Museum of Pop Culture with Josh Widdicombe

The Hit Factory: Stock, Aitken and Waterman

Episode 3: Everyone's Favourite Neighbour(s)

In the third episode of this four part series, Josh Widdicombe and comedian and friend Matthew Crosby discuss the amazing story of Stock, Aitken and Waterman's 'Hit Factory' record label...

When we left them, Stock, Aitken and Waterman were fully in their pomp and had topped the charts with countless hits. The jewel in their crown - Rick Astley’s ‘Never Gonna Give you up’ - was #1 in 27 countries!

And just when they thought things couldn’t get any better, a nearly shambolic encounter with a then barely famous soap actress called Kylie Minogue took the Hit Factory to a whole new level… this episode is especially for you. Enjoy!! xxx

If you want to get in touch with the show...

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New episodes are released twice weekly.

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A Keep It Light Media Production

(Copyright 2026)

The Hit Factory: Stock, Aitken and Waterman

Episode 2: From Tea Boy to Chart Topper

In the second episode of this four part series, Josh Widdicombe and comedian and friend Matthew Crosby discuss the amazing story of Stock, Aitken and Waterman's 'Hit Factory' record label...

When we left them, the trio’s lives and careers had just converged, and the taste of that early success meant they agreed to collaborate on a new record label…

Little did they know they were about to go on an insane run of chart topping pop success with the likes of… 

Cliff Richard, Mel and Kim, Bananarama, Sinitta and Rick Astley…

They would help to define a decade in pop music, but also label them as “being second to Margaret Thatcher as ‘the worst thing about the 1980s.’”

Episode 3 is available on all podcast platfroms on the 17th January.

If you want to get in touch with the show...

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: museumofpopculturepod

New episodes are released twice weekly.

Please subscribe, leave a review, and spread the word if nostalgic pop culture is your cup of tea!!

A Keep It Light Media Production

(Copyright 2026)

The Hit Factory: Stock, Aitken and Waterman

Episode 1: From Coventry schoolboy to the King of Disco

In the first episode of this four part series, Josh Widdicombe and comedian and friend Matthew Crosby discuss the amazing story of Stock, Aitken and Waterman's 'Hit Factory' record label...

Join them on a journey from the over crowded post war class rooms of Coventry to the top of the British pop charts (via a few scenic detours to New York and the infamous Studio 54, a very brief spell as a grave-digger, and a run of chart topping hits that included making a superstar of Kylie, Jason, and their office tea boy - Rick Astley)

It's a spectacular rags to riches story - and we've barely scratched the surface of it yet. Enjoy!!

Episode 2 is available on all podcast platfroms on the 14th January.

If you want to get in touch with the show...

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: museumofpopculturepod

New episodes are released twice weekly.

Please subscribe, leave a review, and spread the word if nostalgic pop culture is your cup of tea!!

A Keep It Light Media Production

(Copyright 2026)

The Rise and Fall of Mr Blobby (and Noel Edmonds)

Episode 4: To Blob, or not to Blob...

And so we reach the final chapter of the Rise and Fall of Mr Blobby and Noel Edmonds…

The former is now firmly in the rear view mirror, although like all great legends - they never truly die and I have a feeling we may see him again…

And the latter is about to experience a late career renaissance in the form of a Dutch quiz show format which ruled the airwaves largely due to his broadcasting brilliance…

And then, unsurprisingly, things take an even more bizarre turn…

Thanks for joining us on this journey

xxx

Please subscribe, leave a review, and spread the word if nostalgic pop culture is your cup of tea!!

If you want to get in touch with the show...

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: museumofpopculturepod

New episodes are released twice weekly.

A Keep It Light Media Production

(Copyright 2026)

The Rise and Fall of Mr Blobby (and Noel Edmonds)

Episode 3: Done Blobbin' - Mr Blobby's Downfall

In the penultimate episode of the series, Josh Widdicombe and comedian Tom Craine explore the incredible rise and fall of Mr Blobby and Noel Edmonds.

When we left him at the end of episode 2, Mr Blobby's fame and notoriety had hit giddy stratospheres…

He topped the music charts with a Christmas #1 single... 

His face was on countless lunchboxes, pencil cases, and allegedly - lampshades all across the nation…

But his giant rubber reach was about to exceed his grasp, and as Blobby fatigue set in across the nation his fall from grace was imminent…

We also take a lovely nostalgic detour through the archives of iconic British TV puppets via everyone's favourite rodent, Roland Rat.

And we discuss the birth of breakfast television on BBC and ITV.

Enjoy!!

If you want to get in touch with the show...

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: museumofpopculturepod

New episodes are released twice weekly.

Please subscribe, leave a review, and spread the word if nostalgic pop culture is your cup of tea!!

A Keep It Light Media Production

(Copyright 2026)