Since you've been very good we've saved up and gift-wrapped you this episode. Along with our guest - stand-up comic, producer and Douglas Adams acolyte Rachel Wheeley - we discover some of the worst presents in history. From diplomatic gifts like crocodile insurance, elk chairs and jellybean portraits to tasty camels, Saddam Hussein's favourite video nasties and a royal penis sheath, literally all human life is here in our enormous stocking!
THE THIRD FOOT - EUSTACE THE MONK (BONUS EPISODE)
It's time to hit the high seas (via a woodland stronghold, a monastery and a burning pentagram) as we feature one of our favourite discoveries from our time on this podcast: Eustace the Monk. Featured on our worst pirates episode with Will Seaward, Eustace lived one of the most eventful lives of medieval, or indeed any, times. Part folk hero, part swashbuckling outlaw, part servant of the dark lord and entirely unique, he packed more into his 37 years than many do in twice the time and ended up with his head on a pike for trying to play the English off against the French one time too many!
134 - ANDY BODFISH - WORLD'S WORST SPORTSMANSHIP
With elbows raised high and a steeplechase full of horseshoes crammed into our boxing gloves we spit in the face of the spirit of the game and talk to globe-trotting commentator Andy Bodfish about the world's worst sportsmen and women.
There are dastardly disguises for men, horses and racecourses, baseball bats full of cork, comfort-eating judokas and the worst ever soundtrack to warm up to.
133 - ROB TAYLOR-HASTINGS - WORLD'S WORST ROBOT
Bleep blorp, does not compute! This week, we risk infuriating our future overlords by naming and shaming the World's Worst Robots. We are joined by the implausibly handsome Rob Taylor-Hastings, actor and co-host of the podcast Roboteers Standby. He educates us about the history of Robot Wars and the magical geeky gladiators who engage in robot combat. Meanwhile, Barry stays in a hotel staffed by annoying machines and Ben looks at some terrifying attempts at real-life deep fakes.
132 - STEVE GRIBBIN - WORLD'S WORST RAILWAY
All aboard! Anyone who has ever used public transport in the UK knows that one of our favourite past times is complaining about our unbelievably sub-standard rail network, so it's about time we found out where it comes in the global and historical standing of terrible railways.
Joined by musical comedy legend and self-confessed maverick trainspotter Steve Gribbin, Ben and Barry chug along on a journey from the Corinthian in Ancient Greece to the Vatican City via New Zealand, Burma and a very creepy Victorian rail system.
131C - A VARIETY PACK OF SCHADENFREUDE
Ben's still decompressing from Edinburgh and Barry's away galivanting for his wedding anniversary, so we've thrown together a quick Worst Foot trifle of some of our favourite bits that didn't quite make the final cut over the past couple of years. We cover all the bases: Hamlet set in LA, the group dynamics of Alvin and the Chipmunks, Vladimir Putin's short-lived ice hockey career and a witch doctor pro-wrestler going ten-pin bowling.
Guest featured in this episode are Thom Tuck, Christian Tablot, Helen Arney, Tez Ilyas and Jim Smallman. Enjoy and we'll be back with a full episode next week!