Tim Peake and Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock argue Artemis II launch to the Moon is "stepping stone to Mars"
As NASA returns humans to the Moon for the first time since 1972, experts say Artemis II could mark the beginning of long-term life beyond Earth.
The prospect of a permanent lunar base comes one step closer today, with NASA launching the first manned Moon mission since Apollo 17 in 1972. For Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock – a self-confessed 'lunatic' born a year before Neil Armstrong made history – Artemis II’s voyage to the far side of the Moon can’t come soon enough. "My retirement plan is to have an optical telescope on the lunar surface," says the space scientist and Sky at Night presenter. "We’ve been waiting for this for a long time, and now there’s talk of a lunar gateway, the capability of refuelling vessels in orbit around the Moon; it feels as if it’s coming together." British astronaut Tim Peake is similarly excited: "This is the start of the human journey to spend extended periods of time on another celestial body, and a stepping stone to Mars." The pair, with US journalist Kristin Fisher, are tracking Artemis II’s ten-day mission in live daily dispatches of their BBC World Service space history podcast 13 Days. The latest series, which kicked off on Monday and is due to wrap up the day after the crew returns, digs deep into the science behind the mission to understand its role in paving the way for a lunar base. "Having looked retrospectively at key events in space history, it’s exciting to be doing something in real time," says Dame Maggie. While the crew won’t set foot on the surface, they will travel several thousand miles beyond the Moon – further than anyone before them. But technical difficulties have forced NASA to postpone Artemis II twice from its original February launch. Now it’s added an extra mission next year, to practise docking with a lunar lander, before humans next step onto the Moon with potentially two landings in 2028. Irrespective of the stress of the delays, can anything really prepare the crews of this and subsequent missions for the experience? "You can learn the nuts and bolts, but nothing can prepare you for the view or the weightlessness,” says Peake. “Burning those engines and heading off to the Moon, watching Earth disappear to a thumbnail in the window, is mentally another order of magnitude." Among Artemis II’s crew are the first lunar non-white astronaut, the first woman and the first non-American (a Canadian, at a time when the distinction between the neighbouring nations feels wider than ever). "The 12 people who’ve landed on the Moon have all been white American guys, which seems like a very narrow band of people," says Dame Maggie. "As a child, I thought I had to become a fighter pilot to stand a chance, but the younger generation can see this is potentially for everyone. "I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere, but when you see our planet from space, you don’t see borders. The world feels fractured right now, and it’s lovely to see the European Space Agency collaborating with the US and Canada. The images of our planet will reflect the work that’s been done to get people out there." From impact craters to solar flares and ancient lava flows, we’ve learnt a lot more about the Moon in the past half-century. The surface is essentially "a four-billion-year-old museum, a pristine repository of what Earth used to be like," says Peake. Artemis represents the most sustained approach yet to establishing a staging post to the solar system, a world away from what Dame Maggie calls the “sabre-rattling” one-upmanship of the early space race. Yet its journey over the past quarter-century, through successive US presidents with wildly contrasting agendas, has not been plain sailing. Peake highlights that around 0.5% of US GDP goes into space research, down from 5% in the Apollo era, while Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos have skewed the public’s perception of space exploration as a “billionaires’ playground” rather than a scientific endeavour. "The involvement of commercial companies is nothing new, but there haven’t always been such large personalities attached to them," he notes. Dame Maggie, meanwhile, confesses she’s "a little scared" about the risks involved. "As we take these first wobbly steps into space and further into the solar system, we must get it right, in the name of all humanity. It’s not just for the great and the good, it’s for everybody. The wrong mindset could lead to disaster later." For Musk in particular, Mars is the prize. While Peake predicts crews will routinely spend six months on the Moon within a decade, he reckons that once the red planet becomes a viable destination, it will forever change how humans deal with the psychological impact of space. <img src="https://images.immediate.co.uk/production/volatile/sites/3/2026/04/artemis-launchpad-380254a.jpg" width="4000" height="1789" alt="NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion spacecraft, secured to the mobile launcher, is seen as it rolls out of the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B, Friday, March 20, 2026, at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida." title="NASA Rolls Out Artemis II Rocket To Its Launchpad" /> "When you watch Earth disappear until it's no brighter than an ordinary star in the night sky, and you're committed to a three-year mission, that's a quantum leap." A decade on from his spacewalk, Peake is technically a retired astronaut, though a return to the International Space Station could be on the cards. Could he see himself working on the Moon? "I’d love to – I don't think it will be too challenging: the Earth is still there in your view, which would ground you while you’re living on another celestial spot." So, as he watches the flight from his home, is he not a tiny bit... jealous? He laughs. "I guarantee that every single astronaut who isn’t on that rocket envies that crew. A lunar mission is the highlight of any astronaut’s mission. It’s what we live and work for – and dream about." Maggie Aderin-Pocock and Tim Peake feature in the BBC World Service 13 Minutes Presents: Artemis II podcast, available every day throughout the mission. To find out what's on TV visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Join our editors Shem Law and Caroline Frost every Friday, for a lively chat about all the latest hits and misses.
Searching for something worth watching? We’ve all been there… Sat in front of the television, flicking through channels, getting increasingly frustrated – there’s so much on, but nothing to watch. The Radio Times Podcast has you covered. Every Friday, TV critics Caroline Frost and Shem Law serve up a weekly dose of TV wisdom, streaming gold and unfiltered opinions – all packed into one bitesize episode. No more asking: what's on TV? Or, what can I watch tonight? Stay in the know about the latest must-see series, wild plot twists, surprise gems and glorious flops – all debated, dissected and served with a side of wit. From all things terrestrial to what’s on the streaming sites – they cover the top picks across the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky to NOW, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Netflix and Apple TV. Whether you’re craving your next costume drama, investigating the latest true crime documentary or in need of a new nail-biting thriller – we’ve taken the guesswork out of what’s actually worth watching. Bite-sized and binge-worthy New episodes drop every Friday, so you can stay in the know about the latest releases across TV and streaming. Short enough to squeeze into your work commute or lunch time walk, every episode is packed with enough entertainment insight to instantly upgrade your evening viewing. Where to listen Listen to the latest episode every Friday or catch up on previous episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and Acast. Make sure to follow our Radio Times Podcast channel so you never miss an episode. Browse our available episodes here! Arty Crime Drama - Friday 24 October Lazarus, love triangles and a touch of Julia Roberts - Friday 17 October Caroline Frost is joined by guest host Gareth McLean for a fresh round-up of the week's best TV. On the list: Lazarus lands on Prime Video, while a reboot of The Forstye Saga comes to Channel 5 bringing period drama back to the forefront. They also spotlight Leonard and Hungry Paul one BBC Two, a gentle, character-led story full of quiet charm. In Frost bite, Caroline turns her attention to Celebrity Traitors, and Gareth rounds things off with a nostalgic archive pickL Moonlighting, available on STV Player. View oEmbed on the source website Sally Wainright's comeback and Hamza's wild adventure - Friday 10 October Caroline and Shem deliver another week of standout TV picks. This time, they dive into the anticipated debut of Celebrity Traitors on BBC1 - does star power add to the drama? Alongside the bold new series Riot Women. They explore Hamza's Hidden Wild Isles, uncovering the UK's natural wonders, and The Iris Affair on Sky Atlantic, a glossy new drama packed with intrigue. In this week's Frost bite, Caroline debates whether familiar faces in The Diplomat bring serious West Wing nostalgia, and Shem rounds things off with a thoughtful archive pick: The Great Philosopher's on BBC2. View oEmbed on the source website New Alan Partridge and Suranne Jones is everywhere - Friday 3 October Caroline and Shem are back with their weekly rundown of the best TV on the box - kicking off with the anticipated Celebrity Traitors which starts this Wednesday on BBC1. Caroline’s first recommendation How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge) on BBC1 – is it a comedic hit? Shem’s pick is new drama Frauds on ITV1 starring Suranne Jones and Jodie Whittaker, a Thelma and Louise style tale of two con artists. Next on the watch list is the new romcom Film Club on BBC3, created by and starring Aimee Lou Wood. In this week’s Frostbite Caroline discusses ‘Worlds Apart’ bringing contestants of different ages and walks of life together. Lastly Shem dives into the archive with his pick, Robert Redford Night on BBC4. View oEmbed on the source website Blue Lights and Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue - Friday 26 September Caroline Frost and Shem Law have watched the good, the bad, and everything in between - so you don’t have to. Caroline begins with Nine Bodies in a Mexican Morgue on BBC One, Anthony Horowitz’s modern-day Agatha Christie-style murder mystery. Shem follows with Strictly Come Dancing, fresh from its launch show - but will this year’s celebrity lineup dazzle or disappoint? Caroline also spotlights the BAFTA-winning Blue Lights on BBC One, the tense drama following rookie police officers as they learn the ropes on the streets of Belfast. Shem rounds things off with his archive choice, Banned Music Night on BBC Two, starting with Banned in the 80s: Moments That Shook Music, revisiting the songs that once shocked and stirred the nation. View oEmbed on the source website Slow Horses and Strictly Return - Friday 19 September Caroline Frost and Shem Law are back with the week’s top TV picks. Caroline starts with The Hack on ITV1, a gripping drama about the notorious phone hacking scandal starring David Tennant and Toby Jones. Shem’s choice is the eagerly awaited return of Slow Horses on Apple TV+, as the shambolic MI5 team dive into another action-packed mission. Caroline also highlights the glittering return of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One - but can the show steer clear of controversy and keep its sparkle? In this week’s Frost Bite, Caroline looks at Amazon Prime Video’s number one hit The Summer I Turned Pretty, asking why so many older viewers are hooked on teen dramas. Shem rounds off with his archive pick, the classic BBC Four documentary series Arena. View oEmbed on the source website Rob and Rylan Return and Twiggy Doc - Friday 12 September Caroline Frost and Shem Law are back with the week’s best TV to add to your list. First up is Rob and Rylan’s Passage to India on BBC Two, full of the duo’s usual antics - but is Caroline convinced it’s worth the watch? Shem’s pick is Twiggy on BBC Two, Sadie Frost’s documentary exploring the life and legacy of the 60s and 70s fashion icon. Caroline also highlights Michael Palin in Venezuela on Channel 5, capturing both the country’s breathtaking landscapes and its political struggles. In Frost Bite, Caroline asks: why is public service broadcasting still so vital when streaming dominates our screens? Shem wraps up with his archive choice, Fawlty Towers: The Play on U&Gold, bringing the beloved sitcom to the stage. View oEmbed on the source website Only Murders in the Building and Freddie Flintoff's Ultimate Test - Friday 5 September This week, Caroline Frost is joined by Gareth McClean for another round of must-watch TV. Caroline’s first pick is Freddie Flintoff’s Field of Dreams: Ultimate Test on BBC One, which sees the former cricketer heading to deprived areas to work with local teens, showing that anyone can play sport - no matter their background. Gareth’s choice is Only Murders in the Building on Disney+, back for its fifth season with Martin Short, Steve Martin, Selena Gomez, and some new guest stars. Caroline also spotlights the third series of The Newsreader on BBC Two, continuing its sharp look inside a 1980s Australian newsroom. In Frost Bite, Caroline asks: how can a TV show truly end on a high? Gareth rounds things off with his archive pick, tracing the evolution of Robin Wright’s career—from Forrest Gump to House of Cards. View oEmbed on the source website I Fought The Law and Educating Yorkshire Returns - Friday 29 August As Shem says, life’s too short for boring television - so he and Caroline have done the hard work for you. Caroline’s first pick is I Fought the Law on ITV1, with Sheridan Smith as Ann Ming, the mother who fought to overturn the 800-year-old double jeopardy law to secure justice for her daughter. Shem chooses I Am Martin Parr on BBC Four, a documentary on the photographer’s satirical eye, alongside Martin Parr: Think of England. Caroline also highlights Educating Yorkshire on Channel 4, revisiting much-loved teacher Mr Burton - now head at the same school. In Frost Bite, Caroline asks why we should pay closer attention to The Apprentice and its controversial contestants, before Shem rounds off with his archive pick: Arena – The Peter Sellers Story on BBC Four. View oEmbed on the source website Thursday Murder Club and 1066 Drama - Friday 22 August Caroline Frost and Shem Law return with another week of must-watch TV. Caroline begins with the long-awaited Netflix adaptation of Richard Osman’s Thursday Murder Club, directed by Steven Spielberg and boasting a star-studded cast including Dame Helen Mirren, Sir Ben Kingsley, Pierce Brosnan, and Celia Imrie. Shem’s pick is BBC One’s King and Conqueror, charting the rivalry between William the Conqueror and Harold II in the lead-up to the Battle of Hastings - but will historians approve of its accuracy? Caroline also highlights The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox on Disney+, exploring the story of a woman wrongfully imprisoned for murder. In this week’s Frost Bite, Caroline asks: when it comes to real-life legal dramas, who do they really serve? Shem rounds off with his archive picks on BBC Four - Battlefield Britain and The Mysteries of the Bayeux Tapestry - digging into the true story behind 1066. View oEmbed on the source website Life After Lineker for MoTD - Friday 15 August Caroline Frost and Shem Law are back with the week’s top TV picks to add to your watchlist. Caroline kicks off with a new Netflix political thriller starring Suranne Jones and Julie Delpy, while Shem turns to Match of the Day, returning to BBC One with a fresh lineup of presenters stepping into Gary Lineker’s shoes. Caroline’s next highlight is Confessions of a Brain Surgeon on BBC Two, a fascinating look at the highs and lows of the profession. In this week’s Frost Bite, Caroline asks: why Americans can't get enough of us Brits - as long as it’s their version - with the recent release of Lena Dunham’s Too Much and My Oxford Year. Shem closes the episode with his archive pick, Jasper Carrott Night on BBC Four, celebrating the comedian’s life and career highlights. View oEmbed on the source website Led Zeppelin Doc and Ridley - Friday 8 August Fresh from his holiday, Shem Law rejoins Caroline Frost for another week of standout TV chat. Caroline kicks things off with Ridley on ITV1, starring Adrian Dunbar as a seasoned detective inspector navigating crime in the heart of Lancashire. Shem’s pick is the Antiques Roadshow VJ Day Special on BBC One, uncovering objects that evoke poignant memories of a too-often forgotten chapter of the war. They also spotlight Becoming Led Zeppelin on Now - a brand new documentary tracing the band’s beginnings and their role in creating a whole new genre of music. In this week’s Frost Bite, Caroline ponders whether future archives will lose their allure when today’s celebrities share so much - is there any mystery left to uncover? Shem closes the episode with his archive choice, Shooting the Past from 1999 on BBC Four, a drama set in the fascinating world of picture libraries. View oEmbed on the source website Wednesday and Annika - Friday 1 August Caroline Frost is joined once again by journalist Gareth McClean for another week of sharp TV insight. Caroline kicks things off with Annika, the black comedy crime drama back for a second series filled with twists, turns, set in the Scottish highlands. Gareth’s pick is the Netflix hit Wednesday, with Jenna Ortega, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Joanna Lumley all returning to Nevermore Academy for season two. Caroline also turns to MasterChef—with both presenters recently caught up in controversy, how will the BBC handle it, and will audiences keep tuning in? In this week’s Frost Bite, Caroline asks: when a show moves from TV to YouTube, what do we gain and what do we lose? Looking at the journey of Spitting Image—from prime-time satire to its new, regulation-free life online. Gareth wraps up with his archive choice, The Newsreader, the 80s-set Australian drama charting the professional and personal lives of news anchors Helen and Dale. View oEmbed on the source website The Gone and Bonnie Blue Documentary - Friday 25 July While Shem takes a well-earned holiday, Caroline Frost is joined by her esteemed journalist colleague Gareth McClean for a week of sharp and savvy TV chat. Caroline kicks things off with The Gone on BBC Two, the slow-burn crime drama returning for a gripping second series. Gareth’s pick is Inside the Cult of the Jesus Army, a revealing documentary exposing the dark truths behind a corrupt and scandal-ridden religious movement. Caroline also delves into the controversial Bonnie Blue documentary—does it serve genuine public interest, or is Channel 4 simply pandering to male fantasies under the guise of tackling a social issue? In Frost Bite, Caroline asks: from Gregg Wallace to Christian Horner, when the mighty fall, what happens to the show they front? Gareth rounds off the episode with his archive choice—Star Trek: Enterprise, revisiting the early 2000s chapter of the iconic sci-fi saga. View oEmbed on the source website Karen Pirie Series 2 and New Keeley Hawes Thriller - Friday 18 July Caroline Frost and Shem Law are back with another episode of the Radio Times Podcast, serving up the week’s standout TV. Caroline starts with series 2 of the hit crime drama Karen Pirie, starring Lauren Lyle as the short, sharp, detective inspector. Shem’s choice is The Narrow Road to the Deep North, an adaptation of Richard Flanagan’s prize-winning novel, following the harrowing experiences of prisoners of war in Burma, with Jacob Elordi in the lead. Caroline also spotlights The Assassin on Prime Video, pairing Keeley Hawes with Freddie Highmore in a tense new thriller. In Frost Bite, Caroline asks: from Miss Marple to Superman, how do we decide who gets to be “the definitive version”? Shem closes the episode with his archive pick—Helen Mirren Night on BBC Four, celebrating the career of one of Britain’s finest actors. View oEmbed on the source website Bookish and Shark Reality Show - Friday 11 July RT editor Shem joins Caroline Frost for another week of top-tier TV talk. Caroline kicks things off with Bookish, a cosy crime drama starring Mark Gatiss—but does it pack enough punch to stand out? Shem dives into Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters, ITV’s new star-studded adventure that sees famous faces head to a tropical island to confront their fear of sharks. The pair also get into the return of Channel 4’s most-watched scripted drama ever, The Couple Next Door, back with another racy storyline packed with twists and turns. In Frost Bite, Caroline asks whether new BBC drama Mix Tape can capture the charm of a good old-fashioned playlist for a new generation. Shem wraps things up with his archive pick - heading back to 1985 once again with Miss Marple. View oEmbed on the source website Oasis and Live Aid at 40 - Friday 4 July Caroline Frost is joined this week by Preview Editor Frances Taylor and David Brown for another round of smart, snappy TV talk. First up, Caroline dives into Live Aid at 40: When Rock ’n’ Roll Took On the World, a three-part documentary looking back at the generation-defining music event and its global impact. Frances brings us Too Much, Lena Dunham’s new anti-romcom inspired by her own life - bold, marmite, and already stirring debate. Is it worth the fuss? David’s pick is Supersonic, a deep dive into the chaotic rise of Oasis, as Noel and Liam gear up for their reunion tour. In Frost Bite, Caroline asks why we don’t show enough love to the right female players at Wimbledon. With Serena Williams in focus, has public attitude towards women’s sport finally shifted? David rounds things off with his archive pick: Agatha Christie’s Miss Marple from the 1980s. View oEmbed on the source website Glastonbury and Wimbledon - Friday 27th June Caroline Frost and Shem Law have been busy watching the good, the bad and everything in between - so you don't have to. This week, Caroline teases her upcoming magazine interview with comedy great Steve Coogan. She then dives into one of the TV events of the summer: Glastonbury on the BBC, packed with headline acts including Radio Times cover star Rod Stewart in that coveted legends slot. Shem serves up another quintessentially British TV highlight with Wimbledon—who’s set to shine on Centre Court this year? Also in the mix: Hill on Sky Documentaries, a moving deep-dive into the life and career of Formula 1 champ Damon Hill. In Frost Bite, Caroline asks the big question—can you really call yourself part of the TV nation if you’re just not that into sport? Shem wraps up with a nostalgic kick: The Big Match Revisited, reliving football’s golden years. View oEmbed on the source website The Bear and Squid Game - Friday 20 June Caroline Frost and Shem Law are back with another round of smart TV talk. This week: Caroline heads to Tasmania with her pick Survivors, a moody Aussie mystery now streaming on Netflix, while Shem dives into the opulent world of The Gilded Age—but does this Upper East Side period drama earn its place in your watchlist? Caroline also spotlights two big returns: the final, much-anticipated chapter of Squid Game on Netflix, and Disney+’s kitchen heatwave The Bear, with Jeremy Allen White back in the apron. In Frost Bite, Caroline questions the burden of beauty - do handsome men have it harder on screen? Finally Shem winds the clock back to the 60s and 70s with gritty archive drama Z-Cars. View oEmbed on the source website Outrageous and Noel Edmonds in New Zealand - Friday 13 June Caroline Frost and Shem Law serve up another week of sharp TV and culture chat. This episode: the latest from the French Open, breaking down Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner’s performances on the clay courts. Caroline’s top pick is the provocative Outrageous, delving into the scandalous lives of the Mitford Sisters, while Shem praises Amol Rajan’s interviewing skills in his sit-down with tennis legend Martina Navratilova. They also spotlight America’s Veterans: The War Within, a powerful exploration of the hidden struggles faced by those serving in the US forces. In Frost Bite, Caroline and Shem debate the baffling news of Noel Edmonds embarking on a Kiwi adventure—what’s that all about? Shem rounds things off with a nostalgic trip to the archives, revisiting Charlie Drake’s classic comedy, Drake’s Progress. View oEmbed on the source website The Gold Season 2 and Jamie Oliver Dyslexia Doc - Friday 6 June Podcast hosts Caroline Frost and Shem Law return with another lively mix of TV, culture, and conversation. This week: Ncuti Gatwa’s Tardis exit and the new Doctor regeneration—what’s next for the iconic sci-fi saga? Caroline’s buzzing about the return of Gold’s gripping Brinks-Mat robbery drama in series 2, while Shem champions Jamie Oliver’s campaign for better dyslexia support in schools. They also pay tribute to presenter Alan Yentob with a look back at his influential music and arts shows, alongside Shem’s personal memories. In Frost Bite, Caroline and Shem debate whether ITV’s cut to its daytime schedule is a misstep, and Shem takes us back to 1974 with Alison Steadman’s powerful performance in Second City Firsts: Girl. View oEmbed on the source website Springsteen and Succession’s Successor – Friday 30 May Podcast hosts Caroline Frost and Shem Law are back with another round of sharp TV talk. This week: Timothy Spall shines in Death Valley, Bruce Springsteen’s UK legacy takes centre stage in the documentary When Bruce Springsteen Came to Britain, and Succession creator Jesse Amstrong drops a new one-off feature film, Mountainhead – but does it measure up? In Frost Bite, Caroline dives into the psychedelic haze of Nine Perfect Strangers, while Shem rewinds to the timeless 1995 classic, Pride and Prejudice. View oEmbed on the source website Write to the Radio Times Podcast and let us know your thoughts at: podcast@radiotimes.com If you're looking for something to watch, check out our TV Guide. The latest issue of Radio Times is on sale now – subscribe now to get each issue delivered to your door.
Sean Bean confirmed for very surprising video podcast series – and why he's "perfect role model" for it
The Ned Stark actor is swapping his sword for a pair of binoculars.
Spring is coming! And to celebrate, iconic actor Sean Bean is set to indulge in a spot of birdwatching as he's been confirmed as the new host of the podcast Get Birding. Swapping his sword for a pair of binoculars, the Ned Stark actor will be joined by series 1 host Dr Mya-Rose Craig, also known as Birdgirl, as he navigates the world of birding. The first episode, which sees Bean joined by Elbow frontman BBC 6 Music DJ, Guy Garvey, is out now. Addressing his rather unexpected hobby, Bean said: “It might come as a surprise to many, but I was a keen birder as a teenager growing up on a Sheffield estate, and spent many happy hours seeing what I could spot in our gardens and surrounding fields with my friends.” “In a busy world, birdwatching is a great way to connect with nature and relax, and I am excited to pick up my binoculars and go on this adventure with the Get Birding community – from seasoned birders, to those wanting to give it a try.” View oEmbed on the source website Craig, who will be returning to the series as Bean's mentor, added: “It’s a real privilege to be working with Sean Bean in this latest series of Get Birding; he is such an icon and comes with a completely different set of knowledge and experience to me. "I am a big believer that birding should be accessible to everyone, no matter your age, experience, or where you live, and I’m keen to see as wide an audience as possible tuning in and getting involved.” Jane Gerber, Co-Founder and Creative Director of Peanut & Crumb, went on to say: “We are incredibly excited to have Sean on board as the Get Birding podcast goes always-on for the first time. "He is the perfect role model to encourage everyone, everywhere to connect with nature, showing that birdwatchers don’t have to just fit one box.” While it might seem a surprising role for Bean, the actor opened up to Radio Times last year about recently embracing a more relaxing pace of life and how he switches off after intense roles – including relocating to Somerset with his wife, Ashley Moore. “It was accidental, really. I’d lived in London since drama school, and I just realised my girls had grown up and got married and were having kids,” he said. “I thought, ‘I don’t know what I’m really here for.’ Then Ashley saw this quirky little place in Somerset, with a lot of trees and water and land. I find it very relaxing, there’s nothing there, just the sound of birds and a stillness. "It allows me to recharge my batteries, get rid of the detritus of the last part that might still be hanging around.” You can listen to Get Birding wherever you find your podcasts, as well as on its YouTube channel @‌GetBirdingUK. Check out more of our Audio coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Ant and Dec announce two exciting new projects in "natural next step"
The duo will front their own podcast for the first time ever – and that's not all.
Ant and Dec have announced two exciting upcoming projects, including their first ever podcast series, Hanging Out with Ant & Dec. The series will see the duo simply spending time together chatting, with "no script, no agenda and no interruptions". It is said that it will see the duo "catching up, reminiscing, and seeing where the conversation takes them". However, the one thing which will lead the conversation is the audience, with viewers and listeners telling Ant & Dec what they want to hear - whether it's asking them to relive iconic TV moments, seeking their advice or just sharing anecdotes, each item in the episode has input from the audience. Episodes will start releasing from Thursday 22nd January, with new instalments coming out each week on Thursdays, alongside bonus episodes on Mondays. View oEmbed on the source website The podcast was announced alongside another new project for the duo, Belta Box. A digital entertainment channel, Belta Box will be home to their podcast, as well as brand new digital formats and classic Ant & Dec moments from some of their best-loved shows. It will be available across digital platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Upcoming content on the platform will be announced in due course, but it is said to contain classic moments from the likes of Saturday Night Takeaway and Byker Grove. Ant said in a statement: "We’ve spent our whole careers celebrating great entertainment, so launching Belta Box feels like the natural next step. Alongside our new podcast, we’re excited to create a space packed with fun, feel-good content that brings people together—no matter where they’re watching or listening." Dec added: "What better way to launch Belta Box than with our first ever podcast series! We asked our audience if we did a podcast what would they like it be about, and they said we just want you guys to hang out. "So that's what we're doing! Ant & I don't get to hang out as much as we used to, so it's perfect for us." This news comes after the duo extended their exclusive TV and streaming relationship with ITV at the end of last year, taking them through to the end of 2028, three decades after they first joined the channel. Hanging Out With Ant & Dec will start airing episodes on Belta Box, and wherever you get your podcasts, from Thursday 22nd January. Check out more of our Entertainment and Audio coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
'Lust is a great creative force': David Bowie reveals what drove him in exclusive interview
A new BBC podcast presented by Kate Moss features Bowie and stars like Elton John, Lady Gaga, Robbie Williams and Tilda Swinton reflecting on his life and legacy – plus, Radio Times has acquired exclusive extracts from interviews not used.
The chameleon figure of David Bowie is one of the most scrutinised personas in rock and pop, as commentators continue to attempt to capture his essence, like bottling lightning. The subject of innumerable books and documentaries, Bowie has also had a touring exhibition that ran, appropriately enough, for five years, and now the Victoria & Albert Museum in London is opening on 13 September a David Bowie Centre at its new Storehouse facility in the east of the city, to house a wealth of material from his archive, including notes on his uncompleted final project – a musical set in 18th-century London. Given all that, it seems unfeasible that there is anything new to learn about Mr David Jones from Brixton. Yet the BBC 6 Music podcast Music Uncovered, David Bowie: Changeling has unearthed a previously unheard interview the Starman gave to producer Des Shaw in 2001, in which he looks back at his progression from wannabe rock star to global superstar in the early 70s, often guffawing at the absurdity of it all with a cackle to rival Grayson Perry’s. In the interview, the Starman reflected on how he reacted to the fame and success he enjoyed in the early 70s, telling Shaw: "I think that throughout the 60s and most of the 70s I was driven by lust, as much as anything. It's a great creative force. That in turn is replaced by anger, when you ask where the money is. And then you get depression, and then you go to Berlin and write really moody instrumental stuff. It’s the triptych of the 70s. Lust, anger, moody." Bowie also reflected on the differing views on what he was doing – his fusing of music, fashion, performance and art – “I think people are split into two very separate attitudes. One was that I was just this charlatan and other that I was, sort of, this rock god. There was no halfway measure. And I was rather scared of both sides!” There’s no doubting on which side the contributors to the podcast fall, including its presenter Kate Moss, who became friends with Bowie through his deep interest in fashion. She recalls how their friendship began in the sweetest manner, “David, whose nickname for me by the way was Smasher, started phoning me on my birthday. I didn’t need any other presents after that.” They formed a close relationship, to the extent that when Bowie won a lifetime achievement award at the Brits in 2014, he asked his friend Kate to collect it for him. She agreed, on one condition, that she could wear something from his archive: “I wore the original Kansai Yamamoto bodysuit that David had worn for his [Ziggy Stardust] Rainbow Theatre gigs in 1972 - it fit me like a glove. It was a very surreal experience.” But then the surreal is part of the appeal of the Bowie legend and that otherworldliness is summed up rather well by an entertainer many would consider a down-to-earth chap, Robbie Williams: “He was basically a celestial, angelic member of a fraternity that exists outside of this planet and this ‘normie’ realm and there are very few that are sent to teach us, love us, show us the way, but he was one of them.” There are quotes in the podcast from so many stars – across music, film, art, fashion – who felt taught, loved and shown the way by Bowie that his legacy comes through loud and clear. Actor Tilda Swinton, for one, sees it clearly: “I think that what Bowie contributed and contributes still - and presumably always will contribute to the culture - is a model of flexibility, curiosity. [He] was clearly a deeply experimental spirit, so dedicated to not repeating himself and very healthily not invested in minding when other people didn’t like what he was up to.” That single focus on doing what he wanted proved influential worldwide. Fashionista Edward Enninful, the former editor-in-chief of British Vogue who grew up in Ghana, says, “I was always obsessed with music. I was always obsessed with imagery and I remember I would see images of David Bowie in magazines and I knew how he looked was something that was just mind-blowing for a kid from Africa. “That fact that he was not scared of his sexuality, the fact that there were so many young people in small towns who would go out in their ‘Bowieness’ - dressed like him, probably getting beat up every night in night clubs - but he was bold and he was unafraid and there was something that always sort of attracted me to him.” A pop star who made a similar splash with his look in the 1980s, Boy George saw that Bowie’s impact was more profound than perhaps widening what music fans were able to wear: “[He] was unique because he was so contradictory in every way. He wasn’t the archetypal homosexual – or bisexual, I don’t think he was even that — and we were part of a new breed of gay people who weren’t apologetic. We weren’t going to apologise for being gay.” Lady Gaga, who treads a similar path to Bowie in the way she encompasses the worlds of music, art, fashion and theatrics, and who pays a huge debt to his Aladdin Sane persona, makes the point that what people found so moving and profound always came wrapped in pure entertainment: “I always felt that his glamour was something he was using to express a message to people that was very healing. You can use the theatre of your imagination to entertain people beyond their wildest dreams.” Yet it’s left to a superstar peer of Bowie’s to sum up everything in the simplest of terms. Elton John, who amazingly said at the time that Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust gigs were “too camp” (though he did later recant and admit the influence Ziggy had on him), now states clearly, “His music speaks for itself - he’s a giant, a ground-breaking artist, songwriter, performer, actor - and his legacy will be there for ever.” Radio Times has exclusive access to some extracts from the interviews conducted for the podcast, but which didn’t make the final cut and which we can share with you now. First up we find that Bowie laugh well deployed in the 2001 interview as he reflected on the wealth of online commentary about his early work: “The great thing about the internet these days is that there are some brilliant sites that stoke the myth and mystique about the early period stuff. “It’s mostly wrong and kind of irrelevant, but what it does do is - they have got amazing photographs that they’ve collected over the years and what they do write actually prompts me and then I can remember from what they’ve said whether it’s mistake or reality. It doesn’t matter really because it all becomes nonsense anyway in the end [laughing]!” That willingness to laugh about what many think is an important and enduring legacy is something that actor Tilda Swinton will always hold dear as she revealed to Shaw: “I think probably the most important, the most resonant thing that I managed to kind of ‘download’ from David, knowing him as a person, was just glorying in how happy he was.” “He was certainly happy at the time of his life when I was fortunate enough to know him and I know - because he told me - there had been times in his life when he hadn’t been as happy, but by the time we met he was so incandescent with appreciation for life and that, I would say, is the most important base note of what he meant to me as a friend. Curious in every way and engaged and up for it - and full of mischief, vim and vigour - and all the good stuff.” Another close friend, and collaborator, who admits to being influenced by working with Bowie is his Berlin flat-mate, Iggy Pop. He told Shaw: “We were visually absolutely influenced and pressured by what was going on in Britain at the time - and David would come around in his gigantic lavender platform heels with a new hair colour every week and we’d all go off and drink tea [...] this led to all sorts of ramifications within the group and you can see on the back of [the 1973 Iggy Pop and the Stooges album co-produced by Bowie] Raw Power album - the kabuki make-up and my black lipstick - absolutely in reaction to what was happening. Very human reaction - 'The guys down the street are doing it then we’ll do that too'.” Ground-breaking 60s model Twiggy was also struck by the Bowie look: “Visually he was stunning. I do remember seeing him on Top of the Pops for the first time and just being bowled over by how he looked - no one in the pop scene had ever dressed like that. I’d seen [Marc] Bolan wear make-up but Bowie had the amazing costumes. I just thought he was extraordinary and to me, David’s music was so new and different. He was so bright and sweet and lovely. I just thought he was gorgeous and I loved his clothes and his music and bought his albums.” There’s one album that is more dear to her than any others, as she features in the lyric, “His name was always Buddy, And he'd shrug and ask to stay. She'd sigh like Twig the Wonder Kid, And turn her face away”. She told Shaw about the first time she heard it: “I was in my little kitchen and I heard [Drive-in Saturday] on the radio and thought I heard my name, so I went to my local record shop and told the guy behind the counter I thought I’d heard my name in a song and he said, it was the new David Bowie album, so I bought Aladdin Sane.” What these quotes and all the interviews used in the podcast make clear is that Bowie touched and guided the lives of so many people, from those he made music with to his fans and friends, that his legacy continues to burn bright in contemporary culture, however much he might think the myth-making is nonsense. Music Uncovered, David Bowie: Changeling is available now on BBC Sounds and broadcasts on 6 Music at 12 midnight Sunday 21 September. Check out more of our Audio coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Silent Witness star Emilia Fox on new true crime series: 'It's left up to the listener to decide'
"You're creating the picture of what happened in the case."
Without meaning to, Emilia Fox has largely become synonymous with crime, both through BBC drama Silent Witness, which will return to screens for season 29 in the new year, and through her true crime work, the latest of which is Audible's Crime Scenes. The podcast series explores five extraordinary cases from around the world that are, in Fox's own words, often "stranger than fiction". It opens with a 2019 case from a Florida town near Walt Disney World Resort where an "unimaginable nightmare" unfolded for one family, and concludes with the 1931 murder of a housewife in Anfield, Liverpool, which asks: is all really as it seems? "With Silent Witness, there's the added element because it's not just detective stories and solving mysteries, there's the medical and scientific side of it, which I find personally fascinating," Fox told RadioTimes.com. "But I'm very clear on the delineation between working on fictional crime series and working on documentaries. And obviously, the two things are defined by the fact that these are tragedies which have happened to people in real life, which is what this podcast series is. "It's dealing with real lives and real tragedies so obviously, one feels differently about them. And I think in the portrayal of them, that is very important too." Fox then went on to talk about ensuring that the victim or victims are front and centre in her true crime work, rather than the perpetrator. "Explaining who the people were that it happened to, and that that is not forgotten or buried by an interest in who the person is who did it," she added. "That should not be the focus of it. This is the difference for me with what happens in fiction, which very often, you follow the perpetrator. "And people have an interest in why people have done these unthinkable things, but I think there is a massive awareness now of telling these stories and being victim-focused and victim-led in the right way, and being focused on the people who are left behind." Fox also said that "in a couple of these stories, it's left up to the listener to decide what they feel about who did it and whether justice was served correctly". "It's about hearing about what happened with the crime, but also following the investigation and the outcome," Fox continued. "The listener is allowed to, I think, imagine the world where these cases exist and the locations in which they exist. You're not being shown it and told it. You're creating the picture of what happened in the case. Read more: Fred and Rose West detective recalls what it took to solve the case – and get confession What happened to JonBenét Ramsey? True story behind Netflix's Cold Case "It was quite a different way of telling the story because it was using the archives and documentation and mixing that with the narrative voice, which I think gives a very realistic picture of what happened in these cases." Check out more of our Audio coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
From Alan Partridge's latest comedy offering to political insights and gripping true crime, these are the podcasts to get into this summer.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. Whether you're in need of a laugh, looking to catch up on the latest political goings-on, or hoping to improve your general health and wellbeing, podcasts have become a big part of daily life for many of us. Here, Radio Times runs down the 30 best podcasts of summer 2025 – from the worlds of entertainment, current affairs, history, crime, wellness and sport. Best podcasts for summer 2025 Entertainment 1. Alan Partridge: Tales from the Oasthouse Some 34 years after Partridge hatched, fully-formed, as the unwittingly naff and desperately insecure golf sweater-wearing sports reporter on BBC Radio 4 comedy On the Hour, Steve Coogan’s excruciating creation shows no signs of getting tired. Male vanity is, as far as comedy is concerned, the gift that keep on giving but it is testament to Coogan’s precision and nimbleness as an actor that he also delivers moments in which your heart goes out to his petty, resentful and un-self-aware character. Gareth McLean Steve Coogan: "The only threat to Alan Partridge is reality" 2. Heavyweight In the first episode of Heavyweight, a show in which Jonathan Goldstein seeks to bring closure and/or reconciliation to his guests whose lives are marked by rifts and estrangements, the American-Canadian humourist tried to heal the decades-long division between his father and his uncle. Poignant, bittersweet, funny, it set the tone for this extraordinary, often tender, occasionally horrendously awkward, pod. GM 3. The Teen Commandments Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox and her longtime BFF Clare Hamilton discuss the often-messy reality of parenting teenagers as well as reminiscing about their own teenage misdemeanours in the 1980s. A refreshing and rare beast amid a sea of parenting pods focused on babies and young children, the result is, Cox says, “not an advice pod”. “We thoroughly encourage people to do the opposite of what we do with our parenting. People call it more of a parental panic group.” GM BBC Radio 2's Sara Cox reveals why she sometimes "struggles to maintain eye contact" with friends after new podcast 4. The Problematic Gaze Social historian Dr Lee Arnott and TV producer Dave Moor each week ask how a pop culture artefact from yesteryear measures up to today’s mores. Episodes range from the place of race in Til Death Us Do Part to how Friends treats trans characters, via The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, Carry On Girls and Men Behaving Badly. GM 5. Central Intelligence A stellar cast headed by Kim Cattrall and Ed Harris bring to life the hidden history of the CIA in this scintillating drama that delights in its roll call of maverick agents. Cattrall is our guide to the USA’s many foreign policy misadventures in her role as the agency’s highest rank female officer, Eloise Page. David Crawford 6. Nile Rodgers: Deep Hidden Meaning Artists discussing their “process” might sound a little high-falutin but when the art is music and the artists range from Paul McCartney and Bjorn Ulvaeus to Shakira and Debbie Harry - each in conversation with the genius Nile Rodgers - the listening couldn’t be more compelling. Rodgers’s insights abound and the joy of shared creativity is infectious. GM Current affairs 7. The Rest Is Politics US Famously sacked by Donald Trump after 11 days in the role of White House director of communications, Anthony Scaramucci shares his insider-outsider insights and impressive historical knowledge in one of the fastest growing and always compelling political podcasts. Bringing an expertise honed over 30 years reporting on world news, his co-host is the cut-glass Katty Kay. GM Anthony Scaramucci: "My wife hates Trump almost as much as Melania hates him" 8. A Podcast of One’s Own Extremely earnest, lacking rhetorical flair and apparently content with what is a terrible name for her show, Julia Gillard, the former Australian prime minister and presenter of this interview series focused on folks striving for gender equality, is not a natural broadcaster. And yet her limitations do not diminish but rather enhance her encounters with activists, actors and authors, among others. It’s an odd kind of alchemy. GM Former Australian PM Julia Gillard explains the mission behind her podcast - and where its earnings go 9. Newscast BBC News political editor and co-host Chris Mason tells RT that, in a market packed with similar offerings, what sets this daily analysis show apart are its BBC values, what he calls “anchors not shackles”. He tells us: “Opinions are ten a penny. There is still an audience for hopefully intelligent conversation which is deliberately not about what I think.” Caroline Frost 10. Black British Lives Matter Inspired by the 2021 collection of essays of the same name edited by Sir Lenny Henry and Marcus Ryder, the podcast interrogates and celebrates what it means to be Black and British. With each episode dedicated to a particular subject - from mental health to art, food to hair - Henry, Ryder and their guests’ conversations are rich and revelatory. GM 11. The Take (Al Jazeera) For those missing the breadth and depth of the BBC’s HardTalk, some comfort is to be found in this daily interview-driven gem of a show fronted by Malika Bilal. In the last month, it has focused on the attempted assassination of Colombia’s presidential candidate Miguel Uribe, student protests in Bangladesh, and Iran’s right to resist regime change. GM History 12. Empire – William Dalrymple and Anita Anand With three years, almost 300 shows and 75m downloads under their belts, Dalrymple and Anand have come a long way from when Dalrymple first appeared as a guest on The Rest Is History. But from small acorns, great oaks grow. Much like empires. Only great oaks don’t brutally suppress, massacre and inflict famines on other trees. If you believe that the British empire was a benevolent, virtuous and civilising force, you should listen to this podcast. You won’t, but you should. GM 13. The Rest Is Classified – David McCloskey and Gordon Corera Another thoroughbred from Gary Lineker’s Goalhanger stable, The Rest Is Classified has a former CIA analyst and ex-BBC security correspondent trade spy stories to raise eyebrows and heart rates. Meanwhile, we await Goalhanger’s inevitable podcast about sleep, “The Rest Is Rest”. GM 14. Centuries of Sound With a mix of up to four hours for every year of recorded sound since 1859, James Errington’s aural collages are epic, sprawling portraits of change. For example,1925 was the first year that, in theory, all audible sound could finally be captured. Among Errington’s ear-tefacts from the time are songs from Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong and Guy Visser with his Singing Duck. GM 15. Half-Life Author Joe Dunthorpe uncovers a disquieting truth when he tries to learn more about his German-Jewish family’s dramatic escape from Nazi Germany in 1936. Themes of hidden family trauma, ethical compromises and the very physical scars of war mix in a story that stretches across continents and features a soundscape that subtly reflects the disturbing subject. DC 16. 16 Sunsets From the team behind the award-winning 13 Minutes to the Moon, including space expert presenter Kevin Fong, this offers a deep dive into the cultural, political and scientific context of the birth of the NASA Shuttle programme. The Zimmer-esque score sets the scene, celebrating the collaboration of uniquely skilled people, all clearly made of “the right stuff”. CF Crime 17. Mark Horgan – Stakeknife Three years in the making, featuring dozens of interviews and using never-before-heard secret recordings, Mark Horgan’s investigation into the double life of Freddie Scappaticci aka “Stakeknife”, the IRA member responsible for punishing informers within the paramilitary organisation – who was himself an informer – is a rare and unflinching look at just what the British got up to in Northern Ireland during The Troubles. GM 18. The Grave Robbers - Sue Mitchell Having caught a scorpion in Iraq and exposed widescale abuse of England’s power of attorney in previous series, the award-winning Sue Mitchell maintains a domestic focus for her next must-hear pod: an investigation into criminal gangs who fake wills to steal the estates of the dead and purloin other people’s inheritances. Two-thirds of Britons don’t have a will so the victim pool is huge. Luckily, Mitchell used to be a lifeguard. GM 19. Not Another Crime Podcast Not to be confused with the possibly-a-parody Not Another True Crime Podcast presented by “partners in crime, wine and time” Danny Murphy and Sara Levine, this Australian offering has journalist Georgia Love and civilian Sammy Petersen discuss often gruesome deaths, usually of women, also over a glass or two of wine. Because nothing goes with discussions of violent misogyny like a chardonnay. GM 20. Operation Seal Bay A sleepy Welsh coastal village. Some strange goings-on down at the beach. Retired locals set out to investigate in the true story of what happened when some wrong’uns chose a quiet Pembrokeshire cove to stash their… I won’t spoil it. Six enjoyable episodes remind us there’s no sleuth like a pensioner, especially when a stranger starts dropping £50 notes in the village pub. CF 21. Stalked The horrors of one of the most pervasive and pernicious of modern crimes, cyber stalking, are laid bare in this empathetic series, which gently draws listeners into the story, through the relationship between investigative journalist Carole Cadwalladr (the journalist who exposed the workings of Cambridge Analytica) and the victim, who happens to be her ex-stepdaughter, Hannah. DC Wellness 22. The Mel Robbins Podcast Mel Robbins describes her podcast as about “being real” and herself as “a friend who tells you the truth, helps you focus on what matters, and pushes you to create a more meaningful life”. She wants to help you change and, with a reported 37m monthly downloads, Robbins seems to be effecting change on a large scale, as seems necessary nowadays. After all, don’t we all know at least one person who could do with such guidance? (If you don’t know someone, it’s you who needs the guidance.) GM 23. Where Should We Begin? The intimate environment of the medium has lent itself to thousands of therapy podcasts but, for eight years, the grand dame of couples counselling has been Belgian-American Esther Perel. With humour softening the blows of her forensic insight into people’s motivations and demons, time and again she dismantles the armour around her subjects and helps them find a way to tell another, truer story. CF 24. Just One Thing With his scientific but accessible approach to improving health and wellbeing, Michael Mosley changed hundreds of thousands of people’s lives. Just One Thing is the perfect legacy of the man and his endeavours. “He was a great communicator and people trusted him,” his widow Dr Clare Bailey Mosley told RT in November. “He really did want to make a difference to people’s lives.” GM 25. Katherine Ryan’s What’s My Age Again? Probably the only podcast to demand blood from its celebrity guests – in order to establish their age at a cellular level – this series sees the Canadian comic play host to a resident scientist advising the likes of Katie Price, Jedward and Alastair Campbell on how lifestyle changes may make them feel younger. “More sleep, less alcohol” may be news for some. GM Sport 26. The Price of Football Football finance experts Kevin Day and Kieran Maguire deep-dive into club accounts and tot up the costs of the beautiful game – and often reveal some ugly truths. Twice weekly, this digest covers the Premier League and local clubs with the same no-nonsense diligence. GM 27. Football Daily: The Commentators’ View Though BBC commentators Ian Dennis, Alistair Bruce-Ball and John Murray have their name above the door, there’s a whole community of commentariat called up to offer insights and wisdom you don’t hear on the radio, including Vicki Sparks, the first woman to commentate live on a World Cup match on British TV, in 2018. GM 28. The Grade Cricketer Among dozens of podcasts dedicated to all things leather on willow, this remains the giant, with a slot on TV and live shows around the world. Hosted by Australians Sam Perry and Ian Higgins who met playing grade cricket, the tone is more Shane Warne than Ricky Ponting, with their respect for the game matched by their larrikin irreverence for everything else. CF 29. Sir Bradley Wiggins’ Café Aficionado If you’re going to have a podcast about professional cycling, then who better to host it than the first Briton to win the Tour de France and a man who’s not short of an opinion or two, Bradley Wiggins? He’s joined by his friend, the journalist and similarly velo-obsessive Graham Willgoss, to ruminate on all the latest action from the cycling world. DC 30. The Game Changers The bad news is that “women’s sport” in 2025 still needs its own podcast. The good news is that, with host Sue Anstiss (co-founder of the Women’s Sport Collective), we meet athletes, coaches and administrators, all trailblazers who have broken down barriers, and shifted the needle on equality in sport. Inspiring stuff, even as Anstiss waits for the day when we have to call it “the men’s World Cup”. CF The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Audio coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Steve Coogan stars as Alan Partridge on this week's Radio Times podcasts special
Steve Coogan on why his new podcast is Alan Partridge at his purest - and funniest. Aha! Plus the 30 podcasts to listen to right now from true crime to current affairs.
This week's Radio Times magazine is a special edition devoted to podcasts. A few weeks ago we were sitting in the office talking about the podcasts that we listen to. It was interesting to hear how quickly people become loyal to a relatively small set of productions when there are thousands to choose from. Most of us at RT, it transpires, listen to The Rest Is Entertainment, the BBC's Newscast and of course The Radio Times Podcast with the excellent Caroline Frost and her brilliant guests, usually plucked from the staff at RT... (Modesty prevents me naming names.) However, I then realised that I've listened doggedly for several years to the same ten or so podcasts that I download every week, and I suggested that perhaps it was time I added a few new ones to my playlist. The recommendations came thick and fast and – hey presto! – this issue was born. Put together by Caroline and our resident TV listings and radio guru David Crawford, find it inside this week's issue. There you will find 30 of the biggest, best and newest podcasts (plus even more in our regular podcast section), as well as interviews with the people who make them, and recommendations aplenty. With the summer holidays coming, it couldn't be a better time to discover your new favourites. I certainly have... The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Also in this week's Radio Times: Alison Steadman is back on TV playing for laughs in the sitcom Here We Go. Rob Brydon brings all his skills into play as he hosts a new adventure game show. Irvine Welsh reveals why he's written a Trainspotting sequel. Did you know you can now order a previous edition of Radio Times magazine with our new back issues service? Check out more of our Audio coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Former Australian PM Julia Gillard explains the mission behind her podcast - and where its earnings go
The former prime minister of Australia, now Founder and Chair of the Global Institute for Women’s Leadership at King’s College London and the Australian National University in Canberra, sits down to share challenges and triumphs with fellow trailblazers.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. What is the mission for A Podcast of One’s Own? It’s to share the stories of people from around the world working to advance gender equality. Our guests have included Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan, film-maker and activist Beverley Ditsie and author Elif Shafak. Any earnings from the podcast go towards the work of the Institute for Global Leadership to bring together research, practice and advocacy into a powerful force for change. How does communicating through your podcast differ from other platforms you’ve had, and what does it bring you? As a politician, I spent so much of my life being interviewed, so in my post-politics life it’s been really nice to flip the roles and be the one asking the questions! I get to speak with incredible women. And you already have your own spin-off series? I’ve always been a voracious reader, and we now have a monthly book club conversation. My co-hosts are the author Kathy Lette and the poet Sarah Holland-Batt. We recently read Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis – it was shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction. Podcasts have proved to be an effective medium for celebrating women’s achievements in different fields. What separates your programme from the pack? A Podcast of One’s Own is unique in that it has consistently kept a focus on how our interviewees’ lives, careers and experiences have been shaped by gender – whether that’s the norms they experienced growing up, barriers they faced in the workplace, or their experience online and on social media. In celebrating our guests’ achievements, we gain so many insights for our listeners about the challenges they have dealt with. Each story is unique and yet we also have many shared experiences as women that we can all relate to and learn from. The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Audio coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Anthony Scaramucci: "My wife hates Trump almost as much as Melania hates him"
Famously sacked by Donald Trump after ten days in the role of White House Director of Communications, the banker turned podcaster chews the fat over the state of America with The Rest Is Politics US co-host Katty Kay.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. It was F Scott Fitzgerald who observed, “There are no second acts in American lives.” Well, Anthony “The Mooch” Scaramucci – Wall Street financier turned (briefly) senior advisor in the first Trump administration, turned bitcoin investor turned podcaster, is having a grand old time disproving that. He tells Radio Times: “If you have integrity, you’re always going to have opportunities because people will say, ‘OK, the guy made a mistake, let’s move on.’” The combination of Katty Kay’s political understanding honed over 30 years of world affairs journalism and Scaramucci’s enthusiasm for discussing all things (as well as his perhaps surprising breadth of historical reference) has made their show one of the fastest growing political podcasts in the world. So what’s the secret formula? “I don’t really have a filter,” he begins. “I just say who I think are the good, the bad and the ugly. It may not work for the BBC or in The Times, but it does work in podcasting. It gives me an opportunity to articulate myself. I can say, this is what’s happening now, and this is what happened 25 years ago that led to it. Donald Trump’s one of the most malevolent people I’ve ever encountered, but you can’t blame everything on him. So I get the bandwidth to explain and reflect on all of that.” Is there an agenda for political change afoot? For the first time he hesitates. “When I started this, I didn’t realise that, but yes, we are ripe for change. I want to hold the feet of both Republicans and Democrats to the fire. And I think a third party would help the country, because it would liquidate the extremes. But it’s going to be very hard because of vested interests.” This is the same political zeal that propelled Scaramucci into Trump’s White House in 2017, where he cut quite the dash as the president’s comms chief, until he let slip a few too many opinions in a chat with a journalist and was unceremoniously discharged. Now one of Trump’s most ardent critics, he admits only one thing put him there in the first place. “It was ego. It doesn’t reflect well on me, but I got what they call Potomac fever,” he says, referring to the river that runs through the nation’s power capital. “I thought, ‘I’m going to go to Washington and work for the President of the United States.’ I had to be humbled.” A tireless history buff, he adds: “You can read all the Greek classics, all of Shakespeare, and think, ‘That’s them, it’ll never be me.’ And then it is you. I had to have the reckoning.” Scaramucci’s wife made her feelings known at the time, divorce papers were filed, he was sacked, they reunited. It’s quite the tale of personal meets political. He nods. “My wife hates Trump almost as much as Melania hates him. I nearly got divorced, but we love each other. I learnt, don’t make your relationship disposable. And here we are, eight years later. Today is our wedding anniversary.” While Scaramucci is incensed by Trump’s intimidation tactics, personally he remains unfazed: “I live in America, where I was taught that I’m allowed to think and speak freely. I’m going to continue to do that.” He pauses. “I’m named after my uncle, a decorated veteran who stormed the Normandy beaches. I’m not making the comparison but if he could exhibit that level of courage, I can exercise my First Amendment right.” And does he think Trump secretly tunes into the podcast, or even thinks about him? He laughs. “He would never listen to a 40-minute podcast, unless it was himself talking. But he called me a major loser, which I love. I thought that was great. You always want your ex-boyfriends or girlfriends to be still thinking about you.” The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Audio coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
BBC Radio 2's Sara Cox reveals why she sometimes "struggles to maintain eye contact" with friends after new podcast
On their podcast Teen Commandments, the Radio 2 presenter and her longtime pal Clare Hamilton discuss parenting teenagers and reminisce about their own teenage misadventures together.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. What is the mission of your podcast? Sara Cox We wanted to create a place where people could go if they needed a bit of escapism from their own domestic situations, for them to see that everybody is pulling their own hair out sometimes. We also really want to make people laugh because we laugh a lot. Clare Hamilton Sometimes when you have teenagers, it feels like you’re going a bit mad and you take it a bit personally when they’re giving you attitude. We’re here saying you’re not on your own. It’s fine, you’re not going crazy. How does it differ from your other work? Sara This is a Sara Cox production and I really enjoyed the production side of it. But I guess the main difference is that, while I’m 100 per cent me on the radio, I’m aware young children or my in-laws could be listening so it has a family feel, while on the pod it’s just me and Clare having a brew – or a margarita – and no subject or topic is off the table. There are no holds barred. Sometimes I do struggle to maintain eye contact with some friends who have listened. Clare I’ve never done anything like this, but I’m absolutely loving it, being in a room with a microphone. Sara She’s such a natural that I forget it’s not her actual job. She’s a hairdresser by trade, and she’s not used to being in front of audiences but she’s brilliant. Clare I’m still doing my day job and it’s bizarre because my clients are finding out quite a bit about me now. I was trying to keep it separate because it’s a little bit rude at times. I’ll be doing a client’s hair and she’s like, “Well, I had a listen…” There are lots of child-rearing podcasts. What’s your USP? Sara There are lots of brilliant podcasts about parents and about parenting young children, but there isn’t as much out there about teenagers. Clare We get a lot of people saying that our friendship shines through, that we’re not an artificial pairing. We bring different dynamics, too, because I’m a single mum. Sara lives in London and I live up north, so I live a very different life, and my teens do as well. So we bring that into it. Sara It’s not an advice pod. We thoroughly encourage people to do the opposite of what we do with our parenting. People call it more of a parental panic group. The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Audio coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Vanessa Feltz: 'My parents told me I was lacking in every way that matters'
The broadcaster on being an anxious child — and an indulgent grandmother.
This article first appeared in Radio Times magazine. What’s the view from your sofa? My living room is lined with book-shelves from floor to ceiling with Penguin and Virago Classics and the books I read while studying English at Cambridge. There’s a battered sofa. I keep thinking of replacing it, but I can’t be bothered. Did getting a first at Cambridge open any doors in broadcasting? No one at work has ever asked me about my degree. I wrote two articles that provoked attention. I appeared once on TV and once on the radio and made waves. One story was about the death of a Jewish mother, the other about undiscovered erogenous zones in response to Sarah Ferguson and the toe sucking, which I discussed on Richard & Judy. I was then offered a contract to appear on the show regularly. I’ve never done a proper job interview. Who controls the remote in your house? Me. I live on my own these days. I’ve been out every night for two years and five months [since Feltz separated from her fiancé, singer Ben Ofoedu]. There have only been maybe five nights where it’s been me in front of the TV with my dinner on a tray, because I don’t want to be at home, eating alone. What TV have you enjoyed recently? I’m watching The Gilded Age, but I’m not enjoying it much; it’s remarkably stilted and incredibly dull. I’m also persevering with And Just like That…, which is also abysmal. And I’m watching Love Island. Thankfully my parents are dead, because they’d never forgive me. Have you given up caring what others think of you? My parents were extremely demanding and judgemental. They basically told me how lacking I was in every way that matters. If your parents are busy telling you what a disappointment you are, you can’t really care what everyone else thinks. I tried to placate, appease and enchant my parents, but always failed. My mother’s been dead for 30 years exactly. She wasn’t a baddie. I loved her very much – and I really miss her. What makes a good parent? It’s about being on your child’s side, even if your child is wrong. You have to support your child, nurture and encourage them. I was an absurdly indulgent mother and I’m an absurdly indulgent grandmother. You’ve teamed up with your daughter Saskia Joss for the podcast Help! My Child’s Anxious. What’s it about? Saskia was a primary school teacher before qualifying as a child therapist. She was giving a talk about children’s mental health when a publisher in the audience suggested she write a book, which became Help! My Child’s Anxiety Is Giving Me Anxiety. There’s been an epidemic of children’s anxiety in this country – over 500 young people a day are referred to mental health services for anxiety. It’s stopping children from going to school, eating lunch, having friends, enjoying life. And the parents feel humiliated, embarrassed and anxious themselves. Our podcast offers excellent tips, tools and tricks. Saskia is adamant that children can overcome anxiety. What do you bring to the podcast? Saskia and I aren’t in similar fields, so there was no reason for our work to cross over, but here we are. I’m thrilled about it, and I drive her home afterwards, which means I see my grandchildren. I bring the perspective of my generation and being a mother. I’m from an era when children with anxiety hadn’t been invented. Saskia explains to me how seriously it must be taken. Children need to feel safe. Were you an anxious child? I was a thinking, concerned child. I remember becoming aware of my own mortality at the age of five and thinking, “Now I know I’m going to die, I’m never going to enjoy a simple day again.” I’ve now got four thoughtful, cerebral grandchildren, all of whom look as if they’re really concerned about absolutely everything all the time. The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what else is on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Alan Partridge takes gold at Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival
Steve Coogan says Alan's new horticultural venture gives him "something to say about gardens – not that he knows much".
If Alan Partridge were still in the presenter’s booth at North Norfolk Digital, he’d surely be reaching for his Spandau Ballet collection to punctuate this next story, because the veteran sports reporter, turned chat show host who once shot a guest, turned Audible podcaster from his Norfolk oasthouse is now... a gold medal-winning garden designer. Yes, you read that correctly. The production company behind Partridge’s podcast teamed up with a Norfolk-based garden design company to create a “Sound Bath Garden”, which is among the exhibits at this year’s RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival. Earlier this week, it was announced that the design has won one of the Festival’s top awards. The garden is described as: “A tribute to structure, to durability, and to personal resonance, the garden reflects Alan’s meticulous approach to design, aesthetics, and materials. Visitors are invited to experience a space that is both purposeful and forward-looking.” Following its exhibition at Hampton Court, it will be moved to Pensthorpe Nature Reserve in Fakenham, Norfolk. Joe Carey of Carey Garden Design Studio said: “We’re absolutely delighted to have been awarded a gold medal for the Sound Bath Garden. It’s a true testament to the garden’s horticultural excellence and its joyful celebration of the iconic personality of Alan Partridge.” Partridge attended his own garden prior to its unveiling at Hampton Court but, true to form, didn’t seem inclined to “hang around discussing garden trouser, trowels and listeria, which is apparently a type of plant”. Instead, he said, he was off to “Halfords to look at a specific item”. Listen to From the Oasthouse: The Alan Partridge Podcast series 4 on Audible Asked what had inspired Partridge’s foray into horticulture, his alter ego Steve Coogan told Radio Times: “Audible’s marketing people.” He added: “It’s the fourth series of the podcast, you have to give it something unusual, outside the box. “We leant into what was initially an idea to launch it at a garden centre, but then the Hampton Court Flower Show appeared, and that’s as good as anything. And it gives Alan something to say about gardens – not that he knows much.” Coogan, who has been channelling Partridge for 34 years since his original appearance as a sports reporter on Radio 4’s On the Hour, explained how he and his co-writers – brothers Neil and Rob Gibbons – come up with fresh antics for the indomitable Alan. “Anything the marketing people want, we have a get-out clause in that it’s under the guise of the Alan Partridge brand," he said. “Whenever there’s a marketing idea, our instinct is to ask, how is that relevant? Instead of bending the character, we have Alan react partly the way we’d react – reluctantly going along with it. And that’s what we’re doing here as well. All roads lead to Rome. “Anything going on in the media prompts us to ask, what would Alan do? And it doesn’t matter if it looks a bit desperate because that’s what he’d do. So it’s a great get-out-of-jail card.” Read more: Steve Coogan confirms filming has wrapped on new Alan Partridge series – tackling "serious" subject Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan's comedy travel series The Trip is returning Steve Coogan is back with series 4 of From the Oasthouse: The Alan Partridge Podcast, available now, exclusively on Audible. The RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival is on this week, until Sunday 6 July. Check out more of our Audio coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Michael Palin to star at Crossed Wires Podcast Festival
The former Python will be talking to Radio 1 host Greg James in his home town of Sheffield.
Michael Palin is possibly the last celebrity left in Britain not to have a podcast – which, to Greg James’s mind, makes him the perfect guest for the Crossed Wires Podcast Festival, taking place across this weekend in Sheffield. “At their best and most powerful, podcasts are a celebration of community and togetherness, and no one sums that up better than Michael.” says James, who’ll be sitting down with Palin on Friday 4 July at 5pm in Sheffield City Hall. “He’s been my hero for as long as I can remember. I can’t wait to ask him what he was like as a young man. I’m sure he got up to no good. “Michael grew up in Sheffield so to have him back there talking about his early years of school and amateur dramatics in the city will be a complete pleasure. Let’s just hope I can convince him to start a podcast full time!” James has come on board as creative director for the second year of this Festival, which will feature podcast stars from Nick Grimshaw and Angela Hartnett from Dish, to Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham joining Matt Forde of Political. The Radio 1 breakfast show host reflects on the paradox of the intimate medium of podcasting being translated into a large public space: “Radio and podcasts are wonderfully intimate for the listener, but all the while, they’re quietly creating beautiful communities for like-minded people. “It’s always lovely to meet someone who knows the same in-jokes and nuances of a podcast you listen to. To have somewhere for everyone to congregate in real life and celebrate togetherness is something we all crave.” “This is a showcase of live podcasting, the next generation of podcasting,” explains Alice Levine, who co-founded the event with producer Dino Sofos and festival founder James O’Hara. “Like all good major national events, the idea started over a curry and a walk in the Peak District – the three of us were after that feeling of getting people together in one place, with a shared language of in-jokes and references for people who’d been listening to their favourite podcast from the beginning. We couldn’t believe it hadn’t been done.” Levine already knows the magic of bringing the intimate experience shared between podcaster and listener into a huge, shared forum, having taken her own hit podcast My Dad Wrote a Porno around the world to celebrated spaces from Sydney Opera House to New York’s Radio City Music Hall. She says: “There’s something special about podcasting in its original form – intimate, sometimes meditative – and then there’s this other thing, which is community and celebration, putting faces to those listeners who’ve contributed.” Levine’s My Dad Wrote a Porno was one of the first big breakout successes of the podcast age, and she marvels now at the success of something created on the back of a good idea but no production company or marketing. “It was a less crowded market then for sure,” she remembers of its debut in 2015. Inspired by the erotic books written by the dad of her university friend Jamie Morton, the show was “recorded around the kitchen table and just put out there”. With only word of mouth to propel it onwards, the team were gobsmacked to find themselves in the global podcast chart, and equally surprised to spot listeners “in the wild”, as she puts it. “I remember the day (co-host) James Cooper came in and said he’d seen someone listening to us on the Tube. We had quite striking artwork so we could spot when people had us on their phone.” As well as Greg James sitting down with Michael Palin, the Festival slate is proof of the breadth of podcast content out there – everything from Help! I Sexted My Boss to Fun Kids Science Weekly. Further demonstration of the mushrooming popularity of the medium is that, in just its second year, the Festival now has the BBC as a partner, with Frank Skinner, Russell Kane’s Evil Genius and Sara Cox among the Corporation’s free ticket offerings this weekend. And where might fans of Levine and James be most likely to come across them in Sheffield? “I’ll be running around like a headless chicken,” says Levine, “but I hope to get to as many Fringe events as possible.” “I’ll be wherever Michael Palin is to make sure he’s happy as we’re so honoured to have him there,” adds James. “But when it’s all done, we’ll be getting very drunk with the Tailenders gang at Fagan’s.” Crossed Wires Podcast Festival runs 4–6 July in venues around Sheffield. For more details and to book tickets, visit: https://crossedwires.live. The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Check out more of our Audio coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
David Tennant's podcast confirms season 3 guests – including Doctor Who's Russell T Davies
The podcast returns from an extended hiatus later this month.
A slew of new details have emerged about David Tennant Does A Podcast With... season 3, such as the eagerly awaited premiere date and initial guest line-up – which includes a Doctor Who reunion. The podcast series, last heard from in 2020, recently announced its surprise return, with a new teaser featuring the voices of David and Georgia Tennant revealing a season 3 launch date on Tuesday 25th February 2025. As was the case last time, the show will be available wherever you get your podcasts and will feature Tennant in conversation with a wide array of high-profile names. The first four announced for season 3 include Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies, who worked on the show with Tennant for several years, plus his Inside Man co-star Stanley Tucci, The Good Place alum Jameela Jamil and Sonic the Hedgehog's Ben Schwartz. In the playful teaser trailer, David's wife and fellow actor Georgia commented that the podcast is "really just you hanging out with your mates", which the host seemed to broadly agree with – joking that there's "no concept" behind the show. However, in a cryptic tease, he alluded to big plans for the season 3 finale and more starry guests to be announced in due course. A statement from Tennant reads: "Yes, I know, just what the world needs… more podcast episodes. But with a line-up this good, I couldn't resist coming back for season 3. "These guests are top-notch and you won’t want to miss a single one. And as for the finale… we don't talk about the finale. Let's just say it's a series first." The producers of the show added: "Season 3 promises even more of what made the podcast a hit: honest chats, surprising revelations, and Tennant's silky Scottish tones. David Tennant Does a Podcast With… will continue to bring listeners closer than ever to the celebrities they think they know." The announcement of Davies's participation coincides with recent tabloid reports that Doctor Who is facing uncertainty over its future, which the BBC has spoken out against today. David Tennant Does A Podcast With... season 3 launches on Tuesday 25th February 2025 on podcast platforms. Check out more of our Sci-Fi coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
EastEnders' Lacey Turner reunites with Davood Ghadami and Rakhee Thakrar in podcast first look
The trio's characters were in plenty of drama on the Square.
This article contains mentions of child loss that some may find upsetting. Lacey Turner's Stacey Slater has been part of a fair share of explosive storylines on EastEnders, from who killed Archie Mitchell to the love triangle between her, Shabnam Masood (Rakhee Thakrar) and Kush Kazemi (Davood Ghadami). Years after the steamy one night stand between Stacey and Kush was revealed, the three actors have reunited as part of Turner's new podcast, We Started Here. In an exclusive clip for RadioTimes.com from the podcast, which will be available on all podcast platforms from Tuesday 11th February, Turner spoke with Thakrar and Ghadami about their hard-hitting storylines, including Shabnam's stillbirth. Thakrar shared that she felt it was her "purpose" on the show at the time. She explained that Ghadami had told her they might never get the chance to do a storyline like that again. Read more: EastEnders' Jaimie Winstone feels Barbara Windsor's "nod of approval" reprising Peggy Mitchell role EastEnders reveals dramatic trailer as Denise Fox faces divisive love triangle audience vote Ghadami said: "You want to do it right, with as much genuine input as possible. I remember you had a really good collaborative relationship with a few of the directors that we were working with. "We talked a lot about it, to the point that that became a huge part of the process, that was really good to watch as you don’t get that all the time." The trio also opened up on how they got into acting, with Thakrar saying she "didn't get into it" until she was 15 years old. "You wouldn't look at me as a kid and think that she's going to be an actress," she added. "I was so shy." You can watch the full clip at the top of this article now. We Started Here, which first launched earlier this year, will see Turner interview iconic television stars from in front of and behind the cameras, as they discuss how working on soaps prepared them for their wider careers. Describing the podcast, Turner said: "The We Started Here podcast is a celebration of people who started their careers in soap, whether that’s in front of or behind the camera. "We’ve got an array of directors, writers and actors all talking about how they got into their roles, where it led them, and how they went from soap to where they are now." The guests taking part include Jessie Wallace, Sarah Phelps, Jimmy McGovern, Ricky Whittle, Mandip Gill, Anita Dobson and Rakhee Thakrar and Davood Ghadami. We Started Here is available on all podcast platforms, while EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One and from 6am on BBC iPlayer. Visit our dedicated EastEnders page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide.
David Tennant teases return of podcast 4 years after last episode
The actor is back behind the mic for the long-awaited revival of his "side hustle".
David Tennant has announced the return of his long-dormant podcast, with the teaser for a forthcoming third season dropping on podcast platforms today. The audio programme, simply titled David Tennant Does a Podcast with..., initially ran for two seasons, starting in January 2019 and dropping its thought-to-be final episode in October 2020. Each episode would find Tennant in an extended and open conversation with another prominent figure, usually a fellow actor such as former co-stars Billie Piper and Catherine Tate, plus industry legends Ian McKellen and Judi Dench. That said, the programme occasionally platformed those in other professions, including former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, American politician and activist Stacey Abrams and comedian Samantha Bee. Now, it seems fans can get excited for another star-studded run, with David Tennant Does a Podcast with... season 3 confirmed to be on the way, although precisely when it will premiere is still to be confirmed. A note on the programme's Spotify page simply states that it is "coming soon" to podcast platforms. A 12-second teaser titled "Is This Thing Still On?" has been released, in which Tennant can be heard making contact through distortion. The title pokes fun at the long break between seasons 2 and 3, which come more than four years apart, with Tennant filling the interim period with roles in Around the World in 80 Days, Inside Man, Doctor Who, Ahsoka and Rivals, among other projects. The actor also recently concluded a stage production of Macbeth with Cush Jumbo, who previously starred opposite Tennant in Channel 4's Deadwater Fell and was a guest on the second season of his podcast. When the podcast launched back in 2019, Tennant explained to The Guardian: "It happened accidentally, starting with a conversation with my agent about my predilection for podcasts. "Before I knew what was happening, I was in a production meeting, postulating who might take part. The people I asked were keen, so suddenly I had to do it. It’s been interesting to have this other life. A side-hustle." David Tennant Does a Podcast with... is available wherever you get your podcasts. Check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Celebrated chef Ruth Rogers dishes up the dining secrets of Elton John, Tony Blair and David Beckham
The host of Ruthie’s Table 4 reveals to Radio Times what it's like cooking for the biggest names in entertainment and politics.
“I think Elton John was concerned,” says Ruth Rogers, starting our conversation with a big name-check. “He told me, ‘I don’t know how we’re going to talk about food for half-an-hour. I’m not sure I’ll be able to fill it up.’ Then, once we started, we talked for over an hour.” That’s a long time for anyone to talk about food, but for the host of Ruthie’s Table 4, the podcast where we get to hear what A-listers like to eat, you can never talk too long about food. Restaurateur, author and widow of star architect Richard Rogers, Rogers set up London’s fabled River Café restaurant in 1987 with her friend, the chef Rose Grey. It began as a staff canteen for her husband’s architecture practice and in the decades that followed it has gained a Michelin star and lost Gray, who died in 2010. The restaurant by the Thames at Hammersmith has long been favoured by what used to be called the international jet set, politicians, Hollywood actors, musicians. It means Rogers can, without affectation, drop into our conversation lines about ex-Prime Ministers’ food choices. “When Tony Blair comes to the River Café, he often has sea bass,” she tells me. “He’s a real fish person.” Their relationship goes back to the 90s heyday of Cool Britannia. Before Blair was elected in 1997, Rogers oversaw a soirée at the future PM’s house and took along a young apprentice to make the rotolo di spinaci. "We cooked for him at a dinner party when he was running for office and the chef I asked to go to his house was Jamie Oliver, who was a very junior chef at the time." Blair is also a guest on the new series of a podcast that began when lockdown obliged Rogers to shut the doors of River Café. Now in its fourth series, Ruthie’s Table 4 has a simple concept: guests talk about food and dishes that matter to them, encouraged by Rogers who will often ask what their favourite comfort food is. “Michael Caine said it used to be potatoes, now it’s caviar.” For Austin Butler, the actor who played Elvis Presley in the 2022 film Elvis, it was, “a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, which he’d shared with his mother before she died”. The 76-year-old also asks guests to read out recipes and in the new series the film director Guillermo del Toro obliges with the recipe for pizza with artichokes. And Elton John? “Elton did risotto with mushrooms, because it’s kind of seasonal now.” John also allowed Ruthie into the family home in Windsor that he shares with his husband David Furnish, which is usually off limits. “I first asked them three years ago, and Elton said, ‘Ruthie, I have to finish the album.’ Or ‘Ruthie, I have to go to Las Vegas.’ Or ‘Ruthie, I’m on a tour. We will, we will, we will.’ Then he had a hard time with his eyes in the summer [the musician has suffered from a severe eye infection this year], so there was always something. But David wrote to me and said, ‘Elton’s free next Wednesday. How about it?’” Ruthie’s Table 4 could be seen as canny self-promotion, but the podcast has stumbled across a particularly effective way of talking about the power of food and its centrality to our lives. For example, Tony Blair was able to lay out the limits of political power, simply by considering what he has eaten over the past few decades. “We talked about his mother’s garden, growing up and being sent to boarding school,” says Rogers. “And we talked about when he moved into Downing Street in 1997. You have to buy your own lunch; you have to cook your own food. They actually have to go to Waitrose and get some shopping and then come back and be Prime Minister. It’s kind of crazy.” There’s not a chef there? “There is, but for state dinners – not full time. Alastair Campbell told me that a working lunch at No 10 was somebody going down to Pret a Manger and getting some sandwiches.” Rogers, a Francophile who lived in Paris when her husband was working on the Pompidou Centre, expresses surprise at the way “Britain sees the role of food and their Prime Minister”. A French leader at the Élysée Palace, she points out, would suffer no such indignity. “I would think there are five chefs downstairs making a soufflé for President Macron. For the office of the President, it’s a priority.” She is clearly fascinated by the way good food and good wine allows people to re-invent themselves; especially working-class people who achieve riches and fame. Paul McCartney told her about the first time he drank wine, in Paris with John Lennon. “He said, ‘We had no money and so we only had the cheapest, cheapest wines. So we thought wine was rubbish. And then I came back and Brian Epstein, after our first album, took us to L’Escargot [restaurant in London] and we had an amazing glass of wine. We discovered wine.’” Newly wealthy footballer David Beckham, who Rogers says is “obsessed by food”, found the confidence to not simply pick the most expensive when dining with his partner. “He told me, ‘I took Victoria out and we didn’t have to look at the right side of the menu. We could just order what we wanted.’” Another great footballer offered a very different dining revelation. “Ian Wright almost didn’t know how to use a table setting. He said that he ate at home from a tray watching television. And that’s not because he had bad parents, it was because they were both out working.” Some interviewees have faced occasions when they have been too poor to eat, like artist Tracey Emin. “Tracey said she was so poor, she had to sometimes think, ‘What can I do to get food?’, which is quite extreme.” But like a good meal, a successful podcast must combine the sweet and the salty. There should be room for serious conversation but also time for fun – something that Guillermo del Toro is happy to provide in the new series. “Guillermo is Mexican,” she says. “I have a very strong attachment to Mexico and we both have a very strong attachment to tequila. So we were drinking lots of different tequilas at 12 noon last Sunday. It’s a very jolly podcast.” The latest issue of Radio Times is out now – subscribe here. Listen to Ruthie's Table 4 wherever you get your podcasts. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Richard Osman and Marina Hyde announce one-off The Rest Is Entertainment live show
Fans of The Rest Is Entertainment are in luck, as the hit podcast is taking to the stage for its first ever live show – and tickets go on sale this week. Fronted by Marina Hyde and Richard Osman, The Rest Is Entertainment has gone from strength to strength since its release last year, and so, to celebrate one year of the podcast, it's been announced that there will be an exciting live show. The show will take place on 4th December this year at the Royal Albert Hall in London, with ticket presale beginning this Thursday (24th October) at 10am. According to the official description of what's to come, there will be "a very serious review of the year in entertainment, a live Q&A with the audience, and a few special surprises". On the announcement of the live show, Osman said, "What better way to kick off the Christmas season than a look back at the hits and misses of 2024? "An evening of fun and games, scurrilous entertainment gossip, special prizes and celebrity surprises. Suitable for everyone, except probably Guy Ritchie." Hyde also said: "The Royal Albert Hall is the ultimate magnificent venue - I am hugely looking forward to lowering the tone of it. "As both a Christmas obsessive and someone given to anxiety dreams, I believe there is simply no better way to combine these two pursuits than to agree to doing a festive show at the Royal Albert Hall." The podcast takes listeners behind the scenes of the entertainment world, covering everything from movies to TV, books and music, as well as discussing the week's most pressing headlines, pop culture takes and more. Read more: Erik Menendez star Cooper Koch doesn't want to return for more Monsters: "I'm ready to let go" Bad Sisters' killer secret under threat of being uncovered in season 2 trailer In fact, it's gone on to become one of Goalhanger's most successful podcasts, and has consistently ranked in the UK's top 10 podcast charts this year, being downloaded over 3 million times each month. The news of The Rest Is Entertainment's podcast taking to the stage comes in the same month as a live show for another Goalhanger hit podcast, The Rest Is Politics. Fronted by former Downing Street director of communications and strategy Alastair Campbell and cabinet minister Rory Stewart, The Rest Is Politics hosted a live edition of their podcast at London's O2, and the podcast has toured the UK four times since it debuted back in 2022. So, it could very well be the case that this won't be the first and only time to catch The Rest Is Entertainment on the big stage! As well as being an iconic music venue, the Royal Albert Hall has also been a mainstay for recent podcast shows. On the announcement of The Rest Is Entertainment coming this December, Matthew Todd, director of programming at the Royal Albert Hall, said: "We're delighted to welcome Marina and Richard to the Hall. "Encouraging new talent is a very important part of our work, and we always want to support people in the early stages of their careers. "Richard and Marina looked like they needed a leg up, and we were only too pleased to help." Presale for The Rest Is Entertainment at the Royal Albert Hall begins on Thursday 24th October at 10am, with general sale starting on Friday 25th October at 10am. Full ticket information can be found on the Royal Albert Hall website. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
We're back bringing you exclusive insight into our star guests' viewing habits, careers and the views from their sofas at home, every Tuesday.
Series Six of the Radio Times Podcast has landed! Every Tuesday, Radio Times Podcast host and our Podcast Editor Kelly-Anne Taylor sits down with a celebrity guest to talk all about their lives through the prism of TV. On this series, Kelly-Anne speaks to Hollywood star Karen Gillan, BAFTA-winning actress Suranne Jones, fashion designer icon Diane Von Furstenberg, Britain's most successful gymnast Max Whitlock and many more! Make sure to follow our Radio Times Podcast channel, wherever you listen to your podcasts, to never miss an episode. You can catch up on our past series too, Series Five, Series Four, Series Three, Series Two and Series One. Browse our available episodes here! Heartstopper Special Part Two: Kit Connor and Joe Locke Hello and welcome to the Radio Times Podcast, I am Kelly-Anne Taylor and joining me today are Kit Connor and Joe Locke. In the first part of this episode, I’ll be talking to Kit, who plays the heartthrob rugby-playing, Nick Nelson, about introducing sex to series 3 of Heartstopper, how he is actually an introvert – and what’s next for his career. Afterwards, you’ll hear me in conversation with Joe Locke – in which we talk about the impact playing Charlie has had on his life, handling fame and entering the Marvel Universe. View oEmbed on the source website Heartstopper Special Part One: Alice Oseman Hello and welcome to the Radio Times Podcast. I am Kelly-Anne Taylor, your host, and interviewer – and I am so excited to release part one – of two very special bonus episodes to mark series three of Heartstopper. Joining me is the creator, writer and brains behind it all, Alice Oseman. We talk about Charlie and Nick’s origin story, the explosion of her webcomic, and how it has changed their life. It’s a remarkable episode – Alice is a delight to be in conversation with. Please do set a reminder on your phones, on the 3rd of October, this Thursday, part two will be released – and you can tune in to listen to my episode with Kit Connor and Joe Locke. View oEmbed on the source website Matt Damon and Casey Affleck on growing up together, handling fame and The Instigators For this very special, bonus episode of the Radio Times Podcast, Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by Oscar-winning Hollywood A listers, Matt Damon and Casey Affleck. They both grew up in Cambridge, Massachusetts and have been friends since childhood. Their teenage years were spent travelling to New York to auditions – and both eventually dropped out of university (Matt from Harvard, and Casey from Columbia) to pursue acting full-time. And – it paid off. Matt rose to fame, writing and starring in Good Will Hunting – and went on to carve out a rich and brilliant career, with movies like The Martian, The Talented Mr Ripley, and Jason Bourne. Similarly, Casey Affleck, the younger brother of Ben Affleck, has also made his mark – winning an Oscar for his turn in Manchester by the Sea. Now, the pair have teamed up for Apple TV’s action-packed heist drama, The Instigators. They play two strangers from different walks of life, thrown together to rob a corrupt politician. In this episode, we talk about how they met, handling fame and press intrusion – and, how being behind the screens has given them greater autonomy over their careers. View oEmbed on the source website OLYMPICS SPECIAL: Max Whitlock on Paris 2024, life as a gymnast and retirement This week, for our series finale, Kelly-Anne Taylor brings to you an Olympics special. It's an interview with the most successful British gymnast of all time – the six-time Olympic medallist, and the most successful pommel horse worker in the Games’ history, Max Whitlock. In this episode, we reflect on his career – how he started gymnastics, his training regime during his teenage years (which hit highs of 35 hours a week – alongside school!) and competing in London in 2012. We also talk about a period of low mental health that he experienced after the Tokyo Olympics – and how having his daughter, Willow, altered his approach to the sport. Plus, he talks about preparing for the Paris Games and reveals why he has chosen to retire now. View oEmbed on the source website Emma Gannon on writing, the joys of slowing down and Ctrl Alt Delete This week, Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by the best-selling author Emma Gannon. She began her career working in magazines – she’s written columns for The Telegraph and The Sunday Times and was the Social Media Editor at Glamour. She created the hit podcast Ctrl Alt Delete, which racked up over 13 million downloads and saw her sit down with the likes of Elizabeth Gilbert, Lena Dunham and Gillian Anderson to talk about their work, wellbeing and creativity. She is also the writer behind The Hyphen on Substack, a six-figure business – which is described as 'a cosy, online space for curious readers'. On top of that – she has written six best-selling books to date, including The Success Myth and her debut novel Olive. Now, she is releasing A Year of Nothing – a memoir, focusing on her time spent doing nothing following a period of burn-out. In this episode, we talk about the joys of slowing down, the beauty of cold water swimming, the power of slow news – and learning to say 'no'. View oEmbed on the source website Diane Von Furstenberg on the secret to her success, marrying royalty and turning down David Bowie and Mick Jagger Whilst Kelly-Anne Taylor was away, reporting from the field at Glastonbury, RT had the incredible opportunity to interview Diane Von Furstenberg for the podcast – recruiting Smart TV host, the wonderful Caroline Frost, to take over for this episode! Diane Von Furstenberg, you’ll know as the iconic fashion designer who created the wrap dress. But she has also lived a fascinating life, and a new documentary, Woman in Charge on Disney+, gives us a glimpse into her remarkable life story. She was born and raised in Brussels in 1946. Her mother, only 18 months before Diane was born, had been imprisoned at Auschwitz. Diane’s mother left a lasting impact and influence over Diane – which she talks about with Caroline in the episode. Diane entered high-society when she married a German Prince, Egon von Furstenberg. They moved to New York and this is when Diane kickstarted her fashion career. It was the '70s and life was governed by hedonism – in this episode, she talks about turning down a threesome with David Bowie and Mick Jagger and rubbing shoulders with the greats. She also reflects on the highs and lows of her life, her sensuality and how it defined her brand and breaking glass ceilings as a woman in business. View oEmbed on the source website Emma Myers on Wednesday, British accents and not going out Join Kelly-Anne Taylor for this very special bonus episode of the Radio Times Podcast is the phenomenal actress, Emma Myers. Born and raised in Orlando in America, Emma had an eclectic childhood – she was one of four and was homeschooled, often spending her days roaming the Disney theme park local to her house. Dance was her initial passion – but, after her family moved to Atlanta, she began to pursue acting. Her life changed forever, when she was cast as Enid Sinclair in Tim Burton’s Wednesday – Netflix’s second most watched show of all time. In this episode, we talk about starring in Wednesday – and how she went from having 900 followers on Instagram to just under 12 million in a matter of weeks – and how she dealt with that explosion in popularity. Plus, we talk about A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder – in which she stars as Pip, a precocious teenager who decides to investigate the unsolved murder of a young schoolgirl. View oEmbed on the source website Dolly Wells on ambition, the beauty of ageing and Emily Mortimer Joining Kelly-Anne Taylor this week is the writer, director and actor, Dolly Wells. She grew up off of Kensington High Street in London – the youngest of six children. Aged 18, she discovered that her stepfather was actually her biological father – the great comic actor, John Wells. In her 20s, Dolly worked as an actress – but also as a photographer’s assistant, she had a stall in Portobello Market and wrote book reviews for the Express. It was only when she had her daughter in her 30s that she really decided to go for it. Since then, she's made her mark – and there seems to be very little that she can't do. She's played a vampire-hunting nun in Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat's Dracula, a woman locked in a basement with David Tennant in Inside Man and an incompetent assistant in the Sky comedy Doll & Em (which she co-wrote with her best friend, the actress Emily Mortimer). Now, she turns her hand to directing BBC Three's A Good Girl's Guide to Murder – which follows a bright-eyed, precocious teenager Pip (who decides to investigate the unsolved murder of a schoolgirl. In this episode, we talk about the beauty of ageing, her life-changing friendship with Emily Mortimer, and how female directors are changing the industry. View oEmbed on the source website Suranne Jones on Coronation Street, Gentleman Jack and why she's obsessed with witches Joining Kelly-Anne Taylor in the studio is the actress Suranne Jones. Born and raised in Greater Manchester, she first rose to prominence playing Karen McDonald in ITV’s Coronation Street. After leaving the soap, she has cemented herself as one of Britain’s finest actresses – winning a BAFTA for her performance as Gemma Foster in Doctor Foster, and critical acclaim for her role as Anne Lister in Gentleman Jack and Amy Silva in Vigil. In this episode, we discuss the early days of her career – and how press intrusion and the era of lad mags, impacted her relationship with her body. And, she talks bravely about her mental health breakdown in 2018, and the coping mechanisms and boundaries she has put in place since then. Plus, we also discuss her brand new documentary Suranne Jones: Investigating Witch Trials. View oEmbed on the source website Karen Gillan on Doctor Who, the Marvel Universe and working with Steven Moffat Joining Kelly-Anne Taylor for the first episode of this brand-new series of the Radio Times Podcast is the Scottish actress who took Hollywood by storm, Karen Gillan. Born and raised in Inverness, she moved to London aged 18 to pursue acting. After two weeks at drama school, she dropped out and worked in a pub until she was cast in a role that would change her life – the brilliant Amy Pond in Doctor Who. Since then, she’s conquered Hollywood with her role as Nebula in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. In this episode, we discuss losing your anonymity, the pressures placed on women’s bodies and her brand new show Douglas Is Cancelled. View oEmbed on the source website Check out previous episodes of the Radio Times Podcast. You can also write to the Radio Times Podcast team and let us know your thoughts at: podcast@radiotimes.com. If you're looking for something to watch, check out our TV and Streaming Guides.
Calling all Whovians! Looking for the best podcast in the Doctor Whoniverse to match your energy when it comes to all things Time Lord? You’ve come to the right place.
It will come as no surprise to you that the 100-year-old Radio Times brand, which covers everything from film and TV casting announcements, exclusive interviews, episode reviews, and explainer articles, are completely into Doctor Who. Whether we’re sharing with you the cast of Doctor Who’s Boom episode, revealing the Doctor Who air time slots, or talking to stars such as Ncuti Gatwa, if it’s Doctor Who information and opinions you’re looking for, you’re guaranteed to find it at RadioTimes.com. With plenty of research under our belt and our recent best podcasts to listen to guide, we’re in brilliant stead to recommend to you the best Doctor Who podcasts. If you’re a Doctor Who fan, you want a podcast host that matches your energy — a host you can count on to deep dive into topics such as Dalek and Cybermen military stratagems, review the latest episodes and point out Easter eggs you might have missed, pick out holes in certain episodes and praise other ones, and just generally know their stuff. You also want hosts who can offer additional content that you can’t get from simply watching a Doctor Who episode. For example, exclusive interviews with cast members and the crew, as well as upcoming insights and teasers. Luckily for you, all of the below podcasts tick these boxes. Let’s take a look. Looking to switch streaming services? Take a look at our Apple Music vs Amazon Music, Amazon Music vs Spotify, and Spotify vs Apple Music. Doctor Who podcasts at a glance: Best for: Exclusive content | The Official Doctor Who Podcast Best for: Deep dives | The Radio Times Doctor Who podcast Best for: Super fans | The Doctor Who Big Blue Box Podcast Best for: Classic Doctor Who episodes | Who Back When Best for: Reviews | The Old Doctor Who Show Best for: In-depth discussions | Doctor Who: Radio Free Skaro Best for: Easy listening | Doctor Who: The Memory Cheats Best for: Audio series | Doctor Who: Redacted What is the classic Doctor Who podcast? There are two answers to this question: The Official Doctor Who Podcast and The Old Doctor Who Show, which both appear in our best Doctor Who podcast guide. The Official Doctor Who Podcast is available on BBC Sounds, and other podcast streaming services such as Apple Podcasts, and it’s presented by BBC 1xtra's Nadia Jae and content creator Shabaz Ali. The Old Doctor Who Show, on the other hand, is hosted by fans Eric Grissom and Dan Johnson, and it focuses on reviewing classic Doctor Who episodes. In comparison, The Official Doctor Who Podcast mostly discusses new releases. Both podcasts are excellent in their own right, and we’ve added some more information about the two podcasts below. Have you heard of Loop Earplugs? We tested the noise-dimming earplugs for six months for our Loop Earplugs review. Is there a Doctor Who podcast? There certainly is! In our guide, we’ve included eight of the best Doctor Who podcasts to listen to today. Let’s dive right in. The best Doctor Who podcasts to listen to in 2024 The Official Doctor Who Podcast Best for: Exclusive content The Official Doctor Who Podcast is hosted by BBC 1xtra's Nadia Jae and content creator Shabaz Ali. As true to its name, this podcast is entirely focused on all things Doctor Who; expect fan theories, Easter eggs and the latest gossip. Plus, Doctor Who fans will get exclusive access to content such as insights and teasers. To give you an example of what to expect, the 11th May 2024 episode saw author Jamie Windust, Strictly Come Dancing professional Johannes Radebe, and showrunner Russell T Davies join Jae and Ali to discuss the season 1 premiere of Space Babies and The Devil's Chord. Listen to The Official Doctor Who Podcast on Apple Podcasts Listen to The Official Doctor Who Podcast on Spotify Listen to The Official Doctor Who Podcast on BBC Sounds The Radio Times Doctor Who podcast Best for: Deep dives There’s a whole archive of brilliant The Radio Times Doctor Who podcast episodes to listen to. Ever wondered who is the best Doctor of all time? Was the show right to be cancelled in the '80s? What’s going on with The Fugitive Doctor? And what happened with that whole Master/Missy mystery? Well, you’ve come to the right place. The Radio Times Doctor Who podcast is essentially two Doctor Who fans gossiping about the opinions on classic episodes of Doctor Who and the latest news — sounds fun, right? In these podcast episodes, expect deep dives into the furthest corners of the Whoniverse, as well as first-look reviews, the latest announcements, and unusual theories. Listen to The Radio Times Doctor Who podcast at Radio Times Listen to The Radio Times Doctor Who podcast on Apple Podcasts Listen to The Radio Times Doctor Who podcast on Spotify Take a look at the top Apple Music offers. The Doctor Who Big Blue Box Podcast Best for: Super fans With a huge 428 episodes of The Doctor Who Big Blue Box Podcast on Apple Podcasts, you certainly won’t be short of Doctor Who chatter to listen to. Since 2014, hosts Garry and Adam have shared the latest news, merchandise, convention reports and reviews almost every week. As well as these weekly podcasts, the two hosts also conduct Round Table episodes with the whole team behind The Doctor Who Big Blue Box Podcast. With 10 years of experience behind them, The Doctor Who Big Blue Box Podcast is certainly a great space for Doctor Who fans to enter. Listen to The Doctor Who Big Blue Box Podcast on Apple Podcasts Listen to The Doctor Who Big Blue Box Podcast on Amazon Music Listen to The Doctor Who Big Blue Box Podcast on Spotify Who Back When Best for: Classic Doctor Who episodes If you’re creating a podcast to appeal to a dedicated fanbase, it’s important to know your stuff. No listener wants to tune into a podcast where the hosts aren’t loyal followers and can’t offer more information that you already know. Luckily for you, the Who Back When podcast certainly knows its stuff. The Who Back When podcast has set out to watch every single Doctor Who episode, starting with the 1963 pilot, and at the end of each episode, your hosts will review, discuss, debate, praise and poke holes in said episode. From comparing Dalek and Cybermen military stratagems to ranking companions by hairstyle, the Who Back When podcast has got it covered. Listen to Who Back When on Apple Podcasts Listen to Who Back When on Spotify More of an audiobook than a podcast listener? Here are the best Audible deals for this month. The Old Doctor Who Show Best for: Reviews From the other side of the pond comes The Old Doctor Who Show. Hosts Eric Grissom and Dan Johnson are two Americans who love Doctor Who (and who can blame them?). In The Old Doctor Who Show, Grissom and Johnson offer their perspective on classic Doctor Who episodes and series, such as The Moonbase. Listen to The Old Doctor Who Show on Apple Podcasts Listen to The Old Doctor Who Show on Spotify Doctor Who: Radio Free Skaro Best for: In-depth discussions Another Doctor Who podcast created by die-hard fans — our favourite kind! Doctor Who: Radio Free Skaro is hosted by Steven, Warren and Chris, and together they create The Three Who Rule. Doctor Who: Radio Free Skaro was recommended by the Doctor Who Magazine, and it’s an entertaining listen for ride-or-die Doctor Who fans and casual viewers alike. To give you a taste of what to expect from Doctor Who: Radio Free Skaro, their 19th May 2024 episode saw Steven, Warren and Chris (self-confessed Moffat-ites) review the latest Doctor Who episode, Boom, which sees Steven Moffat returning to the Whoniverse. Boom is a tense episode filled with landmines, Anglican Marines, and tropes from Moffat’s previous era, but what did the hosts think of it? Listen to Doctor Who: Radio Free Skaro on Apple Podcasts Listen to Doctor Who: Radio Free Skaro on Audible Listen to Doctor Who: Radio Free Skaro on Spotify These are the best UK Doctor Who experiences to try this year, and for more experiences linked to your favourite TV shows and films, stay up to date with our free, weekly Going Out newsletter. Doctor Who: The Memory Cheats Best for: Easy listening Doctor Who: Radio Free Skaro’s host Steven joins host Kyle from Doctor Who: The Writer's Room in Doctor Who: The Memory Cheats. Named after the third story of the sixth series in The Companion Chronicles audio range, Doctor Who: The Memory Cheats shows Steven and Kyle’s immediate reactions to randomly selected Doctor Who stories. Listen to Doctor Who: The Memory Cheats on Apple Podcasts Doctor Who: Redacted Best for: Audio series This final one isn’t a podcast, but we thought it deserved a special mention. Doctor Who: Redacted was the first Doctor Who audio series produced by BBC Studios. It was released by BBC Sounds as a 10 part weekly series for series 1, and a six-part all-at-once series for series 2. The audio drama series, set in the worlds of Doctor Who, has an ensemble cast of Charlie Craggs as Cleo Proctor, Lois Chimimba as Abby McPhail and Holly Quin-Ankrah as Shawna Thompson. The synopsis of Doctor Who: Redacted is as follows: "Three women don't know who the Doctor is, or if aliens are real, but soon find themselves caught in a supernatural conspiracy as they learn that everyone who's ever met the Doctor is disappearing and being forgotten…" Listen to Doctor Who: Redacted on Apple Podcasts Listen to Doctor Who: Redacted on BBC Sounds Looking for some new earphones to listen your new Doctor Who podcast on? Take a look at the best AirPods alternatives and our Nothing Ear release date page.
The world of podcasts can seem a daunting space to enter, but with the help of the wider RadioTimes.com team, we’ve narrowed it down to the best 16. Happy listening!
With thousands of podcasts in the podcast universe, with different genres for varying moods and intents, if you’re looking for a new podcast to listen to, it can be a difficult space to navigate. That’s why the RadioTimes.com team have narrowed down the top podcasts to listen to in 2024. We’ve given each podcast suggestion a ‘best for’ award to help you navigate which podcast is perfect for you, and we’ve even included some top tips to aid you in your podcast search. In our guide, you’ll also be advised on where to listen to the podcasts. As we know your streaming service of choice can be quite precious, we’ve included links to Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, and more. While the RadioTimes.com team’s speciality lies within film and TV — and you’ll certainly see our interests coming out with podcast recommendations like Kermode & Mayo’s Take and The Radio Times Podcast — the team have wider interests and hobbies outside of media. For example, you’ll find below podcasts to help you hone your gardening skills, new recipes and cooking tips to try, brush up on popular culture, and dive into the world of storytelling. No podcast is off limits in our guide! So without further ado, let's find your next podcast. Looking for a streaming service to listen to podcasts, music and more on? Take a look at our Apple Music vs Amazon Music, Amazon Music vs Spotify, and Spotify vs Apple Music guides. Plus, take a look at the top Apple Music offers for this month. Jump to: Best podcasts to listen to at a glance The 16 best podcasts to listen to in 2024 How do I find a good podcast for me? Best podcasts to listen to at a glance: Best for: Self-help | 9 Lives Best for: Popular culture insights | Shameless Best for: Film reviews | Kermode & Mayo’s Take Best for: Sport | The Fast and the Curious Best for: Easy listening | Sentimental Garbage Best for: Entrepreneurial | Working Hard Hardly Working Best for: Relatability | How to Fail Best for: Foodies | Good Food podcast with Tom Kerridge Best for: Comic relief | Off Menu Best for: Nailing a pub quiz! | Search Engine Best for: TV recommendations | The Radio Times Smart TV Podcast Best for: Storytelling | The Moth Podcast Best for: Interviews with your favourite celebrities | The Adam Buxton Podcast Best for: Green fingers | BBC Gardeners World Magazine Podcast Best for: Learning something new | The History Extra Podcast Best for: Variation | The Blindboy Podcast The 16 best podcasts to listen to in 2024 9 Lives by Cassia Tierney Clarke Best for: Self-help How many lives does it feel like you’ve lived? We all know that life can be unpredictable — at the best, exciting, and at the worst, distressing — and it can often make us feel like we’ve lived many courses in our short time on earth. 9 Lives by Cassia Tierney Clarke shares real life, gritty stories with actionable tools to help you write your own story. Tierney Clarke covers everything from mental health to marathon training, and to give you a flavour of what to expect, just take a look at the podcast episode titles ‘how to be brave — building the courage to make lasting change’ and ‘tips for becoming alcohol free and embracing adventure’. Listen to 9 Lives on Spotify Listen to 9 Lives on Apple Podcasts Shameless by Zara McDonald and Michelle Andrews Best for: Popular culture insights Naturally, the RadioTimes.com team are immersed in popular culture, covering everything from reality television and Doctor Who to viral products like Loop Earplugs and the most Instagram-worthy immersive experiences. This podcast, which RadioTimes.com’s Digital Writer Joanna is currently enjoying, takes a deep dive into celebrity scandals from the past and chats about what’s happening in modern day popular culture. Shameless is both informative and hilarious – the perfect combination! Listen to Shameless on Apple Podcasts Listen to Shameless on Spotify Kermode & Mayo’s Take by Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo Best for: Film reviews What was the last film you saw at the cinema that got everybody talking? For the RadioTimes.com team, it was Yorgos Lanthimos's Poor Things starring Emma Stone — we can’t remember when a film was so divisive! In Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo’s podcast, Kermode & Mayo’s Take, the film critic and radio DJ review movies and TV shows that are being released that week. If you’re a keen cinema-goer, it’s a great way to get new recommendations of what to watch, and it’s informative about movies, too. Digital Writer Natalie, who works over at our friends on Good Food, particularly loves this podcast because of the friendly community which surrounds it. Listen to Kermode & Mayo’s Take on Apple Podcasts Listen to Kermode & Mayo’s Take on Spotify Listen to Kermode & Mayo’s Take on Amazon Music The Fast and the Curious by Greg James, Betty Glover and Christian Hewgill Best for: Sport If you’re looking to get into the world of Formula 1, we’d recommend listening to The Fast and the Curious. Often when you’re a ‘new fan’ of a sport, there can be a lot of stigma around not knowing enough or having come into it too late — generations of our family have supported Nottingham Panthers and Nottingham County FC, but if we’re honest, we’ve watched Drive to Survive, and would like to become a F1 fan instead! The Fast and the Curious is hosted by BBC Radio 1’s Greg James, sports reporter Betty Glover, and journalist Christian Hewgill, with guest presenters such as F1 drivers and strategists. For F1 newbies, the podcast explains the technical elements simply, and for veterans, there’s plenty of behind-the-scenes access and interviews with drivers to keep you entertained. Listen to The Fast and the Curious on Apple Podcasts Listen to The Fast and the Curious on Spotify Here are the best F1 experience days. Plus, here's how to get F1 Drive tickets for the new karting experience at Tottenham Hotspur stadium. Sentimental Garbage by Caroline O'Donoghue Best for: Easy listening We’ve been challenging the notion of ‘guilty pleasures’ in our personal lives for quite a while now — yes, we like to sing along to Kylie Minogue’s Slow and pretend we’re in a music video, and yes, we still watch Love Island, but no, we’re not going to feel guilty about it In a similar vein, Caroline O'Donoghue’s Sentimental Garbage chats about popular culture topics that society, sometimes, makes us feel ashamed of, such as chick-lit and TV shows like Sex and the City. Across the office at our Good Food friends, Digital Writer Imogen enjoys this podcast because it reminds her of a chit-chat with friends, and it always makes her laugh. Listen to Sentimental Garbage on Apple Podcasts Listen to Sentimental Garbage on Spotify Looking for somewhere to listen to your audiobooks? Then check out these top Audible deals. Prefer to read an e-book? We have the top Kindle deals for this month. Good Food podcast with Tom Kerridge Best for: Foodies Are you looking to improve your cooking skills? Then the Good Food podcast with Tom Kerridge could be the perfect podcast for you. In this podcast, professional chef and BBC presenter Kerridge and his guests reveal insider tips, behind-the-scenes kitchen gossip, and explain the dos and don’ts of the world’s most inspiring dishes to boost your cooking skills. You’ll thank us later! Listen to Good Food podcast with Tom Kerridge on Apple Podcasts Listen to Good Food podcast with Tom Kerridge on Spotify Listen to Good Food podcast with Tom Kerridge on Amazon Music Off Menu by Ed Gamble and James Acaster Best for: Comic relief The Off Menu podcast is a similar concept to your last death row meal — on your last day alive, what would be your final meal? Digital Writer Olivia would have sushi for starters, steak and chips for her main course, and sticky toffee pudding for dessert (with a side of cheesecake). Hosted by comedians James Acaster and Ed Gamble, celebrity guests are invited onto the podcast to share their dream menu: favourite starter, main course, side dish, dessert and drink. There’s a wide range of guests, from Paul Mescal and Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard to Strictly Come Dancing’s Johannes Radebe. Plus, if you’d like to see comedian Gamble on tour, be sure to check out our Ed Gamble tickets article for re-sale tickets. Listen to Off Menu on Apple Podcasts Listen to Off Menu on Spotify Listen to Off Menu on Amazon Music Working Hard Hardly Working by Grace Beverley Best for: Entrepreneurial You might have seen Grace Beverley on social media sites YouTube, Instagram and TikTok or heard of her brands TALA, Shreddy and The Productivity Method, and this podcast by the 27 year old sees her break away from the conventional business rhetoric to chat to inspirational people about their own entrepreneurial journeys. From housing campaigners to investors, the guests share insights, offer advice, and are honest about the things that didn’t go quite right. As well as work-related stories, Beverley also invites guests to speak about social issues and women’s health, too, as seen in podcast episodes ‘all the fertility questions you’ve been scared to ask with Dr Helen O’Neill’ and ‘Alice Liveing on the dark side of social media, influencing and diet culture’. Listen to Working Hard Hardly Working on Apple Podcasts Listen to Working Hard Hardly Working on Spotify Search Engine by PJ Vogt Best for: Nailing a pub quiz! Search Engine by American journalist PJ Vogt strives to answer the questions you find yourself thinking of at 2am, such as ‘should I not drink aeroplane coffee?' and ‘why don’t we eat people?’. It sounds intense but it’s very interesting! Search Engine was also named the best podcast of 2023 by Vulture, Time, The Economist and Vogue – an impressive feat! Listen to Search Engine on Apple Podcasts Listen to Search Engine on Spotify Looking for some new earbuds to listen to your podcast? Check out the best AirPods alternatives and the new Nothing Ear release date page. The Radio Times Smart TV Podcast by Kelly-Anne Taylor and Caroline Frost Best for: TV recommendations Earlier this week, we received an email with a shocking statistic as the result of a survey by Currys: Brits waste seven days each year deciding what to stream — that’s a whole week of our lives spent sitting in front of the TV, flicking through channels and scrolling through apps. Well, not anymore! TV critics and Radio Times journalists are on hand to offer TV recommendations for the week ahead. In The Radio Times Smart TV Podcast, you’ll learn the TV hits and misses for the upcoming week from channels such as BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5, and popular streaming services like Sky, NOW, Amazon Prime, Disney Plus, Netflix and Apple TV. Listen to The Radio Times Smart TV Podcast on Apple Podcasts The Moth Podcast Best for: Storytelling This RadioTimes.com Digital Writer was lucky enough to attend a live storytelling evening hosted by The Moth in April. During the event, four storytellers came one by one to the stage to share an anecdote. We listened to stories about mental health, Jackie Kennedy’s watch, a Travis Scott diss track, and a romance set in Russia. In a similar vein, The Moth Podcast features re-airs of all new episodes of The Moth Radio Hour, as well as additional stories from The Moth’s vast (almost two decades’ worth) archive. To give you an example of what you can expect to hear on The Moth Podcast, the most recent episode was centred around the impact of Star Wars. Hosts Brandon Grant-Walker and Edgar Ruiz, Jr visited the galaxy far, far away to listen to stories about someone confusing a man in a costume for the real Darth Vader, falling in love with science-fiction, and translating Star Wars: A New Hope into Navajo. Listen to The Moth Podcast on Spotify Listen to The Moth Podcast on Apple Podcasts May the 4th may be over, but you can still treat a Star Wars fan to one of the best Star Wars gifts. How to Fail by Elizabeth Day Best for: Relatability Elizabeth Day is a novelist, journalist, broadcaster, and creator of the podcast How to Fail. Each week, Day invites a different guest onto the podcast (the most recent being Richard Osman) and asks them to share three failures, then encourages them to rethink how they’re considered failures. The end result of this sharing and reframing is words of wisdom on how to succeed. Remember, a fail shared is a fail halved! Listen to How to Fail on Apple Podcasts Listen to How to Fail on Amazon Music Prefer to read? Listen to the How to Fail book on Audible The Adam Buxton Podcast by Adam Buxton Best for: Interviews with your favourite celebrities Good Food’s Lydia recommended this podcast to us, and if the Apple Podcast description is anything to go by, it sounds like a light-hearted listen, which is right up our street: "British comedian Adam Buxton talks with interesting people. The rambly conversations are sometimes funny, sometimes more serious, with funny bits." With 224 episodes under his belt (and still counting), Buxton has dedicated his time to conducting brilliant interviews with a wide range of people such as Joe Lycett, Zadie Smith, Charlotte Gainsbourg and musician Blindboy Boatclub. Listen to The Adam Buxton Podcast on Apple Podcasts BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Podcast Best for: Green fingers Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or working on your green fingers, the BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Podcast has top tips to care for your garden throughout the whole year, as well as plenty of inspiration and advice, too. The BBC Gardeners' World Magazine Podcast is hosted by BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine team alongside your favourite gardening personalities, like Monty Don, Alan Titchmarsh, Adam Frost, Frances Tophill and Arit Anderson. No topic goes uncovered in this educational podcast, from sowing and growing flourishing flowers to getting the most from your vegetable plot, plus the podcast hosts ‘Sowalongs’ and Tea Break Tutorials, too. Listen to BBC Gardeners World Magazine Podcast on Apple Podcasts Listen to BBC Gardeners World Magazine Podcast on Spotify The History Extra Podcast Best for: Learning something new Produced by the team behind BBC History Magazine, History Extra is an educational podcast which offers fresh takes on stories from the past. In the podcast, you’ll learn about historical figures like Cleopatra, Anne Boleyn and Winston Churchill as well as famous events such as the Salem witch trials, the battle of Waterloo and D-Day. Listen to The History Extra Podcast on Apple Podcasts Listen to The History Extra Podcast on Spotify Listen to The History Extra Podcast on Amazon Music The Blindboy Podcast by Blindboy Boatclub Best for: Variation This Digital Writer’s housemate will not stop talking about this podcast, so we had to listen for ourselves. Hosted by artist and author Blindboy Boatclub, this eclectic podcast contains short fiction, comedy, and interviews with people such as Bernadette Devlin McAliskey, Spike Lee, Sinéad O'Connor, Emma Dabiri, Colm O'Gorman, Cillian Murphy, as well as other comedians, activists and academics. The Blindboy Podcast focuses on topics such as mental health, politics, culture, music, and history, and there’s room for plenty of personal anecdotes, too. If there was an award for the strangest podcast titles, The Blindboy Podcast would certainly win a gold medal, just take a look at titles like ‘The History of Whales who wear dead salmon as hats’ and ‘The tumescent glans of Ronald McDonald’... Listen to The Blindboy Podcast on Apple Podcasts Listen to The Blindboy Podcast on Spotify How do I find a good podcast? Finding the perfect podcast for you isn't a science, it's an art, meaning that there might be a few trial and error listens until you find one that hooks you. A good place to start is to think what you're looking to get out of a podcast. For example, are you looking to learn or nurture a skill such as cooking or gardening? Do you want to find out more about a particular topic, such as popular culture or certain historical events? Would you like an easy listen while you do household jobs or commute? Or, simply, do you want friendly voices and to laugh? Then, think about where you'll be listening to the podcast. When the RadioTimes.com are choosing which podcast episode to play next, we have different podcasts for certain scenarios, for example, podcasts we can feel engrossed in and podcasts that are nice as background chatter while we do things such as wash the pots. Looking for a great deal? Then check out the best Disney Plus offers for this month.
Good Omens star Michael Sheen joins award-winning BBC Radio 4 podcast
Buried: The Last Witness uncovers some of the UK’s darkest environmental secrets.
BBC Radio 4’s award-winning environmental podcast Buried is set to return next month with a shocking new story – and Good Omens star Michael Sheen is set to feature. Hosted once again by filmmakers and investigative journalists Dan Ashby and Lucy Taylor, Buried: The Last Witness will explore the enduring impact of ‘forever chemicals’. When Ashby and Taylor discover a box of unseen evidence from a deceased witness, they soon find themselves uncovering the terrifying legacy that PCB chemicals are having on the environment, our food chain and our communities. And, in an unexpected twist, the podcast hosts discover that actor Michael Sheen recorded the witness’s final testimony. Buried: The Last Witness will "reveal the results of a one-year investigation involving dossiers of evidence, unseen documents and exclusive testing of British soil, supermarket food and even human blood," according to the BBC. Ashby said: "Most true-crime series have a victim, who we all feel empathy for. But in this one, we know the poison, we know the culprits, but the scary question is this: are we all the victims? I've never recorded an investigation that is at once so universal, and so deeply personal." Taylor added: "Every day, sometimes every hour, we have obsessed over the life of one man. He was brilliant, polymathic and eccentric. He is the most unlikely environmental hero. "But who really was he, and what did he see? Could that one field, in 1967, change all of our lives? Once you see what he saw, Buried: The Last Witness becomes necessary listening." Sheen said: "It's hard to get your head around. This story is about the first of the forever chemicals. And there are so many of them since then. We want people to understand what they are doing right now." View Green Video on the source website Buried: The Last Witness will be broadcast weekly on BBC Radio 4 from 24 June. It will also be available as a box set on BBC Sounds. Visit our TV Guide, Radio Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Electoral Dysfunction's Ruth Davidson, Jess Phillips and Beth Rigby on podcasts vs interviews and toeing party lines
The trio open up to Radio Times about what sets their political podcast apart from the crowd.
If it seems like we can’t move for political podcasts these days, Tory peer Ruth Davidson, Labour MP Jess Phillips and Sky News Political Editor Beth Rigby believe their offering Electoral Dysfunction nonetheless brings something brand new. They tell Radio Times about navigating the party lines and why them all being chums is good for the electorate... Aside from being an all-female line-up, how do you hope to stand out in a pretty crowded political podcast market? JESS PHILLIPS: I think of all the podcasters I am the only one who is actually an elected politician, still, [with] the ability to actually be like, “That was nothing like that, I was in the room and it was very boring… I was playing Candy Crush on my phone and you’ve made it out to be the Night of Long Knives!” Or to get the genuine sense of exactly how people are feeling. This week it would be politicians going to Reform, or the racism row that seems to be breaking out; it’s all well and good looking at it from one perspective, but being there and seeing the people who are involved I think makes a massive difference. RUTH DAVIDSON: A lot of the podcasts out there feel very Westminster-centric, and Jess and I try very much to be of the place we’re from. If you cut Jess in half, it would say Birmingham like rock. I’m very much of Scotland, so it’s not just that our accents are from outside the Westminster bubble, our experiences are and we go to London to do a job. We have lives outside of what we do and I think that gives us perspective. JP: The bit of politics that is actually about the people, not Westminster, I think is often missing. No one in the country is chuffed by the National Insurance cut, they haven’t noticed and they don’t care. [Our podcast] is a link to the actual people. So being an all-women lineup is immaterial? RD: It just happens that we’re women. Neither Jess nor I in our political lives have traded on the fact that we’re women, we’ve just done our jobs to the best of our abilities in a way that we are our authentic selves, and it turns out that sometimes our authentic selves are a bit more authentic than some people were expecting! Jess, you’re a serving Labour MP, and Ruth, you’re a Tory peer in the House of Lords. How truthful can you be with your audience if you need to be seen toeing the party line? JP: Listeners will hear straight through lines being parroted out. At the moment, you’ve got to feel for ministers and shadow ministers going out and saying a line in the morning, and by the end of the day it’s no longer the line, as if viewers can’t tell what is happening. But if you’re honest and you say, “I’m not going to parrot the party line but I will defend it because…” name it for what it is, and people will tolerate it. But you also have to show the listener that you are willing to critique your own side, and both Ruth and I have. RD: I have been criticised in my own party for being over-critical of Boris Johnson and despairing of Liz Truss. Actually with Rishi [Sunak], I have a huge amount of sympathy for the job he’s trying to do; he’s a serious man who works hard and is trying his best. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t say how... the man has a tin touch for politics. The politics of politics, like that is not his forte! JP: We play the ball, not the man, so I will sit and say, “What the bloody hell…?” about Rwanda or whatever it is in the news that week. I’m obviously going to criticise the Tory Party, but we’re not nasty about it, because actually people don’t like the nastiness. What is your role, Beth? As a political editor for a national broadcaster, do you have to make sure you are more neutral? BETH RIGBY: I’m not going to be giving my own personal political opinions, but I do get to be a bit more myself [than on TV]. I can show a bit more of my personality, I can have fun, because they’re fun to be with. When you’ve been doing political journalism for as long as I have, it’s trained into you to try to see all sides of a story of an argument. I’m more interested in what Jess and Ruth think. I don’t think what I think in that moment is relevant. I’m not the practitioner, I’m the conduit. There were issues around Trump last week where, you know, I had to make sure that if something is said I give the counterpoint. They’re like Arsenal strikers and I’m like the umpire… RD: Beth, you’re just betraying women who like football there because they’re not umpires in football, they’re referees! JP: Because she is the political editor of Sky, it’s more difficult for her than it is for me, whereas every other interaction I’ve had with Beth Rigby, it was definitely more difficult for me than it was for her. View oEmbed on the source website With the friendly, relaxed environment of a podcast, a politician might well think this promises an easier ride than a live radio slot on, for example, the Today Programme. Do podcasts mean the end of the great combative political interview? JP: Well then, they’ll have to get better at it because I actually think podcasts have come about because of the death of the brilliant political interviews. I don’t think it’s the thing that killed them. What is different about appearing on a podcast? JP: When I resigned from the Labour frontbench, I could have been on every single broadcast every minute of every day, but I didn’t want someone just to clip me up saying basically “I was p***ed off but no hard feelings”. I just didn’t think that something so simple could be got across without a bit of nuance, so the only media I agreed to was The News Agents. I went on The News Agents because it was a podcast where I thought we would have an actual conversation and the space for politics to be more complicated. I got to tell the truth of what had happened, and I think that is missing [from political news interviews]. I think the political podcast space is the one where interest and intrigue actually flies. RD: I blame Peter Mandelson. Because of the way news management happened under New Labour, because of its efficacy and because we hadn’t seen anything like it before, you’ve actually seen kind of almost pale facsimiles of it from everyone that’s come ever since, this idea that you’ve got to land a line, and that’s it. And the rise of social media has reinforced that idea that you’ve got to say something very short, sharp, black and white, and actually most people live their lives in a series of grey shades. What podcasts do is offer that analysis, that nuance that you don’t get in news bulletins. You all reveal a fair amount of chat about things besides politics, including your family life. Do you feel happy to share? JP: I’m happier about it than my family are, although funnily enough they don’t mind it when I’m on the podcast. I can’t separate my political life from my personal life, especially when the kind of politics that I am involved in is so rooted in the family that I come from and the experiences that we’ve had. RD: My partner Jen and I have kind of guide rules, so that I know that if I operate within them, it’s always OK. About six-and-a-half years ago, both my parents were diagnosed within six months with Alzheimer’s. That’s a real-life experience that I can bring to the table. I’ve talked about my clinical depression, I’ve talked about being a gay mum, I’ve talked about lots of different things because it’s part of who I am and part of who you are defines your politics. BR: I’m quite open about my life. I don’t really overthink it too much, I think those days where broadcasters used to be very detached and almost broadcasting from their ivory tower, is just not who I am. I love talking about my kids, but I keep them a bit out of it, particularly, you know, my son doesn’t want his mum publicly talking about him on a podcast, that is so embarrassing… You clearly have a lot of respect for one another. But if your chumminess is apparent in your podcast chats, could that lead to a sense of an elite who are “all in it together” and not serving the electorate? JP: There is a danger of chumminess, no doubt about it, but fundamentally I want the truth to be told, and it is true that we are friends with each other in Westminster, and actually I am never more popular than when I say that with the public. I don’t actually worry about the chumminess. That is, I would say, a political slant taken by commentators, not the public. I think they prefer it if we just try and get on with each other and sort things out. I think it’s different if you’re a bit posh; chumminess amongst the posh is intolerable; I find it intolerable. RD: The secret is almost all elected politicians have at least one pal of a different party that’s a close pal, and sometimes a lot closer than people on their own side, because it’s such a weird job and you need to be able to vent and to explain, but do it in a way that’s not going to make it back to your whip. You need to be able to blow off steam, and you can almost only do that with somebody from a different party. Equally, there could be criticism for you, Beth, that you’re too friendly with people your role demands you hold at a distance? BR: One person did say, “When did journalists get really chummy with politicians, you’re there to hold them to account…?” so I had a think about it. We are in a world where people are turning off politics and politics really matters. I can be a badass as political editor some days, but it doesn’t mean I can’t also go and speak with Jess and Ruth and talk about politics in a slightly different way like I might talk about it with my mates. JP: The truth is politicians are friendly with journalists. I’ve been for dinner in a social situation with a journalist who has hauled me over the coals the very next day. A couple of quickfire questions for all of you... Are we looking at a May or autumn election? JP: I literally change by the hour, but I’m back on May now. RD: I still think it’s more likely to be in the autumn. BR: I think it’s more likely to be the autumn. And what prospect do you foresee of the Conservative Party’s survival? At the election and beyond? RD: I must say as the longest serving democratic political party in the western world, I think it’s possible they’ll survive! I think the Parliamentary benches will look a bit different… JD: Are they going to win? Then the answer’s no, there’s no way the Tories are going to win, but yeah... culling rather than a mass extinction! Sky News podcast Electoral Dysfunction is available every Friday on all podcast platforms. This week’s episode will be live from Thursday (28th March), ahead of the Easter weekend. Visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Series Five of the Radio Times Podcast has landed! Every Tuesday, Radio Times Podcast host and our Podcast Editor Kelly-Anne Taylor sits down with a celebrity guest to talk all about their lives through the prism of TV. On this series, Kelly-Anne speaks to the hilarious TV chef Big Zuu, the wonderful comedian Jo Brand, survival expert Bear Grylls, Hollywood A-lister Nicole Kidman and more! Make sure to follow our Radio Times Podcast channel, wherever you listen to your podcasts, to never miss an episode. You can catch up on our past series too, Series Four, Series Three, Series Two and Series One. Browse our available episodes here! Adam Buxton talks TV, making podcasts and being friends with Louis Theroux (26 March) For the season finale of the podcast, Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by Adam Buxton. The actor, comedian and podcaster attended Westminster School – where he befriended future documentary-maker Louis Theroux, and Joe Cornish, who he would later star alongside in Channel 4’s The Adam and Joe Show. His podcast, The Adam Buxton Podcast, has been a hit – featuring conversations with everyone from Zadie Smith to Robbie Williams to Paul McCartney. In this episode, Buxton discusses the sacrifices his parents made to send him to public school, how he felt when Louis Theroux decided to launch a podcast and which interviews have been his best... and worst. View oEmbed on the source website Bryony Gordon on writing, mental health and Mad Women (19 March) Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by the journalist, best-selling author and mental-health advocate, Bryony Gordon. Gordon grew up in London in a family of journalists. Her mother is the former gossip-columnist Jane Gordon, and it was thanks to her address book that Gordon landed her first journalism gig. Since then, she has carved a successful career – known for her trademark honesty. In this episode, she talks about the ups and downs of life, sobriety and being mates with Prince Harry. Plus, they discuss Gordon’s eighth book, Mad Woman, in which she writes about her experiences with binge-eating disorder, the menopause and OCD. Please note that this episode includes conversations surrounding eating disorders that some listeners might find triggering. View oEmbed on the source website Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver on fame, rock-bottom and the perils of being opinionated women (12 March) This week Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by the popstar-turned-actor Lily Allen and the TV presenter Miquita Oliver. They grew up in Ladbroke Grove, West London, in creative households, spending much of their youth roaming Portobello market and flunking school. Allen's mother is the film producer Alison Owen, and her father is the actor Keith Allen. Oliver was raised by her mother, the broadcaster and chef, Andi Oliver. Both Oliver and Allen made their name at a young age – Oliver as a TV presenter on Channel 4's music show Popworld and Allen for her debut-smash-hit Smile. In this episode, they talk about the perils of fame and how they handle trolls. Plus, they reminisce about the hedonism of the '00s and reveal why they never listened to the advice imparted by their famous family members. View oEmbed on the source website Theo James on The Gentlemen, Hollywood and Divergent (5 March) This week Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by the actor, Theo James. He grew up in Buckinghamshire, the youngest of five siblings, and dreamed of a career as a musician. After reading Philosophy at the University of Nottingham, he segued into acting, enrolling as a student at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre. He catapulted to fame when he landed the leading role of Four in the YA Hollywood hit-series, Divergent. Since then, he has starred in The White Lotus, Sanditon, The Time Traveller's Wife – and, most recently, Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen. In this episode, he talks about the harsh realities of overnight fame, how the Me Too movement has shaped film sets and how his latest role exposes Britain's class system. View oEmbed on the source website Joanna Lumley on the secrets of a long marriage, the Swinging Sixties and beauty (27 February) This week joining Kelly-Anne Taylor in the studio is the British actress, presenter and author, Joanna Lumley. Born in India, in Kashmir, Srinagar – she was brought up in the Far East, coming to the UK, aged 8, to attend boarding school. She went on to work as a model and actress, living in London in the Swinging Sixties – and made her name starring as Purdy in The New Avengers. She boasts a successful career – spanning over six decades – she had audiences in hysterics as Patsy in hit sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, has presented wonderful travel programmes – and, of course, captured the nation in Jan Etherington’s radio show, Conversations from a Long Marriage – in which she stars alongside Roger Allam. In this episode, she talks about why she doesn’t have a mobile phone and how difficult she found it to shed the ‘pretty girl’ stereotype when she moved from modelling to acting. Plus, she talks about raising a child as a single mother, how playing Purdy in The New Avengers changed things financially for her and why she wishes sex scenes would be cut from TV and film. View oEmbed on the source website Martin Compston on Line of Duty, on-screen nudity (20 February) This week Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by the Scottish actor, Martin Compston! Born and raised in Greenock, Scotland – he first made his name starring in the Ken Roach film, Sweet Sixteen (which won the Best Screenplay Award at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival). It was his role as Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott in Jed Mercurio's Line of Duty that made him a household name. In this episode, he talks about how that role changed his life, what it’s like living in Vegas – and why he’s doing less on-screen nudity. Plus, he chats about his latest travelogue Martin Compston’s Norwegian Fling and what it was like running with wolves. View oEmbed on the source website Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley on Barbie, equal pay and their worst auditions (13 February) On this week’s episode, host Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by Olivia Colman and Jessie Buckley! From Broadchurch to The Crown to The Favourite, Oscar-winning actress Olivia Colman has become a staple of British film and television. And Irish co-star Jessie Buckley boasts an impressive CV herself, starring across the big and small screen in projects like War & Peace, Chernobyl and Wild Rose. As a pair, Colman and Buckley previously worked together on Netflix movie The Lost Daughter – they played the same character at different ages and were both nominated for Oscars – and now share the screen again as warring neighbours in Wicked Little Letters, a comedy about a real-life poison pen scandal that shocked 1920s England. In this episode, we talk about sexism in the film industry, the importance of equal pay, the female-led films dominating the box-office and they share what they’ve learnt from their worst auditions. View oEmbed on the source website Sophie Rundle on Peaky Blinders, Gentleman Jack and the #MeToo movement (6 February) This week’s guest is the actress, Sophie Rundle! Her career began with a bang – when she landed the role of Ada Shelby in the hit-drama Peaky Blinders, straight out of drama school. Since then, she’s gone on to star in Sally Wainwright’s Gentleman Jack, Alibi’s The Diplomat and most recently ITV’s, After the Flood. In this episode, she talks to Kelly-Anne Taylor about how revolutionary Gentleman Jack was in depicting LGBTQ+ love stories and how it has been heralded for its portrayal of sex scenes. Rundle discusses her own experience filming intimate scenes – and how they have changed over the course of her career. Plus, she reveals how Peaky Blinders changed her life – and, the pressure she faces to look a certain way on screen. View oEmbed on the source website Rylan on trolls, reality TV and Celebrity Traitors (30 January) This week’s guest is the TV presenter and reality TV star, Rylan! He grew up on a council estate in East London – with his mum, Linda, his nan and older brother. It was the era of reality TV – and Rylan decided that was the way to make his fame and fortune. In 2012, aged 23, he appeared as a contestant on X Factor – and his emotional reaction at the judge's houses and his live show performances made him an X Factor icon. He turned his moment in the limelight, into a longstanding career – pivoting into the world of presenting. In this episode, he reflects about his time on X Factor, receiving death threats and handling overnight fame. Please note that this episode contains strong language. View oEmbed on the source website Tamsin Greig on being a working mother, playing baddies and hysterical laughing on set (23 January) This week’s guest is the actress, Tamsin Greig! She grew up in London with her parents, two sisters – 5 lodgers and a handful of cats. Her mother had been in amateur dramatics – and Tamsin, absorbed by osmosis, the yearning to perform at a young age. She graduated from the University of Birmingham with a first-class BA in Drama and Theatre – and then, worked at the Family Planning Association – before getting her foot in the door with her role as Debbie Aldridge in The Archers. Since then – she has had a glittering career on both the stage and on television. She has starred in some of Britain’s most loved sitcoms – from Black Books to Green Wing – and most recently, Friday Night Dinner. In this episode, she discusses what it’s like to juggle parenthood with working life, her love of trampolining and playing a baddie in Paramount’s new drama, Sexy Beast, based on the cult-classic gangster film of the 00s. View oEmbed on the source website Nicole Kidman on height, Hollywood and her superpower (16 January) Our guest in this episode is Hollywood A-Lister, Nicole Kidman! With a career that spans over four decades, Kidman has starred in almost 100 TV and film projects and picked up all of the most prestigious awards including, an Oscar, Bafta and six Golden Globes. She was born in Hawaii to Australian parents: her father was a biochemist and later a psychologist, and her mother was a nurse educator. Aged 3, she moved to Australia, and it was there, that she found her love of acting. She headed to Hollywood at 20 for a starring role opposite Sam Neill in the psychological thriller Dead Calm – and she quickly made her mark. She has since forged a very successful career – in an industry renowned for its fickleness. In this episode, she discusses her latest project – Expats – an Amazon Prime drama directed by The Farwell’s Lulu Wang. It follows three American women living in Hong Kong whose lives are impacted by a horrific event – the disappearance of a young boy. Kidman plays Margaret, the mother of the missing child. In this episode, she sits down with Kelly-Anne Taylor to unpick the emotional impact the role had– and the importance of having more women behind the lens. Plus, she talks about inner resilience being a superpower and reveals how she deals with negative press. View oEmbed on the source website Joe Wicks on health hacks, feeling good and growing up with addiction (9 January) This episode's guest is the nation’s favourite PE teacher – Joe Wicks! His YouTube workout videos kept the nation moving during lockdown and catapulted Wicks into national (and global!) consciousness. In 18 weeks, he amassed over 80 million views! In this episode, Joe discusses how growing up in a household plagued by drug addiction has shaped him into the person he is today and how finding fitness saved his life. Plus, he talks to host Kelly-Anne Taylor about his new book Feel Good in 15 and reveals some health tips that will help you make better choices this January! View oEmbed on the source website Ed Gamble on The Traitors, weight loss and dieting fads (2 January 2024) Happy New Year! Welcome to the first episode of The Radio Times Podcast in 2024! Joining host Kelly-Anne Taylor, this week, is the comedian – Ed Gamble! He first ventured into comedy whilst studying at the University of Durham and quickly made a name for himself on the London comedy scene – juggling part-time jobs with late-night gigs. A regular on panel shows, Ed Gamble has also found success talking about food – he is a judge on the BBC’s Great British Menu and host of the chart-topping food podcast, Off Menu – alongside James Acaster. In this episode, he talks about how losing 7 stone in his early 20s impacted how people treated him and why, as a type 1 diabetic, he hates dieting brands using medication intended for diabetics to promote weight loss. Plus, he talks about the return of The Traitors and unpicks why everyone is obsessed with the show. View oEmbed on the source website Mae Martin Christmas Special: Roast potatoes, terrible presents and New Year resolutions (19 December) For our Radio Times Podcast Christmas special, host Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by the comedian, actor and screenwriter, Mae Martin. Their first foray into stand-up came aged 13 – and by 15 Mae had dropped out of school to pursue comedy full-time. They relocated to London in their early 20s and made a name for themselves on the British comedy circuit. With two Netflix comedy specials under their belt, they’ve also conquered the world of television with the Netflix series Feel Good – which Mae stars in alongside Charlotte Richie. In this festive episode, Mae talks about how they spend the big day, what the best part of a Christmas dinner is, what part to avoid – and the worst Christmas present they have ever received. View oEmbed on the source website The Hairy Bikers on good grub, celebrating life and having ideas above your station (12 December) In this week’s episode, host Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by TV chefs, Si King and Dave Myers – aka The Hairy Bikers. Dave was born and raised in Barrow-in-Furness, and Si in Kibblesworth County Durham and both brought up in working-class families. They met on the TV set on Catherine Cookson’s The Gambling Man – Si was the second assistant director and Dave, head of make-up. It was their united love of motorbikes and good grub that helped launch The Hairy Bikers – but it’s not always been an easy ride. In this episode, they discuss low ratings and the Christmas special that was supposed to be their swan song, Dave’s ongoing battle with cancer and why Christmas means so much to them this year. View oEmbed on the source website James O'Brien on selling suits to John Major, being a 'not very good' journalist and the impossibility of impartiality (5 December) This week’s guest is the LBC radio host, James O’Brien. James grew up in Kidderminster in the 70s and 80s with his adoptive parents Joan and Jim O’Brien. He attended Ampleforth College, the famous Catholic public school in Yorkshire. He describes his school years as rebellious – but reflects that the ‘weird burning sense of injustice’ he felt was ‘pretty well placed’. Following in his father’s footsteps – James pursued a career in journalism – and got his foot in the door thanks to a chance encounter with John Major. Although he started out in print, he later segued into broadcast – starting his LBC show in 2004. In this episode he discusses with host Kelly-Anne Taylor the impossibility of impartiality, receiving hate on social media, imposter syndrome, his new book 'How They Broke Britain' and what he gets up to on Christmas Day. View oEmbed on the source website Bear Grylls on island life, exploring Eton's sewers and embracing failure (28 November) Our guest next week is the British adventurer, Bear Grylls! Born in Northern Ireland, and raised on the Isle of Wight, Bear – a nickname he was gifted by his older sister – developed a taste for adventure whilst on excursions with his father. He started at Eton at age 8 – and found solace in a regimented world by making rafts, climbing buildings and exploring the sewers at night by torch. Later, he was accepted as part of the SAS. A horrific parachuting accident which left him with a broken back turned Bear’s life upside down. While lying in a hospital bed, with a poster in front of him of Everest, he vowed to get better and one day climb that mountain – which he did, becoming the youngest Briton at the time to do so. Since then, he’s brought a number of successful television shows to our screens – and cemented himself as Briton’s favourite adventurer. In this episode, he talks to Kelly-Anne Taylor about the invaluable life lessons his parents instilled in him, the joys of watching telly in bed and what one soldier said to him in the SAS recruitment process. View oEmbed on the source website Romesh Ranganathan on private school, women in comedy and living in a B&B (21 November) Our guest this week on The Radio Times Podcast is Romesh Ranganathan! Born and raised in Crawley, in West Sussex – Romesh’s childhood was a tale of two halves. Life started in a two-up, two-down house and he attended private school – but after his father was imprisoned, life as he knew it was upended. Years later, he left his job as a Maths Teacher to pursue comedy full-time – and although, he doesn’t shy away from how tough it was at first to make ends meet – what has ensued is a glittering career which has established him as one of Britain’s leading comics. In this episode, he talks to Kelly-Anne Taylor about diversity in comedy and what he thinks of people who brand women ‘un-funny’. Plus, they talk about why he wouldn’t send his kids to private school, how his three young boys keep him humble and why, if his career ended tomorrow, you’d still find him with a mic hooked up to a lamppost in the park. View oEmbed on the source website Shirley Ballas on Strictly, self-confidence and the toxic side of the dance industry (14 November) On this episode of the Radio Times Podcast is the dancer and head judge on BBC One’s Strictly Come Dancing, it is Shirley Ballas! Born and raised in Merseyside, she grew up with her mother and brother on a council estate – and found dance at the age of 7 when a tune caught her ear. She worked her way to the top of the dancing world – and has plenty of stories to tell of her journey. In this episode she talks to Kelly-Anne Taylor about everything from the phone call that changed her life but ended her engagement to Nigel Tiffany to how she was almost bullied out of the dance industry – but instead, landed the Strictly gig. View oEmbed on the source website Jo Brand on Bake Off, her days as a psychiatric nurse and handling hecklers (7 November) Our guest on this episode of The Radio Times Podcast is the comedian, Jo Brand! Raised in Kent, she was a student at Tunbridge Wells Girls Grammar School and on a sure-fire path to Oxbridge. However, when her parents attempted to uproot her and move to Hastings, she revolted and left home as a teenager. She got her life back on track after accidentally setting the bed-sit she was living in on fire and trained as a psychiatric nurse – a career she pursued until she made a name for herself in the alternative comedy scene of the 1980s. The rest is history – she’s a BAFTA award-winning actress and a national treasure. In this episode, she sits down with Kelly-Anne Taylor to discuss how her nursing days primed her for a career in comedy, how she never had a life plan and why she never watches herself on panel shows. View oEmbed on the source website Big Zuu on learning Latin with Boris Johnson, the Strictly-curse and being angry at the BAFTAs (31 October) To launch Series Five of the Radio Times Podcast, host Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by the double-Bafta-winning TV chef Big Zuu! Born Zuhair Hassan to a mother from Sierra Leone and a dad from Lebanon, he grew up on the Mozart Estate in West London. He started cooking at age nine to, as he says, ‘help around the house’ when his mother fell pregnant with his younger brother. It was whilst he was studying to become a social worker at University, that he decided to drop out in pursuit of a full-time music career. After making a name for himself as a Grime MC/Rapper, he turned the heads of TV commissioners when he started posting videos of himself on social media cooking. That landed him his Dave show Big Zuu, Big Eats. In this episode, Big Zuu talks about his love of Strictly, why his mum thought he was possessed by the devil and learning Latin with Boris Johnson. View oEmbed on the source website Write to the Radio Times Podcast team and let us know your thoughts at: podcast@radiotimes.com If you're looking for something to watch, check out our TV and Streaming Guides.
Joanna Page teases Gavin & Stacey special idea for new podcast
Joanna Page and Natalie Cassidy are the hosts of new BBC podcast Off The Telly.
New BBC Sounds podcast Off The Telly has now launched, with EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy and Gavin & Stacey's Joanna Page releasing weekly episodes about all things TV-related. The podcast will see the two TV favourites chat about what they've been loving and not liking as much on the small screen, plus provide inside knowledge from their own wide-spanning careers. The pair are set to be "the perfect companions to your viewing habits", according to the synopsis. With Page being best known for her starring role in BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey and Cassidy having been in Albert Square for a staggering 30 years, it's safe to say that fans will be anticipating some tidbits from both shows – and it seems as though ideas for specials are already brewing with the podcast hosts. Chatting exclusively to RadioTimes.com about the launch of Off The Telly and potential ideas for future episodes, Page said: "If the listeners go, 'Will you do a special about such and such? A Big Brother special, a Strictly special,' we would definitely be up for that. "An EastEnders one or a Gavin & Stacey one. Because we’re both actresses, we can both talk about shows we’ve done and jobs we’re on, different funny stories that we’ve got." Cassidy added: "Nothing’s out of bounds, we can even do a morning one – Loose Women, This Morning, Morning Live. We can talk about anything. It’s really open. It can go anywhere, really, which is really exciting." In the first episode of Off The Telly, which is out now, Page and Cassidy "get to grips with the return of Gladiators, share their hot takes on the latest series of The Apprentice, and argue over what’s right and what’s not in Netflix’s adaptation of the popular novel One Day, and then there’s Gavin & Stacey to discuss, too". Of course, a Gavin & Stacey special will be delightful news to fans of the comedy series, who have been left in limbo since rumours of a Christmas 2024 special emerged earlier this month. As claimed by Deadline, the show was supposedly set to return, with filming reportedly commencing this summer and the episode expected to be released this Christmas. But co-creator and Nessa star Ruth Jones quickly dispelled rumours soon after, telling RTÉ Radio 1 host Oliver Callan: "If there was something to say, James [Corden] and I would happily announce it." While a Gavin & Stacey Christmas 2024 special may be off the cards for now, we're sure we can anticipate plenty of stories about the beloved series, and some behind-the-scenes EastEnders knowledge, in the new BBC podcast. Read more: Gavin & Stacey Christmas special for 2024 in the works at BBC Gavin & Stacey's Ruth Jones downplays new episode "rumour" On the announcement of Off The Telly, Cassidy said: "I’m so excited for me and Jo to sit down each week and have a natter about all things telly! "From what we are watching to what you are watching, and all our favourites from the past, this podcast will be the perfect place to find out what’s on and bring back fond memories of telly." Similarly, Page said: "It is such a pleasure talking TV with Natalie, who is herself a TV legend! We record each week, with a cup of tea in hand, and share a good old gossip over our favourite shows and those unmissable top telly moments, whilst having a laugh." View Green Video on the source website Off The Telly is available to listen to on BBC Sounds now. Check out more of our Comedy coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide for more to watch. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Joe Lycett takes on water companies in one-off doc after axed podcast
The comedian devised a public stunt involving a podcast launch to draw attention to sewage in UK waters.
Joe Lycett's podcast Turdcast has just launched on all podcast platforms. The podcast consists of a single episode and features the award-winning comedian chatting to Gary Lineker about sewage. The podcast is a companion to Lycett's upcoming documentary, Joe Lycett vs Sewage, which will land on Channel 4 this week. Lycett's conversation with Lineker will touch upon - per the official release – the "now-legendary moment [Lineker] 'relieved' himself on the pitch in England's opening game of the 1990 World Cup in front of hundreds of millions of people, Gazza farting during team baths and more". The podcast was meant to launch in November 2023, but was seemingly 'cancelled' in the wake of a public stunt devised by the comedian seemingly gone wrong. The stunt involved a giant inflatable toilet – dubbed the Turdis – 'accidentally' leaking fake sewage into Liverpool Docks. The fallout led to Lycett announcing the podcast's cancellation, but it was all part of a plan to draw wider public attention to the spillage of sewage into UK waters by water companies. Speaking of the move, Lycett said: "This is a fake podcast that is now a real podcast but only for one episode so it is a real fake podcast. Does that make sense?" Following on from his previous documentaries – including Joe Lycett vs the Oil Giant and the BAFTA-winning Joe Lycett vs David Beckham – this new special will see the comedian take on the UK's water companies, investigating the effect they have had on our waters. Read more: Dan Aykroyd reveals why he signed up to new series The UnBelievable Pilgrimage reveals season 6 cast including Spencer Matthews and The Traitors' Amanda Turdcast is now available on all podcast platforms. Joe Lycett vs Sewage airs on Tuesday 20th February on Channel 4 at 9pm. Visit our TV Guide, Radio Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10 – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
Good Omens and Game of Thrones stars lead new time travel audio drama
The Salvation is set to be your new sci-fi podcast favourite.
If you're a fan of sci-fi and podcasts, you'll want to continue reading to find out more about upcoming series The Salvation. The new eight-part audio run is set to be a unique time travelling experience which will feature themes like mental health and race against a backdrop of action and espionage. Not only is it set to be a mind-bending kind of audio adventure, but the new series also stars Ariyon Bakare (Good Omens), Rose Leslie (Vigil) and Toby Jones (Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny). According to Deadline, the podcasts will follow David Miller (Bakare), a "war-scarred veteran grappling with PTSD, who discovers his traumatic flashbacks are gateways to time travel". The synopsis continues: "Recruited by the shadowy Fallen Arrow, he undergoes a surreal transformation into a time agent, wielding a unique power triggered by 'The Lullaby'. "He is told to apprehend a rogue soldier wreaking havoc throughout history, with his perilous mission taking to pivotal moments in history such as the Great War and the Cold War. "Navigating a secret war for time-altering technology, Miller has to safeguard his newfound abilities from rival factions." Read more: Toby Jones and Happy Valley stars join cast of ITV's Ruth Ellis drama Suranne Jones in first look at Vigil as season 2 takes to the skies The series comes from entertainment company Fresh Produce Media and producers Free Turn Entertainment, with Free Turn CEO Jon Hamm saying: "Our vision for The Salvation was to craft an utterly immersive auditory journey for our audience. "It mirrors our ambition of producing a blockbuster Hollywood feature film within the realm of audio. With a stellar cast, top-tier audio design and an original score, we’ve assembled all the essential elements to transport our listeners into the thrilling worlds of time travel and espionage. "From the humble huts of Bletchley in 1945 to the bustling streets of 1970s Berlin, the harrowing battlefields of France in 1918 to the terrifying scenes of today’s modern warfare, we invite our audience to step into these vividly realised worlds." Similarly, the chief content officer for Fresh Produce Media, Colin Moore, added: "The Salvation is a great example of our approach to storytelling in audio, highlighting the immense talents of our voice actors to really grip the audience and transport them into the action – in this case, a sci-fi adventure story that will resonate in the US, UK and beyond." This isn't the only Toby Jones-fronted project making headlines right now, as he's currently starring in ITV's The Long Shadow and has just been confirmed to play a key role in ITV's upcoming Ruth Ellis drama. The series will see Jones play the role of Ellis's solicitor, John Bickford, who "gradually realises the extent of Ruth's abuse at the hands of David Blakely – and takes on the fight to make the case for provocation". View Green Video on the source website The Salvation will be available to listen to on Audible on Thursday 5th October. Check out our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 10 issues for only £10, PLUS a £10 John Lewis and Partners voucher delivered to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.
In this series, our guests include David Tennant, Grace Dent, Jack Whitehall and Rose Matafeo! Listen now.
In this series, we have another stellar line-up of star guests, including the broadcaster Katie Piper, comedian Jack Whitehall, chef and presenter Andi Oliver with her daughter and TV presenter Miquita Oliver and the Doctor Who and Good Omens actor David Tennant! Make sure to follow our Radio Times Podcasts channel, wherever you listen to your podcasts, to never miss an episode. You can catch up on our past series too, Series Three, Series Two and Series One. Listen to our live episodes here. Episode 1: Katie Piper on making documentaries, changing TV and learning lessons in America's prisons (Live 18 July) To launch the series, we welcome the presenter and author, Katie Piper onto the Radio Times sofa. In 2008, Katie was the victim of an acid attack, which left her with life-changing injuries - her experience was documented in the BAFTA-nominated film, Katie: My Beautiful Face. Following its success, she signed an exclusivity deal with Channel 4, that saw her go on to establish herself as one of our leading television presenters. In this episode, we discuss diversity within the media and how she has dealt with adversity. Plus, we talk about Katie Piper's Jailhouse Mums, her powerful and poignant new documentary which sees Katie travel the USA, meeting women who are pregnant or who have given birth behind bars. Listen to our episode with Katie today! View oEmbed on the source website Episode 2: Jack Whitehall on cut-throat panel shows, embarrassing his dad and improv insults (Live 25 July) In this episode, we're joined by a comedian who has been a staple on our televisions for almost two decades - Jack Whitehall. He broke into telly aged 19 while presenting E4's Big Brother's Big Mouth - but he soon became a household name as a panellist on the likes of Would I Lie To You, 8 Out of 10 Cats and Mock the Week. His stand-up career has been glistening - with multiple sell-out shows, and he's also made his mark in the world of TV and film - starring in Fresh Meat, Bad Education and most recently Apple TV's The Afterparty. In the episode, Jack talks about the highs and lows of his career, what it's like making a TV show with a parent and working on his American accent. Out on Tuesday 25 July. View oEmbed on the source website Episode 3: Andi and Miquita Oliver on dreaming big, turning trauma into your superpower and knowing your worth (Live 1 August) In this episode, we're joined by the mother-daughter duo dominating the broadcast world, Andi and Miquita Oliver. We discuss their broadcast careers, why both of them needed to take a step away from the industry, why if your dreams don’t scare you they are not big enough – and how despite having a challenging relationship with food in the past, it has become the backbone of their success. View oEmbed on the source website Episode 4: David Tennant on Doctor Who, his religious upbringing and Good Omens (Live 8 August) Our guest on this episode of The Radio Times Podcast is a hallmark of British TV – it's national treasure, David Tennant. He sits down with Kelly-Anne Taylor to talk about his first TV memory – watching Doctor Who, and witnessing Jon Pertwee turn into Tom Baker – and how he can’t wrap his head around how things ultimately panned out. Plus, we talk about Good Omens, Christianity and why Michael Sheen isn’t the ying to David’s yang. Enjoy! View oEmbed on the source website Episode 5: Alex Crawford on conflict, trusting your instincts and women at war (Live 15 August) In this episode, Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by Sky's special correspondent, Alex Crawford! The pair discuss Alex's 30-year broadcast career - over the course of which, she has reported from Myanmar's Rakhine State and was the first journalist in Tripoli after rebel forces took over the Libyan Capital. In the episode, Alex discusses how growing up in Zimbabwe primed her for a career in foreign correspondence, why certain stories aren't covered by our news cycle and the future of news as we know it. View oEmbed on the source website Episode 6: Rose Matafeo (Live 22 August) Our guest in this episode is the comedian, Rose Matafeo! Having made a name for herself on the UK comedy scene, she has successfully turned her hand to television. She writes and stars in the BBC rom-com series Starstruck which follows a young woman named Jessie who has a one-night stand with a celebrity. In this episode she talks to Kelly-Anne Taylor about gender parity in comedy, how she managed to break into the industry at the age of 12 and why she has a more mature outlook on love in her thirties. View oEmbed on the source website Episode 7: Roman Kemp on nepotism, fame and oversharing (Live 29 August) Our guest on this episode is Capital Breakfast’s radio host, Roman Kemp. Breaking intro broadcast aged 21, he has forged an intimate relationship with listeners – often thanks to his oversharing and unfiltered conversation! In this episode, he discusses growing up as the ‘famous kid’ (his dad is Spandau Ballet singer Martin Kemp and his mother is Shirlie Holliman) and what his upbringing taught him about the world of celebrity. Plus, he talks to Kelly-Anne Taylor about his campaign work surrounding male suicide – and how bearing all and investigating a topic so close to home can be a burden. View oEmbed on the source website Episode 8: Caroline O'Donoghue on Sex in the City, phone calls that don't change your life and why Irish writers are everywhere right now (Live 5 September) Joining Kelly-Anne Taylor in the studio, is the author and journalist, Caroline O’Donoghue! In 2018, Caroline launched the podcast Sentimental Garbage – with the tagline, Justice for dumb women. What started out as a chick-lit podcast – grew into a podcast that celebrated guilty pleasures – deep-diving, unpicking, examining everything from Gilmore Girls to Little Women to Taylor Swift. In this episode, Caroline discusses how she’s got a lot of mileage out of her comfort TV Sex in the City and how she reacted when she had the rug pulled out from under her feet. Plus, we talk about her latest novel, The Rachel Incident. View oEmbed on the source website Episode 9: Dan Schreiber on weirdos, a love letter from Richard Curtis and Indiana Jones (Live 12 September) This week’s guest is one of the QI Elves behind the hit podcast, No Such Thing As A Fish – it is Dan Schreiber! In this episode Dan sits down with Kelly-Anne Taylor to discuss how he broke into the TV industry and why he moved to London at 19 after receiving a letter from Richard Curtis. Plus, they speak about being starstruck, encouraging your inner weirdo and why it’s good to be in the wrong place at the right time. View oEmbed on the source website Episode 10: Grace Dent on body positivity, comfort eating and ditching booze (Live 19 September) For our series finale Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by the restaurant critic and MasterChef regular, Grace Dent. Grace is the host of the chart-topping podcast Comfort Eating – in which she invites celebrity guests to talk about their lives through the prism of food. Now, she gifts us a book – Comfort Eating: What We Eat When Nobody’s Watching – which as well as talking about everyone’s favourite foods – delves into Grace’s own life. In this episode, she speaks about how writing the book – after the passing of her mother – wasn’t cathartic, but like picking a wound. Plus, they discuss the pressures placed on women to look a certain way, why Grace has ditched the booze and how Coronation Street has informed her perception of glamorous women. View oEmbed on the source website Write to the Radio Times Podcast team and let us know your thoughts at: podcast@radiotimes.com If you're looking for something to watch, check out our TV and Streaming Guides. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now.
Andi and Miquita Oliver on their new podcast Stirring It Up and dreaming big
Andi and Miquita Oliver spoke on The Radio Times Podcast about their new podcast Stirring It Up, which is based on their shared love of food.
This interview was originally published in Radio Times magazine. "Isn’t it funny that the thing you’ve had a difficult relationship with your whole life has become the backbone of all your success?" Miquita Oliver asks her mum. The "thing" Miquita is talking about is food. Andi Oliver – TV presenter, renowned cook, successful restaurateur, the face of Great British Menu and, most recently, cookbook author – developed a serious eating disorder in her 20s, eventually receiving life-saving treatment when a doctor took her on at a private clinic for free. "It was very hard for me because food had been my safety place," Andi explains. "It felt like the one thing that was unshakeable and when it got shook, when it broke, I was lost at sea. To be able to regain myself, to pull myself back up onto dry land, to reclaim one of my best friends – which is food – has been a powerful, important thing for me." That reclamation now extends to a podcast – Stirring It Up, hosted and produced by Andi and Miquita. The concept is simple: the Olivers invite a special guest and their plus one to gather around their kitchen table and enjoy a home-prepared feast while discussing food, culture and life. "The podcast world is fairly flooded," says Andi. "If we were going to make a show, there had to be a real raison d’être. What do we always do? Invite people to our house for dinner. We’ve been doing it forever – since Miquita was a little girl. We have always had waifs and strays at Christmas because I can’t bear the idea of people being on their own." Miquita adds: "Me and Mum know how to throw a party and give people a good time. This is us sharing who we are. It was important to create some autonomy for ourselves." Mother and daughter have both enjoyed long-standing careers in broadcasting, but Andi's initial accidental foray into radio came about through tragic circumstance. After losing her brother to sickle cell anaemia, she began volunteering at a hospice for people diagnosed with HIV and Aids. "My brother had died, and I had been quite depressed," she remembers. "Working there helped me plug back into life and understand that I was lucky that I still had all this life to live, I had my health." Then, one day, one of Andi’s co-workers asked if she wanted to appear on a radio show. "I was a punk – you said ‘yes’ to what you thought was fun. So, I started doing a radio show. I learned to drive the desk on air. In my first week, I took the whole of the BBC off air for about a minute." But Andi’s career trajectory was shaped by prejudice. "There weren’t jobs for me... I was constantly being put forward for roles and then I’d see somebody who was less able than me get the job again and again. I got fed up and walked away. I thought, 'I’m going to do something else.' Life is too short to wait for other people to give you permission to live and be your brilliant self." Despite Miquita breaking into the industry a decade and a half after her mum, becoming the presenter of Channel 4 music show Popworld aged 16 in 2001, the landscape hadn’t changed. "Being a mixed-race person growing up in Britain, my Black side wasn’t celebrated – by me or by television. To be on TV and to be the only Black or mixed-race person, I felt very isolated and alone. It’s taken me a long time to realise that the person on TV as a teenager, who was terrified of being Black, was doing something important for Black people – especially young mixed-race and Black girls." "The press were awful to me," Miquita remembers. "They would bring up any little mistake I made in a way they wouldn’t have of my peers – especially, when [my best friend] Lily Allen became famous and we went out together. They found it difficult that we were successful, young and good at our jobs." Andi interjects: "You were young women with opinions. They were like, ‘She’s gobby.’ Miquita and Lily are exceptional young women, they always have been. They have managed to traverse a world that kept telling them to sit down and shut up and get back in their box." Andi, a woman who projects a radiant positivity, is convinced that it’s our traumas that eventually become our superpowers. During a recent appearance on Elizabeth Day’s podcast How to Fail, she recounted an incident in which her German teacher made her stand at the front of the class while her peers hurled insults at her for her corn-rowed hairstyle. "Recently, I was filming up north and I met a young girl," Andi says. "I realised she was the only Black girl in her class. I said to her, 'I used to be the only Black girl in my class. I survived that. You will survive that. It will be your power. I am powerful – look at me – know that you can come through this. When you do, you’ll be magical.' Once you’ve had [trauma] perpetuated upon you, you know to never do that to another human being. You know to live with kindness. Pain is the gift that keeps on giving." Miquita has had her own trials, including having to file for bankruptcy in her 20s. "I felt so embarrassed. Now, I take care of my money. I went bankrupt because I didn’t think I deserved my job or those opportunities. I didn’t feel like I was worthy of all that money. Now, I know I am." Spending time with these women is a breath of fresh air. Andi, 60, and Miquita, 39, share an unshakeable sense of self. Having raised her daughter as a single parent in social housing, the Andi of today says: "We have this thing... If your dreams don’t scare you, they’re not big enough." "It’s not every day that you get to have this life, with a parent and a child, who have been through so much together," adds Miquita. "Mum always made it feel like there was so much, but we didn’t have any money. We were always on the breadline. Everyone always says, 'You never stop working!'. It’s because we know what it’s like to not have anything. It’s an extraordinary life we’ve built for ourselves. We’re not going to let these moments pass." The Radio Times magazine podcast special with Andi and Miquita Oliver is out now. Stirring It Up with Andi and Miquita Oliver is available from all major podcast providers. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast. Check out more of our Entertainment coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. Try Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only £1 with delivery to your home – subscribe now. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.