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Josh Widdicombe's Archive of Pop Culture

Britain's Greatest Inventor: Clive Sinclair and the C5 (Part 1)

Josh Widdicombe's Archive of Pop Culture

Keep It Light Media

Comedy, Society & Culture, Tv & Film

4.8956 Ratings

🗓️ 12 March 2026

⏱️ 54 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Episode 1: Mensa, Eccentric Genius, and the invention of the pocket calculator⁠ In the first episode of this series, Josh Widdicombe and comedian and friend Tom Craine discuss the unbelievable story of Britain's greatest inventor - Sir Clive Sinclair and his success (and failures) in shaping the landscape of technology and computers. We discuss the formation of MENSA, the early Sinclair success of his electronic pocket calculator, and the fierce rivalry that grew amongst the computer community in the 70's and 80's as they battled for technological advances and market dominance. All episodes for this series are available to listen to now if you go to; ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://museumofpopculture.supportingcast.fm/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ And join the Museum of Pop Culture ⁠⁠⁠fan club.⁠⁠⁠ If you want to get in touch with the show... Email: museumofpopculturepod@gmail.com Instagram: museumofpopculturepod New episodes are released twice weekly. Please subscribe, leave a review, and spread the word if nostalgic pop culture is your cup of tea!! A ⁠⁠⁠Keep It Light Media⁠⁠⁠ Production (Copyright 2026) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

If you want to listen to all of the episodes of this series right now, early release and ad-free,

0:04.8

plus a whole host of extra fan club benefits, head to museum of pop culture.supportingcast.com.

0:10.8

Or if that's too much of a mouthful, just click on it in the show notes, which is the description

0:15.8

bit that no one reads.

0:21.9

Hello and welcome. I am Josh Whittickham.

0:24.5

For today I am the curator of a place of incredible artefacts and exhibitions, a place that

0:29.6

stores the greatest thing on earth.

0:31.8

This is my museum of pop culture.

0:44.3

As a self-confessed, pop culture obsessive, I love the geniuses, the scam artists, and dare I say, the absolute madmen, they've made the records, shows and films that we love.

0:49.3

In each series, I will tell you a story of unlikely triumph and usually an enjoyably crushing failure, featuring celebrated stars that in any other industry would probably be politely sacked.

1:02.2

It's a show for people more interested in David Hasselhoff than David Lammie, Elizabeth Taylor than Queen Elizabeth I, which, let's be honest, is all of us.

1:19.2

Joining me today to discuss Britain's greatest inventor, Sir Clive Sinclair,

1:23.2

and the failed creation that defined, unfairly, in my opinion, his legacy,

1:30.5

the C-5 electric car, is comedian, friend, and man who one day may buy a Sinclair C5 because he hasn't got a driving license.

1:32.1

It's Tom Crane.

1:50.0

It's a pleasure to be able to say to you, welcome to Channel 4. I'm a secret lemonade drinker.

1:53.0

Shing our whites.

1:55.0

Prince Charles moved slowly down the aisle, and the cheers of the crowd filtered in as Lady Diana arrived.

2:01.6

The winner is Caryots of Fire.

2:07.6

Jane Torville and Mr. Verdeen receive their gold medals.

2:11.6

Argentina says Britain has sunk its cruiser. The Defense Secretary says Britain's got a right to invade the

2:18.1

Falklands. Britain in the early 1980s, a nation caught between decline and invention.

...

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