Bizarre Laws of The UK

History Podcasts

Join your host Monty Lord as he trawls through the history books and picks apart some of the most bizarre laws ever passed in the UK. Have you ever heard a bizarre law and thought that can’t possibly be true? Is it genuine? Was it ever in existence or just an urban myth that’s become so embellished over time? For example… Is it illegal to own a pet whale but not a tiger? Is it illegal to cause a nuclear explosion? Is it illegal to be drunk in a pub? Is Granny Farming illegal? Until recently, it was illegal for a woman to encourage a man to marry her by wearing false hair, high heels or makeup. It was also unlawful to sound a gong in Morecambe & Heysham. Until 2016, singing Happy Birthday in public could have been a breach of copyright law, and you could have been sued. There are, surprisingly, a great many laws still in existence today that would simply make your jaw drop. While bizarre as these laws may now seem to us, it begs the question, are we in fact, unknowingly breaking these laws regularly? …all these questions and more will be answered in this podcast, ‘Bizarre Laws of The UK’. This show is for anyone who enjoys learning about our sceptred isle’s more bizarre and somewhat macabre laws. Your host Monty Lord is a 17-year-old bestselling author, multi-award-winning change maker, social entrepreneur and researcher dedicated to challenging injustices through the use of the law. As a world memory champion, Monty became the youngest in the UK, holding the most Guinness World Records for world memory challenges. The contents of this podcast do not constitute legal advice and are provided for educational purposes only. Much of the information in this podcast relates to historical laws, many of which have long since been repealed. If you require specific legal advice, you should contact a specialist lawyer.

Location:

United States

Genres:

History Podcasts

Comedy

Description:

Join your host Monty Lord as he trawls through the history books and picks apart some of the most bizarre laws ever passed in the UK. Have you ever heard a bizarre law and thought that can’t possibly be true? Is it genuine? Was it ever in existence or just an urban myth that’s become so embellished over time? For example… Is it illegal to own a pet whale but not a tiger? Is it illegal to cause a nuclear explosion? Is it illegal to be drunk in a pub? Is Granny Farming illegal? Until recently, it was illegal for a woman to encourage a man to marry her by wearing false hair, high heels or makeup. It was also unlawful to sound a gong in Morecambe & Heysham. Until 2016, singing Happy Birthday in public could have been a breach of copyright law, and you could have been sued. There are, surprisingly, a great many laws still in existence today that would simply make your jaw drop. While bizarre as these laws may now seem to us, it begs the question, are we in fact, unknowingly breaking these laws regularly? …all these questions and more will be answered in this podcast, ‘Bizarre Laws of The UK’. This show is for anyone who enjoys learning about our sceptred isle’s more bizarre and somewhat macabre laws. Your host Monty Lord is a 17-year-old bestselling author, multi-award-winning change maker, social entrepreneur and researcher dedicated to challenging injustices through the use of the law. As a world memory champion, Monty became the youngest in the UK, holding the most Guinness World Records for world memory challenges. **** The contents of this podcast do not constitute legal advice and are provided for educational purposes only. Much of the information in this podcast relates to historical laws, many of which have long since been repealed. If you require specific legal advice, you should contact a specialist lawyer. ****

Twitter:

@TheMontyLord

Language:

English

Website:

https://bizarrelaws.com/

Email:

monty@bizarrelaws.com

Episodes

Episode 6: Office gossip, money & beware the ravens!

9/28/2022

In this episode of Bizarre Laws of The UK, Monty Lord takes a look at some of our bizarre laws covering workers’ rights in the office place where office gossip can get slightly out of hand. We also look at how many coins you can legally use in one transaction and the ravens of the Tower of London. Bizarre Law #23: Banned from Discussing Anything Not Work-Related During Working Hours Bizarre Law #24: In Scotland, None of The Money in Your Wallet is Legal Tender Bizarre Law #25: There is a Limit to How Many Coins You Can Legally Use Bizarre Law #26: Illegal to Deface a Banknote But Not Illegal to Destroy It Bizarre Law #27: Six Ravens Must be Resident at The Tower of London at All Times Narrator & Host: Monty Lord Episode links: Fabian Lord Special guests: The Ravens! No ravens were harmed in the making of this episode ... humans most likely were.

Duration:00:14:40

Episode 5: Mince pies, Christmas cancelled, horseshoe & nails

9/21/2022

In this episode of Bizarre Laws of The UK, Monty Lord takes a look at some of our bizarre laws covering a time when Christmas festivities and the eating of mince pies was banned. We also peer into the world of the deceitful bakers of yesteryear. Bizarre Law #19: Illegal to Eat More Than 2 Courses During Meal Times Bizarre Law #20: Illegal to Eat Mince Pies on Christmas Day Bizarre Law #21: A Baker’s Dozen Bizarre Law #22: Rendering of The Quit Rents Narrator & Host: Monty Lord Episode links: Fabian Lord

Duration:00:20:09

Episode 4: Passports, seditious libel & beating

9/14/2022

In this episode of Bizarre Laws of The UK, Monty Lord takes a look at some of our bizarre laws covering who actually owns your passport, angry protesting mobs frightening the government and a unique way to raise funds to build public buildings. Bizarre Law #15: You Don't Own Your Passport ... & Legally, Neither Does Anyone Else Bizarre Law #16: Thou Shall Not Speak Ill of The Crown or Government Bizarre Law #17: Illegal to Refuse to Serve as a City Officer in the City of London Bizarre Law #18: Beating The Bounds Narrator & Host: Monty Lord Episode links: Fabian Lord

Duration:00:15:06

Episode 3: Pretend ghosts, witches & enchantments

9/7/2022

In this episode of Bizarre Laws of The UK, Monty Lord takes a look into some of our bizarre legislation covering all manner of witchcraft and divinations over the centuries. He looks at some folk who still pay rent to the monarch for land from years ago and the necessity for weekly archery practice. Bizarre Law #9: Illegal to Pretend to be a Ghost Bizarre Law #10: Illegal to Feed a Witches Cat Bizarre Law #11: Illegal to Use Horoscopes to Determine How Long The Monarch Would Live Bizarre Law #12: Illegal to Make Pictures of People to Provoke a Person Into Unlawful Love Bizarre Law #13: The Royal Rents Bizarre Law #14: You Are Required to Spend Each Sunday & All Holidays Practising Your Archery Narrator & Host: Monty Lord Episode links: Fabian Lord

Duration:00:18:00

Episode 2: Death penalty for ’foreigners’

8/31/2022

In this episode of Bizarre Laws of The UK, Monty Lord takes a look into some of our bizarre legislation covering just how deadly it was to be considered a Jonny foreigner in the sceptred isle. Bizarre Law #4: Welsh People Banned From Speaking Welsh in Wales Bizarre Law #5: An Englishman Could Not Be Convicted by a Welshman in Wales Bizarre Law #6: Welsh People Banned From Owning Land in Wales Bizarre Law #7: Death Penalty if You Were Seen in the Company of Gypsies Bizarre Law #8: Earl Marshal's Court Narrator & Host: Monty Lord Episode links: Fabian Lord With special thanks to Caitlin Williams for the Welsh translation.

Duration:00:13:31

Episode 1: That’s contempt!

8/31/2022

In this episode of Bizarre Laws of The UK, Monty Lord takes a look into some of our bizarre legislation covering ghostly goings-on, laughter in court, & the shame of excessive paperwork. Bizarre Law #1: Illegal to Kill a Ghostly Apparition Bizarre Law #2: That's Not a Laughing Matter ... It's Contempt! Bizarre Law #3: Submission Shaming Narrator & Host: Monty Lord Episode links: Fabian Lord

Duration:00:15:56

Bizarre Laws of the UK: Trailer

8/7/2022

Duration:00:01:50