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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The hiatus continues...

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 Chris Neill, and it's one of my absolute favourites. I think most people may not know Chris as he mainly works as a producer, but he's also a brilliant comic and his Radio 4 series about meeting his husband is just joyous. This conversation is just a brilliant rollercoaster of emotion - from growing up gay in the 80s, to the lure of accountants, oboists and pen and ink drawings.

Hope you like it!

Lots of summery love,

Margaret xx

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Welcome to the hiatus!

We are taking a short break from uploading new episodes over the summer, and we've had a lovely scattering of new subscribers, so it feels like a good time to dip into the back catalogue to share a couple of favourites that you might not have heard if you've joined us recently.

First up, it's the first EVER episode, with one of my absolute favourite people, Dolly Alderton. I have known Dolly since she was 16, so have really been there for the full range of crush madness. And she's an absolute champion crusher.

I'm not just going to put the first three episodes out, by the way, some thought has gone into this. But it's such a good episode, I couldn't resist.

Hope you like!

lots of love

Margaret!

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