Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe - S12 EP20: Charlie Baker (The Return)

Episode Date: March 13, 2026

Joining us this episode to discuss the highs and lows of parenting (and life) it's the brilliant comedian, actor, singer and presenter - Charlie Baker. Award-winning radio host, stand-up powerhouse and old school entertainment machine Charlie Baker returns to the stage with his brand-new show: GO GET IT. Tickets & further information on Charlie's tour: charliebakercomedy.com And check out Charlie's sons band 'Cheap Suits' Give them a follow and like / subscribe. Parenting Hell is available to watch on Spotify every Tuesday and Friday. Please subscribe and leave a rating and review you filthy street dogs... xxx If you want to get in touch with the show with any correspondence, kids intro audio clips, small business shout outs, and more.... here's how: EMAIL: [e-mail] Follow us on instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@parentinghell⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sales, advertising, and general enquiries: [e-mail] A 'Keep It Light Media' Production  (Copyright 2026) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This episode is presented by Adobe Acrobat Studio. Josh, as a new parent, you get loads of information just chuffed at you. Oh, mate, it never ends, does it? And it's so difficult to know what's helpful, what's important, what I should be ignoring, what I should hold dear to my heart. It just goes on and on. Well, imagine that's your job dealing with tons of data and information. No, no, no, no, no, thank you.

I would be appalling of that. Well, luckily, Acrobat Studio exists. With PDF spaces, you can turn your dog. into knowledge. It lets you bring all your project files into an AI-powered workspace to get insights and ideas. So people can cut through the waffle, work smarter and save time, and get on with the stuff they really want to do. But the big question is, will it tell me how to get my children to eat vegetables?

Do that with Acrobat. Learn more and try it out on adobe.com. Hello, you're listening to Parent and Hell with... Rose, can you say Rob Beckett? Onemaker. Can you say Josh Whitakam? That's American King Good effort

Good effort American Newcastle but originally North Ireland That's a real mix of It's my daughter Rose Two years nine months Having a stab at your names

She's a middle child It's a total maniac But also quite cute From Catherine Charlie Baker today Yes love Charlie We've had him on the show before It was quite an emotional one before

Because he talked a lot about A miscarriage Yes he did Yes Because I remember him being on before but this one was a totally different style mainly talking about his son and driving lessons. Driving lessons and having a son who's trying to make it in a band.

Yes, he's having a year out to be in a band. We do get a lot of people saying, do you want older, because obviously a lot of people have got younger kids. This, there's, we focused on his 18 year old. He's 18 year old because we don't get to talk about that kind of stuff much generally. No, it was so funny. So apologies to Charlie's 10-year-old daughter,

but we were really grilling him about his 18-olds. Well, no, he did say as well, I think he might have said off coming, it came. It was like, oh, yeah, I've been doing loads with him because of his, you know, he's driving lessons, he's turned 18. And my 10-year-old just sort of, just, darling, I'm finding that a little bit of my 10-year-old and 8-year-old, really. They're, like, sort of quite easy now.

Bedtime's always a little bit of a challenge. But, like, ultimately, like, they're not babies or toddlers that are really high-intense stress. Like, they can get up and turn a telly and make their own breakfast, and they're quite independent. They're not running a bath. But they're not old enough. to be like, I want to go out or I want to be on TikTok. It's been lovely doing a pub with you, Rob.

You're getting rid of me. But I know, I think this is the calm before the storm. I don't think I'm in the eye of the storm, which is really quiet. Because the second half is intense when they're teenagers. Exactly. So I'm going to enjoy this moment before they turn. All right. Well, let's enjoy Charlie Baker, shall we?

Oh, he's so funny. I love Charlie. Charlie Baker. Welcome to parenting now. You've been on before you? I've been on before. On Zoom? Was it during that down?

Haven't you? There was a, there was a. Well, do you know, what percentage of, you putting you on your confidence. I was 95% sure, but because now we're doing it in person, my body goes, you've not done this before, because it's just the first time you've seen Charlie in this chair, but obviously we'd have seen you on Zoom during lockdown. And I know your body has a very strong reaction to me, Rob. I am, I'm an energy guy. And I feed off you. You're a radiator. Some people are drainers.

Drainor. Depends how much sleep you've had. I don't think you're, no, I don't think Josh did. No, I'm joking. He's energy. Because he's kind. Yes. Charlie hasn't had much sleep. I've had a snooze. So where did you have snoo? I did a very early show this morning. Talk to me about this.

5 till 6.30. Picked up at 3. Oh, my God. I did 5 till 6.30. On virgin. So you picked up at 3? Picked up at 3. That feels like early.

Feels too early. The car came to. I'm not, look. Do you want a coffee? First of all problems. I'm not going to. You got picked up. I got picked up.

Yeah, exactly. Yeah, yeah. And you live at Oxfordshire way? No, no. I'm staying in London with my friend. What? And you got picked up at three. Don't look.

Is you going to spare room in someone's house? Spare room with someone's house. You can't stay at someone's house and get picked up at three. But also getting to sleep. Do not knock when you're waiting outside. Can you imagine if your driver knocked and woke to the house? Also, they call it Caddy Dreams. I don't know if you know that.

You're getting into golf, Rob. Yeah. Caddy dreams. Caddies never get proper sleep. But when it's a tournament weekend. Why? Why? Because they have to get to the course, set it up for their...

for their guy. Right. So they're just sort of like in and out of... So I'm like, I am going to sleep through this alarm. Yeah. So it's the fear. Yeah, I had it the other night when I did the Dermot O'Leary show. Yeah.

And I had together at seven for eight, which I thought was reasonable. Come on. He's three for five. Anyway, finished by half six. Pretty good. Yeah. Yeah. So I went home.

Went to sleep. Why don't they just get you all at four? Well, why don't say that, Josh? Hello, Virgin Radio. I think he'd be happy to do four. I'm only doing it for a week. It's not my show. I'm sitting in for someone, so.

But I've had a snooze, and I am an excellent snoozer. Yeah. Since being a dad, my napping ability has gone through the roof where I can sleep anywhere at any time. Yeah, I'm good at that. That's because you're content, Rob. Is that what it is? It's because you're content. Is it?

It's the sleeping, the sleep of the just. You work hard. You sleep well on trains, don't you, Josh? And you love a train. Yeah. So the other day, I did the Dermot show. And I got on the train at half. 10 to go back to

and I was on a table. Do I tell you this? Yeah, you told me, yeah. Yeah. So feel free to tell Charlie as well. Put on my puffer jacket did it up, did the hood. So it's nice and snug. Out like an absolute effing line. Do you know what? Spotted. I'd have loved to have had a photo. Oh. He's not even spotted because I'm basically

looking someone in the eye, putting my puffer jacket on. Kenny from South Park. Someone killed Josh. What nap have you had then? You went back to your friends at? It went back to my friend. But what I'm good at is there's a green Well, they were out? Well, they were out? Well, they were out. Yeah, no, I actually got back. Who's your friend, Charlie? Who's my friend? Yeah. How'd you decide? Did you, did you, did you, I'm godfather to their children? Oh, right. So it's tip for tat. I've known them my whole life. Yeah, right. And you've said, look, I'm in town doing this. Can I stay? I'm not great at staying at people's houses. I don't, I don't like. I hate it. I'd rather. I'd rather. Well, do you sure, you're not, you're not sleeping for three hours before you leave. What time you're going to bed?

nine o'clock and then and then I'm lying I'm just lying there for two hours of course pretending of not asleep still not asleep

oh good here come the thoughts I can nap but I can't sleep with the thoughts coming when I sleep but when I nap there's thoughts out there so I've got two techniques have you heard of brown noise

which I know yeah yeah I agree brown noise so that's why you like trains because that's a brown noise But this is the technique I learn, which is the best technique. If you need, this is from doing a matinee in an evening performance and having like an hour between. Do this with your 11 to 8s or whatever. Yeah, I nap between shows.

Have a cup of coffee before you nap. Set the alarm for 45 minutes. Are you mental? No. So is it not kicked in yet? It doesn't kick in. It takes 45 minutes to kick in. No.

No, it does. So you wake up, also, if you're having a snooze, set an alarm, don't just let it drift. Yeah, of course. So 45 minutes max. 45 minutes max. And then... You're in.

Have a cup of coffee and go to bed. And then have your sleep. And it will kick in and, oof, when you wake up. Well, he's off caffeine. Oh, God. Well, isn't he off? Yeah. Exactly.

What do you do? What are you on? Heroin. I'm on. Heroin. I'm on life. Big puffer jacket. That's what he's doing in his buffer jacket.

You're on life. Yeah. You're on life. High on life, Josh. High on life. That's nice. High on Devon. High on Devon. Devon Life. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. My manner.

Your manner, you're one of the few people who I know who grew up in Devon who's in the entertainment industry. It's me, you. Jeffro? Jeffro. Jeff Rose Cornish. Yeah. Dawn French. Dawn French.

Cornish. Oh, no, she's born in Plymouth. Oh, yeah. Ollie Watkins. Ollie Watkins. There's one of, one of S Club 7. Chris Martin. Chris Martin, from Exeter, no?

Yeah. Well, kind of, but not really. Mews. Mews. Mews. Mews, does they call them? Mose? But they're very, I very rarely meet up with Matt Bellamy and talk about Devon, sadly.

When Timothy Pyr was washing away the other week. Timothy is a little seaside town in the south Devon, where Mews are from. And when those storms were around the other day, some of the pier was washed away, and it's like quite a sad thing, you know. All the Facebook groups were, can't Mews, get involved. I've had a song out in 10 years, have they? Someone get Mews on the phone. There is what I ideally said.

Josh Whittaker. Yeah. He's from around here and he's local now. Why don't you pay for the new peer, Josh? Because I've got a mortgage. Yeah, exactly. Exactly. You're in Exeter, which is nice.

I'm in Exeter. So would you ever move your family back? You've asked me this. But now we're like. Well, your kids, you've got a 10-year-old and a 17-year-old. Well, it's difficult, isn't it? Because I would, but I've got to work. Oh, so you would go back there?

I would, yeah. My parents are still there. My family is still there. Well, your wife would go there? My wife's sister's there and now her husband. Okay. Everyone's there. He seems very disgusting.

Because obviously, where you live down is great for work because you're having to stay at your mate yourself. He seemed incredibly excited to be near his wife's sister. Yeah, that was probably, I'll tell you that was the headline out of the lot. Yeah, my wife's sister's there. So, what are you going, Matt? Well, she listens to this podcast, actually. Oh, that's what it was then.

So, you know, I was shouting her out there. Oh, yeah. And she's a good sister-in-law? Very nice sister-in-law, yeah. Very good, please. Very nice. She is. Very nice.

Very nice. So you've got, so, kids, let's remind if on your kids. You've got a boy who's 17? 18. 18. 18, and your daughter's 10. My daughter's 10, yeah, yeah. I don't know how old they were in the last podcast.

That's interesting, isn't it? Anyway, 18. Probably five years ago. So 18. Big of you. Is he, presumably still lives with you? He still,

he will do as long as he wants. As long as he wants to live with us, he can live with us. Well, this is the thing. It's a very different world to the one we lived in, isn't it? In that children just

can't financially afford to leave. No. But I don't expect, I mean, I left at 18 to move to London and probably shouldn't have looking back at it.

So what did you study? I went to drama school, yeah. God. First night I got to London. I had my bike, which I had since I was 14. First night, Nicked.

Oh, Charlie. And you'd cycleed to London, aren't you? I know, all that way. And I rang my dad and my dad and me bike's being Nick. Well, that's a lesson learned. Hard knocks, you know. Lesson learned. You've got straw in your ears, isn't you?

That's what it was. It's a way they would say. So where did you left your bike? Oh, I lived in... Just on the side in Trafalgar Square. Just outside Buckingham Palace. Only nut on the lion fountain. I'll off to Madam Two Sores, I'll pick it up in a few hours.

In London, houses of Parliament. So would you not have locked your bike up then? I think I did, but those wise guys, Rob. This will blow your mind, Rob. Those London wise guys. When I was growing up, we didn't have, and this, so you know how isolated right there was. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. We didn't have a key to our house.

I think you see you just walk in an hour. Yeah. So how does he know how I was like at your houses? Well, he knows where I'm from. I know where he's from. What's it like where he's from? And just a lot more rural than I go out. Are they simple folk?

No. No, no, no. He's clever. He can tell he's clever. But he got out. I know, well, that's the, but this, now, now, so this is the thing. This is the thing I'll discuss with you actually, Josh, about moving back. Here's a reason that part of me is fighting moving back.

Yeah. I feel like a massive failure. Well, I think. You feel like a failure? No, I don't, I think you feel like that everywhere, Charlie. But I think I spent my whole childhood going, I'm going to get out of here. Right, and going back, you failed. I'm getting out of here.

Yeah, I did that. I am leaving this. Yeah, exactly. These knuckle dragon farming twat. I didn't say that. Sorry, not that. Not that, sorry. Bear in mind your last tour you had a pasty on the mic stand, Charles.

You haven't renounced it for a life of, you know, metropolitan elite. But that's what it is. is the thing of returning. And then you just walk in that local pub and they go, here he is. Yeah, but also, I had some... Wow, wow, wow. The great actors return. Not doing the acting no morning.

How'd you get on up London? 40 years later, 30 years later. 30 years later. I thought you'd moved up London. Up London is such an out-of-town thing to say. See, I'd get... Because I'm from London. Yeah.

But it's such, you know, if you leave your hometown, to go somewhere to do something. You can't go back unless you feel like... No, I don't know. I think... How do you feel? It's a... Well, he's suddenly over a clinched fist.

I haven't failed. I've won awards! I think it's a sign of mellowing. It's a sign of going, what am I trying to prove? But that worries me as well, right? Because I'm about to turn 50. No.

And like... You look great for it. And it's like... The hair. Well, I look like up into Turkey. And I haven't... It's great. The hair lines outrageous.

50. So your worry is going back? Well yeah and it's that thing of I think also your kids are in an age. If I'm mellowing, I tell you what it is. It feels like am I giving up? Yes. If you're tired of London, you're tired of life. Well, I don't even live in London.

Okay, you're tired of a beautiful Oxfordshire village. You're tired of If you're tired of that, what do you want? Is it in Boris Johnson in your village? He's in the village next door. Do you see him? I never see him. My wife sees him. Oh yeah. No wonder you're moving on to the sister.

Apparently, when he, apparently, I'm not, apparently, apparently. A horrible runner for Charlie. She listens to this. A little bit of fun for us who's going to haunt him for next six years. The rest of my life. Brother in-law, give me a cup of tea, looking me in the eye. He lives in the village next. to us, yeah. And where I live now is very

so I'm not escaping anything because I'm not escaping to the country. Yeah. So I don't want to tell all the lads sat in the pub in Devon, mate. Well, actually, you still live in a village. Actually, I lived in a village as well, so I'm not leaving London. I don't know what attractor is. I know it all works, mate. So they're the feelings inside me.

Yeah. I think, to be honest, a flat child cruelty taken to Devon at that age. They're up for it. Not to Devon. I just remember. Well, sorry, yeah, me neither. Yeah, it's great down there. they're up for it. They're up for it. I'm sort of more... They want to go Devon?

It's probably part of a sort of mild midlife crisis. I'm like, let's move to Covent Garden. Is that what you want to? I'm like, let's move to Soho. The Strand. They're hearing people. I met someone who lived in Soho. There's a primary school in Soh.

I know. I met someone who lived in Soho and I was like, this is fucking wild. Can you imagine popping out for some milk and bread in Soho. Just the sound. But if you were born in and that was your life, it must be so. I'm just going to pop to the shop.

It was 11 o'clock on the Saturday. Did you see what? Do you see, might, just some jizz on the floor. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've got two grams of Coke. And there's a bottle of Cravendale. It must be. But I think Londoners carry themselves differently.

Josh, do you? I didn't want my children to, in the end, I was like, I don't, didn't. You know, each to their own, etc. I wanted my children to grow up outside of London. And your children are growing up outside of London. Like, I'm not like...

Technically still London. You left. Bromley. Don't, don't. Let's not get into this. London Borough Bromley. Mate, I'd have to vote for the fucking mayor. Oh, God, don't.

For the mayor? You can be the mayor. Well, wait. I'll be the mayor. That's a great TV show for you, Rob. I think the only way I become the mayor is if I'll go to the bad side. Oh, is it? Okay.

I don't think I can be... One there, blue eyes? they love you, mate. They'll be all over me. Of course, they've already got your fucking double gang around out. They've got the T-Moo version. Tom Skinner.

Oh, of course, yeah. Tom Skinner collared me. I was going up to talk... This is wild. I was going, you know, the Talk Sport Building at the Shard, right? I was going in there for an interview. Yeah, yeah, you know, well... You live there?

Imagine you went nowhere? Where I live? And I was going on the escalator. I was on the phone, then Tom Skinner grabbed me, put his arm around me, had a selfie together, looking like we were long lost brothers. And then I'm like, God's like, and he posts it, and he's like, oh, me and my mate out and about, and then an hour later posts up, I've just joined Reform.

Lovely. Picture of him and Farage. They both fit with the same person anyway. Stars in their eyes. He went on stars in their eyes. Could he go on stars in their eyes as you? Yeah, that'd be quite a good one. That'd be good.

The life of the Apollo, but it's people doing tribute acts of comics. That'd be good. And Tom Skinner goes on and does all your stuff. Yeah. I have to go out and do Ramesh. Yeah. I don't know if that works. I'll skip hair and makeup.

Charlie, so tell me about having an 18 year old. Yeah, it's interesting, isn't it? I had a slight sort of week of... What's he up to first? He's a drummer in a band. I love it. And we always thought we were creative... My wife's an actor as he still goalkeeping.

He was a good goalkeeper, wasn't he? No, he doesn't goalkeeper anymore. I think that was probably me. What did you mean? Making him to carry on. to do. You did talk to me a lot about his goalkeeping. Yeah, I used to like him goalkeeping and it

turns out he didn't particularly love goalkeeping. How did he tell you? I think he probably was telling me from the age of nine. Holding the drumsticks in the goal. So that's, you know, probably some bad parenting there. You want him to be outside, right,

and with their mates. And I will maintain. Was you a goalkeeper? I can play. I'm five for eight. I'm not very short arms and small hands. Yeah. But not a very good. Did you play...

So you're a frustrated goalkeeper. Exactly, yeah. And is he tall? He's tall. He's tall. He's six foot two, yeah. Oh, and he doesn't want to play in goal. Oh, that's got hurt. You might come to it eventually.

But when he was 10, you're going to go, oh, look, he's going to be taller of me. Well, do you know how it works. If I had his height, how could I have been me? Who told me this? Who told me this? The boy is always taller than the mum. Yeah, I think I told you that.

That's one of the facts that I do go on about. So, when the NBA a scouting boys, like, say it differently. When the NBA is scouting teenage players, yeah. They will, the first thing we want to do is meet the mum.

Is it? Is it? Because then they're like, how big's the mum? How big's your mum? Great new game show. How big's your mum? This is a good,

no, it's a good phone in. How big's your mom and how big are you? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I don't want details like, I'm 1089.

I'm Gariff. I'm from Swansea. Yeah. I'm 32 and I'm 6 foot four. My mom is, Hey, don't say it. This will be on tomorrow. Rob.

Send us your voice notes. We just find your voice notes. How big are you and I'll big's your mum. I'll bigger you. How big are you? How big is your mum. And just sons of moms. So he's six foot two. He plays the drums.

He doesn't want to play drums. He's in the end. And the thing about parenting that is, you know, everyone's a hippie parent until it comes to the fact that he wants to not go to university and be a drummer. And it gets the crunch point of right, okay, we're going to back you doing this. So have you, so what's he up to then? He's in a band.

Yeah. They're called cheap suits. Yeah. Luckily, they're good. They're good. Oh, pretty. Because imagine if they weren't. Yeah.

Imagine the people who have to go and watch their deluded children in their terrible terrible bands. Oh, yeah. So what was the first time you heard them and how nervous were you? Well, the thing is, I know he's a good drummer. Yeah. Well, as well as comedy in the radio, you're an incredible singer and tap dance. Do you drum?

You can do everything? I can't. drum properly no I always I can mess about on drums but I can't drum properly but from the age of eight when he started lessons he could always really play and he always had something it's actually the only thing he'd sit down and and do sort of by himself and on his own and I'd hear him playing and we bought him electric drums really early and because that's the other thing now you can get electric drums so you're not sticking him in the shed or the name he could just have headphones labours complaining and all that so you can do that now as of 1980 yeah no no I mean they're good now

They didn't use to be any good How much is that electric drum kit kind of thing? 300 quid 300 quid, right And it's a lot better than a big thing You tune it, yeah You know, and tough to manage the sound of all that But he's always been good

So I've always been like, all right, this is a path for him Yeah, and he loves it He loves it And then he did really, his music GCSE He got the highest mark in the school For his practical and all that sort of stuff Always been really good So when he went, oh, there's some lads in the village

Who were playing guitar we're going to start a band and I was like and say be careful if the local bridge crumbles in about 15, 20 years the cheapsuits will be paying. It's like Muses. Exactly that muse is going to turn up. I can't cheapsuits pay for this.

The brooks flooded. The pubs burned down. Where's the cheap suits? Get cheapsuits. But that's a worry, isn't it? There's some lads in the village play. Yeah. Oh no, you're going to be like really good.

surrounded by, hello, no, not very good. But they're all like amazing. Oh, brilliant. They're all like really, really good. So the band is actually, they're actually really good. They've got stuff on Spotify. Are they doing covers of their own stuff? No, they write all their own stuff.

Amazing. They do like an indie set as well to, you know, to pay the bills. Chelsea Dagger and, yeah. You know, Kaiser Chiefs and things. But they've write their own stuff and they've really work hard. They've done some big gigs.

They've been up London. They've been up London. They've played up London. Bice. And so how do you, as someone who's in showbiz, yeah? Like, are you hands off with this, or you a minute away from becoming Beyonce's dad?

It's, uh, I can see how you become Beyonce's dad. I can see you of a flat cap. I can see a promote around the neck. I can really see how you could really be Michael Jackson's dad or Brian Wilson from the Beach, uh, Beach Boys dad. Michael Jackson was a bit bleaker. So what is it? There's the history of the history of dad.

It's always a dad, didn't it? Yeah, and in tennis as well. Well, it's Richard Williams or Andre Agassiz's dad or whatever. Exactly. Or Andy Murray's dad. Sorry, dad, mom, whoever it is. So it's like, oh, I know how to, so you have to, but they don't want it. They don't want, they don't want the help.

So I've done little bits and pieces of introducing them to the right person, but they've done it all. Yeah. So where are they at the moment? Like, how, and how do they, is their whole life this band? they've all taken the year out to focus on the band Stanley keeps calling it a year out I don't know what his year out of is

because I know what he's going to do next I think he's ever a year out of nothing I think he wants to he's actually running a pub more or less on his own as well so he's good but they're really good and I'm like go for just just just do it now because isn't anything worse than like being my age or your age and saying oh could have been in

of burn. Like those bloke who could have had who could have had trials, you know. Or I'd be a pro if I hadn't done me knee, you know, or if you've never gone for it. All I've tried to teach as a parent is, you've got you've got to go and have a

go of it. Yeah, totally. And don't be worried if it fails or just whatever, just go for it and then learn for it. That's what my parents put into me is. That's why I went to London when I was 18. Out of this podcast, yeah. They're suddenly going to get a load of listeners on Spotify and

he's going to go, we're doing really well with the kind of sad, tired mums. Do you know what? They aren't good for the mums because they're all good looking boys. They're super clever. Yeah. You know, and their music's good. And so are they like chugging around the country in a van?

Not yet. Does that happen these days or is it so online now? It's so odd because the TikTok and reels and everything is so visual. But you can record, it's easier to record your own stuff. Yeah. It's a lot more accessible. How's you do it? How's you do any...

How's you doing a hook, isn't it? How, it's not like... Well, it makes... Comedy, when we started, right? As a path, yeah? There was a really clear path. It made sense you got... You basically, what happened was

you booked yourself onto an open mic gig or a few. Or just turned up randomly and asked to go on. Yeah, and then you met people and they'd say, you do this gig. Don't do this gig. I remember Andy Oshow gave me a spreadsheet. which she'd got, which was just a load of gigs.

Do you know what I mean? And then you'd get in, you just email out and you slowly build it. And if you're good, you get invited back. If you go, you go. Yeah. And everyone felt like they're on the same path. Well, it's progress. And it was progressions.

And it was a progression. And I actually don't think that's, you go and do it for three or tenor or something. That was really helpful to me because I've got quite a kind of analytical, logical, brain that I find it easier to work like that. But actually, it's probably quite not as a creative way as, you know, that now, You could just do loads of different things and get to different places and that's exciting.

And so your advice to your son is probably really naff and old, Charlie. I don't think the advice I give. No, no, whatever it is. My advice is the same advice I give if younger comic. That's not to have a go to you. That's to me. No, it is. It's outdated because I don't.

Yeah, we are outdated. But I still think what stands is you've got to be able to play life. You've got to be able to play. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And the only way you can play is by play. Yeah. By playing, you know. Play as much as possible.

Yeah. But on top of that, you've got to think of a hook that gets people to know about you. And also, die on your ass. Yeah. Yeah. Go and be bad somewhere. Because you really pushed that one. I really took that one a long way.

Still doing it. But you learn more from your failures and your success. You just become much more confident and bulletproof to go and go and play anywhere. And if there's a movie that goes wrong, you're prepared for it. So when I go and see them in a, my favorite gigs to go and see them are like in a, pub locally on a Saturday night when they're doing mainly covers and a few of their own. Yeah. And how does he feel about you?

And what are you doing? Because I wouldn't know, am I standing at the back? Or are you like, like running around, plugging their amps in, roadie? Right. Are you just down the front dancing? Well, it depends. Depends what sort of night out it is. You're tap dancing down the front.

No, no, I'm in front of them facing the audience. It's a real, do you know what? There's a real pride to it. Yeah. Because there's also nothing you can do about it. Yeah. It's actually quite, I used to get a bit twitchy when they first started playing. And Sam, my wife would be like, why are you nervous?

What are you nervous for? And I think it's because it's a performance situation. So it's like, oh, this is what I'm used to. You're going to control. It's 10, you know. So I know all the rhythms of building up to a performance. So that's sort of part. But she's like, this is nothing to do.

All you've got to do is go and watch it. Have a pint and sit. have a pine of watch. Because if it's bad, it's nothing to do with me. You can't rush along the hell. I know it's not going to be bad. So it's my problem. And how are the other parents?

Very nice. It's a night level WhatsApp group. Yeah. They're up for it. You know, they played truck festival last year. Oh, wow. And they filled their tent on a Sunday morning. And as performative parenting going, it goes.

It is absolutely brilliant. Because you're, yes, look. Look at my boys. Look at our boys. We succeeded. Look, no, but to have that as a sort of team and a bit of a group. Yeah, yeah. It's nice as well, because the pride is similar in,

and it's funny because you'll sort of watch them, I'll just be watching. I normally stand around the side and watch Stan on the drums. Yeah. Like I used to stand around the back and watch them in goal. But. Shouting, stop running. Stop crying and playing.

You're looking at the base player's mum and dad, and they'll be watching just the bass player. Yeah, yeah. And all the photos we share, it's like, you know, lead guitarists front and centre. So it's not like you only watch your own child. So funny, if they went on and did loads of festivals and became really big, you'd just be at all of them, shit and face. Well, I really understand those hangers on at the side of Glastonbury.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. I really get that. I mean, that's just pretty. Do you look at Denise Welch and go, that could be me one day? Well, it's all a worry, though, and as a parent, it's a worry. It's a bit of a scary rock and roll. Why life is this? What life is this?

Well, that is an interesting one. Because like Matt Healy, who obviously is, you know, arguably one of the biggest rock stars Britain's produced in the last 20 years. Yeah. He's had issues and problems and stuff. No one seems...

It's difficult to be thrown in. Not everyone can deal with it as well as Chris Martin. No. The drummers are normally normal, though. Somebody a lead singer that goes on. Well, the drama from the 975 is married to Charlie XX. They always say that Cole played drummer is the best job in the world because no one knows who he is. And yet he's in on a quarter of the money.

And that's mad. And have you discussed, whether they're going to court it up. Are they are courting up? Yeah, yeah. Okay. That's the... They've had that discussion.

Early on, I went, get it written down. Whether they have or not. Yeah. This is another thing. You can say all these things. Yeah. It's like,

you can say all these things to your child. But when they're 18, he's 18 now. He's a man. Yeah. Yeah. The thing that's... A bigger man as well.

The thing when he turned 18 was, I was, I had two things that sort of jolt with me, which was, where's that gone? yeah where has that time gone fuck

because all of a sudden he's 18 yeah and you go oh and he threw this party and he and I don't I'm not a big party fan and he said I want a party

and he wanted it to be all our sort of family friends and adults and everyone who he felt loved him right yeah and I thought what a great thing hey and he organised his party

and it was the best party I've ever ever been to is absolutely brilliant It was in our house. And it was absolutely amazing party that he'd organized. And it was such a room full of love. And he was center of it without it being sort of. And he was just such this great host.

And just this, everybody in that room loved him so much. And it was, it was just such a beautiful night. But I just said to Sam, I was there on it. I saw, I saw him as a little, I was, I was present. That's what I was worried about what, because our life is on the road. Yeah. You know. and it seems to just go so fast.

You're having the kind of conversation people having films at those events. Because it was like a film. It was like this has happened. But then, you know, when I watch him play drums, I'm watching him when I remember when he came home and he showed me his first basic rock being. You know, that's who I'm watching, that little boy.

Oh, man. And so I was just checking in that I'd been present and around for it because some reason my brain doesn't let me remember that I've done anything at all. Yeah, of course. And what did you say no? No, no, no.

The other thing is, you're a talk sport. You were at talk sport mainly. Or you were in Portsmouth for 120 quid. Oh, don't. Check to follow. Dinger's doing a couple of jokes before you go.

I mean, you rang him from Lee Delamere a couple of times. Oh, God, Charlie. Should you remember waiting for the local by you said dinger? You said good jokes, though. Good jokes. The other thing that I had a slight panic about is when they're 18, he can now legally just walk out the door. And if he doesn't want to, he never has to come back.

You can't ring the police. He can't bring the police? He's an adult man. But yeah, so he can just go and you can't. They can go. They're an adult. Have you told him off since he's been 18 for like stuff? Of course, you try and guide, but he actually takes it better now.

Right. But he sort of knows, well, he'll say in a nice way, but what are you, what are you actually going to do? Because I know you love me, so, you know, I know you'll end up doing it. I will leave this plate on the side. You'll pick up. Are you going to leave the plate on the side? Yes. Yeah.

Okay. Well, I mean, well, you've up, you know. Did you pick a towel up off the floor? No. No, I didn't. No, I'm not. Still there. You know.

I'll have a damp towel. He's a lovely bloke. He's a smashing bloke. You've got a bloke. You have a bloke living with you. I've got these bloke lives with us now. And he'll go and he'll work at the pub. Come home and he'll be, you know.

Did you take him for a pint when he was 18? Oh yeah, we did all that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, you know. And taught him to drive. Oh, yeah. As he passed? Fourth time he passed.

And did you do that? Only you? He had five lessons with another guy who didn't really. That's called a driving instructor. They're driving. Yeah. Yeah. With this other guy. With this other guy that does it for a living.

But it was a mistake. I do not recommend it. Well, as the other guy? As a high. Yeah, yeah. Just send them to me. No wonder he's failed four times. This other guy came in and ruined all my good tips.

As a high pressure situation, it goes. I just couldn't do that. When your child is in, you know. Why did you make that decision? Why did you make that decision? Automatic. Manual. Manual.

Got to learn manual. No, why? Only Londoners learn automatic. Yeah, who needs to learn manual? You don't have to learn manual. No, do you want to buy an old classic car? Put your toxic masculinity aside. A classic car is going to be a fucking electric one soon.

Yeah. So Charlie, why did you make this decision? This mad, mad decision. Well, it seemed cheaper. It's like 40 quid an hour. God. And you need that's 25, don't you? You know, he did a lot of lessons.

Yeah. So I thought I can teach him to drive and then he can go to the examiner to learn to pass his test. Yeah. Your dad in Portsworth for free lessons. So did you have many arguments? Oh.

Because my dad... So I did... Oh my God. We've had a few arguments in our life anyway. But this was... What's the worst? Pressure keg. I got out.

I got out. I think I got out of the car three times. Or I'd say, right. No, right. No, pull the car over. I'm driving us home. I am not too close. to the car in front and you're it's the most terrifying thing you're in a you're in a metal

boxes and then you're probably been a little bit too harsh because he's your little boy and then he's probably been a little bit too loose because he's young you have to be direct you have to go nope oh god no no slow no i know dad it's amazing and you're in the car but that's the thing like also by the end he'd be getting putting some music on driving on driving And then you couldn't get any tests. The test system went all around. Well, he managed to get four. He managed to get four.

Well, people buying the tests and selling them on. Yeah, yeah. So there was all this going on. He booked his first test in the Isle of White. Why do you do that? Because that's where he could get the test. Jesus Christ. So he went off to COVID, right? I've booked a test next Wednesday.

All right, okay, I'm off work. Sure. So you're driving to the aisle of white. It's in the Isle of White. Fuck. Did you have to go and do the test routes in advance? Well, I don't think he knew what the Isle of Wight was. He just thought somewhere south.

I think he thought it's going to be like a little island. Well, it is. It's going to be easy. Right, yeah. There's no motor. There's no big roads. So I said the red funnel, well, there are big roads. This is the thing.

Is it possible? There are big roads. Roundabouts. Also, all the examiners, they put it all sewn up. Oh, here we go. Here we go. Here we go. If you turn up...

Big examiner. If you turn up in your own car. Oh, he's angry at the other guy again. No. You turn up in your own car. Yeah. And you're next to... Jim's Isle of Wight driving experience.

Jim knows the examiner, didn't he? Oh, here we go. Local favour. This isn't on my teaching. My teaching was very good. So his first test was purely you? Purely me. And we had to get up very early.

And you didn't go the night before Get up early And get on a ferry So you had to drive How fast at that Portsmouth? So there's an hour and a half To Southampton Southampton, sorry

Southampton, red funnel ferry Most expensive Channel in the Well Michael the producers from the Isla White He knows it well Did you pass in the Isle White? Carl Drive Michael

About three times They're sacked Yeah Told you Nothing to do with my teaching People from the Ala White are getting driving tests in Southampton

That's how bad they are And we get there and we're a bit early And we find the test centre And then, you know, okay, we know where we are Drive around and he's a little bit like, I don't know what this is, Dad, I can't really, can't really work out what this, what this is. I'd be way too nervous to go there for the...

But I said it was just driving, you know, it's just, you'll just be fine, You'll be fine, I'm trying to keep it calm You're like going, thinking, no, this is bad This is bad. This is bad. I was struggling. I've driven my whole life. And I'm driving going,

whoa, these roads are tough. They drive on the other side of the road. Turn there, I don't know. Anyway, I think in his head, he had in his mind, get there.

Pass me test. Ferry home. Whop, whoop. Party on the ferry home. Didn't pass. No. I don't know if you've ever had a really quiet ferry journey.

Oh. From the Isle of Wight to her. But it was fine. Look, it's learning. And I'm actually pleased he didn't pass. Do you know what? I know this sounds. I passed second time.

Yeah. And if I'd pass first time, I wasn't good enough. Mm. Like, I think everyone should fail once. Yeah. I passed first time. And, but I shouldn't have. Really?

My dad knew. And you were passing the other. It was a new in the car. I did the same test for it as you. Yeah. Penning around. Yeah. But I always maintained.

The penning roundabout If you can drive around If you've passed your test around the penning roundabout I have a lot more respect For the driver You're going to love this Charlie First test I get to the test centre

And they go Have you not heard the news There's been a bomb scare at Sainsbury You know the big Sainsbury Where the swim pool used to be Yeah yeah Next pening roundabout The fuck is that

It's not a roundabout It's that a cake Penning roundabout's been closed But you still get to do your test I was like You've got to be fucking That was a result, but then I almost hit a lorry on a mini roundabout, so I failed anyway. Who is your driver instructor?

Martin. Oh, right. Have they put a bridge over the pinning roundabout? Yeah, they have now, yeah, to get the tour key quicker. Or get out, get away from this. You look at your phone out? You're too chatting about a pinn a little Devon hour there. Yeah, he was a little bit of Radio Devon we did there.

Yeah, because you know, normally, on TV. Give it 10 years. On TV, you know, it's a media elite in London. Now I'm stuck in this Devon hole It's just a roundabout Yeah, yeah Why is it so difficult Oh, you've got to change lanes to get round it

Oh, it's a nightmare It's a nightmare Anyway, I got in the car For my first test, wasn't ready You Alan Baker's boy Right now, bear in mind My dad lived in the same town His whole life

And was a big noise in Newton Hubbett Yeah You own Baker's boy Alan Baker, the whitest white man I've ever heard I am, I am He has cream wanted scone oh right oh i know alan off we go come on then right oh yeah drove up drove on

right just pull over here go on you reverse around the corner i was confident but not a good driver still the same now reversed around the corner didn't look backwards just it just did it spin it around i've been practicing just you know yeah and he went right what did you do wrong there then i went oh i didn't um didn't look in the mirrors did i didn't look behind me no no you did not And I went, oh, I said, I've failed. He went, drive on. You're fine. Oh, my God.

Drive on your fight. Then got all my, what do you call it? The rules of the roads. Oh, yeah, highway code. A highway code. Got all my highway code questions wrong. And he went, right, do you play any sport? He said, well, you know the rules?

I'm playing goal. Do you know the rules? Yeah, I know the rules. Well, you learn the rules of the rules. driving anyway you've passed congratulations give my best of your dad it was proper sort of old school that is incredible amazing oh wow there we are so did he do the other test near you then you didn't go back to you no he went to switch we went we went next one was in Swindon which has like that's

isn't that there's magic roundabout in swind about pure hell did your agent book it's like your tour yeah yeah Yeah, Solsbury, we went for one. Solisbury. And then he did one in nearby, where we could go and practice the route. Lovely. We learned our lesson by then.

And I wasn't up. And of course, that was the only one I wasn't at. Well, so I think we're all learning who the problem is. Was the other guy there? Oh, yeah. No, yeah. Well, if your son's life improves when you're not there, he'll love this new tour where you're going to be away

for the whole of September and October. That was nice, isn't it. I'm not. I'm not. It's actually built around my. radio dates. Oh yeah no but I was just lying for the link. Oh right okay. Oh I like that. Don't let them do. Sorry I forgot about showbiz magic. Yeah yeah yeah so come September is that a year that your son's been doing the band? It is yeah and

and then I think I think the other three are going to uni right and then I think he wants to go travelling and stuff like that so that would go and do all that and then let let I think we can let them be definitely I think any kid who are Especially at the age of 18 or 19, you don't need to worry about their direction. No, let them be. Let them work it out. Because they're not going to do nothing their whole life. No. You know, I can't wait to speak to you in six years.

Yeah, he's still. He's still on. He's become a driving instructor. He's in a new... He's known to the Island White. Isn't it weird? Yeah, it feels like something happened that you've got to have to prove a point. You move up by the other way. So your tour, though, it's called Go Get It, where you're basically doing everything you've

you can do you've found everything at this show comedy singing dancing yeah i do lots of different things i've been in show business since i was 10 years old did oliver when i was 10 nice the plymouth theatre royal good theater and i've been and you just wanted more and come on please sir i'd do anything for that pun anything else i'm not actually doing i'm not performing oliver let's just say that no cool but no i'm gonna i'm gonna i've written a show of jokes and yeah it's a proper stand-up show but we've It's a proper stand-up show, but there is singing and tap dancing. There's some magic in it. What?

Can you do magic? No. But I do a character in it. The middle wall magician. He turns up. Yeah, I think it's going to be a lot of... You're a brilliant stand-up. And there'll be a sing-song.

You get a full show with me. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Proper show. I wish I could just do that stuff where you sit on a stool and chat. Recognise things that have happened. But I don't really... I don't have your powers of... You do, you do.

You're a brilliant comedian. Observation. Observation. I'm not saying how bad a comedian I am. No, you're saying I don't have the observational skills. Run us through the dates. You don't even look your eye and you're doing a reverse around the corner. It's exactly that.

You're not observing your danger zones. So the tour schedule is from 8th of September you start in Richmond, Yorkshire. Have you been there? Yes, it's a posh, is it? It's very small theatre. The Georgian theatre. It's absolutely beautiful little chocolate box of a theatre. It's like the one in Chipping Norton.

You go from Richmond, then. You've got Great Torrington, Guildford, Aldershot, Toulton, Borden, Brighton, Deal, Gossforth, Birmingham, Frome, Frum, I always get told of. Didcot, Maidenhead, Chorley, Exeter, there you go. Lime Regis, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Barton upon Humber, which is the Hull, the Road, the Royal. Yeah, Hall, yeah. Paul Smith, Walton-on-Thames, Ivy Bridge, Bath, London, Leicester Square, Cardiff, Banger, Leeds, Salfordshire, Southend. It's on sale, the 27th of February, or if you sign up to Charlie's mailing list, You can get access from the 26th of February.

I think so, but, you know. Yeah, do that. Yeah, yeah. Be nice to have you on the radio. I'm sorry, it's built around you, because you're on Virgin Radio. I'm on Virgin Radio twice a week, and I'm on talk sport three times a week. Yes. So it's built around that.

And they're in the same building. They're in the same building. And it's not all football-based, but there's some football. Are either of your kids into football? Not particularly. After the 12 years of imp planning goal. I've turned them off sport forever. But also, I think what it is, is they see how much.

miserable I am, like around Torquay United. Stanley said the other day, Dad, that team has ruined your life. He said, you go into every situation thinking you're 2-0 down. I do think there is an element of that.

I'm so aware of a shoot for that young kid. I think also, but I think supporting a lower league team, you have a sense of realism. Yeah. Yeah. That makes you go, oh yeah. But he's an interesting thing whether you want to pass that on football. Because I was thinking like, what is that

brought me football. Do you know what I mean? How much joy has that brought me? Is it about joy though? Is it if you're an Arsenal fan? No, because they're just as unhappy because you've just all got expectations that are slightly above where your team are. I just think you need something to distract from your life and an appointment at the weekend because when it's International Week I'm so lost. And I don't even care, I like Arsenal winning but I much prefer a bigger team losing. So if you tell me like Man United have lost embarrassing to burn it at home, I'm more happy about that.

then Arsenal beating Sunderland 2, Neil. I've managed to make the thing that was that sort of relaxation and release, my job, my main job. So I've managed to monetise the thing that was your time off. The thing that was my time. And you have to think that all the time. And you have to think that all the time. Quite a lot of my stand-up show is about people turning.

These days, you can make your hobby. I think that's such an interesting thing. Yeah. Or you can film yourself doing your hobby, not necessarily to a professional standard. Yes. Yeah, and so there's quite a lot of watch my golf videos on Instagram But there is that element of it

Like, in a way, the bit Before I was a comedian, the open mic Circuit, which was mad shit gigs And travelling and dying stuff But I look back on that Much more nostalgia than I do The few years after I turned professional When suddenly it was quite serious

Do you know what I mean? Well, you're dreaming at that point, are you? That's the most exciting bit, right? The working it out Yeah, the work in progress of any sort of new show is the fun bit right well wanting something

and feeling like you're getting it is better than having it I don't know how it came to you to but I went to the drama school at 18 thinking I wanted to be an actor did a three year classical acting course and about two years in when I don't want to be Hamlet I want to be Bruce Forsyth

and had this sort of crisis of oh god but I've just I'm doing I'm at the I was a Lambda you know one of the top drama school in the country. I was like, oh no, got to concentrate on this. Do you feel like you want to go back into that more serious acts? Because that happens a lot with comedians. You know, Lenny Henry.

Romish is doing an hour play. Tom's going into a play where you get to sort of 40s and go, well, I've done loads of comedy. Well, Tom's doing Titanic. Yeah. Well, I was discussing that the other day with someone. And I think it's, I think it's comedians wanting to feel legit. Yeah.

Like they're getting a tap on the head going, well done. You are a good boy, actually. The neediness hasn't been solved from comedy. They've gone again. It feels like you want to, you want someone. want to go, well done, you're a grown-up as well, well-d-on, you can do that. And it's like, comedy's really hard. It's the hardest thing.

100%. It's the hardest thing. I think we, because it is so difficult, as a comedian, you go, nah, it's all right, I love it, I love chat, I'd be chatting, didn't it? I go, sometimes I walk out, it's just fucking me. The whole time, this is insane. It's really hard. And actually being in a play.

And then people shout out at you all the way through. If you're in a serious play, how do you know if people have enjoyed it or not? Well, no one does, do they? They're just, like, looking like they do. You know, it's like, and also you have to do it for so long. Same thing night after night. I don't know how they do it. Sam's an actor, right?

Sam's an actor, yeah. And she's just in the dorm, sorry, your wife. Yeah. And she's in, she's in the, she's in Dorn French's sitcom. Yeah. Which is called, Can You Keep a Secret? So what?

So you've both gone, you've both followed that kind of path in a different way that your son is. Is your daughter interesting for me? Yeah, she does she does she? She is a brilliant. No, she asked, she asked, she asked, do that you know because i want you want to be a goalkeeper exactly she's got massive hands um pat jennings pat jennings sounds like a lovely woman didn't you very gentle so pat

and the thing is you try not to push these things on people yeah she's standing in her bedroom singing along to something you know frozen or something or sabrina carpenter or something and this voice comes out of her and we look at each other you can't you can't ignore that and that's as and then you go

keep it down you can't ignore this stop that noise really try and give her something to fight against it's up with practicing crosses gloves on mouth shut let's go that's what we're doing

so what do you do if that is what your child is good at and naturally enjoys it and doing it in our own time You sort of go, well, I can't turn that off. I can't shut that down. No, of course.

I think you've got to, with the exception of goalkeeping, you've just got to see where your child goes, right? And please don't teach her to drive. Well, I'm going to. Are you? No, I won't do. I don't know. Who knows if cars will be a thing in seven years?

Yeah, do you think, you think... Manual ones, might be... Because it was two men, and it is literally two men. Yeah. Do you think it would be less fractious with your daughter? By the way, other people tried to... teach him as well that weren't professional driving instructors and they lasted so he's the problem he's the problem that you're not getting professional driving

instructors i think you're getting your mates to teach your son to drive Charlie you're working about 600 hours a week he's basically you're getting you allowed him to drive like a two-tong eight miles a hour I'll just get me mate to teach him we don't need proper lessons yeah what is your what is your what is your problem with driving instructor you are doing Charlie in it? What's your problem with a driving? He was bought a load of driving lessons. For his 17th birthday.

Everyone sort of pitched in. And this was the other guy. And you thought, I'll take that money. Hand it over. I'll do these. Well, he was giving the money, wouldn't he? This is the mistake they made. They didn't buy the lessons.

He gave him the money. And he spent it. So he spent the money. Right. You stepped in, save the day. So in many ways, I come out of the story well. Did you ever, who taught you to drive? My dad.

Here we go. And. Sorry, how that worked. Dad just knew the instructor. And the bloke. I can't remember his name now. He used to go more gas, more gas, more gas. More gas.

And then at a junction you go, I would. I would. What about the women walking past? That's my favourite game where Zebra Crossing. It was the 90s. A different time, wasn't it? I would. It's at sexist to say I would.

No, I would. I would pull out. I would pull out again. I'd stay in. There we are. Classic, wasn't it, you see? We say it's hard, but look at the great jokes. Look at the great jokes.

It's so easy. Three middle-aged men talking about shagging. Which brings us back to parenting. Without us, yes. We won't be sat here. It's always lovely to come on this podcast. And it is lovely to see you two as friends, as solo performers, have the success you have. Oh, thank you. Because you're two very nice men.

Oh, thanks, mate. Who do you think is nicer? Nice in different ways. Ha! But Charlie, you've been brilliant. Your tour's going to be amazing. You're so funny. You're amazing on the radio.

Virgin and Talksport. Good luck with this. Go get it. Go get it. Tickets available. End of Feb for the rest of the year. Final question. I expect most of next year.

Oh, no, you're going to, yeah, because you go to February as well. End of this year. Into 2027? Yes. My guy. Did we do the final question? Yeah, go on. What's the one thing Sam does as a parent where you go,

she's amazing, I'm so lucky to be married to her and have children with her. And also one thing she does that frustrates you a little bit. And if her sister were to listen, she could report back and she might go, yeah, maybe Charlie's got a point. Sam is an incredible, incredible human being and mother. I'm very lucky to have met her. However. I'm known of my whole life.

The thing she's so good at is genuinely listening to the problem. Yeah. Not just getting the gist and getting how do I. I get this problem out of the way. I'll teach you. I'll teach you to drive. I'll sort that out. Well, I'll teach you to drive. I just don't really like

Goldkeeper. It will just be better at it. She genuinely is an incredible listener and will sit with the problem, genuinely think about it for people. True empathy, basically. Yes. And true empathy is normally

even if you've not been in the situation, the person is in or the child is in you understand their feelings and can help their feelings. She's a true empath and brilliant with it. What does she do?

I hadn't thought about what she does badly because there's not a lot. Think of a thing. There will be something. Do you know what as well? Can I text you back in? That felt genuine. You can leave a voice. That isn't me going. I'm not going to say that. I'm getting trouble. That actually felt genuine. She's really

heartwarming. A voice note. A voice note. you something. Yeah. That she does. It will be something. We're here still five. I feel like she'd have more of a list for you. Oh, you'd be a long.

You should get her on. It'd be a long list. Charlie, thank you so much. Thank you. And good luck with the cheap suits. Cheap suits. And also your son's bad. Would you prefer your tour

to sell out and play the O2 or the cheap suits? The cheap suits. Yeah. I've had my go. Yeah. You know. Yeah, but the family only gets a quarter of.

of that. You'd get all of that. From a funny now, obviously from a, you know, I can see how you think, Rob. Yeah, yeah, yeah. No, I'd love, I'd know what? Well, you want your kids to be happy, right? That's the, that's the key to the whole of life. Yeah, I think so.

I think Stanley will. If the cheaps who you sell out the O2 and you're stood in the O2 or in a bottle of where, how many times you're telling people the drummer is your son? Oh, I tell everyone he's my son all the time. I'll get talking to people enjoying it. Oh yeah. Oh, yeah, my son's the drummer.

Just strangers. It's great. Why is this weird 50-year-old man going around asking if we're enjoying it? Tap dancing face in the audience, everyone. Definitely. You want your kids to be happy, right? And that's all that. And that brings its own pressure on the kids.

Oh, brilliant. Good luck with the tour, Charlie. Always a pleasure. Right, here's the, well, we're supposed to be doing the outro, but Charlie, come back in. I just remember something that annoys me. On the way, I'm on the way. They call that in therapy, the door handle disclosure. Oh.

On the way out therapy. In therapists, they say that people tell them the truth on their way, just on their way out. Oh, it's the last thing. Last thing they'll say. My wife will invite people over, or like a friend or family. And then when they're due to arrive, she'll disappear. She'll go out or she'll go upstairs and have a shower at that moment. And you're forced into host.

And I'm forced into being the guy. Welcome. You know, you know, drives me up the wall. Yeah, that's true. Other than that, perfect. See you later. See you later. Cheers, Charlie.

Bye. Bye. Love it. That was Charlie Baker. That was Charlie Baker. Love that. Love Charlie. Should we finish the outro before he comes back in again?

We just get this done. That was Charlie. Bye. Hello, parenting hell listeners. Recognize that voice? Yes. It's Josh Really? I have got a new podcast, Josh Whiticom's Museum of Pop Culture.

And I'm going to say it, I'm about 85% sure you're going to love it. Here are the reasons why. Number one, I'm confident if you're listening now, you don't hate me, and possibly think I'm funny. Number two, I'm confident if you're listening now, you like podcasts. Number three, I'm confident if you're listening to me and Rob, you prefer pop culture to people talking about things, let's be honest, boring things like history, economics or politics. I know I do, and that is why I made this podcast I wanted a show that tells the stories I love from popular culture in the way other podcasts do for drier topics. See above. Basically, I wanted a podcast that realised Millie Vanilli were more interesting than Elizabeth I first.

Join me as I give the definitive, or at least the funniest, takes on Mr Blobby. When Ghost Watch convinced BBC viewers ghosts were real, when a band burned a million pounds for a laugh. The Spice Girls, a truly catastrophic Spider-Man musical with music from you too, and David Hasselhoff, Baywatch, and his part in the fall of the Berlin Wall. All of them are real, by the way. Either you know what these things are, and you're about to learn far more about them than you ever realised you wanted to, or you don't, and you're about to be introduced to some of the maddest things in modern or ancient history.

Stiff next will learn, lose next will laugh. New episodes available every Wednesday and Saturday. Perfect to fill those gaps between your weekly doses of parenting hell. So go on, you might as well listen, subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcast now. Museum of Pop Culture with me, Josh Whitakum, available everywhere from the 1st of January.