It was a surreal experience to be sat in the former John Lewis building’s beauty department on a Saturday morning watching a live podcast recording, but how exciting it was to finally see the Cole Brothers building back in use.
This morning saw Greg James take to the stage for a live recording of his Radio 4 podcast,Rewinder. In this podcast, he takes a trip down memory lane, delving into the BBC Archives and pulling out a variety of hidden gems.
For this special recording, James reunited with Michael Palin after their Friday night show. The show-come-live podcast recording very much focused in on Palin’s early career, sharing some hidden gems from his many BBC appearances, includingMonty Python,Around the World in 80 Days and his various interviews. The show also featured archive footage related to Sheffield. The show was a fascinating look at Palin’s early beginnings and a thoroughly entertaining 45 minutes reflecting on the past. It was beautifully complimentary to the previous evening’sNobody expects The Michael Palin Podcast.
Greg James shines as a host and presenter. He is funny and likeable, whilst never being overly dominant on stage. His adoration for Michael Palin is truly heartwarming to watch. Palin is still as funny as he ever was, and it was a great privilege to see him speak in such an intimate venue.
Rewinderwas a lovely way to start a Saturday morning – hopefully we’ll see it return for Crossed Wires 2026!