Advertise on podcast: Unlikely Friends

“Our dogs literally ate our sofa.” Leigh Francis, Emma Bunton, Jade Jones and Jill Francis are back on Unlikely Friends, suffering for their art by overheating in the shed and still somehow creating another brilliant episode. This week, the friends start with hair disasters, from Jill’s micro fringe and Emma’s pink hair to Keith Lemon’s dyed hair era. Then, a friendly truck driver sends in a quiz that pits Leigh against Emma in the ultimate battle: Friends versus Gremlins. Finally, Pauline the Pineapple throws up a classic dog question: what is the worst thing your dog has ever eaten? Emma and Jade’s answer may surprise you, mainly because it is absolutely huge. Unlikely Friends is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Tell your Mum, don’t tell the Council.

Not one but two celebrity guests are asking the gang the questions! Fred Sirieix from First Dates & television royalty Holly Willoughby are putting the unlikely friends through their paces. Should Eurotrash make its long awaited return to British TV and who should host, plus who would Leigh Francis, Jill Francis, Emma Bunton and Jade Jones like to come back as if they were reincarnated. Plus, WHY DOES BARBRA STREISAND HAVE A SHOPPING MALL UNDER HER HOUSE! Catch up with your four favourite mats Leigh Francis, Emma Bunton, Jill Francis and Jade Jones. Unlikely Friends is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Tell your Mum, don’t tell the Council.

The unlikely Friends return with all the fun of board games - including a heated debate on what edition of monopoly is the best. And whilst they’re on about games, they reminisce about good old Saturday night TV and game shows! Plus Leigh Francis reveals why Joey Essex is never embarrassed to ask silly questions and how he’s zoned out of important business meetings and even fallen asleep in them! Catch up with your four favourite mats Leigh Francis, Emma Bunton, Jill Francis and Jade Jones. Unlikely Friends is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Tell your Mum, don’t tell the Council.

“Along with Holly Willoughby you're the most competitive person I know...” Leigh Francis, Emma Bunton, Jade Jones and Jill Francis are back on Unlikely Friends, asking who in the group is the most competitive and why some people simply cannot bear to lose. This week, the friends talk competitiveness, from Emma’s fitness group to surprisingly intense sports chat, including apple shooting and the lengths people will go to when there is a game to be won. And then our guest Shaun Ryder joins Leigh Francis, Emma Bunton, Jade Jones and Jill Francis on Unlikely Friends, stepping into the guest seat as the show’s first celebrity questioner with a very bold opener about breakdowns, disappearing and where the gang would hide. This week, Madchester legend Shaun asks the friends what they would do if they had a complete breakdown. Jill already has a plan involving giving away all her toys before heading to a lovely island to recover, Jade loves the idea of getting rid of his phone and living off the land, while Emma has the most wholesome answer of all: she would just go to her mum. Leigh, meanwhile, cannot imagine having a breakdown, although he does remember a work meltdown at the Yorkshire Evening News, where he stormed out of the office and told them they could keep their job. Also in this episode, the friends ask who in the group is the most competitive and why some people simply cannot bear to lose. From Emma’s fitness group to surprisingly intense sports chat, including apple shooting, the gang discuss the lengths people will go to when there is a game to be won. Then Davina McCall returns with another question: what lie were you told as a child that traumatised you when you found out it wasn’t true? Emma remembers being told the car would not drive unless she had her seatbelt on, Jade shares the story of being told he was found on the doorstep, and Leigh uncovers some scandalous Wikipedia libel. Unlikely Friends is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Tell your Mum, don’t tell the Council.

“How can I relax? You’re about to stick a finger up my bumhole.” Leigh Francis, Emma Bunton, Jade Jones and Jill Francis are back on Unlikely Friends for a medical and embarrassing bodies special, with screenings, check-ups, intimate injuries and some very honest conversations about looking after yourself. First though, Leigh, Jade and Jill reveal their brand new obsession: racquetball. The gang talk about why they love it so much, and why Pauline remains the undisputed champion, even in her 70s. Emma also talks World Cup, including her Heart Radio sweepstake, while Leigh reflects on the less glamorous side of football and the negativity that can come with such a fiercely supported sport. Then things take a more personal turn. A chat about dreams leads to Jade’s lack of dreams and his upcoming well-man check-up, Emma shares her surprise at changes around breast checks, and Leigh tells the story of an intimate injury that forced him to get checked for testicular cancer, only to discover it was something known as a “bag of worms.” Unlikely Friends is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Tell your Mum, don’t tell the Council.

“What happens at Sylvia Young Drama School stays at Sylvia Young Drama School.” Emma Bunton, Leigh Francis, Jade Jones and Jill Francis are joined by EastEnders star Kelly Bright on Unlikely Friends, as she hops out of the pineapple with questions about Albert Square, dream soap roles and Emma’s mysterious first kiss. This week, Kelly asks the gang which EastEnders character they would most like to play, or what they would want to do if they ever appeared in EastEnders. Jade reveals his own surprising connection to the soap, with his family hailing from the real square that Albert Square is based on. Then Kelly really brings the tea, revealing that she knows who Emma’s first kiss was. Sadly, she refuses to name names, and Emma cannot help much either, because she can’t remember. The rest of the gang spill their own first-kiss stories, while Emma shares where and how hers happened, even if the mystery person remains unnamed. Unlikely Friends is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Tell your Mum, don’t tell the Council.

“I can eat what I want, watch what I want… some sort of Housewives of somewhere…” Leigh Francis, Emma Bunton, Jade Jones and Jill Francis are back from holiday on Unlikely Friends, showing off their glorious tans and catching up on sun, food, films and questionable wellness advice. This week, the friends compare holiday tans, although if you are listening rather than watching, you will just have to trust that everyone is looking bronzed. Jill shares how badly she ate while she was away, Leigh explains why he was the only one not eating properly, and the conversation takes a very Unlikely Friends turn when Jill brings some highly questionable information about sunning your perineum. Also in this episode: films the gang have seen, the films they are excited about, why Toy Story 5 is already on the watchlist, and how you might be able to get a certificate from Leigh.q Then Pauline the Pineapple throws up the question: what do you wish you had known when you were 19? It leads to a surprisingly honest chat about youth, confidence, advice, and whether anyone at 19 is actually willing to listen anyway. Unlikely Friends is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Tell your Mum, don’t tell the Council.

“Oh, it definitely was a full-blown argument...” Ruby Wax joins Leigh Francis, Emma Bunton, Jade Jones and Jill Francis on Unlikely Friends, asking the questions and getting straight under the skin with a brilliantly awkward one: which celebrities have the gang most annoyed? This week, Leigh has plenty to say as he looks back on some of the run-ins he had while making his biggest TV shows. But the conversation soon lands on the biggest celebrity he may have ever really annoyed: Emma Bunton. The friends revisit an argument that once got so heated they ended up sitting in separate rooms not talking, all sparked by a debate about Emma and Jade not being married at the time. Thankfully, they have all moved on. Probably. The gang talk about friendship, arguing, debating properly, and why it should be possible to disagree with your mates without falling out. Ruby’s second question is just as good: which celebrity would you most like to interview? Jade throws in a curveball with Emily Blunt, Jill picks Emma Stone and Cam from Modern Family, and Emma looks back on interviewing some true icons, including Taylor Swift and Mariah Carey. Unlikely Friends is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Tell your Mum, don’t tell the Council.

"I do one dance move in the video, that all the girls take the piss out of me for now..." Emma Bunton shares behind-the-scenes stories from the iconic Spice Girls Wannabe music video on Unlikely Friends, as Leigh Francis, Jade Jones and Jill Francis hear all about filming at St Pancras Hotel before it became the landmark fans know today. This week, Emma reveals Easter eggs, behind-the-scenes details and unreleased stories from one of the most famous music videos in British pop culture. There’s also a roast dinner from Emma, more decorating updates from Jade, and a catch-up on Leigh and Emma’s recent trips to Leeds, including Emma visiting Mel B for a TV show she absolutely cannot talk about. The conversation then takes a more reflective turn after a kind listener letter about a limited edition Spider-Man postcard from 2002, which was destroyed before publication because it featured an image of the Twin Towers. It leads the friends to discuss where they were when they heard the news of 9/11, and how moments like that stay with you. Also in this episode: the gang talk about what made them think they would work well together, and Leigh rounds things off with a classic Unlikely Friends detour into aliens in the desert. Unlikely Friends is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Tell your Mum, don’t tell the Council.

“I’d probably have a little feel of my boobs.” Emma Bunton, Leigh Francis, Jade Jones and Jill Francis are joined by Paloma Faith on Unlikely Friends, as she hops out of the pineapple with a very pregnant, very surreal Freaky Friday question. This week, Emma looks back on life on tour with the Spice Girls, including the specialist tattoo and piercing artist who travelled with them, and the eyebrow piercing that gave Jade his money’s worth, even if the story ended in a slightly less glamorous way. Then, big pineapple points go to Paloma Faith, who recorded her question just one day before she was due to give birth. Leigh shares how long he has known Paloma, from before she was famous, before Paloma asks the gang who they would body swap with and what they would do first. Emma has a very honest answer involving urinating standing up, Jade and Leigh are predictably immature, and Jill thinks she’d quite enjoy the freedom of the male form. Unlikely Friends is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Tell your Mum, don’t tell the Council.

“You’ve stolen my party trick!” Leigh Francis, Emma Bunton, Jade Jones and Jill Francis are back on Unlikely Friends with fan encounters, Spice Girls chaos, Pilates holidays, annoying household noises and a big Friends versus Modern Family debate. This week, Leigh shares the breaking news from a traumatic gig visit, where he was accidentally clawed by an overexcited fan. It sparks a full “when fans attack” conversation, including Emma’s own dramatic Italian incident from her Spice Girls days. Also in this episode: Jill’s trip away, how a Pilates holiday can still involve drinking wine on the beach until 10pm, and how Leigh survived at home with the help of Jill’s million post-it notes. Plus, the friends discuss washing machine noises, Alexa alarms, and whether some household sounds are simply impossible to live with. And finally, it’s Modern Family versus Friends, as the gang ask whether Friends should ever be rebooted, and why it could never be the same without Matthew Perry. Unlikely Friends is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Tell your Mum, don’t tell the Council.

"Which version of Happy Birthday are we going to sing?!" Leigh Francis, Emma Bunton, Jade Jones and Jill Francis get into celebrity encounters, starstruck moments and some seriously big names, including Michael Jackson and Prince. This week on Unlikely Friends, the gang start with a chat about TV theme tunes and why birthday songs on telly always sound slightly wrong. Then Roxy returns with a very sensible question about how to revise and do well in exams, which may be the wrong podcast for serious academic guidance, although Emma does manage to turn a bit of Spice Girls wisdom into surprisingly useful exam advice. Leigh, Emma, Jade and Jill also reveal who they have been most starstruck by, with name-dropping galore, embarrassing celebrity meet stories and a listener confession about once spotting Jade in the public domain and only being able to shout, “Hey, it’s Jade from Damage!” Plus, Emma and Jade remember the moment they first met, and why Emma decided to go down the forward route. Unlikely Friends is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Tell your mum, don't tell the council.

"Well he rimmed me..." Tony Pitts joins Leigh Francis, Emma Bunton, Jade Jones and Jill Francis for a very dry Unlikely Friends question: what’s wrong with you and what do you want? This week on Unlikely Friends, Tony Pitts, star of All Creatures Great and Small, or just All Creatures if you’re in the know, brings a question that sends the gang deeper than expected. There is talk of feeling down, feeling anxious, feeling tired and generally being 50-something, with everyone getting unusually honest about what is going on in their heads. Leigh, Emma, Jade and Jill also get into Stanley Tucci, microphone muffs, and whether the right bit of fluffy kit could have helped Jade avoid picking up a cold sore while performing the other night. Plus, as always, things take a turn that no one could have predicted from the words “what’s wrong with you?” Unlikely Friends is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Tell your mum, don't tell the council.

"What came first the colour orange or the fruit orange?" Leigh Francis, Emma Bunton, Jade Jones and Jill Francis tackle one of life’s great listener questions, before spiralling into hairlines, big fears, pregnancy changes and the generational mystery of why kids don’t dance at parties anymore. This week on Unlikely Friends, Jade explains why growing his hair out might not be the best idea, Lee reveals why he would never concede to going bald, and Leigh has his forehead measured. Lee also reflects on his birthday celebrations and admits he may have got a little bit too drunk. Jill and Emma give a brilliantly honest look at what can happen during pregnancy, from hair growing and falling out to feet, noses and heads changing. Plus, the gang finally discover the word for a fear of big things, Lee shares which oversized objects scare him this time, and everyone gets into a proper Gen X versus kids today debate about dancing, parties and communication. Unlikely Friends is a Global Original podcast. Tell your mum, don't tell the council.

“And all of a sudden, in slow motion, I grabbed his cheeks…” Emma Bunton reveals how she met Leonardo DiCaprio on Unlikely Friends, as Leigh Francis, Jade Jones and Jill Francis are joined by questions from Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash. This week, Unlikely Friends’ first couple contributors Stacey Solomon and Joe Swash ask the gang which character they wish they had invented. Emma easily takes the win with the best answer, while Joe somehow manages to answer his own question terribly. Also in this episode: Joe Swash reveals his celebrity crush is Emma Bunton, Emma shares the story of meeting her own celebrity crush Leonardo DiCaprio, and the conversation takes a very Unlikely Friends turn. Unlikely Friends is a Global production, available every Monday and Thursday on Global Player, YouTube or wherever you get your shows. Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an episode. Tell your Mum, don’t tell the Council.