BEST OF LONDON

In this episode we hear about WRESTLING with GREG DAVIES, ROSIE JONES, ALEX HORNE and ED GAMBLE and an immersive LIFE IN PRISON experience with WRITER, PERFORMER and RADIO HOST - MATTHEW CROSBY! Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links to us on all the platforms and ALL our social media click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E-mail: ben@lifemac.com ⁠ben@lifemac.com⁠ You can listen to the FULL episode which this HIDDEN GEM is taken from by going to the previous edition of BEST OF LONDON or by clicking here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ueyNViam1XlO125jT44m4 Each week I ask a guest 7 questions including what’s your best London venue, event, place to eat, area and London Lifehack. You’ll find out the best things to do and places to go. I read and reply to all your e-mails. Intro and Outro music by Ben Holland Best of London is presented and produced by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck. Best of London Instagram/x is @bestolondon with NO F Ben's instagram is @benpodz Ben's TikTok is @bentiktoks We are on X @bh27 BEST OF LONDON logo and artwork by Bob Magill of ⁠⁠⁠⁠recolodesign.com⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you or your company would like to work with him email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠bob@recolodesign.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on ALL the platforms including apple podcasts, amazon music, audible, instagram, twitter/x and Facebook, please click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon⁠⁠

You’re in for a treat because my guest knows lots of insider secrets and is a huge fan of music and film and has an amazing knowledge of the best things to do and places to go in London. Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links to us on ALL the platforms and social media please simply click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E-mail: ben@lifemac.com He’s been the head of some of the world's most successful media brands and he’s been shaping the media landscape for three decades. His career is legendary, he’s been at the helm of brands including Q, Mojo, Mixmag, Kerrang, Smash Hits, Empire, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer, Prog, Louder, Music Radar, Guitarist, Total Guitar, Guitar World, Guitar Player, Keyboard, Electronic Musician, Bass Player, Bass Guitar Magazine, Computer Music and Future Music. He's experienced some of the most unforgettable moments in entertainment history.  I worked with him for over a decade when I was doing marketing for some of these brands and we sat next to each other and had a great time working with so many other wonderful people there who I’m still lucky enough to call friends. I even persuaded my guest to buy a place near mine in London so we've been good friends for a long time and today he reveals a few things about me that no one else will know.  He’s helped create the evolution of media, worked with music and film legends, organised incredible events, learnt to pilot planes, and strecently helped make a brilliant new documentary about Swedish music including ABBA called ABBA 50 Years of Pop available on channel 4 player in the UK and around the world This is best of London according to Stuart Williams  After the interview I’ll tell you how I got on when I took part in doing Taskmaster the legendary live experience featuring Alex Horne and Greg Davies. Each week I ask a guest 7 questions including what’s your best London venue, event, place to eat, area and London Lifehack. You’ll find out the best things to do and places to go. I read and reply to all your emails. Intro and Outro music by Ben Holland Best of London is presented and produced by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck. Best of London Instagram/x is @bestolondon with NO F Ben's instagram is @benpodz Ben's TikTok is @bentiktoks BEST OF LONDON logo and artwork by Bob Magill of recolodesign.com. If you or your company would like to work with him email bob@recolodesign.com Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on ALL the platforms including apple podcasts, amazon music, audible, instagram, twitter/x and Facebook, please click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon⁠⁠⁠

Taken from the very first Q&A episode EVER on Best of London we hear about the BEST FREE views in London including rooftops and parks. Also how to land your DREAM job. Listen to the full episode for all the questions including the best film featuring London and the best way to make friends in London. Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links to us on all the platforms and ALL our social media click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E-mail: ben@lifemac.com ben@lifemac.com You can listen to the FULL episode which this HIDDEN GEM is taken from by going to the previous edition of BEST OF LONDON or by clicking here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4j19DdGE1xuyHWmXIQ0PRx Each week I ask a guest 7 questions including what’s your best London venue, event, place to eat, area and London Lifehack. You’ll find out the best things to do and places to go. I read and reply to all your emails. Intro and Outro music by Ben Holland Best of London is presented and produced by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck. Best of London Instagram/x is @bestolondon with NO F Ben's instagram is @benpodz Ben's TikTok is @bentiktoks We are on X @bh27 BEST OF LONDON logo and artwork by Bob Magill of ⁠⁠⁠recolodesign.com⁠⁠⁠. If you or your company would like to work with him email: ⁠⁠⁠bob@recolodesign.com⁠⁠⁠ - he's a talented, patient and good natured designer/publisher with decades of experience who I whole-heartedly recommend. Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on ALL the platforms including apple podcasts, amazon music, audible, instagram, twitter/x and Facebook, please click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon⁠⁠

Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links to us on ALL the platforms and social media please simply click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E-mail: ben@lifemac.com Welcome back to Season 3 of Best of London, I’ve missed you all so much. For this season there’ll be an episode every 2 weeks as I’ve got another exciting project to reveal soon.  My guest this week is DR RICHARD BROWN an eminent doctor and scientist who hit headlines around the world when his team used groundbreaking gene therapy to allow a deaf child to hear again. When the news broke in May this year he was interviewed on news TV channels around the world as they all wanted to know about the ground breaking procedure which will help restore hearing for deaf people with auditory neuropathy and will be life changing for many people with this form of deafness. My guest was a medical student at Oxford University where he was on TV in University Challenge, after he graduated he moved to London to work as a doctor and lived and worked here before moving to Cambridge where he became a consultant paediatrician, he also coaches Hockey but still loves going out in London when he has the time and I can tell you from personal experience he’s great fun on a night out. He has so many great London stories and recommendations and I know you’re going to love this episode. This is Best of London according to Dr Richard Brown. His X handle is @DrRichJBrown I also wanted to tell any of you who are fans of the smash hit Channel 4 show Taskmaster which is now in its 18th series that I’ve been invited along to The Taskmaster Experience in London where I’ll be performing tasks and being judged so wish me luck for that and I’ll be sure to let you know what that was like in a future episode so be sure to subscribe or follow. Each week I ask a guest 7 questions including what’s your best London venue, event, place to eat, area and London Lifehack. You’ll find out the best things to do and places to go. I read and reply to all your emails. Intro and Outro music by Ben Holland Best of London is presented and produced by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck. Best of London Instagram/x is @bestolondon with NO F Ben's instagram is @benpodz Ben's TikTok is @bentiktoks Happy Birthday to my niece Lilac who's birthday is today. BEST OF LONDON logo and artwork by Bob Magill of ⁠⁠⁠recolodesign.com⁠⁠⁠. If you or your company would like to work with him email: ⁠⁠⁠bob@recolodesign.com⁠⁠⁠ - he's a talented, patient and good natured designer/publisher with decades of experience who I whole-heartedly recommend. Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on ALL the platforms including apple podcasts, amazon music, audible, instagram, twitter/x and Facebook, please click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon⁠⁠

In this Hidden Gem comedian and Bill Murray founder Barry Ferns talks about how to find peace, joy and meaningful connections in London. He tells us about a mass meditation event and a mass pillow fight! It's the end of Season 2 and Season 3 starts soon. Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on all the platforms and social media click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E-mail: ben@lifemac.com You can listen to the FULL episode which this HIDDEN GEM is taken from by going to the previous edition of BEST OF LONDON or by clicking here: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bestoflondon/episodes/MC--COMEDIAN--VENUE-OWNER--WRITER-on-founding-THE-BILL-MURRAY--ANGEL-COMEDY-being-HOMELESS--bankrupt--changing-his-name-to-LIONEL-RICHIE-and-the-TRUE-meaning-of-SUCCESS---Best-of-London-BARRY-FERNS-e2h6b8o Each week I ask a guest 7 questions including what’s your best London venue, event, place to eat, area and London Lifehack. You’ll find out the best things to do and places to go. I read and reply to all your emails. Intro and Outro music by Ben Holland Best of London is presented and produced by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck. Best of London Instagram/x is @bestolondon with NO F Ben's instagram is @benpodz Ben's TikTok is @bentiktoks BEST OF LONDON logo and artwork by Bob Magill of ⁠⁠recolodesign.com⁠⁠. If you or your company would like to work with him email: ⁠⁠bob@recolodesign.com⁠⁠ - he's a talented, patient and good natured designer/publisher with decades of experience who I whole-heartedly recommend. Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on ALL the platforms including apple podcasts, amazon music, audible, instagram, twitter/x and Facebook, please click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon⁠⁠

SPECIAL EPISODE with a Q&A featuring your questions answered including the best indoor date spots and the best streetfood place and how to meditate and the best places to do that. Each season of Best of London will be 20 episodes long and that consists of 10 wonderful guest episodes, 10 HIDDEN GEM episodes then a Your Questions episode. If you have any questions do please send them through to ben@lifemac.com BEST OF LONDON is having a one month break and Season 3 will be back in early April. We've already recorded episodes for Season 3 and it's going to be a great one. Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on all the platforms and social media, just click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E-mail: ben@lifemac.comYou can email us ben@lifemac.com I read and reply to all your emails. Original Intro and Outro music by Ben Holland Best of London is presented and produced by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck. Best of London Instagram/x is @bestolondon with NO F Ben's instagram is @benpodz Ben's TikTok is @bentiktoks BEST OF LONDON logo and artwork by Bob Magill of ⁠⁠recolodesign.com⁠⁠. If you or your company would like to work with him email: ⁠⁠bob@recolodesign.com⁠⁠ - he's a talented, patient and good natured designer/publisher with decades of experience who I whole-heartedly recommend. Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on ALL the platforms including Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Pocketcasts and our social media like Instagram, Twitter/X and Facebook, and TikTok please click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon⁠⁠⁠

The DESIGNER RACHEL JACKSON talks about the greatest holiday destination and going from a market stall earning £100 a. week to a £2million business. Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on all the platforms and social media click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E-mail: ben@lifemac.com You can listen to the FULL episode which this HIDDEN GEM is taken from by going to the previous edition of BEST OF LONDON or by clicking here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4lfI5y638oSjXOaeDDnxiw?si=ZhFRHzsvSdGNELN7KjV6OQ Each week I ask a guest 7 questions including what’s your best London venue, event, place to eat, area and London Lifehack. You’ll find out the best things to do and places to go. I read and reply to all your emails. Intro and Outro music by Ben Holland Best of London is presented and produced by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck. Best of London Instagram/x is @bestolondon with NO F Ben's instagram is @benpodz Ben's TikTok is @bentiktoks BEST OF LONDON logo and artwork by Bob Magill of ⁠⁠recolodesign.com⁠⁠. If you or your company would like to work with him email: ⁠⁠bob@recolodesign.com⁠⁠ - he's a talented, patient and good natured designer/publisher with decades of experience who I whole-heartedly recommend. Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on ALL the platforms including apple podcasts, amazon music, audible, instagram, twitter/x and Facebook, please click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon⁠⁠

Includes a HIP HOP song I wrote about our guest. I was introduced to him by our mutual friend Damian Lewis, he’s starred in award winning films and he became close friends with Hollywood actor Tom Hardy who’s since been nominated for an Academy Award. They’ve acted together and even set up a theatre company together. My guest’s also a stand up comedian who’s performed with stars like Harry Hill, Stephen Merchant and Russell Howard. I run with him and I wrote a rap about our guest DAVID WHITNEY that you can hear at the beginning of this episode. There's also a crazy song at the VERY END of the outro after I have done ALL of my spoken outro. Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on all the platforms and social media click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E-mail: ben@lifemac.com Each week I ask a guest 7 questions including what’s your best London venue, event, place to eat, area and London Lifehack. You’ll find out the best things to do and places to go. You can follow David Whitney here: https://www.instagram.com/whitneycomedy His website is here: https://www.davidwhitney.org/ I read and reply to all your emails. Songs and music by Ben Holland Thanks also to Marshall Mathers and Mr K West Best of London is presented and produced by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck. Best of London Instagram/x is @bestolondon with NO F Ben's instagram @benpodz click here: https://www.instagram.com/benpodz Ben's TikTok @bentiktoks click here: https://www.tiktok.com/@bentiktoks Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on ALL the platforms including apple podcasts, amazon music, audible, instagram, twitter/x and Facebook, please click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon⁠⁠ . . BEST OF LONDON logo and artwork by Bob Magill of ⁠recolodesign.com⁠. If you or your company would like to work with him email: ⁠bob@recolodesign.com⁠ - he's a talented, patient and good natured designer/publisher with decades of experience who I whole-heartedly recommend.

JOHN MEAGHER was recently featured in ROLLING STONE who said he was "Ireland's next great comedian." The Irish Times said “it's like watching a young Irish Billy Connolly” he won an award at last year’s Edinburgh Festival and he's been a finalist at the greatest Best Act competitions including ones at The Hackney Empire, The Leicester Mercury's, the BBC AND The Leicester Square Theatre.  He’s also turned his hand to investigative journalism and has an explosive documentary coming out on BBC Radio 4 in April called The Devil's Own which is going to shock the world. I was lucky enough to get an inside scoop and I can't believe what he's uncovered. It’s ostensibly about a crazy underground devil-worshipping cult called the White Hoods but what he uncovers is stranger than any fiction you can imagine and if it wasn’t going out on the BBC I wouldn’t even believe it. He tells us more in this episode. Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on all the platforms and social media click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon ⁠⁠⁠⁠ E-mail: ben@lifemac.com You can listen to the FULL episode which this HIDDEN GEM is taken from by going to the previous edition of BEST OF LONDON or by clicking here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0phjopseCyvAO7MsO516N9 Each week I ask a guest 7 questions including what’s your best London venue, event, place to eat, area and London Lifehack. You’ll find out the best things to do and places to go. You can follow John Meagher here: https://www.instagram.com/johnmcomedy I read and reply to all your emails. Intro and Outro music by Ben Holland Best of London is presented and produced by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck. Best of London Instagram/x is @bestolondon with NO F Ben's instagram is @benpodz Ben's TikTok is @bentiktoks Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on ALL the platforms including apple podcasts, amazon music, audible, instagram, twitter/x and Facebook, please click here: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon⁠⁠

I've written 2 songs about my guest. One's at the beginning and one's at the end so let me know what you think and whether I should ever do this again!? My guest this week is Tom Ward, one of the UK’s funniest comedians. He performed a storming set on BBC’s LIVE AT THE APOLLO and he’s been on TV shows like QI and ROAST BATTLE. He hosts a show called Abandoned Engineering where they visit breathtaking places all over the world like Abandoned Olympic Villages, Huge Space Rocket Facilities, Ghost Towns and Jungle Cities. Time Out said he has fine jokes and star presence and Best of London gives him 5 stars and says he is a hilarious comedian, he’s wonderful, warm, funny, loveable and relatable. He’s got a show at this year’s Edinburgh Festival called Choose Your Delusion and then he starts a UK wide tour of the same show… This is Best Of London According To… Tom Ward For tickets to his forthcoming Edinburgh show click here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/tom-ward-choose-your-delusion For Tom's Linktree including tickets to his forthcoming tour click here: https://linktr.ee/tomwardcomedian Please FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE TO  BEST OF LONDON as we have great shows coming up. For links on all the platforms and social media, just click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ben@lifemac.com⁠⁠⁠⁠  Follow us on instagram here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bestolondon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The show is produced and hosted by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck (with 1 F). You can follow / subscribe to BEST OF LONDON on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Pocketcasts and everywhere else you get podcasts. BEST OF LONDON logo and artwork by Bob Magill of ⁠recolodesign.com⁠. If you or your company would like to work with him email: ⁠bob@recolodesign.com⁠ - he's a talented, patient and good natured designer/publisher with decades of experience who I whole-heartedly recommend. Ben wrote the lyrics to the songs in the podcast. Thanks also to Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge, Travis Barker, Billie Joe Armstrong, Tré Cool, Mike Dirnt and Lars Ulrich and the computer for helping vocalise. After every 10 guest episodes we do a Q&A episode so please send in questions on any subject. E-mail: ben@lifemac.com BEST OF LONDON Instagram/x is: @bestolondon with NO F ⁠https://www.instagram.com/bestolondon/⁠ and has just joined TikTok at bentiktoks ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

BAFTA winning screenwriter Paul Coleman gives us his insider secrets of the BAFTAS although only after a lot of coaxing by Ben! He also tells us about the talk he gave with Sharon Horgan, Rob Delaney and Nicole Taylor and how much respect he has for them. You can listen to the FULL episode which this HIDDEN GEM is taken from by going to the previous edition of BEST OF LONDON or by clicking here: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/oQR5wPnh8Kb E-mail: ben@lifemac.com Best of London Instagram/x is @bestolondon with NO F Ben's instagram is @benpodz Ben's TikTok is @bentiktoks Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on all the platforms and social media click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon ⁠⁠⁠ Please click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE depending on which platform you're listening on. E-mail: ben@lifemac.com Each week I ask a guest 7 questions including what’s your best London venue, event, place to eat, area and London Lifehack. You’ll find out the best things to do and places to go. The Best of London audience is growing exponentially every week and we now have listeners in over 60 countries around the world. If you’re one of the many people who’ve been sharing the podcast on social media or WhatsApping links to friends and family then thank you, you make a real diference you have a radiant personality and wonderful taste! Here's the info taken from the full Paul Coleman episode: A special BAFTA winning guest who I’m lucky enough to have known for a long time. He has a hilarious take on things on social media and he shuns the limelight and like my last guest Rachel Jackson he hardly ever gives interviews. He’s one of Britain's best loved writers and he’s created some the UK’s best loved shows. He devised and co-wrote Car Share which is one of  the most watched Box Sets of all time on the BBC iPlayer and episodes have now been seen by over 20 million people.  He’s written for Comic Relief, The Royal Variety Show, the Brit Awards and was co-writer of Britain's got the Pop Factor which was Channel 4's most watched show of that year. He’s also worked in radio for BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music and Magic and he co-founded an Insight, Innovation and Strategy Agency called Humanise. His amazing recent series The Power of Parker was described by The New Statesman as ‘comic perfection’ and is available now on BBC iPlayer. It became the number one highest ranking new Comedy across all UK linear in 2023. He’s won a BAFTA, a National Television Award, a Royal Television Society Award and even an LA BAFTA. You can follow PAUL COLEMAN on Twitter/X @PColemanchester You can see follow us on instagram here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bestolondon⁠⁠ Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on all the platforms click here: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon⁠ The show is produced and hosted by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck (with 1 F). FOLLOW this podcast to get the low down on Best of London podcast. You can follow / subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Pocketcasts and everywhere else. BEST OF LONDON logo and artwork by Bob Magill of ⁠recolodesign.com⁠. If you or your company would like to work with him email: ⁠bob@recolodesign.com⁠ - he's a talented, patient and good natured designer/publisher with decades of experience who I whole-heartedly recommend. Thanks to my friend Ben Webb Taylor for the intro music. Thanks to my friend Joe Holtaway for the outro music from the song 'Lay Down' by Joe Holtaway from the album 'More The Love that's Given' you can find him on streaming platforms and to say hi visit joeholtaway.com. E-mail: ben@lifemac.com Best of London Instagram/x is @bestolondon with NO F Ben's instagram is @benpodz Ben's TikTok is @bentiktoks Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on all the platforms and social media, just click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Our guest is an amazing musician and knows London inside out as he’s one of the few people who actually grew up within the close-knit italian community of Soho in London. He recorded a song as a child at the world famous Abbey Road studios where the beatles recorded and that song was listened to by millions of people worldwide. He's toured the world with bands and written breathtakingly beautiful albums and soundtracks including one which was part of a film by a director who's films have won Oscars and as you'll find out it was a film that I was in. He's performed with world class recording artists including Grace Jones, Sir Bryn Terfil and musicians from bands including Roxy music and he won the BBC album of the year award with an acclaimed jazz septet and in addition to all of this he's one of the world's most respected accordion players. This, is best in London, according to, ROMANO VIAZZANI. You can visit his website here: https://romanoviazzani.com/ You can buy his London Tango CD with detailed liner notes here: https://zzmusic.uk/accordionshop/recordings/the-romano-viazzani-ensemble-london-tango/ Please FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE TO  BEST OF LONDON as we have great shows coming up. For links on all the platforms and social media, just click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon ⁠⁠⁠⁠  Email us: ⁠⁠⁠ben@lifemac.com⁠⁠⁠  Follow us on instagram here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bestolondon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The show is produced and hosted by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck (with 1 F). You can follow / subscribe to BEST OF LONDON on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Pocketcasts and everywhere else you get podcasts. BEST OF LONDON logo and artwork by Bob Magill of recolodesign.com. If you or your company would like to work with him email: bob@recolodesign.com - he's a talented, patient and good natured designer/publisher with decades of experience who I whole-heartedly recommend. Thanks to my friend Ben Webb Taylor for the original intro music that we composed for Best of London and thanks to my friend Joe Holtaway for the outro music from his song 'Lay Down' After every 10 guest episodes we do a Q&A episode so please send in questions on any subject. E-mail: ben@lifemac.com BEST OF LONDON Instagram/x is: @bestolondon with NO F https://www.instagram.com/bestolondon/ and has just joined TikTok at bentiktoks ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

NEW YORK COMEDIAN, ALEX PAYNE tells us about the BEST RESTAURANT in LONDON (and apparently EUROPE) with an UNUSUAL name that you've probably not visited with AMAZING food. Also the best place to go for BREAKFAST in London. You can listen to the FULL episode which this HIDDEN GEM is taken from by going to the previous edition of BEST OF LONDON or by clicking here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1blVpIVexrXLclAaGhhxcJ?si=f9e90fc8bb094773 If you listen to the full episode you'll find out so many insights and recommendations from this NEW YORK COMEDIAN'S time in London. Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on all the platforms and social media click here: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon ⁠⁠ Please click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE depending on which platform you're listening on. E-mail: ben@lifemac.com Each week I ask a guest 7 questions including what’s your best London venue, event, place to eat, area and London Lifehack. You’ll find out the best things to do and places to go. The Best of London audience is growing exponentially every week and we now have listeners in over 60 countries around the world. If you’re one of the many people who’ve been sharing the podcast on social media or WhatsApping links to friends and family then thank you, you make a real diference you have a radiant personality and wonderful taste! IN THE FULL EPISODE NEW YORK’s HOTTEST COMEDIAN tells us his BEST places to go and things to do in LONDON. He’s wowed audiences in the USA and across the world. I saw him perform with huge TV personality Harry Hill. He has some amazing choices of venues and restaurants and his favourite place is VERY surprising. He has some great London recommendations and insights and is very funny. He was wearing a jacket that he embroidered with Matisse artworks and I posted a photo to @BESTOLONDON instagram showing that. You can see that and follow us on instagram here: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bestolondon⁠ Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on all the platforms click here: ⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon The show is produced and hosted by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck (with 1 F). FOLLOW this podcast to get the low down on Best of London podcast. You can follow / subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Pocketcasts and everywhere else. Alex's mentions include Tofu Vegan Downton Abbey Teri Hatcher Prime Suspect The Great British Bake Off Arthur's Seat David Lean The Backyard Comedy Club Woolwich Subway McDonald's Wolfie's Dover Street Market Kanye West To find out more about the host, Ben, and this series listen to the intro episode. You can email us on bestoflondonpod@gmail.com Thanks to my friend Ben Webb Taylor for the intro music. Thanks to my friend Joe Holtaway for the outro music from the song 'Lay Down' by Joe Holtaway from the album 'More The Love that's Given' you can find him on streaming platforms and to say hi visit joeholtaway.com. Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on all the platforms and social media, just click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E-mail: ben@lifemac.com Best of London Instagram/x is @bestolondon with NO F Ben's instagram is @benpodz Ben's TikTok is @bentiktoks ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon⁠⁠

Thanks to our guest YOU can choose a FREE book from one of 5 different authors. Our guest is an incredibly intelligent, interesting and insightful individual who’s the owner of Watkins Media and Watkins Books and founded The Mind Sports Olympiad and Mind Body Spirit Magazine. He invented diving chess which involves playing chess at the bottom of a swimming pool and there are annual tournaments with competitors from all over the world. His media company has released many popular, well reviewed, bestselling and award winning books. He has recently launched the Ilfeld Prize and he hosts a podcast which has guests such as the acclaimed film director David Lynch and he’s written his own books and he even recently created The Synchronicity Oracle. This is Best of London according to Etan Ilfeld https://watkinspublishing.com/free-books-for-subscriptions/ https://watkinspublishing.com/ https://mindsportsolympiad.com/  For the film Pentamind click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_84gvzZcXw For the Ilfeld Prize click here: https://www.ilfeldprize.com/ For diving chess click here: https://divingchess.com/ For the Etan Ilfeld Podcast click here: https://open.spotify.com/show/6rB2DmLZ41RQ7e9qzk5H2v Please FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE TO  BEST OF LONDON as we have great shows coming up. For links on all the platforms and social media, just click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon ⁠⁠⁠  Email us: ⁠⁠ben@lifemac.com⁠⁠  Follow us on instagram here: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bestolondon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The show is produced and hosted by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck (with 1 F). You can follow / subscribe to BEST OF LONDON on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Pocketcasts and everywhere else you get podcasts. Thanks to my friend Ben Webb Taylor for the original intro music that we composed for Best of London and thanks to my friend Joe Holtaway for the outro music from his song 'Lay Down' After every 10 guest episodes we do a Q&A episode so please send in questions on any subject. E-mail: ben@lifemac.com Best of London Instagram/x is @bestolondon with NO F and has just joined TikTok at bentiktoks ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

Our guest tells us about the BEST street in LONDON with a VERY unusual name that you've probably not visited with AMAZING places to EAT, DRINK & MORE! As told by award winning film director Mark A C Brown. You can listen to the FULL episode which this HIDDEN GEM is taken from by going to the previous edition of BEST OF LONDON Or by clicking here: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1eTRxtCzZmWkLb5NqrqhU0?si=xuwMVI-wQKK9FaFuIMddjA If you listen to the full episode you'll find out so many insights and recommendations from this film director's 20 years living in London. He has amazing knowledge and he took the time to think about places that would genuinely make our lives better and the amazing bonus is that most of his ideas are either cheap or free and he fits in a LOT of great places and lifehacks. Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on all the platforms and social media click here: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon ⁠⁠ Please click FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE depending on which platform you're listening on. E-mail: ben@lifemac.com Each week I ask a guest 7 questions including what’s your best London venue, event, place to eat, area and London Lifehack. You’ll find out the best things to do and places to go. The Best of London audience is growing exponentially every week and we now have listeners in over 45 countries around the world. If you’re one of the many people who’ve been sharing the podcast on social media or whatsapping links to friends and family then thank you, you make a real diference you have a radiant personality and wonderful taste! We recorded this last Summer and my guest was suffering with hayfever, ever the professional he pressed on and still gave a wonderful interview. I met him at the London Premiere of his film Dead On The Vine which has since won the coveted best film award at multiple film festivals. His previous film Guardians was loved by audiences and critics alike and won a whole host of awards. My guest is also a respected writer and theatre director and his scripts have won awards worldwide. This is best of London according to Mark A C Brown. You can email us ben@lifemac.com I read and reply to all your emails. Original intro music by Ben Webb Taylor Outro music from 'Lay Down' by Joe Holtaway who's on streaming platforms, to say hi visit joeholtaway.com. Follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on ALL the platforms including apple podcasts, amazon music, audible, instagram, twitter/x and facebook, please click here: Produced and Presented by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck Please click on the link below and subscribe/follow the podcast on all platforms including Audible and on our social media: ⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon

My guest's a bestselling author, millions of people watch his videos and he’s one of London’s finest guides he was recommended by our former guest the academic and historian Elizabeth Ingleson when she was on Best of London and his tours are known for being informative, funny and engaging. In 2020 he launched Living London History with a website and social media and wrote a weekly post about historical London. He built up a following and in 2021 he started leading walking tours of London's hidden history which have become so popular that you have to book early or they’ll be sold out. He has over 870 5 star TripAdvisor reviews and in 2023 he published his first book called London: A Guide for Curious Wanderers, which was a Sunday Times Bestseller. This is BEST OF LONDON according to JACK CHESHER You can find all of Jack's links here including a link to buy his wonderful book which is perfect for you or as a gift and is available as a hard copy or in Kindle format: https://linktr.ee/livinglondonhistory Please FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE TO  BEST OF LONDON as we have great shows coming up. For links on all the platforms and social media, just click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon ⁠⁠  Email us: ⁠ben@lifemac.com⁠  Follow us on instagram here: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bestolondon⁠⁠⁠⁠ The show is produced and hosted by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck (with 1 F). You can follow / subscribe to BEST OF LONDON on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Pocketcasts and everywhere else you get podcasts. Thanks to my friend Ben Webb Taylor for the original intro music that we composed for Best of London and thanks to my friend Joe Holtaway for the outro music from his song 'Lay Down' After every 10 guest episodes we do a Q&A episode so please send in questions on any subject. E-mail: ben@lifemac.com Best of London Instagram/x is @bestolondon with NO F and has just joined TikTok at bentiktoks ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon⁠⁠ ⁠⁠

Our guest tells us about 3 AMAZING events that YOU can book on, including one at a historical venue which makes her laugh, cry and love life. She also mentions a person who does her FAVOURITE tours which are SO good that she's been to ALL of them. He's going to be a guest on a future episode of BEST of LONDON so be sure to click FOLLOW on this podcast if you listen on Spotify or SUBSCRIBE on other platforms. If you listen to the full episode you'll also find out about a place that does the best pies in London and getting special treatment on a night with the talented actor and hot priest from fleabag Andrew Scott. Our guest is an author, academic and historian who despite only being in her 30s is one of the most respected people in her field in the world. She’s such an expert that she’s an assistant professor at LSE where alumni include Mick Jagger, David Attenborough and one of the world’s richest people, George Soros, as well as global prime ministers and royalty. She’s held fellowships at prestigious universities including Yale, she serves on the board of journals, helps organise seminars and has a book, Made in China, out now. To buy your copy you can click this link: https://amzn.eu/d/hnFQfyH This is Best of London according to Dr Elizabeth Lizzie Ingleson. Welcome to Best of London. Each week we ask a guest 7 questions including what’s your best London venue, event, place to eat, area and London Lifehack. You’ll find out the best things to do and places to go in London. You can follow us on instagram here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bestolondon⁠⁠⁠ Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on all the platforms click here: ⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon ⁠⁠ Thanks to you we got to number 19 in the podcast charts out of over 200,000 arts podcasts and Spotify sent me anotehr electronic award badge. FOLLOW this podcast to get the low down on Best of London podcast. You can follow / subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Audible, Google Podcasts, Pocketcasts and everywhere else. You can find Dr Elizabeth O’Brien Ingleson on Twitter/X @lizingleson You can email us on ben@lifemac.com I read and reply to all of your emails. Thanks to my friend Ben Webb Taylor aka DJ WebTay for the intro music. Thanks to Joe Holtaway for the outro music from the song 'Lay Down' by Joe Holtaway from the album 'More The Love that's Given' you can find him on streaming platforms and to say hi visit joeholtaway.com. Produced and Presented by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck Please click on the link below and subscribe/follow the podcast on all platforms including Audible and on our social media: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon⁠ Thanks for reading to the end, I love you for that.

We feature a sneak preview of the amazing new Punchdrunk Immersive play Viola’s Room and our guest is one of the world's funniest comedians, he's a Chinese-American standup and a star of stage and screen. He's played comedy clubs all over the world, including New York, Edinburgh and London. He had a recurring role in a Stephen Colbert show who's one of the huge US late night talk TV presenters and presents The Late Show which has remained the highest-rated US talk show for seven consecutive seasons  and won 9 Emmy Awards. My guest’s been on channels including Comedy Central and is big on social media. He’s got a show coming up at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Stand up is his big love and he thrives in front of a live audience with his hilarious stories, audience interaction and powerful songs. This is best in London, according to   Otter Lee Please FOLLOW and SUBSCRIBE TO  BEST OF LONDON as we have great shows coming up. For links on all the platforms and social media, just click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon ⁠  Email us on ben@lifemac.com  Please follow us on instagram here: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/bestolondon⁠⁠⁠ The show is produced and hosted by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck (with 1 F). You can follow Otter Lee on Instagram @otterleemoy and book tickets to Otter Lee’s Edinburgh show here: https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/otter-lee-princess-syndrome  You can book tickets to the Punchdrunk immersive production of Viola’s Room here: https://www.punchdrunk.com/work/violas-room/  You can follow / subscribe to BEST OF LONDON on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Pocketcasts and everywhere else you get podcasts. Thanks to my friend Ben Webb Taylor for the original intro music that we composed for Best of London and thanks to my friend Joe Holtaway for the outro music from his song 'Lay Down' Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on all the platforms and social media, just click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ After every 10 guest episodes we do a Q&A episode so please send in questions on any subject. E-mail: ben@lifemac.com Best of London Instagram/x is @bestolondon with NO F Ben's instagram is @benpodz (with a z) and has just joined TikTok at bentiktoks ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon⁠⁠ ⁠

HIDDEN GEM our guest started as an obese call center worker in Derby and became a FIT & TONED HOLLYWOOD SCREENWRITER & PRODUCER He tells us how to find YOUR AREA and YOUR PEOPLE in London & A GREAT CHEAP EATS PLACE with AMAZING Irish food and BIG portions. BEST OF LONDON with HOLLYWOOD SCREENWRITER and PRODUCER CHRIS ANASTASI NEXT WEEK WILL BE A NEW GUEST EPISODE You can follow / subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Pocketcasts and everywhere else. The show is produced and presented by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck. Please FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE we've got some great episodes coming up. You can also follow us on instagram here: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bestolondon⁠⁠ His mentions include Stan Lee, Terri Hatcher, Jay and Silent Bob, Jason Mewes, Kevin Smith, Comicon, Flat Iron and more. Thanks to my friend Ben Webb Taylor aka DJ WebTay for the intro music. Thanks to my friend Joe Holtaway for the outro music from the song 'Lay Down' by Joe Holtaway from the album 'More The Love that's Given' you can find him on streaming platforms and to say hi visit joeholtaway.com. Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on all the platforms and social media, just click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E-mail: ben@lifemac.com Best of London Instagram/x/tikitok is is @bestolondon with NO F Ben's instagram is @benpodz Produced and Presented by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck Please click on the link below and subscribe/follow the podcast on all platforms including Audible and on our social media: ⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestoflondon⁠ Thanks for reading to the end, I love you for that.

My guest has acted in stage plays, musicals and feature films. She wrote and released an album which is beautifully sung and has raw, honest, dark and funny lyrics. She has a podcast about her life. She’s an IT guru, a trained lifeguard, and she wrote and performed a chapter in world famous comedian Katherine Ryan’s bestselling audiobook, The Audacity, and she’s voiced a number of other audiobooks. She features in the excellent recently released UK TV series Katherine Ryan Parental Guidance. This... is Best of London… According To… Julie McCarthy You can follow her on instagram @jewelssays Her podcast is also called Jewels Says She has a darkly comic album available on Spotify called I'll Be Drunk For Christmas by Jewels Sings Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on all the platforms and social media, just click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon You can follow / subscribe to BEST OF LONDON on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Pocketcasts and everywhere else you get podcasts. The show is produced and hosted by Ben Holland and Ben Afleck (with 1 F). Please FOLLOW or SUBSCRIBE we've got some great episodes coming up. Please follow us on instagram here: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/bestolondon⁠⁠ Thanks to my friend Ben Webb Taylor Thanks to my friend Joe Holtaway for the outro music from the song 'Lay Down' Please follow and subscribe to BEST OF LONDON for links on all the platforms and social media, just click here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ E-mail: ben@lifemac.com After every 10 guest episodes we do a Q&A episode so please send in questions on any subject. Best of London Instagram/x is @bestolondon with NO F Ben's instagram is @benpodz and has just joined TikTok at bentiktoks ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://linktr.ee/bestolondon⁠⁠ ⁠