You've found Crushed by Margaret Cabourn-Smith; the podcast about unrequited love. 

Brrrr, cold innit. I'm ashamed to say I'm wearing a heated gilet. Height of glamour. 

Today's episode features glorious comic, writer and ABSURDIST (get it right) sensation JOHN-LUKE ROBERTS. You can hear us mucking about on his excellent and hilarious podcast Soundheap (available wherever blah blah blah). 

Loved this chat - did you know if you have a crush on someone you have to write their name in a heart? It's like, the law. We also discuss the brutality of being dumped with the words "you're not as fun as I thought you were".

Thanks for downloading and supporting us. You're my people.

Come and find us...

On Substack https://crushedbymcs.substack.com/ where if you subscribe, you’ll have access to the podcast ad-free and exclusive content from me as well as a lot of gushy love from me.

On Instagram @crushedbymcs

On email, where you can send us anecdotes, adoration and arguments crushedbymcs@gmail. Who doesn't love post!?

And if you want to do nothing but simply chuck me £4 to buy myself some sellotape and a copy of the Radio Times to make a collage, head for ko-fi.com/crushedbymcs

Just out of interest: you can see me in Cheaters on BBCiPlayer currently but be warned it's very much not safe for work. ie: it's full of boobs. AND THE REST.

Thanks and Happy New 2025!

MCS

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Happy New Year, Crushed-Os! My first guest for 2025 is the wonderful writer, comedian (and former awkward teenager) GRÁINNE MAGUIRE.

We discussed loving strongly (but not wisely), how men who wear glasses are definitely more intelligent and sensitive than those who don't, and how everyone loves a bit of will-they-won't-they.

As always, we're over on Substack for all your additional MCS needs. And please do tell your friends. And like. And subscribe. Every click of validation is a lovely little lift, and we all enjoy those.

lots of love

MCS xx

https://crushedbymcs.substack.com/

https://www.grainnemaguire.co.uk/

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This week I'm honoured to be joined by the multitalented powerhouse that is Caroline O'Donoghue!

Host of wonder-podcast Sentimental Garbage and author of The Rachel Incident and Promising Young Women, I loved chatting all things crush with her, and look out for the bit that our recording platform's autogenerated programme notes referred to as 'using Wayne's World as a model for healthy relationship dynamics'.

As ever, I'm over on Substack if you'd like to come and pay me a visit over there - https://crushedbymcs.substack.com/

And Happy Christmas! Love you lots. MCS. xx

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Another superfun LIVE episode this week, recorded at the Cheerful Earful podcast festival with actual comedy legend KERRY GODLIMAN, who chats - amongst other things - about her time trailing boys from buses…

As always, if you want to find out more, we are over at crushedbymcs.substack.com – you can join as a member for an ad-free version of the show if that’s your bag, or, just come and hang out for bonus content and vibes.

Edited by Laura Grimshaw.

A Mighty Bunny Production.

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Another lovely episode this week with writer, actor (and former Nuala - if this means nothing to you, look it up) TARA FLYNN!

Tara is an all round brilliant egg, and I love her very much. Also, the latest live episode of HER new podcast, 'Now You're Asking' (which she presents alongside Marian Keyes) has just dropped, and it's fab. So when you're done here you can pop across and listen to that. But please come back in a fortnight. I need you. I'd miss you.

Thanks so much for listening, and if you like the show please like, subscribe and tell your friends (even the ones you're in a parasocial relationship with. Might not come to anything, but worth a go, eh?).

Want to suggest someone for a future episode? Got a Crush story you'd like to share with me to make my own pale in comparison? We love to hear from you! You can find and support the show (with love or with money) on Substack (https://crushedbymcs.substack.com/) or email [email protected]

MCS xx

Edited by Laura Grimshaw

A Mighty Bunny Production

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Brilliant comedian and writer Holly Walsh (you'll have seen her on QI, or heard her on Just a Minute, or watched Motherland, which she co-writes) joins me to talk about crushes and unrequited love. As you know, I love talking about crushes. Can't stop me. But what I love about this conversation is how hard Holly finds it to talk about, even years on. I think we can all relate to that. Also, good coverage of Gladiators in this episode, for all you sports fans.

If you're not on Substack already, maybe come on over and join us? It's a great way to support the show if you love the show, and also a great place to read funny writing from good people (John Finnemore, Sali Hughes and Richard Herring are all there, give it a try!)

That's the hard sell done. Does that count as a hard sell? It's been a long week.

See you next time!

MCS

x

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I am OBSESSED with Rivals, which is just the perfect mix of camp nostalgia and (occasionally inappropriate) 80s style romance. David Tennant as a ludicrous villain? Sure, why not. And Danny Dyer in a moustache? Win. Win. Win.

So, I'm delighted that Katherine Parkinson is my guest today, as she's playing one of my favourite characters in the show. She's so funny, and relatable, and bonkers - and of course so is Katherine.

We talk about all sorts in this episode - from the fan letter, of which we are both fans; to navigating on-screen and off-screen romance. Classic Crushed. You're going to love it.

Thanks to everyone who came to the live recordings - they are so much fun to do. We'll try to do some more next year.

lots of love

MCS x

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This week my guest is the amazing ALICE LOWE!

Alice is an incredible comic actor who you'll know from her films Prevenge and Sightseers, as well as tons of other comedy including Garth Marenghi's Darkplace.

We chatted in advance of her new film TIMESTALKER (out in all good cinemas NOW) and covered all manner of crushes from Peter Pan, to Jareth the Goblin King. I absolutely loved chatting to her and sort of wish we'd done it after I'd seen the film (I have, it's great) as there are so many Crushed themes to explore within it. We'll have to come back for Part 2...

And just a reminder that I'm going to be interviewing KERRY GODLIMAN at the Cheerful Earful festival on Saturday 19th October - tickets available here: https://cheerfulearful.podlifeevents.com/festival/crushed-by-margaret-cabourn-smith-live-from-cheerful-earful-podcast-festival-19th-oct-tickets

Love and kisses, MCS xxx

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Hurrah! The hiatus is over. Welcome back friends and fellow crushers.

Crushed is back with the live episode recorded at the London Podcast Festival just a couple of weeks ago. If you were there, you might hear yourself chuckling.

My guest is of course the inimitable (and yes, I have tried) Miles Jupp! Former News Quiz host, erstwhile portrayer of Archie the Inventor in Balamory (in a very dashing Tam O'Shanter, honestly, google it), and the lucky, lucky man who got to be in Hugh Laurie's "Why Didn't They Ask Evans?" Guess which one we talked about most?

He is an utter joy, and a very funny man. I think you'll enjoy an hour of him deflecting my probing into his inner emotional life, while I try to prise him open like a reluctant clam.

Do we leave with a deeper understanding of the early loves and lusts of Miles Jupp? Arguably, no. But we do learn the new-to-me term "raging bonk-on", and get hints of a secret hankering for an older stateswoman. I hope it's not the Queen.

Lots of lovely new episodes dropping over the next couple of months so do subscribe if you haven't already.

love and crushes,

MCS xxx

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It's the last hiatus episode!

In case you missed the memo, we are taking a short break from uploading new episodes over the summer. I'm away, you're away... seems like a good time for it. But the podcast will be back with a bang on the 26th of September with new guests for your ears.

In the meantime, I wanted to dip into the back catalogue and share an episode that you might not have heard if you only joined us recently. This one is the lovely Jess Fostekew of Sturdy Girl Club on Radio 4, and the fabulous podcast Hoovering (it's not about hoovering).

I love many things about this episode, but it has one of the best examples of the classic teacher crush - in this case, Mr Ray... I just love it when a guest really commits to a crush, and what Jess did to get his attention is really very funny.

Hope you like it!

Lots of summery love,

Margaret xx

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Come and join me and guests Miles Jupp and Kerry Godliman for two live Crusheds in London over the next couple of months.

Handy links here:

https://www.kingsplace.co.uk/whats-on/comedy/crushed-by-margaret-cabourn-smith-2/

https://cheerfulearful.podlifeevents.com/festival/crushed-by-margaret-cabourn-smith-live-from-cheerful-earful-podcast-festival-19th-oct-tickets

See you there?

MCS xx

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