Esther and Giles have some exciting news which they share at the start of the episode… On with the pod: Do couples have a better chance of staying together if their political views are aligned? Luckily for Esther and Giles they never discuss politics, they’re far more concerned with being mean and what they’re drinking in the evening. Just as well as Esther keeps her voting habits a closely guarded secret. But why do some couples get sucked into political debate? If talking politics doesn’t make...
Jun 20, 2025•27 min•Ep. 179
**Please hold. Giles and Esther will be with you shortly….[muzak]…Press 1 for the podcast. Press 2 for immediate death or press 3 to speak to a bot who will return you to the main menu…** If there really is no sound more joyful than that of children playing, no wonder the world is so miserable. It is a sound in short supply as children have retreated from playing outdoors to stay indoors on their tech. Former children’s commissioner Baroness Anne Longfield has called for ‘no ball games’ signs to...
Jun 13, 2025•28 min•Ep. 178
The airline industry has big plans to improve life for economy passengers. But Giles and Esther have a better solution, just fly business class. And while they’re at it, ditch Gucci shops, treble the size of Pret and provide free bags to those at the back. Last year Giles' bid to join the The Garrick Club was declined so, as ITV news presenter Julie Etchingham withdraws her candidacy to join surely, he is on her side? Well it depends, was she tortured at school and how much can she drink? Finall...
Jun 06, 2025•29 min•Ep. 177
It’s a busy day in the Coren house as they prepare to welcome sister podcast ‘Wine Times’ for lunch…and wine. But before that the small matter of Gary Lineker leaving the BBC under a cloud of antisemitism. How does Giles feel about his friend’s departure and recent tweets? From one complicated subject to another, what is a semicolon and how should one use it? Two published authors might have a chance of figuring it out, a dyslexic producer almost certainly won’t. Whilst working from home Giles r...
May 23, 2025•27 min•Ep. 176
Do the collection of new weight loss drugs offer more than just weight loss? With claims suggesting that they can help lower risks of cancer and improve mood, Giles feels like he is missing out. Is it time for him to tuck in to Mounjaro? Esther is not convinced and if Giles and his peers live to be one hundred and forty, where are all the Gen Z’s going to live? If you’re lucky enough to come by a luxury copy of Jane Austen’s ‘Emma’ you may find a handy readers guide; “this novel may not be easy ...
May 16, 2025•28 min•Ep. 175
Recent research suggests that most men don't understand what the menopause is. But Giles is not most men, he has a thorough grasp of the topic...or so he thinks until Esther sets him straight. What is it, how will it affect Esther, and can he do anything to help? All good questions, but sadly lost as he is distracted by an image of a very specific type of queue outside the GP’s surgery. Giles and Esther have received lots of kind advice and tips on finding their missing neckless, for which they ...
May 09, 2025•27 min•Ep. 174
It has been a pretty bad week for Giles. His article on Zionism generated a mixed reaction, gaining support from some but rebuke from others. Does hearing Esther’s take on the matter cause him to rethink? A more domestic problem is Esther’s birthday, or rather her present. For once Giles was well prepared, he’d chosen the perfect gift well ahead of time. He knows where he left it, where it should be, but where is it now? In the news a men only publishing house has opened, is it needed and if so,...
May 02, 2025•28 min•Ep. 173
In a recent interview George Clooney said he and his wife Amal never argue. The Clooneys may not, but the Corens most certainly do! And, as if my magic they demonstrate how to have a good argument…three times…in half an hour! Everything is going well until Giles attempts some in pod production, then there is an unexpected phone call, followed by more production disagreements. It all proves too much and whilst discussing arguments they manage to have a “sh*t stinker” of one. So, this week for ill...
Apr 25, 2025•28 min•Ep. 172
A piece of ground breaking research suggests women are tending to marry men less educated than themselves. Twas ever thus… Esther and Giles are on trend, they have a ‘marriage of unequals’ with Esther technically more educated than Giles. A new AI concept offers the chance to talk with fictional characters in books. Might Giles one day be able to chat with Hamlet…the app may prefer he stick to Lucy the turtle for now. Does Badger from Wind in the Willows have a dark secret? In recent weeks Jeff ...
Apr 04, 2025•28 min•Ep. 171
Esther can’t bring herself to watch the much vaunted Netflix show ‘Adolescence’. Giles watched it and was deeply moved by it. They discuss just how hard parenting is and the complicated relationship between young people, their phones and social media. With a child able to have the world in the palm of their hand, what role does a parent have? Last week was a tribute to Group Captain Hemingway, this week the next generation of heroes have fallen foul of a judge over a stolen Paddington Bear statu...
Mar 28, 2025•28 min•Ep. 170
How well do Giles and Esther know each other? Cue a game of Mr and Mrs. What A levels did they take, what were their childhood pets called…or let’s start simple: “What is your wife’s name?” It isn’t Farah Fawcett. Continuing the game theme Giles plays “what’s in the inflation basket this year? If tinned fish isn’t in there, it should be. If Esther can answer correctly, will she win a speed boat? Jeremy Clarkson is back with a Grand Tour spin off…except actually he isn’t, he only appears in archi...
Mar 21, 2025•28 min•Ep. 169
"What's that Lassie? You think you might have ADHD?" Can Giles talk to the animals? Probably not, in fact research suggest none of us can. But does he have ADHD? Esther thinks he might. The prevalence of mental illness is on the rise, could TikTok be to blame? If you ask boomers, it's a case of "pull yourself together" but for Gen Z its "talking about your feelings is good". Giles and Esther take the middle ground and attempt to reconcile the two. Could a whole life’s worth be in a desk? A recen...
Mar 14, 2025•27 min•Ep. 168
What better way to spend pancake day than curling up to watch “With Love, Meghan” But what was it exactly, comedy, horror, a sad documentary? Despite wanting to like it Esther just couldn’t. Dinner and candles for imaginary guests, cooking in a cashmere jumper, dragon handlers and all in someone else’s house. Was it a case of advice not given or advice not taken? Another day, another step closer to Armageddon as President Trump continues his unique brand of negotiation - worryingly for Giles it ...
Mar 07, 2025•26 min•Ep. 167
Parenting, President Trump and UK net zero - is it time for a reality check? Have the middle classes ruined parenting in the UK? Uber head Katharine Birbalsingh has spoken out on parenting methods, and it’s given Giles an idea for a book – “Parenting tips for the working class.” Do the travails of modern parenting have anything in common with the redrawing of post war alliances and UK net zero targets? Could it be that across the board things are a little too comfortable and it is time for shake...
Feb 28, 2025•25 min•Ep. 166
Does a 10k goosestep count as a workout? How many Sieg Heils build the perfect bicep? When faced with a Neo Nazi fitness class what can one do except laugh...? As half term approaches everyone in the world is going skiing, everyone except the Corens. Giles and Esther reiterate their disdain for ski holidays. Instead, they’ll be having a 1970’s style break; they’ll work while the kids stay at home and watch the latest season of White Lotus. The new Michelin guide is out but are the numerous new r...
Feb 14, 2025•25 min•Ep. 165
This week Giles revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer. In this week’s episode he relives the moment he found out and the responses of those around him, and his own. Is it a big deal “it’s only a dash of cancer after all?” Or are he and Esther in denial? They consider the language around cancer and wonder why Bob hasn’t been in touch…? For some light-hearted distraction a one hundred and thirty four page document on how to speak to passengers, ye gods! How to enunciate HampSTEAD and rin...
Feb 07, 2025•27 min•Ep. 164
Giles has modified his coffee intake and is ready to tackle the pressing issues of the week. First up, say it loud say it proud – Jew! Easier said than done for some…but why is that? Could “People of Nose” be a better option? The touchy-feely millennial generation may actually be the hardest of the lot; they’re embracing the potential return of the death penalty. After being overheard making sexual comments Wynn Evans left the strictly live tour to “priorities my wellbeing.” Esther has little sy...
Jan 31, 2025•27 min•Ep. 163
Lots of laughs in this week’s episode. As Harrow school adopts a therapy puppy, will there be a similar puppy on a bursary…? Either way don’t expect the canines to bring much happiness. The good literary agency is closing. Were they victims of the culture war or the marketplace? Giles thinks he knows the answer. A conversation about clever footballers brings up stereotypes but gone are the days when it is acceptable to mock the working classes, Brian. Giles has a brilliant business idea; three p...
Jan 24, 2025•27 min•Ep. 162
After a busy but very enjoyable Christmas Giles and Esther return to ponder some of the talking points of the week. What is a work life balance and how does one get one? How do you wire a plug – why not ask one of Giles many deceased relatives. Is post war rationing the root cause of child obesity? Finally, how to play Fagin without bowing to stereotype and… stop climbing Everest! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 17, 2025•28 min•Ep. 161
As described in the title - a fun festive quiz. We hope you enjoy it. If you do, please share. Merry Christmas, see you in the New Year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 20, 2024•32 min•Ep. 160
No new episode this week due to unforeseen circumstances. We'll be back next week with a Christmas Special. See you then. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 13, 2024•17 sec
Where now for Gregg Wallace and the BBC? Esther is focused on the BBC’s HR department – what were they doing? Giles ponders the consequences of a decision made twenty years ago. And if this is the new bar for public opprobrium - who might be next? Board games at Christmas, marvellous. All the family sat round the fire, rolling the dice…until one falls asleep, one cheats, and one gets so competitive they flip the board and it all ends in tears. Excellent, let’s do it again next year. The governme...
Dec 06, 2024•27 min•Ep. 159
Giles thought he was going to be cancelled due to his last two rather edgy pieces. One was about an Israeli restaurant and the other took a big bite out of the super-woke Jaguar re-brand. But, the total opposite happened and everyone loved them. It’s all in danger of going to Giles’s head and he toys with leaning in and becoming the UK’s answer to Joe Rogan. If the culture war is truly over, what happens next? And where does it leave a country that has just elected a government that is now total...
Nov 29, 2024•27 min•Ep. 158
After a very quick diversion round rats learning to drive this week’s episode begins with a debate over farmers and inheritance tax – a tax dodge for the affluent or a hit to hard working farmers? Giles leans on his knowledge of the French Revolution and his own experience of tax ‘manoeuvring’. Zoe Ball is stepping down from the Radio 2 breakfast show. Is it really to spend more time with her family or is there more to it than meets the eye? Could the North Koreans be involved...? A possible tip...
Nov 22, 2024•27 min•Ep. 157
As the Archbishop of Canterbury resigns Giles asks the key question - does anyone care? Following Donald Trump’s election victory there is a rumour doing the rounds that some rich celebrities plan to leave the US for Britain. Do we want them, does anywhere want them? Might they be in for a surprise with the reality of modern London not quite matching the dream… How does one deal with a moth infestation? Top tip: cedar wood, moth balls or sue the house seller for 30million pounds! Finally, what d...
Nov 15, 2024•28 min•Ep. 156
What do Kamala Harris and QPR have in common? Giles and Esther react to the breaking news that Donald Trump is back as the American President. They ponder the reasons and how to break the news to a despondent teenager. Any mood can be lifted by a good cheese trolly, some people can even build a career off the back of a cheese trolly. Can being married also keep one chipper? Depends on who you’re married to! Finally, if you own an air fryer it might be spying on you – it’s your own fault. And wha...
Nov 08, 2024•26 min•Ep. 155
Is Kemi Badenoch rude, or just straight talking? Esther has changed her ways and now plays a very polite tactical game; Giles on the other hand takes too much pleasure in expressing his true feelings in glorious technicolour. Who cares if its rude. It’s all change at British Airways as they switch from lunch to brunch on many flights; Esther isn’t sure what all the fuss is about… How do you get a nickname and what does it say about you if you don’t have one? Pee-the-pants and Pester discuss. Aft...
Nov 01, 2024•28 min•Ep. 154
Tomorrow is the big day! Budget Day looms, and we're bringing you a special feature from The Times' brand new show: Feel Better About Money. In her inaugural money chat, Holly Mead is talking about budgeting and the budget. She looks at the many different aspects of money to help you make better financial decisions about pensions, mortgages, investments. With so many suggestions, rumours and supposed leaks about the upcoming budget, what should we be preparing for now and how? Find the new show ...
Oct 29, 2024•33 min
Are Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Raynor following in the footsteps of The Coren's builders – telling you how bad the previous tradesmen were? Who is in charge around here? Giles has a boomer bee in his bonnet and wonders if they’re just struggling to accept their waning influence in society. He takes to the comments to do battle; but he certainly doesn’t call them c…. ! Ozempic may be a miracle drug for those overweight, but it is a killer for restaurants. Fear not Esther can save the day. Would ...
Oct 25, 2024•26 min•Ep. 153
All change this week as The Corens are having work done – brick work not cosmetic work. As a result, they have decamped to someone else’s house…it prompts discussion about interior decor and the ‘Sandbanks House Wars’ where multi-millionaires are competing to build the grandest home. It turns out Christopher Columbus was Jewish; unfortunately, now he has been branded imperialist and racist its 500 years too late for Giles. Is there anyone else that is going to be dumped on the Jewish community? ...
Oct 18, 2024•28 min•Ep. 152
