Howard J. Ford makes independent horror films in genuinely terrifying locations, without blockbuster funding, in conditions that would defeat most people — and the results keep ending up on Netflix.

Howard J. Ford is a British filmmaker known for his intense, atmospheric horror thrillers, including The Dead series, The Ledge, Escape, DarkGame, and The Lockdown Hauntings — a pandemic-era production made entirely under COVID restrictions.

• The logistical nightmare of shooting a high-altitude survival thriller with a small crew and no safety net
• How a twisted game show concept evolved into the psychological horror of DarkGame
• What filming heart-racing action in exotic and frequently chaotic international locations actually involves
• What independent horror filmmaking really requires when there's no blockbuster budget to fall back on

Connect with Howard here:

• Instagram
• Facebook

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yuriko Kotani does stand-up in her second language — and has turned the specific difficulty of that into one of her greatest comic advantages.

Yuriko Kotani is a Japanese-born comedian based in London, known for winning the BBC New Comedy Award and for appearances on Live at the Apollo, Russell Howard's Stand Up Central and Comedy Central. Her clever, observational humour and unique take on cross-cultural life have built her a loyal fanbase across the UK and beyond.

• What learning stand-up in a second language forces you to understand about timing, precision and intention
• How the gap between British manners and Japanese etiquette generates material that neither culture would spot alone
• Why comedy, more than almost any other form, reveals the hidden logic of cultural assumptions

Connect with Yuriko here:

• Instagram
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Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stefania Licari trained as a doctor, became a comedian, and has been finding the overlap between those two worlds ever since — which turns out to be richer territory than either profession admits.

Stefania Licari is an Italian comedian and NHS doctor based in the UK, known for her Edinburgh Fringe solo shows Medico and Trust Me, I'm a Comedian, which draw on her experiences as a doctor, first-generation migrant, and occasional endurance runner to explore medicine, immigration, and what it means to become British.

• The turning point that led her to step away from a traditional medical career — and what made it possible
• The pressures of performing autobiographical material — and what those early Fringe runs taught her about finding her voice
• Why the skills required to be a good doctor and a good comedian overlap in ways nobody warns you about

Connect with Stefania here:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Official Website

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Dom Joly invented a format, watched it become a global phenomenon, spent years explaining why the American version wasn't quite the same thing, and has since investigated the conspiracy theory that Finland might not exist.

Dom Joly is a British comedian, broadcaster, and author best known for Trigger Happy TV, and for a career that has expanded into travel writing and conspiracy theory investigation, most recently with The Conspiracy Tourist.

• The creative risks behind Trigger Happy TV — and how something that simple became so influential
• What happened when the format travelled internationally, and why translation is always more complicated than it looks
• The misunderstood moments in his career — including This is Dom Joly and why he still wants to talk about it
• His time on Celebrity Island with Bear Grylls — what he expected and what happened
• Why conspiracy theories are more interesting as a subject than their believers

Connect with Dom here:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Official Website

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Giles Paley-Phillips runs a film company, writes children's books, produces multiple podcasts, and has found a way to keep ideas flowing that involves an unusual amount of film soundtracks. He also happened to be performing at the same Glastonbury where Steve was watching from the crowd.

Giles Paley-Phillips is a British author, screenwriter, and award-winning podcaster, co-founder of film company Eight Digits, and co-host of the podcasts Blank, A Little Bit of Positive, Unquestionable, and Things I Forgot Were Good For Me.

• How he approaches storytelling consistently across writing, filmmaking, and podcasting at the same time
• The habits that keep ideas flowing when you're managing multiple projects simultaneously
• What running your own film company teaches you about creativity that nothing else quite covers

Connect with Giles here:

• Instagram
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Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Richard Wiseman has spent his career studying luck, fear, the paranormal, and the strange edges of human behaviour — and is genuinely the most interesting person to sit next to at a dinner party.

Professor Richard Wiseman is a British psychologist, author, and magician, holder of the UK's only professorship in the public understanding of psychology, and the author of bestselling books including The Luck Factor, 59 Seconds, and Paranormality. He also hosts the podcast Richard Wiseman's On Your Mind.

• How we form beliefs around luck, fear, and the paranormal — and what the science actually says
• What lucid dreaming reveals about consciousness and the limits of the waking mind
• The blurred lines between science and experience that his research keeps returning to
• How he overcame early television nerves — and what performing magic teaches you about presence and connection

Connect with Richard here:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Otis Gunn interviews himself about his own Edinburgh Fringe show — and gets considerably more honest than expected.

In this solo episode, Steve turns the microphone on himself to explore the inspirations behind his debut Fringe show, Steve Otis Gunn is Uncomfortable — tracing the origins of his comedic voice, the personal experiences that shaped it, and why awkwardness turned out to be the richest material available.

• The 1991 moment that started everything — realising he didn't quite know what to do with his arms
• What the long gap between a comic idea and a finished hour of stand-up actually looks like from the inside
• Why awkwardness, when examined properly, turns out to contain everything worth saying
• What performing autobiographical material reveals about yourself that the writing doesn't prepare you for

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Per Lasson took a day off from filming Season 3 of a Swedish crime drama to have this conversation — and Steve cannot wait to see it!

Per Lasson is a Swedish actor known for his compelling performances across theatre, television and film, and for his role in the Swedish crime drama Tunna blå linjen, where he has become a prominent figure in Scandinavian entertainment.

• What the connections formed during a close-knit TV production do to you — and whether they last beyond the shoot
• How navigating growing recognition as an actor differs from what you imagined it would be
• Why Scandinavian television travels so well — and what the global appetite for it actually reveals
• The quirks and cultural assumptions that get lost and found in translation for international audiences

Connect with Per here:

• Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Bernie Clifton once flew in a Cold War bomber to a football match, took Oswald the Ostrich up in a microlight for a newspaper stunt, and was featured on Inside No. 9. It's been quite the ride.

Bernie Clifton is a British comedian and entertainer with a career spanning decades, beloved for his warmth, wit and prop comedy — including television appearances on 321, Crackerjack, and It's a Royal Knockout.

• The unexpected path from early ambitions through a brief RAF detour to the comedy stage
• The encouragement from Bob Monkhouse and Les Dawson that helped shape his now-iconic style
• How Oswald the Ostrich came into existence — and the surreal moment he took it up in a microlight
• What decades of live performance reveal about audiences, stamina, and why comedy endures

Connect with Bernie here:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Official Website

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jarred Christmas has been navigating the comedy industry long enough to know that the only constant is that everything keeps changing — and has built a career on being good enough to keep up with it.

Jarred Christmas is a comedian, actor, and writer originally from New Zealand, known for his sharp humour and charismatic personality across stand-up comedy and television.

• Why evolving as a performer is less of a choice and more of a survival strategy
• How balancing family life with creative work changes the kinds of projects you take on
• Why comedy can be used to engage with serious social issues — and when that works and when it doesn't
• What resilience in a creative career looks like when the industry keeps shifting under you

Connect with Jarred here:

• Instagram
• Website

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Olga Koch left computer science for stand-up, moved to a country that wasn't hers, and has been making the gap between those two worlds funnier than it has any right to be — with some help from badly edited Sex and the City reruns.

Olga Koch is a Russian-born comedian, writer, and performer based in London, known for appearances on QI, Mock the Week, and Richard Osman's House of Games, and for her critically acclaimed BBC Radio 4 series Olga Koch: OK Computer. Her solo shows include Prawn Cocktail and Olga Koch is From Money.

• What badly edited Sex and the City reruns taught a young Russian viewer about American culture
• The comedy of outsider perspectives — why coming from elsewhere gives you material the insiders can't see
• How identity, when used well, becomes a comic lens rather than just a subject

Connect with Olga here:

• Instagram
• Website

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sam Simmons has strong opinions about Come Dine With Me, Celebrity Big Brother, and the global standing of Australian sitcoms — and delivers all of them with the kind of sideways energy that makes everything funnier than it should be.

Sam Simmons is an Australian comedian, actor, and writer known for his surreal humour and absurdist style, with a career spanning multiple continents and credits including Last One Laughing Australia and multiple Edinburgh Fringe runs.

• Why Come Dine With Me and Celebrity Big Brother have become such enduring fixtures in modern pop culture — and what that says about us
• The state of Australian sitcoms and why they've yet to fully break through on the global stage
• The creative impulses behind his comedy — and how he leans into chaos, imagination, and unpredictability
• What the best absurdist comedy refuses to explain — and what happens to audiences when it doesn't

Connect with Sam here:

• Instagram
• Facebook

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Nikky Smedley is world-famous and completely unrecognisable — because she spent years inside a giant yellow suit, and was brilliant in it.

Nikky Smedley is a British performer, creative director, choreographer and writer who shot to global fame as Laa-Laa in Teletubbies. Beyond children's television, she has built a rich career in education and storytelling, working with major institutions to bring performance and creativity to classrooms, theatres and screens.

• What it was actually like inside the Laa-Laa suit — physically, psychologically and professionally
• How she brought a beloved character to life without uttering a single intelligible word
• The unexpected global reach of Teletubbies — and the equally unexpected controversy that surrounded it
• What it feels like to be world-famous without ever being personally recognised
• How she made the transition from performer to educator and creative consultant — and what that shift required

Connect with Nikky here:

• Facebook
• Amazon Books

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Trevorrow has been performing as Bob Downe for long enough that the character has had not one but two careers — including an unexpected second life with UK audiences that neither of them saw coming.

Mark Trevorrow is an Australian actor, comedian, and writer best known as Bob Downe, and for his role as Darryl in Kath & Kim. A pioneer in early digital television, he continues to perform across stage, cabaret, and screen.

• How Bob Downe found an unexpected second life with UK audiences — and what that reinvention required
• The unique demands of performing on comedy cruises — and why it's a different beast entirely
• Behind the scenes on Kath & Kim — both the beloved original and the American adaptation
• What a career built on camp charm, constant reinvention, and one very committed character teaches you about longevity

Connect with Mark here:

• Instagram
• Website

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rob Rouse arrived fresh from toe surgery, delivered an entire conversation in his unmistakably chaotic style, and somehow made TK Maxx's pant cages the intellectual centrepiece of the episode.

Rob Rouse is a British comedian and actor known for his energetic performances and quick comebacks, with appearances on Upstart Crow and 8 Out of 10 Cats, and as co-host of The Unlikely Weightlifters Podcast with Tom Wrigglesworth.

• Why canned laughter in sitcoms works the way it does — and the strange mechanics behind what makes audiences laugh
• How comedy on YouTube differs from traditional television — and whether that gap is closing or widening
• An unexpected admiration for Stacey Solomon's Sort Your Life Out — and what it reveals about the appeal of order
• The underrated genius of 1970s children's TV theme tunes — and why they've stuck around in the memory

Connect with Rob here:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Derren Brown has spent his career making the impossible seem plausible, and the plausible seem impossible — and has strong feelings about a particular spatula, which is somehow equally interesting.

Derren Brown is a master illusionist, mentalist, and bestselling author renowned for performances that blur the line between magic, psychology, and human perception, and for a career spent pushing the boundaries of what audiences think they know about their own minds.

• What a career built on the gap between what people believe and what's actually happening has taught him
• The craft of magic — and why suggestion and storytelling often matter more than technique
• A youthful shoplifting confession at Harrods — and how he frames it now
• Why the unreliability of memory is one of the most fascinating and unsettling things about being human

Connect with Derren here:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Foot has strong feelings about Heinz baked beans, finds genuine comfort in the image of Judy Murray orbiting the Earth, and once had Keith Chegwin turn up in a conversation in a way that's difficult to fully explain. A completely normal episode.

Paul Foot is a British comedian and writer renowned for his offbeat and surreal comedic style, with a career spanning stand-up, television, and radio, and a loyal fanbase drawn to his entirely unique comic voice.

• The figures and ideas that spark his imagination — and the strange places they end up taking the material
• Why the image of Judy Murray orbiting the Earth is, in context, genuinely comforting
• A surprisingly passionate critique of Heinz baked beans — and the conviction with which it's delivered
• Why comedy that doesn't try to be relatable can be more connecting than comedy that does

Connect with Paul here:

• Instagram
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• YouTube

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tony P returns for a bonus deep dive into two of the best crime dramas around — and if you haven't finished both series yet, look away now.

Tony P is a friend of the podcast and regular cultural sparring partner for Steve, returning for a detailed discussion of Fargo Season 5 and The Tourist Season 2 — spoilers very much included.

• Fargo Season 5 — the narrative direction, the standout moments, and what made it work
• The Tourist Season 2 — the evolving web of intrigue and how the character dynamics developed
• The twists and turns that neither of them saw coming — and the ones they did
• What great crime drama does with tone that lesser shows can't quite manage

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kaz Vranuch joins Steve for the final part of their in-person conversation — relaxed, wide-ranging, and honest about the parts of a creative life that don't get talked about enough.

Kaz Vranuch is a tattoo artist and friend of the podcast known for her unique designs and artistic flair, and for a passion for storytelling that extends well beyond the work itself.

• The pressures of constant creative output — and the often unseen toll it takes on the people doing it
• What a life built around making things for other people reveals about creativity and identity
• Why the conversations that happen without an agenda are often the most honest
• What it means to be a creative person outside the structures of the entertainment industry

Connect with Kaz here:

• Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kaz Vranuch is back for the third Coffee With Kaz — and the conversation goes exactly where it wants to, which is the whole point.

Kaz Vranuch is a tattoo artist and friend of the podcast known for her unique designs and artistic flair, and for being one of the most naturally engaging conversationalists the show has had on.

• Personal reflections on creativity, modern life, and the things worth paying attention to
• The kind of conversation that only happens when nobody's trying to make a point
• Whatever came up — and it's always something

Connect with Kaz here:

• Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kaz Vranuch is back for the second Coffee With Kaz — back in the old studio, back into nostalgia, and back into the kind of conversation that goes wherever it feels like going.

Kaz Vranuch is a tattoo artist and friend of the podcast known for her unique designs and artistic flair, and for a natural ease in conversation that makes every instalment of this series worth listening to.

• Nostalgia for a particular kind of growing up — and what it looks like in retrospect
• Reflections on life, media and the things that shaped both of them without either realising at the time
• The easy rhythm of a chat that has no destination and doesn't need one

Connect with Kaz here:

• Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The first Coffee With Kaz — recorded in person, no agenda, just two people talking and seeing where it goes.

Kaz Vranuch is a tattoo artist and friend of the podcast known for her unique designs and artistic flair, and for a natural ease in conversation that made this series an immediate fixture.

• Culture, memory, and everyday life — the kind of topics that only come up when nobody's trying to make them come up
• Why in-person conversation has a texture that remote recording can't quite replicate
• Where it all began — and why there was clearly going to be a second one

Connect with Kaz here:

• Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Critoph returns for a bonus mini-episode — cinema etiquette, Christmas films, and the relentless spectacle of Florida theme parks. A properly relaxed listen.

Paul Critoph is an actor and regular friend of the podcast, known for his warm, wide-ranging conversations about culture, entertainment, and the things worth arguing about.

• Why cinema etiquette has collapsed — and who is actually responsible
• A mutual appreciation for slightly cheesy Christmas films — and why that's a perfectly defensible position
• What Disney and Universal in Florida look like up close — the scale, the spectacle, and the relentless drive to maximise every visitor experience
• Whether theme park excess is a feature or a bug — and where the line is

Connect with Paul here:

• Instagram
• Facebook

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve and Chris Dobrowolski swap Fringe war stories live from Edinburgh — the creative highs, the logistical chaos, and the performances that went hilariously wrong.

Chris Dobrowolski is a British artist, performer, and sculptor known for his interactive installations, large-scale creations, and unique performances that blend comedy with visual art. A regular at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, his work explores spectacle, engagement, and the unexpected.

• Why Chris keeps coming back to Edinburgh year after year, despite everything it costs him
• How he blends humour with visual art in ways that resist easy categorisation
• What a performance that goes hilariously wrong looks like from the inside — and why the best stories always come from there
• Why Edinburgh still matters — and what it gives performers that no other festival quite replicates

Connect with Chris here:

• Instagram
• Facebook

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Janelle Niles brings a perspective to stand-up that the comedy circuit doesn't always represent — and has been building a voice around it that's impossible to ignore.

Janelle Niles is an Indigenous Canadian comedian known for her engaging storytelling and for comedy that reflects her cultural background, offering audiences a fresh perspective on contemporary issues.

• How her Indigenous Canadian identity shapes the stories she tells and the way she tells them
• What developing a genuine comedic voice requires — and why it's different from just finding material
• Why cultural specificity, far from limiting an audience, is often what makes comedy connect most broadly

Connect with Janelle here:

• Instagram
• Website

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Nicola Mantalios has thoughts on front-row audiences, the pressures faced by female comedians, and surviving a cult. The last one is not a bit.

Nicola Mantalios is a British comedian known for her engaging storytelling and candid humour, and a voice built directly from personal experience — including some experiences most people don't have.

• The nuances of balancing an onstage persona with a more authentic voice — and the extra pressure that comes with being a female comedian
• What surviving a cult actually looks like — and how you process that kind of experience without it consuming everything else
• Why the most unusual biographical material is often the most universal once it's been properly examined

Connect with Nicola here:

• Instagram
• TikTok

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Paul Critoph returns for the first annual TV debrief — a reflective look back at the television landscape of 2023, with plenty of detours along the way.

Paul Critoph is an actor and regular friend of the podcast, joining Steve for what would become a yearly tradition — two people who watch a lot of television working out what actually mattered.

• The standout series of 2023 that earned their reputation — and the ones that didn't quite
• Unexpected favourites that neither of them saw coming
• The shifting world of streaming — what it's doing to how television gets made and how it gets watched
• Why certain shows get talked about and others, equally good, quietly disappear
• What 2023 revealed about where television commissioning is heading

Connect with Paul here:

• Instagram
• Facebook

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eric Potts and Brad Fitt bring decades of pantomime experience to a festive conversation about Christmas entertainment, larger-than-life roles, and why panto endures when everything around it keeps changing.

Eric Potts is a veteran actor and writer who has graced stages across the UK with memorable panto performances. Brad Fitt is an actor and writer known for his comedic timing and engaging stage presence, and a staple of the pantomime scene year after year.

• The enduring appeal of pantomime — and why it survives in a landscape that keeps changing around it
• What it means to play larger-than-life roles, including the iconic Panto Dame
• The craft and discipline behind making panto work — and what audiences don't see from the stalls
• Why Christmas entertainment occupies a specific and irreplaceable place in British culture

Connect with Eric and Brad here:

• Eric Potts:
• Facebook
• Brad Fitt:
• Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Matt Hutchinson and Steve Otis Gunn bumped into each other on the streets of Edinburgh during the 2023 Fringe — and recorded a podcast instead of just saying hello and moving on.

Matt Hutchinson is a British writer, comedian, and doctor known for his observational humour, blending comedy with social commentary and bringing a medical background to a uniquely grounded perspective on everyday life.

• The comedy, culture, and everyday observation that surfaces when there's no pre-planned agenda
• How a medical background quietly shapes the way you see the absurdities of modern existence
• Why spontaneous conversations are sometimes the ones worth recording

Connect with Matt here:

• Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ange Lavoipierre interviewed the Australian Prime Minister at 19, has spent fifteen years navigating the tension between humour and serious journalism, and has thoughts on death, horror, and theatre terminology that all connect more than they should.

Ange Lavoipierre is an award-winning journalist and comedian, currently serving as National Technology Reporter for ABC News and host and executive producer of Schmeitgeist, an ABC podcast exploring the defining trends of the moment.

• A memorable encounter with the Australian Prime Minister at 19 — and how that formative experience shaped her approach to reporting
• The tension between humour and journalism — and what it means to balance levity with responsibility in a fast-moving digital landscape
• What absurdist comedy and serious news coverage have in common
• Finding humour in themes of death — and the personal limits that come with the horror genre

Connect with Ange here:

• Instagram
• ABC Website

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Cilla Jackert writes about police on screen with a level of complexity and social realism that most crime drama doesn't attempt — and has plenty to say about what economic pressures and artificial intelligence are doing to the craft of television writing.

Cilla Jackert is an award-winning Swedish screenwriter and novelist best known for Tunna blå linjen (Thin Blue Line), with a career spanning television, film and literature rooted in social realism and a sharp eye for human behaviour.

• The complexities of portraying police on screen responsibly — and the creative decisions involved in getting it right
• How economic pressures on production shape storytelling and character development in ways audiences rarely see
• What Scandinavian social realism brings to crime drama that other traditions don't
• Why responsibility and creativity in storytelling are not in opposition — and how she navigates both

Connect with Cilla here:

• Instagram
• IMDb

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Ben Faulks started with a street theatre act, turned it into a beloved CBeebies series, and has spent his career since finding new ways to nurture curiosity and imagination in children — including getting them to grow things.

Ben Faulks is a British actor, presenter, and author best known for creating and portraying Mr Bloom in the CBeebies series Mr Bloom's Nursery, with a background in theatre and a career spanning television, stage, and children's literature.

• How a street theatre act gradually grew into Mr Bloom's Nursery
• The world of pantomime and life on stage — and what performing live for children teaches you that nothing else does
• The Let's Grow initiative — how blending nature with imaginative play supports children's learning in ways that feel genuinely radical
• How storytelling changes when you're writing for younger audiences — the constraints, the freedoms, and the responsibility
• What a career built around nurturing creativity and imagination in children gives back to the person doing it

Connect with Ben here:

• Instagram
• Let's Grow

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Sanna Lenken and Steve Otis Gunn worked together in a London coffee shop in the late 90s — and have both ended up doing something rather different since.

Sanna Lenken is an acclaimed Swedish director and screenwriter whose debut feature My Skinny Sister won the Crystal Bear at the Berlin Film Festival, a feat she repeated with Comedy Queen — a rare double achievement. She also served as concept director on the critically acclaimed series Tunna blå linjen (Thin Blue Line).

• How My Skinny Sister came to life — and what winning the Crystal Bear at Berlin changed
• Her role as concept director on Tunna blå linjen — and how she helped shape an authentic, human portrayal of policing
• Why representation in film and television matters — and what telling stories with nuance and care actually requires

Connect with Sanna here:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• IMDb

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Ben Crompton returns to continue the conversation — and this time there's shredded paper, wintry costume conditions, and a steady flow of free merchandise that nobody warned him about.

Ben Crompton is a British actor known for his iconic role as Eddison Tollett (Dolorous Edd) in Game of Thrones, and for his work in The Full Monty TV series, Lockwood & Co., Motherland and Ideal.

• The unexpected perks of long-running success — including the steady flow of free merchandise that arrives whether you want it or not
• More anecdotes from set life across a career that spans some of British television's most distinctive shows
• Industry reflections from someone who has worked across comedy, drama, and fantasy at the highest level

Connect with Ben here:

• Instagram
• IMDb

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Anna-Jane Casey landed her first role in Cats at 16, has since worked her way through Chicago, Grease, Sweet Charity, and Fawlty Towers, and is refreshingly candid about everything the bright lights don't put on the poster.

Anna-Jane Casey is a celebrated British stage actress and singer with a career spanning more than three decades, known for her magnetic West End performances and her comedic flair in the current stage adaptation of Fawlty Towers.

• What landing Cats at 16 feels like in retrospect — the glamour and the reality of it
• The theatrical journey through Chicago, Grease, and Sweet Charity — and what each one taught her
• What it's really like to be in a room with John Cleese — and what playing Sybil actually requires
• Growing up in a performing family alongside fellow actress Natalie Casey — and what that does to your sense of normal
• The career curveballs, mental health challenges, and unglamorous realities that sit alongside the bright lights and don't get talked about enough

Connect with Anna-Jane here:

• Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Crompton played Dolorous Edd in Game of Thrones, filmed in extreme conditions, and has surprising behind-the-scenes stories from the set — and that's just part one.

Ben Crompton is a British actor known for his iconic role as Eddison Tollett (Dolorous Edd) in Game of Thrones, and for his work in The Full Monty TV series, Lockwood & Co., Motherland and Ideal.

• What filming Game of Thrones in extreme conditions actually felt like from the inside
• A wide-ranging look back at television and comedy across a long career in the industry
• What a distinctive comedic style does for an actor navigating very different genres
• The warmth and humour that runs through a career built on playing unique and memorable characters

Connect with Ben here:

• Instagram
• IMDb

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jack Docherty hosted one of the best late-night chat shows of the 90s, championed Ben Folds Five and The Divine Comedy to a wider audience, and did all of it on Channel 5 at the height of Britpop — which was either brave or mad, and probably both.

Jack Docherty is a Scottish comedian, writer, and television presenter best known for hosting The Jack Docherty Show on Channel 5 and for his work on the sketch show Absolutely.

• His early days in television and the experiences that shaped his path through the industry
• What creating Absolutely involved — and what it taught him about comedy writing and performance
• Hosting The Jack Docherty Show at the height of Britpop — the pressures, the pleasures, and the live late-night chaos
• The unexpected influence the show had on musical tastes — championing artists like Ben Folds Five and The Divine Comedy to audiences who hadn't found them yet
• How Jack navigated fame — and what the realities of it looked like from the inside

Connect with Jack here:

• Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jenny Tian went from a marketing career to viral TikTok to Taskmaster Australia — and has been learning something useful at every stage, including from the failures.

Jenny Tian is an Australian comedian, writer, and performer known for her viral TikTok videos and her growing prominence in the Australian comedy scene. She co-hosts the podcast The Parasocial Social Club and has performed solo stand-up shows at festivals worldwide.

• Building an audience online before breaking into the stand-up circuit — and what each taught her that the other didn't
• The unexpected lessons that come with a fast-moving comedy career — including the ones that only come from failure
• What finding your voice in the digital age looks like when the landscape keeps shifting under you

Connect with Jenny here:

• Instagram
• TikTok

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve interviews Steve — and it goes exactly as well as you'd imagine, which is to say chaotically, brilliantly, and ending with a musical journey through the entire 20th century.

In this unconventional solo episode, two versions of Steve Otis Gunn collide in a free-flowing exchange full of digressions, half-remembered ideas, and unexpected turns.

• Long-lost podcast ideas from 2007 — revisited and examined for signs of genius or disaster
• The inevitable digressions into biscuits, Michael Crawford, and television that might be better off forgotten
• What happens when an interview format loses control of itself — and why that's more interesting than staying on track
• A sprawling musical finale that somehow journeys through the entire 20th century

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dane Simpson arrived fresh from a sell-out Edinburgh Fringe run, reflected on inclusive casting in Australian reality TV, and somehow made the logistics of touring with multiple didgeridoos one of the highlights of the episode.

Dane Simpson is one of Australia's most in-demand comedians, known for his vibrant storytelling, quick wit, and deep connection to his Wiradjuri heritage. Hailing from Wagga Wagga, he has performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival Gala, been a fan favourite on Thank God You're Here, and competed on The Celebrity Amazing Race Australia.

• The ongoing challenges of inclusive casting in Australian reality TV — and why it still matters
• Childhood obsessions with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Pamela Anderson's V.I.P. — revisited with fresh eyes
• The surprisingly complex logistics of touring with multiple didgeridoos
• Wonderfully warm stories about his father — including his status as the fastest finger clicker in town and a uniquely adorned didgeridoo
• The curious and apparently universal phenomenon of adult magazines found in hedges

Connect with Dane here:

• Instagram
• Facebook

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Clover underwent a post-pandemic transformation so complete that friends walked past him in the street — and has since been applying that same sharp eye to Utopia, Deadwood, Life on Mars, and the unsettling legacy of Top of the Pops presenters.

Ben Clover is an award-winning stand-up comedian, writer, and performer based in London, with multiple Edinburgh Fringe appearances and writing credits across TV, radio, and print media.

• How Life on Mars might have landed differently in a post-Operation Yewtree world
• The unsettling legacy of Top of the Pops presenters — and the discomfort of revisiting something you loved
• The strange hypnotic pull of the BBC test card — and what it represents about a particular kind of television memory

Connect with Ben here:

• Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

J.J. Whitehead stumbled into the Edinburgh Fringe over two decades ago and never really looked back — and has since developed strong opinions on Canadian sketch comedy, TV licence radar vans, BitTorrent, and Naked Attraction.

J.J. Whitehead is a Canadian-born stand-up comedian, writer, and performer from Nova Scotia who moved to the UK in the early 2000s and quickly established himself on the British comedy circuit. He has performed at the Edinburgh Fringe multiple times and was a writer on The Jim Jefferies Show on Comedy Central.

• The differences between Canadian sketch comedy and sitcoms — and the influence UK comedy has had across the Atlantic
• A nostalgic detour into the era of TV licence radar vans and the brief moral grey area of BitTorrent downloads
• Naked Attraction — back again, and once more impossible to leave alone

Connect with J.J. here:

• Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve takes to the streets of Edinburgh during the 2023 Fringe with a microphone and a lot of curiosity — and the results are exactly as chaotic, funny, and unpredictable as you'd hope.

A special street interview episode featuring comedians, singers, puppeteers, playwrights, and passers-by, including Matt Hutchinson, Aimee Taylor, Moe Singleton, Bill (celebrating his 44th birthday in memorable silence), John McEwan-Whyte, Stefania Licari, and Kristina DeGiovanni.

• Matt Hutchinson on his Fringe experiences — unplanned, unfiltered and all the better for it
• Aimee Taylor on the dangers of Andrew Tate and why Sherlock deserves more credit
• Moe Singleton on Seinfeld and the unlikely ways it has shaped him
• John McEwan-Whyte's aversion to WWF, Buffy, and excessive nudity in the current television landscape
• Stefania Licari on her transition from NHS doctor to sold-out Fringe comedian
• Kristina DeGiovanni on her play The Temp, the language in Suits, and a critique of Friends that pulls no punches
• Bill, who provided a silent yet somehow memorable interview on his 44th birthday

Connect with the guests here:

• Matt Hutchinson:
• Instagram
• Mo Singleton:
• Instagram
• Aimee Taylor:
• Instagram
• Bills 44th:
• Instagram
• Stefania Licari:
• Instagram
• The Temp
• :Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chris Forbes moved to the US at 16 to play basketball, had a school presentation change the entire direction of his life, and has spent the decade since playing a Scottish police officer on television. He also has very strong feelings about Bing.

Chris Forbes is a multi-award-winning actor, writer, and stand-up comedian from Scotland, best known for his role as PC Charlie MacIntosh in BBC Scotland's Scot Squad. He has also appeared in Jonathan Creek and The Farm, is a regular panellist on BBC Radio Scotland's Breaking the News, and has supported Kevin Bridges on tour.

• What a decade playing PC Charlie MacIntosh in Scot Squad has taught him about character, commitment, and comedy
• His love for Dawson's Creek, The Two Ronnies, and The Lakes — and what each of them represents
• A surprisingly passionate aversion to reality television and the search engine Bing

Connect with Chris here:

• Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After some early technical hiccups, Steve and Chris Dobrowolski ditched the usual format, switched to voice notes, and accidentally made one of the most personal episodes the podcast has produced.

Chris Dobrowolski is a British artist, performer, and sculptor known for his interactive installations, large-scale creations, and performances that blend comedy with visual art, and a regular at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

• How Chris's family background has shaped his artistic projects in ways he's still working out
• The blending of performance art, comedy, and visual storytelling that resists easy categorisation
• Clips from Steve's 2003 Trans-Siberian audio diary — and what they reveal about the person recording them
• Why unplanned episodes are often the most honest ones

Connect with Chris here:

• Instagram
• Facebook

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mike Lukas was once Jason Sudeikis's roommate at Second City, happened to be performing in Las Vegas on 9/11, and has since written books about the mechanics of comedy and appeared on The Tonight Show, not necessarily in that order.

Mike Lukas is an American stand-up comedian known for his dynamic performances and appearances on The Tonight Show and Conan, and for his Funny Muscle books, which offer a behind-the-scenes look at the craft and mechanics of comedy.

• What his Lithuanian heritage brings to a comedy voice that defies easy categorisation
• The craft behind the Funny Muscle books — and what writing about comedy teaches you about doing it
• The Second City pranks with then-roommate Jason Sudeikis — and the diverging trajectories that followed
• Why watching someone else's version of success up close is one of the most clarifying experiences available

Connect with Mike here:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

James Freedman can steal your wallet, watch, and phone in sequence without you noticing — and has turned that into a career advising film productions, educating law enforcement, and performing on stage.

James Freedman is a British entertainer and deception expert known for his theatrical pickpocketing performances and his consultancy work on film and television productions. He works with security professionals and law enforcement to highlight vulnerabilities in personal and organisational security.

• The psychology behind misdirection — what it really reveals about human attention and how easily it can be controlled
• How sleight-of-hand skills translate into powerful live performance — and the craft required to make it look effortless
• The moral dimensions of using deception as entertainment — and where James draws the line
• Behind the scenes on major film and television productions — what consulting on pickpocketing actually involves

Connect with James here:

• Website
• Facebook

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Steve Keyworth wrote a Doctors episode called The Joe Pasquale Problem, co-wrote a film starring Kelsey Grammer, curated acts including Damon Albarn and Jo Brand whilst performing inside the pods of the London Eye, and has strong opinions on urinal etiquette and baked potatoes. A career of genuine range.

Steve Keyworth is a seasoned British writer and director whose credits span Casualty, Doctors, and the film Breaking the Bank, alongside innovative theatre work including the remarkable Flight 5065 project at the London Eye.

• The story behind co-writing Breaking the Bank with Kelsey Grammer — and what that collaboration involved
• Flight 5065 — the fascinating project in which various acts performed inside the pods of the London Eye
• The unwritten rules of urinal etiquette

Connect with Steve here:

• Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jay Lafferty gave herself a concussion learning pole dancing for her Edinburgh show, navigated a decade-long IVF journey with characteristic honesty and humour, and looked after a newborn during a global pandemic. She makes all of it funny, which is the thing.

Jay Lafferty is a Scottish comedian and writer known for her witty observational humour and relatable storytelling across stand-up, television, and podcasting, and for a refreshingly honest approach to the challenges of life.

• Introducing her kids to the Marvel universe — and the particular minefield that involves
• The realities of looking after a newborn during a global pandemic — and what that does to your sense of normal
• The emotional pull of being away from your kids for extended periods — and what touring actually costs

Connect with Jay here:

• Instagram

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Daniel Muggleton is straight-talking, wears a red tracksuit, and is not interested in pretending things are fine when they aren't

Daniel Muggleton is an Australian stand-up comedian known for his candid humour and distinctive red tracksuit, with appearances at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Edinburgh Fringe, and as co-host of the podcast Flog Cabin.

• The journey from the Australian comedy scene to global stages — and what that transition actually required
• Why Seinfeld still hits all the right notes — and what it understands about comedy that other shows don't
• The uncomfortable legacy of blackface in recent Australian television — tackled with the directness you'd expect

Connect with Daniel here:

• Instagram
• Facebook

Originally released under the podcast's former name: Television Times.

Find us on social media — links on the About page.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.