The Honeymoon Period

Happy Easter! But which reduced price chocolate eggs will Mark be able to find in the supermarket on his annual pilgrimage?  This week, in TV we’ve been watching Marvel Animation’s new series X-Men ‘97 (3:26) and ITV comedy-thriller (or is it?!) Passengers (9:32). In our film section, hold on to your proton packs and get ready to be slimed - we’re reviewing Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (16:42). The...

The episode where Mark compares Elaine to a dog that looks like a pain au chocolat, lists all the Denis Villeneuve films he hates, and starts a podcasting war with The Movie Robcast …  In TV, we discuss Mr & Mrs Smith (Amazon Prime) (5:42) and Shogun (Disney +) (13:31). And in film, Mark takes us through the masterpiece that is Madame Web (24:26), Elaine talks wrestling in The Iron Claw (31:55...

It's going to be a little while until we can come back with a full show, so as an interim treat we thought we'd record our thoughts on some of the recently released film & TV trailers.  Film trailers: Deadpool & Wolverine, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, and Wicked TV trailers: Manhunt (Apple), Mary & George (Sky Atlantic), Shardlake (Disney +) And Mark has thoughts on the (just ann...

We start the pod with WWE news (obvs!). The WWE is off to Netflix - but recent allegations leave Mark reflecting on whether he can continue watching... In TV, we discuss the finale of S2 The Traitors (7:35) and share our views on the first few episodes of HBO’s True Detective: Night Country (19:30).  In film, Mark reviews newly Oscar-nominated The Holdovers (29:36). And we’ve both been to see Andr...

Welcome to our first episode of 2024! We start the pod with a discussion around New Year’s Resolutions - and a birthday cake muffin… In TV, Elaine wants everyone to watch BBC drama Men Up (2:30) which was shown in the In-Between Times and therefore criminally overlooked. We also share our thoughts on appointment telly The Traitors S2 - including some delightful references to Nasty Nick and Anna th...

We countdown our favourite movies of 2023. Enjoy the part where we discuss whether The Cheeky Girls’ mum lives in the Byker Wall.   How to support the show  Follow us on: Twitter - Instagram - Letterboxd We’d love it if you could leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or a star rating on Spotify . AND, if you like what we do, and fancy buying us a coffee, you can do so here . Thanks so much. 

We countdown our favourite TV shows of 2023. Enjoy the part where Mark forgets to put one of the biggest shows of the year on his list for the second year running. And play along with the ‘how many Usher songs can you list?’ game… This episode includes references to: Celebrity Race Across The World, Fleishman Is in Trouble, Succession, Only Murders in the Building, I Think You Should Leave with Ti...

In this episode, we rehearse an argument about Elaine and some flatpack furniture, help Richard Osman out by mentioning his new podcast, and once again manage to squeeze in a reference to Tosh Lines from The Bill.  In TV, we review Superfan: The Story of Vladimir (8:17), Part 1 of The Crown S6 (15:06), Loki S2 (28:16), and BBC crime drama Shetland (33:52).  In film, Mark shares his thoughts on ind...

A throwback to a spooky date night of yesteryear (well, 2022).  Enjoy! 

A throwback to a spooky date night of yesteryear (well, 2022).  Enjoy! 

In this episode, we pay homage to the power of television when going through tough times. Plus, in not unrelated news, Sky Arts’ Portrait Artist of the Year.  In TV, Elaine’s been on a documentary extravaganza, with Netflix’s Beckham (12:33), Disney+’s Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story (22:55), and Amazon Prime’s The Greatest Show Never Made (29:34). We also have a brief chat about mind-bendin...

In this week’s episode, Elaine laments a certain celebrity’s exit from this year’s Strictly Come Dancing and we discuss a new podcast about a dolphin and his ‘friend’.... In telly, Mark’s been checking out psychological thriller Wilderness (9:30), whilst Elaine’s got mixed feelings on the latest Star Wars offering, Ahsoka (14:25).  In film, Mark has an unexpectedly strong reaction to Dumb Money (2...

Mark reports back on his trip to AEW All In - plus a fun afternoon with our podcasting pals Rob D and Rob W from The Movie Robcast . Blame Rob D for Mark’s wrestling round up! Plus a strange tangent into ‘London Pubs We’ve Been To’ and fun facts about Steven Spielberg’s Hook. You’ll be glad when we get to the TV section. And this week, Mark has been catching up with Season 3 of Starstruck (7:28) w...

In this episode, we discuss Mark’s impending trip to All Elite Wrestling All In (yes, we’re talking wrestling again) and somehow manage to segue into a run-down of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing contestants.  In film, Mark takes us on a whirlwind tour of three movies he’s been to see: They Cloned Tyrone (18:30), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem (21:45), and Joyride (26:00) In TV, Ela...

Elaine has a really bad cold and is losing her voice, so please enjoy her gradual descent into madness throughout this episode.  In TV, Elaine’s been watching BBC true crime drama The Sixth Commandment (3:39) and Mark’s started on Season 2 of The Afterparty (10:52).  In film, Mark reports back on his attempt at a Barbenheimer day out. Then we turn our minds to our review of the two movies themselv...

During this week’s pod, Mark tries to explain two thought experiments to Elaine, with varying results. And Mark mentions wrestling, so if you’re playing The Honeymoon Period drinking game get your glasses ready.  In TV, we start with Elaine sighing before Mark can even get going on his Secret Invasion (3:41) review. Then we move on to talk about Apple TV’s mini-series Hijack (11:00).  In film, Mar...

Mark has finally taken Elaine to see live wrestling. Find out what she made of it at the top of the show.  In TV, we start with a discussion on BBC drama Best Interests. This show depicts a parent’s fight to stop a hospital withdrawing treatment from her ill child. In our review of Best Interests, we touch on our own journey as parents of a disabled child with life limiting illnesses and also our...

In this episode, we once again make reference to ‘Allo ‘Allo and Elaine does a really creepy impression of Elmo. We also review the latest offering from the DC Extended Universe - The Flash - and the first two episodes of Season 6 of Charlie Brooker’s anthology series Black Mirror.  Slightly different set up to this show. We start with spoiler-free thoughts on The Flash (6:40) and Black Mirror  S6...

In this episode, we're like Cousin Matthew trundling through the countryside in his trusty motorcar…. but why *is* Mark watching Downton Abbey? In movies, we review Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret (8:44), Fast X (17:10), and Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse (29:00).  Then in TV, Mark’s been laughing out loud to I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (39:00), Elaine’s been getting obses...

Brace yourselves. This week’s pod is bulging with many many references to Eurovision songs new and old. Including the greatest Eurovision song of all time (according to Elaine).  In TV, we revisit s2 Yellowjackets (17:22). Elaine’s been watching Paramount Plus’ ‘re-imagining’ of 80s erotic thriller Fatal Attraction (25:32). And we reflect on the latest series of the one of the first shows we ever...

We are back with another jam-packed show full of chat about the latest releases on the big and small screen. Starting with TV, we delve (spoiler free) into two of the shows of the moment: Succession (02:00) and Yellowjackets (17:23). Plus we review episode 1 of reality show / mockumentary Jury Duty (30:00). In film, we review Shazam! Fury of the Gods (40:15), Creed III (46:30), and John Wick 4 (58...

Our ‘live from LA’ recording is forever lost to technical difficulties, but fear not we’ve got a bumper Wrestlemania episode for you. Live from our sofa.  And yes, Mark takes us through his thoughts on LA, the atmosphere in the stadium, and his review of the actual event. BUT also stick around for the answers to very important questions like...  What did a fellow Cultaholic fan ask Mark about Newc...

In this special episode, we prepare for Mark’s upcoming trip to Los Angeles for Wrestlemania 39. Our wide-ranging chat covers Mark’s entry into wrestling fandom, what to say to your dad when he tells you ‘it’s all fake’, and Elaine's least favourite wrestlers. Plus an in-depth conversation about the Wrestlemania 39 card, Prison Dom, and why the Bloodline storyline is best thing WWE has done in yea...

5 weeks to WrestleMania for Mark - and an extravaganza of film and tv reviews for you! After a chat about renting washing machines from Rumbelows, Big Brother contestants of yesteryear, and our thoughts on the BAFTAs we do eventually get on with discussing the latest big releases.  In a move that causes confusion for Elaine, this week’s episode deals with the silver screen first. Mark’s been to se...

The countdown to Mark’s trip to Wrestlemania in Los Angeles continues (only 7 more weeks of this!) before we turn to slightly less jocular goings-on in the BBC’s Happy Valley (13:15) and HBO’s post-apocalyptic video game adaptation The Last of Us (22:50). In our film section, Gerard Butler’s superbly named Brodie Torrance is in full action mode in Plane (29:04). And we end with our thoughts on M....