The Stranger Times

The Believers - a non-Christmas story

Sun, 28 Dec 2025 06:00:00 +0000

It's the non-Christmas Christmas special of The Strange Times podcast with a brand new story read by the wonderful Janice Connolly. Enjoy!

Happy Mondays: a brand new story narrated by Phil Mealey

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 14:00:00 +0000

*Brand New Story Alert*

Caimh is back with some updates, including a sort of 'live reaction' section of the podcast with a man looking at stuff that is on-sale in his own shop! More importantly, the superb Phil Mealey is here to read a brand new Stranger Times Short Story.

The Front Room Files - Brendan and Caimh Volume 1

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0100

In this 'special' episode narrator Brendan McDonald and author Caimh have a chat while also drinking. The results are a rambling shambles that you may love or hate - both are valid responses.

Smile Like You Mean It

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 05:00:00 +0100

BRAND NEW STORY ALERT! That's right, the wonderful returning narrator Ruth Cockburn narrates a brand new Stranger Times story called Smile Like You Mean It, and Caimh gives a quick update on all the news about the impending launch of Ring The Bells, as well as explaining the closest thing he's seen to actual magic in real life. Spoiler: It involves a man putting on glasses like a comedic Superman.

Season 5 offically starts - if it hasn't already

Tue, 23 Sep 2025 05:00:00 +0100

I'm not sure if the last ep or this ep counts as the start of season 5, but we can all agree it's definitely started now. Also - news on events in THREE countries plus Brendan McDonald reading an exclusive preview of Ring The Bells.

Two brand new Stranger Times Releases

Mon, 04 Aug 2025 06:00:00 +0100

Roll up, roll up. roll up - the Stranger Times is back with two releases - Tales From The Stranger Times, a collection of the short stories all narrated by the wonderful Brendan McDonald, and Ring The Bells - book 5 in the series. Catch up on all the news and then hear Brendan performing a Stranger Times banger!

https://whitehairedirishman.shop/collections/the-stranger-times

New: Paint by Numbers Ruth Cockburn

Wed, 31 Jan 2024 06:00:00 +0000

This week's episode sees the return of the the magnificent Ruth E Cockburn reading a new Stranger Times short story, Paint by Numbers, Caimh gives you an insight into his hobbies and an update on Diller's reading abilities.

New: Launch Week, Baby! Relight My Fire Preview

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 06:00:00 +0000

This week’s episode sees Brendan McDonald’s caressing your ears with a cheeky preview of Relight My Fire (Chapter 2). Caimh’s also out in the wild this week signing books and doing events. Find out where you can pick up signed books or meet him/listen to his chatting nonsense.

New: A Good Book - Brand new story read by Mark Stay

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 06:00:00 +0000

The legend that is Mark Stay is here to narrate a brand new Stranger Times story written by Caimh called A Good Book.

Happy New Year, Events, Prologues, previews!

Tue, 09 Jan 2024 06:00:00 +0000

Caimh does his trademark rambling about God know's what before the episode is mercifully saved by the ever effervescent Brendan McDonald reading the Prologue of Relight My Fire.

New: Christmas Special read by Brendan McDonald!

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Finishing the year off in style, we've got the unsurpassable Brendan McDonald, narrator of The Stranger Times audiobooks, reading a brand new short story featuring a well-loved character from one of the previous books. Relight My Fire out Jan 25th - Preorder now and a merry Christmas to one and all!

Christmas Trilogy Part 2 with Jason Manford

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Join Caimh as he reveals exciting details about events (including the correct dates), gets very excited about meeting one of his heroes and then the incredible Jason Manford reads the podcast's most popular story ever.

Christmas Trilogy: Part 1

Tue, 05 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Ahead of the upcoming brand new Stranger Times Christmas special, we're going to be visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past. Also, the ghost of foggy brain as Caimh gets the dates of events wrong - see the Waterstones website for correct dates!

Spooktacular - Brand new short story!

Wed, 08 Nov 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In this ep, Caimh reads a brand new short story that he read LIVE on the first annual Stranger times Spooktacular. As if that wasn't enough, he also reveals the exciting goodies available to you if you preorder Relight My Fire, Stranger Times book 4 in hardback. And for the first time, info on events happening next year - plus, we edit out his diatribe about firework misuse so you don't have to hear it.

Random Gold Part 2 - Awards, afflictions and Barry Castagnola

Wed, 13 Sep 2023 07:00:00 +0100

Join Caimh for some exciting news, an update on big events coming up and a slice of Stranger Times gold .

Random Gold - Deals, Feels and Janice Connolly

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 05:00:00 +0100

Caimh drops a surprise ep, like one of them Beyonce Knowles albums - only this has no singles but it does have a deal, an update and a slice of pure Stranger Times GOLD!

Series 3: Episode 7: We are ready for launch!

Tue, 07 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Re-live the highlights, the lowlights and the big fights of the online launch event for Love Will Tear Us apart as Caimh, author Mark Stay and narrator extraordinaire Brendan McDonald talk mostly nonsense. You should hear the crap we cut out! Also, there's a fun quiz which you can not now win as it was an on-the-night sort of thing. You had to be there!

Series 3, Episode 6: The Beautiful Game with Charlie Baker

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0000

This week's episode of The Stranger Times is the last to be broadcast from Caimh's writing shed as it's move day! Caimh reminisces about book launch week and laments on the woes of moving.

The uber multi-talented Charlie Baker narrates the short story The Beautiful Game.

Season 3, Episode 5: Love Will Tear Us Apart Preview – Stanley's back!

Wed, 08 Feb 2023 14:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Caimh talks about being a consultant on a film and launch week rituals.

The brilliant Brendan McDonnell takes it home in the last preview where we get reacquainted with Stanley Roker, the worst of the worst of tabloid journalists.

Series 3, Episode 4: How May I Direct Your Call? with Laura Lexx

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The brilliant Laura Lexx makes a triumphant return to the pod to narrate a brand new Stranger Times story. The story is based extremely loosely on a real person, or rather a real person's collection of skulls. Everything else is entirely made up!

Series 3, Ep 3: Love Will Tear Us Apart Preview – Say Hello to Betty!

Mon, 23 Jan 2023 05:00:00 +0000

Caimh presents another preview of Love Will Tear Us Apart. He also explains how you can help authors and then Brendan McDonald (no relation) takes it home!

Series 3, Ep 2: The Thing About The Future with Ruth Cockburn

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0000

A brand new Stranger Times short story read by the brilliant Ruth E Cockburn and a very exciting bit of news about Caimh doing an event with the legend that is Ben Aaronovitch doing an event down in that fancy London.

Series 3, Ep 1: We Back Baby!

Mon, 09 Jan 2023 06:00:00 +0000

The Stranger Times podcast returns with a preview of Love Will Tear Us Apart, book three of the series is out on 9th February.

No animals or Brendan McDonald's were harmed in the making of this podcast.

Series 2: Ep 12 - A fond farewell for now and hello Brendan McDonald - no relation

Fri, 08 Apr 2022 05:00:00 +0100

In this, the final episode of series two of the pod, Caimh does a lot of thanking, reveals a bit of exciting news and has an idea for a unique way to write a short story for series three that might be a total car crash but you'll get to watch. He then chats with narration legend and all-round top man, Brendan McDonald, about his career and narrating The Stranger Times audiobooks.

Series 2: Ep 11 - Phil Nichol - What Is and What Should Never Be

Thu, 10 Mar 2022 15:00:00 +0000

This week's episode sees Caimh give his shortest ever introduction (yay!) before the smashing Phil Nichol's provides you with an aural sensation narrating the new short story, What Is and What Should Never Be.

This Stranger Times story features Led Zeppelin, Scrabble, a musical quest and the Avenger's Emma Peel.

Series 2: Ep 10 – Danny Buckler – Before Your Very Eyes

Thu, 03 Mar 2022 10:00:00 +0000

This week's episode sees the magnificent Danny Buckler bringing a touch of magic to Before Your Very Eyes. This short story reveals how stage magic works in the world of The Stranger Times.

Caimh also discusses his fascination with magic and how he kind of ruined Darren Brown for himself.

Series 2: Ep 9 - Ben Van Der Velde - The Keeper of The Dead

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 08:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Caimh talks about launch week for This Charming Man, explains why he thinks it is important to have a diverse bunch of characters in his stories and how being 'politically correct' actually just means being correct. Then, the wonderful Ben Van Der Velde reads The Keeper of The Dead short story.

Series 2: Ep 8 - The swearing episode!

Tue, 15 Feb 2022 23:00:00 +0000

In this ep Caimh discusses swearing and how n This Charming Man Vincent Banecroft invents a whole new way of doing it. The on-line launch of which book btw happens at 8PM GMT on Wednesday Feb 16th - find it on the Caimh McDonnell facebook page or Youtube channel. All welcome - the superb narrator of The Stranger Times books Brendan McDonald (No relation) as star guest and Mary Stay as MC extraordinaire.

Series 2: Ep 7- Ian Cognito, a tribute and an Homage

Thu, 10 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0000

In this ep Caimh explains for the uninitiated who the late great Ian Cognito was and how he came to name the character Cogs after him as a homage to a legendary figure of the British comedy circuit.

Series 2: Ep 6 - This Charming Man - Preview - Charmless Stanley Roker

Thu, 03 Feb 2022 06:00:00 +0000

The wonderful Brendan McDonald (No relation) joins us to read a preview of This Charming Man - out Feb 17th. You'll love it so much, you'll preorder it on the spot, and you've already done that six times already. You can't have too many copies.

Series 2: Ep 5 - Toby Hadoke - Everybody Kills Hitler

Thu, 27 Jan 2022 10:00:00 +0000

The man, the myth, the legend Toby Hadoke returns to read one of Caimh's timey wimey stories about how even when given the entire history of the planet to choose from, most people still go to the same place on holiday. Bonus disgusting dog in intro.

Ep 4: Michael Legge - The Trouble With Me Last Week

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 11:00:00 +0000

This week Light Entertainer Michael Legge joins us to read a story called The Trouble With Me Last Week. He shows incredible range by playing an angry man from Northern Ireland who makes a fool of himself while rewriting the laws of physics.

Series 2: Ep 3 - Dame Janice Connolly - Beauty and the Beast

Thu, 13 Jan 2022 11:00:00 +0000

This week we've got the absolute treat of national treasure Dame Janice Connolly reading Beauty and the Beast.
This Charming Man, book 2 in The Stranger Times series, is available to preorder now - out Feb 17th. Treat yourself to a hardback. It's a good size and makes an excellent door stop/murder weapon.

Series 2: Ep 2 - Angela Barnes - Do The Research

Wed, 05 Jan 2022 19:00:00 +0000

The wonderful Angela Barnes narrates a brand new Stranger Times story and Caimh for some reason does an introduction where he talks about toilet rolls, women marrying buildings and JFK deserving a better memorial than Caimh using a chemical toilet.

Christmas Special: Fire In The Skies read by Jason Manford

Wed, 22 Dec 2021 13:00:00 +0000

The brilliant Jason Manford reads a very special Stranger Times short story set in the Manchester Blitz, which took place on December 22nd 1940.

Halloween Special: The Owl and The Pussycat read by Eddy Brimson

Sun, 31 Oct 2021 12:00:00 +0000

That's right, we back baby! It's a one-off Halloween special that was supposed to come out after Halloween but thanks to Rob the sound wizard pulling an all-nighter it's now out on Halloween. The man is a legend!
The wonderful Eddy Brimson reads a story written by C.K./ Caimh called The Owl and The Pussycat and Caimh reveals exciting details about the new Stranger Times book, This Charming Man (available now for preorder) and about Season Two of The Stranger Times podcast.

Ep 14: Ain't no party like an online book launch party!

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 18:00:00 +0000

This week, Caimh makes an announcement! He also unnecessarily says the words 'penis pump' a lot and then we have edited highlights of the online launch event for Caimh's new book The Stranger Times where the brilliant author Mark Stay battles to get a clearly inebriated Caimh to answer questions in a coherent manner.

Ep 13: Sacrifice with Al Barrie

Fri, 22 Jan 2021 11:00:00 +0000

A brand new short story called Sacrifice written by CK McDonnell and read by Alistair Barrie. NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ELTON JOHN SONG.

Ep 12: Stranger Times Preview Part 3 – Meet a Monster

Fri, 15 Jan 2021 02:00:00 +0000

This episode, which is the second in a launch week special, is the final preview of the audiobook. Caimh gets you acquainted with one of the monsters roaming the street of Manchester.

And don't forget The Stranger Times book is out now! It's available everywhere!

Ep 11: Stranger Times Preview Part 2 - Meet The New Boss

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 20:00:00 +0000

in this launch week special episode - the first of two, Caimh introduces you to the tyrant that is Vincent Banecroft while managing to entirely forget to plug the facebook live launch event on the Caimh McDonnell Facebook page, Thursday 14th Jan, 8PM Irish time. The man is an idiot! Signed, his wife

Ep 10: Stranger Times Preview Part 1 - Meet the family

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 01:00:00 +0000

In this episode, Caimh wishes you a happy new year and gives you a disturbing analogy about being a sheep farmer. There's also a sneak peek at chapters 1 and 2 of The Stranger Times and you'll get to meet the staff behind the paper. Fun fact: You'll notice that he refers to chapter 2 and 3 several times in the intro. He only realised this when it was too late to change.
Enjoy!

Ep 9: The Light with Alex Boardman

Tue, 29 Dec 2020 01:00:00 +0000

This week, the brilliant Alex Boardman reads a story about choice and consequence.

Ep 8: Christmas Special! A Christmas Carol with Jonathan Mayor

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 01:00:00 +0000

Join us for the most special of Christmas specials as everyone's fav Fairy Godmother, Jonathan Mayor, gives a uniquely Stranger Times take on A Christmas Carol.
Warning: Not Safe for work, children or operating heavy machinery.

Ep 7: The Other Side With Barry Castagnola

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 03:00:00 +0000

Barry Castagnola reads a story that explains, sort of, why the world is so full of lies and misinformation.

Ep 6: A Dog's Life with Lou Conran

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 13:00:00 +0000

The splendiferous Lou Conran reads a story about what happens when a good doggie eats a very very bad thingie.

Ep 5: The Blitz Spirits with Hal Cruttenden

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 01:00:00 +0000

This week we're lucky enough to have Caimh's old mate Hal Cruttenden reading the story The Blitz Spirits.

Ep 4: Love and Death with Joanna Neary

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 01:00:00 +0000

This week the brilliant Joanna Neary narrates Love and Death in the Time of Necessary Track Maintenance.
The story isn't as longwinded as the name, we promise!

Ep 3: Yes, Prime Minister with Toby Hadoke

Mon, 16 Nov 2020 22:00:00 +0000

This week Toby Hadoke narrates a story that is weirdly prescient and Caimh explains what he thinks and why he doesn't mind what you think, and how everyone should think like this.

Ep 2: Dance With The Devil With Matt Green

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 05:00:00 +0000

In this episode the wonderful Matt Green reads the story Dance With The Devil, which introduces us to the thoroughly objectionable Stanley Roker and will very probably put you off low-price chicken wings for life.

Ep 1: The Rain and The One with Laura Lexx and Ben Crompton

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 05:00:00 +0000

Ben Crompton reads a scary tale about the rain in Manchester and Laura Lexx reads a story about love, which is not the same things as a love story. All that, plus C.K. (Caimh) explains the pod and the ever-present James Cook brings us up-to-date on The Stranger Times news.

Welcome to The Stranger Times

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 10:00:00 +0000

The Stranger Times is a newspaper based in Manchester dedicated to reporting the weird and wonderful from around the world. This pod is based on the book of the same name written by C.K. (Caimh) McDonnell and each episode will feature news and a short story from the Stranger Times world, written by C.K. and narrated by one of his uber-talented friends from the comedy circuit. Subscribe now for a weekly slice of paranormal pandemonium.