The Poshcast
Podcast

The Poshcast

The Telegraph

19 episodes

Welcome to The Poshcast, a riotously funny and irreverent examination of modern social norms, what ‘the done thing is’ these days and the dirtiest c-word of all: class. Forget war! Forget energy prices! Forget civilisation burning to a crisp or being taken over by robots! Instead, turn to The Poshcast to debate the real questions that divide Britain. Is yours a shoes-on or shoes-off household? Have the Cotswolds become the naffest place in the country? And is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as basic as a premiership footballer now he has a double-barrelled name? It’s hosted by Sophia Money-Coutts and Cleo Watson, two good pals who met a few years ago at a party and bonded over dogs and writing bonkbusters while knocking back margaritas. After a childhood spent riding ponies, then a spell at Tatler before writing several novels featuring eccentric toffs, Sophia brings her lifelong understanding of the aristocracy to the table; Cleo worked in Conservative politics before writing a couple of very saucy novels not at all based on her experiences of Lords calling women ‘fillies’ or bundling MPs out of strip clubs. Together, with the tally-ho enthusiasm of two Jilly Cooper characters, they will navigate you through the choppy waters of how to behave nowadays. Every week, Sophia and Cleo will discuss a big talking point, ranging from Waitrose to Range Rovers, Dubai to dog breeds, straightforward shooting weekends to Secret Santa. No subject is off-limits in our valiant quest to decode what ‘posh’ really means. And there’ll be listener input, too, because we want to help tackle the country’s thorniest etiquette questions. How do you tell your host in advance that you’re on Mounjaro? Should you dump a man because of his shoes? And how best to navigate the tricky ‘bathroom’ issue on the first weekend away with a new lover? Towards the end of each episode, they will pick their favourite bit of manners mail and offer their helpful thoughts on the subject. Because like it or loathe it, Britain’s favourite hobby remains pretending not to care about class while quietly caring about it very much, judging everything from your kitchen taps to your holiday destination, and whether you say ‘toilet’ or ‘loo’. The spirit of Hyacinth Bucket lives on! Do, please, keep on your shoes, take off your gloves and hold on to your hats for The Poshcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy (https://acast.com/privacy) for more information.

What this show covers

etiquettedinner partiesBritish culturesocial normsdatingchivalryfeminismengagement ringssocial lifeentertainingqueuingdiningChristmas decorationsvoice notescars and status

What listeners will find here

Cuffing season, chivalry, and the problem of a truly awful engagement ring
Cuffing season sets the mood as Cleo Watson and Sophia Money-Coutts spar over chivalry, feminism, and whether a man should pay for dinner. The episode also veers into gloriously odd territory, from snake-filled proposals to black toilet paper and a listener dilemma about an inherited sapphire ring.
A spirited case for reviving the dinner party, with side debates on stoves, dogs and dress codes
Dinner parties are back on trial as Sophia Money-Coutts and Cleo Watson argue for proper entertaining and a little more effort at the table. The episode also veers into the wood stove debate, canine politics, and a listener dilemma about cleavage at posh events.
Tea, loo roll, and Christmas décor: etiquette battles from Liverpool to London
This episode dives into everyday etiquette flashpoints, from premature Christmas decorations and what counts as “tea” to the right way to ask for the bill. Cleo Watson and Sophia Money-Coutts swap views from Labour conference Liverpool and London while tackling listener dilemmas with sharp, social observation.
Mud, motors, memoirs, and the great guest-bed linen debate
Hosting etiquette is the headline question here, but the episode ranges from Goodwood Revival fallout to status-symbol cars and Earl Spencer’s memoir blitz. Sophia Money-Coutts and Cleo Watson mix social rules, class signals, and a defence of the stiff upper lip.
A gleefully absurd dive into class, privilege and very posh vocabulary
Class is the target this week as Sophia Money-Coutts and Cleo Watson respond to a new push on class inequality by inventing a ludicrous Class Unit for posh people. They also field a listener’s question about the proper words for children’s private parts, with plenty of comic discomfort along the way.

Episodes

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