In which we feed the week’s events through our heat-seeking Fun-Filter®️ to see what makes the bell ring. Which includes …

… Richard Ashcroft in the new John Lewis Christmas ad.

… U2 v Coldplay, the Beatles v Pink Floyd – rock bands and the “diploma divide”.

… why can we still recite entire song lyrics we learnt when teenagers but can’t remember the shopping list we wrote this morning?

… “they couldn’t find their backside with the flashlight”.

… the new form of tribute group: the Fall, Thin Lizzy and Talk Talk and the bands made up of ex-members who are recording their ‘new music’.

… Elvis, Noel Coward, Churchill, Dylan, Jack Nicholson, Michael Caine, Bowie, the Stones, Frank Sinatra … who should Craig Brown write about next?

… the very few people more famous than Paul McCartney.

… our search for the poshest pop star.

… Beatles fans v the National Anthem.

… is this the only podcast on God’s green earth to mention the Wars Of Spanish Succession?

… and birthday guest Giles Fraser on Phil Manzanera, Neil Tennant, Clare Grogan, Midge Ure and other musicians with fabulous speaking voices.

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