Welcome to Have I Heard This One Before? Where comedy podcasters answer classic questions from other comedy podcasts, with a few sensible RGM thrown in to the mix. This month we question Ghastly Women
Ghastly Women is a comedy‑true‑crime podcast hosted by British comedians Esther Manito and Lily Phillips. Each episode spotlights a notorious or “ghastly” woman—a criminal, troll, con‑artist, or scandalous figures. What began as a pandemic lockdown project has rapidly evolved into a cult hit.
Esther took the time to answer our questions.
What’s your dream house location ? (Holly Burn Dream House)
Lake house with a jetty that I can jump off into the lake. There will also be a row boat so when I argue with my family I can row away from them all.
What was the origin story for Ghastly Women and did you have many other ideas before you settled on this podcast format?
Lily Phillips (not the only fans one) and I during lock down hosted a weekly virtual Pictionary game weekly with viewers suggestions and guesses and it very soon became totally unhinged and always focusing on famous criminals, so we decided to do a podcast that was insanely dark and discussed women who do awful things!
What was your first purchase on Amazon? (My Mate Brought A Toaster?)
DVD of Misery.
What’s have been your biggest successes and failures (if any), have you ever not released an episode, due to a bad recording?
I mean the podcast is total chaos we laugh A LOT and I sing a fair amount so I always think who the hell is listening to this and when listeners come to my tour show it amazes me that they are just everyday people! So we release everything there is zero professionalism or scripting! It’s 100 percent authentic and you love it or hate it.
What do you find embarrassing that you shouldn’t? (Ed Gamble & Matthews Crosby -Radio X)
I don’t think I have any shame! Oh no, I get so embarrassed when I’m with someone drunk in public and I’m sober! Which is stupid, I feel judged! If I’m drunk too then I don’t give a shit.
If you were to swap presenters of Ghastly Women with another podcast who would you swap with?
Alan Carr and Lee Peart – cos I want to drink wine on their pod! And they would be hilarious at outing some nasty women.
What would be the worst animal to share a desert island with? (Desert Island Dicks)
Parrot. We would get into arguments.
Favourite episode, if you can remember and why?
The one where we created a fake cult called “healthy boys” where we would take in non domestic men and domesticate them. We even have a song! It’s a bit league of gentlemen…
Who would close your dream music festival? (Castival)
Tom Jones.
If you had a range of merchandise, what would be some great items to accompany the podcast?
One loyal listener has made us some WHORSEs (a combination of a whore and a horse) which we will give away for Patreon listeners!
What are the future plans for the pod?
We would love to do more live shows and meet even more listeners!
Are you happy? (Com, Com Pod)
We have a brilliant tribe of people in out lives. So we are very happy.
A big thank you Esther and Ghastly Women for taking the time to contribute to our feature.
Esther Manito’s ‘Slagbomb’ tour continues until end of February 2026 Tickets available here
Ghastly Women continues weekly, available where you get your podcasts.
CHECK OUT MORE COMEDY FROM RGM HERE
Follow the guys below on the socials @ghastly_women_podcast // @esthermanito // @lilyphilipscomedy