This week, we wander through London’s haunted past, uncover the humanity behind history’s ghost stories, and rediscover how kindness, comedy, and curiosity connect us all. From spectral legends to small acts of light in the dark, this episode celebrates the strange and the sincere in equal measure.

First, Kevin is joined by historian and author Dr Maddy Pelling — host of After Dark — for a walk through the strange, true story of the Hammersmith Ghost. Together they unearth the 1800s case that blurred the line between myth and murder, ask why ghosts so often reveal the living more than the dead, and explore how our fears have always found form in flickering candlelight.

Then, on our Parish Noticeboard, we turn from frights to generosity with the story of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF — the Halloween tradition that began with a few milk cartons and became a global movement.

After that, we open the Audio Archives to dust off a peculiar relic from the 1990s: the first ever bum dial. Part séance, part sitcom, it’s proof that even ghosts can appreciate good signal.

Finally, the Victorian Parlour Games return with Ring My Gourd! — glowing rings, good humour, and just the right amount of Halloween mischief.

So pour yourself something warm, get comfortable, and join us for a night of hauntings, humour and history in The Big Smoke.

🎟️ The Big Smoke Christmas Special is coming to The Phoenix Arts Club, Soho – 14th December. Expect ghost stories, lively games, seasonal music and festive mischief.

💬 Follow, review, and share the show with a friend — and remember: may your ghosts be friendly, and your gourds well-ringed.

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Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(1:42) Pub Quiz: Trick-or-Trivia!

(2:43) Maddy Pelling Interview

(58:45) Live Christmas Show

(1:00:04) Parish Notices: Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF

(1:08:02) Audio Archives: Bum Dial

(1:22:43) Victorian Parlour Games

(1:24:57) Pub Quiz Answers

(1:27:11) Outro

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Links

🎓 Learn more about Dr Maddy Pelling

📚 Pre-order Maddy’s upcoming book Hoax

🎃 75 Years of Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF

🇬🇧 UNICEF UK

🌍 UNICEF International

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Credits

Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett

Produced & Edited by Alex Graham

Assistant Produced by Adam Wright

Original music by Giles Terera

Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins

Audio Archives written by Aidan Parker and performed by Aidan Parker, Cait Roddam Jones and Kevin Bennett

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!

This week, we walk through the fog of fear, meet courage on the street corners of London, and follow the rivers that carry us home.

First up, Kevin sits down with historian and author Robert Peckham to ask what it really means to live with fear. From the “dizziness of freedom” to the way algorithms mirror our anxieties, Robert explores how fear shapes everything from politics to art—and why it might be the key to understanding hope itself.

On the Parish Noticeboard, we pick up a copy of The Big Issue and uncover the story behind one of Britain’s most remarkable social enterprises—where every magazine sold is a step toward dignity and independence. In doing so, we meet André Rostant, a vendor whose voice reminds us that courage isn’t found in headlines, but in the quiet persistence of those rebuilding their lives one sale at a time.

Then, we cross the ocean from the Thames to the Bulkley River, where our new Canadian Correspondent Taninli Wright introduces us to the Wet’suwet’en Nation. Her retelling of an ancestral story, How the Daylight and Lakes Had Come, reminds us that light and belonging are always worth reclaiming.

Finally, as the fire crackles and the tea steeps, comedian and philosopher Alex Farrow joins us with his musings on fear, humour, and the rituals that help us laugh in the dark.

So settle down as the nights draw in, courage flickers in the lamplight, and the stories of The Big Smoke come alive.

Don’t forget to follow the show, leave us a 5-star review, and share this episode with a friend. Until next time—keep the kettle warm and the lights low. We’ll see you soon in The Big Smoke.

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Links

✨ Become a Patron and unlock your Backstage Pass – Support the show and access exclusive perks, behind-the-scenes updates, and early live show tickets.

📝 Take our quick listener survey – Share your thoughts for a chance to win a prize!

📚 Learn more about Robert Peckham – Explore his work and book ‘Fear: An Alternative History of the World.’

📰 Discover The Big Issue – Find out how the magazine is changing lives across the UK.

📖 Read André Rostant’s book – The Muffin Man – A moving collection of reflections from a Big Issue vendor.

🎭 Visit Stand-Up Philosophy – The show where comedians and philosophers meet on stage.

😂 Follow Alex Farrow – Explore his latest shows, writing, and tour dates.

🍁 Maple Leaf or Make Believe – The Real Headline – Read the true Canadian story behind this week’s Pub Quiz!

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Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(01:36) Pub Quiz: Maple Leaf or Make Believe

(02:35) Robert Peckham Interview

(45:04) Parish Notices: The Big Issue

(52:38) Canadian Correspondent Taninli Wright

(1:01:46) Standup Philosopher Alex Farrow

(1:09:35) Maple Leaf or Make Believe answers

(1:10:41) Outro

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Credits

Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett

Produced & Edited by Alex Graham

Assistant Produced by Adam Wright

Original music by Giles Terera

Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins

Welcome to The Big Smoke Variety Show!

This week, we roll the dice under the Harvest Moon, sail the seven seas with wacky shipmates, and curl up with stories that feel like home.

First up, Kevin sits down with author Caroline Taggart to explore the timeless pastime of board games. From Monopoly meltdowns to horse-racing favourites lost to history, Caroline reveals why games aren’t just entertainment—they’re anthropology, philosophy, and sometimes even a mirror of society itself.

On the Parish Notice Board, we turn our eyes skyward to the Royal Observatory Greenwich, celebrating 350 years of stargazing. From the Harvest Moon to the birth of Greenwich Mean Time, discover how the mysteries of the cosmos have guided farmers, explorers, and dreamers for centuries.

Then we venture out to sea with our resident GP Doctor Quack, who returns with another round of jaw-dropping (and occasionally stomach-turning) medical “breakthroughs”. From goat’s testicle transplants to jars of bottled wind, they’re history’s strangest cures brought vividly (and hilariously) back to life.

Finally, Archie’s Neuro Nuggets makes a cosy return to remind us why rewatching our favourite sitcoms isn’t procrastination at all—it’s a spa day for your neurons.

Oh! And don’t miss our Victorian Parlour Game of the week – Checkers Go Bang!

Don’t forget to follow the show, leave us a 5-star review, and share this episode with a friend who loves a quirky story. Until next time—roll the dice, reap the harvest, and don't sniff anything in a jar! We'll see you soon in The Big Smoke.

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Links

✍🏼 Fill out our short survey for a chance to win a copy of The Philosophy of Board Games! Take the survey

✨ Become a patron and unlock your Backstage Pass: https://patreon.com/TheBigSmokeVarietyShow

📗Caroline Taggart’s book - The Philosophy of Board Games

🌙 Royal Observatory Greenwich

📘Louise Devoy’s book - Royal Observatory Greenwich: A History in Objects

🧠Archie McAlpine Associates

🩺Dr. Quack’s Medical Treatments:

🐐Goat Testicle Transplant

💨 Farts in a Jar

🐋Whale Carcass Treatment

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Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(01:40) Pub Quiz: Board Games Trivia

(02:25) Caroline Taggart Interview

(45:54) Parish Notices: Harvest Moon

(53:47) Dr. Quack

(1:02:25) Archie's Neuro Nuggets

(1:08:42) Victorian Parlour Games: Checkers Go Bang

(1:10:09) Pub Quiz Answers

(1:11:58) Outro

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Credits

Hosted & Executive Produced by Kevin Bennett Produced & Edited by Alex Graham Assistant Produced by Adam Wright Original music by Giles Terera Music arranged and played by Joseph Atkins Dr. Quack written and performed by Jolyon Coy