Episodes

  • Music Festivals
    Jul 31 2024

    Hello there! Welcome to our music festivals special.


    Let’s be honest here - at their best festivals can be the most amazing, joyous, life changing experiences. But at their worst, well, they can be pretty hard going, can’t they?


    Mark and Neil are a couple of seasoned festival goers with 30 plus festivals over a 20 year period under their collective belts. This week the lads are going to give you the benefit of their experience and will give you some top tips that will not only help you to survive but maybe even to flourish at a festival. We’re talking about food, drink, tents and the eternal question of what footwear to wear. Will it be wellies, trainers or walking boots? Tune in to find out.


    They will also give you their fantasy festival line up, talk about some of their favourite sets and some of the more interesting and unusual things they’ve seen over the years.


    Oh, and there’s a quiz too. In fact, there are 2 of them.


    The boys are taking a summer hiatus now so savour this episode as you won’t be hearing from them for a little while.


    Here's a link to a Spotify playlist that has all of Neil's (and a cheeky one from Mark) fantasy line-up tracks: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0fCC29giuIx2BDA9Trgz1j?si=31eebdf068974e62


    Ta ta for now.




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

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    1 hr and 42 mins
  • Surviving the Post Apocalypse
    Jun 23 2024

    This week Mark and Neil turn their attention to the apocalypse. In a step by step guide they will talk you through some serious, practical tips on how to get by if / when society collapses and you are left on your own to survive.


    It turns out that against all expectations Mark is actually pretty well prepared and can teach us all a thing or two whereas Neil has not got a clue and is going to be zombie food within a matter of hours.


    Along the way you’ll encounter the standard nonsense you’d expect from the lads and there’s even a trip to Lidl and Aldi which was fun for all involved.


    And you will find out if they are actually able to pronounce the word ‘apocalypse’ - occasionally they do but for a pair of supposedly intelligent and worldly men, it’s a very disappointing performance. Must do better chaps, must do better!


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

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    1 hr and 49 mins
  • Politics
    Jun 3 2024

    Who’s up for a bit of politics?


    You? Great, then you’ve come to the right place.


    Welcome to our most shocking, horrifying and surprising episode to date.


    Mark will shock you with his thoughts about Rishi Sunak, Neil will horrify you with what he wants to do with Speedos and you’ll be surprised at how long we talk about opinion polls without anything even approaching humour (seriously, there’s a solid 30 joke-free minutes in the first half). There’s a chance you could find it mildly interesting though so do stick with it. Or just skip forward to the 40 minute mark for a second half that is chock-a-block full of fun. If you don’t soil yourself laughing then you get your money back.


    It really is a podcast of 2 halves.


    Along the way we’ll be talking about our fantasy cabinets, political slogans, favourite tories and much, much more.


    So, sit back, relax and enjoy yourselves. You’re in for a real treat.


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

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    1 hr and 29 mins
  • Cop Shows
    May 12 2024

    HANDS, HANDS, SHOW ME YOUR HANDS!!!


    Hello, hello, hello, in this episode of Mark and Paul’s Opinion Hour Mark and Neil ( sans Paul again, I’m afraid) will be discussing TV cop shows. We take a meandering walk along our Memory Lane beat, and reminisce about the cop shows of our youth, as well as fingering the difference between UK and US police dramas. In terms of inane opinions, Mark and Neil have got form, and a jacket as long as your arm, so we like each other for this job.


    The tape is rolling, our solicitor is present, so it’s time we get our collar felt by the long arm of the law. Now shut it you slags and who sold you the gear?


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

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    1 hr and 13 mins
  • The Summer Olympics
    Apr 14 2024

    We're back! After a short seven month hiatus, Mark and Paul's opinion hour makes a triumphant return with chat and opinion about the Summer Olympics, in honour of the impending Paris 2024 games.


    In this episode Mark and 'Quiz Man Neil' (Paul did not run) opine on what's hot and what's not in the world of the summer Olympics. We look forward to Paris 2024 and also back to some of our favourite Olympic Games and competitors of the past.


    Who’s the greatest Olympian of all time? What events should or shouldn’t be included in future Games? If you want to know the answers to these questions and much, much more; what are you still doing reading this nonsense? Hit play and find out! Well, go on then…


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

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    1 hr and 22 mins
  • Apocryphal Tales
    Sep 19 2023

    Some of our more eager-eared listeners may notice some subtle changes in this, the latest instalment of Mark and Paul’s Opinion Hour. Most notably, the chaps have slightly tinkered with the format in this episode. Less noticeably, Paul is inconspicuous by his absence. But fear not, as Mark muddles through as best he can, utilizing his exceptional talent and despite his unexceptional brother, to bring you a shiny new episode about apocryphal tales and urban myths. The Barron brothers discuss tall tales, cryptids and conspiracy theories to finally put to bed some of the world’s daftest lies, Also, Neil delivers a cracking quiz, which the critics have dubbed: “one-sided”.


    But where is Paul, you might be asking yourself? Was he whisked off in a black helicopter or is he sipping gin and juice with Lord Lucan? The answer is more bizarre (sorry, that should have read ‘banal’) than you could possibly imagine.


    A big thank you to Nathan Filer for suggesting the topic for this episode. If you have any thoughts about future episodes, please send them to markandpaulsopinionhour@gmail.com.


    Now press play or do one!


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

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    1 hr
  • Snacks
    Aug 31 2023
    After a summer hiatus, the lads are back; fizzing with opinions for your aural delight. In this episode, the chaps are chatting, attacking and spatting on snacking. They opine on the best bar snack, the best late night snack and so much more. Why are you reading this and not already filling your earholes with the latest episode of Mark and Paul’s Opinion Hour? Go on then. Have at it!

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

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    2 hrs and 1 min
  • Guinness World Records
    Jul 23 2023
    In this episode the lads sort the impressive wheat from the pointless chaff of Guinness World Records. What’s the furthest distance anyone has ever rolled an orange with their nose? What’s the largest office space in the world? What’s the name of the world’s most expensive duck? The answers, and more, await your listening delectation, in the latest edition of Mark and Paul’s Option Hour…

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

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    1 hr and 35 mins