Henry Liston

When chatting to Frank Skinner, it’s impossible to resist the topic of football. I skirt the issue of whether it will ever come home for England, turning instead to his beloved West Bromwich Albion and their chances in the Championship. “Getting promotion is like winning a lion in a raffle,” says Skinner. “You think ‘I’ve won the raffle – now, what am I going to do with this monster?’.

In preparation for Aladdin at Manchester’s Palace Theatre, I set myself the task of watching the 1992 Disney Aladdin animation followed by the 2019 live action remake. This was the plan I’d hatched but the reality was my eyes started drooping during Prince Ali and, with cartoon paraphernalia in full force, I fell asleep with the lyrics “Prince Ali, handsome is he, Ali Ababwa/That physique! How can I speak? Weak at my knees!” washing around my brain.

The FA Cup is renowned for being the best cup competition on the planet. The only thing predictable about it is its unpredictability. I suppose that’s why I was so excited for a Posh Away Day in Peterborough. Anything could happen. On arrival, we had time to stop for a pre-match beverage. Our first port of call was an actual ship. Yes, a bar on a boat. Charters Bar is inside the lower deck of a vessel serving every sort of ale imaginable.