Animal Nonsense

In episode 49, David and Jess remember performing at 'Victorious Festival' in Portsmouth. David remembers meeting a fox who understood David's weather-beaten and food covered demeanour. We also explore animals who thrive in really tough living conditions. It's really fun. 

In episode 48, Jess responds to a 'Reach Out' question... 'Does every country have a national animal?'... It's a real exploration. If you want to 'Reach Out'. You can email us on [email protected]. 

In episode 47, David reports back to Jess on the recent experiences he had performing in Blackpool. Meet his new animal nemesis. Learn how in 1891, noise stopped people from noticing enormous circus animals who were on the road near to them and learn why donkeys are hard to photograph. 

On episode 46, David tells Jess what he learned at Monkey World in Dorset. He wrote a poem to help identify the different primates and we learn about how you can avoid animal exploitation. 

In episode 45, Jess announces she'd rather be in an enclosure with a snow leopard than any other big cat, and reveals their really interesting world. She also explores recent efforts being made to make peace between the snow leopards and the farmers. 

In episode 44, David regales Jess with tales of a noisy audience member who misidentified every animal at an outdoors movie music concert. We explore revenge in the animal kingdom. 

In episode 43, Jess leads David through a rollercoaster ride of collective nouns for animals. It really is fun. 

In episode 42, Jess must escape Ancient Egypt by making friends with the Gods (all of whom have animal heads). It is the most adventurous episode so far. 

In episode 41, David remembers an episode of the BBC school drama 'Waterloo Road' that involves a pig. There is no evidence a pig was ever on the show. Jess talks about a urinating toad that her and her sister recall differently, and we play 'Animal Parents' Evening'. 

In episode 40, we hear about Jess' recent holiday to Barcelona. She returns with two presents for David and regales him with stories of sea cucumbers in buckets and the green parakeets. We also play 'Rate My Nest'. 

In episode 39, we explore the romantic story of Paul and Linda McCartney, and learn about the role that animals have played in their lives. 

On episode 38, David uncovers the word 'splooting' to describe an animal stretching out their surface area to cool down in a heatwave. Jess auditions potential animal roommates, and David remembers 'Are You Being Served?'. 

On episode 37, we are over the moon to report we have had 1500 listeners. Jess puts the spotlight on a handful of notable animal fathers including the giant waterbug, the male seahorse and the Emperor Penguin holding a new egg on their foot. 

On episode 36, Jess' dog predicts the winner of the next two England World Cup matches. David remembers the story of Pickles, the dog who rescued the World Cup in 1966. 

In episode 35, Jess wishes David a happy birthday and explores the life expectancy of various creatures in the animal kingdom. We also have a new round of 'Real or Fake'. 

In episode 34, Jess reports on the most recent movements of her garden friend Sheryl the crow. David reveals to Jess that she has been nominated for a BBC Radio Solent 'Make A Difference' award. Jess blindfolds David and introduces him to her new and rather exciting mystery pets. 

In episode 33, Jess and David talk about going to a recording of 'Saturday Night Live UK'. It was hosted by Aimee Lou Wood - and the monologue featured a real dog. Everything SNL + animal related is explored. 

In this episode, David reveals the origin of the quill pen and we respond to a 'reach out' question about how moonlight affects animals. David and Jess talk about real animals that feature in Shakespeare's plays. David learns about how a bodily function of bees almost caused international warfare. 

In this episode, Jess and David wish David Attenborough a happy 100th birthday by remembering his remarkable career in broadcasting.

In this episode, Jess explores her love of 'Game Of Thrones' especially the 'Wolves of Westeros'. Jess refers to super predators, diowolves and Dolly the Sheep. David reveals the most mysterious part of 'Scooby Doo'.

In this episode, David offers a retraction for his mistaken giraffe remark and exonerates Jess. He talks about meeting 1960's 'Blue Peter' hosts and remembers the real event where Valerie Singleton took a lion to the shops. We play 'Judge Jess' where she presides over arguments from the animal world. Jess reads out a poem David wrote thanking our listeners from every country.

In this episode, we help a listener remove geckos from their home. David reveals how nervous he was meeting his hero Bob Geldof and the 50th anniversary Boomtown Rats concert at the Hammersmith Odeon that featured the entire audience wearing latex rat masks. David is really frightened of rats.

In this episode, Jess reports back on her recent visit to Disneyland Paris. She reveals the earlier and lesser known animals that emerged from Walt Disney before he hit big with Mickey Mouse and with real aplomb, Jess will make you rethink how cartoon animals do not follow the relative size rules of the real world. 

In this episode, David gives Jess' dog an Easter basket. We respond to a 'Reach Out' listener question from Andrew. David explores extinct animals that were rediscovered alive and well, and he remembers Northern entertainer George Formby in a newly written song 'The Rabbit'. 

The 'Animal Nonsense' April Fool's Day episode... Jess explains how her friend's dog outfoxed everyone, and reveals the most remarkable escape attempts ever made by animals from zoos around the globe. It's really fun.  

In this episode, we raise awareness of 'Red Nose Day' - for 'Podcastathon'. A movement where thousands of podcasts around the globe record a special episode about one charity. Jess and David play, 'How well do they smell?', and we learn how baby elephants use their trunks. David also reveals that some reindeers do have red noses. 

In this episode, Jess gives a round of a applause to some of the best/most interesting mothers in the animal kingdom. She explores orangutans, elephants, burying beetles, the octopus, polar bears, and hummingbirds. Happy Mother's day to everyone. 

In this episode, we learn that Jess' daughter received a cuddy toy from a friend representing one particular animal. David examines the toy and is not able to identify the animal, but Jess reveals she guessed correctly on her first attempt. David asserts that no-else on earth would ever have guessed that animal or even heard of it. Might you guess right? 

In this episode, David explores the remarkable brain of the pigeon. After a riveting train ride to York and observing a pigeon nearby, he unearths astonishing facts about them including their history of espionage, renown as art connoisseurs and ability to identify their own reflection. 

Jess talks about the the different oxytocin 'love hormone' levels in cats and dogs. We learn that meerkats are sociable. David raises the odd method giraffes have for knowing the moment is right for romance. 

On this Valentine special, Jess explores monogamy in the animal kingdom and also has a look at the romantic dance of the seahorse. Jess tells David about French angel fish and rather more frighteningly how black vultures deal with a philandering male. 

Super Bowl LX is taking place at Levi's Stadium in California and might well be the most watched TV event of the year. David talks about the 'Puppy Bowl' that is on 'Animal Planet' every year. Jess remembers a 1990s animal-related TV quiz show and we play a new game 'Attack and Defence'. 

David is really excited 'The Muppet Show' is returning for a brand new episode (their first new one since 1981). He explores how Jim Henson was nervous of the roaring MGM lion, how he made Kermit the Frog, his mini stint on NBC's 'Saturday Night Live', and how 'The Muppet Show' was recorded in England. 

Jess explores how the roar of the dinosaurs in the movie 'Jurassic Park' was made up of the sounds of real animal. Might you be able to guess what animals they were? 

Jess explores the world of the jellyfish that can in theory live forever. David delves into the rumour about snails and post boxes. We eventually remember the show email address ... [email protected] + talk about a dream where Gromit was a guest on 'Animal Nonsense'. 

A real birthday episode for Jess. David reveals that animals are not the most orthodox of present givers + offers a hen. 

On this episode, Jess remembers her morning making a pom pom rabbit. They report back on their recent BBC radio interview. David regales Jess with his experience of looking after her dog. David does not remember the 'Animal Nonsense' email address... he has learned it is [email protected]! Do reach out to us. 

Happy New Year. In the first episode of 2026, we explore the '12 Animals of Christmas' based on the well known festive song. We learn about the animals 7 to 12... 

Merry Christmas. On this podcast, we explore the '12 Animals of Christmas' based on the well known festive song. We learn about the animals 1 to 6... 

In episode 10, we answer the question... what animals were really at the nativity? David asks Jess to remember the animal-related lines of Christmas carols + we re-create on an audio adventure how the night of Jesus' birth might have been for poor Mary. Use of BBC Sound Effects library for the purposes of non-advertised and educational reasons only. 

On episode 9, we hear about the heart-warming Christmas movie 'Prancer' that Jess acted in with a real reindeer. Jess provides a behind the scenes insight into how the movie was made and how the reindeer flourished in the role. 

On episode 8, David explains how he wrote the 'Animal Nonsense' music. Jess plays the sound round and tries to recognise the animal muse of 3 classical composers. Jess remembers working at Battersea Dogs Home and we explore if cows really enjoy jazz music.

On episode 7, Jess and David reveal how hard it has been to name the podcast and yet naming a real animal is really easy. Jess plays David's 'Personal Name Guessing Game' and hears about an Andean Bear, a Desert Locust and a Great Green Macaw on route to the reveal.

On episode 6, Jess tells David about her recent visit to the Oceanarium in Lisbon and we discuss the pros and cons of having animals in captivity. Jess explains how the sea otter has the fluffiest fur of any animal and how it eats 1/3 of it's own body weight every day. They also float together in 'rafts'. 

On episode 5, we remember the BBC Children In Need mascot Pudsey Bear. I also show Jess a photo of the original 'Sooty' I recently saw on the North Pier in Blackpool. We learn about the relationship between President Theodore Roosevelt and 'teddy' and the reason a Priest thought the bear would result in the end of the human race. 

On episode 4, we reminisce about our relationship with Jess' dog, remember our first real encounters with dog, Blue Peter and learn how dogs rescued Hollywood. 

On episode 1, in honour of Halloween, hear about the 'Vampyroteuthis Infernalis' - or as Jess dubbed it 'the Vampire Disco Squid From Hell'. Learn about how they protect themselves and bring some much needed colour to the deepest ocean. 

On episode 2 being released on Halloween, hear about animals that really are the 'stuff of nightmares'. We explore vulture bees, butcher birds, and the spotted ragged toothed shark. These creatures will make your blood run cold. 

On episode 3 on Halloween, we explore our real encounters with the animals that really frighten us including mice and spiders. Also, Jess brings in a noise round of the most unsettling bird noises.