Cockney & Son

The Great British Heatwave

Lew & Steve Season 2 Episode 17

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Britain is baking, tempers are rising, and everyone seems to have an opinion.

This week, Lew and his 69-year-old Cockney dad, Steve, tackle the UK’s 2026 heatwave. Was the legendary summer of 1976 really hotter? Should schools stay open when classrooms become ovens? And should there be a legal maximum temperature for workplaces?

They compare British summers to some of the hottest places on Earth, chat about why the UK always seems unprepared for extreme weather, and ask whether we’ve become more cautious than previous generations.

Plus, Steve shares his no-nonsense advice for surviving the heat, they discuss the importance of staying safe in soaring temperatures, and round things off by testing out Lew’s Father’s Day gift – a button packed with 120 terrible dad jokes.

A hot topic, plenty of laughs, and another classic generation gap.  


🎧 Cockney & Son: Two Generations, One London

New episodes every week – unfiltered chat, real opinions, and a proper bit of banter between father and son.

Got a question or topic you want my dad’s take on?

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Thanks for listening — if you enjoyed it, give us a follow, leave a rating, and share it with someone who remembers when milk came in bottles.


SPEAKER_03

Cock me and son. Now don't be dumb. We've got proper opinions and plenty of gruff. Old school chat with the podcast twist. So stick the kettle on you don't wanna miss Cockney and Son to generations who want London. Go blame me, Governor. Hello everyone, and welcome back to Cockney and Son Series 2 episode 18, the podcast where I chat all things life, news, and nonsense with my 69-year-old Cockney dad. This week we're doing something a little bit different because Britain is absolutely roasting. The country is currently in the middle of a major heat wave, temperatures are heading towards levels that we've rarely seen before. Schools are debating whether children should even be in classrooms, and some workplaces are discussing whether there should be a maximum legal temperature. So let's get straight into it with a little bit of this. So if you hadn't noticed, we are currently experienced a major heat wave here in the United Kingdom, and everyone's gone a bit crazy.

SPEAKER_01

They have.

SPEAKER_03

76, mate. We know how you like to go. Back in my day, you may know, you may not be able to say we had the hottest summers back in the middle.

SPEAKER_01

Well done in the 70s. I don't, you know, obviously they weren't as the the days back then weren't as hot as today, but we had we you know, you had it for a few months. Where they reckon it's going to be cooler by the end of the week. Well mental.

SPEAKER_03

I have the facts, like always. Yeah, of course yeah. Yeah. So obviously we know England, extreme cold, extreme hot, we can't cope, right? Well, we we it's like we've never seen it before. No, and the world goes into chaos. So typically this week, a hot summer's day in in the UK would range between 30 to 35. That's sort of average for us. So just to like compare it to other places in the world where we feel that we're you know burning to death currently. Spain can get 35 to 45, but then they have siestas in the afternoon, Greece 35 to 43, Dubai 40 to 50, and Death Valley in the United States of America, 45 to 54. So these countries obviously all experience heat hotter than us.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, but it's but they're it's you know, on a regular basis, like every every month. Over here, you get a few days and everyone goes mental, don't they?

SPEAKER_03

No, I know, but what I'm saying is the reason for this podcast today that we're doing is to discuss why why we why is it that we never plan or put things in place?

SPEAKER_01

Because I think because I think that the the reason that is is because we don't expect it to be that hot for those many days. So people go, uh you know what British summer's like. I mean like the only few weeks ago it was form of rain every day. Yeah. And all of a sudden we got a few days of you know hot summer. I mean we had that thunderstorm the other night. I think that was that was um It scared the life out of me.

SPEAKER_03

Actually, the thunder scared me, but then the boy scared me. Yeah. Because I actually I think I actually I don't know if this is scientifically possible, but I think I actually floated up and floated across the room to the door and then threw my pillow at him. So I don't know. I wish I wish I had a camera in my bedroom to top.

SPEAKER_01

But the uh that lightning was a bit fierce. Yeah. I thought someone take a picture, I started smiling.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah. So obviously the may the major debates, and I got myself into a little bit of social media. Well, you know, trouble ones, you know. Well, not trouble. No, but people's opinions, you mean. Yeah, I posted a video on TikTok and Instagram basically. It's a shorter, did it? I mean, if you follow me, you know my sense of humour. You know when I'm joking and when I'm being serious. And I don't feel that the video I posted was very I don't think you could watch it and go, oh my god, he's being so serious.

SPEAKER_01

Well, you've got to take your consideration is that you know, people's humour these days, yeah, you know, you've got you know what they're like, they get upset over the slightest thing, don't they? You know, yeah, no, but I don't know, everyone knows, as you say, but who knows they know you're joking, but some people, oh so the video, you saw it.

SPEAKER_03

I saw it. Basically, I was saying that I wanted the schools to be open so the kids could still go to school. And I guess if I was to look at it from someone else's point of view, if I didn't look at the smiles and the the the the clear, you know, sarcasm in it, that it looked like I wanted to just get rid of my kids, even though people then went on to comment and say that I shouldn't be a parent, I don't care about my kids, I'd the schools are not babysitters, it's about their health, and I'm just a bit like it's it's TikTok, right? Yeah, if you scroll up, there's someone else dancing, but and do you know what I'm saying?

SPEAKER_01

Well, what's the difference between them being in their house and being in a in a in a school? I I not every house has got air con. No. So you know you you take your kids out of school, yeah. So if you don't let them out, they're they're indoors is gonna be hot anyway. So what's the difference?

SPEAKER_03

Unless they're with their mates and uh I mean because there's no one here to really be that person spokesman for that for that opinion, I would go on the facts that they're saying a small classroom filled with 30 kids with no air con, right? And a fan. So essentially the room's hot enough and all a fan is gonna do is blow hot air everywhere. So they're saying they're not gonna learn because the concentration skills won't the concentration attention won't won't be there. It's kind of a waste of everyone's time. So you might as well keep your kids at home where I suppose you could give them some work to do. We all know those parents might be right. Or I guess they can just cool down their lollipops and stuff.

SPEAKER_01

So sitting on a on a hot sofa with their f with their with their screens.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, which which I would say it does make sense, but I then commented that not everyone has an employer who go, Oh, don't worry, Debbie. People got to people take take the rest of the week off because people still gotta work. Parents have still got to work. But but my point is a lot of these people that were the ones saying that the kids shouldn't be in school, they either, let's be honest, they obviously potentially don't work, right? They don't work, or they are self-employed, or they work from home, I guess. But not everyone has I had a PC, yeah, a copper, say I've I've got work, NHS star, I can't just not be at work.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, a lot of people got to work, and in and some people got to work in hot conditions. You imagine being a bus driver, but he might have air con, but aside those windows with that with the sun coming through. Well, that's what I'm saying. So his little cab must be quite hot.

SPEAKER_03

I think it's uh I understand why people went a bit silly at at my video, but obviously I if the school was closed, I can just keep them at home.

SPEAKER_01

Well, yeah, also in a few weeks I've got six weeks off. Yeah. Yeah, and you're talking about oh, it's gonna be actually gonna be cool, cooler by the end of the week.

SPEAKER_03

Whenever you have an opinion or there's like a 50-50 debate, yeah, like it was on the social media band. Some people were for it, some people they had their reasons. People would definitely not send their kids to school because of the heat, but that's fine. But what I'm saying is, if you if your kids do go to school, there could be other reasons. Like I didn't want to get into a well, it's because of this, but actually, because I won't being serious at all. Yeah, but if I was being serious, I could say, Well, actually, my daughter has autism and she really likes her routine. Yeah, yeah, of course. And if if I say to her, You're going to school, you're not going to school today, but you're then you're gonna go back to the school. Like that froze her because she's better off but as you but you know, just go.

SPEAKER_01

You know, somebody schools are saying pick your children up at half 12, 1 o'clock. Yeah, yeah. But the school finishes at three, so what's it what's the cut of hours?

SPEAKER_03

Well, actually, yesterday, yeah, the school did release a newsletter to say that you have the option to pick up at they weren't saying that the school is closing, it's saying that if you want to pick your kid up at half twelve, you can do. I'm guessing that's because the afternoon heat is worse. That's the logic behind it.

SPEAKER_01

But also, but they by the time they've had their dinner, yeah, it's gonna be by the time they get out, it's gonna be one one o'clock. So you only talking a couple of hours.

SPEAKER_03

I mean, I think the main thing that it all boils down to is if if schools across the UK all every single classroom installed an AC unit, yeah, yeah, then the whole school, if every room has an AC unit, yeah, then the school would be cool. Cool, too cool for school. Too cool for school, yeah. So that's what I'm saying. So that so that would stop all of these issues, right?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, but the thing is like I just going back to 76, the schools didn't close in. No. Kids still went to school? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

You know? No, I know, but what I'm saying is obviously back then, like the risk assessments and the health and safety and all that sort of thing.

SPEAKER_01

But the kids survived, you know?

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, but it's different because nobody would assume that the school would be closed.

SPEAKER_01

You know, you get you see that in the winter, the weather mind said there might be uh a bit of snow. They get a little bit of dusting. Schools don't can't go to school.

SPEAKER_03

No, I know. But what I'm saying is, so if you so if you sat down. Get your kids to school. Yeah, but what I'm saying is, what I don't understand is once this heat wave is done and we're into October and everyone's moaning it's cold, yeah, we could ever the important people who make decisions could sit down and go, right, let's finally sort this situation out. How much would it cost for our air con aircon into a primary school? Yeah, is that in the budget? Because actually, that would solve so many things. But you can get those ones that slip on the window. Yeah. Well, America has them everywhere, didn't it? Yeah, of course. Um there must be a company in the UK who would be to have things.

SPEAKER_01

As you say, the ones that you just put on the windowsill, yeah. They can't be that expensive, are they?

SPEAKER_03

No, but that's what I'm saying. So if every classroom is, it would stop the problem. Yeah, of course. Obviously, some schools can be able to do it.

SPEAKER_01

But if I'm average, huh? They find an average excuse. Or I don't know.

SPEAKER_03

Pencil melting, yes. And then it's the uniform thing. My son has is not allowed to take off his blazer and all this sort of stuff. Well, apparently, there's some secondary schools that are telling kids that they can't that they can't take their blazers off and stuff, which I don't necessarily believe that. I actually replied saying, Who's the head teacher at Miss Tranchable? Like, that can't be true. Uh-uh.

SPEAKER_01

We don't sit in a classroom with your blazer on, surely.

SPEAKER_03

No. Everyone is hot, everyone is probably moody and stuff. But you know, what is your advice for this heat when you're just gonna say get on with it? Yeah, we're just get on with it.

SPEAKER_01

No, as long as you put you know, if you've got if you have to go out, yeah, just what? Just put some as long as you've got some sun cream on, yeah. Wear a hat, carry water with you. Yeah. Ain't you gonna put them on? You're not gonna be out all day, are you? No. But then the thing that these what what makes it like though when I when I see the reports, like these families that go, can't take them a kid to school, but they must probably in the summer months, they must be taking them to a country that's that's got more heat for their s for their summer holidays. Let them run about the beach.

SPEAKER_00

Go on.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah. I wonder if West Witterin is jam-packed. Oh, it must be jam-packed today. That council must make a fortune in parking. As a nation, we've become obviously more health and safety conscious, right? And you can't.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, but sometimes they're usually an excuse, like, you know. Yeah. You know, there's always seems to be some excuse not to do anything, you know.

SPEAKER_03

But that's when I always say to you, Oh god, they all had you all guys all had it so easy because obviously, if there was a heat wave, right, no parent would be expecting the school to be closed, right?

SPEAKER_01

No, that's right.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, so that's what I'm saying. So this whole thing where there's people that are being made out to be bad parents because they're sending their kids to school. It's not bad parents. That's what I'm saying, it's a whole nother thing. Yeah. Plus, you just had, we just had, we just felt bad about social media, right? Yeah. And if your kids had screens, a situation your parents or you never had to deal with. Not sure. So you're just like, yeah, yeah, you just go out all day, drink out of our homes. Edgar. Just go out all day on the screen. No, Edgar. And now, like, the next week, we're now feeling bad if our kids go to school in this heat wave, like we're we're sh we're like, go on, go to school on the sun today, you'll be fine. Like, do you know what I mean? So that's two two weeks of of issues that you as a parent or as or your parents never had to deal with.

SPEAKER_01

Well, no, because no, because we we I mean I mean, during back, you know, some of the back then during the war. No, there was hard there was harsh winters and hot obviously hot summers, but the schools never thought it would be closing.

SPEAKER_03

So but that's what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_01

You know, there's but it wasn't that it it wasn't on the parents to say the schools, it's like the the obviously the people that run the schools that say, Oh no, we're not closing we're not closing up, we're bringing kids in. No, but but you know it is you know, some parents, you know, they they some parents they look for any issues not to take out and take the kids to school.

SPEAKER_03

No, I understand that, but what but that's what I'm saying. So what I always say to you about how much go it goes on as a for a parent nowadays, where that's too many.

SPEAKER_01

A lot of parents got softer, because I'm I'm sure my mum, my mum would have gone, yeah, but you ain't getting school because it's a bit hot. No, but well you view go on the comments on my butt, yeah, but then back then, like sand cream were mostly heard of back then. Yeah, you know, so but today you've got back to 400, yeah, what they slap the kids on.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01

You know, which is which is good because it is so protection. We never had them UVA protection, make sure it's five.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01

We never had all that to sand cream either.

SPEAKER_03

But that's why I'm saying it's like I'm not saying I'm not saying that it's good that you guys never had sun cream.

SPEAKER_01

And we survived, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

But what I'm saying is I'm just saying in general it was less stressful, right?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, because you didn't have all this asshole as well. Exactly. You didn't have you you knew that if it was gonna if it snowed or it sun, you knew you're still gonna go to school.

SPEAKER_03

Okay. Anyway, moving on, yes, to for because I want to get your opinion on this, because it was part of a debate this morning on TV, is should workplaces have a maximum temperature? So current UK law doesn't actually have a legal maximum workplace temperature with offices, warehouses, and kitchens becoming incredibly hot. There are growing calls for one. Some businesses have already closed because staff simply couldn't work safely, yeah. So do you think there should be a legal maximum temperature at work?

SPEAKER_01

Well, when you think that a kitchen, like in a restaurant or a hotel, the heating net must be like that all the year round. No, I know, but it's not gonna get any hotter because it's it's hot outside, though. No, but you got all the you got all the gas, you know, you've got all the cooking.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, okay. Well, obviously, if you if you're a chef in a kitchen and you go to work and you go, oh, it's a bit hot, then obviously you're not a very good chef because you're obviously you're going to work expecting it to be hot, yeah? Yeah. Because you're in front of an oven. Yeah, cool. Obviously, so so that's an easy one to talk about. But what about just a general office?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, but but in this this day and age, now I should imagine a lot of the offices have got air con anyway, aren't they? Well, that's what only old-fashioned buildings and got obviously haven't got aircraft.

SPEAKER_03

But that's what I'm saying. If you're gonna put in a law that states that working conditions, but one I mean shouldn't be above 38 degrees.

SPEAKER_01

But we were saying, like, when I was on the post, when it's hot, we never got told, oh, you can't go out and delivery, we should have to go out and deliver the post. Put your postman's hat on. Oh yeah, yeah, put your hat on to get out of there.

SPEAKER_03

What about when you see this is what I don't get, and obviously it's crazy to think about, but when you look back, when you're just saying, oh, you you never had sun cream, you never had this, and bear in mind I should imagine it was sun cream, but it wasn't a big thing back then.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

What I'm saying is, when you look back on like pictures of like the Victorians, yeah. They're coming for you. They're all dressed.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, they're on the beach and like full-on like suits and yeah, and and the women had all the big coats and all that, so they must have been baking inside.

SPEAKER_03

But my the temperature back then couldn't couldn't have been No. It's not like they was on the beach at 16 degrees going on Bloody Hell would go to the beach, but how did they enjoy it? Because not even the heat, the sand.

SPEAKER_01

But it was just it was just uh why I liked them back then, wasn't it? You know, she didn't have any dip and does it?

SPEAKER_03

Because you know, no one I mean for for a woman even to show an angle was like I know, but I just don't see why I get why people would like promenade, you know what that is? Yes, the promenade. No, but people used to promenade so they used to walk socialise. Yeah, yeah. That's what they gossip. But I don't understand what made the person go, well, actually, let's go onto the beach and sit down, sunbathe.

SPEAKER_00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

With me, uh quickly, but actually going back to the actual question, which was like this answer yes or no, I know you're gonna say no. It's like, should there be a maximum temperature for working? All depends what work No, but because it has to be across the board, doesn't it?

SPEAKER_01

Well, no, I mean if you're working in an office, you know you're obviously going to have if you in in a modern office building you're gonna have air con, so those those manual jobs, imagine like you know, you working on a building site, you know, yeah. Up uh up scaffolding this weather must be quite hot, mustn't it? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

You know, or you will manage that then. Or you will see one building site remains open, why and then the other lock.

SPEAKER_01

I don't think the building site's closed down. I think they just go on with it.

SPEAKER_03

But maybe they're the ones You know. I mean they love it, don't they? Yeah. They get the best tan. Anywhere there's good machines, I should imagine there should be a certain I just think like it's 2026, yeah. Like, you know, I went to the kids finished school, right, on Tuesday, I think it was yesterday, yeah. Um, and I and I walked straight to the cinema to see to see Toy Story 5. As soon as I walked through there, that cinema was ice cold. Yeah, no one in there really at that time of the day, ice cold. So the cinema can have aircon. Yeah, yeah. I went supermarkets, they have aircon. So obviously it's available. Yeah. So should there not be a thing from the local government or whatever that says that schools?

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, yeah, I should imagine, but you know what people like? So somebody's council, you know what they like, the penny pinching. They go, should we have aircon in them schools? They go, Well, you know, we don't really have a hot summer. This is it really worth is it really worth putting aircon in for a few for a couple of weeks?

SPEAKER_03

It would avoid a lot of issues if it became a thing. Not saying that everywhere it was mandatory, but schools on the heat wave, as we are going to be responsible people before we get onto the jokes. Are we? Because obviously we're talking about heat wave. You're gonna be responsible. Yeah. I've got to that well, they let me adopt children, so I can't be that irresponsible. Signs to look out for. Signs. Signs to look out for during heat waves for health and safety. So this is the actual stuff. Okay, not to for you to take the McCout off, right? I won't take it. Signs of that someone might need medical attention in a heat wave, okay? Confusion and un or unusual behaviour. Yeah. Well, you have that all year round. Yeah. So dizziness that won't go away.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Severe headache.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, that's it. Bought on bottle heat, yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Hot skin that isn't cooling down.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03

Difficulty breathing. Well, this one's a giveaway. Fainting or collapsing.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah, that's true. Right. You've got to drink plenty of water. Yeah. If you're going out, put on the old sunscreen, put hat on.

SPEAKER_03

Anyway, so if you had noticed, we did say at the beginning of this episode it was a special one, so we were just talking about the heat wave in general. Heat wave. We could not do the bleeding dad joke.

SPEAKER_02

Get ready to laugh. It's now time for the bleeding dad joke.

SPEAKER_03

The weekend just gone was Father's Day. It was. You did come here. I did. I had a lovely roast on a lovely hot day. Thousand degrees. And Richard took a roast. Yes. And he had already cooked a full-on continental breakfast parfait style. I mean I came downstairs and I thought I wasn't holiday in.

SPEAKER_01

Okay.

SPEAKER_03

I mean it's fit much rich. Yeah, yeah, all laid out on the uh serving. This is this is the hot trades. Yeah, I had to go to the storage unit that morning. What get the uh hop trays out? Because the the day before it was at one day and shuts at 4 30. Okay. So I had to go get six the two trays that h that hold six items.

SPEAKER_01

Six items, some of which had the bake and eggs, beans, sausage.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah, sausage.

SPEAKER_01

A whole lot. How many came around then? Just mean Rich.

SPEAKER_03

No. No, it was his dad, his sisters, and cousins, and that. Okay. So yeah. So he did all that. I think I cleaned that away and then he started on the road. I went to Christmas Day.

SPEAKER_01

Oh yeah, what just out of one went and he was like peeling Elvis.

SPEAKER_03

So yeah, so but but present-wise, I think I outdone myself with the present for you. What could I get you, 69 years old, sensible person?

SPEAKER_01

Put off society.

SPEAKER_03

Yeah. So I found this. If you can't, obviously, if you're not watching on YouTube and just listening, this is a button, it looks like a big button that you press. Yes. And it's a hundred and twenty dad jokes. So what I thought we would do instead of coming up with our own jokes, we can press it four times and just listen to the jokes. Yeah. Obviously, I don't know if it's going to come up on the microphone. Okay. So what I think would be a good idea if we hold it and then press it. Okay. So you're going to go first. Okay. And if if it goes really quick or you don't, and then I'm going to repeat it if if we can't hear it. Right. You ready? Press it.

unknown

I've just swapped our bed for a trampoline.

SPEAKER_03

I just swapped our bed for a trampoline. Our wife. He's Norvin this guy. No, I know, yeah. He's Norvin the guy. So that's why I have to transit. That was a good joke. Right. My go. I got it off Amazon, by the way. How did cavemen meet cave women? They went out clubbing. They went out clubbing. I don't know. Probably more funny if you're Norvin. Really? Joke three. He's better than us. Why should you buy a load of these? Very good. Well, if the what was the joke? In case people didn't hear what he said.

SPEAKER_01

He said uh I've been asked to fill a form in.

SPEAKER_04

I've just been asked somebody forming.

SPEAKER_01

So I put 999.

SPEAKER_04

He went, hey, calm down. Calm down on. What jump number four man? Jump number four. Jump number four. Here we go.

unknown

You always wanted to be a mirror salesman.

SPEAKER_03

Well I have to say that. Wait, he even said, I've always wanted to be a a mirror man salesman. I've always seen myself doing it. Yeah. Obviously, he said it better. I think it's funnier because he's got the Northern accent and I actually haven't heard a lot of these jokes. So I how did you feel about that, President? Yeah, it's very good. It's good. So I'm gonna do one more.

SPEAKER_00

He was caught in a trap.

SPEAKER_03

So now we don't even have to come up with him. It's like AI for the leading data section. Very good. Thank you, random northern man. Yeah. Who's a couple of days in a voiceover booth within 120 jokes? And the good thing is, because you're 69, when it goes back to number one, you would have forgotten them all. Yeah, of course.

unknown

What do you say?

SPEAKER_03

I will put the link on Amazon if you do want to purchase that.

SPEAKER_01

But yeah, after um thanks for listening to Cockney and Sun. If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure you follow, subscribe, and lead us with a morning rat friends. And you have a go at me. Take two right closing. I'm not supposed to read that bit. That's all right. Thanks for listening to Cockney and Sun. If you've enjoyed today's episode, make sure you follow, subscribe, and lead us a review. A what? A review. Okay. Review. Wherever you're listening. And if you've got a question, dilemma, or topic you like me to answer me to tackle. Let me do that again. Alright.

SPEAKER_03

I think my computer is starting to. I don't think I've got enough memory.

SPEAKER_01

Right. There we go. I'm gonna do it right this time, right? Take three. Right, take three. Thanks for listening to Cockney and Sun.

SPEAKER_03

That your post always.

SPEAKER_01

Yeah. If you enjoyed today's episode, make sure you follow, subscribe, and leave us a review wherever you're listening. And if you've got a question, dilemma, or topic you like me to tackle in a future episode, get in touch. We'll see you next time. Cheers. And don't forget, please leave a review.