Insiders: The TV Podcast

This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss the appointment of Priya Dogra as the new Chief Exec of Channel 4. Her commercial background will doubtless be vital in helping C4 to navigate the commercial challenges it faces. But how will she approach and articulate her editorial vision for the channel? We talk all the latest twists and turns in the Netflix / Paramount bidding war for Warners. And we give ourselves an early Christmas gift by watching the "With Love, Meghan" Christmas special on Netflix and The Liz Truss Show on YouTube - do they actually have rather more in common than you might imagine? Plus, the politics of personalised parking spaces, Peter’s deeply disappointing school trip to Coventry, and is everything (including this podcast) always too long? Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, the pod comes live from the Content London TV conference. We discuss the latest in the BBC leadership saga, and ask whether you need to be a bit of a bruiser in the mould of Christopher Bland or Marmaduke Hussey to be a really effective BBC Chair? And Peter and Jimmy answer some great questions from the Content London audience - does indie production have a sustainable future; is legacy TV in terminal decline; and what’s the best (and worst) way to develop an idea? Plus, an unlikely duet with Myleene Klass, Peter’s Dickensian Christmas, and what the Americans really mean when they say “let’s circle back”. Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s another guest ep! This week Peter and Jimmy are joined by Andy Wilman, the genius producer behind Top Gear, The Grand Tour, and Clarkson’s Farm. Andy tells the story of the extraordinarily ordinary Top Gear pilot, and traces how the series grew into a record breaking TV behemoth, before unravelling slowly… and then all at once. We discuss the Top Gear team's move to Amazon and The Grand Tour (and how close Richard and James really were to staying at the Beeb). And we ask whether the Clarkson / Wilman Top Gear really had to end the way it did? Andy’s new book, Mr Wilman’s Motoring Adventure, is available now in all good bookstores, and would make an excellent Christmas present. Get it while stocks last. Maybe buy two, just to be safe. Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss the latest fallout from the Panorama edit row, not least the Culture Secretary's suggestion that the next DG should have a news and current affairs background. Is that really the lesson to be learned from this, and what the BBC needs right now? And we talk Sky’s move to buy ITV’s broadcast business. However compelling the business case might be, isn’t it an immutable fact that consolidation of broadcasters inevitably means fewer customers for indies to sell to? Plus, all the things wrong with country music, Peter’s special loathing for the word “curate”, and what Scotland’s World Cup success tells us about the importance of live TV. Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Jimmy and Peter unpack the extraordinary events of the last seven days at the BBC. With Tim Davie and Deborah Turness both offering their resignations, we discuss how the BBC got itself into this mess, and where it goes from here. And, as the pod comes live from the Belfast Media Festival, we ask whether there’s still an unconscious bias when it comes to nations and regions commissioning, and what more can be done to make sure broadcasters and producers really make the most of the vast pool of talent in Northern Ireland. Plus, the runners and riders to be the next DG (maybe Jimmy or Peter fancy it?), and long-suffering producer Owen makes an appearance. Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy unpack the row over the “misleading” edit in Panorama's Trump doc. Could (and should) there be resignations? We talk Kim Kardashian’s appallingly reviewed new drama “All’s Fair”. Does being panned in the press actually put streaming audiences off, or does it simply pique their interest and make them more likely to try a show for themselves? And we dip a toe into the fascinating and fast-growing world of micro drama. Plus, our first live stage show, an idea for a new gig for Nadine Dorries, and an apology to Bruno Brookes (and Andy Peebles too). Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, with Claudia Winkleman reportedly being lined up for a BBC chat show (to be produced by Graham Norton's company), Peter and Jimmy ponder how that’s going to work in practice, and remember some chat show hits (and misses) of their own. And as Disney announce they’re ending their deal with the BBC to make Doctor Who, we ask what the future holds for the series, and whether the BBC’s cast-iron commitment to the so-called “Whoniverse" makes it a show that’s simply too big to fail? Plus, failing to book Bruno Brookes, Strictly gossip from Peter’s hairdresser, and some free advice for agents everywhere: never let your clients see the swimming pool in your second home. Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Jimmy and Peter discuss the future of Strictly, and what to make of the mid-series announcement that Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are leaving the show. As Studio Canal file their first court papers in the Paddington vs Spitting Image case, we indulge ourselves one more time in the story (and the publicity) that never stops giving. And we ask what (if anything) the results of the Our BBC, Our Future survey really tell us? Plus, Jimmy sings Sondheim, William G Stewart’s middle name, and the only commissioner (so far) ever to slam the phone down on Peter. Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy ask whether Harry and Meghan’s much-diminished first look deal with Netflix is really the “sign of strength” that Meghan claims. But lest anyone roll their eyes too hard, isn’t that blend of resilience and self-delusion exactly what every good independent producer needs? And as Banijay strike a deal that “paves the way” (but no more than that) for the return of The Inbetweeners, we talk the science and art of programme announcements. Plus, Sir Phil Redmond’s eyebrows, what to say on a first date, and the perils of swapping analogue pounds for digital pennies. Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy debate the wisdom of Studio Canal’s decision to bring legal action against Avalon over the portrayal of Paddington Bear in the new Spitting Image. Jimmy talks about the error that found its way into last Friday’s ep of Have I Got News For You, and what's happened in the days since the show went out. And we discuss the results of the latest BBC tender process, and how remarkably successful BBC Studios are at winning BBC contracts. Plus, the circuitous journey of Expectation’s Osbornes doc, Jimmy’s epic day at the Strictly record, and a shout out to our long-suffering lawyer Simon. Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss the programmes they love that they didn’t make, but rather wish they had. And we ask what the popularity of re-watching old shows means for producers and broadcasters - if you can get consistently strong ratings playing familiar things, are you inevitably less likely to commission new stuff? Plus, the margins on drug smuggling, why the original BBC Tinker Tailor looks a bit ropey now, and the unlikely role the TalkBack cafetiere played in the history of British comedy. Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Jimmy Kimmel returned to the air this week (and to record ratings), Peter and Jimmy reflect on the extraordinary row between ABC and the White House, and the enduring power of satire to rile thin-skinned politicians who can’t take a joke. We discuss all the news from the RTS Cambridge Convention, including the case for improved tax breaks, particularly at lower price points, in the hope that half hour comedy can benefit just as much as drama. And we say happy 70th birthday to ITV (even though, according to the newly minted Fincham Rule Of Anniversaries, that’s “not a very big deal”). Plus, a word for poor Grace Archer, a quick audition for Radio 3, and Peter patiently explains the format of a nice little satirical show called “Have I Got News For You” that he thinks Jimmy might enjoy. Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Something a bit different this week - we've got a guest! Peter and Jimmy are joined by legendary producer Andy Harries. He was Head of Comedy and Head of Drama at Granada, before setting up Left Bank Pictures in 2007. His enviable list of credits include The Royle Family, Cold Feet, The Deal, The Queen, The Crown, and Department Q. We discuss the BBC’s bemused response when they first received The Royle Family, and their resistance to the idea of a sitcom being shot single camera, without an audience (footsteps in which The Office would follow reasonably successfully just a few years later). Andy takes us back to the crucial pitch meeting where Netflix bought The Crown - a commitment to 20 hours of television across two series at £5m per hour... not a bad Friday at the office. And he talks the importance of risk taking - perhaps unsurprising from the man who sold a 10 ep series of Strike Back to Sky, having not only not read the book, but not even optioned it when he made the deal. Plus, dressing like the Beach Boys, the debt Cold Feet owes to the Golden Rose of Montreux, and pitching a show fronted by the Two Fat Ladies (even though one of them had been dead for 6 months). Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss the DG’s appearance at the Culture Media and Sport committee, and his big idea to have a “succession plan” in place for every BBC presenter, just in case they happen to become embroiled in something unsavoury. We talk Piers Morgan Uncensored, and the smart move by all involved to start playing it on 5. And as we all come to the terms with the news that Melvyn Bragg is stepping down from In Our Time after 27 years, Peter remembers the jolly old chat they had when he asked Melvyn to come and see him so he could hell him he was cancelling the South Bank Show. Plus, the Murdoch succession, Jimmy’s sartorial tips for your next parliamentary appearance, and why Jay Hunt still says the best no in the business. Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, as the all-conquering Thursday Murder Club tops the Netflix charts, we take a deep dive into the crime and detective genre. Jimmy talks about his long-running and hugely successful partnership with Jed Mercurio, and Peter tells the story of his hit series, The Chelsea Detective. And we ask, is there an unlikely common ground between cosy crime and panel shows - both perennially out of fashion with commissioners, but consistently beloved of viewers? And for writers and producers looking for their next hit crime drama, is it a safer bet to adapt a successful novel, or come up with something new? Plus, Leonard Cohen lyrics, funny scousers, and Richard Osman’s Swedish TV format that's still going strong 30 years on. Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: [email protected] Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Jimmy and Peter unpack all the news from Edinburgh, from the bad tempered sniping between Netflix and Channel 4, to the headlines from James Harding’s McTaggart lecture (or could it also be read as a 5000 word job application to be the next DG?). And, from Eric and Ern, to Brucie’s Big Night, to Trinny and Susannah, we talk the decidedly chequered history of talent who make the move from the BBC to ITV. Plus, Jimmy drafts a grumpy letter to the Times, Peter wonders if his children were all born in a barn, and the importance of pivoting to a creator economy (whatever that means). Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You , Father Ted , Derry Girls , Outnumbered , and Episodes . In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge , Never Mind The Buzzcocks , and Da Ali G Show . He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal . New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: InsidersTVPod @expectationtv.com Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Jimmy shares his highlights from the Edinburgh Fringe, and Peter tries to remember what on earth his McTaggart was about. We discuss doing comedy in the age of Trump, and South Park’s successes in riling the White House. And we talk the return of Play for Today - another smart move from 5’s Ben Frow? Plus, Jimmy’s friendly chat with Cherie Blair, the perverse logic of banning shows, and we finally answer the question that's been on everyone’s lips... is Roy Wood Jnr, the host of HIGNFY in the US, related to Roy Wood, the lead singer of Wizard (clue: no). Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You , Father Ted , Derry Girls , Outnumbered , and Episodes . In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge , Never Mind The Buzzcocks , and Da Ali G Show . He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal . New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: InsidersTVPod @expectationtv.com Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss Harry and Meghan’s newly announced Netflix first look deal, and why it’s a much diminished beast compared to the output deal they had before. As Disney+ buys up the rights to show Spanish football in the UK, we ask whether live sport is the next frontier for the streamers. And we remember Blue Peter producer Biddy Baxter, who's died at the aged of 92. An inspirational leader and maverick producer who wasn’t afraid to make enemies... and did. Plus, how to pronounce DAZN, Peter’s Blue Peter garden designer, and Jimmy’s views on his old mate Cycling Mikey. Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You , Father Ted , Derry Girls , Outnumbered , and Episodes . In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge , Never Mind The Buzzcocks , and Da Ali G Show . He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal . New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: InsidersTVPod @expectationtv.com Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, as the Edinburgh Fringe gets underway, Peter and Jimmy ask whether having success at the Fringe is still a worthwhile route for performers who want to carve out a career on television. And we talk Netflix’s new (but decidedly retro) sitcom Leanne. Given that Friends is still one of the streamer’s most watched shows, is the only surprising thing about Leanne that it’s taken Netflix quite so long to start commissioning audience sitcoms that feel like they were made in the 1990s? Plus, cocaine at Strictly, the weather in Norway, and, at long last, a definitive answer to that most pressing of questions from the world of the TV executive - how to tell the difference between Perrier and San Pellegrino. Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You , Father Ted , Derry Girls , Outnumbered , and Episodes . In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge , Never Mind The Buzzcocks , and Da Ali G Show . He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal . New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: InsidersTVPod @expectationtv.com Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss the news that YouTube has become the second most watched video platform in the UK - what does its inexorable rise mean for both producers and broadcasters? And we talk ITV, and try to look beyond their not-great-but-not-quite-as-bad-as-expected results, and ask if they’re getting the big strategic questions right? Plus, the perils of slow lifts, Jimmy’s efforts at self-immolation in the name of selling a show, and the pilot that Peter made that was so bad, everyone at TalkBack just assumed it was a massive practical joke (it wasn’t, it was just terrible). Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You , Father Ted , Derry Girls , Outnumbered , and Episodes . In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge , Never Mind The Buzzcocks , and Da Ali G Show . He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal . New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: InsidersTVPod @expectationtv.com Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss the smorgasbord of news from the BBC, from the future of Masterchef to the devil in the detail of the annual report. And we talk CBS’s decision to cancel the Late Show, and ask whether the age of the made-for-TV chat show is coming to an end? Plus, Clive Anderson upsetting the Bee Gees, Jimmy’s dinner with Jeremy Hunt, and why you should be wary of any meeting where someone tells you how much they “value” you (you’re almost certainly about to be fired). Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You , Father Ted , Derry Girls , Outnumbered , and Episodes . In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge , Never Mind The Buzzcocks , and Da Ali G Show . He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal . New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: InsidersTVPod @expectationtv.com Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, in a special Q&A episode, Peter and Jimmy ask whether the audience sitcom has become a dying breed, and if there’s sufficient willingness amongst broadcasters to persist with series while they find their feet? And we discuss the tricky business of cancelling a show, and whether there’s ever a good way to do it. Peter recalls the day his scheduler dared him to cancel Last Of The Summer Wine, and Jimmy talks Episodes, and the time the BBC did their level best to cancel it, only to fail quite completely. Plus, bottle episodes, the nine lives of Room 101, and what happened when Murphy’s Irish Stout rang TalkBack and offered to pay Graham Linehan and Arthur Matthews piles of cash to write a sitcom set in a bar in Ireland. Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You , Father Ted , Derry Girls , Outnumbered , and Episodes . In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge , Never Mind The Buzzcocks , and Da Ali G Show . He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal . New episodes every Friday. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Email: InsidersTVPod @expectationtv.com Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss the news that Spitting Image is coming back as a YouTube series, and the ways producers can make premium content for YouTube while still turning a profit. And we ask whether Netflix have missed a trick after spending all that time, money, and effort teaching us all about F1 in Drive to Survive, only for Apple to swoop in and make the F1 movie? Plus, the joys of a bottle episode, how to get your kids to text you back, and The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. 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. Email: InsidersTVPod @expectationtv.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InsidersTVPodcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/insiderstvpod/ Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Peter and Jimmy discuss the Glastonbury controversy that the BBC has found itself embroiled in, and Peter offers some eye-witness reporting from on the ground at the festival. We talk Disney’s latest non-scripted announcements, including the return of Blind Date. And we ask why, when you sell a format to the Australians, they always seem to try and make it smuttier than anyone ever imagined it could possibly be. Plus, Jimmy’s day at Wimbledon with Johnny Vaughan, a visit to Cilla’s house, and why you should immediately go out and buy a new Mini. 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 . Our email address is InsidersTVPod @expectationtv.com , or you can get in touch via our socials at @InsidersTVPod. New episodes every Friday. Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, as Kate Phillips is confirmed as the new BBC Chief Content Officer, Peter and Jimmy unpack the big issues piling up in her inbox. As the commissioning downturn continues to bite, we discuss the immensely challenging outlook for TV freelancers across the industry. And we pay tribute to the much loved Joanna Beresford, whose death was announced this week - a woman to whom countless producers owe a vast debt. Plus, Sir Trevor McDonald's Bernard Manning gags, the unlikely part Bridget Jones played in Peter’s career, and what people really mean when they say it’s not about the money (clue: it’s absolutely definitely about the money). 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 (series 69 now airing), 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 . Our email address is InsidersTVPod @expectationtv.com , or you can get in touch via our socials at @InsidersTVPod. New episodes every Friday. Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production. The producer is Owen Braben. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.