Insiders: The TV Podcast

The Traitors almost went to Costa Rica with bikinis and hot tubs with BBC editorial policy suggested avoiding the words “murder” and “kill”. Now the show’s commissioner, Syeda Irtizaali joins TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville to reveal the decisions, disagreements and casting choices behind the hit show…In this episode:How the Dutch format became The Traitors on the BBCWhy Syeda pushed for a Scottish castle instead of Costa RicaThe BBC’s concerns about “murder” and “kill” and why she rejected the adviceThe A-list star who was almost in Celebrity Traitors Series 2Claudia Winkleman’s worries about the first big twistWhy the original series launched with ordinary people, not celebritiesThe fan test used to cast Celebrity TraitorsCan Netflix create its own nation-gripping reality hit?“Prestige reality”, Netflix: Will You Marry Me? and the future of unscripted TVPLUS: The Big Breakfast, a beer-stained job application and secretly training Denise Van OutenHave a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email podcasts@hattrick.com.If you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share the podcast with a friend—it really helps us grow.CHAPTERS00:00 Welcome and meet Syeda Irtizaali01:20 Celebrity Traitors and the unnamed A-list star03:30 How The Traitors came to the BBC07:50 Costa Rica, hot tubs and the Scottish castle09:10 Why the BBC questioned “murder” and “kill”11:20 Claudia Winkleman and the first big twist13:50 Why The Traitors started without celebrities16:50 Celebrity Traitors and the casting fan test18:10 Can Netflix create the next big reality hit?19:30 Netflix: Will You Marry Me?20:50 What is “prestige reality”?22:20 Moving from the BBC to Netflix24:00 The future of the BBC and Channel 427:10 Getting into television and The Big Breakfast30:30 Secretly training Denise Van Outen31:20 Something for the Weekend’s outrageous dating segment32:20 Becoming a Channel 4 commissioner34:35 Final thoughts and goodbyeNew episodes every Friday.YouTube: @insiderstvpodcastInstagram: @InsidersTVPodEmail: podcasts@hattrick.com#TheTraitors #CelebrityTraitors #ClaudiaWinkleman #Netflix #BBC #SyedaIrtizaali #DeniseVanOuten #TheBigBreakfast #RealityTV #TVPodcast #InsidersTVPodcast

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 viewingRichard E. Grant, James Acaster and Amol Rajan’s early exitEarly exits of Robert Kilroy Silk, Noel Edmonds and Susannah Constantine from I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of HereWhy BBC Three’s online-only future is so complicatedThe debate over BBC acquisitions including Suits, Schitt’s Creek and Scooby-DooWhether the BBC should charge audiences overseasWhat longer iPlayer availability could mean for producers and programme rightsCould BBC iPlayer become a home for Channel 4 and other public-service content?Why the BBC should consider advertising around some of its archive programmingWhether YouTube should give UK public-service broadcasters greater prominenceThe BBC World Service and Britain’s soft powerBBC MediaTech cuts and staff’s emojis reaction to the announcementDavid Brindley’s appointment at Channel 4Why merging Channel 4’s comedy and drama teams could be bad news for comedyEsther Rantzen, That’s Life! and the television legacy of Nicholas WintonHave a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on YouTube or Spotify, find us on social media at @InsidersTVPod, or email podcasts@hattrick.com.If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow.Chapters00:00 Introduction00:40 Why The Traitors is still a television phenomenon06:40 BBC cuts and the future of BBC Three11:00 Proposals to reform the BBC licence fee22:40 BBC MediaTech cuts and the emoji backlash24:40 Why merging comedy and drama could hurt Channel 427:20 Remembering Esther Rantzen#BBC #BBCThree #BBCScotland #TheTraitors #Channel4 #BBCiPlayer #Television #BritishTV #TVIndustry #TVNews #TVProduction #Comedy #Broadcasting #EstherRantzen #ThatsLife #NicholasWinton #YouTube #Streaming #PublicServiceBroadcasting #PodcastJimmy 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: / @insiderstvpodcast Email: podcasts@hattrick.comInstagram: @InsidersTVPod

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 pantheonWhy Helen Mirren’s Jane Tennison remains one of television’s strongest detectivesBrenda Blethyn’s defining performance as Vera StanhopeDavid Suchet’s iconic Hercule PoirotBenedict Cumberbatch and Steven Moffat’s modern SherlockWhy A Touch of Frost doesn’t compare with the rest of the listThe Sweeney, John Thaw and the difference between action-led policing and puzzle-solvingHow Midsomer Murders replaced John Nettles with Neil DudgeonWhy Bergerac gives John Nettles two iconic TV detectivesThe strange appeal of Van der Valk’s canals and Dutch namesWhy a great detective does not need to be likeableThe “eureka” moment that makes detective dramas so reassuringWhy the best mysteries were often 90 minutes longHow ITV is the home of the great detectivesHave a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at podcasts@hattrick.com.If you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow.Chapters00:00 Intro and rules 01:21 Could Ludwig become a classic detective? 03:37 Ranking begins with Hercule Poirot 06:38 Sherlock Holmes and Benedict Cumberbatch 07:52 A Touch of Frost 11:14 The Sweeney 13:10 Miss Marple 13:39 Midsomer Murders and the Barnaby succession 17:37 Van der Valk 18:39 Vera and Brenda Blethyn 22:40 Inspector Morse 25:47 Prime Suspect and Helen Mirren 27:43 Bergerac#BritishTV #BritishDetectives #DetectiveShows #InspectorMorse #Morse #Vera #PrimeSuspect #HelenMirren #BrendaBlethyn #JohnThaw #Sherlock #BenedictCumberbatch #Poirot #DavidSuchet #MidsomerMurders #Ludwig #DavidMitchell #TheSweeney #Bergerac #VanDerValk #CrimeDrama #ITV #BBC #BritishTelevision #TVPodcast #InsidersTVJimmy 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 Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson’s Farm and Alma’s Not Normal. New episodes every Friday.YouTube: @insiderstvpodcast Email: podcasts@hattrick.com Instagram: @InsidersTVPod

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 returnThe controversy around the The Civil War sketch, blackface and the limits of contextual comedyWhy some sketches involving Gary Rhodes, Bill Oddie and Jimmy Savile may have been removedHow Brass Eye used irony to challenge media attitudesThe Real Housewives of ISIS sketch and Jimmy’s police warningPeter time at Talkback and the alleged threat connected to the KraysDonald Trump’s new 24/7 Trump TV channel and its production values… or lack thereof Whether YouTube could become the future home of political satireDoes changing presenters can make or break a television format?What Strictly Come Dancing, The Great British Bake Off, The Grand Tour and Top Gear reveal about presenter changesThe Apprentice’s decision to keep Alan Sugar as its central figureThe TV-am “Famous Five” and the dangers of putting too many stars togetherThe Generation Game, Bruce Forsyth, Larry Grayson and the importance of a strong formatNigella Lawson and Peter’s most unexpected television regretHave a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on YouTube, find us on social media @InsidersTVPod, or email us at podcasts@hattrick.com.If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow.Chapters00:00 Intro 00:40 Why BBC cut 11 sketches from That Mitchell and Webb Look 16:17 Trump bans news outlets and launches Trump TV 24:36 Will Strictly Come Dancing survive new presenters?#ThatMitchellAndWebbLook #MitchellAndWebb #BBC #BBCiPlayer #Comedy #BritishComedy #ComedyCensorship #PoliticalSatire #BrassEye #TrumpTV #Television #TVProduction #TVFormats #StrictlyComeDancing #TheApprentice #TopGear #TheGreatBritishBakeOff #PeterFincham #JimmyMulville #InsidersTVPodJimmy 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 major shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson’s Farm and Alma’s Not Normal. New episodes every Friday.YouTube: @insiderstvpodcast Email: podcasts@hattrick.com Instagram: @InsidersTVPod

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 original films?Christopher Columbus’ reaction to the new Harry Potter seriesWhether the reboot is a creative opportunity or a commercial franchise playThe continuing debate around J.K. Rowling’s views on gender and the new castThe Harry Potter series cast like Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, John Lithgow as Dumbledore and Nick Frost as HagridBehind the Scenes on the Harry Potter production as leaked reports say props have to be tracked for securityMatt Brittin’s vision for a BBC iPlayer 2.0Could the BBC really host YouTube-style user generated content?Why a “public service algorithm” might be useful or “schoolmasterish”The decline in women creators and directors on US streaming programmesHow age and gender affect the roles available on televisionWhy Netflix is commissioning more dating and reality formatsWhat streamers can learn from broadcasters about genre mix, live television and audience habitsHave a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at podcasts@hattrick.com.If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow.Chapters00:00 Intro00:40 HBO's Harry Potter Problems10:53 Matt Brittin’s ideal iPlayer 2.018:26 Why fewer women are creating TV shows23:44 Netflix’s Reality-TV revolution#HarryPotter #HarryPotterSeries #HarryPotterTrailer #HBO #JkRowling #PaapaEssiedu #JohnLithgow #NickFrost #WarwickDavis #BBC #iPlayer #Netflix #RealityTV #DatingShows #Television #TVIndustry #TVProduction #Streaming #BritishTelevision #InsidersTVPod #JimmyMulville #PeterFinchamJimmy 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:    / @insiderstvpodcast  Email: podcasts@hattrick.comInstagram: @InsidersTVPod

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 series is ending with 70 Up• Why Asif Kapadia is directing the final instalments of the landmark ITV documentary• What researchers allege about microphone capture, network scanning and standby audio on some LG smart TVs• ITV’s expansion of the I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! universe• Whether spin-offs make successful formats stronger or less special• PLUS: Celebrity Traitors, Strictly Come Dancing, and more!Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at podcasts@hattrick.com.If you enjoyed the episode, please leave us a rating on your podcast platform, follow the show and share this episode with a friend — it really helps us grow.Chapters00:00 Intro00:51 Sir Tom Jones leaves The Voice UK04:49 Channel 4’s Major Job Cuts & YouTube vs TV12:01 The End of Seven Up19:35 Can LG TVs Listen in Standby Mode?25:39 ITV announces I’m a Celebrity: The Wild Frontier#TomJones #TheVoiceUK #Channel4 #7Up #70Up #AsifKapadia #LGTV #SmartTV #TVPrivacy #YouTube #ImACelebrity #WildFrontier #CelebrityTraitors #StrictlyComeDancing #ITV #Television #TVIndustry #Broadcasting #TVPodcast #InsidersTVPodJimmy 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; it 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 its 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 Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson’s Farm and Alma’s Not Normal. New episodes every Friday.YouTube: /@insiderstvpodcastEmail: podcasts@hattrick.comInstagram: @InsidersTVPod