- 13
- Episodes
- 210
- Ratings
- 2026
- First episode
About Novel Idea
Matt and Mollie are writing a Novel... together. Swapping who does the writing each chapter, they are on a quest to create a gripping murder mystery. The only problem? They have two very different visions for the book. Hosted by Matt Edmondson and Mollie King, with ever patient narrator and referee Steffan Powell, each of them have just one week to continue the story which involves reacting, sabotaging, escalating and occasionally rescuing the plot from each other. Steffan keeps order (loosely), reads the chapters aloud, and ensures the plot somehow holds together. What begins as a simple premise quickly becomes a competitive, unpredictable battle of twists, cliffhangers and creative one-upmanship. It’s part comedy show, part audiobook, part social experiment — and by the end of the series, there will be a complete, original novel written in real time. Whether you’re here for the drama, the chaos or the questionable literary decisions, welcome to the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
- Publisher
- Matt and Mollie
- Category
- arts · comedy · fiction
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 26 Feb 2026
- Latest episode
- 13 May 2026
Latest episodes
13 episodes in the feed.
13 May 2026
Babies! | Chapter Twelve
It's the grand finale. Matt and Mollie's masterpiece reaches its explosive conclusion, with Mollie at the helm — and nothing is quite what it seems. After last chapter's jaw-dropping cliffhanger, Chapter twelve opens with a twist that will have you screaming into the abyss, or punching the air with joy, depending on how you feel about Neil Chalk. Neil, Timmy, Joanna, Terence, Delilah — every thread gets its moment. And when the action moves to Antoinette Du Beke's ballet at the Bacon Theatre, Ian Chalk finally reveals WHO killed Augustus Smythe. All the clues were there, but has Ian found them? Matt journeys from fury to euphoria. Mollie is sweating (always). Steffan reads through illness like a champion. This is the one. Grab a hot chocolate, settle in, and find out whodunit. Matt and Mollie are writing a novel… together. They alternate chapters in a bid to create a gripping murder mystery. The catch? They have completely different ideas about what the book should be. Hosted by Matt Edmondson and Mollie King, with ever-patient narrator and referee Steffan Powell, each has just one week to continue the story — reacting, escalating, derailing and occasionally rescuing the plot from the other. Steffan reads the chapters aloud and tries to keep the whole thing vaguely coherent. What starts as a simple premise becomes a competitive, unpredictable battle of twists, cliffhangers and creative one-upmanship. Part comedy show, part audiobook, part social experiment — and by the end, there’s a complete original novel, written in real time. Welcome to the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
6 May 2026
The Death of Chalk | Chapter Eleven
Matt's back for his final chapter, and he's chosen violence. It opens with four words that'll stop your heart — and then immediately takes them back. Neil Chalk visits the scene of Timmy's trauma, sees some very concerning wall messages, and has an unlikely encounter with nature. Meanwhile Lord Ledal gets a midnight phone call that suggests he's in far deeper than anyone realised, and Chalk and Bones are working the case from the world's most depressing bedsit. Everyone's been invited to Antoinette Du Beke's show, which is either a lovely evening out or a trap. Then there's a prop warehouse, a weapon, and a decision that changes everything. Matt thinks he's written an action movie. Mollie thinks he's written her into a corner. Steffan just wants to know about how a fox would eat a Viennetta. The final line of this chapter? Bring tissues. Matt and Mollie are writing a novel… together. They alternate chapters in a bid to create a gripping murder mystery. The catch? They have completely different ideas about what the book should be. Hosted by Matt Edmondson and Mollie King, with ever-patient narrator and referee Steffan Powell, each has just one week to continue the story — reacting, escalating, derailing and occasionally rescuing the plot from the other. Steffan reads the chapters aloud and tries to keep the whole thing vaguely coherent. What starts as a simple premise becomes a competitive, unpredictable battle of twists, cliffhangers and creative one-upmanship. Part comedy show, part audiobook, part social experiment — and by the end, there’s a complete original novel, written in real time. Welcome to the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
28 Apr 2026
The Tingle | Chapter Ten
After an explosive chapter nine, Mollie's back in the chair and she's brought the heat. A flashback to the All England Club reveals a relationship that changes everything we thought we knew about the case. Lord Liddell has something to say about it, and it's not pretty. Meanwhile, Chalk is asked some very uncomfortable questions about those Boy Scouts, and a familiar piece of fabric might just blow the case wide open. Oh, and there's a tingle. Nobody can explain the tingle. Mollie thinks she's written a love story. Matt thinks she's written a disaster. And the final line of this chapter? Yeah. We weren't ready either. Matt and Mollie are writing a novel… together. They alternate chapters in a bid to create a gripping murder mystery. The catch? They have completely different ideas about what the book should be. Hosted by Matt Edmondson and Mollie King, with ever-patient narrator and referee Steffan Powell, each has just one week to continue the story — reacting, escalating, derailing and occasionally rescuing the plot from the other. Steffan reads the chapters aloud and tries to keep the whole thing vaguely coherent. What starts as a simple premise becomes a competitive, unpredictable battle of twists, cliffhangers and creative one-upmanship. Part comedy show, part audiobook, part social experiment — and by the end, there’s a complete original novel, written in real time. Welcome to the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
21 Apr 2026
The Wrong Cave | Chapter Nine
In Chapter 9, Matt takes the reins for his penultimate chapter — and he's come armed with a plan. Three things were requested: a fight scene, an arrest, and an animal. Whether all three actually turn up is another matter entirely. The chapter opens with a chilling glimpse into the mind behind the murder. But before we can dwell on that, Chalk is pulled back to the event that's haunted him since the very first chapter. What actually happened at Cheddar Gorge? After eight chapters of teasing, we finally get the full story of what went down in those caves, and it's far more connected to the case than anyone expected. There's also a late-night break-in at Willow Manor, and Chalk uncovers something deeply disturbing hidden in plain sight, leading to a brutal confrontation. What follows is an unexpected rescue, a revealing conversation, and a connection between two deaths that changes everything we thought we knew about the investigation. By the end of the chapter, a legendary name from the past resurfaces in a way nobody saw coming, a familiar face makes a silent return, and a mysterious delivery raises more questions than it answers. The third act has well and truly begun and like Brie Roquefort, Matt is gripping the wheel tightly. Matt and Mollie are writing a novel… together. They alternate chapters in a bid to create a gripping murder mystery. The catch? They have completely different ideas about what the book should be. Hosted by Matt Edmondson and Mollie King, with ever-patient narrator and referee Steffan Powell, each has just one week to continue the story — reacting, escalating, derailing and occasionally rescuing the plot from the other. Steffan reads the chapters aloud and tries to keep the whole thing vaguely coherent. What starts as a simple premise becomes a competitive, unpredictable battle of twists, cliffhangers and creative one-upmanship. Part comedy show, part audiobook, part social experiment — and by the end, there’s a complete original novel, written in real time. Welcome to the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
14 Apr 2026
Make It Jammy | Chapter Eight
In Chapter 8, it's Mollie's turn — and she delivers what might be the most important chapter yet. With Chalk still processing everything that happened with his brother, a new face arrives on the scene: a legendary retired detective, pulled out of retirement to help crack the case. The two meet for the first time and it's immediately clear this is exactly the kind of partnership Chalk needs right now. Over coffee and donuts, they compare notes on the investigation so far — who's been ruled out, who's still in the frame, and what doesn't quite add up about the night of the murder. Meanwhile, one of the remaining suspects makes a dramatic entrance at the police station — dark glasses on, lawyer in tow, and absolutely zero intention of keeping a low profile. What starts as a cocky PR exercise quickly turns into something much bigger when a bombshell piece of evidence is slammed down on the desk. By the end of the chapter, everything the group thought they knew about the relationships at the heart of this case has been turned on its head. A brand new motive has emerged, one suspect is looking far more dangerous than anyone realised, and the investigation has taken a sharp and dramatic turn heading into Chapter 9. Matt and Mollie are writing a novel… together. They alternate chapters in a bid to create a gripping murder mystery. The catch? They have completely different ideas about what the book should be. Hosted by Matt Edmondson and Mollie King, with ever-patient narrator and referee Steffan Powell, each has just one week to continue the story — reacting, escalating, derailing and occasionally rescuing the plot from the other. Steffan reads the chapters aloud and tries to keep the whole thing vaguely coherent. What starts as a simple premise becomes a competitive, unpredictable battle of twists, cliffhangers and creative one-upmanship. Part comedy show, part audiobook, part social experiment — and by the end, there’s a complete original novel, written in real time. Welcome to the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
7 Apr 2026
One Wedding and a Funeral | Chapter Seven
In Chapter 7, Matt takes us all the way back to where it really began and answers a question that's been hanging over the story since the very first mention of Neil Chalk: what actually happened between the twins? What starts as a simple favour for his brother spirals into something much bigger — a secret that will follow both of them for years and eventually blow apart everything they thought they knew about their family. There are weddings, funerals, a devastating reveal, a confrontation that changes everything and the single greatest Mollie King laugh ever recorded. By the end of the chapter, the full picture of why Chalk has been acting the way he has finally clicks into place — and it's far more heartbreaking than anyone expected. Oh, and there's a Big Mouth Billy Bass. Obviously. Matt and Mollie are writing a novel… together. They alternate chapters in a bid to create a gripping murder mystery. The catch? They have completely different ideas about what the book should be. Hosted by Matt Edmondson and Mollie King, with ever-patient narrator and referee Steffan Powell, each has just one week to continue the story — reacting, escalating, derailing and occasionally rescuing the plot from the other. Steffan reads the chapters aloud and tries to keep the whole thing vaguely coherent. What starts as a simple premise becomes a competitive, unpredictable battle of twists, cliffhangers and creative one-upmanship. Part comedy show, part audiobook, part social experiment — and by the end, there’s a complete original novel, written in real time. Welcome to the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
31 Mar 2026
Wax Dat | Chapter Six
In Chapter 6, Mollie lets the investigation take a back seat as something much more personal comes to light for Chalk. A secret he's been keeping threatens to unravel not just the case, but his entire life. Back at Willow Manor, not everyone is playing nice. A tense encounter between two of the house's residents shows just how high the stakes really are, and just how far someone will go when they feel cornered. It turns out that the most dangerous person in the room might not be who you'd expect. There's also the small matter of a detective in skinny jeans, a Shaggy reference and a questionable loyalty card that raises a lot of eyebrows. By the end of the chapter, Chalk finds himself in an impossible situation — one wrong move and everything falls apart. Matt and Mollie are writing a novel… together. They alternate chapters in a bid to create a gripping murder mystery. The catch? They have completely different ideas about what the book should be. Hosted by Matt Edmondson and Mollie King, with ever-patient narrator and referee Steffan Powell, each has just one week to continue the story — reacting, escalating, derailing and occasionally rescuing the plot from the other. Steffan reads the chapters aloud and tries to keep the whole thing vaguely coherent. What starts as a simple premise becomes a competitive, unpredictable battle of twists, cliffhangers and creative one-upmanship. Part comedy show, part audiobook, part social experiment — and by the end, there’s a complete original novel, written in real time. Welcome to the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
24 Mar 2026
Rock, Paper, Scissors | Chapter Five
In Chapter 5, the aftermath of the dramatic revelations at Willow Manor begins to unfold. As the guests attempt to process everything that has happened, Detectives Ian Chalk and D.I. Brie Rockfort quietly compare notes and start piecing together the growing list of suspicious details surrounding Augustus Smythe’s life — and the people closest to him. With tensions rising and several new leads emerging, the detectives decide it’s time to leave the manor and begin following those threads properly. But before they can make much progress, events take a sudden and dangerous turn. The chapter delivers the story’s first real burst of action, pulling the investigation out of Willow Manor and into much darker territory. As Chalk begins to connect the dots between the clues uncovered so far, a shocking new development leaves the case more complicated — and far more personal — than ever. By the end of the chapter, the stakes have dramatically escalated, a devastating loss changes the course of the investigation, and Ian Chalk finds himself facing the mystery alone — with more questions than answers about what really happened at Willow Manor. Matt and Mollie are writing a novel… together. They alternate chapters in a bid to create a gripping murder mystery. The catch? They have completely different ideas about what the book should be. Hosted by Matt Edmondson and Mollie King, with ever-patient narrator and referee Steffan Powell, each has just one week to continue the story — reacting, escalating, derailing and occasionally rescuing the plot from the other. Steffan reads the chapters aloud and tries to keep the whole thing vaguely coherent. What starts as a simple premise becomes a competitive, unpredictable battle of twists, cliffhangers and creative one-upmanship. Part comedy show, part audiobook, part social experiment — and by the end, there’s a complete original novel, written in real time. Welcome to the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
17 Mar 2026
Mixed Doubles | Chapter Four
In chapter four, Mollie picks up the story again and this time leans fully into romance, secrets and fallout. With Augustus Smythe’s death still hanging over Willow Manor, the latest chapter shifts focus to one of the house’s most intriguing residents and begins to explore the emotional mess sitting beneath all the glamour, money and suspicion. As the guests reel from the detectives’ latest revelations, attention turns to a relationship from Smythe’s past — and Mollie gives us a more tender, cinematic glimpse of what may have been really going on behind closed doors. Back in the present, the contents of the safe finally come into play, prompting more questions than answers and putting the house on edge once again. The chapter also nudges the mystery forward in a big way: loyalties feel shakier, emotions are running higher, and a fresh clue emerges that could completely change how one key character sees everything that’s happened so far. By the end of Episode 4, the body has finally been removed, the emotional stakes have risen, and Willow Manor is left with yet another discovery that hints the truth may be far more complicated — and far more personal — than anyone first thought. Matt and Mollie are writing a novel… together. They alternate chapters in a bid to create a gripping murder mystery. The catch? They have completely different ideas about what the book should be. Hosted by Matt Edmondson and Mollie King, with ever-patient narrator and referee Steffan Powell, each has just one week to continue the story — reacting, escalating, derailing and occasionally rescuing the plot from the other. Steffan reads the chapters aloud and tries to keep the whole thing vaguely coherent. What starts as a simple premise becomes a competitive, unpredictable battle of twists, cliffhangers and creative one-upmanship. Part comedy show, part audiobook, part social experiment — and by the end, there’s a complete original novel, written in real time. Welcome to the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
10 Mar 2026
Chalk It Up To Experience | Chapter Three
Matt takes back the pen for Chapter Three and promises to steer the story back on course. We return to Willow Manor moments after Mollie’s dramatic revelations, where the guests are still gathered around the mysterious death of Augustus Smythe and tensions in the house are beginning to rise. Detective Ian Chalk finally re-enters the story — and it quickly becomes clear that more has been going on behind the scenes than anyone realised. As Chalk and D.I. Brie Rockfort begin to take control of the investigation, new information emerges about Smythe’s life, his finances, and his relationships with the people in the room. With every revelation, the motives of the Willow Manor residents start to look increasingly suspicious. Matt also introduces more of the household — completing the picture of the “Willow Manor Six” — while the detectives push the investigation forward and uncover clues suggesting Smythe may have been planning something drastic before his death. By the end of the chapter, tensions are high, secrets are bubbling to the surface, and one final discovery promises to change everything… just as the detectives prepare to reveal what might be the most important clue yet. Matt and Mollie are writing a novel… together. They alternate chapters in a bid to create a gripping murder mystery. The catch? They have completely different ideas about what the book should be. Hosted by Matt Edmondson and Mollie King, with ever-patient narrator and referee Steffan Powell, each has just one week to continue the story — reacting, escalating, derailing and occasionally rescuing the plot from the other. Steffan reads the chapters aloud and tries to keep the whole thing vaguely coherent. What starts as a simple premise becomes a competitive, unpredictable battle of twists, cliffhangers and creative one-upmanship. Part comedy show, part audiobook, part social experiment — and by the end, there’s a complete original novel, written in real time. Welcome to the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
3 Mar 2026
Thirty Love | Chapter Two
Mollie takes over Chapter Two and wastes no time giving Matt exactly what he asked for: less meandering, more dialogue, and a sharper sense of scandal. We rejoin the guests at Willow Manor huddled around the body of Augustus Smythe, as D.I. Brie Roquefort attempts to seize control of the room and formally declares that Smythe was murdered — to the horror of everyone who realises they’re now trapped in the house and (even worse) might miss the Bake Off final. Mollie introduces two new suspects with big personalities: Antoinette Du Beke, a dramatic French ballroom instructor, and Raffaella Ladal, a glamour-loving tennis obsessive in a sequin dress. Tensions immediately flare as Mrs Paisley publicly accuses Antoinette of trying to “waltz” her way into Smythe’s life, while Antoinette fires back with a key revelation: Mrs Paisley wasn’t just hiding things in the grandfather clock — she bought Smythe the shredder. The chapter then rewinds to the morning of the dinner party to flesh out Smythe’s backstory: a young, handsome “Gosling of Gloucestershire” struggling with the upkeep of Willow Manor and a messy love life. We learn his great obsession was Raffaella — his tennis doubles partner and the object of his affection — before Mollie lands a final, soap-operatic twist: Raffaella was having an affair with Smythe… and she’s married to another resident of Willow Manor, Lord Ladal. With motives multiplying, Chalk mysteriously absent, and two suspects still unrevealed, Steffan sets Matt his next writing brief: an interrogation, a surprise, and the introduction of a new character. Matt and Mollie are writing a novel… together. They alternate chapters in a bid to create a gripping murder mystery. The catch? They have completely different ideas about what the book should be. Hosted by Matt Edmondson and Mollie King, with ever-patient narrator and referee Steffan Powell, each has just one week to continue the story — reacting, escalating, derailing and occasionally rescuing the plot from the other. Steffan reads the chapters aloud and tries to keep the whole thing vaguely coherent. What starts as a simple premise becomes a competitive, unpredictable battle of twists, cliffhangers and creative one-upmanship. Part comedy show, part audiobook, part social experiment — and by the end, there’s a complete original novel, written in real time. Welcome to the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
3 Mar 2026
Death By Shredder | Chapter One
Matt & Mollie kick off Novel Idea with a brilliantly ill-advised challenge: write a novel together, one chapter at a time, with no planning, alternating weekly. Steffan Powell joins as narrator, referee and professional reader-out-louder, steering them away from Mollie’s romcom instincts and Matt’s action fantasies and into what “everybody loves”: murder. A coin toss crowns Matt as Chapter One author, and he introduces us to Detective Ian Chalk at Willow Manor, where the wealthy Augustus Smythe has supposedly died in a freak accident involving a paper shredder and a tie. Chalk’s dramatic “will reveal” goes wrong when the document he triumphantly retrieves from a grandfather clock turns out to be a parish newsletter celebrating the housekeeper Mrs Paisley’s record-breaking tomato. Enter Chalk’s new partner, D.I. Brie Rockfort, who produces the real will — painstakingly pieced back together after being shredded — and raises the stakes with a bombshell: Augustus Smythe may not have died accidentally after all. The chapter ends with the household summoned to the study, now an official crime scene, as Mollie prepares to take over Chapter Two with a major plot point, a character deep-dive, and a scene of conflict. Matt and Mollie are writing a novel… together. They alternate chapters in a bid to create a gripping murder mystery. The catch? They have completely different ideas about what the book should be. Hosted by Matt Edmondson and Mollie King, with ever-patient narrator and referee Steffan Powell, each has just one week to continue the story — reacting, escalating, derailing and occasionally rescuing the plot from the other. Steffan reads the chapters aloud and tries to keep the whole thing vaguely coherent. What starts as a simple premise becomes a competitive, unpredictable battle of twists, cliffhangers and creative one-upmanship. Part comedy show, part audiobook, part social experiment — and by the end, there’s a complete original novel, written in real time. Welcome to the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
26 Feb 2026
Introducing Novel Idea
Best friends Matt and Mollie are writing a Novel... together. Swapping who writes chapters each week, can two minds really write one murder mystery? With two very different agendas for the story, expect more conflict than collaboration! Can they discover who the killer is without killing each other first? Each week, the novel is read aloud by Steffan Powell, as Matt and Mollie critique, celebrate and mercilessly tear down each others work. Subscribe, and keep up with the story the moment it drops! Matt and Mollie are writing a novel… together. They alternate chapters in a bid to create a gripping murder mystery. The catch? They have completely different ideas about what the book should be. Hosted by Matt Edmondson and Mollie King, with ever-patient narrator and referee Steffan Powell, each has just one week to continue the story — reacting, escalating, derailing and occasionally rescuing the plot from the other. Steffan reads the chapters aloud and tries to keep the whole thing vaguely coherent. What starts as a simple premise becomes a competitive, unpredictable battle of twists, cliffhangers and creative one-upmanship. Part comedy show, part audiobook, part social experiment — and by the end, there’s a complete original novel, written in real time. Welcome to the story. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.
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Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
- Apple Podcasts (US)
- 4.5 / 5
- 11 ratings
- Spotify
- 5.0 / 5
- 199 ratings
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