TRANSKRIPTIO 🔗
WEBVTT
00:00:00.239 --> 00:00:12.000
Bonjour, good, prevent, hello, governor, and welcome to the UK special edition of Toothpois Podcast.
00:00:12.400 --> 00:00:18.640
That's right, we are about to take a look at what has been shaping the UK in the last 12 months.
00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:25.760
And then there comes the moment, the fate, the destiny that awaits us all.
00:00:26.079 --> 00:00:30.480
We must sit and watch the UK entry.
00:00:37.280 --> 00:00:40.719
What will they be bringing us this year?
00:00:40.960 --> 00:00:42.000
Will it be hope?
00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:43.200
Will it be joy?
00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:44.640
Will it be so?
00:00:44.799 --> 00:00:46.479
What has shaped the UK?
00:00:46.640 --> 00:00:53.439
Well, basically over the last 12 months, for a start, Britain has essentially been running the world's longest experiment.
00:00:53.520 --> 00:00:58.240
In can technically be stable and still feel like everything's a bit broken?
00:00:58.399 --> 00:00:59.840
Let's start with the economy.
00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:04.319
On paper, not bad, not as good as it could have been, but not bad.
00:01:04.560 --> 00:01:07.040
Growth is technically happening.
00:01:07.359 --> 00:01:10.560
Inflation is technically coming down.
00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:13.840
Wages technically rising for some.
00:01:14.000 --> 00:01:24.079
But in real life, people are looking at their bank accounts like, oh good, uh everything is improving, except my ability to buy anything.
00:01:24.239 --> 00:01:27.519
Because inflation's still hovering around 3 plus percent.
00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:33.040
Energy prices keep wobbling up, and household costs continue to rise.
00:01:33.200 --> 00:01:36.799
So the official message is things are getting better.
00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:42.799
And the public response is pretty much, well, fantastic, but could they hurry up and arrive?
00:01:43.040 --> 00:01:48.959
Meanwhile, the government rolled out a budget that promised to fix everything by doing the most British thing imaginable.
00:01:49.120 --> 00:01:53.439
Quietly raising taxes while insisting everything is fine.
00:01:53.680 --> 00:01:56.159
It's like being mugged by someone apologizing.
00:01:56.319 --> 00:01:57.040
Oh, sorry.
00:01:57.200 --> 00:01:58.079
Terribly sorry.
00:01:58.159 --> 00:02:01.760
Just just go freeze your tax thresholds until twenty thirty-one.
00:02:02.000 --> 00:02:02.400
Lovely.
00:02:02.560 --> 00:02:02.879
Thanks.
00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:03.359
Cheers.
00:02:03.760 --> 00:02:14.879
They also promise to ease the cost of living, cut energy bills a bit, raise wages a bit, freeze train fares a bit, which is great.
00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:18.719
If your finances are currently held together by a bit.
00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:27.680
Now politically, oh boy, the political system has turned into a reality show where there's no one winning, but everyone is still on air.
00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:31.439
The government's been under pressure to prove it can actually deliver
Load full transcript
things.
00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:35.120
It's pretty much safe to say public patience has run out.
00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:40.000
And voters, voters have decided, you know what, this situation needs more parties.
00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:46.240
Support for the traditional big parties is dropping while newer and smaller ones are gaining ground.
00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:53.439
So Britain has gone from a tidy two-party system to a chaotic group chat where nobody can agree on what takeaway to get.
00:02:53.520 --> 00:02:57.520
And through it all, there's this underlying vibe, this national mood.
00:02:57.680 --> 00:03:02.560
Not panic, not collapse, just persistent low-grade sighing.
00:03:02.879 --> 00:03:11.919
Whole show people's expectations are getting lower, and people are expecting recession, unrest, and things generally to get worse.
00:03:12.159 --> 00:03:19.120
Public services are under strain, the NHS is overwhelmed, and millions are still struggling with basic living costs.
00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:23.840
So if you had to sum up the UK in the last year, look, it's not a total disaster movie.
00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:25.439
It's not a comeback story.
00:03:25.520 --> 00:03:27.840
It's more sort of in a holding pattern.
00:03:28.000 --> 00:03:40.159
It's a country trying to fix itself while simultaneously arguing about how to fix itself, while also discovering the repair costs actually cost more than expected and possibly more than they have.
00:03:40.319 --> 00:03:41.759
And that's the story of Britain.
00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:44.400
Britain hasn't collapsed, Britain hasn't soared.
00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:46.080
It's just enduring.
00:03:46.240 --> 00:03:57.439
Like a very polite passenger on a delayed train, repeatedly checking the departure board, watching the time push back again and again, and still somehow saying, well, at least it's not cancelled.
00:03:57.680 --> 00:04:00.479
So what's been happening across the rest of the UK?
00:04:00.719 --> 00:04:12.400
Well, in Wales, back in January of 2025, the Met Office issued a yellow weather warning for snow in Wales for the weekend of 4th to 5th of January.
00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:24.639
I may not be a weather presenter, but I am very confident in advising everyone out there to always avoid the yellow snow, not just in January.
00:04:24.879 --> 00:04:37.600
Cardiff University announced it was going to close its music and modern language departments, then promptly turned around and said they would not be closing their music and modern language departments.
00:04:37.759 --> 00:04:43.199
Probably because some people directed some modern language words towards them.
00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:51.199
On the 30th of May, an upgrade to the A465 road, which began in 2002.
00:04:51.600 --> 00:05:00.319
That's right, an upgrade which has taken 23 years is finally completed at the cost of 2 billion pounds.
00:05:00.480 --> 00:05:02.480
That's one hell of a pothole.
00:05:02.639 --> 00:05:14.879
In October of 2025, the
Welsh government announced that European beavers are to become a protected species in Wales, bringing it in line with England and Scotland.
00:05:15.040 --> 00:05:15.759
That's right.
00:05:16.079 --> 00:05:18.879
Protect your beaver at all cost.
00:05:19.279 --> 00:05:33.120
Meanwhile, in Scotland, Scotland continued to lead in renewable energy, particularly in wind power, and continues its ambitious goal to become a net zero emission nation by 2045.
00:05:33.439 --> 00:05:37.439
Oh look, they say it's ambitious, but 2045?
00:05:37.920 --> 00:05:40.879
That's not that's 20 years away.
00:05:41.040 --> 00:05:42.079
That's not ambitious.
00:05:45.759 --> 00:05:50.959
20 years! I'm lucky if I make plans 20 days ahead.
00:05:51.839 --> 00:05:56.560
That and the average ferry fare in Scotland has increased by 10%.
00:05:58.160 --> 00:05:58.720
Shocking.
00:05:58.879 --> 00:06:06.480
Just when you thought the ferry news wasn't bad enough, Scotland then had to adjure an attack.
00:06:06.720 --> 00:06:13.680
Well, i.e., an attack, others may describe it as a visit from the President Donald Trump.
00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:20.959
An independent review found that the Scottish police force was sexist misogynist.
00:06:21.199 --> 00:06:31.839
And in October, MPs gave their backing to proposals to create a new criminal offence for dog theft, punishable by five years' imprisonment.
00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:34.240
Something we can finally get behind.
00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:39.120
So the UK has chosen Look Mum No Computer.
00:06:39.279 --> 00:06:43.279
Now, Look Mum No Computer is in fact Sam Battle.
00:06:43.439 --> 00:06:46.399
Now let's talk about Look Mum No Computer.
00:06:46.480 --> 00:06:50.639
Because at some point in human history, we said, you know what music needs?
00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:52.079
Less computers.
00:06:52.240 --> 00:06:59.120
And then this guy shows up like, cool, I'll just build my own out of literal garbage and turn it into a rave.
00:06:59.279 --> 00:07:11.759
Here's the deal Look Mum no Computer is basically one man, Stambattle, who decided that instead of buying synth like a normal person, he would become the IKEA of synth, but with more of a fire hazard.
00:07:11.839 --> 00:07:16.399
This builds musical instruments out of things that should absolutely not make music.
00:07:16.560 --> 00:07:20.240
Furbies, Game Boys, old telephones, washing machines.
00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:24.319
It's like if Frankenstein went into electronic music instead of medicine.
00:07:24.480 --> 00:07:28.879
In 2011, he first came up with the concept for a Furby synthesizer.
00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:30.639
He calls the Furby organ.
00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:35.519
And it was completed in 2018 using 44 Furbies.
00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:42.560
In 2013, Sam launched his YouTube channel, which at first mainly just showed videos for his band.
00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:47.839
But when that ended in 2016, this is when the mad scientist videos began.
00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:49.759
But here's the sneaky genius part.
00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:53.040
Under all the chaos, it actually teaches people stuff.
00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:58.319
You watch one video and suddenly you're like, wait, could I build a synthesizer?
00:07:58.480 --> 00:08:03.120
And then three hours later you're Googling, is hot glue electrically conductive?
00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:05.120
And is that legally a problem?
00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:11.279
So basically, look mom no computer is part musician, part inventor, part mad scientist.
00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:17.680
As of May 2026, his YouTube channel has garnered over 91 million views.
00:08:17.839 --> 00:08:26.480
As well as music, he presents a travel docuseries called Jungle Rock TV, where he travels around Europe making musical instruments and performing.
00:08:26.639 --> 00:08:33.440
In 2025, he announced a video game called Look Mum No Computer, published by Head Up Games.
00:08:33.600 --> 00:08:38.720
The game was released on Steam in 2025 and for consoles on 2026.
00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:44.080
But in 2025, the game was nominated for the German Developer Award for Best Audio Design.
00:08:44.240 --> 00:08:49.759
But when he's not doing that, Battle runs a permanent exhibition in Ramsgate in Kent.
00:08:49.919 --> 00:08:56.960
So after the chaos of Eurovision 2026, you can get more Look Mum No Computer.
00:08:57.120 --> 00:09:04.080
His exhibition houses a collection of vintage synthesizers, experimental music, electronics.
00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:08.639
The exhibition is named This Museum Is Not Obsolete.
00:09:08.799 --> 00:09:17.519
It opened in August of 2021 and features items that he has personally billed alongside historical pieces of musical equipment.
00:09:17.679 --> 00:09:23.519
So I have just watched the entry for the UK for 2026 at Eurovision.
00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:27.200
Look, Mum, No Computer, with Eins Zwei Dry.
00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:34.480
Now, you all know my longstanding opinion of recent songs that the UK sends.
00:09:34.639 --> 00:09:38.080
It gives me absolutely no pleasure in saying this.
00:09:38.399 --> 00:09:43.519
But this is absolutely freaking fantastic.
00:09:43.840 --> 00:09:44.720
I love it.
00:09:44.960 --> 00:09:56.879
Finally, the UK has pulled the stick from their b and is showing and embracing and displaying that dry British humor that we love.
00:09:57.120 --> 00:09:58.879
This is ridiculously fun.
00:09:58.960 --> 00:10:03.840
I mean, don't get me wrong, the juries will absolutely detest to this.
00:10:04.000 --> 00:10:13.679
But honestly, this feels like the most I this feels like the most authentic UK performance we have seen, not just in years, but decades.
00:10:14.080 --> 00:10:18.559
This guy is just out for a good old-fashioned laugh and a pint.
00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:24.080
And everyone in the comments on YouTube seems to have the same opinion.
00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:31.759
One of my favorite comments is basically someone who said, Oh, look, here's a guy singing about how shit it is in Britain and he can't wait to leave.
00:10:31.919 --> 00:10:34.960
This is the most accurate British song I have seen.
00:10:35.120 --> 00:10:36.960
A bit of interesting trivia.
00:10:37.120 --> 00:10:43.120
This song, the UK entry, actually features more German than the German entry.
00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:44.639
This one's an absolute bop.
00:10:44.720 --> 00:10:46.639
I've played this a couple of times over.
00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:48.960
You can't help but dance around to this one.
00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:49.840
Is it gonna win?
00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:51.519
No, I don't even care.
00:10:51.679 --> 00:11:03.519
I think, and this is the irony, I think the UK is actually gonna get some points this year for this song, which I would absolutely throw a riot if this song got zero points.
00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:22.480
But at the same time, it would be perfect because Sam Bettle has actually said in interviews, he understands the assignment, he gets the joke, he says he is all ready, he has designs ready to go that look mum no computer is gonna start selling t-shirts that says look mum no points.
00:11:22.639 --> 00:11:29.039
It is fun, it is unassuming, and for anyone who asks, pony is 25 pounds.
00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:34.639
This is the last video in the series, and to be honest, oh, I have been holding on to this news.
00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:43.679
I have actually listened to the song a little while ago, and I've been listening to it on repeat, and I have been desperate to let someone know.
00:11:43.840 --> 00:11:48.480
And no one is more shocked than me, but I love this song.
00:11:48.639 --> 00:11:50.720
This is one of my favorites of the year.
00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:52.080
I don't think it's gonna win.
00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:54.960
I don't think it's gonna be anywhere near the pop.
00:11:55.039 --> 00:11:57.039
But UK, I love this.
00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:58.720
This is what we want from you.
00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:00.799
This is you, we love it.
00:12:00.960 --> 00:12:04.000
I was about to be like, Whew, that's it, we're all done.
00:12:04.159 --> 00:12:05.360
Oh, sigh of relief.
00:12:05.440 --> 00:12:14.720
I've put so much work into all of these little short videos, these little snippets at the countries at Eurovision this year, the artists and the song.
00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:20.080
Let me know what you think about this format, if this is something that I should continue for next year as well.
00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:25.279
I did also just remember I still haven't done the Australian version.
00:12:25.440 --> 00:12:26.639
I just don't want to.
00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:27.600
I've gotta be honest.
00:12:27.679 --> 00:12:29.200
I hate Delta Gudrun.
00:12:29.360 --> 00:12:31.120
Honestly, I think she's terrible.
00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:36.080
It's she's the kind of performer I would have expected the UK of years have passed to send.
00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:37.840
Alright.
00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:40.480
Once more onto the breach, dear friends.
00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:42.799
Once more onto the breach.
00:12:43.279 --> 00:12:44.159
Well done, UK.
00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:44.720
Well done.