TV Show and Tell

Irad Eyal is the co-creator of the Netflix gungy game show 'Floor is Lava'. After a brief stint in early 'dot com' companies, he developed multiple formats for Endemol, and later 'Southern Charm' for his own production company, Haymaker West. David and Justin look at alternative outlets for formats beyond TV, and whether there's no such thing as a bad review. Plus all the usual news and views.

What makes a good quiz question, and what are the pitfalls of writing them? Julia Hobbs is a top question producer working in the UK on shows such as 'The Chase', 'Pointless', 'Tipping Point', 'Million Pound Drop' and 'Fifteen to One'. Julia also has an interesting personal story about how she came into the business. Talking of questions, Justin and David will also be looking at how to make them fair, as well as fairness when structuring formatted series. Plus all the latest news and views.

A developing new artform is the iconic thumbnails and screenshot images that appear in the menus and feeds of streaming platforms. What goes into them, and who decides what they should show? Fred Hammarlund, Creative Director of 2nd Place Studio, tells us about the secret science of 'key art'. Justin and David discuss 'quizcoms' and the changing job roles in the TV industry. Plus all the usual news, features and opinions.

Freelance director Thomas Stark Holland has a wide-ranging CV from specialist factual 'Meet the Humans' to prime-time L.E. hits like 'Saturday Night Takeaway'. He discusses the planning and technical know-how that goes into an ever-popular strand of entertainment: hidden camera stunts. David and Justin wonder whether we've already had our 'Concorde moment' with diminishing game show prizes, and tackle the thorny issue of A.I. in television production. Plus the major industry news that's worth knowing and another Four Minute Format.

Our special guests are Daniel Jones and Luke Hatfield from Vaudeville, specialists in sound design and mixing. Their credits include 'The Repair Shop', 'David Mitchell's Outsiders', 'Reacher', 'The Kardashians' and many documentary series and one-offs. David and Justin take a look at two American game show remakes, and discuss the pros and cons of spoilers. Plus all the news that's fit to hear.

Richard McKerrow is co-founder of Love Productions, best known for The Great British Bake Off and, most recently, The Piano. David and Justin also discuss how a game show's rules are honed to avoid emptying the production's coffers, and look at an interesting €1 million live TV stunt from Germany. Plus the usual news and another Four Minute Format.