Letters to my Dead Dad

Normal service is resumed, as Olly reads a letter he wrote on 25 April 1984 thanking Eddy for his birthday present – a book of limerick by Spike Milligan. Looking back through the book today, Olly finds some of the limericks amusing, others depressingly racist. Sticking with the theme of humour from days gone by, this episode’s dip into the Family History Box reveals a copy of Punch magazine from July 1969. Olly wonders what made Eddy keep his copy of this particular issue, and finds a number of the articles and features that are surprisingly relevant to his current life. We also introduce a new regular feature – Harold’s Life – about Olly’s Grandad, Harold Double. Olly and his sister Alison shares memories of Harold sparked off by two photos of him from the 1960s, when they were both tiny children.You’ll find all the historic items discussed in this episode on our Instagram account @letterstomydeaddadpod and our Letters to my Dead Dad Facebook group. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We return to Olly and his siblings out on Blakeney marshes in Norfolk to scatter the ashes of their Dad, Eddy. Once that’s done, they repair to the Blakeney Hotel, where Eddy stayed many times, and have an unnecessarily large lunch. The episode ends with Olly and his wife Jacqui reminiscing about taking Eddy on holiday with them to Suffolk in 2013, where his habit of taking the longest possible time to get ready has become the stuff of family legend.You’ll find photos of the events discussed in this episode – including a shot of the dessert Olly ate at the Blakeney Hotel – on our Instagram account @letterstomydeaddadpod and our Letters to my Dead Dad Facebook group. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We celebrate the start of Series 2 by taking you on location to Norfolk. Back in July 2025, Olly and his siblings venture out to Blakeney to scatter Eddy’s ashes. The sun is shining and the wind’s a-blowing, so prepare for lots of atmos – not to mention to occasional bit of dodgy audio as the mike picks up the odd gust. It’s an episode filled with memories of a late dearly departed father, but don’t worry. The warmth and affection doesn’t stop them roundly taking the p*ss out of him.You’ll find photos of the events of this episode on our Instagram account @letterstomydeaddadpod and our Letters to my Dead Dad Facebook group. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The bumper final episode of Series One starts with a clip of Olly giving Eddy’s eulogy at St Denys’s Church, Sleaford. Olly’s talking about why Eddy became so obsessed with his memories of doing National Service. After a clip of Eddy talking about National Service, we move to the letter Olly wrote to Eddy on 17 February 1984. Olly bangs on about students bands, student radio, an upcoming performance project, an imaginary art movement and all sorts of whimsical nonsense. Reading back over all this, Olly is inspired to dig out some audio that he recorded for a student radio station a few years later. Then it’s time to pull out a ton of stuff from the Family History Box, including the hat and belt Eddy wore, and some photos of him performing comedy sketches in the barracks. The series ends in style, with more audio from Olly’s student radio show. It’s a sketch called “Celebrity Execution”, in which classic children’s television character Captain Pugwash chooses to meet his maker in a truly bloodthirsty style.  You’ll find all the historic items discussed in this episode on our Instagram account: @letterstomydeaddadpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A letter Olly wrote to Eddy on 17 January 1984 leads him to ponder his long experience of seeing his own words in print, as the author of books and articles about stand-up comedy and similar subjects. This is sparked by having had a comic strip published in a student magazine called Rant. As luck would have it, Olly’s found the copy of Rant that he gave to Eddy in among the things he rescued from Eddy’s house after he’s died. So he’s able to record an audio adaptation of that cartoon, featuring dialogue between two pretentious students interrupted by a sweary punk. Something else he’s found in Eddy’s house is a Daily Mirror article from the 1950s, in which Eddy is quoted commenting on the propensity of the dogs of Rutland to damage school library books. You’ll find all the historic items discussed in this episode on our Instagram account: @letterstomydeaddadpod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.