Insiders: The TV Podcast

Morse, Vera or Prime Suspect — who is Britain’s greatest TV detective? TV Insiders Jimmy Mulville and Peter Fincham rank the best British detectives, from Inspector Morse and Prime Suspect to Poirot, Sherlock, Midsomer Murders, The Sweeney and more… In this episode: Whether Ludwig could eventually join the great British detective pantheon Why Helen Mirren’s Jane Tennison remains one of television’s strongest detectives Brenda Blethyn’s defining performance as Vera Stanhope David Suchet’s iconic Hercule Poirot Benedict Cumberbatch and Steven Moffat’s modern Sherlock Why A Touch of Frost doesn’t compare with the rest of the list The Sweeney, John Thaw and the difference between action-led policing and puzzle-solving How Midsomer Murders replaced John Nettles with Neil Dudgeon Why Bergerac gives John Nettles two iconic TV detectives The strange appeal of Van der Valk’s canals and Dutch names Why a great detective does not need to be likeable The “eureka” moment that makes detective dramas so reassuring Why the best mysteries were often 90 minutes long How ITV is the home of the great detectives Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow. Chapters 00:00 Intro and rules 01:21 Could Ludwig become a classic detective? 03:37 Ranking begins with Hercule Poirot 06:38 Sherlock Holmes and Benedict Cumberbatch 07:52 A Touch of Frost 11:14 The Sweeney 13:10 Miss Marple 13:39 Midsomer Murders and the Barnaby succession 17:37 Van der Valk 18:39 Vera and Brenda Blethyn 22:40 Inspector Morse 25:47 Prime Suspect and Helen Mirren 27:43 Bergerac #BritishTV #BritishDetectives #DetectiveShows #InspectorMorse #Morse #Vera #PrimeSuspect #HelenMirren #BrendaBlethyn #JohnThaw #Sherlock #BenedictCumberbatch #Poirot #DavidSuchet #MidsomerMurders #Ludwig #DavidMitchell #TheSweeney #Bergerac #VanDerValk #CrimeDrama #ITV #BBC #BritishTelevision #TVPodcast #InsidersTV Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News for You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered and Episodes. In the US, Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway? in 1997, which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows, including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson’s Farm and Alma’s Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: @insiderstvpodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville debate the BBC’s decision to remove potentially offensive sketches from That Mitchell and Webb Look, asking whether modern comedy can still break taboos without being censored. They also discuss Trump TV & press freedom, Strictly Come Dancing and why some television formats survive their stars. In this episode: Why the BBC is reviewing That Mitchell and Webb Look before its iPlayer return The controversy around the The Civil War sketch, blackface and the limits of contextual comedy Why some sketches involving Gary Rhodes, Bill Oddie and Jimmy Savile may have been removed How Brass Eye used irony to challenge media attitudes The Real Housewives of ISIS sketch and Jimmy’s police warning Peter time at Talkback and the alleged threat connected to the Krays Donald Trump’s new 24/7 Trump TV channel and its production values… or lack thereof Whether YouTube could become the future home of political satire Does changing presenters can make or break a television format? What Strictly Come Dancing, The Great British Bake Off, The Grand Tour and Top Gear reveal about presenter changes The Apprentice’s decision to keep Alan Sugar as its central figure The TV-am “Famous Five” and the dangers of putting too many stars together The Generation Game, Bruce Forsyth, Larry Grayson and the importance of a strong format Nigella Lawson and Peter’s most unexpected television regret Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on YouTube, find us on social media @InsidersTVPod, or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow. Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:40 Why BBC cut 11 sketches from That Mitchell and Webb Look 16:17 Trump bans news outlets and launches Trump TV 24:36 Will Strictly Come Dancing survive new presenters? #ThatMitchellAndWebbLook #MitchellAndWebb #BBC #BBCiPlayer #Comedy #BritishComedy #ComedyCensorship #PoliticalSatire #BrassEye #TrumpTV #Television #TVProduction #TVFormats #StrictlyComeDancing #TheApprentice #TopGear #TheGreatBritishBakeOff #PeterFincham #JimmyMulville #InsidersTVPod Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered and Episodes. In the US, Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway? in 1997, which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced major shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson’s Farm and Alma’s Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: @insiderstvpodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the Harry Potter series arriving too soon? TV insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville examine why HBO is returning to Hogwarts, whether the original films are still impossible to replace, and what other big issues face the Harry Potter TV show. They also debate BBC Director-General Matt Brittin’s vision for an iPlayer shaped by a “public service algorithm”, examine new research on women working behind the camera in US television, and ask why Netflix is betting so heavily on dating and reality formats. In this episode: Why is Harry Potter being adapted for television so soon after the original films? Christopher Columbus’ reaction to the new Harry Potter series Whether the reboot is a creative opportunity or a commercial franchise play The continuing debate around J.K. Rowling’s views on gender and the new cast The Harry Potter series cast like Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, John Lithgow as Dumbledore and Nick Frost as Hagrid Behind the Scenes on the Harry Potter production as leaked reports say props have to be tracked for security Matt Brittin’s vision for a BBC iPlayer 2.0 Could the BBC really host YouTube-style user generated content? Why a “public service algorithm” might be useful or “schoolmasterish” The decline in women creators and directors on US streaming programmes How age and gender affect the roles available on television Why Netflix is commissioning more dating and reality formats What streamers can learn from broadcasters about genre mix, live television and audience habits Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow. Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:40 HBO's Harry Potter Problems 10:53 Matt Brittin’s ideal iPlayer 2.0 18:26 Why fewer women are creating TV shows 23:44 Netflix’s Reality-TV revolution #HarryPotter #HarryPotterSeries #HarryPotterTrailer #HBO #JkRowling #PaapaEssiedu #JohnLithgow #NickFrost #WarwickDavis #BBC #iPlayer #Netflix #RealityTV #DatingShows #Television #TVIndustry #TVProduction #Streaming #BritishTelevision #InsidersTVPod #JimmyMulville #PeterFincham Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: / @insiderstvpodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville discuss Sir Tom Jones’s shock exit from The Voice UK, Channel 4’s plan to cut around 300 jobs, allegations that some LG smart TVs can capture audio in standby mode, the end of Seven Up, and ITV’s new I’m a Celebrity…The Wild Frontier spin-off. In this episode: •Why Sir Tom Jones says ITV removed him from The Voice UK •Channel 4’s proposed 300+ job cuts and the financial pressures facing the broadcaster •How YouTube is competing with traditional television for audiences, advertising and attention •The remarkable legacy of Seven Up and why the Up series is ending with 70 Up •Why Asif Kapadia is directing the final instalments of the landmark ITV documentary •What researchers allege about microphone capture, network scanning and standby audio on some LG smart TVs •ITV’s expansion of the I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! universe •Whether spin-offs make successful formats stronger or less special •PLUS: Celebrity Traitors, Strictly Come Dancing, and more! Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a rating on your podcast platform, follow the show and share this episode with a friend — it really helps us grow. Chapters 00:00 Intro 00:51 Sir Tom Jones leaves The Voice UK 04:49 Channel 4’s Major Job Cuts & YouTube vs TV 12:01 The End of Seven Up 19:35 Can LG TVs Listen in Standby Mode? 25:39 ITV announces I’m a Celebrity: The Wild Frontier #TomJones #TheVoiceUK #Channel4 #7Up #70Up #AsifKapadia #LGTV #SmartTV #TVPrivacy #YouTube #ImACelebrity #WildFrontier #CelebrityTraitors #StrictlyComeDancing #ITV #Television #TVIndustry #Broadcasting #TVPodcast #InsidersTVPod Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News for You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US, Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway? in 1997; it ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran Talkback, where he executive produced many of its biggest shows, including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind the Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson’s Farm and Alma’s Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: /@insiderstvpodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville rank the 10 best British sitcoms ever, debating Fawlty Towers, The Office, Only Fools and Horses, Blackadder, Dad’s Army, Peep Show, Absolutely Fabulous and more. In this episode: Peter and Jimmy discuss Ann Droid and what makes a great sitcom How each episode of Fawlty Towers is constructed so well Why Dad’s Army has survived across generations How The Office became a timeless British comedy The cultural importance of Derry Girls Why Blackadder works despite its unlikeable central character Whether Only Fools and Horses deserves a higher place The enduring appeal of Victor Meldrew in One Foot in the Grave The difference between British and American comedy Whether shorter series create a stronger television legacy Whether controversial sitcoms such as Till Death Us Do Part can still be watched today And the worst comedy note Jimmy ever received… Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoyed this episode, please give us a 5 star rating on your podcast app, subscribe to the show and share this episode with a friend — it really helps us grow. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and rules 03:39 Dad’s Army 06:15 Peep Show 08:10 Blackadder 10:43 Miranda 12:22 Fawlty Towers 16:03 One Foot in the Grave 18:14 Till Death Us Do Part 20:52 The Office 24:04 Only Fools and Horses 28:26 Absolutely Fabulous versus Not Going Out #BritishSitcoms #BestBritishSitcoms #FawltyTowers #TheOffice #OnlyFoolsAndHorses #Blackadder #DadsArmy #PeepShow #AbsolutelyFabulous #Miranda #OneFootInTheGrave #TillDeathUsDoPart #DerryGirls #AlanPatridge #FatherTed #AnnDroid #BritishComedy #TVComedy #Comedy #Television #TVPodcast #InsidersTVPod Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered and Episodes. In the US, Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway? in 1997, which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of its biggest shows, including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, Director of Television at ITV and co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson’s Farm and Alma’s Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: /@insiderstvpodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.