Crushed by Margaret Cabourn-Smith

Welcome to the hiatus! We are taking a short break from uploading new episodes over the summer, and we've had a lovely scattering of new subscribers, so it feels like a good time to dip into the back catalogue to share a couple of favourites that you might not have heard if you've joined us recently. First up, it's the first EVER episode, with one of my absolute favourite people, Dolly Alderton. I...

It's the last episode before the hiatus! In this episode, I'm talking to American comedian Chloe Radcliffe about her experiences with unrequited love. In many ways my favourite kind of love. We talk about her first crush, and the power of being looked at with adoration. Interestingly, Chloe is not a fan of the celebrity crush, and we had a really interesting discussion about how we differ there. I...

Hello! My guest this week is writer, comedian, actor and all round marvel Katy Brand. Katy is a true crusher, so I know you're going to love the conversation. Apologies in advance though - the sound is a little rougher than the producer likes to let past, but the chat is so good, I thought it was worth it. We talk about so many things - from saving yourself for Jesus, to long lasting devotion to D...

This week my guest is the incredible comedian/impressionist/actor/writer JESS ROBINSON. This recording was so much fun - I love her. We cover a lot of important ground in the episode, including the hot button topic of developing a massive crush on someone while you're in a panto together and what to do if you fall in love with a fictional detective. And some DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES: We will be doin...

We cover some absolute classic crushes in this episode. Not just the horror that is the made up boyfriend (we've all done it, right? Just me?) but the strange allure of a good, albeit dead and murderous, vampire. I think that one is more widespread than people let on. And I know that one definitely isn't just me, as today's guest Beth Morrey shares it. Aside - completely blown away to discover tha...

Another episode from Machynlleth and A SECOND MAN ON THE TROT as I talk to the lovely Jonny Donahoe (Jonny and the Baptists) about unresolved friend-crushes and abandoning your team (or not). Plus you get the immersive audio experience of a Sunday morning in central Machynlleth - church bells, the lot. If you want to get in touch - email us: crushedbymcs@gmail.com. Or for exclusive access to ad-fr...

We're Live from MachFest this week with comedian, writer, illustrator and Bean: Henry Paker! (Three Bean Salad, Kay's Anatomy) Henry tells me all about his psychosexual awakening, matrons with sturdy calves (quite a lot about sturdy calves, actually) and a publican's response to his first snog in a booth in a pub near the National Gallery. It's a brilliant fun episode with a fab audience and I hop...

Dive into the depths of youthful infatuation with this week's episode featuring the incomparable Nikita Lalwani! Nikita is a Booker nominated novelist and screenwriter, but we talk about all sorts of nonsense despite that. From trying to win the heart of the chess geeks with brain power, to psychically revisiting crushes years later to mine stories for her books, we dive deep into the murky waters...

I really feel like I met my twin in today's episode. Lucia Keskin (aka, @ChiwithaC wherever you find your social medias) of the brilliant sitcom Things You Should Have Done, chats with me about her formative crushes, including Roni Mitchell and Kristin Chenowith. And who doesn't love a Broadway chanteuse-y. As always, if you want to find the show online, it is crushedbymcs.substack.com - you can s...

I get to interview someone I have been a fan of for years and years today - the brilliant and iconic Helen Lederer (Ledgenderer more like. It's going to catch on). I found the clip of her on Wogan that I mention in the intro. To make it even more enthralling, it's a real pleasure to see how confused Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan are by the whole thing. Forgot they were on the sofa too! Watch tha...

A brilliant episode this week with the hilarious BAFTA-winning actress Kimberley Nixon (Fresh Meat, Cranford, Agatha Christie's Marple) The automatically AI-generated show notes for this ep included the phrase '(Kim) discusses her rich fantasy life and how she can play out multiple scenarios in her head', but let's be honest: that barely scratches the surface here. From her suave encounter with J...

This week's guest is the amazing Elizabeth Day (How To Fail podcast and author of Friendaholic) who joins me in poring over her many and varied crushes - from a teenage Peter Phillips to Gilbert Blythe from Anne of Green Gables - as well as the time she brought a dead bat into school. It was such a funny chat - I loved spending an hour in her company and know that you will too! As always, if you w...

It's a glorious one this week from Cuddle Club's own Lou Sanders! Pin back your ears for tales of chasing boys down in parks, hosting parties to impress boys, and why she'd give it all up for the romantic allure of a cosy retirement with Keanu Reeves.  One. Not. To. Miss.  As always, if you want to find us, we are crushedbymcs.substack.com - you can sign up there for an ad free version of the show...

Now, I'm not a fan of the most romantic day of the year TM. In fact I like it so little that I banned celebrating it when I got together with my now husband and 21 years later, we have yet to eat an overpriced meal in mid-February. So, for a treat this week Isy Suttie and I sat down to discuss V-Day - the highs, the lows, and why it might have been most enjoyable in our primary school years. Hope...

I think you are going to enjoy this episode. My guest is the wonderful Sarah Hadland (who you'll probably know from Miranda, and The Job Lot and Quantum of Solace). She is wonderfully indiscreet about her early crushes/kidnapping attempts (depending on what side of the curtain you were on); and about briefly meeting some of her more famous crushes through work. Her Brandon Flowers story really tic...

Just squeezing in to January, it's our Best Bits 2023. It was such a blast listening back to the interviews we've had over the last year. It honestly made me want to go back and revisit all of these conversations again in full. So, I hope you enjoy this short dip back into the past. From Alison Spittle, explaining the huge part Morrissey played in her early Crush-life (before he let us all down),...

My guest this week is the easily embarrassed Athena Kugblenu, talking about her teen crushes. We dredge our memories for long forgotten 90s boy bands, ponder when an older man is too old and decide whether our allegiance was to George Clooney or Goran Višnjić in the great E.R. Crush Wars of 1999. It's a fantastic episode - not least because Athena seems genuinely embarrassed, and that's always ver...

Happy New Year Crushos! This episode is a great one to kick us off - in fact it might be my favourite ever episode. Is that disloyal to all the other episodes? I don't know. It's how I feel now. It features the glorious Kerry Howard on starting slow, and ending up a female incel - taking in scenic stops at how best an 8 year old can compliment a girl in his class, and when Jimmy Carr lost his virg...

Hi all, this week's show features someone I have known for more than 20 years - writer and performer Barunka O'Shaughnessy, as I think you'll be able to tell from the level of giggling. Barunka has a list of credits as long as your arm, including Motherland, Up the Women and Hunderby. But by the end of this episode you'll know her best as a woman with a fine set of childhood crushes - including in...

My guest this week is actor and Penny Dreadful - David Reed. I love his attitude to crushes - and indeed, his attitude to this conversation. He said afterwards "sorry if I didn't answer all your questions, I had a lot of things I wanted to get off my chest", and I think this is one of those episodes that really digs in to the the loneliness and longing of early unrequited crushes. It's still a fun...

Holly Burn is my wonderful guest this week, and it's one of my giggliest episodes. You may not know Holly - but she's one of my favourite people. Really open and honest, and this conversation is honestly incredible. We mainly talk about one of her earliest crushes on her friend's brother, and it all gets a bit deep and therapeutic. And very, very funny. Thank you Holly for sharing your inner turmo...

Megan Ganz, the amazing writer whose work includes Community and It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia (and co-host of The Always Sunny Podcast) is my guest this week, as we swap stories about crushes real and fictional, and politely mark our territory with regards to Hugh Laurie. He's mine, back off buster. Expect teenage angst aplenty, alongside 90s nostalgia for the now-traditional animated crush o...

I'm so excited to share this episode. I've been looking forward to putting it out since we recorded it with lovely, lovely Sarah Millican at the Leicester Square Theatre in July. In a cupboard, in case you thought podcasting was always glamorous. Sarah was in town recording RHLSTP with Richard Herring, so I managed to catch up with her backstage to chat about her crushes - pure and not so pure. It...

This week, Margaret Cabourn-Smith steps into the world of unrequited infatuation with the delightfully frank Anna Richardson, host of Channel 4's "Naked Attraction." Anna reveals her formative crushes and the candid tales behind them, from memorable encounters with Tom Cruise to playful - if unsuccessful - flirtations with Mick Hucknall and the alluring mystique of a certain hot priest. It'll have...

It's a bumper episode today - true tales of lust and heartbreak from the fabulous Caitlin Moran and Sali Hughes, sharing anecdotes as only best mates can. This episode is a romp through their lives in crush form, from Hip Hop Dads, to toilet graffiti. Thanks for listening! love you! Margaret xx Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices