Ben and Ed Present

Ben and Ed Present: From Then To NOW

Music EN ↓ 22 episodes

Looking back at the NOW That's What I Call Music! series Ben and Ed look at the albums, the stats and the history behind the worlds most popular music compilation series. Taking a look a 6 albums in an episode every week, picking one song each from the albums. Listen to all the music from each episode on Spotify search Ben and Ed Present. A Best Specialist Music Programme Nominee at the HBA Awards 2019!

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Ben and Ed Present

Episodes

The First NOW-el 19.12.2025 29:33

Ben and Ed are back with a festive treat! In this special holiday edition of From Then to Now, they unwrap the glittering history of the Now Christmas albums in the UK, celebrating their 40th anniversary. From the very first release to the latest compilation, the duo takes listeners on a nostalgic sleigh ride through decades of yuletide hits. Along the way, they reveal the Top 5 most featured arti...

Now That Was 2020: 105 - 107 18.12.2020 29:33

2020 will be known for a lot of things but also as the first time a Now release is delayed, plus more re-issues with fewer and fewer tracks.

Quizzing In Lockdown 26.06.2020 30:29

During lockdown NOW produce a play at home quiz and Ben and Ed decide to give it a go. Recorded from their homes; enjoy this social distanced special.

100 Albums Apart: 102 - 104 25.12.2019 38:28

We pick back up on the numbered series looking at albums 102 to 104. We see a new live music venture from the people behind the Now brand plus the re-releases keep coming with new CD versions of 2 to 4.

The Game 19.07.2019 46:29

In this bonus episode, not content with just discussing at the numbered series albums, Ben and Ed try out the NOW That’s What I Call Music! board game and compare their choices with the selections made on the NOW That’s What I Call A NOW album.

Back To The Future: 97 to 101 22.03.2019 38:37

NOW makes it to a century of albums and we discuss the reflective feel of NOW 97-101. We also see many established acts returning with old songs, marking certain topical events around the time of each release.

Guam Down Dear!: 91 to 96 15.03.2019 37:24

Family connections, a new voiceover for the advert and artists from Guam all feature across NOW 91-96. Plus Ben talks about brackets (parenthesis) again.

Let’s Talk about Sax! (Baby): 85 to 90 08.03.2019 32:33

A pleasing resurgence of the mighty saxophone is prominent in this episode, where we also see a record label change. Plus novelty is prevalent courtesy of former paintballing tv stars and an Aussie omnivorous mammal.

I'll Write It Myself: 79 to 84 01.03.2019 32:46

Singer Songwriters are well and truly back in the charts throughout Nows 79 to 84. Plus artists from South Korea and Nigeria join the NOW Party too!

Christmas Is For Kids: 73 to 78 22.02.2019 35:42

Ben and Ed get in a spin over Christmas as well as hearing the youngest ever artist to appear on NOW.

Getting In A Spin (Off): 67 to 72 15.02.2019 30:43

The NOW family’s newest members get discussed in this episode as we see NOW supplement the number series with more and more themed spin off releases.

Let’s Get Digital: 61 to 66 08.02.2019 35:09

We bid au revoir to the final original format, the cassette, and welcome in the download. We are joined in the NOW series for the first time by a Bajan artist. Plus Ed asks what time is it?

Response Records: 55 to 60 01.02.2019 25:00

We take a look at artists who think ‘anything you can I do, I can do better’ with their response records and celebrate NOW’s Diamond Jubilee.

The TV Talent Show: 49 to 54 25.01.2019 26:39

In this episode we see the return of the TV talent show star, and act begin their unbeaten record breaking run of appearances. Listen to find out who they are, plus our choices from the early 00’s albums.

End of the Millennium: 43 to 48 18.01.2019 25:41

We herald in a new millennium and see how NOW fairs in a world with new technology and new genres. Plus novelty reigns supreme throughout these albums, but where are they now?

Born in the USA: 37 to 42 11.01.2019 27:44

The NOW brand expanded out into new continents and countries including the good ol’ U S of A in 1998, which we explore in this episode. Plus Ben has two choices from Danish artists!

Farewell Vinyl: 31 to 36 04.01.2019 24:31

We progress into the mid-90s in this episode, ushering in Britpop as well as saying goodbye to the old, in with the new. Some songs also prove that one appearance in the series just isn’t enough.

Goodbye Mr Fatbox: 25 to 30 28.12.2018 27:00

NOW always depicts popular songs of the time but not all these songs stand the test of time, and we see many one hit wonders during these releases. Plus the NOW CD loses a few pounds!

The Rebrand: 19 to 24 21.12.2018 17:14

During this episode we see the NOW That's What I Call Music series start to look like what we know and love today as a major rebrand occurs. We talk through early 90s favourites and also see Robbie Williams’ first Now appearance.

End of The 80's: XIII to 18 14.12.2018 23:33

As we say goodbye to the 80's we talk about people who have never appeared on a NOW album. Plus our favourites from another 6 albums.

And we're off: 7 to 12 07.12.2018 17:14

Part two on our journey through NOW That's What I Call Music and we start to see the first spinoffs from the main series. Plus we talk the future format 'CD'.

The Beginning: 1 to 6 23.11.2018 18:14

Our journey through the NOW That's What I Call Music! series beginning at number 1 as we start picking our favourite tracks from every release in the main compilation series.