Share

Oh What A Time...
#90 Spycatcher: The Candid Autobiography of a Senior Intelligence Officer (1987) by Peter Wright (BONUS EPISODE)
Yes we're still off on our Christmas/New Year holidays but never fear! We have ANOTHER bonus subscriber episode for you to enjoy.
BUT CRUCIALLY, DON'T FORGET! The comedy history podcast that has spent as much time talking about the invention of custard as it has the industrial revolution is here with its first ever live show! Thursday 15th January at the Underbelly Boulevard in London’s Soho.
🎟 Tickets are on sale now: https://underbellyboulevard.com/tickets/oh-what-a-time/
And in huge news, Oh What A Time is now on Patreon! From content you’ve never heard before to the incredible Oh What A Time chat group, there’s so much more OWAT to be enjoyed!
On our Patreon you’ll now find:
• The full archive of bonus episodes
• Brand new bonus episodes each month
• OWAT subscriber group chats
• Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show
• PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone else
Join us at 👉 patreon.com/ohwhatatime
And as a special thank you for joining, use the code CUSTARD for 25% off your first month.
--
So.. Onto this episode:
Put on your warmest coat, because one of this month’s subscriber specials is a trip back to the Cold War through the memoir of Mi5’s former Assistant Director, Peter Wright.
There is excitement. There is intrigue. There is burglary all over London. And there is an incredible conspiracy theory that the former head of Mi5 may have been a Soviet spy!
Chris’ book review this month is the book Thatcher tried to ban given its incredible revelations about the life of a spy! Enjoy.
And thank you so much for being a Full Timer, we couldn’t make the show without you.
You can also follow us on:
X (formerly Twitter) at @ohwhatatimepod
And Instagram at @ohwhatatimepod
Aaannnd if you like it, why not drop us a review in your podcast app of choice?
Thank you to Dan Evans for the artwork (idrawforfood.co.uk).
Chris, Elis and Tom x
More episodes
View all episodes

265. #182 The Grand Tour and are The Killers better than The Beatles? (Part 2)
29:32||Season 1, Ep. 265This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!For the eighteenth-century gentleman few things marked a rite of passage more than the grand tour - so this week we’re seeing what exploring Europe, the UK and North America was like in the 18th and 19th Centuries.Elsewhere, Elis has been dreaming about Chris’ fictional children being good at football. If you’ve got any dreams to share, you know what to do: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd from now on Part 1 is released on Monday and Part 2 on Wednesday - but if you want more Oh What A Time and both parts at once, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you’ll now find: • The full archive of bonus episodes • Brand new bonus episodes each month • OWAT subscriber group chats • Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show • PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone elseJoin us at 👉 patreon.com/ohwhatatimeAnd as a special thank you for joining, use the code CUSTARD for 25% off your first month.You can also follow us on: X (formerly Twitter) at @ohwhatatimepodAnd Instagram at @ohwhatatimepodAaannnd if you like it, why not drop us a review in your podcast app of choice?Thank you to Dan Evans for the artwork (idrawforfood.co.uk).Chris, Elis and Tom x
264. #182 The Grand Tour and are The Killers better than The Beatles? (Part 1)
34:24||Season 1, Ep. 264For the eighteenth-century gentleman few things marked a rite of passage more than the grand tour - so this week we’re seeing what exploring Europe, the UK and North America was like in the 18th and 19th Centuries.Elsewhere, Elis has been dreaming about Chris’ fictional children being good at football. If you’ve got any dreams to share, you know what to do: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd from now on Part 1 is released on Monday and Part 2 on Wednesday - but if you want more Oh What A Time and both parts at once, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you’ll now find: • The full archive of bonus episodes • Brand new bonus episodes each month • OWAT subscriber group chats • Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show • PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone elseJoin us at 👉 patreon.com/ohwhatatimeAnd as a special thank you for joining, use the code CUSTARD for 25% off your first month.You can also follow us on: X (formerly Twitter) at @ohwhatatimepodAnd Instagram at @ohwhatatimepodAaannnd if you like it, why not drop us a review in your podcast app of choice?Thank you to Dan Evans for the artwork (idrawforfood.co.uk).Chris, Elis and Tom x
263. #180 A History of Female Pleasure with Dr Kate Lister (Part 2)
35:56||Season 1, Ep. 263This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE AND THEMES OF AN ADULT NATURE**Our guest this week is British historian and author Dr Kate Lister who is here to discuss her new book ‘Flick’ which explores female pleasure throughout history; from Ancient Mesopotamian sex goddesses to the contraceptive pill.The book itself is fascinating and you can get it here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/463104/flick-by-lister-dr-kate/9780857506436Elsewhere, our inbox this week has been rocked by the news that there are venomous sharks in the Thames! Can you blow our minds with any facts like that one? Please attempt it: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd from now on Part 1 is released on Monday and Part 2 on Wednesday - but if you want more Oh What A Time and both parts at once, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you’ll now find: • The full archive of bonus episodes • Brand new bonus episodes each month • OWAT subscriber group chats • Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show • PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone elseJoin us at 👉 patreon.com/ohwhatatimeAnd as a special thank you for joining, use the code CUSTARD for 25% off your first month.You can also follow us on: X (formerly Twitter) at @ohwhatatimepodAnd Instagram at @ohwhatatimepodAaannnd if you like it, why not drop us a review in your podcast app of choice?Thank you to Dan Evans for the artwork (idrawforfood.co.uk).Chris, Elis and Tom x
262. #180 A History of Female Pleasure with Dr Kate Lister (Part 1)
40:07||Season 1, Ep. 262**THIS EPISODE CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE AND THEMES OF AN ADULT NATURE**Our guest this week is British historian and author Dr Kate Lister who is here to discuss her new book ‘Flick’ which explores female pleasure throughout history; from Ancient Mesopotamian sex goddesses to the contraceptive pill.The book itself is fascinating and you can get it here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/463104/flick-by-lister-dr-kate/9780857506436Elsewhere, our inbox this week has been rocked by the news that there are venomous sharks in the Thames! Can you blow our minds with any facts like that one? Please attempt it: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd from now on Part 1 is released on Monday and Part 2 on Wednesday - but if you want more Oh What A Time and both parts at once, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you’ll now find: • The full archive of bonus episodes • Brand new bonus episodes each month • OWAT subscriber group chats • Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show • PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone elseJoin us at 👉 patreon.com/ohwhatatimeAnd as a special thank you for joining, use the code CUSTARD for 25% off your first month.You can also follow us on: X (formerly Twitter) at @ohwhatatimepodAnd Instagram at @ohwhatatimepodAaannnd if you like it, why not drop us a review in your podcast app of choice?Thank you to Dan Evans for the artwork (idrawforfood.co.uk).Chris, Elis and Tom x
261. #178 Education! Education! Education! (Part 2)
34:55||Season 1, Ep. 261This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re chatting education: what did schooling look like in Ancient Greece and Rome? What has corporal punishment looked like in schools through history? And how has the concept of the ‘school meal’ evolved over time?Elsewhere, why did pirates pick hooks for hands above all other options?! We think we have the answer, but if you’ve got anything to add, you know what to do: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd from now on Part 1 is released on Monday and Part 2 on Wednesday - but if you want more Oh What A Time and both parts at once, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you’ll now find: • The full archive of bonus episodes • Brand new bonus episodes each month • OWAT subscriber group chats • Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show • PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone elseJoin us at 👉 patreon.com/ohwhatatimeAnd as a special thank you for joining, use the code CUSTARD for 25% off your first month.You can also follow us on: X (formerly Twitter) at @ohwhatatimepodAnd Instagram at @ohwhatatimepodAaannnd if you like it, why not drop us a review in your podcast app of choice?Thank you to Dan Evans for the artwork (idrawforfood.co.uk).Chris, Elis and Tom x
260. #178 Education! Education! Education! (Part 1)
31:55||Season 1, Ep. 260This week we’re chatting education: what did schooling look like in Ancient Greece and Rome? What has corporal punishment looked like in schools through history? And how has the concept of the ‘school meal’ evolved over time?Elsewhere, why did pirates pick hooks for hands above all other options?! We think we have the answer, but if you’ve got anything to add, you know what to do: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd from now on Part 1 is released on Monday and Part 2 on Wednesday - but if you want more Oh What A Time and both parts at once, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you’ll now find: • The full archive of bonus episodes • Brand new bonus episodes each month • OWAT subscriber group chats • Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show • PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone elseJoin us at 👉 patreon.com/ohwhatatimeAnd as a special thank you for joining, use the code CUSTARD for 25% off your first month.You can also follow us on: X (formerly Twitter) at @ohwhatatimepodAnd Instagram at @ohwhatatimepodAaannnd if you like it, why not drop us a review in your podcast app of choice?Thank you to Dan Evans for the artwork (idrawforfood.co.uk).Chris, Elis and Tom x
259. #177 Katja Hoyer on the Weimar Republic and ‘have you heard of Samuel Pepys?’ (Part 1)
29:41||Season 1, Ep. 259This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!We are truly honoured this week to be joined by one of our favourite historians in the world; it’s German-British author, who penned of one of Elis’ favourite ever books (Beyond the Wall: East Germany, 1949–1990), it’s Katja Hoyer!Katja is here to discuss her brand new book ‘Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe’ which details the collapse of German democracy as the Nazi’s tighten their grip on power.Elsewhere, is taking a hot air balloon to the North Pole a good idea? We’re going with no. And if you’ve ever asked a historian if they’ve heard of Samuel Pepys, please email in: hello@ohwhatatime.comKatja’s new book is out now and we can’t recommend it enough, you can get it here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/459779/weimar-by-hoyer-katja/9780241681244And from now on Part 1 is released on Monday and Part 2 on Wednesday - but if you want more Oh What A Time and both parts at once, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you’ll now find: • The full archive of bonus episodes • Brand new bonus episodes each month • OWAT subscriber group chats • Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show • PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone elseJoin us at 👉 patreon.com/ohwhatatimeAnd as a special thank you for joining, use the code CUSTARD for 25% off your first month.You can also follow us on: X (formerly Twitter) at @ohwhatatimepodAnd Instagram at @ohwhatatimepodAaannnd if you like it, why not drop us a review in your podcast app of choice?Thank you to Dan Evans for the artwork (idrawforfood.co.uk).Chris, Elis and Tom x
258. #177 Katja Hoyer on the Weimar Republic and ‘have you heard of Samuel Pepys?’ (Part 1)
38:07||Season 1, Ep. 258We are truly honoured this week to be joined by one of our favourite historians in the world; it’s German-British author, who penned of one of Elis’ favourite ever books (Beyond the Wall: East Germany, 1949–1990), it’s Katja Hoyer!Katja is here to discuss her brand new book ‘Weimar: Life on the Edge of Catastrophe’ which details the collapse of German democracy as the Nazi’s tighten their grip on power.Elsewhere, is taking a hot air balloon to the North Pole a good idea? We’re going with no. And if you’ve ever asked a historian if they’ve heard of Samuel Pepys, please email in: hello@ohwhatatime.comKatja’s new book is out now and we can’t recommend it enough, you can get it here: https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/459779/weimar-by-hoyer-katja/9780241681244And from now on Part 1 is released on Monday and Part 2 on Wednesday - but if you want more Oh What A Time and both parts at once, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you’ll now find: • The full archive of bonus episodes • Brand new bonus episodes each month • OWAT subscriber group chats • Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show • PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone elseJoin us at 👉 patreon.com/ohwhatatimeAnd as a special thank you for joining, use the code CUSTARD for 25% off your first month.You can also follow us on: X (formerly Twitter) at @ohwhatatimepodAnd Instagram at @ohwhatatimepodAaannnd if you like it, why not drop us a review in your podcast app of choice?Thank you to Dan Evans for the artwork (idrawforfood.co.uk).Chris, Elis and Tom x
256. #176 Sporting Revolutionaries And Tom Gets Stuck On A Rollercoaster (Part 2)
31:36||Season 1, Ep. 256This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week on the show we’re talking about the sporting prowess of history’s most well-known revolutionaries; we have baseball-loving Fidel Castro, Chairman Mao’s love of ping pong and we’ve got Vladimir Lenin and his love of the bicycle.Elsewhere, Tom Craine got stuck up a rollercoaster. Has this ever happened to you? Why does this sort of thing keep happening to Tom? If you know, please do inform us: hello@ohwhatatime.comAnd from now on Part 1 is released on Monday and Part 2 on Wednesday - but if you want more Oh What A Time and both parts at once, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you’ll now find: • The full archive of bonus episodes • Brand new bonus episodes each month • OWAT subscriber group chats • Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show • PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone elseJoin us at 👉 patreon.com/ohwhatatimeAnd as a special thank you for joining, use the code CUSTARD for 25% off your first month.You can also follow us on: X (formerly Twitter) at @ohwhatatimepodAnd Instagram at @ohwhatatimepodAaannnd if you like it, why not drop us a review in your podcast app of choice?Thank you to Dan Evans for the artwork (idrawforfood.co.uk).Chris, Elis and Tom x