If you wanted to have the latest cutting-edge technology in your car in 2007 you wouldn’t buy a BMW 7 series or a Mercedes S-Class. You’d own a 2008 Ford Focus with SYNC. It was the crowning achievement of Microsoft’s Automotive team; a device that plays music from media players and supports hands-free phone calls. It was revolutionary at the time …

Charles and Graham welcome special guest, musician, Chantel McGregor. Bradford born, Chantel is a rock musician and female guitar prodigy, who enrolled at the Leeds College of Music and became the first student in the college’s history, to achieve a 100% pass mark at BTEC, with 18 distinctions. Chantel followed this with a First Class Honours degre…

In 1990 Vauxhall was on top of the world. Ford’s serious misstep with the Sierra in the early 1980s, meant Vauxhall’s well put together Cavalier had cleaned up. The third generation Cavalier had continued those inroads in the late 80s, along with the excellent Astra and Nova that completed their mass car lineup. So, surely the next generation car, …

Graham looks back on Return to the River's Edge; the cult 1986 teen film directed by Tim Hunter that foretold Twin Peaks and the Grunge movement. Charles reports on a new documentary about Michael Powell & Emetic Pressburger. Made in England : The Films of Powell and Pressburger - the under appreciated luminaries of British cinema - is directed by …

The Jaguar E-type name is iconic, but not so much in the USA. There it was known as the XK-E. But whatever the name, it’s a car that’s like no other. And it’s looks are backed up with handling born from motor racing; this wasn’t a car that was all flash and no substance.بقلم Big Car

Graham reports on his meeting with David Remfry, Britain's coolest artist, aged 81. Graham met him at his new exhibition, We Think the World of You - People and Dogs Drawn at The Mercer Gallery, Harrogate's only public gallery, once again proving itself indispensable with a high quality exhibition of national interest. Charles is fresh from seeing …

I’m not sure why, but the Triumph TR7 is not a popular car, so many Triumph TR fans tend to wax lyrically about the TR6 and ignore its successor. I thought it was brilliant when I saw a new one on the road in the 1970s, it was something futuristic. But every Triumph TR car is loved in its own way, and to this day there’s a strong community keeping …

So, we’ve covered the Rover SD1 and its replacement, the Rover 800. Now we come to the last large Rover, the 75. It’s a shame that this was probably the best quality car Rover ever made, but maybe the least popular. But Rover was like a cat on its 9th life, and there’s only so many opportunities you get before it’s game over.…

Graham has a confession to make - he's worrying about Taylor Swift. Is it time to take one of the world's newest billionaires seriously? Charles is drawn to Graham's more positive view of the Sam Taylor-Johnson Amy Winehouse biopic. Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car: X @2big_egos Facebook @twobigegos…

I talked about the Rover SD1 a few weeks ago. That was an unmitigated disaster when it came to production, but between that car and the Rover 800, British Leyland, now Austin Rover had forged a partnership with Honda that would lead to big changes in quality at the British company, and the Rover 800 was the first big partnership between the two com…

Graham pays tribute to guitarist Graeme Naysmith, co-founder of the Leeds band, The Pale Saints and remembers when they played one of his own Charm nights in Harrogate. Time moves on - Looking back at two of the western world's greatest political philosophers of the last half century - Noam Chomsky and Jean Baudrillard and whether two of their best…

The Volkswagen Polo has quite a strange birth. I suppose it was a hedge against the Golf being unpopular, but it’s still odd that it was first launched as an Audi just at the moment when that brand was trying to go upmarket. No matter what its genesis, the Polo has gone on to become a big seller for Volkswagen.…

Graham recounts interviewing Steve Howe of Yes about their forthcoming UK tour and York Barbican gig. Benjamin Francis Leftwich live in Leeds? Yes please! Charles is captivated by a fascinating gig at Leeds' Brudenell Social Club. Graham enters the crazy world of data retrieval as he reveals how he nearly lost his entire draft manuscript for a book…

The MG Midget is all about fun! It’s a simple, cheap little car that promises open-top thrills which it delivers in spades. It’s a story that spans seven decades from humble roots in Oxfordshire to a world-beating car that conquered America. It was loved by weekend tinkerers, American G.I.’s coming home from the war and F1 racers.…

The Spitfire is a beautiful automobile, a thing of wonder penned by an Italian genius, but it almost never happened. If not for a chance find in the dusty corner of a factory it would have remained merely a “could have been”. But Triumph produced a car that still inspires new creations today and has a strong and loyal fan base around the world, nea…

Graham reports on his recent stay in John Ruskin's house at Brantwood in the Lake District- but is the Victorian art critic and social reformer really as relevant to the 21st century as his supporters claim? Graham also talks about his recent pilgrimage to a secret rock n roll shrine in a York pub related to the Rolling Stones. Charles talks about …

Charles and Graham get heady with the quality of the new album from the Jesus and Mary Chain and celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Glasgow band. Glasgow Eyes is their best album in over twenty years. Monet in York. Monet’s ‘The Water-Lily Pond’ will be the central feature of a major new exhibition at York Art Gallery to mark the 200th anniversa…

When we left the Range Rover, it had risen from a farm workhorse to a school run fashion accessory. But in the process it had turned into a steady seller that was keeping Land Rover afloat, despite no update for 24 years. So, what happened after that long overdue facelift? Video link: https://youtu.be/L4PKiUknHj8…

The Range Rover is the ultimate go-anywhere luxury SUV. It was born out of Rover’s desire to sell more cars in the USA, and its design was a complete accident. So how did a company known for saloon cars and agricultural off-roaders invent a car that created a brand-new market segment? Video link: https://youtu.be/vxqc3LpqsJc…

The Rover SD1 was so nearly a game changer. It was an amazing follow-up to the Triumph 2000 & Rover P6, but it caused so much damage to the Rover name. It was a "space age" shape that looked like it had come right off the set of Blakes 7. And this came out of old, stodgy, British Leyland - the company that had brought us the Morris Marina and Austi…

Graham and Charles take the opportunity to interview music journalist Dave Simpson as a followup to the previous episode looking at the grassroots music venue crisis sweeping the country. it so happens that Dave had just the other week written about this very subject in an in-depth article for The Guardian. Dave Simpson is one of the UK's leading m…

It’s 1975 and British Leyland faces an enormous challenge: petrol prices are skyrocketing. BLs own Mini which created this category way back in 1959, is showing its age. It’s too small and is much less practical. Britain had just entered the Common Market, a forerunner to the European Union, and what British Leyland needs is a class-leading “superm…

Graham focuses on the extreme difficulties being faced by venues and music artists as yet more venues announce closure. If the decimation of the live music circuit continues what will this mean for the future? Charles is thrilled by Emma Rice's version of Blue Beard for her company Wise Children, this remarkable piece of theatre is currently to be …

Graham calls for an emergency debate on arts funding and reports on working with Harrogate Community Radio at a music event last week at All Saints Church in Kirkby Overblow. The perplexing talent of William Doyle as evidenced on his new album Springs Eternal. Plus when is swearing funny in films? Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car: X @…

Does new film, American Fiction merits a ton of Academy Awards? Graham Chalmers discusses his thoughts. Charles leads discussion around the value of musical biopics as against documentaries in the wake of the release of new film, Bob Marley: One Love. Graham reports on a new light installation coming to Harrogate and then explores the deceptive cha…

Charles reflects on the enduring success of the play, The Woman in Black and why it is the perfect introduction to theatre for audiences more used to television and film. Graham reflects on class and the arts as Lashana Lynch, one of the stars of the new Bob Marley biopic One Love, makes the point that people from a working class background have be…

Graham reports on how the unfairly maligned The Last Dinner Party's just released debut album revives 1970s Queen and ABBA with 21st Century attitudes. Charles and Graham discuss why Jonathan Glazer's remarkable new film about Auschwitz - The Zone of Interest - is only part of a new wave of provocative directors working in the new cinema of satiric…

Graham has been to see emerging Leeds band, English Teacher and reflects on a superb night at The Crescent. Charles by contrast went to see ABC with the South Bank Symphonia at York Barbican performing hits including the glorious Lexicon of Love. Graham also discusses how Bill Ryder Jones's new album Iechyd Da hits new heights - or perhaps depths -…

Graham discusses two jarring moments in an otherwise brilliant new book about Pauline Boty, the most overlooked British Pop Artist of the 1960s. Charles and Graham reflect on the new film by Greek director, Yorgos Lanthimos, Poor Things, which features an astonishing performance by Emma Stone and is a film dividing audiences over its feminist crede…

Graham wants to correct some wrong perceptions about indie bands Bar Italia and The Last Dinner Party. Former guest (Episode 153) Rick Witter's band Shed Seven gets its first Number One album and Charles challenges the view that they are not as important as other bands of the same era. Graham confesses that in last week's episode he got a few thing…

Graham and Charles take a look at what Sofia Coppolla's new film Priscilla says about Mr & Mrs Elvis and contrast it to Baz Lurmann's own take on the couple in his film, Elvis. Harrogate gets a mention in a brilliant new book on Pauline Boty, the most overlooked figure in the British Pop Art movement of the 1960s. As the charts of the year reveal y…

Graham's Christmas presents are, possibly, the best arts-related presents anyone got this year anywhere on the planet and very well worth talking through. Graham wonders if Michael Mann's new movie Ferrari is finally the first great film made about cars. Charles considers what has been popular on TV this Christmas Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in…

Charles and Graham continue looking back at their cultural highlights from 2023, this time focusing on their films of the year. Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car: X @2big_egos Facebook @twobigegosبقلم Graham Chalmers and Charles Hutchinson

Charles fights through the floods to join Graham for a review of the cultural year. The duo discuss the films, plays, books and albums that most impressed them in 2023. Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car: X @2big_egos Facebook @twobigegosبقلم Graham Chalmers and Charles Hutchinson

Longer wording: Charles and Graham are moved to discuss just why why Harrogate Theatre’s pantomime is the best in the world. Graham discusses Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman's chemistry and why May December is Todd Haynes's slipperiest film. A sombre conclusion as the great songwriting talent of The Pogues' Shane MacGowan is considered after his…

Charles reports back on his return to Berlin after 34 years and how he felt about the changes since his visit there with Graham in November 1989 immediately after the wall "came down". Charles and Graham reflect on meeting Barnsley bard Ian McMillan in Bradford at the St George's Hall premiere of his very Yorkshire version of Rossini's opera, The B…

Graham unexpectedly introduces a new fashion slot, where he reviews the surprising return of a plethora of fashion styles enjoying a comeback. Charles explores the Yorkshire phrase "Now Then” with a look at Rick Broadbent's new book Now Then: A Biography Of Yorkshire and Richard Hawley's new compilation album Now Then and follows up with questions …

Graham is wondering just what is the role of BBC 6Music in light of the latest official radio listening figures after a scheduling revamp? Plus, why if MOJO magazine is 30 years old does it feel more like 80? Graham contests that The Rolling Stones had an underrated role in inventing punk rock. Charles spots dinosaurs hoving into view. Keep in touc…

Graham recounts his recent encounter with Sir Ranulph Fiennes at the Raworths Harrogate Literature Festival. Charles asks Graham to choose a winner from threw new albums that have piqued his interest: The Coral's Sea of Mirrors. Peter Brewis of Field Music's with his new album, Blowdry Colossus and the first new album of original material in eighte…

Graham reveals how close he is to finishing his book on Harrogate band, Magna Carta and one particular highlight, when Chris Simpson and Magna Carta played the Gaza strip and there was a riot. Graham also reports on the news that Edinburgh Filmhouse appears to have been saved...Charles shares his thoughts on three new films, Michael Caine and Ken L…

Charles and Graham speak to Rick Witter of Shed Seven, discussing the story behind the York band's new album, next January's A Matter Of Time, the upcoming autumn tour, early band names for Witter and Paul Banks, and what it takes to be among the great survivors of Britpop. Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car: X @2big_egos Facebook @twob…

Graham recounts his adventures in Portugal after a trip to Lisbon: taking the temperature of the music scene in Europe's oldest and hottest city as he celebrates his 20th wedding anniversary. Charles reviews Alan Ayckbourn’s latest play in Scarborough, Constant Companions, his 89th, as he foresees human-android relationships of the near future, and…

Charles turns all autumnal, reflecting on music just right for the month of September and confesses he enjoyed a brass band recital at Burnby Hall Gardens in Pocklington. Graham delves into poet John Cooper Clarke's 2021 autobiography I Wanna Be Yours and wonders what makes a classic memoir? Charles reports on seeing Dexys in theatrical mode at Yor…

For their 150th episode, Charles and Graham enjoy a rare night out together at the Old Woollen, Farsley, as bassist Martin McAloon switches to guitar and vocals to execute his own versions of Prefab Sprout hits, album gems and B-sides. Did this gig, played by only a single member of the sublime north eastern band, make Two Big Egos 'Swoon' or not? …

Graham discusses Christopher Nolan's epic movie Oppenheimer and how it sheds light on American politics as much as the race for the atom bomb - and hopefully leads a revival of film-making rooted in this world's realities, not comic book fantasy. Still with Graham, former snooker world champion Steve Davis stole the Deer Shed Festival at Topcliffe …

Charles and Graham give their verdict on this year's Edinburgh International Film Festival and discuss some of the other events they attended too. Undoubtedly, the star attraction was the tram system! Keep in touch with Two Big Egos in a Small Car: X @2big_egos Facebook @twobigegosبقلم Graham Chalmers and Charles Hutchinson

Ahead of their annual visit to Edinburgh, Charles and Graham wonder if the revived Edinburgh International Film Festival can revive the magic in its 76th year. How big is the real audience for this year's crop of new albums and this year's Mercury Prize nominees? Graham gives his thoughts on what two of the most successful British novels of the las…

Graham and Charles begin by looking at two of this summer’s blockbusters: Mission Impossible -Dead Reckoning Part One - the seventh film in the franchise - and then Barbie, which has now become part of a double-header moment in the revival of mass cinema attendance, alongside Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, with some audiences choosing to see both…

Charles and Graham discuss Glastonbury and its headliners, including the allegedly last UK appearance of Sir Elton John. Charles reports on the decision by Curzon Group to close its cinema at Ripon and the duo discuss the health of independent cinema. Graham gives his verdict on Wes Anderson's latest, Asteroid City and the launches into the local c…

Having seen Alison Goldrapp at Manchester International Festival over the weekend at new venue Factory International. Graham gives his verdict on the £200m that it cost to prepare for his arrival as well the gig for solo Alison. Charles and Graham discuss how new albums are making a comeback this year or was it all the fault of HMV's stocking polic…