Loremen Podcast

Award-winning comedian Harriet Braine steps up to the Loremen plate and tries to convince us that Surbiton is an interesting place, actually. We meet modern folk legends in the form of a goat-headed cheesemaker, a dead giant and the world's oldest paper boy. However, we do end up talking about the train station a lot. Such is the overwhelming blandness of Surbiton: "The city suburb that always sleeps". @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK | @HarrietBraine 

Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Chris Cantrill (The Delightful Sausage) gives us the lowdown on Yorkshire's biggest pigs. This boy knows his pork and porcine lore! Meanwhile, James embarrasses himself and insults the North. (Neither for the first time.) We also learn why a Bradfordian should always carry a tongue and how Chris is handling lockdown with his in-laws.  @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK | @ToplessCantrill 

A Mancunian tale of the macabre. Two hauntings, one terrible clock, several pronunciations of M. Night Shyamalan and a twist we're sure you won't see coming. (The twist isn't that there is no twist. Come on.) This episode is another coronavirus lockdown edition, so please listen from a safe distance of 2 metres (6' 6").  @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK

Bath comedian Sunil Patel ( BBC Asian Network) dons the mantle of Deputy Loreperson in this Covid-19 Lockdown Special. Sequestered in our separate garrets, sheds and jazz lounges, we learn the story of King Bladud. Bladud was a daredevil, a leper, an assistant pig farmer and founder of the city of Bath. Now that's a portfolio career. Who petrified the Keynsham snakes? Is it possible to fly from Bath to London, Icarus-style? Does Sunil Patel's mum know he's on TV? Find out in Episode 14. @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK | @SunilDPatel

The Loremen are joined by the delightful half of award-winning double-act The Delightful Sausage - Amy Gledhill. We chat about the Hull Werewolf, also known as "Old Stinker". With bonus coverage of an underwater witch, a beheaded boy and, of course, the Pig-man. Plus we hear some of the funniest place names in all of Yorkshire. Warning - This episode may cause you to question the very nature of reality / Hull.  @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK | @ThatGledhill

Award winning comedian Sooz Kempner (Mystery On The Rocks Podcast) joins the Loremen with stories of airborne gremlins. Not to be confused with the film Gremlins (1984), these impish critters* outfoxed RAF pilots in World War 2. As always**, the Loremen shine the searing light of scrutiny on our guest's tall tales. But will we finish recording the episode before the gremlins attack? *not to be confused with the film Critters (1986).  **not to be confused with the film Always (1989).   @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK | @SoozUK

James brings in an extraordinary tale of betrayal, backstabbing and the Devil himself. He also lobs a bunch of civil war stories directly into your ears. Which musical instruments can Satan play? Why does Warwick market stink? How big is TOO big for a shoe? Please write in to tell us your favourite devilish pseudonyms. Old Scratch? Old Nick? Old Scratchy Nick? Let us know on the socials. Ayoade Warning: James does a Richard Ayoade impression for about the ninth time this series. @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK

Comedian and podcaster Michael Legge (you know - off Do The Right Thing) joins the Loremen to tell us about the Irish legend of Fionn mac Cumhail - aka - Finn McCool.    We learn why it is big and clever to act like a massive baby, which is useful. Plus who was the more famous 7Up logo, Fido Dido or Cool Spot? AND which character from the extended Back To The Future universe James's wife thinks he is the most like. @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK | @michaellegge 

Like all great tales, this episode begins with a riddle and ends with a warning... The Roaring Bull of Bagbury is certainly a unique story that sparks off some sinister memories from James' past. And poses a few of life's bigger questions - What are the Mooies? What size is a small pineapple? How big is too big a bull? MOOIE WARNING - contains talk of Mooies. Should have warned you earlier, soz.  @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK

Jenny Collier returns! After last year's Welsh Valentine's hilarity (pimp out of pimp across the board) we brought our favourite Welsh comedian back into the studio to give us the lowdown on an actual epic. We cover book two of The Mabinogion (Mabinogion 2: The Legend of Curly's Gold). The Mabinogion is a 12th Century text recounting ancient Welsh myths and legends. As you can imagine, it scores highly in Naming. Content Warnings: Two non-Welsh people doing their "best" Welsh accents, horse mutilation, references to Love Island.    @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK | @JenJenCollier

Alasdair brings an "account" of how to open your third eye. And it's squirm-inducing stuff! Meanwhile, James can't get over the fact that Tibetan lama sounds a lot like Tibetan llama. For a whole episode. There's also a man whose name is Tuesday Lobsang Rampa. Really what more could you want... A portentous owl? You got it. A  Yeti cameo? You got that too. A cat with a surname? You got that three. That's one per eye. We, like the ambassador who hosted that reception that time, are really spoiling you. Enjoy! @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK  

This is a spooky one! Get a toasty body warmer on because your spine is about to be chilled. You'll need a gilet at least. We'd love to hear your 'Cuthbert Shields' names! When you've listened to the episode, leave your new name as a comment on iTunes and we'll read out our favourites on the show. Did you ever make a time capsule? What on earth did you put in it? Tell us on Twitter and we will judge you accordingly! @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK

Who starts flame wars wherever he goes? Who clearly has a problem with male midwives? Who won't let it lie? Even beyond the grave, with his own son, no less. Thicknesse. You're damn right. We delve deep into the peculiar life of Captain Thicknesse, 1719-1792, an English author, eccentric and piece of work. The Thicknesse first showed up in series 2 episode 10 The London Monster. @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK

A triptych of stories about an actual thing in a church this week. Be it the work of human, faerie or (as usual) the devil? Thanks to listener Simon Martin for suggesting these nuggets of Surrey lore. @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK

This episode is very much a Strong Five. Alasdair takes us back to Victorian London where phoney doctors (faux-sicians) sold cures for all known ills... and plenty of unknown ones too. @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK  

Ho, ho, etcetera! A very special festive edition of Loremen featuring exclusively Xmas-themed lore. What BEES do of a Christmas eve?How can YOU use a sheep to find your way home?ARE mummers plays definitely racist?All these questions and more* will be answered in this Christmas Loremen. *Only one more answer, actually. About why an old gag is actually quite funny. Actually. @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK

The Loremen ride again. Again! Series 3 kicks off with a bang as Pierre Novellie joins the Loremen to impart his Manx wisdom. Pierre's home, the Isle of Man, once played host to Gef the Talking Mongoose. In the 1930s, Gef was an infamous mischief-maker and an extremely cocky mammal. His tale is as perplexing as Manx cats' tails are non-existent, and Alasdair and James are left bamboozled by what must be the Irish sea's most masculine island*. *Second only to Manly Beach, Australia, in the macho location stakes. @pierrenovellie @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK

In this final episode of series two we come bang up to date (to the 1970s) with a North Eastern tale of Celtic effigies. Then we narrowly avoid Royal slander to chat about the incomparably named "Mickleton Hooter". In a way, this episode ties a lot of threads together - Parcy Reed (S1 E1) gets a shout out, the Screetonizer (S2 E6) shows up again, there's a Dun Cow (S1 E6) and even the Mickleton Hooter lurks in the shadow of Meon Hill (S2 E7). We are terribly sorry there is no mention of Chekhov's Gun in this episode. It's like we referred to it early on in the series but then it never paid off. Sorry Chekhov. The Loremen shall return! @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK  

Comedian Athena Kugblenu joins the Loremen with a fable about a Ghanaian trickster. Meanwhile, James takes Alasdair boggart-bowling in historic Lancashire.  Featured image: A garden spider, shown in the centre of its web. Chromolithograph, 1870. Credit: Wellcome Collection. (CC BY 4.0) @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK  | @athenakugblenu

Two extraordinary tales from North West England. An ill-fated prophet predicts the wholesale destruction of Northwich. Meanwhile, a lost story from Series 1 re-emerges from the depths to drag you under (because it is about mermaids). @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK