The Pick 3 Show

Most of our listeners would be lost with access to the internet but not everything has improved because of the worldwide web. The PickMaster general challenged his/her panel with debating 'what was better before the internet was easily accessible'. Anyone under 30 will struggle to imagine such a world, but those of us who have lived through this technological revolution have memories of a more carefree existence without information overload. So what was better before the internet, our panel give you their opinions.Interact with the podcast via our social portals on X & BlueSky or by e mail the [email protected]

The PMG has returned from his/her holiday and was obviously disappointed by some of it's elements, because the Pick 3 panel were immediatley ordered to debate the most underwhelming attractions they had ever visited. Join Martin, Gareth & Andy as they debate, disagree and dismiss each others choices, albeit there are no wrong answers on the Pick 3 Show, but as you will see there are some dodgy opinions.Let us have your thoughts via our social portals on X & BlueSky or via e mail [email protected]

Over the years we have all had our favourite products and nothing is more annoying than the manufacturers discontinuing items we still want to be able to buy. The PMG challenged the Pick 3 Panel to select the their top three items they want to see brought back. Our listeners had a wide range of opinions on this subject.Interact with the podcast via e mail: [email protected]

Gareth was humming a fairly tuneless 80's minor pop hit in close proximity to the PMG's open window. Shortly thereafter he/she sent down this week's topic for panel debate, "hit songs we truly hate", so we can only assume that Gareth had triggered an adverse reaction with his musical rendition. Join Martin, Gareth & Andy as they discuss the songs that, despite hit status, they regard as the equivalent to dragging your nails down a blackboard.Let us have your choices and opinions via our social portals or by e mail at [email protected]

The PickMaster General needed some panel input regarding overrated movies presumably as he/she anticipated some wet summer days with his/her little pickles. Setting such a challenge to Martin, Gareth and Andy was deemed a little too risky so PMG again drafted an authoritarian figure to keep the captive panel in line. A warm welcome back to 'Queen Victoria' as she is tasked with leading the panel to deliver some cohesive thoughts.Let us have your choices via our social portals or via e mail [email protected]

The Pick 3 panel openly admit that there are three decades of separation between them, but will they agree on the signs that show them getting older? Andy still believes that he is youthful, Gareth wants to believe that he drinks from the fountain of youth whilst Martin is coming to terms with approaching life differently whilst collecting his State pension. Nobody knows what age the PickMaster General is, but today's topic might give us a clue.See if you agree with the panel's top 3 choices of signs that show you are getting older, let us know what you think via our social portals on X, Instagram, BlueSky or via our e mail address [email protected]

It appears that the PickMaster General was having an existential crisis when selecting this weeks topic for the Pick 3 panel. What would you do if you had the power to make time stand still? The panel all approached this one a little differently albeit it was Martin who seemed to struggle most with this abstract concept, to the point that it appeared to irritate him, much to the delight of Gareth & Andy. Join us for our trickiest debate to date.Interact with the podcast via our social portals on X & Bluesky or via e mail [email protected]

It is hard to fathom that the PMG would select such a benign topic for this week's show. However, with Gareth 'loving a sandwich', Andy 'loving to eat' and Martin 'eating to survive', the Pick 3 panel made a meal out of this topic. Join the boys as they discuss what makes a perfect sandwich and, more importantly, what ruins one!Interact with the podcast via our social portals or via e mail on [email protected]

The PickMaster General obviously felt that Martin, Gareth & Andy needed some help with this week's topic so invited an old friend of the pod, Victoria Denoon, back to join the panel. PMG then tasked the panel with choosing the animals that truly scared them which led to some fierce debate. Find out who is scared of what and why on this week's episode.Interact with the podcast via our social media portals or via e mail [email protected]

As everyone relaxes into the holiday period, the PMG set the panel an emotional subject to debate. List the top 3 "fictional deaths that broke you", and was then heard chuckling as they hung up the red phone that is the only link to the PMG's office.Gareth has already admitted to regularly enjoying a good cry at emotional tv/film storylines, Andy's jovial persona might well mask a soft centre, but what on earth makes Martin go a little misty eyed in the world of fiction?Let us know if you agree/disagree with the panel's choices via our social portals on X, Instagram, BlueSky or use our dedicated e mail address [email protected]

The PickMaster General is packing for his/her summer holiday and so was thinking about travel when selecting this week's topic for the Pick 3 panel. "Select the top 3 most extraordinary places that you have visited" was the instruction sent down from the PMG, so the panel convened to discuss their personal travel highlights.Let us know your choices via our social portals on X,Instagram, BlueSky or via our dedicated e mail @[email protected]. Happy holidays to our listeners.

A staple of the tv schedules are the 'cop shows' with every generation having their favourites. Will the Pick 3 panel, with three decades of separation, have any crossover in their selections for the best tv cop shows that they have watched. Gareth showing up with bleached blonde hair, jacket with the sleeves rolled up and a pair of electric blue Espadrilles certainly gave a huge nod to his 80's heyday! As usual their were some strong opinions and some interesting choices.Do you agree or disagree with the Pick 3 panel, let us know via our social portals on X, Instagram, BlueSky or via our dedicated e mail address [email protected] 

This week the PickMaster General tested the panel's competitive instincts by setting an unusual challenge. Competition is a part of everyday life whether that be for selection to a sports team, interviewing for a new job or simply getting tickets to a popular gig. However, people also get weirdly competitive over a wide range of 'irrelevant' or 'unimportant' things. PMG tasked the panel to select their top three examples of weird competitiveness that they have witnessed, or are guilty of undertaking, in their lives.Interact with the podcast via X, BlueSky, Instagram or via our dedicated e mail address [email protected]

The PickMaster General tested the panel by asking them to list their top 3 life changing decisions. Martin has the most choices to sift through, Gareth is a contingency planner so making big decisions is not an alien concept, whereas "laid back" Andy takes his time over even the smallest of decisions. Find out what the panel eventually chose as their biggest life decisions.Interact with the podcast via X, BlueSky or e mail [email protected]

Our panel are in trouble and find themselves on death row awaiting final dispatch. However, very pleasingly the PMG has granted each of them unfettered access to whichever culinary delights they would wish to enjoy in their final hours. Despite some reservations regarding how hungry they might be, Martin, Gareth and Andy made their choices and placed their orders.What would you choose in such circumstances? Let us know via our portals on X, Instagram & BlueSky or via our e mail: [email protected]

The PMG has always been careful with the show's resources but are the panel as careful with money or do they waste cash? Martin, Gareth and Andy discuss the top 3 ways they each waste money, but most listeners will want to contact Andy by the end of the episode after he reveals a stellar deal he negotiated!Tell us how you waste money by interaction via our social portals on X, Instagram & BlueSky or via our e mail: [email protected]

Some days start out fine and then, unexpectedly, something happens which alters our outlook on the day. These random events/distractions are unforseen, but they change our attitude to how we finish our tasks for the day. In a moment of devilishness the PMG decided to ask the panel to list their top three things that can ruin their mood. In their usual fashion, Martin, Gareth and Andy, took up the challenge and delivered their choices.Let us know what dampens your mood on any given day by interacting with the podcast via our social portals on X,Instagram & BlueSky or via our e mail address: [email protected]

Gareth wasn't at all happy when the PickMaster General selected the topic of the top 3 Fictional Worlds that the panel would like to live in. Martin & Andy both saw the topic as a fun challenge and enjoyed Gareth's discomfort as he struggled to get his Accountant's brain to consider fantasy realms. Fair to say that this week's choices see a very wide divergence of opinions.Interact with the podcast via our social portals on X & BlueSky or via our dedicated listener e mail address [email protected]

A tradition as old as the hills is for parents to reinforce their viewpoint by telling "white lies" to kids. Generally this is to get children to fall in line but sometimes these lies become generational. The PickMaster General challenged Martin, Gareth and perennial bad boy Andy to recount what they were told as children that, with the benefit of hindsight, proved patently false.Let us know what "mistruths" you were told as children by the very people you trusted  the most! Contact us via X, Bluesky or via e mail: [email protected]

Not everything is as good as it's cracked up to be, so this week the PickMaster general challenged the panel to pick the top 3 things people pretend to enjoy. Despite the usual age related differences there was some surprising continuity between Martin, Gareth and Andy but do the listeners agree?Let us have your thoughts via X or BlueSky, or via our listener e mail portal [email protected]

Live music is one of life's great joys but not all gigs are created equal. Sometimes it is the setting, sometimes it's the staging but frequently it is the sheer joy of a shared experience. The PMG challenged the Pick 3 panel to select their top 3 gigs of all time and explain why they made their choices. It is safe to say that there is a wide variance in the choices plus a few fun stories along the way.Let us have your choices via our social media portals, remembering there are no wrong choices just some poorly argued opinions.

This week the PMG challenged the panel to select their top 3 small luxuries they couldn't live without. A tricky topic so Martin, Gareth and Andy drafted in some additional expertise and asked 'friend of the show', Ashley Parks, back to add some additional input. A fun episode with a few predictable choices and a couple of swerves to left field. Let us have your choices via X/Bluesky or via our dedicated e mail [email protected]

The PickMaster General does throw some intriguing questions at the Pick 3 panel and this week's topic of top 3 "underrated skills" certainly made the panel think. What skills are underrated, do people realise that some life skills can set them apart from the competition? Martin, Gareth & Andy debate some key skills that are of more benefit than people generally realise.Let us have your thoughts via our X & Bluesky social portals.

You watch many episodes of your favourite tv shows but eventually the storylines run their course and the writers look to resolve key issues in a finale that leaves loyal viewers satisfied. There are many tv shows undone by a poor finale or early cancellation but for others it is the glorious conclusion of years of storytelling. The PMG tasked the Pick 3 panel with selecting their top 3 shows that "spotted the landing" (although Gareth had never heard of this phrase) for a memorable final episode.Let us have your choices via our social portals on X or Bluesky.

We all buy a lot of stuff but what three items you have purchased could be described as "life improving"? The PMG task the Pick 3 panel with choosing three purchases that have made a significant life improving impact on the panellists. Suffice to say the variance on this episode is significant!Let us have your choices via our social portals on X & Bluesky.

If disaster struck and your house was on fire, what three items would you try to save? The PickMaster General posed this question to the panel but gave the additional clarification that family, pets and photographic memories were already saved. Martin, Gareth and Andy ponder what items are deemed irreplaceable and what is important enough to race back for as the flames take hold.Let us have your thoughts via our social portals on X & BlueSky.

Maybe it is your grandmothers perfume, the smell of cooking on an open fire, pipe tobacco smoke hanging in the air, an oily rag as you worked on your first car or candy floss at the fairground, smells have the ability to take us to distant memories. The Pick 3 panel debate the smells that transport them to another time and place.Interact with the podcast by messaging comments/suggestions to our social media portals on X & BlueSky.

So many movies have sequels or are part of interrelated franchises, but what about some great movies that have never been revisited, what movies deserve a sequel moving the story forward? The Pick 3 regular panellists are joined by special guest, Ashley Parks, who is a keen listener and regular contributor to the show, to try and identify the top movies that could expand their original stories in a sequel.As ever, let us have your comments or further suggestions on our social media portals on X & Bluesky.

We have all had them, if you haven't you are one of the lucky ones. This week the panel relive some of their worst journeys/travel experiences after the PMG selected the topic from the cloud based database. Martin explains why he hates a small Italian border town, Andy explains why a cheap holiday to Turkey was unnerving, whilst Gareth relives a parent's nightmare in Hong Kong!Let us know your top travel disasters via our portals on X & Bluesky, are they worse than ours?

The PickMaster General suggested to the panel that they list their top 3 "one hit wonders" but as usual this led to some debate as some artists only scored one hit in the UK or US, but had success elsewhere. Are they truly "one hit wonders"? Leaving Martin, Gareth & Andy to be the arbiters the PMG washed his/her hands of the topic and left it to the panel to make some big calls.As with a previous music related episode, some listeners might enjoy playing the chosen tracks between the panel's deliberations. This elongates the episode and hopefully adds to the fun. Let us know your choices via our portals on X & Bluesky.

The brief to the panel from the PickMaster General was pretty straightforward, select your top three animal stars from tv. However, somewhere along the way a couple of panellists (and apparently listeners) became a little confused and started including options from movies! As Martin frequently states, keeping the Pick 3 panel in line is like herding cats!Join Martin, Gareth & Andy as they sort of debate the subject they were given. It is highly likely that the PMG will impose sanctions...

We all watch many US comedies but which ones make the Pick 3 panel's top 3. As Martin, Gareth and Andy meet at an old comedy club the chances of much crossover between the decades seems unlikely but, as we all know, this trio have a habit of surprising us all.Join the Pick 3 panel as they discuss, deride and outright dismiss each other's choices but as we all say, there are no wrong choices only poor constructed opinions.

The use of language has always been important but certain words/phrases have become overused and annoying. Martin, Gareth & Andy were tasked with finding their top three words/phrases that they would like to remove from everyday conversations. Unsurprisingly there were a few disagreements but also a surprising amount of consensus.Let us know via our X or BlueSky portals what your choices might be, it's not as easy as you think!

We all love our sporting heroes but where we they be without some sporting villains for us to root against. The Pick 3 panel debate the sporting villainy that has impacted them the most. For some it could be Maradonna's "hand of god" goal, for others it could be Schumacher deliberately running Damon Hill off the track but one thing is for certain, today's debate will walk on the dark side of sporting legend!Let us know your top 3 sporting villains via our social portals on X & Bluesky.

After a nice few days off after Christmas the boys are back to start their 2026 with a new topic handed down, as ever, by the mysterious PickMaster General. Martin, Gareth and Andy debate their top 3 Board Games and it's not long before one of the panel clearly breaks the rules of engagement. Regular listeners will not be overly surprised but following the recording one of the panel had an uncomfortable couple of hours in the PMG's office!Let us know via our X and BlueSky portals whether you agree with our choices or what you think we missed.

As we arrive at 2026 we all have hopes, dreams and ambitions for the new year. Most of us set our resolutions with optimism and confidence, however, many lie in tatters by the end of January. Join the Pick 3 panel as they decide on their new year resolutions whilst on a big night out in Belfast. Will they be able to follow through on their individual ambitions, have they set the bar too low or too high, and will Andy escape paying the bill again?Let us know your own new year resolutions via our social portals on X and BlueSky. We wish all our listeners a peaceful and prosperous new year. Cheers from all at Pick 3 HQ!

Our Christmas Eve episode gives the Pick 3 panel the opportunity to discuss their favourite Christmas memories. Plenty of festive fun, and a couple of heartfelt seasonal revelations. The PickMaster General and the Pick 3 panel wish all our listeners a very happy and peaceful holiday period.Please note that the content of this episode may not be suitable for younger children excited by the prospect up reindeers, sleighs and present deliveries via the chimney!

All of us look forward to the Christmas break and the chance to enjoy the extensive festive tv and movies while feeling somewhat stuffed with food. The PickMaster General asked the panel to consider their top 3 Christmas tv & movie memories and interestingly there was some crossover between the guys. Join us as we debate the greatest tv/movie moments from our Christmas's past.Happy Christmas to all our Pick 3 listeners, may it be a time of fun and laughter with your families/friends.

Who trains for four years, frequently alone and sometimes in the dark, to be ready to unleash your maximum effort and potential on a single designated day in the Olympics? Many have trodden this committed path and some have ridden their dedication to glory and an Olympic Gold medal. For others the challenge has proved heartbreaking, but still they carry on. Sometimes just making it to the starting line of an Olympic event is a triumph, a celebration of the true spirit of the Games.The PickMaster General challenged the panel to seek out their top 3 Olympians and justify their choices.

We have all heard many "conspiracy theories" some of which hold our fascination whilst others are obviously complete bunkum, but it is a strange human trait that people create myths and legends to explain situations in which they have no personal involvement. The Pick 3 panel were challenged to pick the three conspiracy theories that have intrigued them personally and and how they rationalise the related mysteries. Join us as we delve into the unprovable world of the conspiracy theory.

All of us undertake a series of daily tasks that are tedious and given the chance we would outsource them. The panel meet to debate their top three choices of tasks they would willingly hand over the respnsibility to others. Some call this streamlining, others call it being lazy but if you are honest with yourself you would take the opportunity if it was available.Let us know what you would outsource if given the chance via our social portals on X and BlueSky

The rules were simple, pick the 3 famous people you would like to be for a day and then justify your choices. Trusting Martin, Gareth and Andy to follow these rules seemed risky, so the PickMaster general brought in a fourth panellist, a voice of reason, common sense and, more particularly, someone who knows not to let the "boys" get out of control. Despite the PickMaster General's best laid plans the episode veered off course in it's usual chaotic style.Interact with the podcast via our social portals on X and BlueSky, but more importantly, have fun creating your own lists with friends and family. 

The panel meet to discuss the most overrated foods, especially those that are forced down our throats by influencers and marketing teams. We all have our preferred options but which foodstuffs attracted the ire of the Pick 3 Panel? Gareth sees himself as a knowledgeable foodie, Martin openly refers to food as "fuel", whilst Andy just likes a good nosh up. Strangely there is some correlation between the panel regarding their dislike of certain overhyped foods.Interact with the podcast via our social portals on X & BlueSky.

Everyone has musical choices that they secretly love but won't really own up to when challenged. When the PickMaster General dropped this subject on the panel Gareth squealed with delight, Andy smiled enigmatically and Martin frowned. No easy or predictable choices this week but some revealing insights into the secret world of the Pick 3 panel's musical preferences (albeit the ones they keep hidden from general view).Interact with the podcast via our social portals at X & BlueSky, let us know what your choices would be.

To celebrate Halloween the Pick 3 panel relocate to a haunted castle to discuss their choices for "scariest movies". Andy loves this scary stuff, while Gareth is reliving a childhood nightmare and will probably not sleep soundly for weeks. Martin tries to control the creaks, groans and howls to achieve a decent recording in a very inhospitable recording environment. Did all the panel make it out alive after taking such risks to bring an authentically spooky episode to our listeners?Interact with the Pick 3 Show via our social portals on X & BlueSky.

Unquestionably the episode with the largest amount of listener input as the panel try to remember their top 3 school memories. With so much material available what would the panellists choose from the halcyon days of their youth, albeit not all the stories were humorous. Our listeners chipped in with many memories and so this is a somewhat bumper edition of the podcast.Interact with the podcast via our social portals on X & BlueSky, remember there are no wrong choices but plenty of dodgy opinions.

Regular listeners know that Gareth "moonlights' on a music podcast "The Vinyl Vault", so his little face grinned from ear to ear when the PickMaster General dropped this subject into the panel's inbox. The 80's & 90's were the golden age of the music video albeit Andy sort of missed the 80's (although not in a rock n roll kind of way) so would his selections be as good as those who were there? As usual plenty of debate, derision and dust ups as the panel defend their individual lists.Let us know if you agree/disagree with our choices, remember their are no bad choices but there are some dodgy opinions.

The panel love a good debate so when the PickMaster General's random topic selector threw out "movie sequels (better than the original) the boys went to work researching and forming opinions. As regular listeners know, we never share picks prior to recording, so any crossover is purely coincidental. A wide topic with plenty of viable options, yet surprisingly some consensus emerged. Do you agree with the Pick 3 panel? Let us know via our socials, if not let's see your choices.

What three additional/essential items would you choose to take on a trip to the international space station? That was the question posed to the panel this week by the PickMaster General. Giving Martin, Gareth & Andy free reign to unleash mayhem in space was maybe not the smartest move but some of their logic was defendable, and some was just silly. As ever the panel had fun debating this interesting conundrum.Let us know, via our socials, what your choices might be if you were given the opportunity.

Lots of things annoy all of us but if you had the opportunity what three things/habits would you ban from society? That is the task set by the PickMaster General this week but was he/she wise to risk throwing this out to the Pick 3 panel. Remember, there are three decades of separation between the members and therefore, the likliehood of agreement is at an all time low. Will Andy be more tolerant than Gareth, will Martin have any tolerance at all?Let us know what you would ban if you had the power to affect society.