From the creators of The Empire Film Podcast, Pilot TV is your essential guide to every TV show that matters, providing a weekly rundown of all the new must-see TV shows dropping across streaming, terrestrial, satellite, cable, and beyond. Join Empire's James Dyer, Heat's Boyd Hilton, Steph Seelan, and Kay Ribeiro as they bring you breaking TV news, reviews of the week's major shows, and interviews with some of the biggest names in TV. Pilot TV is here to make sure every minute you spend in front of the box is a minute worth spending.
Episodes
Rivals, Honey, and Hunting Alice Bell. With guests Zazie Beetz & Liev Schreiber
James is unwell so we’ve corralled heroic replacement Kay into joining Boyd and Steph for this week’s episode which also features Hollywood big cheeses Zazie Beetz & Liev Schreiber from Apple TV’s Nocturne. It’s also a big week for reviews with the return of the phenomenon that is Rivals on Disney+, BBC1’s new Cold War drama Honey from the people who brought us Killing Eve, and David Badd
Sherlock & Daughter, YAGA, and Tall Tales & Murder. With guest Joe Barton
It is always a delight to have Joe Barton on the podcast and this week’s episode is no exception. The Black Doves creator joins Boyd and James in the studio for a brilliant chat that ranges from the new season of the show to his writing/humming process, inappropriate feelings towards Disney characters and, of course, some mild bullying for being a die-hard Spurs fan (25:54-1:01:19). And Joe’s not
Adultery, This City Is Ours, and The Audacity. With guest Linda Cardellini
Inclement weather sends Steph into a rage this week, but thankfully isn’t enough to deter Crystal Lake star Linda Cardellini from swinging by the pod (32:24-42:10). Elsewhere, we find out what Boyd has been watching (and who he’s been seeing, and what’s on at the theatre), plus Steph mistakes this for a film podcast. But none of that matters as we watch Dominic Cooper and Romola Garai’s saucy affa
VisionQuest, Crystal Lake, and It Gets Worse. With guests Mike Flanagan, David Oyelowo & Hayley Atwell
Three (count them!) guests this week as horror maestro Mike Flanagan comes into the Pilot TV studio to chat all things Carrie (and much more besides) (37:45-1:01:49), Plus Treasure Island stars David Oyelowo and Hayley Atwell also drop by to tell us where X marks the spot (1:14:32-1:27:03). There’s an unexpected addition to the What We’ve Been Watching section this week as well, and we head back t
Treasure Island, The Party, and Time. With very special guest host Russell T Davies
Steph is ill this week so we’ve drafted in a replacement host to cover her absence. That host? The Notorious RTD himself! Having just co-penned his memoir with one Boyd Hilton, Russell joins the pod to chat all about his storied career, what it’s like to work with Boyd and share the details of his mooted Doctor Who/Star Trek crossover episode. Plus we dive into the new adaptation of Treasure Islan
Carrie, Kill Jackie, and Pierre. With guests Sienna Miller and Dominic West
On this week’s show, WAR stars Sienna Miller and Dominic West collar Boyd to talk their divorce drama on Sky Atlantic (48:50-1:01:51), plus we dissect the recent list of The New York Times’ 100 greatest TV shows of the 21st century. Show-wise, it’s Stephen King time again as Mike Flanagan has a crack at the author’s debut novel, Carrie, on Prime Video (1:09:05), and also on Prime we try to find ou
WAR, Break Clause, and Blue Lights. With guest Siân Brooke (and Ziggy)
We have a dog in the studio this week (very good boy 13/10) as guest Siân Brooke brings her miniature sausage dog Ziggy in to see us (and also to talk about the new series of Blue Lights on BBC1)(35:19-1:02:34). The rest of the show sees us banished to our respective homes, however, as we beam in to discuss the aforementioned Belfast police drama (1:35:11), as well as legal thriller WAR on Sky Atl
Youth, The Blame, and The Split Up. With guests Sharon Horgan, Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren
On this week’s show we have a trio of guests as Sharon Horgan joins us to talk Youth on HBO Max (28:01-35:17), while Helen Mirren and Pierce Brosnan chat all things Mobland on Paramount+ (52:22-1:04:14). Elsewhere, we talk through the winners of this year’s Primetime Emmys, Steph reminisces about Mr T, James looks back at Deep Space Nine and there are many disagreements about this week’s reviews.
American Hostage, Slow Horses, and Crew Girl. With guests Patrick Brammall and Sanjeev Bhaskar
We have a guest double show this week as not only does Boyd chat weith Sanjeev Bhaskar about The Split Up (1:09:19-1:25:55), but Patrick Brammall joins us in the studio to chat Lat Seen (and, let’s be honest, Colin From Accounts) (26:24-51:12). There were tears. Plus, we head back to the seventies with Jon Hamm for American Hostage (1:25:55), see if Netflix can steal Prime’s YA crown with teen sho
Colin From Accounts, and The Gentlemen. With guests Paddy Young and Jack Shep
In this week’s podcast we discover precisely why Steph is playing the new Harry Potter (and why you should never visit the zoo during a heatwave), we take a trip back to the ‘90s in search of reboot fodder, plus Boyd launches into an extended discussion of Bond themes (which apparently ties back in to TV somehow). Plus, we feast our eyes on the final series of Colin From Accounts (1:31:01), and he
Vigil, Trigger Point, and The Rainmaker
We’re off to the Arctic circle this week with the return of Rose Leslie and Suranne Jones’ investigative thriller Vigil on BBC1 (40:00), putting the ‘boom’ back in ITV with the return of VIcky McClure’s Trigger Point (48:07), and getting our Grisham on in the arrival of The Rainmaker, also on ITV (56:38). Plus the team delve into the nepo baby phenomenon, Boyd prepares to head up to Edinburgh to h
PLUS Dark Matter
Have a free episode of PilotTV+ on us!We’re back into the multiverse on this week’s Pilot+ as we delve into the second season of Blake Crouch’s Dark Matter on Apple TV+. And assuming that it is indeed the ‘real James, Boyd and Kay, the team also break open the postbag to tackle a series of compliments AND complaints — the postbag giveth, and the postbag taketh away.Want your messages read out as p
The Terror: Devil In Silver, Dog Park, and Fightland. With guests Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler
We have not one but two Green Lanterns on this week podcast as both Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler put up with James fanboying both over Lanterns on HBO Max and of course the fact that Chandler IS Coach Taylor from Friday Night Lights (clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose!) (39:38-1:00). Elsewhere we have a big old Lego chat, someone attempts a sweet-based assassination attempt and we tackles the n
Lanterns, Ludwig, and Sunny Nights, plus Animation Education
We’re back to a full house this week as James returns from his holidays, and an even fuller house than that, in fact, as we have a surprise ringer parachuted into this week’s line-up. In a bid to address to the team’s ongoing reluctance to become au fait with animation, we’ve invited animation filmmaker John McEwan-Whyte to join us on the show and provide a crash course in all things cell-shaded (
House Of The Dragon Season 3 Spoiler Special. With showrunner Ryan Condal
As a special bonus, we're making our House Of The Dragon spoiler special available to everyone! For more of these, early, ad-free access to the main podcast and a second show every week, subscribe to Pilot+ for not very much money at all! www.empire.supportingcast.fmHouse Of The Dragon reached its fiery (and swordy, and axey) climax this week with a LOT happening as we lay the board for the show’s
The Shards, Hit Point, and Alley Cats
Apparently, it’s our 400th episode so to celebrate we invite special guest Darren, our esteemed editor, to join Kay, Steph and Boyd for the opening ‘What we’ve been watching’ segment, which is full of surprises. We also look back to the very first episode, before reviewing the Bret Easton Ellis/Ryan Murphy collab The Shards on Disney+, U&Dave’s first scripted original drama Hit Point, and adul
Possession, Benidorm Is Murder, and Lioness. With guest Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais is our guest this week, talking all things Alley Cats, and yes, it’s an animated show, but a very very adult one. We’re also celebrating James’ absence with another two-hander between Boyd and Kay who together review Possession with Gugu Mbatha-Raw on Sky & NOW, Benidorm Is Murder with John Hannah on 5, not to be confused with A Touch Of Cloth, and the star-studded Lioness from t
The Vampire Lestat, Furious, and The Rapture
Furious is definitely the word for this week’s show. Not just because we’re reviewing the serial killer show of the same name on Disney+, but because that is a perfect summation of Steph’s mindset going in. As incandescent as we’ve ever seen her, Steph Hulked out over one of this week’s shows but refused to reveal which one, so you’ll have to wait for the reviews section to find out. Was it the af
The Crow Girl, Ride Or Die, and The Hawk. With guest Anya Taylor-Joy
Anya Taylor-Joy is our guest in the studio this week, talking both her new show Lucky on Apple TV and her (and Steph’s) love of dogs (32:50-50:51). But that’s not all, because the team also talk through the TV teachers they wish had filled them with knowledge during their formative years and reviewed three new shows besides. To wit: the return of twisted crime thriller The Crow Girl (1:10:07) on P
The Westies, Ann Droid, and The Five Star Weekend. With guests JK Simmons and Tom Brittney
We finally unveil (in typically shambolic fashion) our shows of the year (so far) list in this week’s episode as an arcane mathematical formula is applied to our individual favourites, distilling them into the definitive (probably) top 10 of everything out in 2026 to-date (17:33). Plus JK Simmons and Tom Brittney join us to chat MGM+’s new gangster show The Westies (37:18-50:58). We also watch Dia
The Dark, Human Vapor, and X-Men ‘97. With guest Esther Smith
Esther Smith is our guest on this week’s show, talking all things Trying Season 5 (38:15-48:52). Plus we pick through the wreckage of the TV schedules this week to try and find shows that haven’t been consumed by the world cup, only to stumble across a Scottish crime drama in The Dark on ITV (58:20), a remake of Japanese supernatural story Human Vapor on Netflix (1:11:04), and the long-awaited sec
The Bear, Silo, and Elle
Ever wondered what a ‘winter show’ looks like? Well fear not because Steph clues you in on this week’s show as we dive into another triad of televisual entertainment. First out of the gate this week is the final season of The Bear on Disney+ (51:06). Will the restaurant keep its doors open? Will Carmy and Syd be able to save the day? Will Ritchie yell obscenities across the kitchen? All is reveale
Sugar and The Agency
We’re down to two shows this week as the world cup (or embargoes, depending on who you ask) closes its vice-like grip on the airwaves. But what a pair they are: we’re back in the spy business with Michael Fassbender in the return of Paramount+’s espionage drama The Agency, and on the missing persons beat with Colin Farrell as Apple’s sci-fi-cri Sugar makes its return. Plus we mull over some of the
House Of The Dragon and The Light In The Hall: Still Waters. With guest Javier Bardem
Thanks to the world cup (and a handful of embargoes), there are only two shows we can cover this week, but that’s okay because not only is one of the triumphant return of Game Of Thrones prequel spin-off House Of The Dragon (1:15:43), but the other is Welsh drama The Light In The Hall: Still Waters (1:01:38), which also exists under the Welsh name Y Golau: Dŵr, which James does attempt to say, alb
Cape Fear, Alice And Steve, and The Witness. With guests Nicola Walker and Jemaine Clement
After being led astray within the liminal spaces between spaces in the Pilot TV office, Nicola Walker and Jemaine Clement finally make their way to the studio this week to chat their new Disney+ comedy Alice And Steve (35:23-54:53), which we also review (1:10:45) this week. Plus we re-live our nineties nightmares as cinematic uber-villain Max Cady makes his small screen debut in Apple’s remake of
Tip Toe, Two Weeks in August, and La Brea. With guest Russell T. Davies
The notorious RTD joins us on the podcast once more this week (31:27-58:11) as we take a look at his new show Tip Toe on Channel 4, which pits Alan Cumming against David Morrissey’s homophobic next door neighbour. Plus, we head off for a fornight in the sun with BBC1’s Two Weeks In August, and head back in time for epoch-hopping Sky One sci-fi La Brea. Plus James, Boyd and Steph undertake some hom
Spider-Noir, Dear England, and The Boroughs. With Guests Joseph Fiennes and Jodie Whittaker
This week’s show has a decidedly football-oriented theme (sorry) and not just because Boydy was still on a high after Arsenal’s win but because James Graham’s award-winning theatre production Dear England lands on our screens (1:31:40), given the full BBC1 treatment. And along those lines, both Jodie Whittaker and Joseph Fiennes join us on the show to talk all about it (44:07-58:24). Elsewhere, we
PONIES and Falling, with guests Emilia Clarke, Jon Bernthal & Ebon Moss-Bachrach
Two shows but three guests this week. Emilia Clarke comes into the Pilot studio to chat about her new cold-war espionage show PONIES on Sky (1:06:52-1:25:00). Plus, Jon Bernthal and Ebon Moss-Bachrach also jump on to chat their surprise drop from The Bear, ‘Gary’ (38:07-49:32). And if that’s not enough, we also make time for some consecrated canoodling in Channel 4’s Falling, in which Paapa Essied
Rivals, Believe Me, Gary, and Off Campus. With guest Steve Coogan
Yes, we’re back in Rutshire this week as the team (well, one of us) gets to dive back into the world of Jilly Cooper’s bucolic shagathon for Rivals series 2 (1:32:54), speaking of which, we also explore the other sexy ice hockey drama with Off Campus on Prime (1:43:52), get surprised by an unexpected new episode of The Bear (1:39:58), and look into the police mishandling of a notorious serial sex
The Cage, Secret Service, and Amandaland. With guest Jack Thorne
This week’s show sees us pick up some of last week’s biggies with Tony Schumacher’s heist drama The Cage on BBC1 (1:38:54), Gemma Arterton-starring spy show Secret Service on ITV (1:14:57), and the second series of Amandaland, which also lands on the Beeb (1:26:27). Plus uber-screenwriter Jack Thorne chats through his craft with James (43:21-1:06:26), and we take a look at the evolution of small s
Half Man, Prisoner, and Widow’s Bay. With guest Richard Gadd
Is it us or is it getting hot in here? No, it really is but only because Steph has been messing with the air conditioning in the studio (true). Luckily, this didn’t both Richard Gadd, who joins us on this week’s show to talk becoming a beefcake and scaring the shit out of Jamie Bell in his Baby Reindeer follow-up Half Man on BBC1 (58:36-1:10:02). But that’s not all, because the team also investiga
Criminal Record, Beef, and Mint. With guests Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo
Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo are on this week’s pod to talk Criminal Record season 2 on Apple TV, which we also review even though James wanted us to wait until he gets back from holiday next week because he’s watched the whole thing already. We also review Beef and Mint. That’s not a new cookery show. They’re two separate programmes, one called Beef and one called Mint.
Euphoria, Big Mood, and The Miniature Wife
Euphoria makes its long-awaited return to our screens this week, after a four year hiatus. But can it possibly meet Boyd’s lofty expectations when it lands on Sky/HBO Max (47:06)? And speaking of Sky, Matthew Macfadyen and Elizabeth Banks’ size-shifting comedy The Miniature Wife also lands on that platform (1:01:04), and hit comedy Big Mood returns for another run on Channel 4 (1:11:05). Plus, we
The Testaments, 2026, and The Copenhagen Test. With guests Noah Wyle & Katherine LaNasa, Hugh Bonneville & Hugh Skinner
Guests abound once more this week as both Noah Wyle and Katherine LaNasa chat The Pitt with James (1:04:12-1:17:45), while Hughs Bonneville and Skinner recount their experiences making 2026 with Boyd (22:46-23:40). Meanwhile, we’re back in Gilead this week for The Testaments on Disney+ (1:17:45), finding out is Simu Liu can hack it as a spy in The Copenhagen Test on Channel 4 (1:36:53), and reunit
Babies, The ‘Burbs, and Your Friends And Neighbours. With guests Elisabeth Moss, Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King
This weeks show not only sees the wonderful Elisabeth Moss come in to the Pilot studio to natter with James, Boyd and (especially) Steph about Imperfect Women (7:29-33:33), but we also speak to Lisa Kudrow and Michael Patrick King about the triumphant return of The Comeback (1:14:31-1:28:20). Meanwhile, this week’s show include BBC1’s Babies — strap in for this one — (1:37:46) Sky’s The ‘Burb
The Pitt, Bait, and Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole
It’s quite the week this week as we go full Scandi noir with Jo Nesbø’s Detective Hole on Netflix (1:10:20), adapting the author’s insanely popular Norwegian crime novels. Meanwhile, Riz Ahmed is exploring the life of a struggling actor in Bait on Prime Video (57:50), and after a year of waiting patiently, we FINALLY get to see The Pitt land on our tellys (1:26:41) as HBO Max makes its UK debut. A
Imperfect Women, A Woman Of Substance, and The Other Bennet Sister. With guests Ruth Jones and Ella Bruccoleri
It’s our (belated) International Women’s Day episode this week, with a trio of female fronted shows to tackle, from Imperfect Women on Apple (1:13:41), to A Woman Of Substance on Channel 4 (1:27:20), and The Other Bennet Sister on BBC1 (1:41:16) — for which we also speak to Ruth Jones and Ella Bruccoleri (39:58-58:06). Plus last week’s bum banter is swapped out for an array of dog discussion as we
Rooster, Gone, and The Capture. With guests Kurt and Wyatt Russell
We have a Russell double bill this week as both Kurt and Wyatt join us on the pod to chat Monarch season 2 on Apple TV (33:38-54:47). Elsewhere, we’re getting in trouble on campus both with Steve Carrell in Rooster on Sky Comedy (1:03:47) and with David Morrissey in Gone on ITV1 (1:28:19). All that and BBC1’s The Capture makes a triumphant return to our screens for series 3 (1:17:41), plus we asse
Marshals, Young Sherlock, and DTF St Louis. with guests Kaley Cuoco and Sam Claflin
Kaley Cuoco and Sam Claflin are our guests this week (42:50-55:12), chatting all things Vanished on Prime video. Plus, Steph gives her crime show recommendations for all you sofa sleuths, and we tackle this week’s trio of new (unembargoed) shows. Specifically… the latest addition to the Yellowstoniverse, Marshals, on Paramount+ (1:05:24), teenage Holmes saga Young Sherlock on Prime (1:15:31), and
Paradise, Vanished, and Dirty Business. With guest Jennifer Garner
We may not have been able to review The Last Thing He Told Me last week but to address that injustice, Jennifer Garner popped into the Pilot TV studio this week to talk all about that show’s second season with Boydy (30:07-40:17). Elsewhere, we catch up with the latest events in Paradise on Disney+ (51:22), find out why Sam Claflin has gone missing, along with Kaley Cuoco in Vanished on Prime Vide
The Walsh Sisters, Bridgerton, and The Night Agent. With guests Lisa McGee and Sinéad Keenan
Kay returns to the regular pod this week and (purely by coincidence) Nothing goes quite to plan as our intent to review The Last Thing He Told Me is thwarted by an inconvenient embargo. However, that’s okay because we manage to sub Bridgerton season 4 in as a last minute replacement. Elsewhere, we take a look at BBC1’s Marian Keyes adaptation The Walsh Sisters, and see what Gabriel Basso is up to
Cross, Betrayal, and Small Prophets
Dad core reigns this week as we head over to Prime video for season 2 of Cross (55:24), then pivot to ITV for MI5 thriller Betrayal (1:06:55). Plus we peer into the psyche of Mackenzie Crook for his quirky new homunculus comedy Small Prophets (1:17:49). Meanwhile, Boyd beams in live from Santa Monica to give us a full rundown of Apple’s 2026 slate. And, if you’ve ever wondered where a good place t
Waiting For The Out, His And Hers, and Silent Witness
It’s a slow week on the box but don’t let that put you off as we take the opportunity to fill some important gaps in our 2026 watch list, finally reviewing Waiting For The Out on BBC1 (55:16), catching up with batty crime thriller His And Hers on Netflix (1:07:12) and exploring just why Silent Witness has become such a phenomenon as it launches into its 29th year (1:19:53). Plus, if you didn’t thi
Wonder Man, The Beauty, and Under Salt Marsh. With Ashton Kutcher, Jeremy Pope, Anthony Ramos, Evan Peters, Rebecca Hall, Kelly Reilly & Rafe Spall
We have ALL the guests on this week’s show, including [deep breath] Ashton Kutcher, Jeremy Pope, Anthony Ramos, Evan Peters, Rebecca Hall, Kelly Reilly and Rafe Spall (31:40-50:19 and 1:23:58-1:36:53). But not all at once. Elsewhere, we come to the rescue of new Pilot listener Mel and do a deep dive on lesser-known TV comedies (or not, the jury’s still out on a lot of them), plus we get fully supe
A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms, Drops Of God, and After The Flood. With guests Idris Elba and Jim Field Smith
Hijack star and showrunner Idris Elba and Jim Field Smith are our guests this week, but they’re only the second most exciting additions to our line-up as this marks Steph’s debut as an official co-Pilot (if you don’t count last week’s Pilot+!). We try to ease her in gently with the latest Game of Thrones spinoff, A Knight Of The Seven Kingdoms on Sky Atlantic (1:10:55), the latest season of Apple’
Hijack, Starfleet Academy, and Industry. With guests Dawn French & Mark Heap, Konrad Kay & Mickey Down
We kick off the new year (for us, that is, you of course had a podcast last week) with a bevvy of guests on the show, corralling Industry showrunners Konrad Kay and Mickey Down (28:09-43:56) as well as Dawn French and Mark Heap (57:57-1:09:30), whose show Can You Keep A Secret is now showing on BBC1. Hijack gets its second outing on Apple TV this week (1:09:30), while Industry returns to the Beeb
The Night Manager, Run Away, and Red Eye. With guests Erin Doherty and Malachi Kirby
Merry New Year! Yes, it’s 2026 and — after years of hectoring from Boyd — we have a New Year episode of Pilot TV for your listening pleasure (one that may or may not have been recorded before we broke for Christmas). We tackle all the big New Year’s Day shows this episode, from Tom Hiddleston’s return (10 years later) to the role of Jonathan Pine in The Night Manager’s long awaited secon
Review Of The Year 2025
That’s all folks, 2025 is done and dusted. But you didn’t think we’d leave you all to see in the new year without a big old Pilot TV retrospective, did you? James, Boyd and Kay unveil the official Pilot TV Best Shows of 2025 list and go through it in forensic detail here, while also flagging any number of other shows you might have missed over the course of the past 12 months. We even open a speci
The Lowdown, The Hunting Wives, and A Ghost Story For Christmas. With guests Paul Bettany and Will Sharpe
Paul Bettany and Will Sharpe don their frock coats for Amadeus on Sky and we speak to both of them on this week’s show as they chat all things Mozart with Boyd. Plus we wrap up a festive haul of shows for under your Christmas tree, taking a look at Mart Gatiss’ latest Ghost Story For Christmas, The Room in The Tower on BBC2, getting drawn into the sweedy underbelly of Texan high society in The Hun
It: Welcome To Derry — An Empire Podcast Special, In Association With Warner Bros.
They all float down here. Now that It: Welcome To Derry, the prequel to Andy Muschietti's It Chapter One and It Chapter Two, has finished its eight-episode run, the Empire Podcast has teamed up with Warner Bros. to bring you a special episode in which Chris Hewitt, Helen O'Hara, and James Dyer conquer their fears of clowns, spiders, and spider-clowns just long enough to talk about the Andy Muschie
Amadeus, The Revenge Club, and Imposter. With guest Martin Compston
We’re exacting righteous vengeance on love rat exes (not that Love Rat) in The Revenge Club on Paramount+ this week, and star Martin Compston joins us on the show for a chat about it as well. Elsewhere, Amadeus makes its debut on Sky Atlantic, pitting Mozart vs Salieri in a piano-off for the ages. Plus we cover Imposter (possibly THE Imposter, it’s still unclear) on Channel 5. James was thrilled.
Dark Winds, Percy Jackson & The Olympians, and Irish Blood
On this week’s podcast you’ll be devastated to hear that we are unable to review Taylor Swift: The End Of An Era, however don’t switch off, because we do manage to rustle up some alternatives. Dark Winds makes its return to U&Alibi (43:45)and includes what is arguably the best meta joke of the year, Percy Jackson is back, causing trouble for the gods once again in Percy Jackson And The Olympia
Stranger Things, The War Between The Land And The Sea, and Spartacus: House of Ashur
The wait is over! Well, sort of, because Stranger Things returns to Netflix this week for the first part of its final season to whet our collective appetites for the final assault on the Upside Down at the end of the year (44:50). Plus the Notorious RTD is back with his latest spin-off to the Whoiverse, setting Russell Tovey on a collision course with Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Sea Devil spectacular The W
Prisoner 951, Watson, and Changing End
There are chocolates in the studio this week — albeit ones that were initially destined for our editor Darren, but let’s gloss over that, shall we? In addition to raising our blood sugar levels while doing this week’s show, we take a look at the harrowing true story of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s imprisonment in Iran with Prisoner 951 on BBC1 (43:45), see if Sherlock’s assistant can make it w
Malice, Summerwater, and The Death Of Bunny Munro. With guests Vince Gilligan, Rhea Seehorn and Karolina Wydra
Pluribus showrunner Vince Gilligan along with stars Rhea Seehorn and Karolina Wydra all piled into the Pilot TV studio this week to talk all about Apple’s excellent new sci-fi series (0:00-30:12). Then, James, Kay and Boyd embarked on a trio of shows about terrible parenting in Prime’s manny from hell thriller Malice (1:08:31), Channel 4’s vacation nightmare Summerwater (1:18:20), and Sky’s lothar
Pluribus, All Her Fault, and Wild Cherry. With guest Jack Whitehall
We get nothing from Malice from guest Jack Whitehall this week, who chats with Boyd about his new show. Malice (20:57-35:20). But on the rest of the pod, we’re all sweetness and light, mainly as we not only have a new Vince Gilligan show to watch, in the form of Pluribus on Apple TV (1:07:57), but it’s a show that depicts humanity at its happiest… with a cost. Outside this jaunt into the world of
Down Cemetery Road, I Love LA, and Robin Hood. With guest Ruth Wilson
Ruth Wilson in uncovering a conspiracy this week, both in Down Cemetery Road on Apple TV (1:02:18), and on this very podcast, for she is this week’s guest (33:12-48:43). Plus we’re back among the branches of Sherwood for Robin Hood on MGM+ (1:14:37), and hanging out with some friends reunited in I Love LA on Sky Comedy (1:22:23). And yes, while Boyd and Kay do insist on some Traitors discussion (a
It: Welcome To Derry, Trigger Point, and Art Detectives. With guest Stephen Merchant
Stephen Merchant joins us on the show this week, not only chatting to James about his recent zombie apocalypse debut in The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon, but ruminating on comedy, rhyming slang, the legacy of The Office and 24. Plus, we follow the exploits of some we’re hanging out with some very different Derry girls (and boys) in It: Welcome to Derry on Sky, take in a little fine art with Art Detec
Leonard And Hungry Paul, The Forsytes, and The Ridge. With guests Harlan Coben and Bill Nighy
We have a Lazarus double bill this week as both showrunner Harlan Coben and Star Bill Nighy drop by for separate (but thematically connected) chats about the new Prime Video thriller (which is embargoed, so we’ll be reviewing it on Pilot+). Plus we go abseiling with Lauren Lyle in The Ridge on BBC2, head back to posh Victorian England with The Forsytes on Channel 5, and get a little ASMR from Juli
Riot Women, The Iris Affair, and Monster: The Ed Gein Story. With guests Sally Wainwright, Adjani Salmon & Ali Hughes
Kay rapidly wishes she’d never returned from holiday after coming back to this week’s show as she discovers that Boyd hasn’t saved her a copy of his book. But that’s at least partially made up for by the fact that she gets to talk to the legendary Sally Wainwright about her new BBC show Riot Women (1:09:56-1:24:35), which we also review. Plus Adjani Salmon and Ali Hughes are on to chat the latest
Film Club, Dreaming Whilst Black, and Murder Before Evensong. With Guests Aimee Lou Wood & Suranne Jones, and Jodie Whittaker
We’re legitimately chatting all things movies on the (TV) podcast this week as Aimee Lou Wood and Suranne Jones join us to chat Film Club on BBC3 (37:11-53:10), Plus Jodie Whittaker (sans Suranne) pops by to talk all things Frauds on ITV (1:04:03-1:23:34). Meanwhile, we catch up with Adjani Salmon for the second series of Dreaming Whilst Black on BBC3 (1:38:38), and delve into ecclesiastical crime
Chad Powers, Frauds, and How Are You? It’s Alan (Partridge). With Guests Jessica Chastain & Nnamdi Asomugha and Tom Blyth
Jessica Chastain and Nnamdi Asomugha are our guests on this week’s show, chatting The Savant on Apple TV+ (47:34-57:53) — a show that unfortunately you can’t watch, the reasons for which we get into in some detail elsewhere on the podcast. Meanwhile, Tom Blyth stops by to talk Billy The Kid (1:14:38-1:28:46), which you CAN see on MGM+. Also, we try to discover why people want to hide GLen Pow
Slow Horses, Wayward, and The Hack. With guests Ruth Bradley and Christopher Chung
It’s a Slow Horses special (kind of) this week as not only do we review the show’s fifth series but both Christopher Chung (Roddy Ho) and Ruth Bradley (Emma Flyte) are guests, with Ruth dropping into the studio mid-record almost as if she’d just been sent over from The Park by Taverner. Meanwhile, we take a look at the phone hacking scandal along with David Tennant in The Hack on ITV, and let Toni
Black Rabbit, Gen V, and Juice. With guests Andrew Lincoln and David Ireland
We’re in Coldwater this week as Andrew Lincoln and writer David Ireland discuss the new ITV thriller (23:55-44:34). Plus Kay asks the question as to whether we take TV (or film, or book) recommendations from other people. And then there’s this week’s crop of shows, which includes Netflix’s brotherly strife miniseries Black Rabbit (53:45), Prime’s second series of The Boys spinoff Gen V (1:03:08),
Task, The Girlfriend, and Only Murders In The Building. With guests Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke
We are nominally back to normal this week, meaning we’re all in the studio and the YouTube cameras are back on. And a good thing too as we take on HBO crime thriller Task (55:00), the fifth season of Only Murders In The Building on Disney+ (1:12:15) and Prime Video’s domestic thriller The Girlfriend (1:03:39), for which both Robin Wright and Olivia Cooke join us on the show (27:28-43:32). Note: ti
The Guest, I Fought The Law, and The Runarounds. With Guest Domhnall Gleeson
We’re back to a semblance of normality this week, except for James being in Florida and having to dial in remotely, but that doesn’t stop us taking on the police with Sheridan Smith in I Fought The Law on ITV1, exploring upstairs/downstairs relationships with Eve Myles in The Guest on BBC1, and rocking out with The Runarounds on Prime Video. Plus Domhnall Gleeson stops by to chat with us about The
Atomic, King & Conqueror, and Invasion. With guests Suranne Jones and Matt Charman, Alfie Allen and Shazad Latif
It’s a bumper, star-studded week for guests with two glorious duos discussing their shows - Hostage and Atomic, while we’re still missing our leader James so it’s another “Dot and Ethel” two hander with Boyd, live from the Edinburgh TV festival, and Kay, live from her living room. They review the aforementioned Atomic on Sky, plus King & Conqueror and season 3 of invasion. Yes, season 3. But a
Peacemaker, The Twisted Tale Of Amanda Knox, and Mudtown. With guest Alex Lawther
The excellent Alex Lawther is our guest this week. You’ll know him from The End Of The F****ing World among other fine shows, and now he is one of the shining lights in the ensemble cast of Alien: Earth. Lazy James is still away so Boyd and Kay are joined by Crime Queen Steph, and it just so happens there’s a lot of crime shows for us to discuss, including Disney+’s controversial Amanda Knox drama
LIVE: Alien: Earth, In Flight, and Butterfly. With special guest co-host Russell T. Davies
Our Live 350th episode turned out to be a live 349th episode (because maths) but that didn’t stop it from being a storming night at Kings Place in London. Why? Because on this episode our trio became a quartet and we were joined by the magnificent Russell T Davies, who was anointed as an official Co-Pilot. Much hilarity ensued (just wait till you get to Boyd’s review of Butterfly) as we tackled ev
Outlander: Blood Of My Blood, Platonic, and Ridley. With Guests Adrian Dunbar and Paul Wesley
We have a double whammy of guests this week as Adrian Dunbar joins us to chat Ridley on ITV. Plus Paul Wesley chats to us about returning to the bridge as Kirk in Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. Meanwhile, Scottish shagfest Outlander gets a spinoff series with highland origin story Blood Of My Blood on MGM+, and Seth Rogen and Rose Byrne return for another round of Platonic on Apple TV+. And, for r
The Assassin, The Count Of Monte Cristo, The Gone, and The Mayfair Witches
There’s a returning series bonanza this week as we take our pick from The Gone and The Mayfair Witches, both returning to the Beeb. But that’s okay as we also have two big ticket originals making their TV debut this week, specifically Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore comedy thriller The Assassin on Prime Video and Sam Claflin-starring Alexandre Dumas adaptation The Count Of Monte Cristo on U&
Mix Tape, The Narrow Road To The Deep North, and Washington Black. With guest Mark Gatiss
Bookish goes Poddish this week as Mark Gatiss joins us on the show to talk about post-war crime solving on U&Alibi (30:01-51:57). Plus we review a trio of time-hopping dramas this week from Aussie/Northern ‘80s drama Mix Tape on BBC2 (1:11:16), epic WWII literary adaptation The Narrow Road To The Deep North on BBC1 (1:26:44), and emancipation and invention adventure Washington Black on Disney+
Too Much, The Institute, Bookish, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds. With guests Jeffrey Dean Morgan & Scott Gimple, Emer Kenny & Lauren Lyle
Too Much is very much the phrase of the week on this episode as not only do we have four guests — specifically Karen Pirie’s Lauren Lyle and Emer Kenny (50:50-1:04:40) and The Walking Dead: Dead City’s Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Scott Gimple (22:53-32:36)— but we also review four shows — specifically Too Much on Netflix (1:04:40), The Institute on MGM+ (1:30:28), Bookish on U&Alibi
Foundation, Ballard, and Shifting Gears. With guest Jared Harris
It’s the episode you’ve all been waiting for… James talking about Foundation for a truly heroic amount of time as not only does the team review (1:00:25) the show’s third season (for which James provides Kay with a ‘helpful’ primer on the series) but he also gets to sit down with Jared Harris and chat psychohistory and four-dimensional objects to his heart’s content (31:46-46:22). Elsewhere, we ge
Squid Game, The Bear, Such Brave Girls, and Scrublands. With guest Kat Sadler
Kay is still on her terribly important work assignment to Rimini this week, so beams into the studio on the airwaves as she, James and Boyd discuss everything from Boyd’s new foray into the world of video influencers to Kay’s poolside celebrity encounters. We’re also joined on the show by Such Brave Girls creator/star Kat Sadler (31:25-50:35), as we tackle that show’s second season (1:20:18), plus
Smoke, Transaction, and Countdown. With guest Christina Hendricks
Christina Hendricks couldn’t stay away and is back on the podcast this week, talking this time about the return of The Buccaneers to Apple TV+ (28:59-50:14). And speaking of Apple, the new show from Dennis Lehane, Smoke, goes under the Pilot TV microscope this week as we follow Taron Egerton and Jurnee Smollett in tracking down a serial arsonist (1:19:07). Plus we join Jordan Gray and Nick Frost i
We Were Liars, Pushers, and Outrageous
We bounce from balls to benefits this week as we hang out with a lot of very rich people in YA adaptation We Were Liars on Prime (1:00:45), and Mitford sisters miniseries Outrageous on U&Drama (48:19), then explore the life of a woman taking a creative approach to government welfare cutbacks in Rosie Jones’ comedy Pushers on Channel 4 (38:41). Plus Kay makes her triumphant return and uses the
Beth, The Consultant, and St Denis Medical. With guest Cynthia Nixon
Kay is still on holiday this week, but that’s okay because standing in for her is true crime maven Steph Seelan, plus Cynthia Nixon — although she’s less a Kay stand-in and more a guest, here to talk about the new season of And Just Like That (1:02:13-1:16:13). On this week’s show we have a trio of half hour wonders, specifically Channel 4’s Beth (1:33:57), ITV’s The Consultant (1:25:25), an
The Better Sister, Stick, and The Gold. With guest Matthew Goode
Matthew Goode is on this week, chatting all things Dept Q on Netflix (41:02-57:30). Plus, we take up our 9 irons for a spot of golf with Owen Wilson in Stick on Apple TV+ (1:09:52), explore the boundaries of sibling rivalry with Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks in The Better Sister on Prime (1:01:15), and hut for missing bullion with Hugh Bonneville in series 2 of The Gold on BBC1 (1:17:43). All t
Sirens, The Last Anniversary, and Death Valley
We’re all off to Scribbly Gum Island this week for BBC1’s adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s The Last Anniversary (58:20), solving crimes with Timothy Spall in Death Valley, also on the Beeb (1:07:31), and pushing the boundaries of sisterly love alongside Meghann Fahy and Millie Alcock in Sirens on Netflix (1:00:04). (Episode 338)Note: time stamps are approximate as the ads throw them out, so are only
