Our guest for this episode is the hilarious actor and social media star Clara Batten! We talk about everything from writing books and kickstarting your career to what it's like to have dinner with Boris Johnson. Clara tells us how she makes her brilliant reaction videos, and what the people she's reacting to make of them. We discuss how she got banned and then unbanned from Instagram, and how her comedy has helped her return to acting after a 20 year break. We also talk about Clara's desert isla...
Jun 30, 2025•46 min
313: Ellie's Dad - life lessons, a quiz, and some "jokes" What are the lyrics to Happy Birthday? What is the correct term for male swimwear? Who is Jennifer Lopez? Ellie's Dad knows the answer to none of these questions, and we are here to mock him for it. Yes, it's a Father's Day Special as Jim returns to the podcast. We discuss Crystal Palace's FA cup win, aka the best day of his life. He shares the number one nugget of wisdom he's learned after 78 years on the planet, and Ellie comes up with ...
Jun 16, 2025•48 min
Our guest for this episode is the awesome Daisy-May Hudson. She tells us about her experience of homelessness, and her journey from documentary maker to film director. We discuss Daisy-May's latest movie, Lollipop , which tells the story of a woman fighting to get her children back, and a friendship that's rekindled along the way. It's out on the 13 June and it's absolutely brilliant. There's also some chat about Daisy-May's documentaries - Halfway , which she made when her family was made homel...
Jun 09, 2025•52 min
Is being a restaurant reviewer the best job in the world? Where's the best place to book a table right now? And how did a picky eater become an award-winning food critic? Answering all these questions is Jimi Famurewa! He tells us all about his brilliant new book, Picky . We discuss Jimi's time as a connoisseur of all-day breakfast in a can, and share some strong opinions on butter boards. There's also some serious chat as we talk about what it was like to grow up in the shadow of the BNP and th...
Jun 02, 2025•46 min
An Englishwoman, an Irishwoman, a Greek and an Australian walk into a DJ booth... No, it's not the start of a joke, it's the latest episode of the Scummy Mummies Podcast! Our guests are the hilarious comedians Riona O'Connor and Olga Thompson. Due to an administrative error, we find ourselves crammed into an unpleasantly warm enclosed space. We get up close and personal about pretty much everything - body confidence, the menopause, Jedward, friendship, school WhatsApp groups, ageing, the Crowded...
May 20, 2025•51 min
Ooh, look at us, sifting through evidence and sipping on fizz with the excellent Drunk Women Solving Crime! Listen in as we join Taylor and Hannah to discuss parenting fails, suppository etiquette, and what happens when nuns go wrong. If you enjoyed this episode you can find many more DWS bangers wherever you get your podcasts! And why not go and see them live ? Also, WE ARE BACK ON THE ROAD! Our new show Hot Mess is coming to theatres all over the country in 2025 and beyond. Many shows are SOLD...
May 16, 2025•59 min
What's it like to headline a stage at Glastonbury? Who is more fun to hang out with, Mickey Rourke or Alan Titchmarsh? What item you could buy from a Robert Dyas does Mariah Carey insist on having at her parties? Answering all these questions is DJ Nikki Beatnik! She tells us about Mums That Rave and how her amazing daytime parties are taking over the world. There's a bit of serious chat as we discuss sexism in the music and theatre industries. And we talk about the trials of accepting a prestig...
May 06, 2025•43 min
Is there such a thing as a "maths brain"? How do you help a child who's struggling with numbers? And why should you never tell a kid they're clever? Here to answer all these questions is the legendary Bobby Seagull! He tells us how he gave up a career in the city to become a teacher, and ended up going viral after an appearance on University Challenge. We discuss Bobby's dating life, and how he explained it to his mum using a PowerPoint presentation. Ellie attempts a Keir Starmer impression, Hel...
Apr 21, 2025•42 min
Our guest for this episode is the awesome Tasha Thompson, founder of Black Girls Do Run! She tells us what inspired to set up the organisation, why she started running, and what keeps her going more than 25 years later. We discuss the challenges women face when it comes to getting involved in sport. Tasha talks about why we need to get out there, and how to do it. There's a lot of chat about chafing, and we share our top running tips. Tasha tells us what her favourite gadget is, and Helen reveal...
Apr 08, 2025•39 min
Our guest for this episode is the amazing Emma Campbell, aka Limitless Em - author, marathon runner, cancer survivor, and single mum of four. She tells us about her experience of being diagnosed with cancer when her triplets were just six months old. We discuss the best way to talk to kids about cancer, and Em's top tip for getting through a crisis. Follow Em on Instagram @limitless_em for more from her, including links to her excellent podcast, Open . She's running this year's London Marathon f...
Mar 25, 2025•50 min
What's the right age to give a child a mobile phone? How long should kids spend on screens each day? Why don't we need to feel as guilty about our children's phone use as we might think? Answering all these questions is the awesome neuroscientist Dean Burnett. He explains the difference between compulsion and addiction, and why he doesn't think Australia's plan to ban social media for under 16s is a good idea. We look at tricky issues like explicit content, cyberbullying, and the effect of stari...
Mar 11, 2025•52 min
For this special live episode we took a trip to lovely Liverpool, and had a fabulous time. We discussed how our feelings about exercise have changed over the years, and what we've learned about the different ways we can motivate ourselves. We also showed off about the time we went to Everest, and told the story of how we visited the wrong Brookside. This episode is brought to you in partnership with Sweaty Betty. We absolutely love their workout gear, especially the super comfy leggings with the...
Feb 26, 2025•40 min
302: Self-love, second chances and dick pics with Lou Featherstone Ever dreamed of leaving your husband, buying a leopard print bus, and touring America's Bible belt while throwing vibrators out of the window? That's what Lou Featherstone did, and she tells us all about it in this episode. We hear how a dick pic inspired her to leave her marriage after 20 years. We find out what it's like to give a Ted talk and to find new love with an old flame, and Lou shares her top tip for self-love. We also...
Feb 11, 2025•52 min
We've got a live one! This special episode was recorded in front of a lovely audience at the Soho Hotel. We talk about our relationships with fitness - everything from Helen's epic running to Ellie's dodgy knees. We discuss how we both hated exercise at school, and why that changed as we got older. Helen explains how getting out of her marriage led to a change in mindset, and Ellie confuses herself with a complicated analogy about hobs and saucepans, or something. This episode is brought to you ...
Jan 29, 2025•38 min
What's the secret to a happy marriage? Which one of us didn't know what a reacharound is until today? Are bouquet garnis worth it? We answer all these questions, along with the most important one of all: why are people still listening to this nonsense, 300 episodes in? Joining us is the brilliant Rob Deering. He tells us about his 25 year career in comedy, and what he believes has kept him and his wife together for so long. Ellie also shares her top tip for staying married (spoiler: it involves ...
Jan 24, 2025•39 min
There's some full-on honest chat in this episode as we talk about all things downstairs with Kelly Newton and Coni Jefferson-Longden, the founders of NIXI Body. Kelly tells us how pissing herself inspired her to become a pioneering inventor and engineer. We also hear about her experience of fostering 28 children over a period of 19 years. Coni shares some fascinating facts about cervical mucus, and we learn why the gussets on our pants sometimes go a bit orangey. She discusses her challenging jo...
Jan 14, 2025•50 min
What mistake do all would-be novelists make? What's it like to be nominated for the Booker prize? And what's the best drink to pair with a Greggs Steak Bake? Helping us answer all these questions is the brilliant novelist Charlotte Mendelson! We discuss Charlotte's latest book, Wife , plus her work as a creative writing teacher. She tells us what all her students have in common, reveals her top tips for finishing your novel, and shares the best piece of writing advice she was ever given. We also...
Dec 31, 2024•48 min
Time for the filthiest, silliest and sweariest episode of the year - it's the Scummy Mummies Christmas Podcast! We are joined by our old friends Miserable Steve, Nurse Jessie and Sam Pamphilon. We discuss our highs and lows of 2024, and find out what Steve means when he talks about getting his balls drained. Of course, our festive Scummy traditions return - join us as we wish Linda a happy birthday, and find out if Jessie has a new job. Plus: who will win this year's Ham Review? There's a hilari...
Dec 17, 2024•52 min
Are modern mums more stressed than their predecessors, and if so, why? What's the best way to deal with anger, and what should you do if you've shouted at your children? How do you accept that you're just not good enough? Answering all these questions is the amazing psychotherapist Anna Mathur! She tells us all about her brilliant new book, The Uncomfortable Truth: Change Your Life By Taming Ten Of Your Greatest Fears . We discuss everything from death and rage to phone addiction and crap holida...
Dec 03, 2024•47 min
In this episode, we answer all the burning questions we've had recently about the theft of Ellie's wedding rings. How did they get nicked in the first place? What was the piece of advice that helped her get them back? Is the vow renewal still going ahead??? Listen in to find out! It's just the two of us for this one, live from the glamorous setting of a Premier Inn hotel room in Norwich. As well as discussing the ring drama, we take the opportunity to say some nice things to each other, and even...
Nov 22, 2024•40 min
How do we keep children safe when they're playing games online? What's the best way to manage screentime? What is Fortnite, why is it so popular, and what age should kids be allowed to start playing it? Helping us answer all these questions is the awesome author and video games journalist, Keith Stuart! This special episode is sponsored by Epic Games, the creators of Fortnite. We talk about some of the positive aspects of gaming, including why games can be a lifeline for neurodivergent children....
Nov 19, 2024•43 min
What's the best brand of air fryer? How can bad bakers get better? And why does the This Morning baking expert hate making wedding cakes? Answering all these questions is the fabulous Juliet Sear! She tells us all about her amazing career, from making the world's first edible Christmas jumper to becoming a daytime TV star and ending up with eight air fryers in her house. We share some of our culinary disasters, and find out what went wrong the time Juliet tried to make a red velvet cake for Mel ...
Nov 05, 2024•41 min
How is having ADHD like being a butterfly? Why are women still being defined by what their husbands do? And do sharks really love heavy metal? Helping us to answer all these questions is the awesome Lliana Bird! She tells us about her children's book, Baboo the Unusual Bee , which she wrote while breastfeeding. We share our memories of being new mums, and reveal the advice we wish we'd had back in the day. Lliana talks about her shock at discovering that women's pages are disappearing from wikip...
Oct 21, 2024•43 min
This is a special LIVE podcast, recorded at the awesome Big Feastival this summer. Our guest is Cat Sims, known on the socials as @notsosmugnow. We cover a host of topics in this podcast, from starting school to managing teens, coping with WhatsApp groups and dealing with nits. We chat about the three things you should never talk about with other parents, and have a heated debate about laundry. We bring back the classic game Handbag Surprise and of course we share some Scummy Mummy Confessions. ...
Oct 08, 2024•50 min
Our guest for this episode is the hilarious Michael Akadiri! He tells us why he switched from junior doctor to comedian, but always wanted to be a footballer. We find out how he's enjoying being a new dad, and laugh at the ludicrous extravagance of his son's first birthday party. There's some advice for anyone about to start medical school, and Michael shares how working as a psychiatric nurse helped him become a better doctor. Plus: is it OK to push your kids towards sporting excellence? What's...
Sep 24, 2024•46 min
How come different people find different things funny? Why is When Harry Met Sally a better film than Love Actually ? And can dogs laugh? Helping us to answer all these questions is award-winning comedy writer Joel Morris! He tells us about his new book, Be Funny or Die: How Comedy Works and Why It Matters . We find out what it's like to write jokes for Charlie Brooker and Philomena Cunk, and why Joel hasn't got a BAFTA, even though he won a BAFTA. Plus - how does Joel feel about his books endin...
Sep 10, 2024•48 min
Do you really need to follow fashion when you've just had a baby? What's the best way to work on self-esteem? Is it still OK to wear skinny jeans? And why is Ellie in trouble with her Dad even though she's 46? Helping us to answer all these questions is stylist extraordinaire Sophia Lorimer! Known on the socials as @finedtunedwardrobe, Sophia is a fashionista with a difference. She's all about shopping your wardrobe and sustainability - in fact, she hasn't bought anything new from a shop in five...
Aug 28, 2024•47 min
What's it like to perform a hilarious comedy show about death? Here to tell us all about it is stand-up legend Ed Byrne. We discuss his 30 year career in comedy and how he got started. Then there's some chat about his latest show, Tragedy Plus Time. We talk about the loss of Ed's brother, Paul, and Ellie explains why his was the funniest funeral she's ever been to. We also discuss the difference between dealing with family and friends, and Ed offers some advice for what to do when sibling relati...
Aug 12, 2024•42 min
Our guest for this episode is the hilarious comedian Helen Lederer! We talk about how she helped pave the way for slags trying to be funny like us. She tells us what it was like to do stand-up in the eighties, alongside the likes of Ben Elton and Ellie's Dad, and we discuss what's changed since. Lederer tells us all about her brilliant book, Not That I'm Bitter , which is out now. She explains what it's like to write a memoir that's honest and funny without being mean, and we touch on some of th...
Jul 29, 2024•46 min
What's the best thing to say to someone who's in mourning? Is the second year of grief really the hardest? And who was the lead singer of Westlife? Helping us answer all these questions is the amazing Stacey Heale! She tells us what it was like to lose her husband, Greg, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer on their daughter's first birthday. Stacey explains what life is like now, nearly three years after his death. We discuss Widow's Fire - the phenomenon of bereaved people who turn to s...
Jul 15, 2024•55 min
