Loremen Podcast

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 Ba...

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 re...

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 con...

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 Wa...

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...

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.  ...

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 h...

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....

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 jud...

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.in...

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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.inst...

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 m...

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 Ho...

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  | @athenakugb...

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   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A flesh and blood monster stalks the streets of London, causing bloodshed, outrage and mass hysteria. James and Alasdair meet innocent victims, scurrilous liars and the 18th Century’s greatest prankster. @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK Featured image: “The monster disappointed of his afternoons luncheon-or porridge-potts preferable...

Jenny Collier joins the Loremen in a Valentine’s Day Special: tales of star-crossed lovers from Wales. Also featuring the world’s biggest lovespoon. Content Warning: This episode isn’t very rude, but some of the subject matter is more adult than our usual family-friendly fare of ghosts, devils and murderers. @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.facebook.com/loremenpod @JamesShakeshaft | @M...

Guest LorePerson Sindhu Vee (Edinburgh Best Newcomer Nominee 2018) explains exactly why Everything Happens For The Best via the medium of Indian folklore that involves some mild torture. Alasdair recounts a Durham tale that is basically a religious Weekend At Bernies. Find the show notes here: www.loremenpodcast.com/episode-8-s2 @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.loremenpodcast.com/about...

Witches, Black Dogs, Crabs, Happy Whales and Toads. This pair of compendium stories has it ALL. Also what passes for a piece of Folklore in Banbury and why you should make consistent fashion decisions when dealing with packs of hounds. Find the show notes here: www.loremenpodcast.com/episode-7-s2 @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.loremenpodcast.com/about www.facebook.com/LoremenPod @Jam...

Alasdair tells a tragic monkey's tale and James turns private dick, on the trail of a Cornish Bluebeard. Who fled the headless hounds? Who hung the monkey? Both these questions answered for the low price of zero pounds. (Seriously, if you haven't visited Trago Mills - you should. It's quite the thing.) Find the show notes here: www.loremenpodcast.com/episode-6-s2 @loremenpod www.instagram.com/lore...

A knight errant lobs a baby in a stream and twins are struck deaf by a sinister wooden chest. Curious tales of the macabre and absurd from your friendly neighbourhood Loremen. Alasdair relates what is potentially the most problematic rom-com premise ever. James tells us about a spooky storage solution. (Does feature guns). Find the show notes here: www.loremenpodcast.com/episode-5-s2 (Includes THA...

A true crime in Restoration England? A bizarre ritual on Scarborough Pier? It's episode 4 of Loremen Series 2. Find the show notes here: www.loremenpodcast.com/episode-4-s2 @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.loremenpodcast.com/about www.facebook.com/LoremenPod @JamesShakeshaft | @MisterABK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Loremen discover that Lincoln Green is people, and ride to windswept Argyll on an "entire" horse. In Episode 3, James and Alasdair are joined by another Deputy Loreman: award-having comedian and troubadour Jon Long. Find the show notes here: www.loremenpodcast.com/episode-3-s2 @loremenpod www.instagram.com/loremenpod www.loremenpodcast.com/about www.facebook.com/LoremenPod @JamesShakeshaft | @...