Podcast · Film & TV

Insiders: The TV Podcast

by Expectation / Hat Trick · English · Film & TV

Every Friday, TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville take you behind the scenes of the world of television. Jimmy is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His hit shows include Have I Got News For You (series 69 now airing), Father Ted , Derry Girls , Outnumbered

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 36 min
Latest: 9 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

9 Oct 2026 · 33 min

Is the BBC About to Close BBC Three and BBC Scotland? & The Traitors Returns...

TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville discuss proposed cuts to BBC Three and BBC Scotland, the extraordinary success of The Traitors , Channel 4’s new programming structure and the possible impact on British comedy. They also remember Esther Rantzen and the unforgettable television moment involving Nicholas Winton. In this episode: Why The Traitors is still able to dominate television viewing Richard E. Grant, James Acaster and Amol Rajan’s early exit Early exits of Robert Kilroy Silk, Noel Edmonds and Susannah Constantine from I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here Why BBC Three’s…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

S3 · E39 · 2 Oct 2026 · 32 min
Who is Britain’s Greatest TV Detective? We Rank Our Top 10
Morse, Vera or Prime Suspect — who is Britain’s greatest TV detective? TV Insiders Jimmy Mulville and Peter Fincham rank the best British detectives, from Inspector Morse and Prime Suspect to Poirot, Sherlock, Midsomer Murders, The Sweeney and more… In this episode: Whether Ludwig could eventually join the great British detective pantheon Why Helen Mirren’s Jane Tennison remains one of television’s strongest detectives Brenda Blethyn’s defining performance as Vera Stanhope David Suchet’s iconic Hercule Poirot Benedict Cumberbatch and Steven Moffat’s modern Sherlock Why A Touch of Frost…
S3 · E38 · 25 Sep 2026 · 34 min
Why the BBC Cut Sketches from That Mitchell and Webb Look, Strictly’s New Presenters & Trump TV
TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville debate the BBC’s decision to remove potentially offensive sketches from That Mitchell and Webb Look , asking whether modern comedy can still break taboos without being censored. They also discuss Trump TV & press freedom, Strictly Come Dancing and why some television formats survive their stars. In this episode: Why the BBC is reviewing That Mitchell and Webb Look before its iPlayer return The controversy around the The Civil War sketch, blackface and the limits of contextual comedy Why some sketches involving Gary Rhodes, Bill Oddie and Jimmy…
S3 · E37 · 18 Sep 2026 · 32 min
The Harry Potter Reboot: 5 Questions HBO Must Answer | BBC iPlayer 2.0 & Netflix’s New Dating Shows
Is the Harry Potter series arriving too soon? TV insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville examine why HBO is returning to Hogwarts, whether the original films are still impossible to replace, and what other big issues face the Harry Potter TV show. They also debate BBC Director-General Matt Brittin’s vision for an iPlayer shaped by a “public service algorithm”, examine new research on women working behind the camera in US television, and ask why Netflix is betting so heavily on dating and reality formats. In this episode: Why is Harry Potter being adapted for television so soon after the…
S3 · E36 · 11 Sep 2026 · 34 min
Tom Jones' Sacking Statement, Seven Up Ending and Channel 4’s Huge Cuts
TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville discuss Sir Tom Jones’s shock exit from The Voice UK, Channel 4’s plan to cut around 300 jobs, allegations that some LG smart TVs can capture audio in standby mode, the end of Seven Up, and ITV’s new I’m a Celebrity…The Wild Frontier spin-off. In this episode: •Why Sir Tom Jones says ITV removed him from The Voice UK •Channel 4’s proposed 300+ job cuts and the financial pressures facing the broadcaster •How YouTube is competing with traditional television for audiences, advertising and attention •The remarkable legacy of Seven Up and why the Up…
S3 · E35 · 4 Sep 2026 · 35 min
Our Top 10 Best British Sitcoms Ever (and the 'Rules' of Comedy)
Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville rank the 10 best British sitcoms ever, debating Fawlty Towers , The Office , Only Fools and Horses , Blackadder , Dad’s Army , Peep Show , Absolutely Fabulous and more. In this episode: Peter and Jimmy discuss Ann Droid and what makes a great sitcom How each episode of Fawlty Towers is constructed so well Why Dad’s Army has survived across generations How The Office became a timeless British comedy The cultural importance of Derry Girls Why Blackadder works despite its unlikeable central character Whether Only Fools and Horses deserves a higher place The…
S3 · E34 · 28 Aug 2026 · 40 min
Steph McGovern chats to TV Insiders Jimmy & Peter
TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville are joined by the brilliant Steph McGovern to talk about her career, the television industry, and slime! In this episode: The Rest Is Money Podcast Steph's Career BBC News The TV Industry Steph's Packed Lunch Steph's Novels Have I Got News For You Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow. CHAPTERS 01:26 Robert Peston / The…
S3 · E33 · 21 Aug 2026 · 44 min
Ofcom vs Satire, Eurovision's Rule Changes, Subtitles vs Dubbing, Roku's A.I. Channel
TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville discuss Ofcom vs Satire, Eurovision's voting rule changes, the "Sub v Dub" debate, and Roku's new A.I channel. In this episode: The TV Festival Ofcom vs Satire Eurovision's voting rule changes Subtitles vs Dubbing Roku's A.I channel Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at [email protected]. If you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow. CHAPTERS 00:27 - Intro 01:24 - The TV Festival 03:16…
S3 · E32 · 14 Aug 2026 · 32 min
Can A Self-Funded-To-TV Model Work? BBC's Live At The Apollo Axed
TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville discuss the viability of self-funded programming, the increasing lack of stand up on British TV now that Live At The Apollo has been axed, and whether Channel 4 should reinstate their "Red Triangle" programme warning. In this episode: - Self funded to TV model - Shane Gillis + Tires road to Netflix - BBC cancels Live At The Apollo - Do comedians need to be on television? - Should C4 reinstate their "Red Triangle" programme warning? Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or…
S3 · E31 · 7 Aug 2026 · 35 min
Ash Atalla on Unearthing The Office, His Worst Ever TV Show & Why He Left the BBC
Comedy producer Ash Atalla joins Jimmy Mulville and Peter Fincham to tell the inside story of The Office, his struggles trying to sell the IT Crowd and what the worst TV show he ever made was… In this episode: •How The Office got off the ground — and why nobody was guaranteed to believe in it •Why Ash left the BBC and founded Roughcut Television •The tough reality of trying to sell shows like The IT Crowd •What the worst TV show Ash ever made was and what he learned from it •Why streamers will buy shows like How to Get to Heaven from Belfast but not Big Boys •What the future holds for the TV…
S3 · E30 · 31 Jul 2026 · 34 min
The BBC’S Controversial New Ad, Luke Littler’s Netflix Show & Have UK TV's Diversity Pledges Failed?
"What has the BBC ever done for me...?" TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville take on the BBC's much-debated new advert, dig into Hollywood's revolt against the $110 billion Paramount-Warner Bros Discovery merger, and ask whether anyone can ‘Beat Luke Littler’ in his new Netflix show… In this episode: Is the BBC's "What Has The BBC Ever Done For Me?" advert a costly own goal? Hollywood stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming and Benedict Wong speak out against the Paramount-WBD merger A new report revealing UK TV's diversity promises that haven't delivered The latest on Donald…
S3 · E29 · 24 Jul 2026 · 37 min
Should Broadcasters Be Removing British Comedy History? And More Listener Questions!
TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville answer listener questions on Channel 4 and Netflix removing classic sitcom episodes, the secret scheduling battle between the BBC and ITV and why some revived formats soar while others flop. Correction: It was actually Matt Berry's character of Douglas who dates April, not Chris O'Dowd's character Roy. You'll forgive us for getting this mistaken – we obviously couldn't watch the episode to check! In this episode: Why Channel 4 removed “The Speech” episode of The IT Crowd Why Netflix removed episodes of Little Britain, Come Fly with Me & The Mighty…
S3 · E28 · 17 Jul 2026 · 39 min
Should Under-16s Be Banned From Social Media? Time Team's Patreon Fortune & Snubbing Tom Hanks with Strongwatch Studios
Ben Powell-Jones and Thom Gulseven of Strongwatch Studios join Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville to reveal what it was really like to work at LADbible when it was booming, why they had to turn down Tom Hanks and whether the UK's proposed social media ban for under-16s can actually work. In this episode: •Why they said no to Tom Hanks's agent (and almost turned down Billie Eilish) •How a £500 video made £80k overnight (and why platform ad revenue can vanish just as fast) •Building LADbible's YouTube channel from zero to millions of views •Why Patreon and direct-to-consumer content is the…
S3 · E27 · 10 Jul 2026 · 38 min
Sky buys ITV: How will this change what we see on TV?
TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville discuss Count Binface, the BBC's World Cup cost saving efforts, Sky's ITV purchase, and Peppa Pig using A.I. Topics discussed: Farage vs Count Binface BBC not going to the US in the World Cup Quarter Finals The Sky/ITV deal Peppa Pig using A.I. for its younger voice actors Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:12 Farage vs Count Binface 03:20 The BBC's World Cup cost saving efforts 09:27 Sky's ITV deal 29:19 Peppa Pig + A.I. Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at…
S3 · E26 · 3 Jul 2026 · 38 min
Jimmy & Peter Answer Your Questions
TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville address your comments and questions regarding the BBC's Sarah Everard drama, axing long-running TV shows, Claude writing quiz show questions, as well as discussing Michael Grade's recent comments about terms of trade. Topics discussed: Michael Grade's comments regarding terms of trade The BBC's Sarah Everard drama Exploitative true crime shows TV quiz show question writing Claude and the use of AI in TV Axing long-running TV shows Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:12 Michael Grade's comments regarding terms of trade 09:59 Question 1) regarding the BBC's…
S3 · E25 · 26 Jun 2026 · 36 min
The World Cup Coverage Battle | BBC's 500 Job Cuts | The Government's Social Media Green Paper
TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville tackle the World Cup coverage battle, the TV Festival's Manchester move, the BBC's 500 job cuts, and the Government's social media green paper - recorded on the UK's hottest June day on record! Topics discussed: The UK's Prime Minister England cs Ghana The World Cup coverage battle between the BBC & ITV The Edinburgh TV Festival moving to Manchester The BBC's 500 job cuts The Government's social media green paper Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:30 The UK's next PM 02:06 England vs Ghana 02:32 What's on the show today? 03:13 The World Cup coverage battle…
S3 · E24 · 19 Jun 2026 · 41 min
C4's Charlie Perkins on Comedy
TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville are joined by Channel 4's Head of Comedy Charlie Perkins to discuss the importance of comedy for a channel identity, monetising comedy on YouTube, SNL's budget, talent deals and how hit comedies can prove a good investment years after their first release. Topics discussed: Channel 4's sitcom commissions Comedy + YouTube SNL UK New comedy talent Producer's rights Monetising comedy on YouTube Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:40 Channel 4's sitcom commissions 04:25 The value of comedy 08:10 Comedy on digital platforms 09:27 The trickle down effect in comedy…
S3 · E23 · 12 Jun 2026 · 37 min
2026 World Cup Kick Off
TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville debate whether it’s coming home after 60 years of hurt in this 2026 World Cup episode that covers The Rest Is Football’s lucrative Netflix deal, extortionate live sport paywalls, and nostalgic chat about previous world cups. Topics discussed: England winning the World Cup in 1966 The Rest Is Football Netflix series World Cup Coverage tussles between BBC and ITV Are sport paywalls taking the piss? The ongoing issue of viewers illegally streaming live sports events Will the 2026 World Cup make Americans finally love football or, as they continue to…
S3 · E22 · 5 Jun 2026 · 35 min
Should a Man Write the Sarah Everard Drama? 400 Female Screenwriters vs. The BBC
TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville debate the BBC's controversial Sarah Everard drama and whether a man should be writing it, explore how the Married at First Sight UK fallout could threaten Love Island, and confirm your suspicions: your favourite TV shows DO keep disappearing for longer and longer… Topics discussed: The 400 female screenwriters who signed an open letter against the BBC commissioning Jeff Pope to write the Sarah Everard drama Should men write dramas about violence against women? Or is it too soon for a factual drama about Sarah Everard at all? Love Island…
S3 · E21 · 29 May 2026 · 37 min
Why Do Great TV Shows Often End So Badly? How To Tell an Actor They’re Being Killed Off & Why Polymarket has Changed Reality TV Forever
TV Insiders Jimmy Mulville and Peter Fincham discuss whether Euphoria is on its final series, how to end a TV hit properly, why killing off characters can backfire, how prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are spoiling reality TV shows like Survivor, and what the BBC can learn from YouTube. They also talk about: The Bear and Emily in Paris announcing their final series The endings of Derry Girls and The Sopranos compared to Game of Thrones What it was like to cancel shows like the The Bill and Bodies The art of writing shocking character deaths in shows like Emmerdale Who tells the…
S3 · E20 · 22 May 2026 · 36 min
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…
S3 · E19 · 15 May 2026 · 34 min
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…
S3 · E18 · 8 May 2026 · 35 min
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…
S3 · E17 · 1 May 2026 · 40 min
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.…
S3 · E16 · 24 Apr 2026 · 36 min
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…
S3 · E15 · 17 Apr 2026 · 43 min
Do TV Execs Think You’re Stupid? Hollywood A-listers fight back against Paramount and Big BBC Cuts
This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss Christopher Eccleston’s claim that TV executives think audiences are “stupid”, and swap war stories from the front line of tricky commissioning meetings. Later, they chat about the actors and producers in the US rallying together to oppose the Paramount-Warner Brothers merger. They then set about unpicking the BBC’s announcement of 2,000 job cuts, a hiring freeze, and the interim DG’s surprising candour around the current funding model being “unsustainable" and "reaching the end of its sell-by date". Plus, we get live reaction to Content Chief Ian Katz…
S3 · E14 · 10 Apr 2026 · 36 min
HBO Max launch frustrations, how Alan Sugar got the gig on The Apprentice, and the shows you couldn’t make today...
This week, Peter and Jimmy ask whether the arrival of HBO Max might be nudging us all dangerously close to peak demand for subscription services. Does the subscription model thrive as much on inertia as it does on the content they offer? And is that really sustainable? We talk revisionism when it comes to the question of what’s acceptable on television, and ask what are the shows that we love today that we’ll one day be embarrassed by? And with a new series in full swing on BBC1, Jimmy shares fond memories of some left-field HIGNFY bookings. Some of whom were memorable for all the right…
S3 · E13 · 3 Apr 2026 · 35 min
Greg Dyke on the BBC’s new DG, how to get your staff on side & the importance of public service broadcasting
Jimmy and Peter are joined by former Director General Greg Dyke as he talks the highs and lows of his time running the BBC, and what advice he’d give to Matt Brittin as he prepares to take on the top job. During his 4 years as DG, Dyke oversaw huge changes at every level of the organisation, from the birth of the iPlayer to a concerted effort to make the BBC less London-centric. But it was the row with the government over the Iraq war, and the Hutton Report that followed, that came to define his time in charge. He talks candidly about what that experience was like, and his regrets looking…
S3 · E12 · 27 Mar 2026 · 35 min
Matt Brittin to be the next DG, SNL UK launches on Sky, and Bob Monkhouse’s famous joke books are back in the news
This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss the challenges that lie ahead for Matt Brittin as he’s (finally) confirmed as the next DG. While he’s doubtless a vastly able and experienced corporate leader, his in-tray already looks unenviable. We wish him well. The British iteration of SNL launched last weekend. There was a bit of sniping from the critics, but it was fundamentally a really strong start, and a very funny show. Could this be the turning the point that convinces broadcasters to start commissioning sketch shows again? And in this week’s political-correctness-gone-mad news, Peter and Jimmy…
S3 · E11 · 20 Mar 2026 · 44 min
Amol Rajan on leaving the Today Programme, the BBC's future and leaping into the "Digital Narnia" of the creator economy
Jimmy and Peter are joined by broadcaster and soon-to-be media entrepreneur Amol Rajan to talk about the smaller but even more important future for the BBC, the rise of the creator economy and why YouTube versus Netflix is the media battle of our age. They also unpack what it takes to build a media company in 2026, from audience-first thinking to monetisation challenges, and why individual creators are becoming more powerful than institutions. Amol shares his plans to create a global, intellectually curious audience through podcasts, video, live events and more whilst reflecting on lessons…

About Insiders: The TV Podcast

Insiders: The TV Podcast is a English film & tv podcast from Expectation / Hat Trick. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Expectation / Hat Trick
Language: English
Category: Film & TV
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 36 min
Latest episode: 9 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1807814349
Rights: Expectation / Hat Trick

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