Mash-up: After Hours Podcast

This week on Mash-up After Hours, John Steemson, Clare Pal and Claire Stephen are joined by broadcaster and journalist Tamsin Eames for a fascinating conversation about her career, celebrity interviews and the moments that have shaped her journey in the media industry. Tamsin shares stories from interviewing some of the biggest names in entertainment, reveals who left her feeling truly starstruck, and talks about the life-changing moment ITV asked her to relocate to Cardiff at just 21 years old. Elsewhere, Clare brings us the bizarre tale of a magazine that finally arrived 19 years after it was ordered, sparking one of the most ridiculous conversations we've had all season. We also discover Claire's unexpected fear of sun loungers, John takes on Tamsin in this week's Head2Head challenge, and our anonymous confession leaves the team scratching their heads after a listener discovers his girlfriend has been secretly running an OnlyFans account. Packed with laughs, surprising stories, celebrity encounters and plenty of debate, this is another episode you won't want to miss. New episodes of Mash-up After Hours are available every Friday on all major podcast platforms.

In Season 2 Episode 2 of Mash-up: After Hours Podcast, titled “Changing Your Ways”, the gang are joined by Matt from Klatch Co — a clothing brand inspired by coffee, conversation, fashion, and opening up about mental health. Matt shares the story behind the brand, his personal journey, and how difficult times in life led him to create something built around connection and community. Elsewhere in the episode, the Confession Booth gets messy with a shocking catfish confession that’s spiralled way beyond what was intended. The Question of the Week sparks a hilariously British debate, while Claire Stephen steps up to represent the team in this week’s chaotic Head2Head challenge. John brings yet another bizarre world record attempt to the table, and Clare Pal shares another example of something another country is doing brilliantly while Britain once again seems behind the times. Packed with laughs, chaos, honest conversations, and the usual unpredictable moments, this is another classic episode of Mash-up: After Hours.

Season 2 of Mash-up: After Hours kicks off in true chaotic fashion with Episode 1: “Smelly Fingers” — and trust us… absolutely nothing has changed… except somehow everything has become even more unhinged. John, Clare Pal and Claire Stephens are back for a brand new season packed with bigger laughs, wilder conversations, brand new features and for the first time ever… special guests! Joining the gang for the season opener is professional dancer and musical theatre performer Anna Gellett, who chats all about her journey so far, life training at Italia Conti, the realities of the dance industry, and her dreams for the future — including one very iconic ballroom floor. Elsewhere in the episode, the brand new “Us VS The Guests” version of Head2Head makes its debut as Clare Pal takes on Anna in the first battle of the season… with predictably chaotic results. Clare also attempts to finally tell the story teased at the end of last season — although things quickly spiral out of control before she can even get through it properly. There’s also the first anonymous confession of the new season, John launches into a bizarre investigation asking “Which country has the smelliest fingers?”, and Claire Stephens shares the heart-warming news about what Disney are now doing for the sign language community. From heartfelt moments to absolute carnage, awkward confessions to complete nonsense… Mash-up: After Hours is officially back — louder, messier, and more chaotic than ever.

It’s the Season 1 finale, and things go gloriously off the rails… especially because for the first time ever, the gang are recording the episode together in-person — which, as you can imagine, only adds fuel to the chaos. In this episode we discuss the strange joy of playing dead for absolutely no good reason, Clare gets completely taken over by a serious case of the giggles, and the conversation somehow turns into a debate about training our pets like we’re running our own slightly dysfunctional animal academy 🐾 We also uncover a shocking revelation… who among us is the cheap battery buyer (and what that might say about them 👀). Plus, we return for Part 2 of a juicy listener confession from an earlier episode that definitely raises a few eyebrows… And to round off the series, it’s the final Head2Head of the season — John VS Clare. Pride is on the line and there’s no backing out now. Expect laughs, chaos, questionable life choices, and a lot of giggling as Season 1 of Mash-up: After Hours comes to a close. One thing’s certain… recording in-person might have been our most chaotic decision yet. 🎧🔥

In this episode, the conversation drifts from light-hearted curiosity to surprisingly big questions as John and the two Cla(i)res ponder how close the world might actually be to the brink. The trio also discuss a creative local artist’s inventive approach to highlighting potholes, celebrate what is claimed to be the cleanest public toilet in the UK, and reflect on just how dangerous humans can be as a species. For reasons no one can fully explain, “Mary” becomes a recurring presence throughout the discussion. The episode also features this week’s Head2Head challenge, where the two Cla(i)res compete in a special “Tribute or Real?” quiz, testing their musical instincts. In addition, an anonymous confession is shared that many parents will find painfully relatable. As always, the conversation is unfiltered, humorous, and filled with unexpected tangents.

This week the chaos levels are high and the patience levels are… questionable 😅 We kick things off by dreaming big and revealing which Olympic sports we’d compete in — before the conversation takes a turn that proves not everyone is built for sporting glory. We also dive into the bizarre rise of “fur leaders” running for mayor across parts of the US, debate the everyday things that test our patience and send our blood pressure soaring, and chat about the headlines surrounding Britney Spears selling her music catalogue. Elsewhere, it’s John vs Clare in this week’s Cockney slang Head2Head, and we hear another eyebrow-raising anonymous confession that you definitely won’t forget in a hurry 👀 Expect laughs, friendly fire, questionable opinions, and the wonderfully weird stories you don’t hear in the mainstream.

This week… we might genuinely be scraping the barrel 😅 We chat about a bold new school uniform change coming to one lucky school and whether teenage us would’ve loved it or rebelled immediately. Then we spiral into the genius world of councils letting residents name their bin lorries (and snow ploughs!) — proving British creativity is alive and well 🗑️❄️ There’s a nostalgic throwback to our own school prom days — awkward dances, questionable outfits, and memories that probably should’ve stayed buried. Brace yourself for our most disgusting Confession yet 🤢 and a very windy Head2Head, as the two Cla(i)res battle it out in breezy fashion 💨😂 It’s chaotic, it’s ridiculous, and we absolutely loved every second.

If there was ever an episode that truly lived up to its title, this is the one. Episode 6 of Mash-up: After Hours throws the rulebook out of the window as the conversations drift firmly into territory that definitely wouldn’t survive daytime radio. Clare brings yet another collection of jaw-dropping laws being introduced around the world — thankfully none of them here in the UK — before John opens the floodgates on the words you absolutely cannot say on the radio. Unsurprisingly, this is where things get colourful, earning this week’s episode its very fitting title. Claire, also known as Bob, turns her attention to The Traitors, unpacking how it’s taken over households across the country and why everyone now fancies themselves as a tactical genius. Somewhere along the way, the conversation takes a sharp turn into funeral plans, alongside a whole host of other topics that spiral wildly, unpredictably, and hilariously off course. Add in John taking on Clare Pal in this week’s Head2Head, another eyebrow-raising listener confession, and plenty of moments that probably should’ve been edited out… and you’ve got an episode that’s unfiltered, chaotic, and very much not suitable for children. Listener discretion is strongly advised 🎧😏

Episode 5 is packed with weird, wonderful, and downright hilarious stories from across the globe. We dive into the rise of AI musician Xania Monet and why AI music hitting the charts is both fascinating and slightly terrifying. We’ve got some genuinely good news as pandas are officially no longer endangered, and we share some of the daftest safety signs you’ll ever hear. Plus, we explore how your personality might be revealed by something as simple as which body part you wash first in the shower. It’s John vs Claire in this week’s Head2Head, and the Confession Booth delivers what is by far one of the funniest confessions we’ve had so far. All that — and plenty more chaos in between.

In this episode of Mash-up: After Hours, the team takes a brutally honest (and often hilarious) look at the strange, frustrating and downright confusing state of modern Britain. From heated debates over where certain foods should be stored, to the ever-growing rage around parking fines, the conversation quickly spirals into the bigger picture — the state of the prison system, the bizarre ease of achieving so-called “celebrity” status, and the national outrage that is the current price of Mini-Eggs. Alongside the laughs and chaos, the episode takes a more serious turn with the most powerful and personal confession the show has seen so far, before the mood swings back into full entertainment mode with this week’s Head2Head — a fiercely competitive Clare vs Claire showdown. Thought-provoking, funny, emotional and completely unfiltered, Upside Down Britain captures exactly why nothing quite makes sense anymore… and why we can’t stop talking about it.

What starts as a sensible conversation about growing up and becoming more safety-conscious quickly unravels into pure Mash-up chaos. In Episode 3, John, Clare and Claire (aka Bob) attempt to discuss adulthood, responsibility, and whether any of us actually know what we’re doing — before being completely derailed by ball pits, fake Joe Lycett news stories, deepfakes, billionaire “musicians”, and a confession booth letter that sparks one of the funniest conversations the show has had yet. From childhood freedom vs adult caution, to questioning what’s even real anymore, to Clare’s very unique theory on how past lovers might suddenly remember you… this episode perfectly earns its title: Deep and Meaningful — in the most unhinged way possible. Honest, ridiculous, unexpectedly thoughtful, and laugh-out-loud funny — this is Mash-up: After Hours at its very best.

Episode two of Mash-up: After Hours descends into glorious chaos as John finds himself trapped in a full-blown Cla(i)re sandwich, with regular co-host Clare Pal on one side and brand-new team member Claire Stephen making her debut on the other. What follows is an hour of laughter, unpredictability, and completely unnecessary competitiveness as the trio are collectively outsmarted by Joe Lycett, dive into the wonderfully questionable antics of naughty Elf on the Shelf, and uncover the shocking truth that Clare Pal may in fact be a dangerously powerful farter. Meanwhile, Claire Stephen wastes no time in making her mark, storming to her first ever Head2Head victory and proving she is very much a force to be reckoned with. Loud, ridiculous, and entirely unfiltered — this episode delivers everything that makes After Hours exactly what it says on the tin.

The chaos is officially unleashed. In our first full episode, Clare drops the ultimate British bombshell: she doesn’t like gravy — and yes, we needed a moment to recover. We also dive into the shocking stats about how many workers aren’t taking their breaks, crown the UK’s most-rated condiment (prepare yourself for controversy), and read out our very first anonymous listener confession… which definitely set the tone for what’s to come. You lot also weighed in on our Question of the Week, sparking everything from wholesome answers to absolute wildcards. It’s unfiltered, it’s unpredictable, it’s us — and it’s only episode one. Let the madness begin.

Before we officially launch, we hit record on a little test run… and it turned into absolute chaos (in the best way). In this unofficial first episode, we dive straight into Clare’s full-blown obsession with Christmas, reminisce about the glory days of old-school puddings, and uncover the shocking truth that Clare doesn’t drink tea or coffee. Simon’s unexpectedly posh accent also gets a well-deserved roasting, we confess to the times we accidentally swore in front of our parents, and there’s plenty more random, unfiltered chatter along the way. It’s messy, it’s funny, it’s us — and it’s the perfect warm-up for what’s coming when the Mash-up: After Hours Podcast officially lands.