Insiders: The TV Podcast

TV Insiders Jimmy Mulville and Peter Fincham discuss why the BBC blurred pride pins on University, why Reform has reported ITV to the police, Netflix has lost viewers, Channel 4 has teamed up with Disney+ and how Ghosts and Ali G have taken on the big screen… In this episode: • Why the BBC edited pride pins out of University Challenge • Whether blurring a “Protect the Dolls” T-shirt on Strictly wa...

Monty Python’s Flying Circus, The Benny Hill Show or Morecambe & Wise — what is Britain’s greatest sketch show? TV Insiders Jimmy Mulville and Peter Fincham rank the best British sketch shows, from That Mitchell and Webb Look and The Two Ronnies to The Fast Show, Spitting Image, French & Saunders, Goodness Gracious Me! and more… In this episode: Morecambe & Wise’s incredible castings T...

The Traitors almost went to Costa Rica with bikinis and hot tubs with BBC editorial policy suggested avoiding the words “murder” and “kill”. Now the show’s commissioner, Syeda Irtizaali joins TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville to reveal the decisions, disagreements and casting choices behind the hit show… In this episode: How the Dutch format became The Traitors on the BBC Why Syeda push...

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville discuss proposed cuts to BBC Three and BBC Scotland, the extraordinary success of The Traitors , Channel 4’s new programming structure and the possible impact on British comedy. They also remember Esther Rantzen and the unforgettable television moment involving Nicholas Winton. In this episode: Why The Traitors is still able to dominate television viewi...

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’...

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 Mitchel...

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 worki...

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...

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 Offic...

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville are joined by the brilliant Steph McGovern to talk about her career, the television industry, and slime! In this episode: The Rest Is Money Podcast Steph's Career BBC News The TV Industry Steph's Packed Lunch Steph's Novels Have I Got News For You Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @Insiders...

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville discuss Ofcom vs Satire, Eurovision's voting rule changes, the "Sub v Dub" debate, and Roku's new A.I channel. In this episode: The TV Festival Ofcom vs Satire Eurovision's voting rule changes Subtitles vs Dubbing Roku's A.I channel Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email...

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville discuss the viability of self-funded programming, the increasing lack of stand up on British TV now that Live At The Apollo has been axed, and whether Channel 4 should reinstate their "Red Triangle" programme warning. In this episode: - Self funded to TV model - Shane Gillis + Tires road to Netflix - BBC cancels Live At The Apollo - Do comedians need to...

Comedy producer Ash Atalla joins Jimmy Mulville and Peter Fincham to tell the inside story of The Office, his struggles trying to sell the IT Crowd and what the worst TV show he ever made was… In this episode: •How The Office got off the ground — and why nobody was guaranteed to believe in it •Why Ash left the BBC and founded Roughcut Television •The tough reality of trying to sell shows like The...

"What has the BBC ever done for me...?" TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville take on the BBC's much-debated new advert, dig into Hollywood's revolt against the $110 billion Paramount-Warner Bros Discovery merger, and ask whether anyone can ‘Beat Luke Littler’ in his new Netflix show… In this episode: Is the BBC's "What Has The BBC Ever Done For Me?" advert a costly own goal? Hollywood star...

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville answer listener questions on Channel 4 and Netflix removing classic sitcom episodes, the secret scheduling battle between the BBC and ITV and why some revived formats soar while others flop. Correction: It was actually Matt Berry's character of Douglas who dates April, not Chris O'Dowd's character Roy. You'll forgive us for getting this mistaken – ...

Ben Powell-Jones and Thom Gulseven of Strongwatch Studios join Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville to reveal what it was really like to work at LADbible when it was booming, why they had to turn down Tom Hanks and whether the UK's proposed social media ban for under-16s can actually work. In this episode: •Why they said no to Tom Hanks's agent (and almost turned down Billie Eilish) •How a £500 video...

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville discuss Count Binface, the BBC's World Cup cost saving efforts, Sky's ITV purchase, and Peppa Pig using A.I. Topics discussed: Farage vs Count Binface BBC not going to the US in the World Cup Quarter Finals The Sky/ITV deal Peppa Pig using A.I. for its younger voice actors Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:12 Farage vs Count Binface 03:20 The BBC's World Cup cos...

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville address your comments and questions regarding the BBC's Sarah Everard drama, axing long-running TV shows, Claude writing quiz show questions, as well as discussing Michael Grade's recent comments about terms of trade. Topics discussed: Michael Grade's comments regarding terms of trade The BBC's Sarah Everard drama Exploitative true crime shows TV quiz s...

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville tackle the World Cup coverage battle, the TV Festival's Manchester move, the BBC's 500 job cuts, and the Government's social media green paper - recorded on the UK's hottest June day on record! Topics discussed: The UK's Prime Minister England cs Ghana The World Cup coverage battle between the BBC & ITV The Edinburgh TV Festival moving to Manchester...

You can send questions to our email – podcasts@hattrick.com DM us a question on Instagram – we're @insiderstvpod Or comment your question on this episode on Spotify or our most recent episode on YouTube Thanks so much everyone – see you Friday! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville are joined by Channel 4's Head of Comedy Charlie Perkins to discuss the importance of comedy for a channel identity, monetising comedy on YouTube, SNL's budget, talent deals and how hit comedies can prove a good investment years after their first release. Topics discussed: Channel 4's sitcom commissions Comedy + YouTube SNL UK New comedy talent Producer...

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville debate whether it’s coming home after 60 years of hurt in this 2026 World Cup episode that covers The Rest Is Football’s lucrative Netflix deal, extortionate live sport paywalls, and nostalgic chat about previous world cups.  Topics discussed: England winning the World Cup in 1966 The Rest Is Football Netflix series World Cup Coverage tussles betwe...

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville debate the BBC's controversial Sarah Everard drama and whether a man should be writing it, explore how the Married at First Sight UK fallout could threaten Love Island, and confirm your suspicions: your favourite TV shows DO keep disappearing for longer and longer… Topics discussed: The 400 female screenwriters who signed an open letter against the BBC...

TV Insiders Jimmy Mulville and Peter Fincham discuss whether Euphoria is on its final series, how to end a TV hit properly, why killing off characters can backfire, how prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are spoiling reality TV shows like Survivor, and what the BBC can learn from YouTube. They also talk about: The Bear and Emily in Paris announcing their final series The endings of Derr...

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville are joined by Michael Grade to talk about the challenges facing new BBC Director General Matt Brittin, questions asked of Channel 4 after allegations made about Married at First Sight UK and Blackadder, Doctor Who, Father Ted and more! In this episode: What the new BBC Director General needs to do first, and why coming in from the outside can be a stren...