Pantosplaining

About Pantosplaining

Ben Baker and John Matthews believe pantomime posters are historical documents. Very silly ones with loads of people off the telly telling knock knock jokes but little slices of history nonetheless. Join them in their exploration of this genuinely fascinating area of pop culture.

Publisher

Ben Baker and John Matthews

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

2 Dec 2025

Latest episode

2 Jul 2026

Latest episodes

12 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   2 Jul 2026

   PantoSplaining: Great Yarmouth 1982 (Part 3)

   Can Summer be really over already? Well, no - patently not - but your hosts Ben Baker and John Matthews are at the final part of Pantosplaining's fond look back at the stars of "The Russ Abbot All Laughter Show" which packed in Great Yarmouth audiences back in 1982. So what happens when Russ needs to put up his hooves for five minutes and the collective acts of Sommers, Lane and Dennis are spent? You call for de Courcey! A man of genuinely prodigious talents who found himself rocketed to stardom when he discovered a mad eyed teddy bear at a scout show but is a bit forgotten now. We right that wrong and remember a time where a puppet with a name that is slang for "sexual intercourse" could be fast tracked to children's TV. Oh, and its probably not that Saxon Lucas. If you know better or just want to talk panto posters of all kinds, get in contact here: https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social)

2. 

   25 Jun 2026

   PantoSplaining: Great Yarmouth 1982 (Part 2)

   Its back to the ABC Great Yarmouth for more promised All Laughter - but what happens when Russ Abbot is off stage? Well, its brightened up by his support acts - Patti Sommers, Des Lane and the mighty, magnificent Les Dennis - all of whom we look at in this daft, nostalgic look back at light entertainment in the 70s and 80s. But which of the three... ...went to the same school that John Lennon went to? ...was known professionally as "The Penny Whistle Man" and had a top 22 hit in 1956? ... appeared in the 2014 film Winter's Love as "landlady"? All the answers are in the palm of your hosts Gypsy Rose Ben Baker and The Amazing John Matthews from the candy floss stall. Were you there? Or like Mavis "you don't really know" but want to talk panto posters of all kinds? Get in contact here: https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social) Next time: the big finale and its time for Nookie!

3. 

   18 Jun 2026

   PantoSplaining: Great Yarmouth 1982 (Part 1)

   Its summertime! What do you mean you didn't notice? Look out of your windows and see that the world is full of sunshine, smiles and your hosts Ben Baker and John Matthews in their finest rolled up hankie hats slurping down a 99 on the back of a donkey. As a break from the more seasonal posters we usually look at on Pantosplaining, we thought it was long overdue us taking a trip to the seaside - specifically Great Yarmouth in 1982 to see one of the era's biggest British comedy stars headline a show for all the family. Especially those who love penny whistles! Indeed, the show is so bursting with stars and glamour of the decade that we're breaking it up into three episodes with the first focused on the man above the title himself - Russ Abbot. Fresh from the Madhouse and ready to make the nation smile, we track his career from drumming for The Black Abbots to tenderly meeting Captain Tom before his untimely death. We love Russ and this episode is full of reasons why so put it on the big telly and let the laughter commence.... Were you there? Was Cooper super? Or do you just want to talk panto posters of all kinds? Get in contact here: https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social) Next time: Des, Les and 'Pes' take to the middle bit of the show...but which one of them will get their penny whistle out first?

4. 

   21 May 2026

   PantoSplaining: Episode 8.2 - Manchester 1984

   Are you ready for the challenge of another Pantosplaining episode? Anneka Rice is and she leads this second performance of the 1984 "Aladdin" show we started last week - with a camera crew following closely and probably getting lots of shots of her bottom along the way, which it might surprise you does come up in this episode. There's also puppet - slash - candle fun with Bob Carolgees and his menagerie of felt friends, early TV favourite Tommy Trinder and glum double glazing-shiller Ted Moult. Your hosts Ben Baker and John Matthews ponder the ongoing legacies of these stars with affection, warmth and a bit of playground silliness as they ask such questions as... What connects Julia Roberts with Anneka Rice? How many people called Tommy can you play in the movies? Did anyone ever put a brick through Ted's windows? And did Bob Carolgees ever try to stick his hand up Cilla Black and make her spit Mayonnaise? Plus: Brucie vs Tommy, Churnton v Cheddar, funky spitting punk dogs v Steve Winwood, sound vs windows and a lot of very famous bottoms. Were you there? Did you sell him the gun? Or do you just want to talk panto posters of all kinds? Get in contact here: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social⁠ (https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social⁠) Next time....we're getting ready for summer! And laughter! All of it...

5. 

   14 May 2026

   PantoSplaining: Episode 8.1 - Manchester 1984

   We've got a panto so big and bulging with fantastic celebrity guest stars this time we're splitting it into two parts, missis! In part one, Ben Baker and John Matthews are at the Palace Theatre gazing up at the visages of some of the eighties' biggest names....and Edmund Hockridge. Who is Mr Panto? What have the Chuckle Brothers been up to? How did a Jack Russell and a well placed finger beat Su Pollard? Which chart is the definitive one all the popstars want to be in? Did Matthew Kelly know...you know? Is it even vaguely possible not to adore Derek Griffiths? How do you "Take the Plunge"? What's the prime age to be "Young and Foolish"? Could Henry Rollins come from Peterborough? All of these questions will be answered with aplomb and a chortle because we love these posters and hope you're game for a (one) laugh too. Part two next week. Were you there? Or do you just want to talk panto posters of all kinds? Get in contact here: https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social) Buy Ben's CITV Book here: https://linktr.ee/BenBakerBooks (https://linktr.ee/BenBakerBooks)

6. 

   16 Apr 2026

   PantoSplaining: Episode 7 - Billingham 1998

   Did you hate that duck? Or are you 'Orville Friendly'? You'll be able to decide during this episode of "Pantosplaining", the Panto Poster Podcast in which Ben Baker and John Matthews run a nostalgic nit comb through another portion of pop culture history. We've jumped ahead to Billingham in the late 90s for all the pre-millennium fever of Keith Harris and pals who are joined by their natural on-screen foils - Grotbags off of the Pink Windmill and Berri off of "Sunshine After The Rain" and not much else after. There's also one of the longest tenured "Brookside" stars, a magical duo still very much on fire in the industry and perhaps the pantomime industry's most fascinating and beloved producer. We love these posters and hope you do too. So grab a "large McDonald" and take your seats as the show is about to begin... Were you there? Or do you just want to talk panto posters of all kinds? Get in contact here: ⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social⁠ (https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social⁠)

7. 

   12 Mar 2026

   PantoSplaining: Episode 6 - Cardiff 1989

   Hello campers! It's your favourite pop culture pick me ups Ben Baker and John Matthews on your internet tellies again with another pantomime poster from Britain's proud past. This month we've finally made it to Wales for a performance bridging the 80s and 90s. And who do we have in this era of Madchester, warehouse parties and proto grunge? A sitcom star in career limbo, Jersey's top historian and sex symbol, a kids favourite who broke out to become one of the biggest TV producers in the country, one of Wales' most enduring performers, a TV double act who hadn't had a TV series for nearly 18 years and a astrological prophet / liar (delete as applicable.) We also learn some extra curricular facts about one of Britain's oldest entertainment industry fraternities, find out how many songs someone can ring out of a zodiac theme for an album, wonder if any children were permanently warped by "Sindy: The Fairy Princess", discover how John Barrowman fits into the Olive Guppy Olivettes, enjoy Bill Tarmey and, most importantly, debate the price of a Fudge in 1989. Were you there? Or do you just want to talk panto posters of all kinds? Get in contact here: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social) With thanks to Rhys Jones (https://bsky.app/profile/rhys.newydd.net) and Tim Worthington whose fabulous "Top of the Box 2" is available here: https://timworthington.org/books/top-of-the-box/ (https://timworthington.org/books/top-of-the-box/)

8. 

   12 Feb 2026

   PantoSplaining: Episode 5 - Halifax 1995

   Hello to Whale watchers, jellyheads, tash ticklers, puppet pals and Casson connoisseurs everywhere! Its time for another needlessly over-enthusiastic stare at a pantomime poster from history and whilst pantos themselves might be wrapping up for the season, Ben Baker and John Matthews will not be stopped as they march into Halifax this time. We were planning to head further afield in both era and location but when we saw this poster with a one-time panto baddie more associated with grubby post-pub television, a comedic home soil hero, the future custodian of Sooty, Byker's best no-show and her 'almost' pop career, some of the greatest chicken in a basket style entertainments available to man (website permitting) and one of soapland's biggest names....but not on the stage - we had to tackle it. Were you there? Or do you just want to talk panto posters of all kinds? Get in contact here: ⁠https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social)

9. 

   15 Jan 2026

   PantoSplaining: Episode 4 - Bradford 1979

   Finally, PantoSplaining finds its way to God's own county...oh, never mind its Bradford. Just a bit of humour due to Ben Baker's proximity to that city throughout his life as he shows John Matthews around the place as they head towards the mighty Alhambra which has been home to all the stars - like Bill Maynard who headlines this "meowgic" production of "Dick Whittington and his Cat". Is it a real cat? Who can say? Not Ayesha who didn't even turn up but luckily they've got back up from panto royalty, the TV Personality of the Year 1953, some potentially troubling puppet "fun", a cricketing mainstay and whatever the blinking foof The Magic 'Pop' Glade was. Were you there? Or do you just want to talk panto posters of all kinds? Get in contact here: https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social)

10. 

    29 Dec 2025

    PantoSplaining: Episode 3 - London 1975

    "delightfully daft wit..." - Clair Woodward, The Sunday Times Hello Panto pals! Time for another loving deep dive into Ben Baker and John Matthews' obsession with posters for pantomimes and the history of each event. Truly, this is the theatre where dreams are made and 'splained....a bit. We're heading back to the mid-seventies in this episode for a show headed by...well, is it "Occasionally Diddy" David Hamilton off of the wireless? Or Adrienne "dont call me Poster" Posta off "all sorts of stuff"? And where does a pre-TISWAS Sally James or some of the below-floor cast from "Upstairs Downstairs" fit into this? Or Kenneth Connor the Tortoise? And can that really be THAT Tommy Vance?! All will be 'splained in today's big lovely spectacular which remains at "London's Most Economical Family Prices". Come give us a follow and maybe say hello to us now we've been in the Sunday times Culture pages and everything: https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social)

11. 

    4 Dec 2025

    PantoSplaining: Episode 2 - Darlington 1987

    Its time for another deep peep at a panto poster from the past as Ben Baker and John Matthews take an affectionate ogle at "Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood" performed at the Darlington Civic by children's presenter, a former World's Strongest Man, the "naughty Nolan", a couple of chaotic siblings and their canine counterparts. Listen or watch out for a generation of budgie lovers, grape crushing, unusual middle names, the Diana conspiracy, fake Maltesers, joystick breaking computer games and lots more in episode two of "Pantosplaining". Want more? Drop us a like here: https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social)

12. 

    2 Dec 2025

    PantoSplaining: Pilot - Ashton Under Lyne 1990

    Ben Baker and John Matthews are pretty obsessional men. First came the sitcom ALF and now another of our big shared loves - panto posters. Listen or watch along to the pilot of "Pantosplaining" where we pluck a poster from panto history and look at what we can find out about it for a real deep dive with many diversions into silliness. Why is Chris Quinten the new Robocop? Which position does Jess Conrad play in the Showbiz XI? What makes a good celebrity photograph? And will Norman Collier ever get that microphone fixed?!? Let us know if you like it here: https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/pantosplaining.bsky.social)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.