The Worms That Turned

Will Barrett, Rob Pearmain

A podcast where we watch British TV sitcoms from the 1970s, 80s & 90s and decide whether they belong in our modern, woke world.

  1. Oct 20

    It Ain't Half Hot, Mum! (Part Two)

    Hello! And welcome back to The Worms That Turned - a podcast where we watch old UK TV sitcoms and decide whether they are suitable for our modern, woke world.  In this episode, we continue our cautious discussion of ItAin’t Half Hot, Mum! and decide if it belongs in the Comedy Hall of Fame, or the Dustbin of Comedy History? Our decision may surprise you! Are you ready for more hilarious homophobia and twice the racial stereotypes? Of course you are!    Warning ⚠️this episode contains language that some listeners may find offensive... WE REALLY MEAN IT THIS TIME... but only because we're quoting old TV shows, not because we enjoy using those words. We're not your father-in-law.    If you liked this episode, please subscribe and rate us on Spotify or Apple Music or wherever you get your podcasts.    The Worms That Turned is written, presented, and produced by Will Barrett and Rob Pearmain. Theme tune by Rob.

  2. Oct 19

    It Ain't Half Hot, Mum! (Part One)

    Hello! And welcome to The Worms That Turned - a podcast where we watch old UK TV sitcoms and decide whether they are suitable for our modern, woke world.   This week we're going back to the glory days of World War II, when we fought back against the might of the Imperial Japanese Army with nothing more than drag acts, crooning, and chorus routines. A time when the British Empire ruled half the world and our armed forces were the best in the world (apart from the men who wore dresses).   So, it time to meet the boys 'cos the boys are here, the boys to entertain you... as we deep dive into It Ain't Half Hot, Mum! to see whether colonial attitudes, racial stereotypes, and unabashed homophobia still make great sitcom comedy today.   In this episode, Will offends the entire population of Wales, and Rob reveals his single claim to fame about the time he nearly met the only celebrity ever to visit Grimsby.   Warning ⚠️this episode contains language that some listeners may find offensive...WE REALLY MEAN IT THIS TIME... but only because we're quoting old TV shows, not because we enjoy using those words. We're not your father-in-law.   If you liked this episode, please subscribe and rate us on Spotify or Apple Music or wherever you get your podcasts.    The Worms That Turned is written, presented, and produced by Will Barrett and Rob Pearmain. Theme tune by Rob.

  3. Aug 19

    The Young Ones (Part Two)

    Welcome back to The Worms That Turned - a podcast where we watch old UK TV sitcoms and decide whether they are suitable for our modern, woke world. Join us as we continue our deep dive into The Young Ones and pull apart Series 2 to discover precisely why Will's Mum wouldn't let him watch it. Which is the most memorable episode* of The Young Ones? What is it's cultural legacy? How did the series go on to influence generations of comedians? These are just some of the questions we don't answer. Instead, Will spends far too much time talking about band T-Shirts and subliminal messages, and Rob recites his favourite public service announcement at length. Will The Young Ones make it into the Comedy Hall of Fame, or be consigned to the Dustbin of Comedy History? Only one way to find out - listen to Part Two, for Cliff's sake! Warning ⚠️this episode contains language that some listeners may find offensive... but only because we're quoting old TV shows, not because we enjoy using those words. We're not your father-in-law. If you liked this episode, please subscribe and rate us on Spotify or Apple Music or wherever you get your podcasts.  The Worms That Turned is written, presented, and produced by Will Barrett and Rob Pearmain. Theme tune by Rob.  * It's Series 2 Episode 1 "Bambi", obviously.

  4. Aug 16

    The Young Ones (Part One)

    Hello! And welcome to The Worms That Turned - a podcast where we watch old UK TV sitcoms and decide whether they are suitable for our modern, woke world. Right guys, we have something really amazing and heavy to lay on you, man! We're, like, totally doing an episode, right, yeah, on The Young Ones! That hippy is right, you know! This week we are talking about The Young Ones, everyone's favourite sitcom about dirty, smelly, anarchic students, and featuring a ton of 80's alternative comedians. Join us for Part One, as we look back at the surreal and sweary antics of Scumbag College's finest: People's Poet (P)Rick, Very Metal Vyvyan, Neil the Stupid Hippy, and Mike The Cool Person. In this episode we deconstruct Series 1 of The Young Ones, Rob reveals he had a narrow escape as a child in The Top Of The Pops studio, and Will attempts to reminisce about his own anecdote-free experience of student life. Does The Young Ones still make us laugh with its radical alternative comedy nonsense or is it as outdated as Neil's fashion sense? Listen to Part One of our deep dive to find out! Warning ⚠️ this episode contains language that some listeners may find offensive... but only because we're quoting old TV shows, not because we enjoy using those words. We're not your father-in-law. If you liked this episode, please subscribe and rate us on Spotify or Apple Music or wherever you get your podcasts.  The Worms That Turned is written, presented, and produced by Will Barrett and Rob Pearmain. Theme tune by Rob.

  5. 12/31/2025 ·  Bonus

    Porridge Christmas Specials

    Welcome to a special festive edition of THE WORMS THAT TURNED!   In this episode, we recreate Christmas Day in the nick by locking ourselves in a small room, fermenting our own port from orange juice and air freshener, and watching the 1975 and 1976 Christmas episodes of top prison-based sitcom, Porridge!   Does Porridge belong in the Comedy Hall of Festive Fame or the Dustbin on Comedy Past? Listen to the end of the episodeto find out! And then have a very Happy New Year 🥳   Warning ⚠️this episode contains language that some listeners may find offensive... but only because we're quoting old TV shows, not because we enjoy using those words. We're not your father-in-law. And boy, was he on top form on Boxing Day... If you liked this episode, please subscribe and rate us on Spotify or iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.  The Worms That Turned is written, presented, and produced by Will Barrett and Rob Pearmain. Theme tune by Rob.

    Porridge Christmas Specials

  6. 10/29/2025

    Duty Free

    Hola! And welcome back to The Worms That Turned - a podcast where we watch old UK TV sitcoms and decide whether they are suitable for our modern, woke world. In this episode, we take a nostalgic look back at the package holiday based sitcom “Duty Free” and ask, “Wish you were there?” "Probably not" is the answer, as we uncover massive xenophobia, attempted infidelity, unwieldy luggage, and some very questionable holiday outfits. Will David and Linda ever consummate their holiday romance, or will Amy and Robert always catch them out? We watched all three series, plus a truly awful Christmas Special, to find out! Plus, in this episode, Will repeats some very inappropriate words about foreigners and Rob explains exactly how traveller’s cheques work (even though literally no-one uses them anymore). Warning ⚠️this episode contains language that some listeners may find offensive... but only because we're quoting old TV shows, not because we enjoy using those words. We're not your father-in-law. If you liked this episode, please subscribe and rate us on Spotify or iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.  The Worms That Turned is written, presented, and produced by Will Barrett and Rob Pearmain. Theme tune by Rob.

  7. 09/09/2025

    Sorry! (Part Two)

    Welcome back to The Worms That Turned - a podcast where we watch old UK TV sitcoms and decide whether they are suitable for our modern, woke world. In the second part of our deep live into Sorry!, the sitcom that firmly established Ronnie Corbett’s comedy persona, we finally get around to talking about some actual episodes of Sorry!, having spent far too much time debating who is most like Ronnie Corbett’s character in real life* But most importantly, we decide whether Sorry! belongs in the Comedy Hall of Fame or the Dustbin of Comedy History.  * It’s Will. Obviously. Warning ⚠️ this episode contains language that some listeners may find offensive... but only because we're quoting old TV shows, not because we enjoy using those words. We're not your father-in-law. If you liked this episode, please subscribe and rate us on Spotify or iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.  The Worms That Turned is written, presented, and produced by Will Barrett and Rob Pearmain. Theme tune by Rob.

  8. 09/09/2025

    Sorry! (Part One)

    Hello! And welcome to The Worms That Turned - a podcast where we watch old UK TV sitcoms and decide whether they are suitable for our modern, woke world. We’re back for another two-parter, in which we take a long, withering stare at the classic Ronnie Corbett sitcom, Sorry!, about a middle-aged librarian still living at home with his domineering mother. In this episode, we compare our middle-aged lives with Ronnie Corbett’s character, Timothy Lumsden, and feel only slightly better about our own careers, relationships, and lifetime achievements. In this episode, Will discovers that recording a podcast is far cheaper than actual therapy, and Rob reveals the shocking fact he is slightly taller than average height. Is Britain’s 77th most popular sitcom* of all time overdue a cultural revival or has it aged as badly as Ronnie Corbet trying to play a man ten years younger than himself? Join us and find out! * According to the Top 100 Best British Sitcoms (2004).   Warning ⚠️this episode contains language that some listeners may find offensive... but only because we're quoting old TV shows, not because we enjoy using those words. We're not your father-in-law. If you liked this episode, please subscribe and rate us on Spotify or iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts.  The Worms That Turned is written, presented, and produced by Will Barrett and Rob Pearmain. Theme tune by Rob.

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About

A podcast where we watch British TV sitcoms from the 1970s, 80s & 90s and decide whether they belong in our modern, woke world.

Information

  • Creator
    Will Barrett, Rob Pearmain
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Will Barrett, Rob Pearmain
  • Show Website
    The Worms That Turned