Insiders: The TV Podcast

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 – we obviously couldn't watch the episode to check!In this episode:Why Channel 4 removed “The Speech” episode of The IT CrowdWhy Netflix removed episodes of Little Britain, Come Fly with Me & The Mighty BooshThe Fawlty Towers, Father Ted and Peep Show scenes that got cut or pulled entirelyWhether broadcasters should be editing TV historyHow the BBC and ITV secretly traded schedules ahead of the Radio Times deadline and why the ITV's Christmas strategy was always to "lose with honour"Forgotten TV creatives, like Brian Clemens, who never get mentioned todayWhy revivals like Gladiators and Blankety Blank succeeded as revivals when Challenge Anneka and Blind Date didn'tThe real story behind Have I Got News for You's rotating host, and how QI almost had a very different presenterHow actors fake smoking, drinking and eating on screenHave a question or opinion? Leave a comment on Spotify, find us on socials (@InsidersTVPod), or email us at [email protected] you enjoyed the episode, please give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, it really helps us grow.#BBC #ITV #Channel4 #Netflix #ITCrowd #FawltyTowers #FatherTed #PeepShow #LittleBritain #TVPodcast #BritishTV #Television #InsidersTVPod #HaveIGotNewsForYou #QI #Gladiators #PublicServiceBroadcasting #Streaming #Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 made £80k overnight (and why platform ad revenue can vanish just as fast)•Building LADbible's YouTube channel from zero to millions of views•Why Patreon and direct-to-consumer content is the future of monetisation, from Fin vs History to Time Team•Why focus groups lie (and what LADbible's data really showed about who was watching Love Island)•How TV and YouTube are merging, from Rest Is Football's move to Netflix to broadcasters commissioning entire YouTube channels•Their honest take on the UK's proposed social media ban for under-16sHave a question or opinion? Leave a comment, find us on socials (@InsidersTVPod), or email us at [email protected] you enjoyed the episode, please leave a review 5-star review, share it with a friend and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!CHAPTERS00:00 Meet Strongwatch Studios04:37 Building LADbible's YouTube Empire09:44 Snubbing Tom Hanks and (almost) Billie Eilish12:40 Starting a Company in a Constantly Changing Digital World15:30 Patreon and the Rise of Direct-to-Consumer Content 22:10 Data in Digital versus TV and why Focus Groups Lie23:07 TV as ‘Secondary Distribution for YouTube’26:05 Broadcasters Now Commissioning YouTube Channels33:20 The Social Media Ban for Under-16s#YouTube #LADbible #SocialMediaBan #StrongwatchStudios #ContentCreator #Patreon #TVPodcast #BritishTV #DigitalMedia #InsidersTVPod #TomHanks #BillieEilish #CreatorEconomy #Streaming #Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 BinfaceBBC 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 Intro01:12 Farage vs Count Binface03:20 The BBC's World Cup cost saving efforts09:27 Sky's ITV deal29:19 Peppa Pig + A.I. Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at [email protected] you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow.#CountBinface #NigelFarage #BBC #ITV #FifaWorldCup2026 #Sky #ITV #PeppaPig #GeneWilder 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 dramaExploitative true crime showsTV quiz show question writingClaude and the use of AI in TVAxing long-running TV showsChapters:00:00 Intro01:12 Michael Grade's comments regarding terms of trade09:59 Question 1) regarding the BBC's Sarah Everard drama12:11 Question 2) regarding the BBC's Sarah Everard drama13:26 Statement from Lindsay Salt, BBC Director of Drama19:16 Question 3) regarding exploitative true crime TV shows20:49 Question 4) some dramatisations are simply poor taste23:09 Questions from Kenton Allen24:16 Question 5) regarding TV quiz show question writing and AI29:59 Peter's Bob Dylan quiz35:01 Question 6) regarding the axing of long-running TV shows37:09 Outro Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at [email protected] you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow.#MichaelGrade #BBC #BBCDrama #SarahEverard #TrueCrime #KentonAllen #Quiz #QuizShows #Mastermind #BobDylan #TheBill #GMTVJimmy 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: / @insiderstvpodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 MinisterEngland cs GhanaThe World Cup coverage battle between the BBC & ITVThe Edinburgh TV Festival moving to Manchester The BBC's 500 job cutsThe Government's social media green paperChapters:00:00 Intro01:30 The UK's next PM02:06 England vs Ghana02:32 What's on the show today?03:13 The World Cup coverage battle10:00 The Edinburgh TV Festival moves to Manchester14:30 Hydration Break14:53 The BBC's 500 job cuts25:01 The Government's social media green paper35:25 Outro Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at [email protected] you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow.#PrimeMinister #AndyBurnham #England #FIFAWorldCup2026 #BBC #ITV #HydrationBreak #EdinburghTVFestival #Manchester #UKGovernment #GreenPaper #YouTube 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]: @InsidersTVPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You can send questions to our email – [email protected] us a question on Instagram – we're @insiderstvpodOr comment your question on this episode on Spotify or our most recent episode on YouTubeThanks 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 commissionsComedy + YouTubeSNL UKNew comedy talentProducer's rightsMonetising comedy on YouTubeChapters:00:00 Intro02:40 Channel 4's sitcom commissions04:25 The value of comedy08:10 Comedy on digital platforms09:27 The trickle down effect in comedy11:45 SNL UK's on C4?14:13 TV + Comedy talent19:45 Will YouTube change how we make TV?27:26 How to monetise comedy on YouTube38:07 What's your pitch for more comedy on Channel 4?Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at [email protected] you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow.#Comedy #Channel4 #SNLUK #YouTube #DontHugMeImScared 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]: @InsidersTVPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 1966The Rest Is Football Netflix seriesWorld Cup Coverage tussles between BBC and ITVAre sport paywalls taking the piss?The ongoing issue of viewers illegally streaming live sports eventsWill the 2026 World Cup make Americans finally love football or, as they continue to call it, soccer What is the future relationship between live sports and free-to-air television?Geopolitics and footballThe World Cup and Brazil at Goodison Park, 1966Players who were destined for greatness but sadly never achieved itChapters:00.00 - The 1966 World Cup05.27 - The Rest Is Football World Cup coverage13.37 - Live sport behind paywalls / Illegal live sport streaming 17.10 - Will America learn to love football?20.12 - Listed events / World Cup coverage 24.26 - Watching the 2026 World Cup / Geopolitics in football28.05 - World Cup at Goodison ParkHave a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at [email protected] you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow.#2026WorldCup #TVPodcast #TheRestIsFootball #paywalls #soccer #GoodisonPark #DonaldTrump #ColePalmer #BBC #ITV #LiveSports 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]: @InsidersTVPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 commissioning Jeff Pope to write the Sarah Everard dramaShould men write dramas about violence against women? Or is it too soon for a factual drama about Sarah Everard at all?Love Island relaunching under the shadow of the Married at First Sight UK/Panorama scandalWhat next for MAFS UK after all episodes taken down from Channel 4, TUI pulls sponsorship and the "hush email" sent to workers?The Stranger Things Effect: why the gap between TV seasons has more than doubled in a decade – and does it actually matter?After the success of ice hockey romance dramas Heated Rivalry and Off Campus, is sport + sex TV's hottest new genre?Could croquet, bowls or darts be the UK's answer to ice hockey romance?Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at [email protected] you enjoyed the episode, please leave a review 5-star review, share it with a friend and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!Chapters:0:00 Intro and Jon Petrie joining Hat Trick Productions2:51 The Sarah Everard Drama: Should a Man Be Writing It?14:35 Love Island, Married at First Sight UK & Reality TV's Reckoning?25:06 The Stranger Things Effect: Why TV Shows Disappear for Years30:33 Ice Hockey Romance: TV's Hottest New Genre?#BBCDrama #SarahEverard #LoveIsland #MarriedAtFirstSight #StrangerThingsEffect #TVNews #BehindTheScenes #UKTelevision #PeterFincham #JimmyMulville #InsidersPodcast #BBCControversy # #TwinPeaks #HappyValley #StrangerThings #Euphoria #TVPodcast #BritishTV #RealityTV #JeffPope #MAFS #Channel4 #HatTrick #TVIndustry #ScreenwritingDebate #HeatedRivalry #OffCampus #TVDramaJimmy 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]: @InsidersTVPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 seriesThe endings of Derry Girls and The Sopranos compared to Game of ThronesWhat it was like to cancel shows like the The Bill and BodiesThe art of writing shocking character deaths in shows like EmmerdaleWho tells the talent that they’ve been written out of a showThe ‘Prediction Markets’ could change reality TV foreverHow outcomes of The Masked Singer, Next Level Chef and The Bachelorette were all correctly predicted months before they even airedMatt Brittin’s comments on the BBC, improving the iPlayer and YouTubeHave a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at [email protected] you enjoyed the episode, please leave a review 5-star review, share it with a friend and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!#TV #Television #BBC #Euphoria #TheBear #DerryGirls #GameOfThrones #Survivor #Survivor50 #DowntonAbbey #Eastenders #Emmerdale #RealityTV #YouTube #Podcast #Insiders #PeterFincham #JimmyMulville #Kalshi #PolymarketJimmy 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 strengthWhy Michael Grade thinks the BBC should take more risks and become “a nursery and not a grocery”The BBC’s culture, Oxbridge snobbery, scheduling, and why the middle of television has disappearedWhy the BBC needs to justify public money in a streaming world and what its real purpose should beMichael Grade’s take on Channel 4, new voices, and whether it can survive as a smaller, distinctive broadcasterThe Married at First Sight UK allegations, duty of care, and whether reality TV has gone too farTelling talent the truth, spotting blind spots, and why great TV still depends on tasteBlackadder, Father Ted, Doctor Who and more!Have a question or opinion? Leave a comment, find us on socials (@InsidersTVPod), or email us at [email protected] you enjoyed the episode, make sure to give us a 5 star rating on Apple podcasts or Spotify, follow the podcast wherever you're listening to it now and share this episode with a friend — it really helps us grow.Chapters00:00 Coming up!01:10 The Challenges for the New BBC Director General18:19 Running Channel 422:35 Almost Cancelling Black Adder25:07 Married at First Sight UK and reality TV ethics30:55 The Rest of Michael's Career#BBC #MichaelGrade #MarriedAtFirstSightUK #Channel4 #DoctorWho #Blackadder #FatherTed #RealityTV #TVPodcast #BritishTV #Television #InsidersTVPod #PublicServiceBroadcasting #BAFTA #Streaming #Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville tackle Eurovision's biggest controversy yet, the BBC getting called out at the BAFTA TV awards, and why Wordle could actually work as a prime-time TV show.In this episode:Why Eurovision 2026 final has been marred by the row over Israel’s inclusion and why the contest has become more political than everThe BBC’s handling of the Gaza: Doctors Under Attack BAFTA speech and what it says about broadcaster pressureHow Wordle could work as a television format, and how Tipping Point was commissionedStephen Colbert bidding farewell to The Late Show with his fellow hosts Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver and Seth Myers in Strike Force Five reunionJames Corden teams up with Rio Ferdinand to make his return to FIFA World Cup coverageListener reactions, questions and moreHave a question or opinion? Leave a comment, find us on socials (@InsidersTVPod), or email us at [email protected] you enjoyed the episode, please make sure you're following the podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and share an episode with a friend — it really helps us grow#Eurovision #Eurovision2026 #Wordle #TippingPoint #BBC #BAFTA #StephenColbert #TheLateShow #StrikeForceFive #FIFAWorldCup #WorldCup #TV #Podcast #Television #Channel4 #Streaming #InsidersTVPodJimmy 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville break down Helena Bonham Carter’s shock exit from The White Lotus Season 4, discuss the huge Celebrity Traitors line-up and celebrate Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday.In this episode:•The White Lotus announcement from HBO and what “creative differences” actually means in television•The surprising omission from the Celebrity Traitors cast•Why the BBC still beats Netflix and Amazon at “event TV”•How AI is already changing television editing and ADR•The career decision that made David Attenborough a legend•PLUS: your reactions to our AI in editing debate, Hollywood power struggles, BBC commissioning insights, and moreHave a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at [email protected] you enjoyed the episode, please leave a review 5-star review, share it with a friend and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode!CHAPTERS00:00 Intro01:08 Celebrity Traitors lineup revealed07:49 Helena Bonham Carter exits The White Lotus15:33 AI controversy in TV editing22:13 David Attenborough at 10030:47 Corrections, cocaine and conclusions#TheWhiteLotus #CelebrityTraitors #DavidAttenborough #HelenaBonhamCarter #MikeWhite #AI #BBC #Netflix #Streaming #Television #PodcastJimmy 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. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter and Jimmy catch up on Expectation’s new gameshow pilot, as well as Jimmy’s attendance at a charity event for the Andy Taylor Foundation, before turning to the week’s TV news.They discuss the cancellation of Football Focus after 52 years on our screens, and what it says about how audiences now consume football content.From there, they debate whether an AI editing technique used on a TV show should have been banned by the production — exploring whether ethical boundaries can be maintained, if it enhances or undermines creativity, and whether the industry is resisting inevitable change.This leads them to unpack Donald Trump’s accusation that the BBC used AI in a Panorama documentary to defame him, and why that misunderstanding could weaken his $10 billion lawsuit against the corporation.Finally, they look at how formats like A League of Their Own are evolving beyond television into live events and broader IP monetisation strategies.Plus: Alan Titchmarsh’s unsigned wellies, Paul Simon’s decades-long grudge, and why every drama set in Liverpool seems to benefit from a conveniently placed bag of cocaine…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]: @InsidersTVPodThe producer is Owen Braben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Peter and Jimmy bid farewell to Ian Katz, the outgoing Chief Content Officer at Channel 4, reflecting on what really happens when a top TV executive steps down before answering listener questions. They unpack who really holds creative power in TV versus film — from auteur directors and “final cut” culture in Hollywood to why, in television, producers and writers often overrule directors in the edit. They also lift the lid on how shows get recommissioned or cancelled, revealing the crucial role of schedulers, the temptation to keep ageing hits on air, and how streamers’ data-driven decisions could be the death of the “slow burn” success story. And finally, they tackle why there’s no ‘right way’ to sack someone in TV when people rarely believe they deserve to go.Plus, Peter’s top fashion tips, Jimmy’s new ‘Guess That Fishy Channel Controller’ gameshow, and why you should never say never on a Saudi Arabian version of Outnumbered…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]: @InsidersTVPodThe producer is Owen Braben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss Christopher Eccleston’s claim that TV executives think audiences are “stupid”, and swap war stories from the front line of tricky commissioning meetings.Later, they chat about the actors and producers in the US rallying together to oppose the Paramount-Warner Brothers merger. They then set about unpicking the BBC’s announcement of 2,000 job cuts, a hiring freeze, and the interim DG’s surprising candour around the current funding model being “unsustainable" and "reaching the end of its sell-by date".Plus, we get live reaction to Content Chief Ian Katz leaving Channel 4, some insight into the world of being an ex-channel controller, and as Peter reports back on his recent visit to Clarkson’s Farm, we ask, what exactly does an executive producer actually do? (clue: mostly get in the way on set)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]: @InsidersTVPodThe producer is Owen Braben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy ask whether the arrival of HBO Max might be nudging us all dangerously close to peak demand for subscription services. Does the subscription model thrive as much on inertia as it does on the content they offer? And is that really sustainable? We talk revisionism when it comes to the question of what’s acceptable on television, and ask what are the shows that we love today that we’ll one day be embarrassed by? And with a new series in full swing on BBC1, Jimmy shares fond memories of some left-field HIGNFY bookings. Some of whom were memorable for all the right reasons (Play Your Iraqi Cards Right, anyone?). Some of whom were just memorable...Plus, the BBC Twat Memo, Peter’s irrational fear of watching medical dramas, and wishing David Dimbleby well in his retirement.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]: @InsidersTVPodThe producer is Owen Braben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimmy and Peter are joined by former Director General Greg Dyke as he talks the highs and lows of his time running the BBC, and what advice he’d give to Matt Brittin as he prepares to take on the top job. During his 4 years as DG, Dyke oversaw huge changes at every level of the organisation, from the birth of the iPlayer to a concerted effort to make the BBC less London-centric. But it was the row with the government over the Iraq war, and the Hutton Report that followed, that came to define his time in charge. He talks candidly about what that experience was like, and his regrets looking back more than 20 years later.Plus, the bygone era of union dominance of television, unlikely book buying in Kampala, and why, if anyone ever asks you to join the LWT share options scheme, you should always, always say yes. 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]: @InsidersTVPodThe producer is Owen Braben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss the challenges that lie ahead for Matt Brittin as he’s (finally) confirmed as the next DG. While he’s doubtless a vastly able and experienced corporate leader, his in-tray already looks unenviable. We wish him well. The British iteration of SNL launched last weekend. There was a bit of sniping from the critics, but it was fundamentally a really strong start, and a very funny show. Could this be the turning the point that convinces broadcasters to start commissioning sketch shows again? And in this week’s political-correctness-gone-mad news, Peter and Jimmy offer their analysis of the fuss around The Repair Shop and Bob Monkhouse’s joke books.Plus, Peter’s youthful dreams of being a cox (in the rowing sense), Jimmy’s zooms with the obscenely handsome Jamie Dornan, and the unlikely link between Matt Brittin’s Cambridge alma mater and the world of television. 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]: @InsidersTVPodThe producer is Owen Braben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimmy and Peter are joined by broadcaster and soon-to-be media entrepreneur Amol Rajan to talk about the smaller but even more important future for the BBC, the rise of the creator economy and why YouTube versus Netflix is the media battle of our age.They also unpack what it takes to build a media company in 2026, from audience-first thinking to monetisation challenges, and why individual creators are becoming more powerful than institutions. Amol shares his plans to create a global, intellectually curious audience through podcasts, video, live events and more whilst reflecting on lessons from legacy media and figures like Piers Morgan who’ve successfully followed the audience.Plus, crashed boats, care homes and Amol’s presenting tips for Jimmy and Peter…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]: @InsidersTVPodThe producer is Owen Braben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimmy kicks us off with his tales from the Writers Guild Awards in New York and the feeling on the ground around David Ellison’s takeover of Paramount and the future of CNN. Then, Peter outlines the BBC’s latest ideas as to how it will fund itself in the streaming age where licence fee evasion costs the BBC more than £1 billion a year.Later, they discuss what we can learn from the end of Meghan Markle’s partnership with Netflix as her lifestyle brand ‘As Ever’ heads out into the world selling jam and “flower sprinkles”.Plus, Barry White running CBS News, George Osborne getting booed at the Paralympics and why a traumatic memory from Peter’s childhood inspired him to commission Robin Hood years later…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]: @InsidersTVPodThe producer is Owen Braben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimmy and Peter unpack the Banijay / All3Media merger, and ask what the creation of a €4.4bn mega indie with some 170 creative labels across 25 countries could mean for the rest of the sector. As Paramount prevail over Netflix in the battle for Warner Bros Discovery, we discuss what the future holds for Warner’s output - not least Donald Trump’s bete noire CNN.  And we talk all things BBC, and the controversy around their Bafta coverage. Plus, Everton’s new kick off strategy, the (hitherto untested) link between being good at rowing and being a good Director General, and Prince Phillip not doing a Nazi salute. 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]: @InsidersTVPodThe producer is Owen Braben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimmy and Peter welcome Lisa McGee into the studio, creator of the BAFTA and Emmy-winning Derry Girls and the writer behind Netflix’s new comedy-drama How to Get to Heaven from Belfast.Lisa explains how she moved from pure sitcom into mystery, how writers’ rooms are now her preferred way to work and why music is so central to her storytelling, even when the rights negotiations get painful.Together, they also discuss the post-Game of Thrones production boom in Northern Ireland, the challenge of balancing comedy and drama in an industry that often separates the two and whether Derry Girls might one day take to the stage….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]: @InsidersTVPodThe producer is Owen Braben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimmy and Peter chat about whether the music industry’s rights-roll-up model could ever work for television after a listener question about untapped TV archive potential. From there they tackle the thorny question of how channels like Sky still run adverts on premium subscription channels and what that says about the future of ad-funded TV. They also unpack the latest BBC cost-cutting plans ahead of charter negotiations and the Government’s BBC Green Paper consultation (including the mysteriously under-marketed “Freely”), before rounding off with the latest on the ITV–Sky/Comcast takeover talks slowing down thanks to the messy reality of splitting ITV Studios from the broadcast business.Plus, what hiring a Cabinet Secretary and a Director General has in common, Peter’s airport immigration story that inspired a cavity-search comedy sketch and a detailed account of Jimmy’s use of the fast-forward feature on his TV...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]: @InsidersTVPodThe producer is Owen Braben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimmy and Peter briefly discuss the two latest industry curveballs: fresh Westminster chat about a potential BBC–Channel 4 tie-up, and ITV squeezing ad breaks into rugby scrums, before inviting Gill Wilson into the studio…Gill Wilson is Head of Factual at Plum Pictures, the co-founder of indie label Betty and a former Channel 4 commissioning editor heading up Features and Daytime with programmes including 'Escape to the Chateau', 'Love it or List it', and 'The Supervet'.Together, they get into the differences between being a commissioner and producer when around 97% of ideas put forward by producers are met with a “no” and how the business has shifted from TV’s wilder, more maverick side in the 90s to now, where duty of care is on the rise but our producers proximity to audiences is closer than ever.Plus: Jimmy’s newspaper comment that got a Gill’s train station show stopped in its tracks, Tom Jones’ trip to the rugby and Peter's does a rendition of King Lear...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]: @InsidersTVPodThe producer is Owen Braben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimmy and Peter tune into Donald Trump’s latest reality show – the Grammys – and his threats to sue host Trevor Noah, before unpacking leaked details from a BBC board meeting about plans for a post-licence-fee future and questioning whether Channel 4 risks alienating the independent sector by expanding its in-house production.Plus, tales of World Cup hospitality, BBC executives hiding from the rain in Salford and everyone’s favourite cooking utensil: the wok…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]: @InsidersTVPodThe producer is Owen Braben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimmy and Peter kick off with a rapid roundup of the latest TV headlines like The Traitors heading to the stage, Nigella Lawson joining The Great British Bake Off and the revival of Farmer Wants a Wife in the UK, before welcoming Kenton Allen into the studio.Kenton Allen is CEO of Big Talk, one of the UK’s leading film and television production companies, and the producer behind hits including Rev, Him & Her, Mum, Friday Night Dinner, and most recently Can You Keep a Secret.Together, they discuss the origins of Ludwig and the development of its American adaptation, finding a home for Mitchell & Webb on YouTube and how AI can be used both to market new shows and uncover untapped value in archive content.Plus: unexpected encounters with listeners at urinals, how to respond when broadcasters claim they have no money and Kenton’s horror story of a US TV show cancellation…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: / @insiderstvpodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPodThe producer is Owen Braben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jimmy and Peter dig into the latest mergers and acquisitions chatter, including MediaWan’s interest in North Road and the broader risks of buying creative companies built around individual talent. Next, they chat the BBC’s decision to commission bespoke content for YouTube and what that signals about platform strategy, public service broadcasting, and where audiences are really heading. Then, they discuss Amol Rajan’s decision to step away from Radio 4’s Today programme, prompting a wider discussion about control, reach, lifestyle, and whether you should ever “quit the hit.”Plus, there’s a sighting of megastar Margot Robbie, tales of attempts to buy BBC Three for £1, Donald Trump on skis and the Sky remote that almost ended a marriage…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]: @InsidersTVPodThe producer is Owen Braben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss the potential Banijay–All3Media mega-merger and unpack why “independent TV” may soon exist in name only. They challenge headline claims that YouTube has overtaken the BBC, interrogate what those numbers really mean, and ask who actually pays for content in a platform-first world.Then, it's Netflix’s all-cash play for Warner Bros and a discussion about the fragile future of broadcast news, the economics of Sky News and Channel 4, and what happens to impartial journalism when linear television fades.Lastly, we get an update on Trump vs the BBC, with the broadcaster set to stand firm in Florida...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]: @InsidersTVPodThe producer is Owen Braben Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy are joined by Tim Hincks, co-CEO of Expectation and former global president of Endemol responsible for shows like Big Brother, Deal or No Deal, 8 Out of 10 cats, Would I Lie to You? Black Mirror, Humans and Peaky Blinders…They take a look at some predictions for what 2026 might hold, digging first into why The Traitors has made a bold format shift while it’s still on the rise (and what happens in the room when producers decide to change a hit), plus the industry’s obsession with “the next Traitors” and why copying a breakout doesn’t usually end well.Next, they examine the possibility (and possible reality) of ‘micro-budgets’, the state of play when it comes to getting scripted shows funded and whether YouTube will become the ‘undisputed king of TV’.And finally, they unpick the idea Disney may one day aquire Taylor Swift, what it would actually mean to “buy” a global superstar and why the next boardroom battle might be over individuals, not companies.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]: @InsidersTVPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, as Donald Trump files his $10bn legal action against the BBC in Florida, Jimmy and Peter ask how the corporation might best respond. And we discuss the government’s newly minted Green Paper on Charter renewal, and the alternatives being considered for the future funding of the BBC - is the licence fee the worst option, except for all the others? Plus, Jimmy’s Christmas in Memphis, Samir Shah’s breakfast, and our continued failure to secure a sponsorship deal with the Edinburgh Woollen Mill.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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss the appointment of Priya Dogra as the new Chief Exec of Channel 4. Her commercial background will doubtless be vital in helping C4 to navigate the commercial challenges it faces. But how will she approach and articulate her editorial vision for the channel? We talk all the latest twists and turns in the Netflix / Paramount bidding war for Warners. And we give ourselves an early Christmas gift by watching the "With Love, Meghan" Christmas special on Netflix and The Liz Truss Show on YouTube - do they actually have rather more in common than you might imagine? Plus, the politics of personalised parking spaces, Peter’s deeply disappointing school trip to Coventry, and is everything (including this podcast) always too long? 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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the pod comes live from the Content London TV conference. We discuss the latest in the BBC leadership saga, and ask whether you need to be a bit of a bruiser in the mould of Christopher Bland or Marmaduke Hussey to be a really effective BBC Chair? And Peter and Jimmy answer some great questions from the Content London audience - does indie production have a sustainable future; is legacy TV in terminal decline; and what’s the best (and worst) way to develop an idea? Plus, an unlikely duet with Myleene Klass, Peter’s Dickensian Christmas, and what the Americans really mean when they say “let’s circle back”.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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s another guest ep!This week Peter and Jimmy are joined by Andy Wilman, the genius producer behind Top Gear, The Grand Tour, and Clarkson’s Farm. Andy tells the story of the extraordinarily ordinary Top Gear pilot, and traces how the series grew into a record breaking TV behemoth, before unravelling slowly… and then all at once. We discuss the Top Gear team's move to Amazon and The Grand Tour (and how close Richard and James really were to staying at the Beeb). And we ask whether the Clarkson / Wilman Top Gear really had to end the way it did? Andy’s new book, Mr Wilman’s Motoring Adventure, is available now in all good bookstores, and would make an excellent Christmas present. Get it while stocks last. Maybe buy two, just to be safe. 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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss the latest fallout from the Panorama edit row, not least the Culture Secretary's suggestion that the next DG should have a news and current affairs background. Is that really the lesson to be learned from this, and what the BBC needs right now? And we talk Sky’s move to buy ITV’s broadcast business. However compelling the business case might be, isn’t it an immutable fact that consolidation of broadcasters inevitably means fewer customers for indies to sell to?Plus, all the things wrong with country music, Peter’s special loathing for the word “curate”, and what Scotland’s World Cup success tells us about the importance of live TV. 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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Jimmy and Peter unpack the extraordinary events of the last seven days at the BBC. With Tim Davie and Deborah Turness both offering their resignations, we discuss how the BBC got itself into this mess, and where it goes from here. And, as the pod comes live from the Belfast Media Festival, we ask whether there’s still an unconscious bias when it comes to nations and regions commissioning, and what more can be done to make sure broadcasters and producers really make the most of the vast pool of talent in Northern Ireland. Plus, the runners and riders to be the next DG (maybe Jimmy or Peter fancy it?), and long-suffering producer Owen makes an appearance. 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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy unpack the row over the “misleading” edit in Panorama's Trump doc. Could (and should) there be resignations? We talk Kim Kardashian’s appallingly reviewed new drama “All’s Fair”. Does being panned in the press actually put streaming audiences off, or does it simply pique their interest and make them more likely to try a show for themselves? And we dip a toe into the fascinating and fast-growing world of micro drama.Plus, our first live stage show, an idea for a new gig for Nadine Dorries, and an apology to Bruno Brookes (and Andy Peebles too).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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, with Claudia Winkleman reportedly being lined up for a BBC chat show (to be produced by Graham Norton's company), Peter and Jimmy ponder how that’s going to work in practice, and remember some chat show hits (and misses) of their own. And as Disney announce they’re ending their deal with the BBC to make Doctor Who, we ask what the future holds for the series, and whether the BBC’s cast-iron commitment to the so-called “Whoniverse" makes it a show that’s simply too big to fail?Plus, failing to book Bruno Brookes, Strictly gossip from Peter’s hairdresser, and some free advice for agents everywhere: never let your clients see the swimming pool in your second home.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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Jimmy and Peter discuss the future of Strictly, and what to make of the mid-series announcement that Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are leaving the show. As Studio Canal file their first court papers in the Paddington vs Spitting Image case, we indulge ourselves one more time in the story (and the publicity) that never stops giving. And we ask what (if anything) the results of the Our BBC, Our Future survey really tell us?Plus, Jimmy sings Sondheim, William G Stewart’s middle name, and the only commissioner (so far) ever to slam the phone down on Peter.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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy ask whether Harry and Meghan’s much-diminished first look deal with Netflix is really the “sign of strength” that Meghan claims. But lest anyone roll their eyes too hard, isn’t that blend of resilience and self-delusion exactly what every good independent producer needs? And as Banijay strike a deal that “paves the way” (but no more than that) for the return of The Inbetweeners, we talk the science and art of programme announcements. Plus, Sir Phil Redmond’s eyebrows, what to say on a first date, and the perils of swapping analogue pounds for digital pennies.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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy debate the wisdom of Studio Canal’s decision to bring legal action against Avalon over the portrayal of Paddington Bear in the new Spitting Image. Jimmy talks about the error that found its way into last Friday’s ep of Have I Got News For You, and what's happened in the days since the show went out. And we discuss the results of the latest BBC tender process, and how remarkably successful BBC Studios are at winning BBC contracts. Plus, the circuitous journey of Expectation’s Osbornes doc, Jimmy’s epic day at the Strictly record, and a shout out to our long-suffering lawyer Simon. 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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss the programmes they love that they didn’t make, but rather wish they had. And we ask what the popularity of re-watching old shows means for producers and broadcasters - if you can get consistently strong ratings playing familiar things, are you inevitably less likely to commission new stuff? Plus, the margins on drug smuggling, why the original BBC Tinker Tailor looks a bit ropey now, and the unlikely role the TalkBack cafetiere played in the history of British comedy. 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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Jimmy Kimmel returned to the air this week (and to record ratings), Peter and Jimmy reflect on the extraordinary row between ABC and the White House, and the enduring power of satire to rile thin-skinned politicians who can’t take a joke. We discuss all the news from the RTS Cambridge Convention, including the case for improved tax breaks, particularly at lower price points, in the hope that half hour comedy can benefit just as much as drama. And we say happy 70th birthday to ITV (even though, according to the newly minted Fincham Rule Of Anniversaries, that’s “not a very big deal”).Plus, a word for poor Grace Archer, a quick audition for Radio 3, and Peter patiently explains the format of a nice little satirical show called “Have I Got News For You” that he thinks Jimmy might enjoy.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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Something a bit different this week - we've got a guest!Peter and Jimmy are joined by legendary producer Andy Harries. He was Head of Comedy and Head of Drama at Granada, before setting up Left Bank Pictures in 2007. His enviable list of credits include The Royle Family, Cold Feet, The Deal, The Queen, The Crown, and Department Q.We discuss the BBC’s bemused response when they first received The Royle Family, and their resistance to the idea of a sitcom being shot single camera, without an audience (footsteps in which The Office would follow reasonably successfully just a few years later). Andy takes us back to the crucial pitch meeting where Netflix bought The Crown - a commitment to 20 hours of television across two series at £5m per hour... not a bad Friday at the office. And he talks the importance of risk taking - perhaps unsurprising from the man who sold a 10 ep series of Strike Back to Sky, having not only not read the book, but not even optioned it when he made the deal.Plus, dressing like the Beach Boys, the debt Cold Feet owes to the Golden Rose of Montreux, and pitching a show fronted by the Two Fat Ladies (even though one of them had been dead for 6 months).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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss the DG’s appearance at the Culture Media and Sport committee, and his big idea to have a “succession plan” in place for every BBC presenter, just in case they happen to become embroiled in something unsavoury. We talk Piers Morgan Uncensored, and the smart move by all involved to start playing it on 5. And as we all come to the terms with the news that Melvyn Bragg is stepping down from In Our Time after 27 years, Peter remembers the jolly old chat they had when he asked Melvyn to come and see him so he could hell him he was cancelling the South Bank Show.Plus, the Murdoch succession, Jimmy’s sartorial tips for your next parliamentary appearance, and why Jay Hunt still says the best no in the business.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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, as the all-conquering Thursday Murder Club tops the Netflix charts, we take a deep dive into the crime and detective genre. Jimmy talks about his long-running and hugely successful partnership with Jed Mercurio, and Peter tells the story of his hit series, The Chelsea Detective. And we ask, is there an unlikely common ground between cosy crime and panel shows - both perennially out of fashion with commissioners, but consistently beloved of viewers? And for writers and producers looking for their next hit crime drama, is it a safer bet to adapt a successful novel, or come up with something new?Plus, Leonard Cohen lyrics, funny scousers, and Richard Osman’s Swedish TV format that's still going strong 30 years on.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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected]: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Jimmy and Peter unpack all the news from Edinburgh, from the bad tempered sniping between Netflix and Channel 4, to the headlines from James Harding’s McTaggart lecture (or could it also be read as a 5000 word job application to be the next DG?). And, from Eric and Ern, to Brucie’s Big Night, to Trinny and Susannah, we talk the decidedly chequered history of talent who make the move from the BBC to ITV.Plus, Jimmy drafts a grumpy letter to the Times, Peter wonders if his children were all born in a barn, and the importance of pivoting to a creator economy (whatever that means). 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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Jimmy shares his highlights from the Edinburgh Fringe, and Peter tries to remember what on earth his McTaggart was about. We discuss doing comedy in the age of Trump, and South Park’s successes in riling the White House. And we talk the return of Play for Today - another smart move from 5’s Ben Frow?Plus, Jimmy’s friendly chat with Cherie Blair, the perverse logic of banning shows, and we finally answer the question that's been on everyone’s lips... is Roy Wood Jnr, the host of HIGNFY in the US, related to Roy Wood, the lead singer of Wizard (clue: no). 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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss Harry and Meghan’s newly announced Netflix first look deal, and why it’s a much diminished beast compared to the output deal they had before. As Disney+ buys up the rights to show Spanish football in the UK, we ask whether live sport is the next frontier for the streamers. And we remember Blue Peter producer Biddy Baxter, who's died at the aged of 92. An inspirational leader and maverick producer who wasn’t afraid to make enemies... and did. Plus, how to pronounce DAZN, Peter’s Blue Peter garden designer, and Jimmy’s views on his old mate Cycling Mikey. 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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, as the Edinburgh Fringe gets underway, Peter and Jimmy ask whether having success at the Fringe is still a worthwhile route for performers who want to carve out a career on television. And we talk Netflix’s new (but decidedly retro) sitcom Leanne. Given that Friends is still one of the streamer’s most watched shows, is the only surprising thing about Leanne that it’s taken Netflix quite so long to start commissioning audience sitcoms that feel like they were made in the 1990s? Plus, cocaine at Strictly, the weather in Norway, and, at long last, a definitive answer to that most pressing of questions from the world of the TV executive - how to tell the difference between Perrier and San Pellegrino. 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: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcastEmail: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPodInsiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.