Comfort Blanket

Cheese & Pickle

Talking about the films, TV shows, books or music which people go to again and again to feel safe, happy and welcome.

To join our Patreon, with access to exclusive companion podcast 'Home Comforts' visit www.patreon.com/comfortblanketpod

"Brilliant... A lovely listen" - Sunday Times

"Highly recommended" - The Week

Selected as one of the Sunday Times' TOP 25 PODCASTS TO MAKE YOU HAPPY

Presented and produced by Joel Morris.

Part of the Cheese And Pickle family of podcasts.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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72 episodes
Updated July 29
Explicit

Episodes72

Newest first

Dec 29, 2022 · 1 hr 13 min
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - with Ben Willbond
Actor and writer Ben Willbond (Ghosts, Horrible Histories) chooses John Le Carre's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (in all its forms) and discusses how it comforts him by being a masterful attack on a very particular British form of cruelty and certainty. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 22, 2022 · 1 hr 9 min
Madness' pop videos - with Paul Putner
Comedian and actor Paul Putner (Lee & Herring, Little Britain) talks about his lifelong love for one of Britain's best-loved pop bands Madness, and their unbeatably witty, inventive and, well, nutty promo videos. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 15, 2022 · 1 hr 11 min
The Goon Show - with Mike Wozniak
Comedian and writer Mike Wozniak (Man Down, Taskmaster, Three Bean Salad) talks about the influence and warmth of Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers and Harry Secombe's anything-goes 1950s radio programme The Goon Show, and the comforts of its self-contained, lunatic world. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 8, 2022 · 1 hr 3 min
Beautiful Thing - with Jonathan Dryden Taylor
Actor and writer Jonathan Dryden Taylor (Mitchell & Webb, National Theatre) talks about the 1996 film 'Beautiful Thing', and the comforting message it offered: maybe there is another sort of rom-com that isn't just boy-meets-girl, and that maybe it's all going to be all right. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 2, 2022 · 49 min
Ripping Yarns (PART TWO) - with Professor Sophie Scott CBE
In the second part of this two part episode, neuroscientist Professor Sophie Scott talks about Michael Palin & Terry Jones' set of self-contained stirring Edwardian boys' story spoofs, and discusses the importance of shared laughter for humans. PART TWO of a two-part episode. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 1, 2022 · 50 min
Ripping Yarns (PART ONE) - with Professor Sophie Scott CBE
Professor Sophie Scott (director of UCL's Dept of Cognitive Neuroscience) talks about the comforts of Ripping Yarns, Michael Palin & Terry Jones' hilarious and lavish post-Python anthology series of Edwardian adventure story spoofs, and how comedy always needs to be taken extremely seriously... PART ONE of a two-part episode. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 24, 2022 · 1 hr 6 min
The Goonies - with Ingrid Oliver
Actor and comedian Ingrid Oliver (Doctor Who, Watson & Oliver) talks about the comforts of the ultimate 80s kids' adventure movie The Goonies, with its magic combination of Richard Donner, Chris Columbus and Steven Spielberg, plus the infectious can-do confidence of America's finest unstoppable junior adventurers. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 31, 2022 · 59 min
Ghost Stories For Christmas (pt 2) - with Will Maclean (HALLOWEEN SPECIAL)
In part two of our deep dive into the repeat-watch comforts of Lawrence Gordon Clark's 1970s Ghost Stories For Christmas, writer Will Maclean talks about how these sort of tales weave their uneasy magic spell. (And this time we don't skip any of them for being too scary.) This is the second of two parts, in which we discuss The Treasure of Abbot Thomas, The Ash Tree, The Signalman and Stigma. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 27, 2022 · 56 min
Ghost Stories For Christmas (pt 1) - with Will Maclean (HALLOWEEN SPECIAL)
Writer and ghost story enthusiast Will Maclean (The Apparition Phase) talks about the close-the-curtains-and-shiver comforts of Lawrence Gordon Clark's astonishing run of 1970s BBC Ghost Stories For Christmas. This is part one of a two part Halloween Special, covering The Stalls Of Barchester, A Warning To The Curious, and Lost Hearts. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 25, 2022 · 1 hr 7 min
Dead of Night - with Julia Raeside (HALLOWEEN SPECIAL)
HALLOWEEN SPECIAL! Journalist and broadcaster Julia Raeside talks about the comforts of the classic 1945 Ealing film 'Dead of Night', the peculiar comforts of the creepy, and why she loves it even though she hates horror films... [SPOILER NOTICE: Though Dead of Night was released in 1945, and all its plot elements are pretty much in the public domain, if you haven't seen the film, and are super spoiler sensitive, maybe drop out before the last five or ten minutes where we discuss the ending.] Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Sep 20, 2022 · 1 hr 4 min
Grease - with Isy Suttie
Comedian and writer Isy Suttie (Peep Show, Jane Is Trying) talks about the comforts of one of the most successful film musicals of all time, toe-tapping, potty-mouthed high-school nostalgia-bomb 'Grease'. This episode was recorded LIVE at the London Podcast Festival, September 10th, 2022. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 19, 2022 · 34 min
BONUS EPISODE: Better Call Saul Finale - with Will Maclean
BY PUBLIC REQUEST! A bonus episode to act as a companion to the 'Better Call Saul' Comfort Blanket episode. Writer Will Maclean returns to discuss the finale of the critically acclaimed series, now that both of us have seen it, and asks whether it achieves the seemingly impossible task of ending a longform 'box set' series in a way that actually satisfies its fans... WARNING: This episode obviously does contain spoilers for the Better Call Saul season 6 finale. So do not listen if you are following the story and have yet to see the episode. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 11, 2022 · 1 hr 11 min
Better Call Saul - with Will Maclean
In a special bonus episode, recorded one week before the finale of the show, writer Will Maclean (The Apparition Phase) talks about Breaking Bad prequel 'Better Call Saul' and asks what comfort we find in the suspense of a long-form premium drama, and whether we can ever revisit it for the same comfort again. PSA: Obviously this episode is about a six-season storyline and though we’ve edited out as many “spoilers” as possible (and a prequel is technically hard to spoil) there are references to plot. You may prefer not to listen if you’re saving Better Call Saul to watch later. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Aug 3, 2022 · 1 hr 9 min
Muriel's Wedding - with Sarah Kendall
Writer and comedian Sarah Kendall (Frayed, Australian Trilogy, Taskmaster) talks about the comforts of PJ Hogan's smash hit 1994 comedy film Muriel's Wedding and the art of telling authentic, affecting stories using big, stupid jokes. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 27, 2022 · 1 hr 4 min
A Year In Provence - with Marianne Levy
Author and journalist Marianne Levy talks about the warm-stone-and-fine-cheese comforts of Peter Mayle's 1989 travel writing blockbuster A Year In Provence. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 20, 2022 · 1 hr 1 min
Terminator - with Jenny Colgan
Novelist Jenny Colgan talks about the killer-robot comforts of The Terminator, the original and best, and how underneath its kick-ass action movie surface, there are some surprising mechanisms at work. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 13, 2022 · 1 hr 3 min
Frasier - with Zarah Hussain
Artist Zarah Hussain talks about finding comfort for herself (and her kids) in sophisticated 90s sitcom Frasier, and the universal lessons that lurk beneath the surface Seattle snobbery. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jul 6, 2022 · 1 hr 7 min
Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook - with Paul Litchfield
Comedian and writer Paul Litchfield (The Trap, Smershpod) brings in a magical tome filled with comforting charts and tables and goblins: Gary Gygax's Dungeons & Dragons Player's Handbook, the classic gateway drug for tabletop role-playing games. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 29, 2022 · 1 hr 9 min
Pet Shop Boys: 'Behaviour' - with Nadia Shireen
Illustrator and writer Nadia Shireen (Bumblebear, Barbara Throws A Wobbler, Grimwood) grasps the Pet Shop Boys tight, and talks about the comforts of their 1990 album Behaviour, the autumnal record that marked a departure from the synth duo's Imperial Chart Domination Phase. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jun 22, 2022 · 1 hr 9 min
Jurassic Park - with Tom Neenan
Comedy writer and performer Tom Neenan (The Hauntening, The Mash Report) takes off his sunglasses slowly, and stares in awe at the Most Comforting Monster Movie Ever Made... Steven Spielberg's original 1993 blockbuster Jurassic Park. Support us making these podcasts by becoming a paid subscriber at: https://joelmorris.substack.com/ or: https://www.patreon.com/c/comfortblanketpod or donate via ko-fi at: https://ko-fi.com/gralefrit Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.