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Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe

S12 EP41: Imagine This

26 May 2026

Transcription

Chapter 1: What humorous stories about playground escapades are shared?

0.031 - 14.405 Rob Beckett

This episode's brought to you by Pizza Express. School holiday heroes are back at Pizza Express to save half term. Order a full price main for yourself in one of their pizzerias before the 28th of May and they'll make the price of a piccolo meal disappear.

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14.785 - 24.694 Josh Widdicombe

So super kids eat free. Plus, mega teens can enjoy a classic pizza and soft drink for just £12. Incredible. Josh, school holiday heroes, what are we talking?

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25.035 - 41.923 Rob Beckett

Oh, do you know what? Yeah. I absolutely love for school holiday heroes is now we live in the country. Yeah. Opening the back door. Yeah. We've got a trampoline. That's my school holiday hero. That gets us through hours of school holiday. What about you? Can I prove upon your trampoline?

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42.143 - 46.511 Josh Widdicombe

Yeah. Heat wave, bit hot, 25 degrees, maybe 22 degrees, sprinkler.

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47.052 - 48.955 Rob Beckett

Oh, I loved that when I was a kid. Running the sprinkler, jump on it.

48.935 - 57.767 Josh Widdicombe

Wetting a sprinkler, drying the trampoline. Beautiful, beautiful times. School holidays can be a juggle, but Pizza Express Holiday Heroes help keep everyone happy.

57.927 - 61.252 Rob Beckett

Download your code at pizzaexpress.com or redeem within the app.

64.596 - 68.341 Josh Widdicombe

Hello, you're listening to Parenting Hell with... Finn.

68.361 - 78.114 Finn

Can you say Rob Beckett? Rob Beckett. And can you say Josh Widdicombe?

Chapter 2: How do the hosts introduce the concept of 'Playground Shaggers'?

78.134 - 78.655 Finn

Josh Widdicombe. All that.

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78.905 - 103.697 Rob Beckett

There we go. That's very cute. Hi, Rob, Josh, and Michael. Love the pod. Been listening since before we had kids. This is my little boy, Finn, saying your name's age 2.5. Two and a half. He's now nearly three and has been joined by his not-so-little baby brother, Ted, in March this year, weighing, wowzers, 10 pounds 5 ounces. That's a whopper, isn't it? That's a whopper.

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103.677 - 111.607 Rob Beckett

I'm originally from Cockermouth. Come on. Go on. But now live in Kendall. And we were at Rob's infamous Kendall gig.

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113.429 - 124.783 Josh Widdicombe

I feel harsh on the Kendall gig because I do slag it off a little bit. We enjoyed it despite the knobhead heckler. Thanks, Hannah. Was there a knobhead heckler? I can't remember. I don't know. It was Sunday night in a leisure centre and then someone was having a go.

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125.344 - 129.829 Rob Beckett

That Kendall leisure centre is hilarious because you can see the basketball hoops while you're performing.

129.929 - 137.61 Josh Widdicombe

Yeah. And like... I just think when I'm performing, I see basketball hoops. I just don't know if I'm in the right place. I know.

Chapter 3: What scandalous affair led to a teacher's dramatic exit?

137.631 - 139.735 Josh Widdicombe

It's wild. You know what I mean? It's wild.

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140.036 - 144.265 Rob Beckett

Rob. Yeah. We don't do enough correspondence. We always discuss this.

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144.346 - 162.063 Josh Widdicombe

Yeah. Also, I'm wearing a France shirt because I'm excited about the World Cup. Beautiful, isn't it? Yeah, yeah. So are you going? No. I'm working and it's Lou's birthday, so we're busy with that kind of stuff. But no World Cup matches for me, but I've got the sticker book. How are you going to approach the World Cup as a dad?

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162.444 - 172.834 Rob Beckett

Yeah. Right? Because let's keep it on brand. So from what I'm aware, and I haven't looked into it deeply, correct me if I'm wrong, the kickoffs are from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., something like that?

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172.814 - 190.009 Josh Widdicombe

Yeah, so it's a bit difficult because back in the day, this would be perfect for me as a jobbing comedian because you basically finish work. I'd go on Earth if I weren't touring. But 9 p.m. is my bedtime now. Yeah, well, 10 o'clock's mine. So there's games on at like silly o'clock. That one's 3 a.m. and 8 o'clock. So there's games late.

190.03 - 209.65 Josh Widdicombe

But I think I'm going to do it on a game-by-game basis because, sure, you know, like Netherlands, Japan, 9 o'clock. I'm all over that, Josh. I don't know about you. I'm like bang up for that. But in certain games, you know, you shouldn't have favourites. Take me through the first. First five games. Well, I'll be honest with you. Am I staying up till 3am to watch Canada play guitar? No.

209.79 - 214.096 Josh Widdicombe

If I wanted to watch that level of football, then I'd just go to goals in Elmer's End.

214.176 - 219.984 Rob Beckett

Do you know what? I'd stay up to 3am to watch Johnny Marr play guitar, but certainly not Canada play guitar.

220.004 - 225.011 Josh Widdicombe

So first game is Mexico, South Africa in Mexico at eight o'clock on Thursday, 11th of June.

Chapter 4: How did a delivery driver become involved in a workplace romance?

252.283 - 274.817 Josh Widdicombe

Exactly. What are the other ones? What's the one that goes at the seesaw? Oh, so you're thinking of that kind of playground. Let's get your arse sore on the seesaw. Yeah. Surely the playground is the school playground, isn't it? Here we go. This is a Playground Shaggers special. If you're new to this, it's basically... And you've probably left. Just be honest.

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274.837 - 278.142 Rob Beckett

You're not still here. It's been an awful opening.

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278.563 - 302.633 Josh Widdicombe

Yeah. Oh, talking about an awful opening. Michael, I'm sure Michael had tied it up. Anyway, this is basically stories from school playgrounds where parents and teachers and stuff have got too close. Hey, lads. I went to school slash college with a boy. Let's call him Dean. During high school, his dad had an affair with Dean's mum's mum. Sorry, sorry. Say that again.

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302.853 - 315.342 Rob Beckett

So sorry. It's always so difficult, this, isn't it? Your shagging Rose's mum. Yeah, I know, but can we get on with the show? Oh, there we go. There we go. That's lovely stuff. There we go. So the dad is shagging his mum.

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315.523 - 336.75 Josh Widdicombe

Yes, so Dean's nan became his step-mum. No way. At parents' evening, all three of them would turn up. Well, they got together. Yeah. Oh, no. Oh, no. Not just I could pump and dump, this was a lay and stay. Oh, my word. At parents' evening, all three of them would turn up like the extremely dysfunctional family they were. Why does the mother-in-law need to come to that?

337.011 - 349.775 Rob Beckett

The step-mom, and this isn't to have a go at step-parents, but I think if you have got together with your daughter's partner... Yeah. It's bare minimum polite to just let, just not turn up at parents.

349.795 - 369.801 Josh Widdicombe

Keep your nose at the curriculum and shove it up your daughter's ex-husband's arsehole. Is that what you're saying? Not in so many words. That's what you're saying. Josh, if that's what you're saying, that's what you're saying, yeah? If that's what I'm saying, that's what I'm saying. Mr. Saturday night, I can't do any of that. No, I've got to be the edgy one.

369.821 - 378.798 Josh Widdicombe

Yeah, the tabloids, you can quote me on that. Beckett's rude. Tell you what, there's going to be loads of crude retort stuff, aren't they, now that you're going to... Oh, my word, Rob.

378.818 - 382.784 Rob Beckett

We're going to be misquoted every week of our lives forever.

Chapter 5: What unexpected twist occurs with a teacher's roses?

386.23 - 393.762 Josh Widdicombe

If that converts into streams, fucking kerching, quote me as much as you fucking want. I'd sniff anyone's arsehole for a few more dollar.

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393.742 - 407.474 Rob Beckett

I think if you have an affair with someone and then get together with them, you know, what the heart wants, the heart wants, right? But I think you've got to go, okay, what's the least awkward way of approaching this? Do you know what I mean?

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407.895 - 434.747 Josh Widdicombe

I just think there's other women out there that aren't my mother-in-law. Yeah, exactly. That's what you've said to her every time. I say, Teresa, back off, babe. You're a wonderful woman, but I just don't shit where you fucking eat. sleep and drink. Oh my word. Imagine this. This is hot off the press. Imagine this. Sounds like your new podcast. Welcome to Imagine This by Josh Whitaker.

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435.347 - 439.995 Rob Beckett

A badger, but it's human size and it's riding a bicycle. Imagine this.

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442.138 - 459.22 Josh Widdicombe

Thank you. That's the end of Imagine This for this week. See you next week. That's quite a good idea for a TikTok channel. Because in my head, the badger's really hunched and got tiny little arms. But quite aerodynamic because he snaps up one of them helmets.

459.419 - 471.397 Rob Beckett

So you could say imagine this, and then four people would discuss how they're imagining it. Yeah. And then you draw it. Yeah, that he's got a basket, and he's kind of like a kind of Frenchman delivering bread. That's how I'm imagining it.

471.437 - 479.971 Josh Widdicombe

No, my one's like proper, he's trying to go as fast as he can. He's doing the Tour de France. Yeah, yeah, he's really, and he's got a really tight green, yellow jacket on. Yeah.

480.131 - 482.895 Rob Beckett

Like he's leading. How do you imagine it, Michael?

486.031 - 491.538 Josh Widdicombe

For the record, Michael, it's a false, it's a human-sized badger riding a bicycle. Is that it, Josh?

Chapter 6: How do the hosts react to a listener's shocking story?

546.398 - 556.698 Josh Widdicombe

Right. And we'll just quickly imagine them for you in the middle. But Michael, what happens when you talk for the video, by the way? Because obviously I haven't watched it back because I'm not fucking insane.

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557.339 - 571.303 Michael

It's just us, isn't it, listening? I was actually going to film a series of cutaways of me sat there, but with like differing masks and helmets on. So you never get to see my face. But one time I've got a Daft Punk helmet. Yeah, another time with my Darth Vader.

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571.283 - 589.96 Michael

yeah yeah that's nice but at the moment is it just us talking and listening while you talk back if it's in the studio then it's as wide shot so it looks less weird and if it's like this i'll cut between whoever looks less weird out of you two listening So Josh. Yeah.

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590.501 - 608.251 Rob Beckett

I tell you what is a question. Imagine this. If we were pouring the money into the socials in a kind of, we, we, those pictures would have been drawn on the screen as we were saying them. Do you know what I mean? They'd be like coming up and we'd be like, go onto our Spotify now because that that's coming up and I can see it now.

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608.592 - 631.904 Rob Beckett

And it'd be coming out of our mind in a kind of thought bubble, but we're not doing that. Right. Hi, Rob and Josh. Literally last night, imagine this, my wife and I witnessed two playground shaggers being exposed at a school quiz night. No. Oh, my God. Also, this is signed anon. Let's be honest, that... Well, they're going to know. They're going to know.

632.344 - 651.269 Rob Beckett

During the interval, one of the school mums on the table next to us went to the loo. Oh, no. Her husband clearly thought she'd be gone for a few minutes and started texting one of the other mums who was also at the quiz. This feels needless from him. I guess the loos are all occupied or maybe she wanted to catch him out. No, that's not going to, surely it's occupied.

651.289 - 656.776 Rob Beckett

As the wife came straight back, stood behind him and read the text messages over his shoulder.

657.137 - 665.11 Josh Widdicombe

Oh, my God. Jesus fucking Christ. So it feels like the wife is sort of aware that he may be messaging someone else, so ducked out, came straight back to check.

665.471 - 683.343 Rob Beckett

I think she's probably got a hunch and then she's come back. I think she's come back and she's seen an opportunity. I don't think she's thought, I'll lure him in with the toilet chat and then catch him. If I wanted to read someone's text messages, I wouldn't creep up behind them. I think... I presume, I know Rose's password. I could easily look at all of her text messages.

Chapter 7: What lessons are learned from the tales of infidelity?

710.496 - 724.995 Rob Beckett

She started screaming at him and at the other mom who was on the other side of the room. Yeah. So the other side of the room looking panicked. The husband tried to grab his phone back. Needless. Your phone's gone. The horse has bolted. You can't get the genie back in the bottle.

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726.177 - 733.966 Rob Beckett

But she wrestled it off him, ran up to the husband of the other woman and showed him the screen, yelling that they were having an affair and that she'd suspected for ages.

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734.287 - 737.931 Josh Widdicombe

Oh, so the other husband's there as well. So it's not a single woman. She's married as well. Yeah.

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737.951 - 747.343 Rob Beckett

Oh, it's disgusting, isn't it? The woman he'd been cheating with ran out of the room crying and the other mum chased her, followed by a load of her mum friends who were trying to calm her down.

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747.323 - 762.723 Josh Widdicombe

Do you know what's the best about these situations? If you're really close to it, it's obviously very sad and horrible because there's two people that you know that are having a terrible time. But if you're a few, don't really know them that well, maybe your kid's in a different year, you're sat there with a pint going, this is the best school quiz night I've ever been to.

762.743 - 763.524 Rob Beckett

Yeah, of course.

763.864 - 768.63 Josh Widdicombe

Raising money for the PTA and this level of drama is absolutely first class.

768.651 - 783.47 Rob Beckett

Of course. Quick, they're crying. She's crying. Look, and the mates are chasing. Do you know what? I'll chuck another tenner in. the two husbands then started squaring up to each other. Oh. I think if, once again, if you're the guy having the affair, I don't think you can square up to the other guy.

783.51 - 788.942 Josh Widdicombe

You've got to go. No, my greatest fear is confronting someone that's fucking my wife and then them beating me up.

Chapter 8: What final thoughts do the hosts share about relationships and parenting?

866.323 - 883.583 Josh Widdicombe

They shape the stories you carry long after you've left. Start your story in Scotland this spring and surround yourself with blooming scenery, fresh air, and farm animals making their grand debut. Josh, can I tell you something I love about Scotland? Please do. And it's going to shock you. Go on. We know how beautiful it is. We know the people are great. Oh, it's glorious. I'm into the food.

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883.903 - 893.896 Josh Widdicombe

Are you? Talk to me. You don't think of it straight away, but when I was in Glasgow and Edinburgh, yeah, they do all the Scottish stuff, obviously. However, they also do... The curry. Like nowhere else I've been.

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894.056 - 915.79 Rob Beckett

I'd say it's the foodiest country in the UK. It's so good in Scotland. I think about this a lot. I went to Loch Ness. How serene I felt on the edge of Loch Ness. I love the highlands, Rob. It's beautiful. It's beautiful, Rob. Pick a home base and explore from there. Deep dive into the local food scene. Explore striking landscapes and discover deep history around everything.

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915.77 - 927.366 Josh Widdicombe

every corner it's easy to get to easy to navigate and full of warm people who'll make you feel right at home start planning your own scottish holiday today at expedia.co.uk slash visit scotland

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930.974 - 932.475 Rob Beckett

There we go. Do you want to do the next one, Rob?

932.515 - 951.893 Josh Widdicombe

Yeah, that was great. I love these. Thank you for sending them in. Please keep me anonymous. I grew up in the 70s slash 80s, back when every estate had its own cast of characters. And as it turns out, the occasional scandal worthy of a soap opera. Ours involved the Avon lady and the football pools man. Well, that's taken me back. Did you have the football pools?

952.253 - 960.981 Rob Beckett

We didn't have a guy coming round, no. We had a village lottery syndicate, but we didn't have a... Sorry, I didn't know you was in a twee ITV drama.

960.961 - 983.048 Josh Widdicombe

The syndicate. Where ordinary folk have an extraordinary day. Yeah. What shall we do with the millions, Arthur? Well, the pot plants could do the refresh, couldn't they? where friendship and community means more than money. ITV, this summer. Yeah, and then one of them gets murdered. Yeah, for the money.

984.069 - 1001.77 Josh Widdicombe

Yeah, my mum was an Avon lady, and then we had the football pools man, and there was a candy, do you remember the Candice man? Candy man? You say his name three times. No, was it the Candice magazine? You come around, the Candice magazine? Am I making this up? I don't know. Michael, who used to come around your house for stuff? We had the Paul's Man, Avon Lady, the Candice Man.

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