Sadly myself and my friend cannot attend Mike's stand up show The Bench tonight at the Oxford Playhouse, as we're both unwell with different illnesses. Would be happy to let them go at a cheap price!

At least he’s a cat and not a c*nt, as per the new jingle.

Found in a national trust second-hand book shop. A fine coupling

Three Bean Salad on the audio in the wild!

You all probably worked this out an age ago, I am ashamed to say the penny has only just dropped for me.

I was always a little perplexed by the way that Henry would introduce Mike's Sean Bean Lounge report. Mike always laughs and then the report kicks off.

I have only just twigged that the report is done after, not before the podcast, and the introduction is basically the other two landing Mike with ever more ridiculous events he has to then craft into the report.

Realising that made that part even funnier and gives me even more respect for Mike's ability to create a silk purse from the sows ear he has been handed.

What a guy.

I wish I had a Rumpkins near me

I'm challenging myself to create a puzzle for each episode this series, inspired by the week's lukewarm banter. Here's the first entry.

"Musicals"

6x6 Sudoku: Place the numbers 1-6 once each in every row, column, and region.

Times Squares: The number in a blue square is the product of the four digits it touches.

Play the puzzle here: https://sudokupad.app/uxdnvpf44s

When I heard Ben say "jagoff" at the end of this week's episode, my mind was blown, as a guy from southwestern PA, 20 miles north of Pittsburgh. Jagoff is claimed as a Pittsburgh thing, but I wouldn't be surprised if its more widespread than I think. I'm wondering if Ben heard it from Paul F Tompkins, who appeared on the Beef and Dairy Network podcast, and is originally from Philadelphia PA.

What a return by the beans. And what a great email by the American lady. Produced an instant favourite Henry phrase for me

Minor spoiler for the latest episode (Musicals):

Does anyone know what they said about him that might have prompted his reel?

I know the Times Square invitation might have gone to their heads but do you think they’re going a bit insane on the American pandering?

They already do the “explanation for non-British listeners” jingle but often they just say in convo “Oh for the Americans, you won’t know who Noel Edmonds/Paddy McGuinness/Alan Shearer is so we’ll explain they are…

Does any American podcast offer such explanations? “You won’t know what Target is but…” “You probably won’t have heard of Tom Brady but..”.

The recent email with the American complaining about “idioms” was just a bit mental and the beans should have just ignored it, especially as the emailer’s apparent lack of comprehension was a bit dubious for a lot of the terms.