International Ugly Christmas Singlet Day

Appears in 56 episodes, first in episode 178.

Every appearance

• Episode 454 - Old and New

  Looking ahead to Ugly Christmas in July Day on 27 July, TOC will be at Ulladulla parkrun with a couple of others in Ugly Christmas Shirts, and objects to only wearing them one day a year; Lyndell regrets not taking her fluffy Christmas singlet to Nambour. A July variant of the show's recurring ugly-Christmas-singlet bit rather than the December running of it.

• Episode 431 - Start Spreading the News

  Mel: 'what we are next to discuss is Ugly Christmas in July Day'. Both hosts wore their gear - TOC one of two at Oaklands, Mel in a 'tinsel of three' at Quinns Rocks with Sarah Jefferson and Chloe Bravos - plus the international photos and the origin story of Christmas in July that Ali Sheppard had shared.

• Episode 430 - Cleaner Wanted!

  Mel flags the upcoming Ugly Christmas in July Day for Saturday 26 July 2025, "we expect most of our adventurer friends do own an Ugly Christmas Shirt and we'll rock up to parkrun looking extremely ugly next Saturday", and TOC adds that anyone without one should "put something ugly on and still take a photo anyway". Also flagged in this stretch: Mel's 500th parkrun locked in for 9 August at Sirromet in Queensland, and congratulations to Nicola Forward on her 250th unique event and on joining the adventurers.

• Episode 407 - Highlights and Hopes

  Mel flags it as the announcement in red bold letters in the show notes; TOC confirms 21 December is the day to wear your ugly shirt, notes uglies were already out on courses the previous week, and asks listeners to post photos to the show's socials and to the Ugly Shirt Day Facebook group. He nominates the budgie ugly as his favourite over Fluffy.

• Episode 402 - With Mispronunciations Now

  Look-ahead item: a second round of the Ugly Christmas Singlet and shirt orders has opened for anyone who missed the first, with the hosts reminding listeners the shirts are made by a third party and questions go to that page, not the podcast.

• Episode 396 - Oh What a Feeling!

  Described by Mel as "a non-update": the release date for the Ugly Christmas Singlet and shirts is still pending and should be any day. TOC is looking forward to seeing how his "Jurassic kangaroo" design comes out.

• Revisits and Backflips

  Mel relays an update from "the elves": a reimagined version of the original fluffy shirt, based on a well-known photo of a famous emu from Nambour, plus a brand new design she has permission to tease as "an iconic Aussie reptile". Orders close 29 September. The hosts stress they are not the elves and are only promoting it.

• Episode 364 - Bumping Uglies

  The episode is built around the 2023 running of Ugly Christmas Singlet or Shirt Day (hence the title "Bumping Uglies"). Ollie reports a swathe of uglies at Shellharbour where he was run directing, daughters Ava in the budgies and Zali in the reimagined koala, and Kathy in his OG koala on photographer duty; Simon counted about ten uglies at Redland Bay and met a "twin" in the same visor and budgies shirt. Ollie sums up "great to see all of the festivity and all of the ugliness from Ugly Christmas Singlet or Shirt Day", and thanks the elves for getting the shirts out on time.

• Episode 363 - Old Farts and Old Ducks

  Looking ahead to Ugly Christmas Singlet and Shirt Day on Saturday 16 December: the hosts push the Facebook event page, ask listeners to tag themselves, wear any year's singlet, add tinsel and share photos, and flag that Ugly Christmas Singlet visors are still available to order. Melissa has no plans yet ("NFI"); Ollie will be run directing at Shellharbour as ugly as possible. The pair also note next week's episode is the last for the year before a short summer break.

• Episode 362 - West is best

  A look ahead to 16 December, Ugly Christmas Singlet or Shirt Day. The hosts encourage adventurers to wear whichever version they own and flood the socials with photos, and Melissa reminds listeners the shirts are made by 'the elves' and that the ugly singlet page is separate from the podcast, so post there as well as in Dazza's.

• Episode 359 - Rrrrriverside

  In the looking-forward slot, Ollie reports the final ugly singlets are shipping tomorrow and Australian orders should arrive this week, thanking the "elves" who made them. He gives the date for International Ugly Christmas Singlet Day as 16 December 2023 and points listeners to the Facebook event, adding there is no need to wait for the date to wear one.

• Episode 357 - Stop watch

  Forward look to the 16th of December: the hosts await distribution of this year's uglies, and Melissa reports buying budgie earrings with Martine - one green and one blue - to match the adventurers' budgie Christmas singlets.

• Episode 351 - Missing Magpies

  Melissa reads an excerpt from the (as yet unpublished) announcement post: Ugly Christmas Singlet Shirt Day falls on 16 December 2023, with two designs - a new 2023 design of two budgies, Buddy and Bluey, swinging from tinsel with "Merry Chirpmas" on the back, and a reimagined version of the 2019 koala-hugging-a-pineapple design with knitted detail and Christmas lights. Visors return in a new design, strictly limited as they are not made to order. The order portal closes 1 October; details at the Facebook page or iheartugly.com. Melissa gives a full spoken description of both shirt images for listeners.

• Episode 342 - 26

  Ollie: "It's Ugly Christmas in July, this Saturday." A call to wear Ugly Christmas Shirts and singlets to your local parkrun and flood Dazza's with the photos, doubled up with the tutu-on-a-22 idea from Club Corner because the Saturday is the 22nd. Mel plans her "reimagined" ugly T-shirt, Ollie his gingerbread one, and is dared to find a brown tutu to match. The episode signs off "Happy, Ugly Christmas in July, everyone."

• Episode 341 - On the buses

  The hosts flag the return of the festive tinge to July: Ugly Christmas in July, officially (or unofficially) on 22 July. Listeners are told to dig out existing Ugly Christmas Singlets and layer them over winter thermals and buffs - there are no new releases this year.

• Episode 316 - InSantagram

  Ollie gets on the front foot to thank "the elves behind Ugly Christmas Singlet or Shirt Day", stressing that the podcast promotes it but does not run it. Ugly singlets and shirts are the theme running through the whole episode, including Dazza's and the Obi.

• Episode 315 - Honey Stud

  Build-up to Ugly Christmas Singlet and Shirt Day on 17 December, uglies have shipped worldwide, with fingers crossed that New Zealand's delivery lands in time. Ollie confesses he wore only tinsel at Shellharbour and promises to be properly ugly, and thanks "the elves behind that". The hosts also flag that next week's is the last episode of the year and ask the Channel 5 News Crew for bonbon jokes, this year in audio format only.

• Episode 313 - #getyourfeetwet

  Flagged as coming up on 17 December. The hosts discuss orders arriving, Melissa already wearing hers with her moon boot, and stress that "it isn't actually Ollie and I that organise the Ugly Christmas Singlet and shirts. It's the elves. And that's not a metaphor for us."

• Episode 311 - Green Eggs & Snoods

  Looking ahead: uglies are already appearing, with Bruce sporting his new one at Wallaby Track and Chantel wearing hers. Mel's order is delayed because she is waiting on a visor. Ollie also notes the Wright Brothers' 17 December anniversary sits awkwardly close to the ugly singlet day.

• Episode 309 - Bruce & Gill Fordyce

  Looking-forward item: a second-chance release of the Ugly Christmas Singlet/shirt is imminent, prompted by "associate of the Ugly Christmas Singlet or Shirt Day elves, Mel Erbacher" on the previous episode, "suggesting that us or you lot are far too beautiful and we need more ugly out there." Reminders to Renee (Abby's mum) and Scott to order; deliveries for those who ordered on time expected in mailboxes shortly.

• Episode 308 - Top 3

  Erbacher gives an ordering update: the first round sold well, a second ordering round opens in early November, and the 2022 gingerbread design ("the poo-coloured one") was pipped by the re-released reimagined original. Scott, who says the whole thing was his idea, confesses he did not order this round. Referenced again as the thing that will consume Erbacher's energy next.

• Episode 304 - Let Us Entertain You

  Ollie confirms he got his order in before the 25 September cut-off, "I did manage to purchase my Ugly Christmas Singlets and shirts, visors", including for Hannah and his mum, and wore the singlet for his Fiji freedom run. Mel points listeners who missed out to the Facebook page and iheartugly.com for future chances.

• Episode 303 - Home on the range

  Forward look at this year's ugly Christmas range, which Simon is buying for the first time. The reimagined original design adds two rows of motifs: a pineapple for "the OG Mel", Mel Erbacher; a red balloon for Scotty Trickett and his 99 red balloons; the Eynesbury duck for Melissa Ellis; and an unexplained cactus that Simon guesses is Ollie "because he hasn't shaved and he's all prickly", Mel parks the question for Ollie to answer next week. The animal row gathers the kangaroo (original), koala and pineapple (second), emu (third, "our Nambour year", with Fluffy), platypus and echidna (last year), plus new crocodile and kiwi "for our friends across the ditch". A second gingerbread design carries gumdrop buttons and "run, run as fast as you can" on the back, and there is a limited-edition visor.

• Episode 302 - Lined Up

  Orders for this year's ugly singlets are open, with a surprise addition: visors. Orders open for a limited time only and the designs are never to be repeated; listeners are pointed to the Ugly Christmas Singlet or Shirt Day Facebook page and Santa's Little Helper's new website, iHeartUgly.com.

• Episode 301 - Thumbs Up

  The "elfnouncement": Santa's Little Helpers have a new limited-edition 2022 Ugly Christmas Singlet and shirt release plus a secret extra surprise, ahead of the fifth Ugly Christmas Singlet or Shirt Day on 17 December. The hosts stress that they are not involved in producing the garments.

• Episode 294 - the new U

  Trailed for next Saturday, the last Saturday in July. Scott claims the concept was his idea and credits Melissa with running with it and organising the buffs, which should be hitting letterboxes this week; the Christmas singlet also still counts.

• Episode 291 - Because

  Ollie reminds listeners that Ugly Christmas in July is approaching, to watch for the buffs they ordered and to get their Ugly Christmas Singlets and shirts ready; he notes his buffs double as hand warmers and that with two on the hands and two on the ankles he can "go the full Monty".

• Episode 286 - 99 Apfelsine Blätter

  The show notes call this the episode's public service announcement. Ollie "we are live, Mel, International Ugly Christmas Singlet or Shirt Day. The post is up. The orders are live." Special-edition Ugly Christmas buffs (neck warmers) joining the existing swag, including the 2021 matchy platypus-and-echidna release and "our very own little Eynesbury Puddle Duck doing his zoomie". $1 from every buff sold goes to Beyond Blue. Ordering cutoff Wednesday 1 June 2022 - repeated as the episode's standing reminder.

• Episode 285 - Better together

  Ollie's Ugly Christmas in July update, "could I please give everyone an update on Ugly Christmas in July?" Held Saturday 23 July 2022. Santa's Little Helpers are about to release the design for a new ugly Christmas buff (neck warmer), based on the 2021 Ugly Christmas Singlets and shirts, with $1 from every buff sold donated to Beyond Blue. Orders open at the end of that week or early the next and close Wednesday 1 June, timed so nationwide and overseas orders arrive before 23 July. Available through the adventurers online portal with supplier Ventu; the link goes on the International Ugly Christmas Singlet or Shirt Day Facebook page.

• Episode 266 - Tinsel Time

  The episode's theme (the title is "Tinsel Time"). Ollie marks the change of gear "Needless to say, we're into the tinsel section now", and the run of ugly-shirt and tinsel photos carries through to the Obi. Ollie: "that's what International Ugly Christmas Singlet or Shirt Day is all about. It's about getting out there, getting festive."

• Episode 265 - Advance to Go

  The event lands next week and both hosts flag it repeatedly, singlets already spotted at Nathalia (Melissa Ellis and Helen in this year's version, Rhiannon in last year's), Alison King promising to wear hers at aparkrun, and a closing call-out to share photos on the Facebook page. Also a running gag about whether The Informant would wear a beige, sepia-toned one.

• Episode 264 - Home & Away

  Reminder that International Ugly Christmas Singlet or Shirt Day is Saturday 18 December - hopefully the day New South Wales relaunches and reunites Australian parkrun. Several listeners in Dazza's had already received their shirts.

• Episode 263 - Obi - 100

  Brief update: orders for the Ugly Christmas Singlets and shirts closed the previous Sunday, with Jeff Whiffen getting a last-minute order in at the eleventh hour. Mel reports orders have exceeded previous years and the day itself is a couple of weeks away.

• Episode 261 - Back in the ACT

  Ugly Christmas Singlets and Crook books are landing in mailboxes; Ollie has "one in front of me and one on me", Mel's arrived the day of recording. Ollie plugs David Crook's book 'On Every Saturday: the story of parkrun in Australia' (the 'Crook book'), and Mel reveals she is a centrefold on pages 268-269, photographed on the beach at Shellharbour with volunteer Sue. Listener uglies are shared again during Dazza's.

• Episode 260 - The Wild Card

  Singlets are starting to land in mailboxes and a second ordering round opens Wednesday 10 November, closing 28 November, with no guarantee of delivery before the day, so order early. Rolls into book news: the #CrookBook 'Every Saturday, the story of parkrun in Australia' shipping from Booktopia, plus Richard's book, Alison's unofficial NZ parkrun guide and Eileen's.

• Episode 256 - X Factor

  Mel flags that orders for this year's Ugly Christmas Singlets close on the night of recording (Monday 11 October), notes orders have gone well and have been shared on the adventurers page and the International Ugly Christmas Singlet and Shirt page. Ollie confirms he placed his order that afternoon. Later ties back to a suggestion that next year's design could be dinosaur-themed (the "adventuresaurus"), with the caveat that the singlets traditionally carry an Aussie theme.

• Episode 255 - Nottie Time to Die

  The 2021 Ugly Christmas Singlet design reveal, with Mel giving the insider commentary the show notes bill as "straight from the elves mouth". Return to traditional red/white/green; the platypus was the hinted character but the echidna was added purely because of feedback on the sneak peek; the mystery character is held over; a train along the bottom represents the children, with a pineapple in the second-to-last carriage (a pineapple appears on every incarnation) and a red balloon off the last carriage on the back; the snowman wears an Akubra and a koala ugly Christmas buff and holds a bell for the slogan "getting jingle with it"; a zooming rubber ducky in the frozen pond represents Mel and Ollie; and a park bench nods to the pandemic mental-health bingo challenge set by a listener who walked to her local park daily. Orders close 11 October.

• Episode 254 - Ev’ry heart beats true

  Brief forward-look: the singlet design is still with "the elves" and "there should be an announcement imminent", listeners are pointed to the International Ugly Christmas Singlet or Shirt Day page. Followed by two other upcoming dates: International Podcast Day on Thursday 30 September (which the episode is timed for) and parkrun's 17th birthday on Saturday 2 October, the anniversary of the original Bushy parkrun launch.

• Episode 253 - Runner 5(00)

  Breaking-news announcement (delivered with an imagined newsflash sting) that the Ugly Christmas Singlets are coming: borders open next week, exact date to be confirmed but before the end of September. This year's singlet returns to a more traditional Christmas colour, features two new Aussie mascots, and there will still be only one design, "expect the ugly unexpected". Listeners pointed to the International Ugly Christmas Singlet Day Facebook page and its teaser post.

• Episode 243 - Weekend Work

  Build-up to the 24 July "Ugly Christmas in July" event,-, this year run with ugly buffs rather than singlets. Ollie reports doing aparkrun in his ugly buff; Melissa says she is saving hers for the 24th; the hosts note buffs have turned up in New Zealand and ask listeners to share "They've Arrived" photos to the Ugly Christmas in July page. Doubles up with the return of parkrun England on the same date.

• Episode 237 - Emma Keer

  Running thread about the 'ugly buff' order, which closes Thursday 3 June ahead of International Ugly Christmas in July. Olly confirms he ordered a shared family pack; revisited where the hosts tell listeners orders have now closed but to watch the page in case 'those cheeky elves' reopen them, and start the countdown to the December Ugly Christmas Shirts and singlets.

• Episode 236 - Snot Logs & A-Listers

  Merchandise push for this year's addition to the range, the "ugly buff" / neck tube. Melissa Ellis has ordered one of everything to match her previous years' Ugly Christmas Singlets; Oliver Spake is still canvassing the family. Orders close Thursday 3 June, in time for International Ugly Christmas in July Day on 24 July, but not in time for Longest Run. Pippa White is noted as having already bought hers.

• Episode 235 - Hi-Vis Heroes

  "Bear with me because things are going to get ugly." Ollie announces an inaugural Ugly Christmas in July on Saturday 24 July (68 sleeps away at recording), and the release of three ugly Christmas buffs / neck warmers adapted from the previous three years' singlet designs. $1 from every buff sold goes to Beyond Blue. Orders open Thursday 20 May and close Thursday 3 June, via the adventurers online portal with supplier Aventu; details on the International Ugly Christmas Singlet or Shirt Day Facebook page. Mel hunts for and eventually plays a sound effect.

• Episode 231 - The one with the bird

  Announcement rather than a standalone segment: Mel reveals that come July there will be a special release of another item of ugly apparel, not a shirt or a singlet, likely 24 July, framed as "Ugly Christmas in July". Several listeners in the Social Adventurers read-back are also reported wearing Ugly Christmas Singlets on the day.

• Episode 215 - Bon bon voyage

  Scott and Mel recap the 2020 running of the day, which Mel created and designs the singlet for. Scott had no parkrun to go to but ran 5K with about 20 friends on a prospective new Melbourne course; Mel counts his group as the largest "tinsel" of 2020 at 15 people. Mel could not take part (illness in the house) so photographed herself and her boys Wes and Emmett in the backyard instead; her husband Adam has declined a singlet three years running. They argue over whether 2019 (koala hugging a pineapple) or 2020 (rainbow, emu, Christmas bells) is uglier, note the day is now being copied by other running groups, and Mel confirms she will keep designing the singlet after leaving the podcast. Scott tells a story about trying to enforce COVID track rules at his athletics club while wearing the singlet. Full name used on air this year is "International Ugly Christmas Singlet or Shirt Day".

• Episode 214 - Festive Frivolity

  Build-up to International Ugly Christmas Singlet or Shirt Day on 19 December, the episode's framing theme. Mel runs through singlet sightings from across the community: Pippa White and Christine in the UK (Christine attempting the Haldon Forest parkrun route) posting from the streak group; Instagram posts from My Glory Box and Crazy Scottish Running Girl; and Facebook posts from Michael Lyttle at the Brisbane Road Runners' Dash and Splash and Gabrielle Nair, whose photo of singlet-clad runners with emus in Kimberley, Nottinghamshire prompts a running gag about Fluffy's "Northern Hemisphere cousins". TOC is noted as a first-time singlet buyer.

• Episode 213 - On the Rove Again!

  Mel and Mark reminisce about last year's ACT celebration, no parkrun that day, so "a tinsel of us" met at a gastro pub in costume and raided Santa's village in a shopping centre for a group photo. Mel explains why the day matters to her (a Christmas costume built for the Australian climate rather than heavy sweaters), notes the singlets are already out and about, and reports adventurer Mitch still wearing his limited-edition koala shirt to a koala sanctuary. She closes by acknowledging the parkrunners, Victorians especially, who still cannot celebrate it at an event.

• Episode 212 - Chris Murphy

  Promo for International Ugly Christmas Singlet and Shirt Day 2020, always the third Saturday of December, this year Saturday 19 December. Mel points listeners to the instructional video on the event's Facebook page for making a singlet from things already around the house, and promises fresh 2020 designs before the end of the month. Discussion of the 2020 shirt: rainbow colours deliberately based on the gay pride flag, a large emu, pineapples again, and children's sizes for the first time ("the best decision I've made this entire year"). Orders ship in order of placement with international orders prioritised; Joanne Watkins ordered within the first five minutes. Mel explains the order-opening delay was caused by illustrator files too large for the supplier's designers. Reminder that a group of people wearing the shirts is collectively called "a tinsel".

• Episode 211 - Waffle

  Extended chat about the show's annual International Ugly Christmas Singlet and Shirt Day, set for 19 December 2020. Mel notes sales "went gangbusters again this year", that participants do not need an official 2020 release shirt, and that a DIY make-your-own video is on the Facebook page; with parkrun still suspended in most of Australia she stresses you can run anywhere this year rather than at a parkrun. Lyndell, who refuses to acknowledge Christmas before December, admits the singlet order is her one annual concession.

• Episode 207 - Streaky Streaky

  End-of-episode plug rather than a full segment: Mel announces that International Ugly Christmas Singlet Day for 2020 is the third Saturday of December, that the design will be released before the end of September, and hints the 2020 range goes beyond singlets. Scott says he has bought and worn both previous ugly singlets.

• Episode 206 - Pause?

  Mel announces the 2020 date, 19 December, and teases this year's design: a new colour scheme, never a repeat of the original purple-and-orange release or last year's traditional Christmas colours, and for the first time t-shirts as well as singlets, so she can put designs on sleeves. Orders will open for a limited window only, never to be repeated. TOC notes the singlets now get worn at events year-round, so spotting one identifies a fellow podcast listener.

• Episode 187 - PKRUN

  Build-up to the inaugural International Ugly Christmas Singlet Day, to be held the following Saturday. Mel Erbacher reports a new dedicated Facebook page (with exactly one like, her own), a Make Your Own Ugly Christmas Singlet piece to be shared in the event group, and sightings of the singlet spreading beyond the podcast's own audience. The pair coin a collective noun for Ugly Christmas Singlets, settling on "a tinsel" over Mel Ellis's suggestion of "a calamity" (and Erbacher's fallback, "a whiff"), after discovering neither koalas nor pineapples have collective nouns.

• Episode 183 - parkrun: The Musical

  Reminder that the inaugural official International Ugly Christmas Singlet Day is Saturday 21 December, with a parkrun adventurers Facebook event set up. Singlets are in production (dye sublimation, cut and sewn); shipping starts 4 December, with a Facebook post covering international and local delivery dates. Participants confirmed in the UK, Germany, New Zealand and Australia.

• Episode 181 - Linda van Duynhoven

  Erbacher notes that ordering for the 2019 Ugly Christmas Singlets has closed, and promotes the inaugural international Ugly Christmas Singlet Day on 21 December 2019, "less than eight weeks away". She also shouts out an anonymous listener spotted in Manly, Queensland wearing their 2018 Ugly Christmas Singlet to the hairdresser mid-week.

• Episode 179 - Eliud Kiprobbo

  Gary asks "what is the word on the street about the Christmas singlets for this year?" Mel reports the 2019 design is mid-stitching, may be released before episode 180, and confirms the one piece of feedback she has acted on: "Last year, people said there needed to be more pineapples. So the people have spoken and we have come to the party."

• Episode 178 - Roving Reports

  Merchandise news: the 2019 Ugly Christmas Singlets are coming, still intended for an October release, design work commenced, still manufactured in Australia but in a lighter, more breathable fabric after feedback that last year's was not breathable enough for a technical running singlet. The colour scheme changes from last year's purple and orange; the only hint given is "we're going traditional ugly".