Paddington Parodied, Liberal Democrats in Decline and Showgirl Taylor Swift

Britain serves up a triple shot of absurdity.First, the beloved Mr Men and Little Miss characters join forces with the estate of Agatha Christie to launch a new children’s mystery series — turning Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple into cartoon detectives. Is it clever cultural cross-pollination, or simply literary heresy in pastel colours? Then, King Charles III travels to the Vatican to meet Pope Leo XIV, marking the first public prayer between an English monarch and a pontiff in half a millennium. Is it genuine reconciliation or royal diplomacy with incense? Finally, a London woman is fined £150 for pouring her coffee down a street drain — proving once again that Britain can turn caffeine into a crime scene faster than you can say “flat white.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mark-and-pete--1245374/support.Supporters get updates on new projects and hot takes on the latest news plus Mark and Pete Extra  in depth commentary episodes and Mark and Pete vs AI  comedy episodes. All right here in this podcast feed.  Thank you for your support, welcome to the community.

 In this week’s unholy trinity of headlines: first, King Charles III heads to Rome for a historic meeting with Pope Leo XIV, the first time in half a millennium a British monarch will pray publicly with a Pope. Yet the headlines aren’t about prayer, but about Prince Andrew’s latest fall from grace as he withdraws from public life amid renewed scrutiny. Next, the BBC’s Celebrity Traitors delivers a moment of comic relief when beloved actress Celia Imrie CBE breaks wind during filming and instantly confesses, reminding Britain that honesty and humour still beat pretence and pomposity. Finally, the lads dive into the world of artificial intelligence, as U.S. regulators probe tech giants over chatbots chatting with children, just as OpenAI announces adult-only erotica modes for verified users. What could possibly go wrong? With Mark’s poems, Pete’s biblical insights, and the trademark blend of faith, satire, and straight talk, Mark and Pete explore how pride, pressure, and perversion all stem from one source, the human heart. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mark-and-pete--1245374/support.Supporters get updates on new projects and hot takes on the latest news plus Mark and Pete Extra  in depth commentary episodes and Mark and Pete vs AI  comedy episodes. All right here in this podcast feed.  Thank you for your support, welcome to the community.

In this unmissable episode of Mark and Pete, the preacher and the poet tackle three of the week’s most talked-about headlines: A Spitting Image sketch turns our beloved bear into a cocaine-snorting podcast host The Liberal Democrats watch their membership plummet under Ed Davey’s quietly chaotic leadership Taylor Swift’s Life of a Showgirl smashes sales records — and her lyrics sound suspiciously like modern worship songsAlong the way, we ask:Why does parody sting when it hits close to virtue?Can a political party without backbone survive the culture war?Is Taylor Swift the high priestess of pop... or just a really good marketer?With: Scripture, Satirical poetry, Cultural commentary, And one eyebrow permanently raised. From the BIble to Ophelia, marmalade to glitter, it’s all on the table.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mark-and-pete--1245374/support.Supporters get updates on new projects and hot takes on the latest news plus Mark and Pete Extra  in depth commentary episodes and Mark and Pete vs AI  comedy episodes. All right here in this podcast feed.  Thank you for your support, welcome to the community.

Sarah Mullally has become the new Archbishop of Canterbury — hailed by the press as “historic,” “healing,” and “inclusive.” Yet for many across the Anglican world, especially in GAFCON and the Global South, her appointment feels like another nail in the coffin of orthodoxy. In this solo Mark and Pete Extra, Pete asks: has the Church of England chosen a shepherd or a spreadsheet? With equal parts humour and holy exasperation, Pete explores:How Sarah Mullally’s managerial style defines her leadership.Why GAFCON and the Global South have responded with sorrow.Whether Canterbury still matters in a fractured Communion.How faithful believers can build islands of integrity when the centre cannot hold.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mark-and-pete--1245374/support.

In this episode of Mark and Pete, we ask:– Is the new Archbishop of Canterbury a nurse for a terminal church?– Has Labour MP Mark Sewards replaced himself with a chatbot?– And would risk dying for $500,000 if MrBeast asked nicely? Join preacher Pete and businessman Mark as they dissect the absurdity of modern Britain with a wit as sharp as a bishop’s mitre and a Yorkshireman's patience for nonsense. Bible, business, belief, and a little beastly risk. It’s Mark and Pete — where faith meets the front pages.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mark-and-pete--1245374/support.Supporters get updates on new projects and hot takes on the latest news plus Mark and Pete Extra  in depth commentary episodes and Mark and Pete vs AI  comedy episodes. All right here in this podcast feed.  Thank you for your support, welcome to the community.

First, we wrestle with Britain’s latest flirtation with national ID cards — a grand plan that looks less like efficiency and more like Big Brother with a clipboard. Why should the average bloke need a barcode to buy a sandwich, when freedom is supposed to be stitched into the fabric of the nation? Then, across the Atlantic, we dip into the bizarre saga of Graceland. Fraudsters tried to swipe Elvis Presley’s home with forged paperwork. Yes, really. The King’s estate nearly went under the hammer, but the con unraveled faster than a karaoke wig. Lies may glitter for a moment, but truth eventually smashes through like a drum solo. Finally, we dust off the archaeology desk — scientists claim a million-year-old skull has been found, nudging human evolution further back in time. Headlines shout about ancestors with funny foreheads, but the real point is this: theories change, God’s truth doesn’t. Humanity is still created in His image, whether the skulls are dated one hundred years or a million. Mark has a poem, Pete brings the Bible, and together we serve up perspective with punch.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mark-and-pete--1245374/support.Supporters get updates on new projects and hot takes on the latest news plus Mark and Pete Extra  in depth commentary episodes and Mark and Pete vs AI  comedy episodes. All right here in this podcast feed.  Thank you for your support, welcome to the community.

In this episode, Mark and Pete tackle three big stories: Donald Trump’s surprisingly diplomatic UK visit, the passing of Robert Redford and his prophetic words about the movie industry, and the sad halt of Wedgwood ceramics production. Expect wit, wisdom, and a biblical lens on diplomacy, legacy, and luxury.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mark-and-pete--1245374/support.Supporters get updates on new projects and hot takes on the latest news plus Mark and Pete Extra  in depth commentary episodes and Mark and Pete vs AI  comedy episodes. All right here in this podcast feed.  Thank you for your support, welcome to the community.

Lord Mandelson’s foolish links with Jeffrey Epstein resurface, raising hard questions about political judgement and leadership in Labour. Meanwhile, a very different story unfolds in the Alps, where a group of elderly nuns have returned to their beloved convent — a tale of faith, joy, and a homecoming far more dignified than Westminster scandals. Finally, Mitchum deodorant, famed for its “one job,” has reportedly caused itchy armpits and left customers less than fresh. What does it all mean? From politics that stinks to holiness that shines, Mark and Pete mix humour, poetry, and biblical wisdom to make sense of a strange world.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mark-and-pete--1245374/support.Supporters get updates on new projects and hot takes on the latest news plus Mark and Pete Extra  in depth commentary episodes and Mark and Pete vs AI  comedy episodes. All right here in this podcast feed.  Thank you for your support, welcome to the community.

In this episode of Mark and Pete, we tackle three heavyweight stories shaking politics, business, and sport. First, Angela Rayner’s resignation sparks chaos inside the Labour Party and raises serious questions about Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership. Is Labour heading for unity or a full-blown civil war? Next, we turn to Elon Musk, who could become the world’s first trillionaire thanks to Tesla’s audacious targets and his relentless drive. What does this say about incentives, ambition, and the staggering concentration of wealth in our age? Finally, we reflect on the passing of Joe Bugner, the legendary British-Australian heavyweight boxer who fought Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, and became a symbol of grit, endurance, and immigrant success. From Westminster’s power struggles to Silicon Valley’s mega-money, and from the bruising world of boxing to questions of legacy, this episode blends wit, insight, and biblical reflection. Politics, money, and sport collide — but what really matters when the final bell rings? Tune in for sharp commentary, sardonic humour, and timeless wisdom as Mark and Pete explore the stories that shape headlines and hearts.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mark-and-pete--1245374/support.Supporters get updates on new projects and hot takes on the latest news plus Mark and Pete Extra  in depth commentary episodes and Mark and Pete vs AI  comedy episodes. All right here in this podcast feed.  Thank you for your support, welcome to the community.

First up, we look at the absurdities of modern leadership with goofy governance. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has declared he won’t attend Donald Trump’s state banquet — a bold refusal of an invitation he never received. Mark and Pete explore what this reveals about the theatre of British politics and the problem of symbolic posturing in governance. Next, we turn to the tennis court. Daniil Medvedev lost his cool when a photographer strayed onto the court, showing how easily anger boils over in sport. But when is anger righteous, and when is it destructive? Pete reflects on biblical teaching about temper, from Jesus cleansing the Temple to Paul’s warning not to let the sun go down on our wrath. Finally, posture comes under scrutiny. Scientist and BBC presenter Dr Xand van Tulleken has urged people to improve their posture for health’s sake. Pete has tried this himself and shares why posture matters — not just physically, but spiritually, as Scripture calls us to stand firm in faith.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mark-and-pete--1245374/support.Supporters get updates on new projects and hot takes on the latest news plus Mark and Pete Extra  in depth commentary episodes and Mark and Pete vs AI  comedy episodes. All right here in this podcast feed.  Thank you for your support, welcome to the community.