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Chapter 272. I wouldn't know where to start with a Roulade
2 november 2026 · 58 min
There is something quintessentially English about this weeks episode of TCD (...sorry Lucy) which is in no small part down to the numerous mentions of two of our beloved national TV treasures; Nigella Lawson and Susie Dent. Lees meer
For those that are unfamiliar with the cultural impact of the two in question. Nigella is a food writer, television cook, known for her relaxed and indulgent approach to cooking and food, and Susie is an English lexicographer, etymologist, and media personality who has appeared in "Dictionary Corner" on the Channel 4 game show Countdown since 1992.
Anyway inspired by this weeks chat I did a bit of digging, and as far as I can tell not only has Nigella never published a recipe for Roulade, it also seems that Susie is quite in favour of shortening words - seeing it as an example of how they adapt over time.
Blimey,
h
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Chapter 271. Sorry Jürgen, my heart belongs to Gary.
19 oktober 2026 · 56 min
I know that we talk often, almost every week in fact, but as a rule we don't find ourselves in close proximity all that find. Lees meer
Which means that I am pretty sure that there is quite a difference with what greets me in the mirror after I have thrown a leg out from under the duvet, and the picture you see of me trying to look more than a little "rock-star".
And that difference has a name, and her name is Anne-Marie Forker.
So it was a treat to get her back onto the pod, to talk all things Tottenham and Tour Bus, Pompeii and Photo Pits, Gin and Ginger.
Love'n'laptops
h
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Chapter 270. The story around the stars
5 oktober 2026 · 57 min
By now you probably know that when we played Pompeii earlier in the year, we were joined onstage by an astonishing choir called Flowing Chords. Lees meer
They helped the band work on new arrangements for a number of songs, and were a big part of creating something really magical on the night(s).
You may also know that they are making a return appearance for the last couple of UK dates at the Hammersmith Apollo.
But what you might not know is the backstory to the collaboration, or indeed how they went about creating something truly sublime. So it’s a good job that Musical Director Margherita Flore agreed to join us for a special episode of TCD (…sorry Lucy).
What that does mean is that we will be talking songs and setlists, so be WARNED if you find this kind of spoiler talk triggering.
Love’n’latin
h
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Chapter 269. Asleep in the car park.
21 september 2026 · 55 min
Ant wanted me to mention three things pivotal to this week's chapter of TCD. Lees meer
SET-LIST SPOILERS about half way through the pod we have a discussion about the set-list for the UK tour, we did include a warning in the recording, but for the purpose of prepping you here it is a second (or first) time!
The hotel chain that we mentioned used to be branded as the Jurys Inn
Apparently you need between 30-40,000 purchases in a single week to take a single to the top of the charts in the UK.
In other news I sprinkled my usual positive footballing vibes on Old Trafford on Wednesday Night, but then again they never win when I am there.
Love'n'lashings-of-custard
h
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Chapter 268. Lost or lifted; the Philishave conundrum.
7 september 2026 · 1 uur 3 min
’ve played a great many gigs since joining the band in ‘89 and quite a few new ones have been added to our “circuit” along the way. Lees meer
Something we haven’t really reflected on much, is how the tour venue choices have evolved. So today we fell into a conversation about the venues on the upcoming UK tour, and how they compare to days gone by.
Where do I miss playing, where do I like going back to, and what is my second favourite gig in London.
Not forgetting Richie Benaud, (who was a very famous cricket commentator, back in the day) and a chat about the current membership of Showaddywaddy (which will be a mystery for non-Brits) particularly as it looks like the incredibly named Romeo Challenger is a mainstay on drums after all. Who knew?!
All perfectly straightforward
h
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Chapter 267. Twice in a lifetime
25 augustus 2026 · 51 min
Lord, it seems like an age since we recorded this and tbh I am not quite sure what we talked about. Lees meer
I can tell you it was the balance of the post-Pompeii chat (and that it happened on #plumday) but life has moved on since then, and recall is rarely linear for me these days. It tends to wash over me in waves.
In other news the ICG reissues have finally arrived, and they look bloody lovely. Today, can certainly be classed as one of my 3650 good days.
Love’n’first-time-on-vinyl
h
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Chapter 266. It's possible they could be Stanley
10 augustus 2026 · 53 min
Plum Day comes but once a year, and as it turned out this year it was on Tuesday 4th. Lees meer
"But what is Plum Day" I hear you cry, well that is the day that Ant and I settle ourselves in the garden at Hogarth Towers, pick the ripened plums off the tree, and generally talk bollocks.
It started a couple of years ago, post a Cropredy performance with Trevor, and has now become a bit of a thing. And this year's crop are juicy, and sweet, but we had to get in quick because they have also peaked a little early. Premature you might say.
Anyway it gave us a chance to pick over the bones of Pompeii (assuming that isn't too inappropriate as a phrase) and record a couple of episodes of TCD in person.
First up is Soundcheck, the Choir and Andy G...
h x
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Chapter 265. All roads lead to Pompeii (it's just they are a little bit windy, a little bit scary, and full of nutters...)
27 juli 2026 · 38 min
It's been a bit of a week... Lees meer
We weren't even sure if TCD was going to be a thing this week, what with me being on my holibobs and Ant out and about with his proper job.
But we managed to find a bit of time late on Wednesday evening, which meant I was able to elaborate on the quirks and wrinkles that have come my way since I arrived in Italy, what with the car parking, the back streets and the fact I have misplaced my trousers.
And to those of you venturing to these parts for the shows, I am looking forward to seeing you and I hope we all have a smashing time. It really should be something special.
Love'n'vessels
h
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Chapter 264. Truncated & Distilled
13 juli 2026 · 1 uur 8 min
Cast your mind back a couple of weeks to the last chapter of TCD (...sorry Lucy). You know the one I am talking about, where I was set the challenge of coming up with a single CD of material that spoke to my musical output across all the various projects I have been involved. Lees meer
So by the end of #263 I managed to put together a sort of working list, narrowing it down to thirty-odd tracks I thought were representative of me and my career.
But of course that didn't really answer the question that Robert Brooke had offered up; so today Ant pushed me hard to get it down to the eighty minutes or so that would fit on a single CD.
As it turned out I got fairly close...
Love'n'soft landings
h
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Chapter 263. An announcement and an epitaph
27 juni 2026 · 59 min
It might seem like there is a somewhat cavalier approach to TCD (...sorry Lucy) this week, what with the big reveals, and the joining-of-the-dots with the last piece of purple bonus content. Lees meer
So if you are feeling a little confused, here are the three things we are juggling:
The announcement, which I haven't been able to talk about for nearly three months, can now be made public...and it marks a big first for me.
We referenced back to the last Q&A and a cracking question from newbie Kevin Bremner about the best three tracks to close an album.
And then we stole a question destined for a future Q&A from Robert Brooke, just because Ant thought it was a bit of a belter. And do you know what, I agree with him.
And if you want to listen to the said Q&A it is available to purchase, just click here
Right, that should be enough to get yiu started.
Love'n'fayedunaway
h
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Chapter 262. The Hoggarthian Principle
15 juni 2026 · 1 uur 3 min
So, here’s how it went down this week… Lees meer
1. Our normal in-depth production schedule exchange took place over WhatsApp on Monday
2. Recording commenced bang on 10:37am on Tuesday morning, conditions were normal with a gentle pace and favourable headwinds.
3. Approximately 20 minutes a largely throwaway comment, somewhat metaphysical in nature, threw Ant off course.
4. We took that concept on a hell of a ramble, with canine in tow, and plenty of mint-cake (courtesy of my birthplace).
Ant suggested we went old-school for the spelling, he thinks the double-g seems to work better for some reason, I can’t say I am convinced but if I am going to put my name to something then it might as well be accurate.
Then again as none of you actually exist it probably doesn’t matter that much.
h
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Chapter 261. I merely popped out for a sandwich
1 juni 2026 · 1 uur 1 min
The first question that most people ask when I reveal I have recorded nearly 500 episodes of this podcast is "surely you must have run out of things to talk about by now?" Well this week's TCD (...sorry Lucy) is a perfect example of how we have got to 261 chapters and a similar number of bonus episodes. Lees meer
Firstly we can get half a podcast out of literally anything, the example for today is me making a decision to nip out for some lunch.
Secondly because we can't actually deliver what we plan for any episode whatsoever within the allowed time slot, we are invariably finishing off the thing that we didn't finish last time. So again, using today as the example, we have a crack at the few questions that we didn't get to in the last Purple Q&A episode, because last time out we were too busy banging on about something else - not that I can remember what that was.
Anyway thanks to Kenton, Mike and Wendy for putting forward your questions.
Love'n'crabs
h
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Chapter 260. I scream pre-order
14 mei 2026 · 54 min
Now you might be wondering why this chapter of TCD (...sorry Lucy) has turned up a little bit early, because let's be honest we don't have a reputation for being this on the ball. Lees meer
It kind of revolves around my birthday (today), the fact it is a significant one (three score and ten) and the upcoming special edition releases of Ice Cream Genius.
And that is all I am going to say at this point in proceedings, to find out the rest you are just going to have to listen to the episode.
Right, I am off to kick-start with a special-day-sized Muff Liquor Gin...
Love'n'lashes
h
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Chapter 259. Egg-Fifteen
4 mei 2026 · 52 min
In a change to the normal way of working it is Ant here, providing you with the episode notes for the latest chapter of TCD (...sorry Lucy). Lees meer
What that does mean is I can take this opportunity to put the podcast title into some form of context, and offer up a grovelling apology to my co-host.
Through the course of the pod you are going to get an explanation as to the specifics, but the fact is I was more than a little dubious of the explanation I was provided with, at the point that it was uttered. Now, in my defence Mr h. does have previous in terms of the accuracy of some of his assertions, indeed it's a theme that we pick up on in this very chat. But in the case of the Eggy explanation he was absolutely bang-on, and credit where credit is due, I am happy to attest to the error of my ways.
Anyway, that's it from me, I hope you enjoy the next fifty minutes or so.
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Chapter 258. The well oiled machine
20 april 2026 · 56 min
You don't have to have been following TCD (...sorry Lucy) that intently to know that the beat combo is in the middle of writing and recording a new album. Lees meer
Now I have been around this world for a very long time, and I am here to tell you that I don't think it really matters who the artist or band is, there isn't a particular definition of normal for this process. That said, the Marillion way is probably still a good distance from anything you could class a norm.
So what we have tried to do this week, is give you a bit of a flavour of what is currently going on in Marillion Towers as the machinery starts to creak into life. And to do that we needed some extra intelligence, and as a happy coincidence that is what we got.
Love'n'dodgy salmon
h
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Chapter 257. CPD for the Prog Community
6 april 2026 · 56 min
It’s all about personal growth this week as Ant and yours truly open ourselves up to the process of re-evaluation. Lees meer
It all started a few weeks ago when we happened to mention, quite casually as it transpired, that neither of us were moved by the music of Rush.
As it turned out a goodly number of the purple community were a little vexed by this admission. So we decided that maybe we should take some time to revisit Rush, and asked for some listening recommendations which the said Purps duly provided.
And this episode is our response to that process….would we be won over to the musical charms of the Alex, Geddy & Neil?
Love’n’anticipation
h
P.S the albums that Ant and I put forward for evaluation are as follows;
Jason Isbell - Southeastern
Massive Attack - Mezzanine
Trueloves Gutter - Richard Hawley
Hats - The Blue Nile
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Chapter 256. Adrian and the Magic Hour
23 maart 2026 · 57 min
So…outside through the open sliding door is the calm azure Caribbean and above, a wide open blue sky, as the tap tap on my cabin door - exactly on time - summons me to welcome in a genius, a legend and someone fast-becoming a “goofball-brother”. It takes one to know one (a goofball I mean…). Lees meer
Now I could bang on for hours about what he has achieved, his extraordinary playing, or the records he sprinkled his peculiar gold dust all over. But you either know already, or you’re about to get a glimpse (you can always Google his discography, I did and it blew my mind).
So I invite you to just kick back and enjoy this magic hour. And with that, all that is left is to say is…ladies and gentlemen I give you Adrian Belew!
Love’n’cruising
h
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Chapter 255. The Great Milk Stand-Off
9 maart 2026 · 55 min
Before we start I need to draw your attention to something. If you have been listening for a while you know that TCD has never shied away from the odd expletive or two. However today's chapter is a little more littered than usual, and I wanted to give you ample warning, and beg forgiveness from Christine. Lees meer
There are a couple of reasons for this, but the most obvious is that drink had been (and was continuing to be) taken, both by me and also by our guest. But before you judge you need to know it had been well-earned, following the near-perfect execution of a daring and audacious mission to smuggle contraband from the mainland.
Where we were less successful, was in getting an enormous amount of solid intel from our guest. Now, if you have ever spent any time with Frenchie (AKA Rich from Marillion) then maybe you will understand why. But as with everything to do with Frenchie it doesn't matter, because he is not only the lifesaver of all lifesavers, and a man to whom I owe a great deal, he is above all a joy to be around.
Love'n'hendricks
h
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Chapter 254. Banging on about Fablon
23 februari 2026 · 1 uur 1 min
Now, even by our standards this is a little confusing. Lees meer
Last week we sat down to record a patron-only Q&A, and we weren't 100% successful. We did manage to record, and we did end-up with a piece of purple content, but we didn't get around to actually answering any of your questions.
This week we should have been recording a non-patron episode, and one that did include a guest contributor. We did manage to record, but at some point along the way we managed to misplace the guest, so we had to come up with a different plan.
Which means (deep breath) we sat down and recorded a patron-only style Q&A episode but one that is also available to non-patrons, we actually answered some of your questions but we weren't able to ask any of our own questions, because the guest who was invited somehow became uninvited.
Oh, and Ant forgot to include the intro...
Other than that it all went swimmingly x
She Used To Be Mine - Sara Bareilles and Rufus Wainwright
Bob Mortimer & Fuji 9
Fablon
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Chapter 253. And then there were three
9 februari 2026 · 1 uur 1 min
I seemed to recall that we said at some point that we would try and get a few more guests on TCD (...sorry Lucy), it could have been as a result of passing the 250 mark or it might even have been a sort of NY resolution. Lees meer
Now clearly anything that either of us states as an intention (or even a hard-and-fast truth) should be taken under advisement, but in this case it is playing out as described. Saying that I didn't think all of them would be so close to home, because today marks the debut of the third (in podcast terms) and the first (chronologically speaking) of my offspring, with the appearance of Sofi.
I have really enjoyed these episodes, not least because of how proud I am of all of them, but also because of the little nuggets of insight that have been uncovered as we have chatted.
Love'n'loud trousers
h
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Chapter 252. Father and (other) Son
26 januari 2026 · 52 min
Buses. Lees meer
You wait 251 episodes to get one of my boys on the pod, and just like that you get the other one.
Actually it was all a bit odd this week, Ant is away in California so we have been juggling and crowbarring, just to find a suitable moment to sync the time zones and press record. And yes before you ask, crowbarring is a word.
Anyway not wanting to be the odd brother out, Nial was able to join us for a chat that threw up some Hoggarthian nuggets of random fact. Two hundred and fifty in and we are still unearthing this stuff, everyday is indeed a school day.
Love'n'ladders
h
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Chapter 251. Father and Son
12 januari 2026 · 57 min
I don't know if it is because we are in a new year (Happy 2026 btw) or because it feels a while since the 250th, but this episode feels like a new start, maybe a do-over, or even a hard reset. Lees meer
(of course all of that is merely a figure of speech, and for those of you that worry about these things I am not currently trying to press a little button on the base with an unfolded paper clip).
Anyway Ant and I have been having production chats about what the next incarnation of TCD (...sorry Lucy) is going to sound like, and the first thing that came to mind was 'get some more guests on!'.
And so that is where we have started, and for #251 that means we answered the oft-quoted-call, and got one of the kids in.
Love'n'third-born
h
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Chapter 250. Intensive Care
15 december 2025 · 1 uur 35 min
It's not every week that you get all five members of the beat-combo on the same episode of a podcast (in fact it is possible that we were popping the 'ol podcast cherry, collectively speaking). Lees meer
But then it isn't every week that we record the 250th episode of TCD!!
It made for an eventful recording process, and indeed a game of two halves, as we huddled around a single microphone in my hotel room in Utrecht to try and make this semiquincentennial episode something a bit special.
And do you know what? I think we might have managed it! Despite being “post-the-best-gig-in-living-memory” shattered, the boys brought their 'A' game to the table, and Ant (bless him) has put in an extra special effort to wrestle the edit into submission and sprinkle it with sparkles.
It's been a special project for me, one that so many of you have embraced and carried on your shoulders, and for that I will always be truly grateful.
Love'n'milestones
h
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Chapter 249. Let's get ready to ramble
1 december 2025 · 51 min
I had a rare old time in Poland last week, in fact it may well be the best h natural show I have played there. Despite a little apprehension on my part, it all went swimmingly, as you are about to hear as we discuss the gig and the set-list in some detail. Lees meer
Of course the next few weeks are going to blur a bit, what with the upcoming Marillion Weekend in Utrecht, and then the run of solo shows that (by tradition) draw the curtain across my musical year. All of which I am looking forward to.
But that doesn't mean that in the midst of all this gigging activity, Ant and I don't have one last TCD trick up our sleeve before we sit expectantly around the fireplace waiting for the big fella.
And we will let you ponder on that, as you listen to this week's ramble.
Love’n’just the one chopstick.
h
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Chapter 248. What the bloody hell is this...
17 november 2025 · 12 min
There are so many reasons why we don't do a video version of TCD (...sorry Lucy) but we got the sense that many of you didn't believe us. Lees meer
So as Ant was round at ours anyway, and as Vibes was on hand to assist with production duties, we decided to tiptoe out 'till our feet only just reached the floor.
What that means is that you get a few mins of audio-only, before we will redirect you to the YT link so you can be hypnotised by the act of Christmas admin.
Huge thanks to my boy, who has slaved over this...
Sound'n'vision
h
Chapter 248 in all it's glory
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Chapter 247. We’re like the United Nations.
3 november 2025 · 1 uur 4 min
It’s a full on chapter of TCD this week (….sorry Lucy) with all the bells and whistles that are now synonymous with our artform. Lees meer
Firstly we have a guest. The inimitable Lucy J. joins us, bringing with her that wonderful frisson, that you only get when a special personality has rocked up in your own backyard. And of course when Lucy J. is in the house, we get some insider goss, and this time it's all about Pompeii.
Secondly we have the ad-hoc drop-in (in this case twice) both as a preamble, and a post-title introduction. The bit where you have to listen a bit more closely, just to stay with the convo, because we have changed tack without giving you fair warning.
And finally there is the obligatory BLEEP, employed as a protection mechanism because I have invariably strayed into a cul-de-sac of rantiness, or indiscretion. Of course it's normally Ant who has manoeuvred me there, but just because he crosses them over I don't need to head them in.
Enjoy.
h x
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Chapter 246. Nor'easter
20 oktober 2025 · 57 min
It's all got a bit of a 'rockumentary' kind of a vibe this time, as I take you behind the curtain at the ProgStock festival in Noo Joizee Lees meer
Recorded from my hotel room overlooking Manhattan, on the morning after the night before, and with me not altogether compos mentis. So in amongst the normal TCD bants, we talked about the gig a bit, as well as the details of a fab few days grooving around NY & NJ.
Thanks for the invite, and to everybody that helped in terms of getting me on (and off) stage, and at the right places at the right time. As it turned out the journey back only became eventful after we had touched down in the UK, but I will have to tell you about that on a future pod. The gold stops us...
Love'n'souwesters
h
What is a Nor'easter
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Chapter 245. RIP Colin
13 oktober 2025 · 1 uur 4 min
Listening back to this weeks chat, and it is fairly obvious that if you have never been to Cornwall, or holidayed in the UK for that matter, then a lot of the references might seem a bit bewildering. Lees meer
I am not sure it is possible to explain in a succinct enough fashion for the purpose of these notes so lets try a few images...
This is a fairly typical example of static caravans on a UK holiday park
This is a good example of the kind of 'scenic road' I was talking about, but the one that we traversed had higher hedges, dark overhanging trees and two ruts of a road surface.
The Looe river hitting the sea, with the beach where the Kernowfornia stage was situated
The East Looe and West Looe River Catapult
The Sardine Factory website
As you were.
h x
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Chapter 244. Abracadaver!
22 september 2025 · 52 min
There are certain things in life that are absolutes. Lees meer
For a start - the fastest way to find a stray piece of lego is to walk across the floor in stockinged feet, and you will find it in an instant (and with more than a modicum of extreme pain). Toast always falls butter side down, and if it is a pair of sunglasses or a laptop charger I am going to misplace it.
The TCD absolute (...sorry Lucy), is that however innocuous the topic might seem at first glance, Ant and I seem effortlessly to get a podcast episode out of it.
Take this week, to be honest I had slight misgivings that going through a list of countries where the beat-combo had only ever performed twice would not really be worthy of discussion. But I was mistaken, because as soon as the red light came on then we were off and running, my often unreliable neurons began firing and I was throwing out random memories like a man possessed.
Love'n'sharp giraffes
h
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Chapter 243. The great vinegar paradox
8 september 2025 · 1 uur 2 min
I happened to listen to the opening credits today, and this week's chapter is certainly a bit random, and a bit irreverent. Lees meer
What it really needs to accompany it is one of those maps that you get on travel programs, that indicate the route taken as the story unfolds. You know the kind of thing I mean, I have the one from Antiques Road Trip in mind but numerous other examples are available.
You start with a static visual of the area in question (in our case North Yorkshire and the East Coast) and then you get a little car-style icon that plots a course from the beginning of the story (in this case Scarborough) around the interim stops (Filingdales, Egton Bridge, Egton, Glaisdale, Staithes) and ending up at the journeys end, which for me was Steve R's childhood home of Whitby.
Of course I don't have the go-to-skills to conjure one of those maps up, but how nice would it have been. Anyhow you get the idea.
Love'n'streetfighting
h
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Chapter 242. Change of band, change of trousers. Obvs.
25 augustus 2025 · 57 min
Let’s start with the plaudits. High fives, if not big tens are due to John Sturm and Seamus Colgan for being the purple folk who said that we needed more chat about the Europeans. Lees meer
Tim Glasswell deserves the freedom of Luton for all the work he has put into the Rainbow Room website, which is dedicated to all things How We Live and Europeans.
And next we move to whatever the opposite of plaudits is…(??!!). And that goes to Ant for not sending me something over to read for the middle of the chapter, choosing instead to clear off to Catalonia for his holibobs.
You do get an approximation of my favourite live review of the Euros, maybe Tim G will offer up something inspired that I can read for a future episode.
Love’n’vans full of hats
h
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Chapter 241. We managed to rescue the Moon fact.
11 augustus 2025 · 51 min
It’s a case of life imitating art this week. Lees meer
It’s a minor bloody miracle you are actually listening to this at all because Ant had one of those head in hand moments whilst trying to download the episode from the Zoom recorder, and managed instead to format the SD card and delete everything we had .
Fortunately he managed to rescue one half of the recording using some whizzy software that was able to partially rebuild what had been on the card (you can indeed do anything with computers these days) which at least gave us what had been captured on my microphone.
The life imitating art bit is that, after having started the chat with an explanation of how an audio compressor works and when to use it, we then had to employ it quite extensively so you could hear us both at roughly the same level. It did indeed make the loud thing (me) quieter and the quiet thing (Ant) louder. Of course (as I will explain) it meant that the village gossip, and the wind, also came to the fore, as we were recording this episode LIVE in my garden.
So apologies for the slightly variable levels and overall quality, but we wanted to be able to share the chat because we enjoyed recording it and it just wouldn’t have been the same if we had revisited it.
Oh and it cuts off a little abruptly at the end, seems the goodbyes were lost in the recovery process.
Love’n’presidential spread
h
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Chapter 240. All creamed up!
28 juli 2025 · 55 min
It’s a gentle and meandering affair for this chapter of TCD (…sorry Lucy) which is podcast code for not really planned, and certainly not thought through. Lees meer
Saying that, the vibe is about right for a chat that takes place at the seaside and touches on fence repair, cricket and Susie Dent.
The thing I can’t forget is to mention the chaps in the boat, who are called Adam, David, Jack and Sam and you can find out more about them by clicking here. The link that Vibes sent me is from Insta and covers them going over the Titanic.
All of this will become clear as you listen to the pod. Oh.. and as you watch the clip, any resemblance to Ant and I rowing around Peasholm Park is purely serendipitous.
Love'n sweating in a hedge…
h
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Chapter 239. A Master of Timing
14 juli 2025 · 1 uur 1 min
For this week's episode of TCD (...sorry Lucy) we have been remembering Luis. Lees meer
So much of what Luis did had a touch of the mystical about it, he sprinkled musical magic wherever he went, and helped music transcend with just the shake of his tambourine.
Of course that goes a long way to explaining his career, and the legacy he leaves behind, but it doesn't explain the multiple ways he has touched the lives of me and the rest of the marillion family. That was down to something else, the magic of the human being that was Luis Jardim.
It was a joy to have him contribute in the studio and a joy to have him on the road with us. It was also a joy to have him join us for TCD back in October 2022 and if you want to listen back to that episode then click the link below.
Chapter 129. Tightening it up when it's a little loose, and softening it when it's a little stiff
Obrigado meu amigo
h
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Chapter 238. This is the one I shoot with...
30 juni 2025 · 53 min
Of the things that fly-in-and out of this week’s TCD (….sorry Lucy) Gene Wilder was already lodged well and truly at the front of the ol’ synapses. Having finished my evening in Berlin with him (and Anthony having a similar soft-spot), perhaps it wasn’t too much of a surprise that he found his way into the chat. Lees meer
Combining the letters D, M and T with the number 8 however, wouldn’t have even been a fleeting blip on the radar feed of my brainiacles* before we started. So how that made an appearance was down to kismet, the power of TCD, and a downward slide into nerdishness (which we will henceforth try to keep to a minimum).
The rest of the conversation was bubbling under the surface somewhere, jostling with the other accumulated randomness, and waiting to happen.
Love, and do tell The Edge to turn that soldering iron off. Oh, his poor mother’s carpet..
h
*A word I am proud to introduce to the world, and encourage you to employ whenever you feel it might elevate the conversation.
Fostex DMT8
Hohner Pianet
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Chapter 237. Me and my fizzy mind
16 juni 2025 · 1 uur 4 min
Well it feels like quite a while since we were here last… how have you been? Lees meer
What with the Leicester Weekend, and then dashing off on holiday I can't really remember where we had got up to, not that it really matters because this week was always going to be a bit of a catch-up and reset as far as TCD goes (...sorry Lucy).
What I can tell you is that Lionel Plain, who is one of the Purple folk, came up with an inspired idea for the middle of the pod this week - which was welcome because it meant we only had to flounder around at the beginning and the end!
Anyway, wonderful boating weather!
See you in Oslo x
h
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Chapter 236. Is it a bird, is it a plane.
26 mei 2025 · 1 uur
There is a school of thought that TCD (...sorry Lucy) is just like listening to two blokes chatting in a pub, and there is indeed a lot in that observation that has merit. Lees meer
It would certainly go a long way to explain the slightly juvenile humour, the occasional grumpy chunter and the fact we often giggle uncontrollably and sound a bit pissed.
And, as is the case with most good pub conversations, every once in a while we actually find ourselves having a relatively serious discussion. Today is one of those days.
Love'n'proper silence
h
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Chapter 235. Seriously though, who is Lucy J?
12 mei 2025 · 53 min
There is a paradox at the heart of this weeks episode of The Corona Diaries (see what I did there…) and it is this. Lees meer
Getting Lucy Jordache on the zoom call was easy, she was more than up for a repeat appearance on the pod. Getting her to actually talk about herself and her life, was a darn sight more tricky.
But we are nothing if not determined (creatives code for just bloody nosey) and between the two of us we were able to get to know a bit more about one of the significant dollops of glue that holds Marillion in place.
Oh and if that wasn’t enough you also get an update on a PZ T-Shirt pre-order.
Love’n’political skeletons,
h
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Chapter 234. A clamour for Reactor One
28 april 2025 · 1 uur 2 min
We have hit a bit of a milestone, and it is sort of crept up on us. Would you believe it has been five years (and a few days) since we announced the upcoming launch of The Corona Diaries, and pretty much five years to the day that the first chapter (This Strange Podcast) was offered up for your consumption. Lees meer
And haven't we been through some crazy stuff; in fact haven't we helped each other through some crazy stuff. We are bound together by a heady mix of the half-remembered and the humorous, by the grief and the giggles, by the warm purple glow of our own accidental cult.
So here is (quite literally) to the next chapter, and the next and even to the one after that. TCD (...sorry Lucy) is a journey that still feels like it has a few good miles left in it, and who would we be to argue with that.
Love'n'kismet
h & Ant
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Chapter 233. We can't find the tell-tale damp patches.
14 april 2025 · 1 uur
I bet you never thought we would remember to pick up the Holidays in Eden chat. You know, the one we started before the first weekend at PZ. Well we did and we have. Lees meer
Of course it’s not without the usual TCD (…sorry Lucy) eccentricities. I was post-pub, post-airing cupboard and Ant was in a hotel library (who knew) that had more than a whiff of the Shining about it.
But we did manage to get through to the end, both in regards to the plan and also the recording and we present it for your pleasure.
And for those of you who aren’t familiar with the brand Tena, well you can find out more here. Let’s just say that if you need them, you’ll know.
Right I’m off to try and return some mail-order socks.
Toodle Pip!
h
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Chapter 232. If you make it as far as the camel, you have done well.
31 maart 2025 · 49 min
I am not really sure how to describe this episode of TCD (...sorry, Lucy). If it helps to set the scene then you might want to consider the following; Lees meer
I am/was in Montreal at the time of recording, and Ant was ensconced in his villains lair, in Heckmondwike.
The wi-fi was more than a bit iffy, in fact for the first five minutes so it was looking like a bit of a non-starter.
I hadn't put much thought into the rest of my week, and Ant hadn't really put much thought into anything other than questions about my week.
I guess what I am trying to say is that there are undoubtedly a couple of nuggets in #232, but you are going to have to go digging.
Love'n'essence
h
P.S Ant now informs me it was Skegness, rather than Scarborough. But it definitely was a thing in the 80's
P.P.S I did giggle a lot as I was editing it...
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Chapter 231. Whatever happened to the Pinder twins?
17 maart 2025 · 49 min
Here we go then, an episode recorded over the kitchen table at Ant's chalet in PZ. Lees meer
Nothing too complicated in the notes because we are up against it for time, needless to say there are a few Marillion Weekend night one spoilers in here, so please consider swerving this one for the time being if you don't want that kind of intel.
Right I have to dash, stuff to do, gin to drink.
Love'n'four doors down.
h
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Chapter 230. Are there any more famous Butlers per chance?
3 maart 2025 · 1 uur
Would you believe it’s been 34 years since we wrote and recorded the Holidays in Eden album… Lees meer
Yes of course you can, because you and I both know that a whole heap of stuff had happened since then. But still, 34 years, it does make you stop and think.
Which is of course what I did, when I listened back to it the other day. So for this chapter of TCD (…sorry Lucy) we ar going to talk about side one of HiE heard through ears that are older by three decades and a little more.
And if that wasn’t enough, there is a toe-dipping-opportunity for the non-Purps and a spreadsheet corner update for the rest.
Love’n’stray brown strands
h
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Chapter 229. It's a f*cking paperweight
17 februari 2025 · 59 min
For your discerning palette. Lees meer
Appetiser:
A fact-free riff on the history of the Rolling Stones, complete with rugs, confectionary and transfusions.
Entree:
Quite an interesting chat about Holidays in Eden and its significance in terms of both the back catalogue, and the evolution of our work. Not the conversation we set to have, in true TCD style (sorry Lucy), but worth a listen.
Dessert:
A selection of three; an alternative take on Valentines, abstinence for those that get easily distracted, and the support you get from your internal best friend (in my case Bob)
Bon Appetite
h
-
Chapter 228. JPEGs and jet-lag.
3 februari 2025 · 57 min
As we approach the five year anniversary of the podcast (and who would have thunk that would have been a thing) I never thought I would have been reading a recipe out loud. But after a bit of kerfuffle at Ant's end, I received the JPEGs required to make it possible. Lees meer
There is of course good reason, and it's a little complicated, but it involves fish finger apathy and me forgetting to listen to Holidays in Eden and by the time you get to the end of #228 it should all make some kind of sense.
And to bring you all bang up to date, I did indeed break out the pans and bash through said recipe and, despite getting a little over-enthusiastic with one of L’s devices and dicing mi onions to mush, it went down rather well with at least 50% of the household.
Oh, and after consultation with L and Vibes, the man who wrote the Haynes manual for the Boeing 737 was (drum-roll) Charles Kennedy!
Love'n'the-other-nobby-stiles
Nigella
P.S Ant apologises for being a bit snuffly.
Cabin Pressure
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Chapter 227. Have we got a video?
20 januari 2025 · 57 min
Apologies in advance for the first 5-10 minutes of this episode of TCD (sorry, Lucy) as Ant faffed around trying to get his microphone to send a signal to his recording software. We kept it in because it's a little insight into the technical challenges that men of a certain age often face. Lees meer
And on that subject I did finally manage to send Ant those two pictures I promised, only took three days...
Anyway onto to the business in hand, and today we return to the subject of Marillion Promo Vids as we round out the story with memories of filming These Chains back in 1998.
And if you are now thinking "I don't remember a video for These Chains...?!" thats because it largely slipped under the radar, but thanks to Lucy J you can see it in all it's err ”glory” (?)…on the Marillion YouTube Channel.
Love'n'lipsyncs
h
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Chapter 226. Who do we think we are
6 januari 2025 · 1 uur 5 min
Well hello, thanks for coming...it really is lovely to see you! Lees meer
Ant thought it might be nice to begin 2025 (HNY by the way, I hope you had a good 'un) with a bit of a pop quiz, based around what I can actually remember about my own podcast.
Clearly he thought this would be hilarious, particularly as the only bit of a clue I was allowed was the chapter title and the date it was published. And because the whole world seems to be doing 2024 review-type stuff at the moment, we started with the first episode of last year.
So, if you think you know your TCD, and you want to play along at home, these are the ones we had a go at...
191 - Third drawer on the left in the laptop
192 - in amongst the football boots and dog food
193 - And some people know me as Papa
194 - Dawn in California, Joe sends hugs
As you might imagine, I did fairly dreadfully.
Right I am off to find my sea-legs, join me for a turn around the deck if you feel the urge.
Hearts'n'bones,
h
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Chapter 225. O Little Town of Bethlehem
16 december 2024 · 57 min
If everything has gone to plan, and you are a Purple, then I am currently in East Sussex, preparing for the second of my Christmas h Natural affairs at Trading Boundaries. Let me tell you that last night was amazing, and I’ll try to improve on it tonight. Lees meer
If everything has gone to plan, and you are listening to this upon general release, then Trading Boundaries was an absolute blast and to quote our Sue 'we all had a lovely time'.
Anyway back to today and what we have for you is a bit of chat about matters arising from the couple of shows I did in Liverpool at the Crypt. Consequently both Ant & I would like to dedicate this episode to everybody that appeared over those two magical evenings, and to Family Barton who kept order and proved how mercurial they are in the dark art of commerce.
Maybe I will see you in Oxford, but either way have a good one,
h x
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Chapter 224. Angel wings on the Westway
2 december 2024 · 59 min
We are going back to '95 today as we continue on the promo-video chat, and get deep into the making of the Beautiful video. Lees meer
This if course is quite opportune, as most of these vids have finally been uploaded to the Marillion YouTube channel. Which means you can watch it right now by clicking here and then be slightly prepared for what is to come.
Not much more you need to know before diving in, which is good because I am already behind on working up tunes for the Christmas shows, and writing out Christmas Cards.
Love'n'strategic-swearing
h
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Chapter 223. Kicking back, like a red-arsed fly.
18 november 2024 · 1 uur 1 min
If you are a purple patron of TCD (sorry Lucy) then you will have heard some of this before, because we had a chat about the Brave movie (and working with Richard Stanley) in a recent Q&A. Lees meer
Well today we build on that conversation, as we have arrived at that point in our loose 'promo-video-reminiscences' timeline.
And because of that slight crossover, now would be a good time to remind you that becoming a supporting patron of the podcast brings with it many benefits. Apart from being part of the 'purple collective', and getting early access to the pod, you will never have a TCD-free week, because in-between producing fortnightly chapters, we deliver extra content to our wonderful supporters.
You can learn more by clicking here.
Love'n'visual-curiosities
h
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