Insiders: The TV Podcast

Michael Grade on Solving the BBC’s Big Problems, MAFS UK Allegations & Running Channel 4

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville are joined by Michael Grade to talk about the challenges facing new BBC Director General Matt Brittin, questions asked of Channel 4 after allegations made about Married at First Sight UK and Blackadder, Doctor Who, Father Ted and more! In this episode: * What the new BBC Director General needs to do first, and why coming in from the outside can be a strength * Why Michael Grade thinks the BBC should take more risks and become “a nursery and not a grocery” * The BBC’s culture, Oxbridge snobbery, scheduling, and why the middle of television has disappeared * Why the BBC needs to justify public money in a streaming world and what its real purpose should be * Michael Grade’s take on Channel 4, new voices, and whether it can survive as a smaller, distinctive broadcaster * The Married at First Sight UK allegations, duty of care, and whether reality TV has gone too far * Telling talent the truth, spotting blind spots, and why great TV still depends on taste * Blackadder, Father Ted, Doctor Who and more! Have a question or opinion? Leave a comment, find us on socials (@InsidersTVPod), or email us at podcasts@hattrick.com [podcasts@hattrick.com]. If you enjoyed the episode, make sure to give us a 5 star rating on Apple podcasts or Spotify, follow the podcast wherever you're listening to it now and share this episode with a friend — it really helps us grow. Chapters 00:00 Coming up! 01:10 The Challenges for the New BBC Director General 18:19 Running Channel 4 22:35 Almost Cancelling Black Adder 25:07 Married at First Sight UK and reality TV ethics 30:55 The Rest of Michael's Career #BBC #MichaelGrade #MarriedAtFirstSightUK #Channel4 #DoctorWho #Blackadder #FatherTed #RealityTV #TVPodcast #BritishTV #Television #InsidersTVPod #PublicServiceBroadcasting #BAFTA #Streaming #Podcast ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Eurovision Turns Off Anti-Booing Software | The BBC BAFTA Backlash & A Wordle TV Show!?

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville tackle Eurovision's biggest controversy yet, the BBC getting called out at the BAFTA TV awards, and why Wordle could actually work as a prime-time TV show. In this episode: * Why Eurovision 2026 final has been marred by the row over Israel’s inclusion and why the contest has become more political than ever * The BBC’s handling of the Gaza: Doctors Under Attack BAFTA speech and what it says about broadcaster pressure * How Wordle could work as a television format, and how Tipping Point was commissioned * Stephen Colbert bidding farewell to The Late Show with his fellow hosts Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, John Oliver and Seth Myers in Strike Force Five reunion * James Corden teams up with Rio Ferdinand to make his return to FIFA World Cup coverage * Listener reactions, questions and more Have a question or opinion? Leave a comment, find us on socials (@InsidersTVPod), or email us at podcasts@hattrick.com [podcasts@hattrick.com] If you enjoyed the episode, please make sure you're following the podcast, leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and share an episode with a friend — it really helps us grow #Eurovision #Eurovision2026 #Wordle #TippingPoint #BBC #BAFTA #StephenColbert #TheLateShow #StrikeForceFive #FIFAWorldCup #WorldCup #TV #Podcast #Television #Channel4 #Streaming #InsidersTVPod Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Why Helena Bonham Carter left The White Lotus | Celebrity Traitors, AI & David Attenborough

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville break down Helena Bonham Carter’s shock exit from The White Lotus Season 4, discuss the huge Celebrity Traitors line-up and celebrate Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday. In this episode: •The White Lotus announcement from HBO and what “creative differences” actually means in television •The surprising omission from the Celebrity Traitors cast •Why the BBC still beats Netflix and Amazon at “event TV” •How AI is already changing television editing and ADR •The career decision that made David Attenborough a legend •PLUS: your reactions to our AI in editing debate, Hollywood power struggles, BBC commissioning insights, and more Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1adbR91YQIX4Aa3gXMGdug], find us on socials @InsidersTVPod [https://www.instagram.com/insiderstvpod], or email us at podcasts@hattrick.com [podcasts@hattrick.com]. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a review 5-star review, share it with a friend and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 01:08 Celebrity Traitors lineup revealed 07:49 Helena Bonham Carter exits The White Lotus 15:33 AI controversy in TV editing 22:13 David Attenborough at 100 30:47 Corrections, cocaine and conclusions #TheWhiteLotus #CelebrityTraitors #DavidAttenborough #HelenaBonhamCarter #MikeWhite #AI #BBC #Netflix #Streaming #Television #Podcast Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Trump accuses the BBC of using AI on him (And the editing technique changing TV forever)

Peter and Jimmy catch up on Expectation’s new gameshow pilot, as well as Jimmy’s attendance at a charity event for the Andy Taylor Foundation, before turning to the week’s TV news. They discuss the cancellation of Football Focus after 52 years on our screens, and what it says about how audiences now consume football content. From there, they debate whether an AI editing technique used on a TV show should have been banned by the production — exploring whether ethical boundaries can be maintained, if it enhances or undermines creativity, and whether the industry is resisting inevitable change. This leads them to unpack Donald Trump’s accusation that the BBC used AI in a Panorama documentary to defame him, and why that misunderstanding could weaken his $10 billion lawsuit against the corporation. Finally, they look at how formats like A League of Their Own are evolving beyond television into live events and broader IP monetisation strategies. Plus: Alan Titchmarsh’s unsigned wellies, Paul Simon’s decades-long grudge, and why every drama set in Liverpool seems to benefit from a conveniently placed bag of cocaine… Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube:   [data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAB4AAAAUCAYAAACaq43EAAAAo0lEQVR4AWNABv8ZjBWAuACIG4B4PRDvx4LvA/F/NHwem1qoGQ1QMxUYsAGo5H8a4wJ0Sx1AEnTCDsgWz6ejxfORLd5PR4v3wy0mSaOCL6UWvyfP4v1n/v9fv58iB5BtMRi8//T/f8PM//8FHOhqMQLcf/b/f0AxnS1GAIi4QeRwtxgR1MM6cVGenQa6AKF/kTnQlQT9q8UBbQhQq+lzn9SmDwBt39YrPgtlogAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==] / @insiderstvpodcast   [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1adbR91YQIX4Aa3gXMGdug] Email: InsidersTVPod@expectationtv.com [InsidersTVPod@expectationtv.com] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod The producer is Owen Braben ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Who really controls what you watch? (And why TV sackings are always messy...)

Peter and Jimmy bid farewell to Ian Katz, the outgoing Chief Content Officer at Channel 4, reflecting on what really happens when a top TV executive steps down before answering listener questions.  They unpack who really holds creative power in TV versus film — from auteur directors and “final cut” culture in Hollywood to why, in television, producers and writers often overrule directors in the edit. They also lift the lid on how shows get recommissioned or cancelled, revealing the crucial role of schedulers, the temptation to keep ageing hits on air, and how streamers’ data-driven decisions could be the death of the “slow burn” success story. And finally, they tackle why there’s no ‘right way’ to sack someone in TV when people rarely believe they deserve to go. Plus, Peter’s top fashion tips, Jimmy’s new ‘Guess That Fishy Channel Controller’ gameshow, and why you should never say never on a Saudi Arabian version of Outnumbered… Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube:   [data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAB4AAAAUCAYAAACaq43EAAAAo0lEQVR4AWNABv8ZjBWAuACIG4B4PRDvx4LvA/F/NHwem1qoGQ1QMxUYsAGo5H8a4wJ0Sx1AEnTCDsgWz6ejxfORLd5PR4v3wy0mSaOCL6UWvyfP4v1n/v9fv58iB5BtMRi8//T/f8PM//8FHOhqMQLcf/b/f0AxnS1GAIi4QeRwtxgR1MM6cVGenQa6AKF/kTnQlQT9q8UBbQhQq+lzn9SmDwBt39YrPgtlogAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==] / @insiderstvpodcast   [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1adbR91YQIX4Aa3gXMGdug] Email: InsidersTVPod@expectationtv.com [InsidersTVPod@expectationtv.com] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod The producer is Owen Braben ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.