Bloomin' Legends with Johnny Vaughan & Gavin Woods

Global Player Originals
  • 5.0 (2)
  • HISTORY

Join mates Johnny Vaughan and Gavin Woods as they uncover the jaw-dropping stories of history’s boldest icons and unsung heroes. From outrageous escapades to ingenious breakthroughs, every episode is packed with legendary tales you didn’t learn in school (but wish you had). With sharp wit and a shared sense of curiosity, Johnny and Gav turn history into a rollercoaster of laughs and surprises. Whether it’s daring escapes, bizarre inventions, or the quirky habits of history’s game-changers, you’ll be hooked on their unique take on the past. Perfect for history buffs, comedy lovers, and anyone who enjoys a cracking good story, Bloomin’ Legends is your new favourite podcast for unforgettable adventures through time. Get in touch with @BloominLegends on tik tok & Instagram. For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: dax@global.com This is a Global Original podcast, produced by Ben Fairclough. Executive Producer, Chris Janes Commissioning Editor, Chris Lander

  1. Introducing: Up To Speed

    1D AGO · BONUS

    Introducing: Up To Speed

    Bloomin' Legends listeners, we’ve got a podcast we think you’ll love. Step inside sport’s greatest soap opera, Formula One, with a brand-new podcast Up To Speed. Hosted by Drive to Survive star Will Buxton, racing driver-turned-broadcaster Naomi Schiff, 13-time Grand Prix winner David Coulthard, and F1 content creator Jolie Sharpe. Expect razor-sharp reaction, behind-the-scenes insight, blockbuster interviews and answers to the questions you’ve always wanted to ask! With their deep knowledge, expert analysis and infectious love for racing, Will, Naomi, DC & Jolie dive into the stories that matter - on and off the track. It’s fast-paced, unfiltered and full of the gossip that keeps the paddock buzzing. They’ll react to the weekend's race drama every Monday. On Thursday they’ll deep dive into the biggest stories of the week. Watch and listen to episode 1 now on Global Player, YouTube and wherever you get your podcasts.

    2 min
  2. Henry VIII: The Trump of Tudor England?

    1D AGO

    Henry VIII: The Trump of Tudor England?

    Welcome back to Bloomin’ Legends! And not just any episode… this is our 50th episode special 🎉To mark the milestone, Johnny Vaughan and Gavin “The Woodman” Woods tackle a man with enough drama, ego and chaos to fuel fifty podcasts on his own, Henry VIII. This episode dives into Henry’s life through the stories of his six wives, Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anne of Cleves, Catherine Howard and Catherine Parr, and how his obsession with legacy, power and producing a male heir reshaped England forever. From the divorce that split from Rome and created the Church of England, to beheadings, betrayals and spectacular Tudor meltdowns, this is history’s most explosive midlife crisis, played out on a national stage. And because it’s Bloomin’ Legends, Johnny and Gav can’t resist drawing a few modern parallels. Big personality. Bigger ego. Loyalty demanded. Enemies discarded. Rules rewritten. The comparisons get lively… Was Henry a political mastermind who transformed Britain? Or just a king with absolute power and absolutely no impulse control? For our 50th episode, it felt right to cover a ruler who didn’t just make headlines, he became the headline. What You’ll Hear in This Episode:👑 Six Marriages, Six Power Plays – The women who shaped (and suffered under) Henry ⚖️ Breaking from Rome – The divorce that changed a nation 🐎 Falling off the horse – How one jousting tournament changed the face of england. 📺 Modern Comparisons – When history starts to feel very current 🎉 Episode 50 Reflections – How we got here… and why Henry was the perfect choice Bloomin’ Legend or Not?For our 50th outing, Johnny and Gav ask the big question: Was Henry VIII a true Bloomin’ Legend, or the most powerful chaos merchant in British history? 🎥 Watch the full episode now on the Bloomin’ Legends YouTube channel! Join the Conversation!📲 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram: @BloominLegends 📩 Got a legendary story we should cover? Email us at bloominlegends@global.com 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & review to help more people discover Bloomin’ Legends. Listen to all episodes on Global Player, download from your app store or visit www.globalplayer.com This is a Global Original Podcast, produced by Ben Fairclough.

    46 min

  3. 5D AGO · BONUS

    The Extra Legendary Bit: Flooded Nightclubs, ahungover car crash & sinking boats!

    Welcome to Bloomin’ Legends: The Extra Legendary Bit! Johnny and Gav dive into the latest batch of listener messages, and as always, things take a sharp turn into chaos. This week’s inbox delivers tales of nightclubs going underwater, the brutal misfortune of being hit by a car while painfully hungover, and the extreme lengths one listener went to by sinking their own boat just to get rid of it. Expect big laughs, disbelief, and plenty of “why on earth would you do that?” moments, as the boys react to your stories and decide whether they deserve a place in the Bloomin’ Legends hall of fame. What You’ll Hear in This Episode:🌊 Flooded Nightclubs – When a night out takes a very wet turn 🚗 Hungover Horror – The worst possible timing for an already rough morning 🚤 Boat Disposal, Extreme Edition – Why one listener chose sabotage over selling 📨 Listener Mayhem – Proof that Bloomin’ Legends aren’t just from history books Join the Conversation!📩 Got a story you think can beat these? Send it to bloominlegends@global.com and we’ll decide if it’s Bloomin’ Legendary or not! 📲 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram: @BloominLegends 🎥 Watch full episodes on the Bloomin’ Legends YouTube channel! 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & review to help more people discover Bloomin’ Legends. Listen to all episodes on Global Player, download from your app store or visit www.globalplayer.com This is a Global Original Podcast, produced by Ben Fairclough.

    14 min
  4. Douglas Bader - The RAF double amputee who was denied the Victoria Cross

    FEB 9

    Douglas Bader - The RAF double amputee who was denied the Victoria Cross

    Welcome back to Bloomin’ Legends! The podcast where Johnny Vaughan and Gavin “The Woodman” Woods uncover the wildest, boldest, and most unbelievable true stories from history. In this episode, Johnny and Gav tell the extraordinary story of Douglas Bader, the RAF fighter pilot who lost both legs in a flying accident, only to come back stronger, deadlier, and more determined than ever. Written off by the military and told he’d never fly again, Bader ignored doctors, bureaucracy, and common sense. Teaching himself to walk on prosthetic legs, he fought his way back into the cockpit and became one of Britain’s most feared Battle of Britain aces. His aggression in the air was legendary, his confidence unshakeable, and his refusal to accept limits made him impossible to ignore. Shot down over occupied France, Bader’s war took another astonishing turn. He attempted escape after escape from German POW camps, infuriating his captors so much that they eventually locked him away in Colditz, the prison reserved for the most troublesome Allied officers. This is a story of defiance, stubbornness, bravery, and a man who simply would not accept the word “no”. What You’ll Hear in This Episode:✈️ The Flying Accident – The crash that cost Bader both his legs 🦿 Defying the Doctors – Learning to walk, then fly, again 🔥 Battle of Britain Ace – One of the RAF’s most aggressive pilots 💥 Shot Down – Capture, captivity, and relentless escape attempts 🏰 Colditz Castle – When even the Germans had had enough of him Bloomin’ Legend or Not?At the end of the episode, Johnny and Gav ask the obvious question: Was Douglas Bader a true Bloomin’ Legend, or just the most stubborn man in military history? 🎥 Watch the full episode now on the Bloomin’ Legends YouTube channel! Join the Conversation!📲 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram: @BloominLegends 📩 Got a legendary story we should cover? Email us at bloominlegends@global.com 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & review to help more people discover Bloomin’ Legends. Listen to all episodes on Global Player — download from your app store or visit www.globalplayer.com This is a Global Original Podcast, produced by Ben Fairclough.

    46 min

  5. FEB 5 · BONUS

    The Extra Legendary Bit: A drunk wedding soldier, British Motor Bikes & Jackie Stewart!

    Welcome to Bloomin’ Legends: The Extra Legendary Bit! Johnny and Gav dive into the latest batch of listener messages, and as always, things take a sharp turn into chaos. This week’s inbox includes a soldier who turned a wedding into a battlefield while drunk, the wonderfully bizarre world of British motorbike names, and a brush with racing royalty in the form of Sir Jackie Stewart. Expect laughter, disbelief, questionable opinions, and the kind of tangents only Johnny and Gav can manage, all fuelled by the brilliant, bonkers stories sent in by the Bloomin’ Legends community. Join the Conversation!📩 Got a story you need Johnny & Gav to hear? Send it to bloominlegends@global.com and we’ll decide if it’s Bloomin’ Legendary or not! 📲 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram: @BloominLegends 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & review to help more people discover Bloomin’ Legends. 🎥 Watch full episodes now on the Bloomin’ Legends YouTube channel! Listen to all episodes on Global Player — download from your app store or visit www.globalplayer.com This is a Global Original Podcast, produced by Ben Fairclough.

    14 min
  6. Genghis Khan Part 2: The Biggest Empire the World Has Ever Seen

    FEB 2

    Genghis Khan Part 2: The Biggest Empire the World Has Ever Seen

    Welcome back to Bloomin’ Legends! The podcast where Johnny Vaughan and Gavin “The Woodman” Woods uncover the wildest, boldest, and most unbelievable true stories from history. This is Part Two of the Genghis Khan saga, and this is where everything goes completely off the scale. Temüjin is now officially Genghis Khan, ruler of a united Mongol nation. What follows is one of the most astonishing power grabs in human history. Through ruthless intelligence, brutal innovation, and terrifying military brilliance, Genghis doesn’t just conquer land, he reinvents how empires work. From tearing apart ancient clan loyalties to creating a brand-new army system, encouraging religious freedom, turning poetry into battlefield communication, and learning siege warfare on the fly, Genghis Khan builds an empire that stretches from Beijing to the edge of Europe, all on horseback. This episode covers the destruction of northern China, the fall of Beijing, the rerouting of the Silk Road, the annihilation of entire empires in Central Asia, and the moment Genghis Khan becomes the ruler of the largest contiguous land empire the world has ever known. It ends with his mysterious death, a secret burial, and a legacy so vast that millions of people alive today are believed to be descended from him. What You’ll Hear in This Episode:⚔️ Becoming Genghis Khan – The moment Temüjin becomes “Universal Ruler” 🔥 Rewriting Warfare – New armies, new rules, and zero tolerance for rebellion 🏯 The Fall of Beijing – Siege tactics, propaganda, and total destruction 🛣️ The Silk Road Hijack – How trade made the Mongols unimaginably rich 🌍 Empire Without Limits – From China to the Middle East in a single lifetime ☠️ The Mysterious Death – Horse accident, murder… or something stranger? Bloomin’ Legend or Not?At the end of the episode, the boys ask the obvious question: Is Genghis Khan the ultimate Bloomin’ Legend, or the most terrifying human being who ever lived? 🎥 Watch the full episode now on the Bloomin’ Legends YouTube channel! Join the Conversation!📲 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram: @BloominLegends 📩 Got your own legendary story — epic, absurd or just downright bonkers? Email us at bloominlegends@global.com and we’ll decide if it’s Bloomin’ Legendary or not! 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & review to help more people discover Bloomin’ Legends. Listen to all episodes on Global Player — download from your app store or visit www.globalplayer.com This is a Global Original Podcast, produced by Ben Fairclough.

    38 min
  7. Genghis Khan Part 1: Rodents, Revenge & the Birth of an Empire

    JAN 26

    Genghis Khan Part 1: Rodents, Revenge & the Birth of an Empire

    Welcome back to Bloomin’ Legends! The podcast where Johnny Vaughan and Gavin “The Woodman” Woods uncover the wildest, boldest, and most unbelievable true stories from history. In this 2 part series , the boys rewind the clock to the very beginning of the Genghis Khan story, before the empire, before the terror, before the world changed forever. Born as Temüjin, he was abandoned by his tribe, hunted by rivals, enslaved, and forced to fight simply to survive on the brutal Mongolian steppe. This is the story of betrayal, brotherhood, and blood feuds of Temüjin’s rise from a powerless outcast to a feared and respected war leader. It all builds toward his looming confrontation with his former blood brother Jamukha, a clash that will decide the future of the Mongol tribes… and the fate of history itself. What You’ll Hear in This Episode:🔥 Abandoned as a Child – How Temüjin was left to die on the steppe ⚔️ Slavery & Survival – The years that forged a ruthless leader 🤝 Brotherhood and Betrayal – Temüjin and Jamukha’s deadly rivalry 🐎 The Birth of a Warlord – How loyalty, merit, and violence built his power Bloomin’ Legend or Not?At the end of the episode, we ask: Was Temüjin already a Bloomin’ Legend, or was the legend still waiting to be born? 🎥 Watch the full episode now on the Bloomin’ Legends YouTube channel! Join the Conversation!📲 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram: @BloominLegends 📩 Got your own legendary story, epic, absurd or just plain bonkers? Send it to bloominlegends@global.com and we’ll decide if it’s Bloomin’ Legendary or not! 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & review to help more people discover Bloomin’ Legends! Listen to all episodes on Global Player, download from your app store or visit www.globalplayer.com This is a Global Original Podcast, produced by Ben Fairclough.

    43 min
  8. What Happened to Rasputin’s Children? Maria & Varvara Rasputin

    JAN 19

    What Happened to Rasputin’s Children? Maria & Varvara Rasputin

    Welcome back to Bloomin’ Legends! The podcast where Johnny Vaughan and Gavin “The Woodman” Woods uncover the wildest, boldest, and most unbelievable true stories from history. In this episode, the boys follow the astonishing lives of Maria and Varvara Rasputin, the daughters of the most notorious mystic in history. When their father, Grigori Rasputin, was murdered, their world collapsed overnight. Once surrounded by royalty and privilege, the sisters were suddenly hunted, exiled, and forced to survive in a world that hated their name. While Varvara disappeared into a quiet life far from the spotlight, Maria embraced chaos, becoming a dancer, memoirist, and even a lion tamer in an American circus. From Imperial Russia to revolutionary terror, European exile, and the bright lights of the United States, their lives were every bit as extraordinary as their father’s legend. What You’ll Hear in This Episode:👨‍👧 Growing Up Rasputin – Life inside Russia’s most infamous household 🔥 After the Murder – How the sisters survived the collapse of Imperial Russia 🎪 From Royalty to Circus – Maria Rasputin’s unbelievable reinvention 🌍 Two Sisters, Two Fates – Why their lives took radically different paths Bloomin’ Legend or Not?At the end of the episode, we ask: Were Rasputin’s daughters Bloomin’ Legends in their own right, or simply survivors of history’s strangest legacy? 🎥 Watch the full episode now on the Bloomin’ Legends YouTube channel! Join the Conversation!📲 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram: @BloominLegends 📩 Got your own legendary story, epic, absurd or just plain bonkers? Send it to bloominlegends@global.com and we’ll decide if it’s Bloomin’ Legendary or not! 👉 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate & review to help more people discover Bloomin’ Legends! Listen to all episodes on Global Player, download from your app store or visit www.globalplayer.com This is a Global Original Podcast, produced by Ben Fairclough.

    48 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
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About

Join mates Johnny Vaughan and Gavin Woods as they uncover the jaw-dropping stories of history’s boldest icons and unsung heroes. From outrageous escapades to ingenious breakthroughs, every episode is packed with legendary tales you didn’t learn in school (but wish you had). With sharp wit and a shared sense of curiosity, Johnny and Gav turn history into a rollercoaster of laughs and surprises. Whether it’s daring escapes, bizarre inventions, or the quirky habits of history’s game-changers, you’ll be hooked on their unique take on the past. Perfect for history buffs, comedy lovers, and anyone who enjoys a cracking good story, Bloomin’ Legends is your new favourite podcast for unforgettable adventures through time. Get in touch with @BloominLegends on tik tok & Instagram. For advertising opportunities on this podcast email: dax@global.com This is a Global Original podcast, produced by Ben Fairclough. Executive Producer, Chris Janes Commissioning Editor, Chris Lander

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