#164 The Great Train Robbery - Oh What A Crime (Part 2)

#164 The Great Train Robbery - Oh What A Crime (Part 2)

Author: Pop! Pop! March 4, 2026 Duration: 30:02

This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!


This week we’re working through a bit more of your correspondence before dealing with our first ever ‘Oh What A Crime’ episode which today focuses on: The Great Train Robbery of 1963. The planning, Bruce Reynolds, Buster Edwards, Ronnie Biggs et al, the heist itself, the loot and life on the run.


Elsewhere, how did anyone in 1160 survive without caffeine? And is there a worse person to meet than a coked-up Nazi? All this and more this week and if you’ve got anything to add, you know what to do: hello@ohwhatatime.com


And from now on Part 1 is released on Monday and Part 2 on Wednesday - but if you want more Oh What A Time and both parts at once, you should sign up for our Patreon! On there you’ll now find:

•The full archive of bonus episodes

•Brand new bonus episodes each month

•OWAT subscriber group chats

•Loads of extra perks for supporters of the show

•PLUS ad-free episodes earlier than everyone else


Join us at 👉 patreon.com/ohwhatatime


And as a special thank you for joining, use the code CUSTARD for 25% off your first month.


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Thank you to Dan Evans for the artwork (idrawforfood.co.uk).


Chris, Elis and Tom x


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


Ever wondered if people in the 18th century had worse holidays than you do, or if being a child in Victorian times was genuinely as grim as it sounds? That’s the kind of territory explored in Oh What A Time..., a podcast where history is less about dusty dates and more about the bizarre, often terrible, human experiences across the ages. Each episode, comedians Elis James and Tom Craine join award-winning podcaster Chris Scull to take a deep, funny dive into a new theme-whether it’s marriage, life at sea, or countless other facets of existence. They sift through the strangest and most surprising stories from our collective past, all while trying to settle a central, burning query: just how awful was it back then? The tone is conversational and packed with curiosity, blending genuine historical insight with the hosts’ comedic perspectives. You’ll find yourself learning about the peculiar realities of daily life in different eras, all delivered with a warmth and humor that makes the past feel immediately relevant. This isn’t a lecture; it’s a lively discussion between friends who are equally fascinated and horrified by what they uncover. For anyone who enjoys a good story, a laugh, and a fresh take on the people who came before us, this podcast offers a consistently entertaining and oddly comforting look at the shared struggles and absurdities of human history.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Oh What A Time...
Podcast Episodes
#128 Magic (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:17
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re talking about the great illusionists and conjurors of our times. We’ve got the man that pretty much invented the genre Jean-Eugene Robert, we’ve got the much-lov…
#128 Magic (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:08
This week we’re talking about the great illusionists and conjurors of our times. We’ve got the man that pretty much invented the genre Jean-Eugene Robert, we’ve got the much-loved icon of British children’s TV Sooty and…
#127 Revolting Peasants (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:39
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re discussing some of history’s most revolting peasants! Now no episode like this would be complete without rumoured West Ham fan Wat Tyler, plus we’ll have the New…
#127 Revolting Peasants (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:29
This week we’re discussing some of history’s most revolting peasants! Now no episode like this would be complete without rumoured West Ham fan Wat Tyler, plus we’ll have the New York story of Dr Smith Azer Broughton, and…
#126 Journeys and Adventure (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:05
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!**PLEASE NOTE: This episode was recorded just before Leslie Lemon - the custard-loving WW2 hero that so many listeners emailed us about - died at the age of 106 years old, last…
#126 Journeys and Adventure (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:44
**PLEASE NOTE: This episode was recorded just before Leslie Lemon - the custard-loving WW2 hero that so many listeners emailed us about - died at the age of 106 years old, last week. In tribute to the great man, we’ve le…
#125 The Super Rich (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:29
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!Let’s have a look at some of the most interesting self-made millionaires that history has to offer! This week we have Sarah Breedlove and her lucrative beauty revolution, Richar…
#125 The Super Rich (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:12
Let’s have a look at some of the most interesting self-made millionaires that history has to offer! This week we have Sarah Breedlove and her lucrative beauty revolution, Richard Crawshay’s Welsh ironmongery bonanza and,…
#123 Music in Unexpected Places (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:26
This is Part 2! For Part 1, check the feed!This week we’re discussing various tunes and music genres which popped up in surprising circumstances. We’ve got North Africa’s blues inspired Tuareg Rock, western music behind…
#123 Music in Unexpected Places (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:50
This week we’re discussing various tunes and music genres which popped up in surprising circumstances. We’ve got North Africa’s blues inspired Tuareg Rock, western music behind the iron curtain and modern attempts to rec…