Introducing Something In Media: a new show that tells the story of successful people in the general world of media, and what it takes to make it to the very top. We plan to show you that there are many ways to become successful in the media, whatever your background, wherever you’re from. Series 1 is out now, and features the likes of Michelle Ackerely (The One Show, Crime Watch, etc). James Longman (The Late Late Show with James Cordon), Jess Rudkin (BBC Bristol), Jamie Morton from My Dad Wrote...
Apr 11, 2023•5 min
Many of you may know Bonnie from her role as Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter films. But alongside her work as an actor and director, Bonnie has another passion – the environment and taking action against climate change. Her new book, Go Gently, shares with readers simple steps we can all take, each day, to help reconnect to the natural world around us and join in the fight against climate change. You can find out more here: https://gogently.earth/book In this episode, we find out more about ho...
Mar 11, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 15
Thank you for all of your birthday messages! In this episode we discuss our favourite Potter film sets (the answers might surprise you), our weird birthday traditions and why our 21st birthday gift from Rupert Grint had to be delivered in a lorry! We can hardly believe it, but this is our last listener episode of the season! Thank you so much for sending in all of your storytimes, questions and ‘did-you-knows’ - we've loved sharing them. We'll be back next week for this season's last episode, wi...
Mar 04, 2022•34 min•Season 3Ep. 14
Did you know that the first Lord of the Rings movie came out three weeks after Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone? In this episode we’re talking to the brilliant Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan - the actors who played Pippin and Merry in the films. We find out what the mischievous Merry and Pippin have in common with Fred and George Weasley, what pranks Dom pulled on set and why people are still mixing Billy and Dom up. We highly recommend that you check out Billy and Dominic’s podcast The...
Feb 25, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 13
Happy Valentine's Week! In this episode we're sharing our best and worst Valentine's memories. Find out why Ollie switched places with James on a date one time, what Ollie's wife thought about getting golf gear as a Valentine's present, and what happened when James got trapped on a balcony. This season we’ll be talking to some of our favourite people as we continue to explore what normal really means. But we’ll also be hearing more from you! Every other episode will feature your storytimes, ques...
Feb 18, 2022•34 min•Season 3Ep. 12
Tiga didn't have your average childhood. He was born in Canada but spent many of his first ten years in Goa, where his parents were part of a community of travellers with a love of all-night beach parties and spirituality. There, he discovered the joys of playing music to a crowd, and went on to become a world-famous, award-winning DJ. He's remixed songs from The xx, LCD Soundsystem, Scissor Sisters, Peaches, Moby, Depeche Mode and more. In this episode we find out what happened when Ollie went ...
Feb 11, 2022•54 min•Season 3Ep. 11
In this episode we learn the legend of the Phelps' everlasting goldfish, meet snake-wrangling toddlers and find out why James' character has died in every horror film he's been in... This season we’ll be talking to some of our favourite people as we continue to explore what normal really means. But we’ll also be hearing more from you! Every other episode will feature your storytimes, questions and ‘did-you-knows’ and right now we want your best VALENTINE'S stories and questions and facts! Send i...
Feb 04, 2022•29 min•Season 3Ep. 10
In this episode we chat to actor and friend April Pearson! April played Michelle in 2007 hit TV series Skins, and became something of a symbol of noughties teenage rebellion. We talk about what it's like to be best known for your first acting role, body-shaming in the entertainment industry and the dark side of intimacy on-screen. Please bear in mind that this episode is intended for adults and might not be suitable for all listeners. We were lucky enough to be guests on April's podcast 'Are You...
Jan 28, 2022•1 hr 1 min•Season 3Ep. 9
In this episode Oliver says sorry to his mum, we learn about the Toilet Paper Queen and we talk about the time Oliver's childhood medical skills kind of maybe saved James' life. This season we’ll be talking to some of our favourite people as we continue to explore what normal really means. But we’ll also be hearing more from you! Every other episode will feature your storytimes, questions and ‘did-you-knows’. Send in your most extraordinary stories via video, voice note or old fashioned email to...
Jan 21, 2022•27 min•Season 3Ep. 8
Multi-award-winning Jany Temime has created costumes for some of the most famous film stars in the world: Daniel Craig as James Bond; Sandra Bullock in 'Gravity' and, of course, Fred and George Weasley in the Harry Potter films! In this episode we reminisce about our time on-set together, discuss our favourite Potter films and reveal our least favourite costumes. And, because Jany has known us since we were teenagers, she has a few embarrassing memories of us to share…! Jany's ‘3am Questions’: F...
Jan 14, 2022•56 min•Season 3Ep. 7
Happy New Year! In this episode we talk about what really happened behind the scenes of the Potter 20th anniversary reunion, share our dating disasters and reveal what it's like having your own stunt double. This season we’ll be talking to some of our favourite people as we continue to explore what normal really means. But we’ll also be hearing more from you! Every other episode will feature your storytimes, questions and ‘did-you-knows’. Send in your most extraordinary stories via video, voice ...
Jan 07, 2022•29 min•Season 3Ep. 6
This episode's guest is Sophie Skelton! She is best known for her role as Brianna Fraser in hit Starz series Outlander. We find out how she discovered she'd landed her Outlander role, discuss trigger warnings on screen and ask why so many Harry Potter fans want Sophie to play Lily Potter! In this episode we do touch on some tough issues, including how sexual violence is depicted on screen and other subjects like suicide. While we don't go into too much detail, we understand that this might be di...
Dec 31, 2021•46 min•Season 3Ep. 5
Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, Kwanzaa, or you’ve just celebrated Hanukkah, Diwali or any other festive holiday - welcome to the Normal Not Normal Holiday special! In this episode we hear all about your festive traditions. We find out how Hungarians get rid of witches at Christmas (it involves carpentry and poppy seeds), which monsters are prowling around at Chinese New Year and why you might find a fish in the bath during a Polish Christmas party! Send in your most extraordinary storytim...
Dec 24, 2021•25 min•Season 3Ep. 4
We're back with your 'not normal' storytimes, questions and did-you-knows! In this episode of Normal Not Normal we share what birthdays were like on the Harry Potter set, find out what James' 'dog-voice' sounds like and discover why you can never trust a donkey. This season we’ll be talking to some of our favourite people as we continue to explore what normal really means. But we’ll also be hearing more from you! Every other episode will feature your storytimes, questions and ‘did-you-knows’. Se...
Dec 17, 2021•28 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Tracy Beaker author Jacqueline Wilson has never shied away from the difficult parts of life in her books. She's tackled alcoholism, mental health issues, divorce, domestic abuse and growing up in care, but always manages to make her creations warm, witty and child-friendly. Her books inspired the long-running Tracy Beaker TV series, which has recently been reimagined as 'My Mum Tracy Beaker', featuring Dani Harmer as a grown-up Tracy with a daughter of her own. In this episode we talk about cast...
Dec 10, 2021•40 min
Welcome back to Normal Not Normal! In our first episode of season three we talk about the time we nearly got a fan fired, find out how James ruined a carpet and share some of our most awkward moments. This season we’ll be talking to some of our favourite people as we continue our collective journey exploring what normal really means. But we’ll also be hearing more from you! Every other episode will feature your storytimes, questions and ‘did-you-knows’. Send in your most extraordinary stories vi...
Dec 03, 2021•31 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In this special bonus episode we take a break from our break to welcome Ed Sheeran and his manager Stuart Camp onto the podcast! We were honoured to host the first interview with both Ed and Stuart together. Over the years the pair have developed a unique friendship, and Stuart and his wife are even godparents to Ed’s daughter Lyra. They still disagree on one big thing, however. Ed is a huge Potter superfan. Stuart isn’t. We ask why Ed makes Stuart carry a photo of the Weasley twins in his walle...
Jul 02, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Season 2Ep. 21
In this episode we chat to graphic design duo MinaLima. Throughout the Harry Potter films, Miraphora Mina and Eduardo Lima worked together to concoct the style at the heart of the films, from the intricately detailed Marauder’s Map, the wonderfully bonkers Daily Prophet and our favourite, the fantastical Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes inventions. We find out why the first attempt at Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes wasn’t ‘vulgar’ enough, what Mira and Eduardo think about seeing their designs as tattoos and h...
May 14, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 20
In this episode we chat to British Paralympian and self-described javelin queen Hollie Arnold MBE. Hollie, who was born without a right forearm, became a household name in 2016 when she won gold at the Rio Paralympics, smashing the world record in the process. But things haven't always been plain sailing for Hollie. We find out how Hollie coped when her mum was hospitalised with severe depression, why internet trolls turned on her when she shared her 'MBE' title on UK reality TV show 'I'm a Cele...
May 07, 2021•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 19
In this episode we talk to Cameo app co-founder Martin Blencowe. Martin’s story is sure to inspire you, although his journey to success was not smooth. We hear about his struggle with steroids as a teenage athlete in the UK, his pursuit of the American Dream in LA and how the Harry Potter films helped him through his father’s last weeks. Cameo is an app that allows users to order personalised video messages from their favourite actors, singers and sportspeople. The app’s success did not happen o...
Apr 30, 2021•55 min•Season 2Ep. 18
In this episode we talk to our brilliant friend Nat Tena, who you might know better as Nymphadora Tonks. Nat landed her first film role aged sixteen, when she starred alongside Hugh Grant and Nicholas Hoult in About a Boy. Since then she’s been in many of our favourite films and TV shows, from Game of Thrones to The Mandalorian. When she’s not acting she’s singing and playing the accordion in gypsy ska band Molotov Jukebox. We find out how smoking round the back of the bike sheds landed Nat her ...
Apr 23, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 2Ep. 17
In this episode we talk to someone who makes us feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It’s Karamo Brown from Queer Eye! Karamo is the culture expert on the Netflix show Queer Eye, and helps guests tackle emotional issues that have been holding them back, while his co-hosts Bobby, Tan, Jonathan and Antoni make-over the guests’ homes, style and culinary skills. Karamo has a background in social work and moved into the spotlight in 2004 when he took part in MTV reality show The Real World: Philadelphia, ...
Apr 16, 2021•54 min•Season 2Ep. 16
This episode is a little bit different. This season we’ve been asking an amazing selection of guests what the word ‘normal’ means to them but in this episode we’re putting ourselves in the hot seats, and interviewing each other. Listen in to find out which one of us flashed airport security, what secrets we’re keeping from our parents and how we really feel about sharing a Wikipedia page. We’ll also be answering lots of your questions, so prepare to learn more about us than ever before. We want ...
Apr 09, 2021•56 min•Season 2Ep. 15
In this episode we talk to everyone’s favourite sports presenter, the brilliant Kelly Cates. Football is well and truly in Kelly’s DNA because her father Kenny Dalglish is a world-renowned football player and manager. Kelly tells us about ditching a maths degree to work at Sky Sports, becoming one of the UK’s first female sports presenters and shares what it’s like to broadcast live from one end of the kitchen table while her daughters eat pasta at the other end. In 2016 Kelly presented a moving...
Apr 02, 2021•1 hr 7 min
In this episode we talk to our friend and fellow Hogwarts alumnus Alfred Enoch. After playing Dean Thomas in the Harry Potter films Alfie went on to star in Shonda Rhimes’ hit show How to Get Away with Murder alongside the great Viola Davis. We reminisce about our time winding each other up on set, find out how Alfie got the part of Dean Thomas even though he didn’t audition and learn why he faked his accent for a whole year. Alfie’s ‘3am Questions’: Favourite book - The Thomas Cromwell Trilogy ...
Mar 26, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 13
In this episode we talk to former rugby player and charity founder Matt Hampson. At 21, Matt was a rising rugby star with a glittering future ahead of him. All that changed in March 2005 when a catastrophic training accident ended his career and turned his life upside down. Now paralysed from the neck down, Matt has to use a ventilator twenty four hours a day, but he doesn't let that stop him living his best life. We chat to Matt about the accident, learn what made him a 'nightmare child' and fi...
Mar 19, 2021•55 min•Season 2Ep. 12
In this episode we talk to our friend (and ex-boss) Paula DuPré Pesmen. As Associate Producer on the Harry Potter films Paula watched us grow up over the years and has plenty of behind-the-scenes tea to spill. We reminisce about our first terrifying meeting, hear about a surprise Paul McCartney meeting at Abbey Road Studios and find out why we’ll always be ‘kids’ in Paula’s eyes. During the filming of the Potter films, Paula’s world was turned upside down by family illness. It was this that insp...
Mar 12, 2021•1 hr 4 min•Season 2Ep. 11
In this episode we talk to TV chef and author Nadiya Hussain MBE, winner of the UK’s Great British Bake Off 2015. Nadiya became a national treasure overnight when her acceptance speech on the final of the Bake Off touched hearts all across the country: 'I'm never gonna put boundaries on myself ever again. I’m never gonna say I can’t do it. I’m never gonna say ‘maybe’. I’m never gonna say, ‘I don’t think I can.’ I can and I will.' Since then, Nadiya has made several BBC TV series that have been r...
Mar 05, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 2Ep. 10
In this episode we talk to Harry Potter fan James Haskell. Oh, and he’s also an England rugby star, reality TV contestant and podcast host. James Haskell had a glittering rugby career before retiring from the game in 2019, but whether you’re into rugby or not James is well worth your attention. In this episode we find out what really happened behind the scenes of that controversial season of the UK’s reality TV show ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’, how seeing a sports psychologist changed t...
Feb 26, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 2Ep. 9
This episode is part two of our conversation with our friend Evanna Lynch, who played Luna Lovegood in the Harry Potter films. In this episode things get personal. We get honest about going to therapy, having our identities stolen online and how the Potter films changed our lives. On a lighter note, we also talk about Evanna’s time on the USA’s Dancing with the Stars, our favourite Potter moments and our dream circus skills. If you’re struggling with your mental health, please know you’re not al...
Feb 19, 2021•57 min•Season 2Ep. 8
