Épisodes

  • Silver Hallmarks: A journey into the brilliantly cryptic British world of precious metals, their marks, assays, and guilds

    Silver Hallmarks: A journey into the brilliantly cryptic British world of precious metals, their marks, assays, and guilds
    Jan 9 2026
    Suzanne illuminates the origins and meaning of hallmarking, which began in the 13th century under Edward I – aka Edward Longshanks – as part of his wider effort to stabilise the kingdom by means of statutes. Though the French king Louis IX appears as a guest star, this is a case of Britain being far more systematic and precise than France while, in typical British fashion, devising a resilient system capable of evolving through the centuries. Where were the native silver and gold mines of Britain? And did you know that you could have your own hallmark made?

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    47 min
  • La dictée: How did a school spelling test become a French obsession and symbol of Frenchness?

    La dictée: How did a school spelling test become a French obsession and symbol of Frenchness?
    Jan 2 2026
    Muriel goes back to school to explore how in France the spelling test called la dictée became the backbone of French education. Who introduced it and why? Is it fascistic or democratic? And how did a school exercise become a beloved popular cultural event shared by the nation? It's a very Gallic tale of Republican alphabetisation, unification and nation-building, and Muriel joins in by pitting herself against Emperor Napoleon III in taking on a famously exacting dictée!

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    57 min
  • The Christmas Tale Face-Off: A Christmas Carol or Les Misérables?

    The Christmas Tale Face-Off: A Christmas Carol or Les Misérables?
    Dec 25 2025
    In our last episode of 2025, Suzanne and Muriel consider soberly which is more atmospheric and replete with the spirit of Christmas - is it Dickens with Michael Caine and a cast of Muppets, or is it a pivotal bit of melodrama in Victor Hugo's social saga?

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    36 min
  • The Christmas Drink Face-Off: Indulgent Irish Cream or astringent coupe de champagne?

    The Christmas Drink Face-Off: Indulgent Irish Cream or astringent coupe de champagne?
    Dec 24 2025

    Cheers! Santé! Suzanne retraces the history of a 1970s Soho brainwave of deliciousness and Muriel obeys the traditional Pavlovian call of Champenois fizz


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    42 min
  • The Christmas Telly Face-Off: Reithian British Monument or Gallic social satire?

    The Christmas Telly Face-Off: Reithian British Monument or Gallic social satire?
    Dec 23 2025

    Suzanne brings a whole lotta Christmas to the table and parses the delights of the double issue of the Radio Times; Muriel unpacks a cult French sitcom about two contrasting lifestyles of the bourgeoisie


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    51 min
  • The Christmas Carol Face-Off: Pre-Raphaelite Poetry or Socialist Manifesto?

    The Christmas Carol Face-Off: Pre-Raphaelite Poetry or Socialist Manifesto?
    Dec 19 2025

    Suzanne makes a compelling case for the evocative beauty of In the Bleak Midwinter and its landscape imagery infused with spirituality; Muriel wonders how Minuit, Chrétiens, a rousing carol authored by a Socialist firebrand and a stage composer, made it into the French Catholic choral canon.


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    28 min
  • The Christmas Treat Face-Off: Quality Street or marrons glacés?

    The Christmas Treat Face-Off: Quality Street or marrons glacés?
    Dec 17 2025

    Muriel and Suzanne are swapping seasonal treats: masses of cheerful multicoloured candy vs a handful of meticulously crafted products of the terroir. Both delicious, but what do they say about the British and the French at Christmas?


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    43 min
  • The Christmas Chart-Topper Face-Off: Beguiling Pop or Kitsch Cosiness?

    The Christmas Chart-Topper Face-Off: Beguiling Pop or Kitsch Cosiness?
    Dec 12 2025
    Suzanne takes a punt at the 2025 Christmas No1 and crowns 1984 as the very best vintage of British Christmas charts; Muriel explains how and why the French Christmas No1, a 'secular carol' by venerated crooner Tino Rossi, remains unchanged since 1946.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
    Afficher plus Afficher moins
    41 min