Olly Smith

Olly Smith

From Scarred For Life by Lock It In Studio

June 1, 2026 · 52 min · Season 5 · Episode 17

About this episode

Olly Smith shares his life scars, from a fear of swimming due to Jaws to a memorable hangover experience.

This week on Scarred For Life, Andy Bush and Dave Lawrence are joined by wine expert, broadcaster, author and all-round enthusiast Olly Smith. Olly's scars take us from the shark-infested waters of Jaws, a film that left him terrified of swimming for decades, to the disastrous first hangover that scarred him for life, complete with a human skeleton under the bed and a quest to find the ultimate cure. Along the way, we discuss boarding school, role-playing games, Pingu, wine tasting notes, great white sharks, writing children's television, Marillion, Fish, and the peculiar objects Olly has collected throughout his life. Plus, Olly tells us about his brilliant new novel Death by Noir, reveals why he once made his wife swim next to him as shark bait, and explains how a shark cage dive in South Africa finally helped him conquer one of his oldest fears. You can pre-order Death By Noir using the code NOIR26! ⁠⁠here⁠⁠ To join Scarred Club and get fortnightly bonus episodes, ad-free listening and access to the members forum - sign-up here - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://scarredforlife.supportingcast.fm/ ⁠ Send us a voice note on WhatsApp - 07457 404 279 Follow us on socials: Scarred For Life…

People in this episode

Hosts: Andy Bush, Dave Lawrence

Guest: Olly Smith

Topics covered

  • wine
  • fear
  • film
  • hangover
  • sharks
  • writing

Keywords

  • Jaws
  • sharks
  • hangover
  • Death by Noir
  • wine tasting
  • boarding school
  • role-playing games

Sponsors

Scarred Club

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Lock It In Studio, Marillion

Books & works: Death by Noir

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