Share

Scarred For Life
Olly Smith
This week on Scarred For Life, Andy Bush and Dave Lawrence are joined by wine expert, broadcaster, author and all-round enthusiast Olly Smith.
Olly's scars take us from the shark-infested waters of Jaws, a film that left him terrified of swimming for decades, to the disastrous first hangover that scarred him for life, complete with a human skeleton under the bed and a quest to find the ultimate cure.
Along the way, we discuss boarding school, role-playing games, Pingu, wine tasting notes, great white sharks, writing children's television, Marillion, Fish, and the peculiar objects Olly has collected throughout his life.
Plus, Olly tells us about his brilliant new novel Death by Noir, reveals why he once made his wife swim next to him as shark bait, and explains how a shark cage dive in South Africa finally helped him conquer one of his oldest fears.
You can pre-order Death By Noir using the code NOIR26! here
To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/
Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279
Follow us on socials:
Scarred For Life - Facebook / Instagram
Production Company - Lock It In Studio
Andy Bush - Twitter / Instagram
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More episodes
View all episodes

21. Patton Oswalt
01:06:51||Season 5, Ep. 21This week on Scarred For Life, Andy Bush and Dave Lawrence are joined by comedian, actor, writer and genuine pop culture legend, Patton Oswalt.From Star Wars and Star Trek to horror movies, comic books and classic animation, Patton takes us on a journey through the strange and unsettling things that left a lasting mark on him growing up.Along the way, he explains why comedy and horror are essentially the same craft, reveals his all-time favourite horror films, discusses physical media, Doctor Who, Ghostwatch, Akira, nuclear war paranoia, and why some of the darkest moments in children's entertainment are far more disturbing than anything intended to be scary.His three scars are:• The endless torment lurking beneath classic Looney Tunes cartoons• The horrifying final moments of the original version of The Fly• The unforgettable robot transformation scene from Superman IIIPlus, Patton shares his thoughts on ghosts, body horror, animation, Star Wars, Star Trek, and why some fictional nightmares stay with us for decades.To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279Follow us on socials:Scarred For Life - Facebook / InstagramProduction Company - Lock It In StudioAndy Bush - Twitter / Instagram
20. Mail Bag: Celeb Autographs, Time Lords & Points of View
34:33||Season 5, Ep. 20In this listener mailbag episode of Scarred for Life, Andy Bush and Dave Lawrence share stories from the show's Facebook page, Instagram, and members forum. They revisit childhood TV traumas, creepy public-information posters, unsettling museum exhibits, and memorable celebrity autograph encounters, while discussing how nostalgia, faulty memory, and the inability to revisit old media often make childhood fears even more powerful. The episode also teases possible future guests—including Charlie Brooker, a mega US Comedian and a Doctor Who actor.... To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/ Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279 Follow us on socials: Scarred For Life - Facebook / Instagram Production Company - Lock It In Studio Andy Bush - Twitter / Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
19. Suzie Preece (Ghost Huns)
56:23||Season 5, Ep. 19This week on Scarred For Life, Andy Bush and Dave Lawrence are joined by comedian, actor and Ghost Huns co-host Suzie Preece. Suzie has built a huge following exploring the paranormal with Ghost Huns, so it's no surprise that her scars are packed full of ghosts, witches and things that go bump in the night. Along the way, she shares stories of Ouija boards, haunted castles, psychic warnings, listener's creepy encounters, and her lifelong obsession with all things spooky. There's also discussion of time slips, poltergeists, ghost hunting, folklore, and why she thinks the world is currently experiencing a supernatural revival. Her three scars are: • The terrifying stage production of The Woman in Black• Michael Aspel's paranormal documentary series Strange But True?• The deeply unsettling painting of Erica trapped inside The Witches Plus, Barney the Dinosaur comes under unexpected attack, Andy reveals his complicated relationship with Mr Wimpy, and Dave shares a chilling woodland encounter involving his young son. Be warned, there's naughty words galore in this one. To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/ Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279 Follow us on socials: Scarred For Life - Facebook / Instagram Production Company - Lock It In Studio Andy Bush - Twitter / Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
18. Anthologies Deep Dive
41:40||Season 5, Ep. 18This week, Andy, Dave and producer Dane take a trip into The Twilight Zone as they explore the lost art of the TV anthology series. Andy finally confronts the black-and-white original Twilight Zone and watches the legendary "Time Enough at Last" – discovering that maybe, just maybe, old television isn't quite as rubbish as he thought. Along the way, the team discuss nuclear anxiety, thick-rimmed spectacles, Fallout's possible Twilight Zone influences, and whether the show's famous twists still work today. Dane jumps forward to the 1980s revival with the unsettling "Wordplay", a story in which language itself begins to break down. The conversation turns to communication, isolation, dementia, and why some of the scariest stories contain no monsters at all. Meanwhile, Dave heads into the darker corners of Black Mirror with the Christmas classic "White Christmas", starring Jon Hamm and Rafe Spall. The team discuss digital isolation, AI consciousness, social blocking made real, and why Charlie Brooker's vision of the future feels more relevant than ever. Three anthology classics. Three very different nightmares. And one question: are the most frightening stories really the ones about being completely alone? Featuring:• The Twilight Zone – "Time Enough at Last" (1959)• The Twilight Zone – "Wordplay" (1986)• Black Mirror – "White Christmas" (2014) Plus: Rod Serling, Wes Craven, nuclear war, Christmas existential dread, and why Dane has somehow become the lightning rod for listener complaints. To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/ Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279 Follow us on socials: Scarred For Life - Facebook / Instagram Production Company - Lock It In Studio Andy Bush - Twitter / Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
16. TV Theme Tunes Deep Dive
47:46||Season 5, Ep. 16It's Deep Dive time and we're welcoming back previous guest Lisa Bowerman to take a trip down memory lane and listen to some classic TV theme tunes. Have you got a favourite? One that sparks a core memory for you? Let us know in the usual ways! To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/ Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279 Follow us on socials: Scarred For Life - Facebook / Instagram Production Company - Lock It In Studio Andy Bush - Twitter / Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
15. Nicholas Briggs
57:16||Season 5, Ep. 15Our guest this week is the actor, writer, director, sound designer and composer, Nicholas Briggs. Nick is probably best known as the voice of the iconic Doctor Who villains The Daleks and The Cybermen, which he began voicing on TV at the start of the 2005 revival. Before that, he was writing and performing in audio dramas for Big Finish Productions, for which he’s now their Creative Director. He’s also written and appeared in a ton of other TV and radio series over the years, as well as plenty of acting and directing for the stage. As well as his continued work in audio drama, Nick also co-hosts the Big Finish Podcast.To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/ Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279 Follow us on YouTube - www.youtube.com/@ScarredForLifePodcast Follow us on socials: Scarred For Life - Facebook / Instagram Production Company - Lock It In Studio Andy Bush - Twitter / Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
14. Mail Bag #2
36:47||Season 5, Ep. 14We're back with more of your messages! We were inundated after the last Mail Bag with messages, emails and voice notes, so thank you to everyone who got in touch. But, we still want more for the next one! Message us on Instagram @scarredpod or via our Facebook page. And of course if you're a Scarred Club member you can jump the queue and send your messages to us via the members forum. Or, send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279 To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/ Follow us on socials: Scarred For Life - Facebook / Instagram Production Company - Lock It In Studio Andy Bush - Twitter / Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
13. Geoff Lloyd
55:40||Season 5, Ep. 13Our guest this week is broadcaster Geoff Lloyd. Geoff began his career in radio in 1996 at Key 103 before moving to Virgin/Absolute Radio for almost 20 years. Along the way he racked up 4 Radio Academy Awards and a European Radio Award. Geoff also presented Reasons To Be Cheerful with Ed Miliband for 7 years - winning a Broadcasting Press Guild award for Podcast of the Year. Currently, he hosts Adrift with Annabel Port and They Like To Watch with his wife Sara Barron. He’s now back in the radio world full time, presenting on Virgin Radio from 6pm Monday to Thursday. To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/ Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279 Follow us on YouTube - www.youtube.com/@ScarredForLifePodcast Follow us on socials: Scarred For Life - Facebook / Instagram Production Company - Lock It In Studio Andy Bush - Twitter / Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices