The Big Smoke Variety Show

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! Today’s episode, “The Better Part of Valour”, takes us into the unexpected world of Ukrainian cricket—a story of courage, community, and resilience in the face of war. Our guest, Jonathan Campion, journalist and author of ' Getting Out: The Ukrainian Cricket Team’s Last Stand on the Front Lines of War ', shares his first-hand account of Ukraine’s quirky crick...

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! Today’s episode, “A Fatal Exit”, delves into the spooky lore of the Tower of London and its iconic ravens, just in time for Halloween! Our guest is none other than former Ravenmaster and current Yeoman Warder at the Tower of London Christopher Skaife , author of The Ravenmaster — named ‘London book of the year’ by the Evening Standard. Join us as Chris recoun...

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! In this episode, “The Freestyle Mind”, we dive into how we can harness our thoughts to find stillness, flow, creativity, and inspiration in the midst of modern chaos. First up, we have Arti Lal, a seasoned meditation teacher and co-ordinator of the Inner Space Meditation Centre in Covent Garden. For over 35 years, Arti has been inspiring individuals to make s...

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! In this episode, “Stone Aged Wisdom”, we’re stepping back in time to explore how ancient skills and wisdom can still connect us to our modern world. How could learning to start a fire or forage for food be relevant in the digital age?  We’re thrilled to welcome Memma the Cavewoman , aka Sarah Day. Memma is a Bushcraft instructor, experimental archaeologist, a...

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! In this episode, “Heroes or Vandals?”, we’re taking you deep into the world of graffiti, urban art, and creative expression. Right now it seems there's a new Banksy popping up on every corner, so our timing couldn't be better! Featuring in this episode is Madeleine Pelling , cultural historian and co-host of History Hit’s After Dark. She’ll be discussing her...

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! In this episode, "Change in Muddy Waters", we bring together two remarkable guests for an evening of historical discovery, refugee empowerment, and personal journeys. First, we dive into the world of Sean Clark, a licensed mudlark with a passion for uncovering the hidden stories of 17th-century London. Sean has spent years along the banks of the Thames, disco...

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show! In this episode, "Wild City, Ghost Town", we bring together two outstanding guests for an unforgettable evening of urban wildlife, poetry, and community activism. We welcome Florence Wilkinson, writer, filmmaker, and co-founder of the birdsong recognition app Warblr. Florence will share insights from her acclaimed book Wild City: Encounters with Urban Wildlif...