Neurotics Hal Cruttenden and Ronni Ancona have launched a
podcast, ten years too late, where they seek advice from celebrity friends on how to deal with stress.
They do this while therapeutically completing a jigsaw – clearly a brilliant idea for an audio format – but not helped by their Gen Z producer (who clearly loathes them) and potential sponsors suing them for brand misuse.
Hosts Ronni Ancona & Hal Cruttenden
Guests Jo Brand
Omid Djalili
Sadie Frost
Kerry Godliman
Charlie Higson
Shappi Khorsandi
Alistair McGowan
Geoff Norcott
Sally Phillips
Lucy Porter
Kiell Smith-Bynoe
Producer Natalie King
Producer Annabel Martin
Producer (Sally Phillips Episode) Faye Lawrence
Composer Ben Collier
Recorded by Caitlin McDaid
James Hyde
Hugo Lagnado
Audio Editor Natalie King
James Hyde
Publicity Cat Harris
Artwork by Adam Sutherland
Jordan Pletts
Post Production Assistant Lydia de Matos
Production Assistant Khaya Burke
Benedict Mulcare
Georgie Wadstein
A Captain Dolly Production
Recorded at The V Studio at Film Soho
krADR
V Studio Team Raiyana Haque
Yash Mistry
Well, well, well, what do we have here? Are Hal and Ronni's Taskmaster aspirations actually about to be realised?
Ronni has 'booked' Alex Horne for the final episode of S1 of Hal and Ronni in Pieces (or HARIP as the kids say), but he seems to be taking a rather long time to arrive, much to the added irritation of the already exasperated producer.
As our hosts anticipate the arrival of our guest, it gives them some time to reflect on the series and all the people they've welcomed on the show - some of whom seem to have changed their phone numbers - very odd indeed.
They also lament the lack of a sponsor, despite their best** efforts, which makes them realise that perhaps the adverts featured in the show weren't all they seemed, could sabotage be a foot?
All that we DO know is that there needs to be a series two if there's any hope of getting that bloody puzzle done, so see you then!
**embarrassing
12 Dec 2025
11: Outies: With Sally Phillips
Welcome to the penultimate episode in this series of HARIP, and it's a goodie, as our hosts are joined by the incredible Sally Phillips!
We find out how Sally maintains a level of calm despite being a close friend of Ronni's (Hal was actually taking notes at this point), why some childhood encounters with snakes have had a lasting effect on Sally's psyche, and how working on Partridge and Veep have shaped her life and career.
We also hear some familiar voices in a rather suspiciously tailor-made advert break, AND, has hell frozen over, or have Ronni and Hal actually managed to keep a producer for more than one episode?! Someone had better check they haven't locked her in the studio.
5 Dec 2025
10: Gimmies: With Lucy Porter (Live from Edinburgh Fringe)
This week we're doing things a little bit differently as we take you back to the summer of 2025 when Hal and Ronni took 'In Pieces' to the stage at The Edinburgh Festival - yes, they actually did this IN PUBLIC!
Whose idea was it to take a podcast that hadn't yet launched to the stage? That's not important right now, but the audience laughter wasn't entirely directed at the IRL angst of our hosts, as special guest Lucy Porter was on hand to tell us why Arnie Schwarzenegger is a third wheel in her marriage and how she keeps her puzzles out of harm's way.
Don't worry though, Ronni and Hal don't let the live audience stop them from inappropriate attempts at show sponsorship and still fail to keep their producer for the duration of the recording.
28 Nov 2025
9: Blanks: With Alistair McGowan
Hello and welcome back to the podcast you never knew you needed, but now weirdly can't live without, even if it is just Stockholm Syndrome.
This week's guest makes a big impression on us all, it's Alistair McGowan!
Keen listeners to the show may have noticed that this isn't Alistair's only appearance on the series but today is probably more like a session on the therapist's couch, as we find out what all the years of living, working, and writing with Ronni Ancona have done to him - Hal, take note!
We also hear about Alistair's love for football and perils of TV panel shows, and why Ronni haunts the dreams of driving instructors.
Plus, have Ronni and Hal actually got some real fan mail this week? Don't laugh, it could happen...
21 Nov 2025
8: Anchoring: With Shaparak Khorsandi
Hello again! Thanks for joining us for today's episode, as our wonderful guest is the brilliant Shaparak Khorsandi!
Even though Shappi loves a cheeky jigsaw, she only had the opportunity for the briefest of fiddles, as our hosts relentlessly distracted her with questions about her master’s degree in Psychotherapy... I wonder why that would appeal to them…
But we also find out lots more about our guest, including why a stint as a life model helped her make the leap into stand up comedy, and why appearing on 'I'm a Celebrity' gave her a whole new perspective on her life and career.
Plus, she shares some harrowing encounters she's had with Hal over the years, it's a miracle she agreed to come back for more.
And it goes without saying that there's yet another new producer in the chair this week - perhaps they're all in a therapy support group lead by Shappi?
14 Nov 2025
7: Innies: With Sadie Frost
This week, we're leaning into the zen, thanks to guest Sadie Frost whose aura of calm even managed to have an effect on Ronni and Hal.
Our hosts are about as relaxed as they ever could be while chatting with Sadie about her life, career, and what they should have been doing in the 90s.
But don't worry, there are more than a few glimpses of their usual neediness, as Ronni campaigns relentlessly to become Sadie's friend, whilst Hal attempts to bond through yoga - although even he'll admit that the leggings are taking things too far.
Plus, the revolving door of producers continues, and there's absolutely zero attempt to do any of the jigsaw, so very much business as usual!
7 Nov 2025
6: Irregulars: With Geoff Norcott
In today's episode, no attempt whatsoever is made at doing the jigsaw, it doesn't help that our guest, Geoff Norcott isn't a fan of the pursuit, but there's no excuse for Ronni and Hal's blatant neglect of their own activity.
At least the conversation flowed, as Geoff and Ronni were able to compare notes on their past lives as teachers! We know! We can't get our heads around that one either, Ronni Ancona shaping young minds ... is it just a coincidence that the crime rate in that area had a surge a few years later?
Geoff also told us how he manages preshow nerves and how he deals with any preconceived ideas people may have about him because of his politics, as well as managing to navigate our hosts' quickfire questions.
Oh, and as per usual, last week's producer is nowhere in sight, we thought it was weird that she never took her coat off.
31 Oct 2025
5: Whimsies: With Kerry Godliman
Five episodes in and everything is still as jumbled at the jigsaw Hal and Ronni are pretending they have the attention span to do: from another change in producer, to an examination of the ever moving beast that is Hal's love life (We're just as surprised as you are), nothing stays the same, - apart from the high calibre of guests that is, and this week the bar stays well and truly raised as the fantastic actor, comedian and professional wife, Kerry Godliman pops into the studio!
Kerry tells us why hitting the big five-oh made her more able to manage stress, as well as talking about her latest role in Spinal Tap, and why being asked to do Taskmaster will always be a career highlight (a feeling our hosts can only imagine).
Something else that remains a constant in every episode is Ronni and Hal's ability to make a hash of the quickfire questions, so at least there's that!
24 Oct 2025
4: Cornering: With Charlie Higson
It's episode four, and any real progress with completing the jigsaw is yet to materialise. Today, we get some insight as to why that may be.
Not only did today's wonderful guest, Charlie Higson, have to endure our hosts whining about not being asked to do Taskmaster, he also witnessed Ronni trying to jam pieces together that clearly don't fit, and was powerless to stop Hal's blatant puzzle-based sabotage.
On the bright side, we found out how Charlie manages to keep his stress levels down when he's up against deadlines – though by his own admission, this recording did little to alleviate his stress, and may well have had the opposite effect.
Oh, and of course, last week's producer is nowhere to be seen. Where do they all keep running off to? We have high hopes for her replacement Lydia, though. After all, it's not a prerequisite for a podcast producer to have heard of the presenters, is it?
17 Oct 2025
3: Sorting: With Omid Djalili
They say good things come in threes, and this is very much the case for the third episode of HARIP (that's what the kids are calling us), as our hosts make up a happy threesome with guest, Omid Djalili!
Not only is Omid one of the most recognised comics on the circuit, he's also a huge star of stage and screen, and has some very showbiz stories to share as a result; including the time he found himself in a less than friendly situation with Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston, AND when a ludicrous encounter with a rapper got way out of hand.
As always, Hal and Ronni manage to forget they should actually be doing a jigsaw rather than vying for the attention of the guest - who will inevitably leave far more stressed than when he arrived- but will they at least be third time lucky in managing to keep this week's producer?**
**Spoiler alert – the answer is ‘no’.
10 Oct 2025
2: Sifting: With Kiell Smith Bynoe
Look who's back! Yes, Hal and Ronni have once again tipped out the jigsaw, and invited a showbiz chum to help them sift through the pieces of the puzzle. What a metaphor!
This week's guest is someone even the Gen Z producer recognised: Kiell Smith Bynoe.
By the way, speaking of the producer, our thanks to Annabel for stepping into the breach after the one we had last week didn't come back. Let's hope we can persuade this one to stay - though as Hal and Ronni's dubious attempts to attract show sponsors continue, that may be easier said than done.
Kiell is of course charming company, providing some sage advice on avoiding stress and making Ronni and Hal green with envy with his stories of appearing on Taskmaster.
At least neither of our hosts embarrassed themselves by flirting outrageously with him. Oh wait. That absolutely did happen.
3 Oct 2025
1: Edging: With Jo Brand
Welcome to episode one of Hal and Ronni In Pieces.
The jigsaw is out of the box (perfect for an audio format!)and the first guest to pop over and help with the edging is none other than the legendary Jo Brand!
Over 45 mins, Jo puts up with Hal and Ronni fumbling questions about her early comedy gigs, the stress of appearing on live TV, and why neither of them have been asked to do Taskmaster.
Meanwhile, the adverts somehow end up poking fun at the hosts instead of promoting anything useful, their Gen Z producer is edging closer to the exit, and our hosts seem to be showing very little shame in seeking a sponsor for the show.
You couldn't make it up!
18 Sept 2025
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