Backstage - TV & Film

Claire’s been chatting to (and singing at) Janelle Monae who’s joined Prime Video’s Homecoming for its second series. It’s a huge thumbs up for the new season of the Hitchcock-esque show and yet more proof that 30 minutes is a very good amount of time for an episode of TV.Bong Joon Ho’s Snowpiercer has been re-imagined as a series on Netflix. Jennifer Connelly is undoubtedly brilliant in it, but only Stevie made it the whole way through the screeners. The team unpick what works, and what doesn’t.Also on Netflix is new movie The Lovebirds – it should have been on the big screen but does it matter if you don’t get the cinema experience for this one?Stevie, who lives in New York, has watched far more Eurovision than Katie and Claire, and has got the low down on the Icelandic entry, and the upcoming film based on the annual event.Taika Waititi has got a bunch of celebs together to read James and the Giant Peach and it’s taken everyone back to their childhoods.And Katie’s worried about the impact social distancing will have on the Drag Race final – find out who Backstage thinks will take the crown. Please do subscribe if you like what you hear and do get in touch using backstage@sky.uk – we love emails!

New Netflix show White Lines is a lovely bit of escapism, but is it too soapy for Katie? Claire’s been chatting to the show’s stars Laura Haddock and Danny Mayes who reveals what it’s like getting to DJ to a crowd of thousands. Also on Netflix is the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Interactive Special – it’s a choose your own adventure featuring a brilliant Daniel Radcliffe performance. Find out whether it’s just a gimmick and whether that matters.It’s the very last episode of Modern Family on Sky One and the team talk about the show’s success and the impact it’s had on TV since. Rihanna’s arrived on the Sunday Times rich list – a refreshing change from the rest of the top ten, find out why she might not be affected by the pandemic in the way some other musicians will.Hamilton is coming to Disney Plus… Need we say more? Find out when it’s arriving and get the lowdown from Stevie who’s seen it more than once you know…And Claire is obsessed with GQ’s lockdown profile of Robert Pattinson, hear her present evidence that suggests R Patz and Paris Hilton are using the same PR strategy.Please do subscribe if you like what you hear and do get in touch using backstage@sky.uk – we love emails!

Stevie is feeling a whole lot better and re-joins Katie and Claire for a somewhat strange week of TV offerings.The team review the new Netflix show from La La Land director Damien Chazelle, who is continuing his love affair with jazz - an excuse for Stevie to practice his jazz hands, but perhaps a bit too jazzy for Claire.Mark Ruffalo puts in two brilliant performances in new Sky Atlantic drama I Know This Much Is True. Based on a best-selling novel, it’s intense viewing and the team discuss whether now is the right time for TV that’s tough to watch.Michelle Obama is the subject of new documentary Becoming. Out on Netflix now, it’s an intimate look at the former first lady – and a relief to everyone that even she has to compete with her siblings at times.There’s a new rapper called Dave – this one has his own show on BBC Two. The comedy follows the exploits of Lil Dicky and gives Katie the opportunity to show off all the hip hop lingo she knows.Stevie’s making Katie and Claire jealous with all the great TV he’s getting to see in the States that hasn’t made it here yet.Tom Cruise isn’t impressing anyone with his plans to shoot an action movie in space and Stevie has some thoughts on those pictures of Adele.Please do subscribe if you like what you hear and do get in touch using backstage@sky.uk – we love emails!

TV critic and biscuit obsessive Toby Earle joins Katie and Claire to talk through this week’s new releases.There’s an extremely special guest star to help dissect Ryan Murphy’s new Netflix offering Hollywood, which puts a new spin on one period of Tinsel Town’s history.The bizarrely titled Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) gets the overwhelmingly bland rating of “good-ish” – find out what worked and what didn’t in the latest comic book film to be made available on demand. Plus hear from star and producer Margot Robbie who Claire chatted to what seems like 100 years ago, but was in fact only a couple of months.Apple TV is bringing out British comedy Trying and the team chew over whether it’s the best series yet on the platform that’s been struggling to make a mark.Over on Disney Plus you can find out more about your favourite movies with Prop Culture, it’s definitely for film nerds, but is it only for film nerds?And Katie’s insisted we include Channel 4’s Grayson’s Art Club as it’s her latest favourite show ever. Please do subscribe if you like what you hear and you do get in touch using backstage@sky.uk – we love emails!

Stephen Dixon is back to help Katie and Claire check out the latest TV offerings while Stevie recovers from coronavirus and it’s a very wide ranging week.They start with the BBC adaptation of best-selling novel Normal People, Claire’s been chatting to one of the leads, Daisy Edgar-Jones, who admits she didn’t read the book until after she’d auditioned. Netflix’s big new action flick Extraction has split the team, Stephen and Claire think it’s well worth a watch, but Katie doesn’t agree. We’d love to know who you think is right on this one – please help us settle the debate once and for all.Katie may have watched new Amazon Prime show Upload in completely the wrong order but that didn’t stop her from really enjoying it and it's not the only sci-fi this week, there’s another new futuristic offering - this time from Sky, but Code 404 seems to be missing the mark somewhat. Plus there’s what Katie keeps describing as a “late-night” version of The Chase! Claire’s been chatting to Chaser Shaun Wallace, aka The Dark Destroyer, who claims he and the other Chasers aren’t actually that competitive… Please do subscribe if you like what you hear and you can email us about Extraction or anything else on backstage@sky.uk

First off, a massive THANK YOU to every single one of you lovely listeners as we’ve now hit the magic million downloads. We think you’re all great, and have wonderful taste in podcasts, so a huge thanks to you all! On this episode – and while Stevie recovers from coronavirus - Katie and Claire are joined by Sky News anchor and committed Trekkie Stephen Dixon. They discuss the very bloody but brilliant new Sky Atlantic drama Gangs Of London and hear from star of the show Joe Cole. Futuristic Alex Garland offering Devs is finally out on BBC Two in the UK so that gets a proper review - but not everyone is loving it. Ricky Gervais returns with series two of After Life on Netflix which Claire admits had her sobbing by the end - but is it the right show for the current climate? And find out why new Amazon Prime film Selah And The Spades has got the team confused.If you like what you hear then please, please subscribe, it really does help. And the team would love to hear from you - get in touch at backstage@sky.uk

It’s a different podcast this week as Katie and Claire have some serious news to bring you which will explain why there’s not been an episode for a couple of weeks. As well as that there’s a dive in to the latest documentary from Netflix which has been giving us all a welcome distraction from what’s going on in the world – Tiger King is under the Backstage spotlight, but is it really that good or is it just perfect timing for a show like this?There’s a lot of love for Quiz - the upcoming ITV drama based on the Who Wants to be a Millionaire coughing scandal, plus you can hear from star Michael Jibson.And find out why it’s hard to review a film when you’ve watched it with a 4-year-old… The Sonic the Hedgehog movie is out on demand this Easter – we decide whether it’s worth downloading to keep families entertained. Please subscribe if you like the podcast, and we love to hear from you - get in touch at backstage@sky.uk

The Backstage team have been inundated with requests for recommendations about what to watch while we are all stuck inside - so we thought we'd do a special podcast sharing our best tips on what movies, boxsets, and documentaries to catch up on!Claire, Katie, and Stevie talk through their favourite 80s films, must-see TV, and uplifting documentaries that will hopefully entertain us - and whoever we're sharing our screens with!Please subscribe if you like the podcast, and we'd love to hear from you about what you watched and what else you would recommend - get in touch at backstage@sky.ukClassicsThe Godfather trilogy - We found out on this episode that neither Claire nor Katie has seen them all! The whole of Wes Anderson's back catalogue - if you don't like Bill Murray this might not be for you! (But who doesn't like Bill Murray?)Lord of the RingsTakenGhostbustersDie Hard - The first three. Maybe the fourth at a stretch. And they are fine to watch even though it's not Christmas - we've checked!The Dark Knight trilogyMatrix trilogy Star Wars - The ORIGINAL trilogy only. (We're still not ready to talk about the last movie!)Back to the Future trilogyRaiders of the Lost Arc - In fact, just watch all the Indiana Jones films!80s FilmsFerris Bueller's Day OffThe Breakfast ClubSixteen CandlesPretty in Pink(Basically any John Hughes films)Great awful moviesMamma MiaMamma Mia Here we go AgainCats? (We're hoping we'll be able to stream this soon)Box SetsSeinfeldUnbreakable Kimmy SchmidtThe Good Place - Claire has only seen three episodes!The (US) OfficeParks and RecreationFriendsSuperstore - The US version of TrolliedThe Mindy ProjectSchitt's CreekWestworldLost - (We know.)Game of Thrones - (We also know.)MadmenThe SopranosThe WireBreaking BadBetter Call SaulSuccessionSave MeBuffy the Vampire Slayer (Netflix) - Stevie is OBSESSED! Gilmore GirlsThe Good WifeThe Good FightDownton AbbeyGrey's AnatomyHouseDocumentariesCheer - Daytona is cancelled this year :(LosersMusicalsCrazy Ex-GirlfriendZoey's Extraordinary PlaylistReality TVGreat British Bake Off - Watch, bake, watch, bake, repeat!RuPaul's Drag RaceExerciseFit in 5 - Work off those working from home snacks!MusicGigs from home - check out the celebs doing live concerts on social media, started by Chris Martin.The Met Opera is live streaming a new opera every day on their website - if there's anytime to get into opera it's now!SoundtracksI'm not OK with this - wonderful 80s soundtrack!End of the F***ing WorldAny Quentin Tarantino film soundtrackSame goes for Edgar Wright films!Euphoria And, of course, Sex EducationWe hope this helps, stay safe and healthy everyone and we'll be back soon with more podcasts soon!

It's a big week of TV reviews from Katie, Stevie and Claire. Julian Fellowes is the man of the moment with two new shows - The English Game on Netflix and Belgravia on ITV, but do football and period drama mix? There's definitely something Stevie is enjoying about one of the programmes but can anyone confirm when hipster beards were first invented?In solidarity with a fellow Spencer Katie's insisted we all watch Mister Winner, but if Barry from EastEnders is the best thing about the comedy, and he's only in it for five minutes, is it worth checking out? Crip Camp is this week's top recommendation, find out why the team loved the new Netflix doc and why you should be watching it.And it's all about fash-un daaaarling on new Amazon Prime reality show Making the Cut - Stevie knows one of the contestants but does he know the inside goss? All that, plus another excellent buffet anecdote - this time involving Stevie and one Mrs Hillary Clinton. Please subscribe if you like the podcast, and we love to hear from you - get in touch at backstage@sky.uk

Dating shows seems to have reached new levels of bonkers-ness and Katie, Stevie and Claire are loving both Love Is Blind and Five Guys A Week. New comedy Feel Good divides opinion but the real winner of the week is Westworld which no one quite understands, but everyone loves anyway. Stevie's also seen new Alex Garland sci-fi Devs and reckons that's worth a watch as well. Claire's been chatting to Caitlin Moran about the upcoming film based on her book How To Build A Girl - hear how the writer deals with online trolls and the proposal she has for the Kardashians. Get in touch with us via backstage@sky.uk and please do subscribe if you like what you hear.