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Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

Podcasts you take refuge in for the language and humour

24 replies

blueskiesandforests · 04/12/2018 11:44

Does anyone have any favourite podcasts which you specifically enjoy for the moment of British English language and humour?

I'm a very late adopter of podcasts, and BBC sounds, having always preferred the written word. I have 90 minutes in the car to and from work now though, so I'd like suggestions for an oasis of British English humour to download for my drives!

Would live to know what fills this need for others living overseas. Sometimes I think my native language is the only thing I miss any more, but I really do miss it!

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Sarahduckobsessive · 04/12/2018 12:01

I'm sorry I haven't a clue, just a minute and the news quiz from radio 4.
Also not a podcast but Cabin Pressure (radio series with Benedict Cumberbatch and Roger Allan).

ArfArfBarf · 04/12/2018 12:04

Not a podcast, but I listen to local radio from my hometown online. I even like listening to the traffic reports because it makes me less homesick to know that at least I’m not stuck trying to get on the M4 at junction 16 Grin

ladybee28 · 04/12/2018 12:05

Do the Right Thing! I cry laughing...

ArfArfBarf · 04/12/2018 12:07

These Adam and Joe show podcasts are a bit old now but I remember them being really funny.

thefuriousfuggler · 04/12/2018 13:23

David Sedaris (although he is American!)

Skala123 · 05/12/2018 00:42

Desert Island Discs are my favourite

plaidlife · 05/12/2018 03:39

I like fortunately with Fi Glover and Jane Garvey, but you maybe have to be a woman of a certain age to enjoy it.

sofato5miles · 05/12/2018 04:08

Answer Me This
All Killa No Filla

Autumnchill · 05/12/2018 04:31

Definitely Radio Four Comedy, currently the Now Show but love the News Quiz

Italia2005 · 05/12/2018 04:36

BBC Radio 4 and occasionally Radio 4 extra have an excellent range of podcasts so it’s worth searching through and trying anything you fancy. And don’t dismiss a series only because you don’t like one episode, the description of the series can be read in more detail on the BBC general website to help you decide if it covers an area of interest to you. Also, there are several archived radio programmes available to download (as opposed to a podcast). From what you say you’re looking for, I recommend you try ‘Word of Mouth’, ‘Seriously...’, and ‘All in the Mind’ to start you off.
I’m not a fan of the new BBC Sounds yet, it seems like a work in progress which I’m sure will get tweaked to make it easier to find everything, hence I suggest you explore other searches, including iTunes and google, to find downloadable radio to enjoy. There’s so much good quality broadcasting available to us now which entertains and educates .....and is totally free!

Longtalljosie · 05/12/2018 13:33

Another vote for Fortunately, also Analysis, The Rat Line, Brexitcast and Political Thinking with Nick Robinson

blueskiesandforests · 05/12/2018 18:22

Thanks everyone.

I've started with Fortunately, which handily has lots of recommendations for other things to listen to within it, though i haven't looked any of them up yet.

Will work my way through things, excellent starting point though!

Slightly disconcerting to be a "woman of a certain age" plaidlife Shock I googled Fi Glover and she's 48, which is only a few years older than me - surely "women of a certain age" are always at least 15 years older than whatever age I am nearer retirement age... BlushSad

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plaidlife · 05/12/2018 19:23

I'm 43 if it makes you feel any better OP and put myself in that category!

chemenger · 06/12/2018 01:05

I don’t listen to podcasts as such that much, however I listen to The Archers every morning with my coffee. We also watch Only Connect and Have I Got News for You every week on YouTube. We do sometimes listen to the Radio 4 Comedy Podcasts as well.

lemonapple · 06/12/2018 14:25

I used to listen just to Radio 4 to take refuge in the language, on the journey home from work.

Out of the blue, I discovered “Tea and Tattle Podcast” - refreshing, literary, London

blueskiesandforests · 06/12/2018 17:50

I've tried listening to radio 4 live via my phone and blue tooth in the car, but it cuts out for at least 40% of the drive - we're very rural and my drive is largely one lane county roads though forest, so long stretches without network.

Tea and tattle... Can that be listened to without tea? I guess tea is the other bit of Britishness I cling to... German Tee is more a dizzying array of "aromatic infusions" than actually tea...

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plaidlife · 06/12/2018 18:21

I remember going to Germany as a teenager for the first time and being shocked that Tea was a herbal infusion drunk without milk. It was almost as bad as being given cured meats and rye bread at 6:30 am.
If you had told me then that time in India and Latin America would mean I would change to a savoury spiced breakfast I wouldn't have believed you.

blueskiesandforests · 07/12/2018 06:51

I'm ok with the cured meats and rye bread plaidlife :o though in your own home nobody gives me them at 6:30am sadly, I'm more likely to be waving my kids off to the bus with cured meats and rye bread in their Brotzeit boxes for 2nd breakfast, or on other days putting them out myself for the clients to eat for breakfast :o

For actual breakfast my kids eat cereal or porridge, I think they get more German as the day goes on :o

I spent 6 months teaching English in a girls and women's hostel in Telangana 25 years ago and was served rice and Dahl for breakfast 180 days in a row (slight exaggeration as I went on holiday to Kerala in the middle and ate fish for ten days...) Rice and Dahl groundhog Day was an excellent appetite suppressant... I think eating it local style without cutlery added to the effect...

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echt · 08/12/2018 05:20

The whole of "Old Harry's Game"

ttps:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Harry%27s_Game

DeliveredByKiki · 02/01/2019 00:53

Woman’s Hour and The infinite Monkey Cage are my automatic goes-to

Then I’ll download an audiobook written by someone like Juliet Walters

DeliveredByKiki · 02/01/2019 00:53

I mean read by!

SusanWalker · 02/01/2019 01:00

I've recently listened to the whole of Home Front which I really enjoyed.

I also listen to Remainiacs and the new european podcast.

And all about the dame which is about all the agatha Christie books and short stories and is really enjoyable if you like Christie. It's american but I think that makes it more interesting as you get a different perspective. They have English guests on sometimes too, most recently an interview with Sophie Hannah.

SusanWalker · 02/01/2019 01:30

Also check radio 4 extra as well as radio 4 as they have a lot of dra ma and comedy on there. Old ones but still worth a look.

blueskiesandforests · 02/01/2019 18:43

I've discovered that I love fortunately so thank you for that one plaidlife and long tall !

I tried Old Harry's game and really didn't like it unfortunately, just seemed to be trying too hard and not that funny, but I expect that's just me... Fortunately makes me laugh out loud while I'm driving on my own so I'm only listening to that atm - I only listen to podcasts driving to and from work as I'm never alone otherwise!
.
I do like Woman's hour, must get round to downloading it, have only streamed it which is too patchy on my drive.

Will try some of the other suggestions - seems I got stuck straight in a rut once I found one thing I liked! Blush

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