Explore every episode of the podcast Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| “70 Up” and the 7 Up Films | Learning British | 26 Sep 2026 | 00:37:09 | |
“Give me a child until he is seven and I will give you the man…” Sam and Natalia watch the final film in the UP series, 70 UP. UP is a documentary series that chronicles the lives of ten boys and four girls as they grow older. Starting in 1964, filmmakers have returned to each of the original fourteen participants every seven years to see what has happened in the intervening years. The documentaries have developed a cult following, and provoke existential questions relating to age, expectations, and human existence. Sam introduces Natalia to the final film in the series, 70 UP, which was recently released in two episodes on ITV. Topics of conversation include Pixar's UP, Michael Apted and Asif Kapadia, sexism, Eton, roasting BOYHOOD, the BFI Southbank, HARRY POTTER, Rooney Mara, Marvel, unconscious bias training, how race plays a part in British culture and history, being born out of wedlock, Simon Says, and the British class system. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The 2026 Booker Prize Shortlist | Learning British | 23 Sep 2026 | 00:36:20 | |
Sam and Natalia visit the Southbank Centre in London as the 2026 Booker Prize shortlist is revealed. The Booker Prize is a literary award given to the best English-language novel published each year. After attending the 2026 shortlist announcement on September 22nd, Sam and Natalia go through their thoughts on each book. Intro: 00:00 - 05:50 THE END OF EVERYTHING by M. John Harrison: 05:50 - 08:04 THE DISAPPEARERS by Marlon James: 08:04 - 13:23 BLACK BAG by Luke Kennard: 13:23 - 17:12 MAY WE FEED THE KING by Rebecca Perry: 17:12 - 21:08 THE THINGS WE NEVER SAY by Elizabeth Strout: 21:08 - 23:45 JOHN OF JOHN by Douglas Stuart: 23:45 - 28:14 Conclusion: 28:14 - 36:20 Topics of conversation include FLESH by David Szalay, pronouncing Québec, The National Book Award, Natalia's cough, insiders, DOCTOR WHO, Asimov and Vonnegut, THE NEW YORKER, expensive books, The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, books that are over 600 pages long, A BRIEF HISTORY OF SEVEN KILLINGS, Raymond Antrobus, Russell T Davies and TIP TOE, cringe, campus novels, Michael Fassbender's BLACK BAG, trampolinists, judging books by their covers, divisive American politics, remote Scottish islands, SHUGGIE BAIN, and this week's episode of LEARNING BRITISH. Here's the article we used to guide our conversation: "Booker Prize judges reveal shortlisted novels after selection 'tussle'", written by Ian Youngs for the BBC. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| "Lie to Me": How the War on Terror Changed TV w/ Tim Roth | Learning British | 12 Sep 2026 | 00:28:32 | |
Sam and Natalia, for some reason, watch all three seasons and forty-eight episodes of the mostly forgotten American crime drama TV show, LIE TO ME. LIE TO ME is an American crime drama television show that aired on Fox from 2009 to 2011. It follows Dr. Cal Lightman (Tim Roth), and his friends and colleagues, who assist in criminal and civil investigations by 'truth-checking' suspects; the show purports to demonstrate that their 'truth-checking' methods, based on a mixture of body language and microexpressions, are reflected in real-life psychology. Sam and Natalia watch all of LIE TO ME to help answer the question on everyone's lips: why, exactly, are Sam and Natalia watching this show? Topics of conversation include the CSI: NY theme song, the war on terror, consistently declining viewership, dinnertime TV, BONES, British main characters in American TV shows, nostalgia, HOUSE and SHERLOCK, George Bush to Barack Obama, social media, the ridiculous length of American TV shows, the most insane actor cameos of all time, an accidental BREAKING BAD cast reunion, Dr. Lie-man, and Zendaya's entire filmography. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Jon Ronson, "The Castle", and Masculinity | Learning British | 29 Aug 2026 | 00:37:00 | |
Sam introduces Natalia to Jon Ronson and his new book, THE CASTLE, in this thrilling episode of the LEARNING BRITISH podcast. THE CASTLE (or Adventures in a World of Unravelling Men) is a 2026 book by acclaimed journalist Jon Ronson. THE CASTLE follows Ronson as he investigates a mysterious castle in rural Connecticut. Topics of conversation include Jon Ronson discovering Alex Jones in THEM, JK Rowling, SO YOU'VE BEEN PUBLICLY SHAMED, Louis Theroux, FRANK, messaging people on Instagram, THE SIMPSONS, the manosphere, why nobody is talking about the male loneliness epidemic, overheard conversations, Chris Mark and 101 PRINCESSES, Andrew Tate, EYES WIDE SHUT, why absolutely nobody is talking about the male loneliness epidemic, Hugh Hefner, biohacking being the crypto of lifestyle content, IF BOOKS COULD KILL, Armie Hammer and Graham Linehan, and, seriously guys, why is nobody talking about the male loneliness epidemic? Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #9. Interstellar (2014) | Christopher Nolan Ranked | 15 Aug 2026 | 00:33:51 | |
Sam and Natalia continue their Christopher Nolan retrospective by watching and reviewing his ninth film, INTERSTELLAR. INTERSTELLAR (2014) is a science-fiction film directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Matthew McConaughey, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Chastain, Bill Irwin, Ellen Burstyn, and Michael Caine. It follows a group of astronauts who travel through space in search of a new home for humanity. INTERSTELLAR is often considered a marmite film, with some people loving it and some people hating it. What will Sam and Natalia think? Topics of conversation include Timothée Chalamet, that random Matt Damon cameo, the main character's pointless son, 'Pocketful of Sunshine' in EASY A, the eclipse, the power of love, the ending of Spielberg's A.I. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, "Do not go gentle into that goodnight", the 2001 references, the word 'daddy', and Harry Styles. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #8. The Dark Knight Rises (2012) | Christopher Nolan Ranked | 01 Aug 2026 | 00:22:54 | |
Sam and Natalia watch and review Christopher Nolan's eighth film, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES. THE DARK KNIGHT RISES (2012) is the superhero-action sequel to BATMAN BEGINS and THE DARK KNIGHT. Eight years after the events of THE DARK KNIGHT, a retired Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) is forced to return to his Batman persona to save Gotham from Bane (Tom Hardy). The film also stars Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Anne Hathaway, and Marion Cotillard. Will Sam and Natalia like the final instalment of THE DARK KNIGHT trilogy? Topics of conversation include dog bones, Tom Hardy's Bane voice, adaptation and GAME OF THRONES, Cotillard's infamous dying scene, plot holes and choppy scripts, stupid police officers, Gotham being New York City, storming Area 51, Heath Ledger's Joker, the logic of January 6th and why people follow Trump, Epiphany Day, "WHERE'S THE TRIGGEEER?!", the male loneliness epidemic, rooting for the billionaire, Liam Neeson's cameo, THE GODFATHER, and why THE DARK KNIGHT RISES is secretly right-wing propaganda. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Odyssey | Christopher Nolan Ranked | 19 Jul 2026 | 00:24:13 | |
Sam and Natalia watch and review Christopher Nolan's THE ODYSSEY. THE ODYSSEY (2026) is a film adaptation of Homer's ancient Greek poem, starring Matt Damon as Odysseus, the King of Ithaca. Sam and Natalia jump ahead in their Christopher Nolan retrospective series to find out if his new film is worth the hype. Topics of conversation include England in the FIFA World Cup, Odyseusz, iPhone faces, the singular version of Cyclopes, Cyclopiea, that stupid Helen of Troy controversy, translation, OPPENHEIMER, and what Nolan left out of THE ODYSSEY. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review.
‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK.
In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity.
You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #7. Inception (2010) | Christopher Nolan Ranked | 18 Jul 2026 | 00:26:51 | |
Sam and Natalia spend the UK premiere of THE ODYSSEY rewatching Christopher Nolan's seventh film, INCEPTION. INCEPTION (2010) is a science-fiction action film starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Dom Cobb, a thief who steals information by infiltrating the dreams of his targets. The film also stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Tom Hardy, Elliot Page, Marion Cotillard, Cillian Murphy, and Ken Watanabe. Is INCEPTION as good as people remember? Sam and Natalia find out. Topics of conversation include dead wives, VENOM, Obamna, movie-movies, Barbenheimer, stupid dream rules, the humanity of THE DARK KNIGHT, the name of the main character from AVATAR, Penrose stairs, the mythological Ariadne, inconsistent logic, INCEPTION memes, Batman returns, IMAX, and Nolan's worst films. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review.
‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK.
In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity.
You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Inbetweeners Movie(s) | Learning British | 04 Jul 2026 | 00:28:24 | |
Sam and Natalia finish THE INBETWEENERS with the show's two film adaptations, THE INBETWEENERS MOVIE and THE INBETWEENERS 2. THE INBETWEENERS MOVIE (2011) and THE INBETWEENERS 2 (2014) are coming-of-age teen comedy films based on the E4 sitcom, THE INBETWEENERS. Written by series creators Damon Beesley and Iain Morris, the INBETWEENERS movies act as the de facto finale of the classic British sitcom. Will Sam and Natalia let loose in Malia and Australia, or will they be flying back home early? Topics of conversation include pre-Trump comedy, Theo James, stupid teenagers, Sixth Form, showing the disgusting bits, Donovan the bully, THE WORLD'S END, Flanderization, the exam scene, rich Surrey kids, not enjoying university, AT HOME WITH THE BUCKLEYS, and briefcase banter. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Inbetweeners | Learning British | 20 Jun 2026 | 00:30:57 | |
Sam and Natalia take a reprieve from their Nolan series to watch and review the British cult-comedy classic, THE INBETWEENERS. THE INBETWEENERS is a British coming-of-age sitcom that aired on E4 from 2008 to 2010. The series follows the cringe-inducing misadventures of four awkward Sixth Formers: Will McKenzie (Simon Bird), Simon Cooper (Joe Thomas), Jay Cartwright (James Buckley), and Neil Sutherland (Blake Harrison). Generally considered one of Britain's best sitcoms, Sam and Natalia rewatch all three seasons to see if the show has aged like wine or aged like milk. Topics of conversation include the American INBETWEENERS remakes, Russell Brand's Bible, popular kids, Ricky Gervais versus woke, LITTLE BRITAIN and blackface, Matt Lucas, Gen Z hating Facebook, "Oooo, friends!", MISFITS, sitcoms you can't make anymore, that "I'm in me mums car, broom broom" bloke, Bebo and Myspace, classism, Benji the dog, Jay's dad, Airbenders, THE INBETWEENERS movies, Piers Morgan, "Feisty one, you are!", stressful exams, and the portrayal of women in THE INBETWEENERS. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Tip Toe w/ Alan Cumming and David Morrissey | Learning British | 08 Jun 2026 | 00:34:10 | |
Sam and Natalia sit down and watch Russell T Davies' new contemporary LGBTQ+ drama, TIP TOE. TIP TOE (2026) is a limited television series released on Channel 4. It follows Leo Struthers (Alan Cumming), a bar owner on Canal Street in Manchester's gay village, who becomes embroiled in a feud with his next-door neighbour, Clive Goss (David Morrissey). The show also stars Elizabeth Berrington as Stephanie Dale, Iz Hesketh as Zee, and Paul Rhys as Melba. Sam and Natalia review all five episodes of TIP TOE. Topics of conversation include DADDY ISSUES, Alan Cumming's sexuality, toxic masculinity, DOCTOR WHO, bi-erasure, John Waters and Werner Herzog, IT'S A SIN, Richard Dawkins and the definition of binary, CUCUMBER, jumping forward in time, soap opera two-hander episodes, NOLLY, writers vs. directors, Ernest Hemingway, queer joy, ROMEO AND JULIET, social media, final episode twists, "We live in a society", Polish characters, stupid bigots, perversion of the English language, trans colours, Olly Alexander breaking the fourth wall, and the Saint George's Cross. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #6. The Dark Knight (2008) | Christopher Nolan Ranked | 06 Jun 2026 | 00:26:20 | |
Sam and Natalia watch the most famous and acclaimed Christopher Nolan film, THE DARK KNIGHT. THE DARK KNIGHT (2008) is the superhero-action sequel to BATMAN BEGINS. The film follows Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), Commissioner Gordon (Gary Oldman), and Harvey 'Two-Face' Dent (Aaron Eckhart) as they attempt to dismantle organised crime in Gotham, until their plans are derailed by Batman's most notorious villain, the Joker (Heath Ledger). You know what THE DARK KNIGHT is. We know what THE DARK KNIGHT is. Is it overrated? Or merely 'rated'? Topics of conversation include whether THE DARK KNIGHT is overrated, BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN, Jared Leto being a better Joker than Heath Ledger, not liking THE DARK KNIGHT to be cool, popcorn flicks, meaty plots, subtitling the Batman voice, "Thiscityjustproveditselfreadytobelieveingood", Maggie Gyllenhaal versus Katie Holmes, "Like a leper!", and 10 THINGS I HATE ABOUT YOU. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #5. The Prestige (2006) | Christopher Nolan Ranked | 30 May 2026 | 00:29:29 | |
Sam and Natalia continue their Christopher Nolan series by watching and reviewing his fifth film, THE PRESTIGE. THE PRESTIGE (2006) is a mystery-thriller following two rival magicians, Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale), in turn-of-the-century London. The film also stars Michael Caine as John Cutter, Scarlett Johansson as Olivia Wenscombe, Rebecca Hall as Sarah Borden, and David Bowie as Nikola Tesla. One of Sam's favourite Nolan films, will Natalia feel the magic? Topics of conversation include PRISONERS, looking up film spoilers on your phone before you've seen the movie, NOW YOU SEE ME, predicting the plot twist, DOCTOR WHO, clones, massive clues, fishbowls, Christian Nolan, two dead wives in a Nolan film, empty vessels, Katie Holmes, twins and doubles, Salieri and Mozart, homoerotic tension between Jackman and Bale, THE DARK KNIGHT, and THE INBETWEENERS (yes, really). Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #4. Batman Begins (2005) | Christopher Nolan Ranked | 23 May 2026 | 00:32:31 | |
Prepare for back-to-back BATMAN BEGINS as Sam and Natalia continue their Christopher Nolan retrospective. BATMAN BEGINS (2005) is a superhero-action film which tells the origin story of Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) becoming the titular icon. Following the death of his parents, Bruce Wayne fights to stop Ra's al Ghul (Liam Neeson) and the Scarecrow (Cillian Murphy) with the help of his butler, Alfred (Michael Caine), and his childhood friend, Rachel Dawes (Katie Holmes). Made partly in response to Joel Schumacher's critically panned BATMAN & ROBIN, BATMAN BEGINS started Nolan's successful DARK KNIGHT TRILOGY. But does the first film in the franchise hold up? Topics of conversation include bad performances, the economics of being Batman, Joel Schumacher's BATMAN & ROBIN, the acclaim of THE DARK KNIGHT, awful dialogue, what DC Comics stands for, why women don't like Christopher Nolan, writing dissertations on Thanos, writing dissertations on DOCTOR WHO, insect-based superheroes, Tim Burton, The Joker, mute mothers, MARTHAAAAA, loving justice, films over two hours, Hugh Jackman, LES MIS, Tom Hooper in director's jail for CATS, and THE PRESTIGE. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review.
‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK.
In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity.
You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Misfits | Learning British | 16 May 2026 | 00:40:21 | |
Sam and Natalia watch and review the E4 classic, MISFITS. MISFITS is a science fiction dramedy TV show which follows a group of young offenders sentenced to work at a community service centre. After the titular misfits -- Nathan (Robert Sheehan), Simon (Iwan Rheon), Kelly (Lauren Socha), Alisha (Antonia Thomas), and Curtis (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) -- acquire supernatural powers based on their personalities, they must come together to fight the odd forces surrounding them. Initially acclaimed during its first two seasons, MISFITS lost its cultural cachet following the widely publicised departure of Robert Sheehan. Is MISFITS as good as people remember? Or was Robert right to leave? Sam and Natalia find out. Topics of conversation include THE BOYS, American superheroes, why Robert Sheehan left MISFITS, Ramsay Bolton, DOCTOR WHO, nostalgia, This Group of Teenagers Don't Fit In, outdated language, shows you couldn't make today, Flanderization, Joseph Gilgun as Rudy, the male loneliness epidemic, Toby Whithouse's BEING HUMAN, character archs, UNBREAKABLE, the milk guy, Nathan's departure, greyscaling phones, Curtis becomes a feminist, Dustin Hoffman in TOOTSIE, revolving cast doors, and why season four and five are so bad. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #3. Insomnia (2002) | Christopher Nolan Ranked | 09 May 2026 | 00:26:26 | |
Sam and Natalia prepare for the release of THE ODYSSEY by watching Christopher Nolan's third film, INSOMNIA. INSOMNIA (2002) is a neo-noir thriller film directed by Christopher Nolan and written by Hillary Seitz. The film follows two Los Angeles detectives, Will Dormer (Al Pacino) and Hap Eckhart (Martin Donovan), who start investigating the murder of teenager Kay Connell (Crystal Lowe) in Nightmute, Alaska. After Will accidentally shoots his partner, he conspires to hide his crime while trying to bring Kay Connell's killer, Walter Finch (Robin Williams), to justice. Generally considered Nolan's weakest -- and possibly most underrated -- film, Sam and Natalia find out if the world is sleeping on INSOMNIA. Topics of conversation include pineapple on pizza, fascism, pronouncing insomnia, no chairs on film sets, Robin Williams as the villain, ONCE UPON A TIME... IN HOLLYWOOD, movies for men, not getting to sleep, getting into Guy Pearce's head, missed opportunities, Hilary Swank, Warner Bros., "I like stories", detectives detecting, whether Al Pacino meant to shoot his partner, foggy terrains, George Clooney and Robert Pattinson, Joel Schumacher's BATMAN & ROBIN, "Ice to meet you", Rotten Tomatoes, the Cyclops and Sirens from THE ODYSSEY, Matt Damon, women in Nolan films, RACHEEEL, and really good memes. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/skywastherobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/LearningBritish/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #2. Memento (2000) | Christopher Nolan Ranked | 02 May 2026 | 00:41:21 | |
Sam and Natalia continue their preparation for THE ODYSSEY by watching Christopher Nolan's second film, MEMENTO. MEMENTO (2000) is a neo-noir thriller film written and directed by Christopher Nolan. Based on a short story by Nolan's brother, MEMENTO follows Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce), a man with anterograde amnesia who cannot retain short-term memories. On a mission to catch and kill the man who murdered his wife (Jorja Fox), Leonard suspects that his elaborate memory-system of photographs, notes, and tattoos is being manipulated after he encounters a bartender called Natalie (Carrie-Anne Moss) and a suspicious police officer called "Teddy" (Joe Pantoliano). MEMENTO is one of Sam's favourite films. But will Natalia feel the same way? Topics of conversation include FINDING DORY, alzheimer's, bad amnesia jokes, BBC One, film degrees and film bros, Jonathan Nolan's "Memento Mori" short story, better budgets, Brad Pitt, non-linear storytelling, a chronological version of MEMENTO, why nobody wants to cast Alec Baldwin anymore, improving FOLLOWING, Joe Pesci, Joe Pantoliano, annoying Nolan fans, wetting Natalia's board, male writing for male audiences, SHUTTER ISLAND, Stephen T-something, CollegeHumor and Smosh, first-person perspective, third-person perspective, fourth-person perspective, Tim Roth in FUNNY GAMES, voyeurism, good gags, awkward politics, not liking The New York Times, mansplaining, understanding TENET, Comic Sans, Shrek's size, Letterboxd, and INSOMNIA. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #1. Following (1998) | Christopher Nolan Ranked | 25 Apr 2026 | 00:28:03 | |
Sam and Natalia prepare for the release of THE ODYSSEY by watching Christopher Nolan’s first ‘official’ film, FOLLOWING. FOLLOWING (1998) is a British neo-noir crime film written and directed by Christopher Nolan in his feature-length debut, filmed on black-and-white 16mm and produced on a shoestring budget. It tells the story of a man (Jeremy Theobald) who follows strangers around London before he is drawn into the criminal underworld by a strange woman (Lucy Russell) and an enigmatic burglar named Cobb (Alex Haw). Is FOLLOWING a good film? Or is it a false start? Sam and Natalia watch to find out. Topics of conversation include micro-budgets, Chandler Bing, student films, creepy men, OPPENHEIMER, humility, Christopher Nolan tropes, non-linear storytelling, TV shows with feature-length episodes, STRANGER THINGS, the SHERLOCK finale, hunger for knowledge, coffee, RICK AND MORTY, male audiences, Nolanesque fantasies, Batman, Nora Ephron, Tom Hanks, understanding what is happening in a Nolan film, Leonardo DiCaprio in REVOLUTIONARY ROAD, dead love interests, Jeremy Theobald in BATMAN BEGINS and TENET, intelligence, smart action movies, FIGHT CLUB, different timelines, Damien Chazelle's WHIPLASH short film, and the MEMENTO disease. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Christopher Nolan Ranked | 18 Apr 2026 | 00:12:38 | |
In the lead-up to THE ODYSSEY, Sam and Natalia begin their Christopher Nolan watch-along series by immediately arguing about Christopher Nolan's films. Topics of conversation include whether Nolan is British, Steven Spielberg directing OPPENHEIMER, normies, "I'm in the Mood for Dancing", watching films in the cinema, why people who like THE DARK KNIGHT are annoying, BARBIE, Jordan Peele, getting tickets to see THE ODYSSEY, the box office, blank cheques, pursuing filmmaking with no money, two wolves, the premise of FOLLOWING, disliking INTERSTELLAR, the medical condition from MEMENTO, and whether MAN OF STEEL counts as a Christopher Nolan film. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review.
‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK.
In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity.
You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Every 28 DAYS LATER Film Ranked | 11 Apr 2026 | 02:19:25 | |
Sam and Natalia watch, review, and rank all four 28 DAYS LATER films. Intro: 00:00 - 01:09 28 DAYS LATER: 01:09 - 26:12 28 WEEKS LATER: 26:12 - 01:05:02 28 YEARS LATER: 01:05:02 - 01:51:48 THE BONE TEMPLE: 01:51:48 - 02:12:34 Final ranking: 02:12:34 - 02:19:25 Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review.
‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK.
In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity.
You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Bone Temple (28 Years Later) | Learning British | 04 Apr 2026 | 00:20:46 | |
Sam and Natalia finish their 28 DAYS LATER retrospective by reviewing Nia DaCosta's 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE. 28 YEARS LATER: THE BONE TEMPLE is the fourth (and, currently, final) entry in the 28 DAYS LATER film series, staring Ralph Fiennes, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman, and Chi Lewis-Parry. The film follows Spike as he is adopted into "Sir Lord" Jimmy Crystal's satanic cult while Dr Kelson makes an unexpected connection with Samson, an Alpha Infected. Despite underperforming at the box office, Nia DaCosta's turn in the director's seat garnered critical acclaim. But do Sam and Natalia feel the same way? And what does a film, directed by an American, say about British culture? Topics of conversation include CANDYMAN and THE MARVELS, terrible movie titles, Jimmy Savile, whether there will be another 28 YEARS LATER film, Poochie from Itchy & Scratchy, HARRY POTTER, lockdown London, I AM LEGEND, Justin Trudeau and Louis Theroux, GAVIN & STACEY, psychopaths, Letterboxd, LEARNING POLISH, punishment, crucifixion, Satan, snacks, sampling biases, and bad jokes. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 28 Years Later | Learning British | 28 Mar 2026 | 00:46:46 | |
Sam and Natalia continue their watchalong of the 28 DAYS LATER films with the second sequel, 28 YEARS LATER.
28 YEARS LATER is a 2025 zombie horror film starring Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O'Connell, Alfie Williams, and Ralph Fiennes. It follows Spike, a boy living in a post-apocalyptic Britain, who undertakes a hazardous journey with his ill mother.
After their cold reaction to 28 WEEKS LATER, will Sam and Natalia like 28 YEARS LATER with Danny Boyle back in the director’s chair?
Topics of conversation include Sam's New Yorker subscription, Alex Garland, guessing the twist ending, Cillian Murphy cameos, NOT GOING OUT, the pigeon lady from HOME ALONE 2, Catholic religious imagery, the scariness of VHS, disturbing TELETUBIES, Margot Robbie, HOODWINKED!, Ingerland, sheep in Wales, the St George’s Cross, the woke police, iPhone ringtones, the effect of World War II on British culture, boots, boots, boots, "If you fancy the Jonas Brothers", M. Night Shyamalan’s THE VILLAGE, Brexit, millennial bacon love, ELVIS, stupid characters in horror films, I AM LEGEND, memento mori, and really bad Jimmys.
Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review.
‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK.
In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity.
You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 28 Weeks Later | Learning British | 21 Mar 2026 | 00:38:50 | |
Sam and Natalia continue their listener-requested 28 DAYS LATER watchalong by reacting to its first sequel, 28 WEEKS LATER. 28 WEEKS LATER is a 2007 zombie horror film directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, starring Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Harold Perrineau, and Idris Elba. Set six months after the events of the first film, 28 WEEKS LATER follows two young children (portrayed by Mackintosh Muggleton and Imogen Poots) who accidentally reintroduce the rage virus to London after breaking out of a NATO-enforced quarantine zone. Generally considered weaker than its predecessor, 28 WEEKS LATER has since been critically reappraised as an 'underrated' sequel. Is it? Sam and Natalia find out. Topics of conversation include mispronouncing Spanish names, that viral opening scene, running away, THE BONE TEMPLE, that FAMILY GUY gag about logos, BONES AND ALL, too much pasta, metaphors for the 2008 financial crisis, Natalia's scary toe, famous last words, speeding up TikToks, old people sacrificing themselves, THE TRAITORS, the opening scene of SCREAM, human morality, Nicholas Hoult's zombie movie, bad writing, stupid children, hilariously terrible London geography in films and TV shows, the BFI, filming outside 10 Downing Street, Gordon Brown, the DLR, 28 MONTHS LATER, the Jeremy Renner app, the Idris Elba subreddit, and YOU. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 28 Days Later | Learning British | 14 Mar 2026 | 00:25:03 | |
Is 28 DAYS LATER the best British horror film? Sam and Natalia sit down and watch Danny Boyle’s 2002 horror masterpiece. 28 DAYS LATER (2002) follows Jim (Cillian Murphy), a bicycle courier who awakens from a coma to discover that the accidental release of a highly contagious, aggression-inducing virus has caused the collapse of the UK. Joining forces with Selena (Naomie Harris), Frank (Brendan Gleeson), and Hannah (Megan Burns), Jim seeks refuge in war-torn Manchester, hoping to find protection under the guard of Major Henry West (Christopher Eccleston). A specific request from a long-time listener of the podcast prompts Sam and Natalia to sit down and watch this early 2000s British classic. Topics of conversastion include Susan Boyle, guerrilla filmmaking, empty London, the song from that famous Cadbury advert, SCOOBY-DOO ON ZOMBIE ISLAND, Catholicism, priests, fast zombies, the immortal Reddit snail, IT FOLLOWS, Jordan Peele's films, the Loch Ness Monster, COVID-19, St Thomas' Hospital, pithecophobia, Brexit, PETA ruining the world, Letterboxd reviews, and 28 WEEKS LATER's viral opening scene. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Traitors (Series 4) | Learning British | 24 Jan 2026 | 00:36:18 | |
Sam and Natalia begin the 2026 season of the LEARNING BRITISH podcast by watching and reviewing series four of THE TRAITORS.
THE TRAITORS is a British reality TV show hosted by Claudia Winkleman. The show features a group of contestants participating in a social deduction game in which a small group of contestants become Traitors, who must work together to eliminate the Faithfuls. Series Four features twenty-two players, with Stephen, Rachel, Hugo, and Fiona donning the famous Traitor cloaks.
Topics of conversation include the Year of the Fire Horse, elaborate podcast studios, Russian psychological games, the American TRAITORS, viewing figures, generational divides, Secret Traitors, Hugo and Linda, the Fiona outburst, interrupting people at the Round Table, feminism, queen behaviour, influencers, James Corden with Justin Bieber, banishment, setting cats among the pigeons, THE HUNGER GAMES, Harry from Series Two, yelling, “Who is keeping me in this game?”, Alan Carr on THE CELEBRITY TRAITORS, family trees, who won THE TRAITORS series four, and 28 DAYS LATER.
Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review.
‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK.
In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity.
You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #13. Hogwarts Legacy is bad, actually | 08 Nov 2025 | 00:34:56 | |
Sam and Natalia finish their HARRY POTTER series by playing and reviewing HOGWARTS LEGACY. HOGWARTS LEGACY is a 2023 action role-playing game developed by Avalanche Software and published by Portkey Games. Set in the 1890s at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the player takes on the role of a fifth-year wizarding student (voiced by Sebastian Croft or Amelia Gething) who must use ancient magic to bring down Ranrok, the leader of a goblin rebellion, and Victor Rookwood, the leader of a group of Dark Wizards. Sam and Natalia cap off the 2025 season of the LEARNING BRITISH podcast with HOGWARTS LEGACY. Topics of conversation include millionaires, the new HBO TV show, following traffic rules in GRAND THEFT AUTO, Arthur Conan Doyle, fanfiction, TWILIGHT, Vines, separating art from the artist, privately owned Scottish castles, brain mould, POKÉMON BRILLIANT DIAMOND, transgender barmaids, Pottermore, J. K. Rowling’s descent into madness, British awkwardness, Piccadilly Circus, THE SUN and THE DAILY MAIL, and what Sam and Natalia are going to review next year. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. If you liked this episode, you may also like...
‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK.
In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity.
You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Wonderfully Weird World of Gumball | Learning British | 01 Nov 2025 | 00:16:21 | |
Sam and Natalia watch and review the new Cartoon Network animated show, THE WONDERFULLY WEIRD WORLD OF GUMBALL. THE WONDERFULLY WEIRD WORLD OF GUMBALL is an animated children's show which follows Gumball Watterson (voiced by Alkaio Thiele), a blue 12-year-old cat, and his 10-year-old adopted brother, Darwin (voiced by Hero Hunter), a goldfish. Co-produced across the United States, Europe, and the UK, it is technically just British enough to talk about. Probably. Sam and Natalia voyage to the BFI Southbank to watch two episodes of THE WONDERFULLY WEIRD WORLD OF GUMBALL, “The Burger” (episode one) and “The Gourmet” (episode sixteen), alongside a Q&A from the producers and actors. Topics of conversation include Hulu, MACBETH, American PSYOPs, good SPONGEBOB, adult jokes in children’s TV shows, BREAKING BAD, /r/AITA Reddit stories, inflatable castles, AVATAR: THE LAST AIRBENDER, different animation styles, THE SIMPSONS, Terence Davies, PARASITE, kino, ASMR, goodie bags, DAS KAPITAL, Gumball’s ears, ham sandwiches, AMERICAN IDOL, and British rain. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. If you liked this episode, you may also like...
‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| BONUS: The 2025 London Film Festival | 01 Nov 2025 | 00:43:30 | |
Sam and Natalia go to the 2025 London Film Festival in this bonus episode of the LEARNING BRITISH podcast. The 69th BFI London Film Festival (LFF) took place from 8th to the 19th of October, 2025. Sam and Natalia saw eight films total across the festival. Jump ahead to the timestamps below to hear our reviews of each: (03:15) H IS FOR HAWK (05:50) ENZO (09:22) DIE, MY LOVE (11:14) & SONS (15:48) ROSE OF NEVADA (20:38) LADY (27:36) AFTER THE HUNT (38:28) WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY Topics of conversation include kino, movie ticket prices, ornithophobia, Claire Foy, Ukraine, Mark Jenkin, CALL ME BY YOUR NAME, living in France, Lynne Ramsay, Jennifer Lawrence winning her next Oscar for Best Actress, Bill Nighy, dialogue sinking, Noah Jupe, Cornish science-fiction, ENYS MEN, Russell Tovey, those rubbish FANTASTIC BEASTS films, Luca Guadagnino, "It's French", Sian Clifford in FLEABAG, the British class system, mockumentaries, Julia Roberts and #MeToo, Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc, Josh O'Connor becoming the new Pedro Pascal, Agatha Christie, THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB, and, of course, our Gumball water bottle. Follow Sam's Letterboxd account here (@SkyWasTheRobot). Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK.
In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity.
You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish SPOILER EXPLANATION BELOW: H IS FOR HAWK (includes a brief description of the premise, but no other spoilers) ENZO (includes spoilers, in addition to a brief discussion on the last scene) DIE, MY LOVE (includes a brief description of the premise, but no other spoilers) & SONS (includes mild-spoilers, in addition to discussing a reveal which takes place approximately thirty minutes into the film) ROSE OF NEVADA (includes a brief description of the premise, but no other spoilers) LADY (includes a brief description of the premise, but no other spoilers) AFTER THE HUNT (includes spoilers, in addition to the ending) WAKE UP DEAD MAN: A KNIVES OUT MYSTERY (includes a brief description of the premise, but no other spoilers) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #12. The Secrets of Dumbledore is bad, actually | 25 Oct 2025 | 00:32:30 | |
Sam and Natalia finish the FANTASTIC BEASTS trilogy with the third and (thank God) final film, THE SECRETS OF DUMBLEDORE. Five years after the events of the first film, Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) tasks Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) with a mission to help take down the dark wizard, Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp... wait, no, sorry, Mads Mikkelsen). Friendships will be tested. Love will be lost. Random plot developments will be quickly dropped before Warner Bros try to forget this film series ever happened. Welcome to the end of the epically terrible FANTASTIC BEASTS trilogy. Topics of conversation include Dumbledore's sexuality, the failed pentalogy, Steve Kloves and Steven Moffat, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Seamus Finnigan, Queenie's terrible characterisation, Ariana Dumbledore, rolling Rs, missing Katherine Waterston, the ship of Theseus, Donald Trump, and trans barmaids. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. If you liked this episode, you may also like... • In "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them", Sam and Natalia discuss the first film in the FANTASTIC BEASTS trilogy (On Spotify / On Apple). • In "The Crimes of Grindelwald", Sam and Natalia discuss the second film in the FANTASTIC BEASTS trilogy (On Spotify / On Apple). ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Wrong Mans | Learning British | 18 Oct 2025 | 00:16:47 | |
Sam and Natalia sit down to watch James Corden and Mathew Baynton action-comedy TV show: THE WRONG MANS. THE WRONG MANS follows council workers Sam Pinkett (Mathew Baynton) and Phil Bourne (James Corden), both of whom become entangled in a far-fetched web of crime, conspiracy, and corruption after Pinkett answers a ringing mobile phone at the site of a car crash. Topics of conversation include Edgar Wright, American action films with British characters, Hitchcock’s THE WRONG MAN, James Corden’s controversial behaviour, GAVIN & STACEY, Stephen Fry, the HOT FUZZ sequel in London, BABY DRIVER, the difference between a pub crawl and a bar crawl, HORRIBLE HISTORIES, meeting Dawn French, Benedict Wong, Chinese Alan, SHREK, and THE IT CROWD. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #11. The Crimes of Grindelwald is bad, actually | 11 Oct 2025 | 00:24:31 | |
Please, no, not another one! Sam and Natalia watch and review the next FANTASTIC BEASTS film: THE CRIMES OF GRINDELWALD. Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne) and Albus Dumbledore (Jude Law) attempt to take down the dark wizard Gellert Grindelwald (Johnny Depp), reuniting with Newt's old friends: Generic Love Interest (Katherine Waterston), Why Are You Still Here (Dan Fogler), and Ezra Miller... for some reason. But at least this one has Hogwarts in it, right? Right?! Sam and Natalia sit down and try to watch the second FANTASTIC BEASTS film. Topics of conversation include Colin Farrell, empty theatres, ETERNAL SUNSHINE OF THE SPOTLESS MIND, Dementors, Dumbledore's relationship with Grindelwald, woke brownie points, THE CASUAL VACANCY, J. K. Rowling's bad worldbuilding, boring movies, Biblical genealogy, baby Corvus, Nagini, and transgender wizards. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. If you liked this episode, you may also like... • In "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them", Sam and Natalia discuss the first film in the FANTASTIC BEASTS trilogy (On Spotify / On Apple). • In "The Cursed Child", Sam relays the plot of THE CURSED CHILD to Natalia (On Spotify / On Apple). ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Ncuti Gatwa vs. Shakespeare: Born With Teeth | Learning British | 04 Oct 2025 | 00:16:31 | |
Sam and Natalia visit London's West End to watch BORN WITH TEETH. BORN WITH TEETH is a play written by Liz Duffy Adams about the relationship between playwrights Christopher Marlowe (Ncuti Gatwa) and William Shakespeare (Edward Bluemel). Written in 2022, the play recently had its British premiere at the Wyndham's Theatre in London. Sam and Natalia sit down to watch Ncuti Gat- wait, no, sorry, hang on, there's been a last-minute casting change... Sam and Natalia sit down to watch Justice Ritchie and Edward Bluemel portray the two titanic literary forces of Elizabethan England. Topics of conversation include the price of theatre tickets, DOCTOR FAUSTUS, Eurocentrism, understudies, Mozart and Salieri, differing expectations, the craft of writing, Marlowe's career as a spy, Shakespeare's biography, Bill Bryson, the length of modern plays, Eton, Rachel Zegler as Evita, CITIZEN KANE, and whether Shakespeare truly is the greatest writer of all time. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK.
In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity.
You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot
Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #10. The Fantastic Beasts films are bad, actually | 27 Sep 2025 | 00:25:32 | |
After reading that stupid play, Sam and Natalia watch and review the next instalment of the HARRY POTTER film series: FANTASTIC BEASTS AND WHERE TO FIND THEM. Newt Scamander (Eddie Redmayne), a British wizard, arrives in 1920s New York City. After his magical suitcase is mistakenly picked up by Muggle ‘No-Maj’ Jacob Kowalski (Dan Fogler), the two become wrapped up in an evil scheme perpetrated by infamous Dark Wizard, Gellert Grindelwald (Colin Farrell/Johnny Depp). With the help of Auror Tina Goldstein (Katherine Waterston), Newt and Jacob must do something-something fantasy, something-something boring, something-something this one doesn’t even have Hogwarts in it, so who cares? Sam and Natalia sit down to watch (and nap through) the first FANTASTIC BEASTS film. Topics of conversation include J. K. Rowling writing her first screenplay, David Yates, THE POLAR EXPRESS, Comic Relief, Polish name pronunciation, Saint George's Cross, Pokemon, the British class system, donuts and Fat Thursday, Ezra Miller, HARRY POTTER lore, bad editing, J. K. Rowling's views on LOLITA, ALL IN THE FAMILY and Archie Bunker, Newt's costume design, and the TARDIS. Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv) and follow us on Reddit (r/learningbritish). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. If you liked this episode, you may also like...
‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| This Country | Learning British | 20 Sep 2025 | 00:30:56 | |
Natalia introduces Sam to the mockumentary sitcom that everyone won't stop recommending to him: THIS COUNTRY. Created and written by Daisy May Cooper and Charlie Cooper, the show focuses on the day-to-day lives of two cousins, Kerry (Daisy May Cooper) and Kurtan Mucklowe (Charlie Cooper), living in a rural village in the Cotswolds. Sam and Natalia sit down to watch all three series and nineteen episodes of THIS COUNTRY. Topics of conversation include Gloucestershire (of course), the Jonas Brothers, Nicholas Angle, curtains, milking cows, the finale of THE OFFICE, interrupting co-hosts, the end of sitcoms, THE HOBBIT, dating in a small village, AM I BEING UNREASONABLE?, Bebo, clever writing, insulting Cardiff, loving Wales, Michael Sleggs, and the chances of getting another Christmas special. Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. ‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #9. The Cursed Child is bad, actually | 13 Sep 2025 | 01:00:18 | |
After reviewing all the HARRY POTTER films, Sam and Natalia revisit the unofficially official eighth instalment of the Wizarding World: THE CURSED CHILD. HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD follows Albus Severus Potter (originally played by Sam Clemmett), the son of Harry Potter (originally played by Jamie Parker). After struggling to fit in at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus teams up with Scorpius Malfoy (originally played by Alex Price) to avenge the death of Cedric Diggory. The play was written by Jack Throne, from a story co-developed by J. K. Rowling and John Tiffany. HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD began playing at the West End in 2016, with a print and digital release of the full script published soon after. Reactions to the play from fans and general audiences have varied. Sam sits Natalia down to explain the plot of this controversial play, while trying to prevent his head exploding. Topics of conversation include Palace Theatre, HAMILTON, the prospect of a HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD film adaptation with the original cast, Tom Felton, that terrible epilogue, Elon Musk, Kings Cross Station, Jack Thorne, Zoella and Joe Sugg, nostalgia bait, Voldemort’s illegitimate child, stupid fantasy names, Time Turners and fixed timelines, Delphi Diggory, SPIDER-MAN and cringe Marvel dialogue, trans rights, Hagrid’s birthday cake, the Trolley Witch, Washington D.C., the Triwizard Tournament, Hufflepuff Death Eaters, and neoliberalism. Don’t forget to follow, rare five stars, and find us on Instagram (@learningbritishfilmtv). If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. If you liked this episode, you may also like...
‘Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast’ (or just ‘Learning British’) is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Learning British has regenerated | 12 Sep 2025 | 00:01:58 | |
'Learning British: A Film and TV Podcast' (or just 'Learning British') is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new British film or TV show. From badly aged sitcoms to acclaimed dramas, they explore what these films and TV shows reveal about British culture, history, and identity. You can keep up with the podcast on Instagram, YouTube, and Reddit. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learningbritishfilmtv YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SkyWasTheRobot Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/learningbritish Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Thursday Murder Club | Learning British | 06 Sep 2025 | 00:21:48 | |
Sam and Natalia watch and review Netflix's new cosy crime murder mystery, THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB. THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB follows four elderly amateur sleuths who attempt to solve a murder in their luxurious Cooper's Chase retirement village. The film stars Helen Mirren as Elizabeth Best, Pierce Brosnan as Ron Ritchie, Ben Kingsley as Ibrahim Arif, Celia Imrie as Joyce Meadowcroft, and David Tennant as Ian Ventham. Topics of conversation include Sherlock Holmes, Agatha Christie, KNIVES OUT, Richard Osman's original novel, Einstein's theory of relativity, Sam's "Ever Since Mom Died" theory of bad movie exposition, Pierce Brosnan's pronouns, school plays, predicting the mystery using Roger Ebert’s Law of the Economy of Characters, elephants in boxes, Polish representation in British media, Adrien Brody's accent in THE BRUTALIST, unforgivable Bogdan changes, and PERCY JACKSON. Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and follow us on Instagram. If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. If you liked this episode, you may also like...
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Harry Potter is bad, actually | 30 Aug 2025 | 04:47:18 | |
Sam and Natalia watch, review, and rank all eight HARRY POTTER films. And, yes, they're all bad. The Sorcerer's Stone: 00:32 - 33:22 The Chamber of Secrets: 33:22 - 01:01:59 The Prisoner of Azkaban: 01:01:59 - 01:11:30 The Goblet of Fire: 01:11:30 - 01:42:12 The Order of the Phoenix: 01:42:12 - 02:06:48 The Half-blood Prince: 02:06:48 - 02:22:55 The Deathly Hallows (Part 1): 02:22:55 - 03:22:45 The Deathly Hallows (Part 2): 03:22:45 - 04:47:19 Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram. If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Black Books | Learning British | 23 Aug 2025 | 00:16:34 | |
After rewatching THE IT CROWD, Sam and Natalia look back at Dylan Moran and Graham Linehan's sitcom, BLACK BOOKS. BLACK BOOKS is a British sitcom created by Dylan Moran and Graham Linehan, starring Moran as Bernard Black, Bill Bailey as Manny Bianco, and Tamsin Greig as Fran Katzenjammer. The series, set in the eponymous London bookshop, follows a grouchy and misanthropic shopkeeper after he gains a new employee. BLACK BOOKS ran for three series (eighteen episodes) from 2000 to 2004. Topics of conversation include memes, ITV's PLAYING NICE and that "Theo!" advert, following private Instagram accounts, experimental and surreal humour, Basil Fawlty, travelling to Dublin, the set of NORMAL PEOPLE, unreleased pilot episodes, Collinge & Clark, and all these actors: Nick Frost, David Walliams, Rob Brydon, Jessica Hynes, Simon Pegg, Olivia Coleman, Lucy Davis, Alice Lowe, and Peter Serafinowicz (yes, really, they're all in this!). Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram. (And follow Sam while you're at it.) If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #8. The Deathly Hallows (Part 2) is bad, actually | 16 Aug 2025 | 01:24:34 | |
Sam and Natalia finish their series reviewing the HARRY POTTER film series by watching THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART 2. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) continues his quest to find and destroy Lord Voldemort's Horcruxes alongside his best friends, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). Topics of conversation include Ron’s characterisation, Robert Galbraith, lost causes, Reddit and Tumblr, the Goblin bankers, YA fiction, Potter Puppet Pals, Stephen King, dishes in the sink, Jojo Rabbit, Toblerone, child actors, the Divergent factions, Amnesty International, the anti-trans movement, and that god-awful epilogue. Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram. Thank you to everyone who left comments to include in this episode! If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. If you liked this episode, you may also like...
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The IT Crowd | Learning British | 09 Aug 2025 | 00:20:09 | |
After finishing GARTH MARENGHI'S DARKPLACE, Sam and Natalia watch all four series of THE IT CROWD. THE IT CROWD is a British television sitcom originally broadcast by Channel 4, written and directed by... sigh... Graham Linehan. Set within the IT department of fictional company Reynholm Industries, the series stars Richard Ayoade, Chris O'Dowd, Katherine Parkinson, Chris Morris, Matt Berry, and Noel Fielding. Since its release, THE IT CROWD has developed a large cult fandom. However, the show has since come under fire for a controversial anti-trans episode, "The Speech" (S3E4), as well as the behind-the-scenes actions of the writer. Sam and Natalia watch all 25 episodes of the show to see what went wrong in the mind of Graham Linehan. Topics of conversation include THE MIGHTY BOOSH, big egos, "Did you see that ludicrous display last night?", badly aged episodes, sexism, FRIENDS, musicals, COUNTDOWN, not being a fan of football, Twitter, the Titan submersible implosion, "FAAAAAATHEEER!", and BLACK BOOKS. Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram. If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #7. The Deathly Hallows (Part 1) is bad, actually | 02 Aug 2025 | 00:59:50 | |
Sam and Natalia watch and review the penultimate film in the series, THE DEATHLY HALLOWS - PART 1. Harry Potter's (Daniel Radcliffe) seventh and final year at Hogwarts is interrupted by Lord Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes), whose quest for immortality has brought suffering and chaos across the Wizarding World. Alongside best friends Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson), Harry must find and destroy the mythical Horcruxes that are keeping He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named alive. Topics of conversation include Piccadilly Circus, video games, THE HUNGER GAMES, controversial opinions, the dance scene, Orson Welles, the end of Dobby, M. Night Shyamalan's KNOCK AT THE CABIN, splitting the book into two movies, CORALINE, Boromir's death in THE LORD OF THE RINGS, the Three Brothers, Hitchcock, the Time-Turners, bad worldbuilding, Reddit and Tumblr, Algerian boxers, J. K. Rowling's tweets, deleted scenes with the Dursleys, Polish TV, HOT FUZZ on ITV, queer coding, and training AI on our podcast. Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram. Thank you to everyone who left comments to include in this episode! If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. If you liked this episode, you may also like...
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Garth Marenghi's Darkplace | Learning British | 25 Jul 2025 | 00:10:04 | |
"Two words: telekinesis." GARTH MARENGHI'S DARKPLACE is a horror parody series following fictional horror author Garth Marenghi (Matthew Holness) and his TV show DARKPLACE, presented as real in-universe, with commentary from producer Dean Learner (Richard Ayoade), actor Todd Rivers (Matt Berry), and actress Madeleine Wool (Alice Lowe). Discontinued after poor viewing figures, GARTH MARENGHI'S DARKPLACE has since gained a cult following. Sam and Natalia sit down to watch and review all six episodes. Topics of conversation include woke, DIRTY DANCING: HAVANA NIGHTS, memes, Graham Linehan, TERRORTOME, broccoli, THE IT CROWD, Stephen King, "I know writers who use subtext, and they're all cowards", acting range, 1980s British television, books, classic DOCTOR WHO, and the movie adaptation. Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram. If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #6. The Half-Blood Prince is bad, actually | 18 Jul 2025 | 00:16:07 | |
Sam and Natalia continue their series reviewing HARRY POTTER by looking back at the sixth film, THE HALF-BLOOD PRINCE. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) begins his sixth year at Hogwarts with his best friends, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). After finding a mysterious textbook owned by "The Half-Blood Prince", Harry works with Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore to find a way to stop Lord Voldemort's ascent to power. Topics of conversation include Sam and Natalia's rendition of Earth, Wind & Fire's 'September', the Millennium Bridge, the British Prime Minister, the Slitheen, Michael Gambon's performance, Ginny, Muggles, shipping Harry and Luna, and those bad spin-off movies with Eddie Redmayne. Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram. If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. If you liked this episode, you may also like...
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| It’s a Sin | Learning British | 12 Jul 2025 | 00:17:20 | |
Sam and Natalia look back at the hit Channel 4 TV drama, IT’S A SIN. IT’S A SIN follows a group of gay men who move to London in the 1980s, depicting their lives across the ensuing decade as the HIV/AIDS virus begins to spread. The show stars Olly Alexander (Ritchie Tozer), Omari Douglas (Roscoe Babatunde), Callum Scott Howells (Colin Morris-Jones), Lydia West (Jill Baxter), Nathaniel Curtis (Ash Mukherjee), David Carlyle (Gregory "Gloria" Finch), Tracy-Ann Oberman (Carol Carter), Neil Patrick Harris (Henry Coltrane), and Stephen Fry (Arthur Garrison MP). The five-episode limited series was acclaimed during its initial release in 2021, becoming the most binge-watched show on the All 4 streaming service. But does it still hold up? Topics of conversation include Russell T Davies, DOCTOR WHO, the coronavirus pandemic, the meaning of the word "gangbuster", slay, the Slitheen, that Dalek scene, likeable characters, PHILADELPHIA, Dursley McLinden, reading out Reddit comments, death scenes, and writing history. Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram. If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast (like we did in this episode!), leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #5. The Order of the Phoenix is bad, actually | 04 Jul 2025 | 00:24:36 | |
Sam and Natalia continue their series reviewing HARRY POTTER by looking back at the fifth film, THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) begins his fifth year at Hogwarts with his best friends, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). After the Ministry of Magic take control of their school, Harry recruits his fellow classmates to fight against the return of Lord Voldemort. Topics of conversation include David Yates, bad colour grading, Arthur Weasley, prophecies, the Cho Chang controversy, differences with the book, Sam and Natalia shipping Harry and Luna, truth serums, Dolores Umbridge and Imelda Staunton, CinemaSins, Alan Rickman's performance, J. K. Rowling's bad writing, Neville destroying all the time turners, young love, and whether this is the worst HARRY POTTER film. Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram. If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. If you liked this episode, you may also like...
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Office (Series 2) | Learning British | 27 Jun 2025 | 00:10:41 | |
After reviewing series one of THE OFFICE, Sam and Natalia watch and react to series two. THE OFFICE is a British mockumentary sitcom created, written, and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Series two of THE OFFICE follows David Brent (Ricky Gervais) as he battles to keep his job in Slough. Sam and Natalia sit down to watch and review the entire second series, including the Christmas specials. Topics of conversation include AFTER LIFE, Natalia's hatred for Dawn, Ricky Gervais's fall from grace, Daniel Day-Lewis, NIGHT OF THE MUSEUM, Michael Scott's departure from the American version, method acting, the microphone scene, jump scares, uncomfortable laughs, and the finale of THE OFFICE. Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram. If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #4. The Goblet of Fire is bad, actually | 20 Jun 2025 | 00:31:29 | |
After reviewing the first three HARRY POTTER movies, Sam and Natalia watch and react to THE GOBLET OF FIRE. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) begins his fourth year with Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). After Harry is chosen to compete in the Triwizard Tournament, he joins forces with Hufflepuff student Cedric Diggory (Robert Pattinson) to investigate a dark conspiracy at Hogwarts. Topics of conversation include our Homer and Marge impressions, Dumbledore screaming “Did you put your name in the Goblet of Fire?!”, tonal shifts, CITIZEN KANE, normies, Mike Newell, Rita Skeeter, little elf boys, bad CGI, David Tennant, the ending, PRINCE OF PERSIA, Neville replacing Dobby, SPEW (the Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare), Natalia’s defence of the controversial elf subplot, “My boy!”, Voldemort’s return, THE CURSED CHILD, the new HUNGER GAMES book, and Natalia breaking up with Sam over his objectively correct HARRY POTTER opinions. Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram. If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. If you liked this episode, you may also like...
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Office | Learning British | 13 Jun 2025 | 00:24:33 | |
Sam and Natalia have reviewed GAVIN & STACEY and THE ROYLE FAMILY, so it’s time to watch another acclaimed British sitcom—THE OFFICE. THE OFFICE is a British comedy mockumentary TV show, written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. The show follows David Brent (Ricky Gervais), the manager of an office in Slough, and his employees, Tim (Martin Freeman), Gareth (Mackenzie Crook), and Dawn (Lucy Davis). The original series ran for two six-episode series, followed by a Christmas special. Sam and Natalia sit down to watch and review the entire first series. Topics of conversation include Ricky Gervais’s ego, AFTER LIFE, getting blocked on Twitter, woke, real-life David Brent, “Can’t make this anymore” sitcoms, the 2008 financial crisis, not believing in God, bad acting, Steve Carell as Michael Scott, 'Trivia' vs. 'The Quiz', and whether the British OFFICE is better than the American OFFICE. Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram. If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| #3. The Prisoner of Azkaban is bad, actually | 06 Jun 2025 | 00:09:31 | |
After watching and reviewing the first two HARRY POTTER films, Sam and Natalia rewatch the fan-favourite, THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN. Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) begins his third year at Hogwarts with his best friends, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). After learning that notorious criminal Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped Azkaban prison, Harry uncovers dark truths about his past and his parents. Topics of conversation include Alfonso Cuarón, CHILDREN OF MEN, nostalgia, puberty, BOYHOOD, Michael Gambon replacing Richard Harris as Dumbledore, the director's favourite HARRY POTTER character, changes to the books, one-shots, WATERWORLD, Cedric Diggory, and whether THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN is the best HARRY POTTER film. Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram. If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review. If you liked this episode, you may also like...
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||