up talking about beavers for far longer than anyone intended.

Find out more about all the shows at https://channel84.co.uk.

#Eurovision #SnackSack #90sMusic #ComedyPodcast #MovieQuiz

This week’s episode of The Variety Show from Studio:Channel84 is a little different.

No usual chaos. No Rob. No ridiculous debates (well… mostly). Just Tom, out on a late-night walk, talking honestly about something that’s shaped far more of life than he ever realised: ADHD.

After being diagnosed with adult ADHD at 42, Tom opens up about what the process actually looked like — from NHS Right to Choose referrals, therapy, and diagnosis, to trying ADHD medication including methylphenidate, lisdexamfetamine and atomoxetine. But this isn’t a medical guide. It’s the messy, personal reality of what happens when you finally start understanding why your brain works the way it does.

From doomscrolling and low mood, to self-esteem, procrastination, rejection sensitivity, masking, overthinking and the constant mental noise that never really switches off, this is an honest conversation about the bits of ADHD and depression that people don’t always talk about — especially in adults.

Tom also gets candid about struggling this week, the reality of feeling burnt out, why “ADHD is a superpower” doesn’t sit right with everyone, and what happens when medication side effects hit harder than expected.

It’s not the usual Variety Show energy — but if you’ve ever wondered what adult ADHD actually feels like, struggled with mental health, or know someone going through diagnosis later in life, maybe this one will resonate.

There is still a tiny bit of normality, though… because no episode would be complete without a questionable taste test, this time involving Sprite Zero Mint, mojito comparisons, toothpaste vibes and immediate regret.

Normal chaos resumes next episode.

#ADHD #AdultADHD #MentalHealth #ADHDMedication #Depression