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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.
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A doctor who kept treating the wounded after being shot three times, the first man in history to win the Victoria Cross twice, and a war record so extraordinary only two other men have ever matched it.In this episode, Johnny Vaughan and Gavin “The Woodman” Woods tell the story of Lieutenant Colonel Arthur Martin-Leake, the British Army medic who became the first ever recipient of a Victoria Cross and Bar, making him one of only three people in history to receive the honour twice.What You’ll Hear in This Episode:🏅 The first ever Double VC – how Arthur Martin-Leake became the first man to win the Victoria Cross twice, a feat only three men have ever achieved🩺 The medic who would not stop – during the Boer War, Martin-Leake kept treating wounded soldiers under heavy fire, even after being shot three times himself💥 Bravery under constant fire – in the First World War, he repeatedly went out to rescue and treat men near enemy positions, earning the bar to his VC through days of relentless gallantry📜 Why the Victoria Cross matters so much – Johnny and Gav dig into the history, rarity and mystique of Britain’s most famous medal for bravery⚔️ An unbelievable military life – from South Africa to India, the Balkans, Ypres and beyond, Martin-Leake seemed to spend his life heading towards danger in order to save othersIf you love heroic true stories, military history, unbelievable acts of bravery and comedy podcasts, this episode of Bloomin’ Legends is for you.Got a legend we should cover?📩 Send it to: bloominlegends@global.com📲 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram: @BloominLegends🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bloominlegendsListen to all episodes on Global Player, download the app, or visit www.globalplayer.comBloomin’ Legends is a Global productionProduced by Ben FaircloughNew episodes are released every Wednesday & Sunday. Subscribe to never miss an episode!
A man chased down Weston-super-Mare beach by a low-flying enemy plane, a briefcase stuffed with the modern equivalent of £1 million, and a life so chaotic it sounds completely made up.The Extra Legendary Bit is where Johnny Vaughan and Gavin “The Woodman” Woods dive into your messages and uncover the gloriously unhinged tales sent in by the Bloomin’ Legends nation.What You’ll Hear in This Episode:✈️ The WW2 beach strafing story – one listener nominates his grandfather Fred Coombs, who somehow escaped unscathed after being chased down Weston-super-Mare beach by a low-flying enemy aircraft during the Second World War📻 The man who may have invented the BBC beeps – Fred’s wildly improbable life also includes a spell as a BBC engineer and family legend has it he created the pips before the radio news💼 The Jersey cash dash – convinced the 1983 election would go the wrong way, Fred withdrew what would now be roughly £1 million, packed it into a briefcase and took it to Jersey guarded by two Old English sheepdogs😂 More bonus madness from the Bloomin’ Legends inbox – including a ridiculous military character submission and a message demanding to know why Pablo Escobar still hasn’t made the main showIf you love funny true stories, wartime madness, unbelievable family legends, British eccentricity and comedy podcasts, this bonus episode of Bloomin’ Legends is for you.Got a story that can top this week’s madness?📩 Send it to: bloominlegends@global.com📲 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram: @BloominLegends🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bloominlegendsListen to all episodes on Global Player, download the app, or visit www.globalplayer.comBloomin’ Legends is a Global productionProduced by Ben FaircloughNew episodes are released every Wednesday & Sunday. Subscribe to never miss an episode!
He conquered Europe… lost everything… and then came back for one last go.In this episode, Johnny Vaughan and Gavin “The Woodman” Woods dive into Napoleon Part 2 — from exile and ego to one of the greatest (and most ridiculous) comebacks in history.What you’ll hear:⚔️ The fall of Napoleon – how Europe finally caught up with him🏝️ Exile… and the comeback nobody stopped – the moment history basically said “this is a terrible idea”👑 The Hundred Days madness – Napoleon returns and everyone just… lets it happen💥 Waterloo – the final showdown and one of history’s most famous defeatsIf you love history, warfare, ridiculous confidence, and unbelievable true stories, this episode is peak Bloomin’ Legends.Got a legend you want us to cover?📩 Send it to: bloominlegends@global.com📲 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram: @BloominLegends🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bloominlegendsListen to all episodes on Global Player, download the app, or visit www.globalplayer.comBloomin' Legends is a Global production Produced by Ben FaircloughNew episodes are released every Wednesday & Sunday. Subscribe to never miss an episode!
A man called Edith, a colonel archbishop, and yet more proof that the Bloomin’ Legends audience may be every bit as unhinged as the people on the main leaderboard.The Extra Legendary Bit is where Johnny Vaughan and Gavin “The Woodman” Woods dive into your messages, your made-up masterpieces, and the gloriously absurd listener creations that somehow feel weirdly plausible.What You’ll Hear in This Episode:🎖️ Men with women’s names at war – listeners send in brilliantly overblown military heroes with names like Edith, Hilary and Anastasia🪖 Fake military legends with very real detail – from Gallipoli to Monte Cassino, the backstories get more elaborate, more eccentric and more ridiculous by the minute🥄 Billiard cues, horseradish and whiff-whaff paddles – the sort of detail that makes these invented war heroes feel alarmingly believable📬 Listener legends at full power – Johnny and Gav celebrate the audience’s growing talent for creating the most absurd military men in British historyIf you love funny true stories, comedy podcasts, military history, absurd British humour, listener messages and made-up legends, this episode of Bloomin’ Legends is for you.Got a story that can top this week’s madness?📩 Send it to: bloominlegends@global.com📲 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram: @BloominLegends🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bloominlegendsListen to all episodes on Global Player, download the app, or visit www.globalplayer.comBloomin’ Legends is a Global productionProduced by Ben FaircloughNew episodes are released every Wednesday & Sunday. Subscribe to never miss an episode!
British parents told their children the bogeyman would get them. That bogeyman was a real person, and he conquered most of Europe before crowning himself Emperor.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, part one of a massive two-parter, we take on Napoleon Bonaparte, the Corsican outsider who went from bullied schoolboy to the most feared man in Europe. He wasn't actually French, he wasn't actually short, and British parents literally used him as the bogeyman to scare their children. From an artillery genius at 16, to crossing the Alps and crowning himself Emperor while the Pope just stood there watching, this is the story of how one man forced every royal house in Europe to gang up just to try and stop him.What You'll Hear in This Episode:🇫🇷 The Corsican Outsider – How a swarthy kid with an Italian accent became France's greatest military mind💣 The Siege of Toulon – Horse shot, leg slashed, and he still fought for 10 hours straight⛰️ Crossing the Alps – 10,500 feet, six days, no stopping, and the most overblown painting in history👑 The Self-Crowning – Why he invited the Pope to his coronation, then told him he wasn't needed⚔️ Austerlitz – The genius trap that confirmed him as Europe's most formidable commanderIf you love history, military legends, the French Revolution and unbelievable true stories, this episode of Bloomin' Legends is for you.Got a legend you want us to cover?📩 Send it to: bloominlegends@global.com📲 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram: @BloominLegends🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bloominlegendsListen to all episodes on Global Player, download the app, or visit www.globalplayer.comBloomin' Legends is a Global production Produced by Ben FaircloughNew episodes are released every Wednesday & Sunday. Subscribe to never miss an episode!
A graffiti-covered car the police couldn’t stop pulling over, a BMX jump that absolutely should not have counted, and more listener stories that prove boredom is the mother of terrible ideas.The Extra Legendary Bit is where Johnny Vaughan and Gavin “The Woodman” Woods dive into your messages and uncover the gloriously unhinged tales sent in by the Bloomin’ Legends nation.What You’ll Hear in This Episode:🚓 The car police couldn’t ignore – one listener remembers a mate’s patched-up Hillman Hunter, covered in graffiti and apparently irresistible to the police in suburban Sidcup🚲 The youth club BMX jump – a teenage bet, a homemade ramp, a disastrous landing and a fierce debate over whether it still counted📮 More listener legends – including the sort of unforgettable moments that become family folklore for lifeIf you love funny true stories, listener tales, car chaos, police stories, BMX disasters and comedy podcasts, this episode of Bloomin’ Legends is for you.Got a story that can top this week’s madness?📩 Send it to: bloominlegends@global.com📲 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram: @BloominLegends🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bloominlegendsListen to all episodes on Global Player, download the app, or visit www.globalplayer.comBloomin’ Legends is a Global productionProduced by Ben FaircloughNew episodes are released every Wednesday & Sunday. Subscribe to never miss an episode!
He led the most famous last stand in ancient history, faced the full force of Persia, and became the ultimate symbol of Spartan courage.In this episode, Johnny Vaughan and Gavin “The Woodman” Woods take on Leonidas I, the King of Sparta who stood at Thermopylae with his 300 warriors and helped create one of the most enduring legends in military history.What you’ll hear in this episode:🛡️ The Spartan way of life – what it really meant to live in Sparta, and why their entire society was built for war⚔️ Leonidas and the Persian threat – how the mighty Persian Empire under Xerxes came crashing towards Greece🏛️ The real story of the 300 – what actually happened at Thermopylae, and why the battle became history’s most famous last stand🔥 Myth versus reality – from Hollywood nonsense to the brutal truth, Johnny and Gav separate the legend from the factsIf you love history podcasts, ancient Greece, Spartan history, military legends and unbelievable true stories, this episode of Bloomin’ Legends is for you.Got a legend you want us to cover?📩 Send it to: bloominlegends@global.com📲 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram: @BloominLegends🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bloominlegendsListen to all episodes on Global Player, download the app, or visit www.globalplayer.comBloomin’ Legends is a Global productionProduced by Ben FaircloughNew episodes are released every Wednesday & Sunday. Subscribe to never miss an episode!
A mysterious ritual inside the Great Pyramid, a possible curse from the pharaohs, and a wartime grandad who kept riding straight through sniper fire — this week’s Extra Legendary Bit is gloriously unhinged.The Extra Legendary Bit is where Johnny Vaughan and Gavin “The Woodman” Woods leave the history books behind and dive into your listener stories, family legends, and the kind of messages that make the inbox feel deeply unsafe.What You’ll Hear in This Episode:🐪 The Giza curse story – one listener shares the unsettling tale of a solo trip to Egypt, a secret ritual inside the King’s Chamber, and the suspicion that he may have been cursed ever since🪖 Grandpa Reg’s desert run – a remarkable World War Two story about a dispatch rider racing through sniper fire in the North African desert🎬 A wartime film pitch – the lads hear from a listener with a family escape-and-evasion story so good he thinks it should be turned into a proper screen adventureIf you love funny true stories, Egyptian mysteries, pyramid conspiracies, World War 2 stories, listener legends and comedy podcasts, this episode of Bloomin’ Legends is for you.Got a story that can top this week’s madness?📩 Send it to: bloominlegends@global.com📲 Follow us on TikTok & Instagram: @BloominLegends🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@bloominlegendsListen to all episodes on Global Player, download the app, or visit www.globalplayer.comBloomin’ Legends is a Global productionProduced by Ben FaircloughNew episodes are released every Wednesday & Sunday. Subscribe to never miss an episode!
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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.
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