A Very Merry Break-Up: We talk to director / writer / star Elizabeth Guest about a very different kind of Christmas rom-com

We've seen Christmas proposals in the movies before, but it's pretty rare that it's followed almost immediately by a break-up. Yet that's the starting point for the new film from Elizabeth Guest - who directs, writes, stars and produces - based on her own award-winning web series. Guest plays Lydia, a self-professed "love addict" who can't quite commit to nice guy Tim (Andrew Leeds), and runs home to her four parents (it's complicated) when her cold feet cause them to break up. But can true love prevail? Only time - specifically about 90 minutes - will tell! We spoke to Guest and Leeds (Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist, Barry) about bringing the film together, her connection to a nailed-on Christmas classic, and the importance of gluten-free pizza. Then editor Amanda Keats joins me, Helen O'Hara, to talk all things true love and gluten. A Very Merry Break-Up is out for digital rental right now. For more from Amanda, find her on Instagram @filmvsbookvstv. For more from Helen, you can find her on Bluesky @HelenLOHara, or at helenohara.com. Her latest books, A Quentin Tarantino Dictionary and 50 Film Ideas You Really Need To Know, are on sale now in all good bookshops or online, and Women Vs Hollywood: The Fall And Rise Of Women In Film (edited by Amanda!), remains on sale. This podcast is produced and edited by Helen O'Hara with Stripped Media. For more on this podcast and others produced by Stripped Media, please visit stripped.media or email [email protected]. If you enjoyed this podcast please leave a shiny five star review on your podcast platform of choice; it really does help. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices