The Shrewsbury Biscuit Podcast

In anticipation of the hugely popular Shrewsbury International Comedy Festival, we bring you a comedy star of serious calibre — Cally Beaton! In this episode, Alex speaks with Cally about her fascinating journey from the world of corporate TV, where she worked with major names like MTV and Comedy Central, to the bold mid-life leap she made into stand-up comedy. Now an accomplished comedian, Cally...

While scrolling through social media, Alex stumbled upon some captivating content—side-by-side comparisons showing how Shrewsbury’s historic buildings once looked. Intrigued, he reached out to the creator behind the posts: Freya Rickman of Cooper Green Pooks, one of Shrewsbury’s oldest businesses. Freya’s passion for Shrewsbury—especially its rich history—is infectious, and the content she’s been...

Join Alex and Vicks as they chat with Jon and Darren from Shropshire Youth Support Trust (SYST), live from Telford. In this inspiring episode, discover how SYST supports young people across Shropshire—not just through services, but through the passion and lived experiences of the people behind the charity. Darren Duffy went from fruit picking in Europe with little direction to becoming a successfu...

Join Alex and Vicks on this episode of The Shrewsbury Biscuit Podcast as they explore the University of the Third Age (U3A) with guest Michael Reece, chairman of Shrewsbury U3A. As part of her "homework," Vicks introduces a topic Alex knows nothing about—uncovering the vital role U3A plays in tackling loneliness by offering clubs, education, and social activities for those no longer working. Links...

Join Alex as he goes for walk around the fantastic Shropshire County Show for it's 150th event at the DMOS West Mid Show Ground. This show is all about showing off what Shropshire has to offer in terms of agricultural richness and tradition. Alex takes time to speak to a representative of young farmers and to the NFU about what is important about farming across the county and what shows like this...

Here is our coverage of Loopfest 2025, starting with a very fun Saturday! Join Alex as he ventures across a very busy town filled with music and excitement. With a mic in-hand Alex's mission is to cram in as many interviews with artists performing at the many venues that make-up this huge event. To all of the artists, organisers and everyone that made this year's festival go down so well, THANK YO...

Join us for our coverage of Loopfest 2025. Here is Sunday. After overdoing it during Saturday at Loopfest, Alex is taking it easy on Sunday. Starting off with one of the fringe venues, Alex starts off at Nerdy by speaking to Kate Rose. Take a walk wit Alex as he speaks to many more artists during a fun-filled day of music. To all of the performers, organiser and everyone who made Loopfest the whol...

🚤 Sabrina at 50 – Celebrating a Shrewsbury Icon 🚤 Join Alex as he sets sail on one of Shrewsbury’s most beloved vessels— The Sabrina Boat —to celebrate her 50th birthday! Since arriving in town in 2010, Sabrina has become a cornerstone of the local tourism scene, bringing thousands of visitors to the River Severn. But her story starts long before Shrewsbury, and in this special episode, Alex div...

🎭 Theatre Severn Spotlight – 'Do I Love You' by John Godber 🎭 This episode is something a little bit special. As part of a Theatre Severn spotlight, Alex brings in some expert reinforcements in the form of friend of the show and self-professed theatre geek Polly Harrison. Together, they sit down with the cast of John Godber’s brilliant and heart-warming production Do I Love You —a vibrant show d...

Join Alex as he broadcasts from Old Coleham Court — the brand-new luxury apartment block turning heads in Coleham, Shrewsbury. With plenty of buzz (and a few rumours) swirling around the development, Alex sits down with Suzanne from SY Homes to set the record straight, ease a few concerns, and find out what makes this place genuinely exciting. Old Coleham Court has been three years in the making,...

In this bonus episode, we dive into the changes happening around Shrewsbury. From live music and games to a Ferris wheel in the town square, Shrewsbury Moves is being celebrated in style. Alex chats with Seb Slater from Shrewsbury BID about the challenges and goals behind the town’s infrastructure updates, and why they matter. Then, in a first-of-its-kind moment, Alex gets “hooped” by Beth Heath f...

Shrewsbury Comic Con 2025 Preview Ft Charlie Adlard 🎙️ Today on The Shrewsbury Biscuit: Alex sits down with Shrewsbury Comic Con organiser Nick and legendary co-creator of The Walking Dead , Charlie Adlard. What’s the topic of conversation? Shrewsbury Comic Con 2025 , of course! The Biscuit has been proudly involved with SCC since its inception, and the event has grown so much it’s outgrown its or...

Shropshire Women In Business This episode of The Shrewsbury Biscuit Podcast comes to you from Shropshire Business Suite, nestled in the heart of Shrewsbury. This is the perfect place to sit and discuss Shropshire Women in Business with good friend of the show Camilla Monk (Architecture Ventures and Katie Millard (The Happiness Coach). Alex and Vick's really sink their teeth into detailed discuss a...

Dribbz Talks On today’s episode of The Biscuit, Alex welcomes R&B and Hip-Hop star Dribbz for a free-flowing conversation about mental health, the highs of being a creator, and the not-so-glamorous side of content creation. Dribbz shares how The Shrewsbury Biscuit Podcast inspired him to launch his own show, Dribbz Talks , giving him the platform to engage with people he admires—whether they’r...

Peter Metcalf - UK Proms 2025 Preview Recorded in the beautiful courtyard of Attingham Park on a sunny March morning, Alex sits down with a good friend of the show, Peter Metcalf. Peter, of course, is the mastermind behind the incredible UK Proms in the Park. The Shrewsbury Biscuit has been with UK Proms since its inception, and it’s always a true privilege to attend these extraordinary events. Pe...

Alex Whiteley Coming to you live from the Shropshire Business Suite's gorgeous podcast studio, nestled right in the heart of Shrewsbury, we’re bringing you a very special episode today. We’ve got a guest of the highest caliber – someone who’s recorded over 1000 interviews across countless productions. Yes, today’s guest has had conversations with people from all walks of life, from all over the gl...

Shaun Owen - 12th Man Retro As part of her homework, Vick's had the task of setting up a couple of interviews and bringing her guests to the show without spilling too much about them to Alex. And today's guest is a fantastic one. Meet Shaun Owen, the proud proprietor of 12th Man Retro , a gem of a store nestled in The Parade Shopping Centre in Shrewsbury. If you’re a fan of football, especially vi...

Stuart Woodings Today's episode comes to you from the incredible podcast studio at The Shropshire Business Suite in Shrewsbury—a hub designed to help business-minded individuals thrive. Through seminars, webinars, themed evenings, and, of course, podcasts, this space brings people together to share ideas and grow. This time, AL & Vicks sit down with the man behind it all—local business mogul S...

Welcome Vicks On today's episode we welcome our new co-host of The Shrewsbury Biscuit Podcast, Victoria Ireland! Vicks has been on the show before to talk about river safety but now she is about to buckle in and get stuck into everything Shrewsbury and Shropshire by becoming a very important part of the show. AL breaks out the classic "Gauntlet" game where he tests Vicks' abilities behind a mic. W...

🎨 Colour Now! 2025 – The Shrewsbury Biscuit Podcast In this episode, we dive headfirst into Colour Now! 2025 , a vibrant art exhibition at Gateway Gallery, Shrewsbury. Invited by Lucy Caddel—who we first met at DRAWN —I had the chance to chat with the featured artists about their creative journeys. Hear from Amy Rhodes, Natalie Chapman, Michael Paramore, and Lucy Caddel, with special guest appear...

This week, we’re thrilled to welcome back a favourite guest of the show—chef Liam Tinsley! Liam joins us to talk about his latest venture, The Elephant Underground , a stunning new restaurant in Shrewsbury that’s already creating a buzz. Located in the former Paolo’s spot, just a stone’s throw from Mardol (which is quickly becoming the go-to hub for international cuisine), The Elephant Underground...

Sian Brennan-Todd Recorded in November, this episode was initially set for a December release, but life got in the way. Thankfully, the wait is worth it—our guest, Sian Brennan-Todd, is truly exceptional. Sian, a passionate presenter who travels to dance shows across the UK, embodies the spirit of dance. It was only fitting to interview her in the creatively charged Swan Hill Studios. This episode...

Rod Plummer - Shoothill Today on The Biscuit , I’m thrilled to welcome Rod Plummer, Executive Chairman of Shoothill. We're chatting in the warm and inspiring surroundings of Swan Hill Studios—a perfect setting for a creative conversation. Shoothill began as a bold, creative gamble, and it’s paid off spectacularly. Their innovative software has reshaped how we see, learn, and think about the world...

Swan Hill Studio Sessions Get ready for a whirlwind of a podcast episode, launching our Swan Hill Studio Sessions ! To kick things off, we sat down with Swan Hill's own creative force, Sam Pooley-Stride, one of Shrewsbury's most brilliant artistic minds. Sam's authentic, no-nonsense insights make for amazing conversations about art, the transformative potential of Swan Hill Studios, and the opport...

On November 16th at Soulton Hall, I met Jacob Chandler at his As You Like It Dancers Expo. Jacob, an exceptional sculptor, was commissioned to bring Shakespeare's As You Like It to life through his art. Tim Ashton, custodian of Soulton Hall, explained the building's historical significance and its connection to Shakespeare, highlighting Shropshire's rich but underappreciated cultural heritage—an i...