Blessed are the story-tellers
Funny bedtime me tale tales, a murder mystery and a daily history hit
BRIAN BLESSED’S BEDTIME STORIES
Let’s face it, you haven’t lived until you’ve heard eminent British actor Brian Blessed tackle The Enormous Turnip. Those full-bodied tones, well-known from Flash Gordon, Phantom Menace and Peppa Pig bring new life to stories parents have read over and over again and probably would quite happily chuck in the dirty nappy bin. Contrary to all the usual popular impressions of him – ‘Gordon’s alive!’ – Blessed’s volume isn’t stuck on booming but undulates appropriately as the story evolves.
A background of cats m miaowing, mobile phones ri ringing and a full range of co comedy sound effects helps t the stories clip along at a fierce pace.
WHERE TO FIND IT: All podcast apps or online at bit.ly/blessedpod
WHERE TO START: Brian’s take on Aesop’s The Tortoise and the Hare involves a boastful hare with an irritating Facebook page and a tortoise he met on a stag do.
S-TOWN
S-Town opens as a murder mystery but evolves into the tale of a man who is ashamed of the place he lives yet cannot manage to leave it. It’s the story of life in small town America, of friendship and despair – but also of secret messages carved into sundials, the intricate inner workings of clocks and how what you go looking for isn’t always what you need to find.
Producer Brian Reed visits S-Town – or S*** Town as it’s been dubbed by resident John B McLemore, to investigate the possible cover-up of a teenager’s murder. But he quickly realises greater interest lies in McLemore himself. S-Town was released in 2017, so it’s almost vintage by mainstream podcast standards, but it is one of those that never quite leaves your mind years later.
WHERE TO FIND IT: All podcast apps.
WHERE TO START: Episode 1.
Send your podcast recommendations to Laura on Twitter @lcdavis or to laura.davis@reachplc.com