Picking up on the everyday social and political issues – and historic ones too – that impact on lives across Brighton and Hove, the Babbler aims to generate greater awareness of those issues, at a time when existing news coverage in the city sometimes seems to be in retreat. The podcast name may hint at whimsy, but the intent is unashamedly serious.
The Brighton General site – for the community, not developers
The fate of the Brighton General Hospital remains uncertain, seemingly destined for redevelopment as housing. But a re-energised community campaign is determined to keep the site in public hands, incorporating social housing and living rents as well as NHS services. The Babbler talks to former Green Party councillor David Gibson about the aims of the campaign – and begins by asking him about its structure. [To contact the Community Campaign for the Brighton General Hospital site, email: bghco...
24 Mar 2026
Asylum tales, forgotten lives
The bodies of 4000 mental health patients are buried, mostly in unmarked graves, in the grounds of St Francis Hospital, formerly the Sussex County Asylum. The last known address of nearly half of those patients was in Brighton. In this episode of the Babbler, historian James Gardner talks to Kevin McDonnell (pictured), head of a team painstakingly uncovering the personal stories of some of those patients, and later catches up with one of Kevin's research team to focus on one particular case s...
16 Oct 2025
From Hove to Havana, hard cash for health matters
The ongoing US economic blockade of Cuba rarely makes the headlines these days, but a dedicated group of Brighton activists is still raising funds to help this Central American country, as they have been doing since the 1960s. Ann Hallam (pictured), chair of the local arm of the Cuba Solidarity Campaign, talks to The Babbler about the group, and explains how she first got involved... If you'd like to know more about this campaign, visit cuba-solidarity.org.uk, or check out the Brighton Cuba S...
1 Oct 2025
On Blatchington Road: the carpet guy
Garry Dodd runs a flooring business out of a landmark, double-fronted site – formerly home to the family-run carpet shop where he’d spent most of his earlier working life – in Hove’s Blatchington Road. In this interview about the shop, Portslade-born-and-bred Garry fondly recalls a time not just of deference and smart attire, but also of police stake-outs, dead bodies and naked neighbours, when famous authors and rock stars regularly featured among the clientele. Produced by Martin Shelley......
11 Aug 2025
On George Street: the record shop owner
In the second of our series on George Street's independent traders, The Babbler talks to 80-year-old Julian Pelling (pictured, proudly holding some rare Primal Scream vinyl), the proprietor of Fine Records for the past four decades. Sharp-eared listeners will notice the interview took place outside, in the shop's back garden, hence the occasional squawk from passing seagulls... Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: bysshebash@gmail.com... intro/outro music courtesy of www.purple-planet.com
23 Jul 2025
On George Street: the Tattooist
AI looks set to finish off many high streets across the UK, but for now George Street in Hove remains a refreshing 'blast fom the past', attracting shoppers from Brighton and beyond. In (hopefully) the first of a series on the thoroughfare's traders, The Babbler chats to local biker Matthew English (pictured, standing in the doorway), the driving force behind one of the street's more characterful shopfronts – tattoo studio Nine Lives – alongside his younger brother (apprentice and fellow bike...
19 Jun 2025
Next stop London?
Tommaso di Vincenzo discusses his career as a contortionist, circus performer, and stuntman, focusing on the development of his new stage show, in this interview with The Brighton Babbler.
9 Apr 2025
A very Brighton musical
Opening next month (3-4 May) during the Fringe festival is 'Joan the Musical', a new stage production written and produced by Hannah Doyle and Melanie Bell, and directed by Summer Tewkesbury. In an exclusive interview, writer Hannah talks us through the development of this Brighton-focused project, from its inception last September through to the rehearsal stage. We then take up the story with cast member Geraldine Afifi, who takes the title role of Joan (and incidentally tickles the ivories ...
22 Mar 2025
Brighton's Gaza protesters vow to fight on
The story of the BN Three – arrested and fined for a graffiti protest marking the ongoing genocide in Gaza – highlights how fragile established norms of political access and media coverage have become. Maggie Clifford and Mary Stuart, two of those involved in the protest, share details of that story with the Babbler. Produced by Martin Shelley... contact: bysshebash@gmail.com... intro/outro music courtesy of www.purple-planet.com
20 Mar 2025
Once a biker, always a biker...
84-year-old, born-and-bred Brightonian Linda Morley has led a fascinating life, hard to do justice to in just one podcast, so this episode we're mostly focusing on her abiding passion – riding motorbikes. But first, Linda remembers some of the colourful characters she grew up with back in the 1940s and '50s. Comments or suggestions? If listening via an app, just click this link... Produced by Martin Shelley, with music from www.purple-planet.com
3 Mar 2025
A Victorian tragedy
It was a shocking case of double infanticide, but one that was all too common in the Victorian era, and the defendant's costs were met by public subscription, such was the level of sympathy generated by the trial. Here Liza George talks to James Gardner, the author of a new book – A Brighton Tragedy – about the defendant, and focuses on the issues of class, poverty and misogyny that sparked the case. Comments or suggestions? If listening via an app, just click this link... Produced by Marti...
23 Feb 2025
Why here in Brighton?/3
Two Europeans tell the Babbler what living in Brighton means to them, each touching on its indefinable 'vibe'. We chat briefly to Beatrice – originally from the Burgundy region in France, and now thinking about moving away from Brighton after more than 30 years – and then talk to Greek national Maria, a relative newcomer who moved down from London just months before the the pandemic forced most of the city to pull down the shutters. Comments or suggestions? If listening via an app, just click...
3 Feb 2025
Higgy: championing healthy ageing
We catch up with Alastair Hignell, the former England rugby player, county cricketer and BBC commentator. He shares some Brighton-based highlights from his past career, tells us about his current involvement with the Sporting Memories and Walking the Talk groups in the city, and 'ramps up' a new campaign idea for improving accessibility. But first, he explains why he now lives in Brighton, with special mentions for the Amex stadium, Brighton & Hove Albion... and Whitehawk FC. Alastair was...
22 Jan 2025
Side-stand tales, part one
As part of a narrow but select demographic – ageing, male, motorbike-riding petrol-heads living in Hove – the Babbler is heartened to share a garage with French anglophile Bea, a much younger, braver person who delights in going fast. Late last year we caught up with her to talk about two-wheeled transport of various kinds... and kicked things off, like all true bikers, by discussing machinery.Comments or suggestions? Just click this link...Produced by Martin Shelley, with music from www.purp...
9 Dec 2024
Treading the boards, part one
Graeme Taylor and historian James Gardner explore life backstage at Brighton's Theatre Royal, revealing the peculiar demands of working in a 'hemp house' and a personal connection to the historic venue.
6 Nov 2024
Why Brighton? ...part two
In the second episode of our vox pop on life in Brighton, we hear from residents whose observations about 'London-by-the-Sea' stretch back as far as the late 1950s.Produced by Alex Martin, with music from www.purple-planet.com
31 Oct 2024
Why Brighton? ...part one
Is Brighton genuinely diverse? Has property become too expensive, forcing those who've grown up here to move away? And where do people go to find local news? Is there a Brighton accent? For answers to these and other questions about life in the city, we've quizzed a typical cross-section of working-age residents, from newcomers and returnees, to 'never lefts'.Produced by Alex Martin, with music from www.purple-planet.com
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Spotify
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 9 / 100
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Quality
18
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
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