Pilot TV
Empire Magazine
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, 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. Served with a heavy helping of insider knowledge, irreverence and humour, Pilot TV won't just keep you informed, amused and entertained, but is guaranteed to save countless hours of your life. Because you can’t watch *everything*.Enjoying the podcast? Sign up to Pilot+ for a bonus episode every Thursday, in-depth spoiler specials, and early, ad-free access to the regular show! Find out more at www.empireonline.com/pilottv
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 12, 2026 • 1h 46min
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 (1:24:19) and we take a trip to school among the stars with Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (1:33:37). Meanwhile, not only do the team catch up on their Christmas escapades but Kay has an announcement to make…Note: time stamps are approximate as the ads throw them out, so are only meant as a guide. If you want to avoid this and would like the podcast entirely ad-free (as well as 17 hours early, with a second weekly show and spoiler specials) then sign up to Pilot+!
Jan 5, 2026 • 1h 30min
The Night Manager, Run Away, and Red Eye. With guests Erin Doherty and Malachi Kirby
Join actor Malachi Kirby, known for his captivating roles in Roots and My Name Is Leon, as he shares insights about his character Hezekiah Moscow in A Thousand Blows Season 2. Alongside Erin Doherty, they dive into the nuances of returning to set and the importance of improvisation in their performances. They also discuss major upcoming shows for 2026, including Tom Hiddleston's much-anticipated return in The Night Manager. Expect engaging stories, character dynamics, and a peek into the creative processes behind their work!
Dec 29, 2025 • 1h 57min
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 special 2025 postbag so you can have your say on the year that was as well. And yes, Darren’s famous blooper reel of the year makes its triumphant return.
Dec 22, 2025 • 1h 28min
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 Hunting Wives on ITV, and finally getting to take a ride with Ethan Hawke’s ‘truthstorian’ as The Lowdown finally splashes down here in the UK on Disney+. All that and Kay loses the power of speech, Boyd recounts a harrowing experience at The Ivy where the doorman didn’t know who he was, and James reveals the embarrassing truth of how he spent 469 hours this year. (Episode 368)
Dec 19, 2025 • 47min
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 Muschietti/Barbara Muschietti/Jason Fuchs-created show, its Stephen King connections, its brand new characters, its setting (1962 Derry, Maine), and, of course, Bill Skarsgård's Pennywise, The Dancing Clown, who's back for another bout of bloody mayhem. While not a spoiler special, our very own Losers Club do delve into the show's major twists and turns, so if you haven't seen all eight episodes, they're available to buy now on digital platforms, or you can pre-order them on DVD, Blu-ray, 4K UHD or steelbook from warnerbros.co.uk
Dec 15, 2025 • 1h 24min
Amadeus, The Revenge Club, and Imposter. With guest Martin Compston
Scottish actor Martin Compston, known for his role in 'Line of Duty,' joins the conversation to discuss his latest project, 'The Revenge Club,' highlighting its mix of comedy and drama. He shares insights into the ensemble's improvisational chemistry, creating a safe space for creativity. Also, the hosts dive into the thrilling piano duel in 'Amadeus' on Sky Atlantic and critique Channel 5's 'Imposter' for its mixed execution but entertaining moments. It's a lively chat filled with laughter and intriguing takes on the shows!
5 snips
Dec 8, 2025 • 1h 12min
Dark Winds, Percy Jackson & The Olympians, and Irish Blood
Delve into the return of Dark Winds, featuring a standout meta joke that captures attention. Explore the antics of Percy Jackson in his second season, perfectly balancing nostalgia and fresh storytelling. The hosts also discuss the intriguing Irish Blood, where Alicia Silverstone navigates crime in a darkly humorous narrative. From the comedy of Ramesh's travel mishaps to a nostalgic look at classic dramas, there's a rich tapestry of culture and entertainment to enjoy this week.
5 snips
Dec 1, 2025 • 1h 35min
Stranger Things, The War Between The Land And The Sea, and Spartacus: House of Ashur
The anticipation is palpable as Stranger Things returns for its final season, diving deeper into the Upside Down. Meanwhile, Russell T Davies surprises fans with a thrilling new spin-off featuring eco-conscious narratives and spectacular visuals. Mark your calendars for the ancient intrigue of Spartacus: House of Ashur, a reboot bringing back the infamous blood and drama with a twist. From Dungeons & Dragons anecdotes to the allure of Paul Thomas Anderson's films, this discussion is packed with highlights!
Nov 24, 2025 • 1h 21min
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 without the man himself in Watson on Sky Witness (54:35), and catch up with newly minted national treasure Alan Carr in the third series of Changing Ends on ITV (1:03:59).(Episode 364)Note: time stamps are approximate as the ads throw them out, so are only meant as a guide. If you want to avoid this and would like the podcast entirely ad-free (as well as 17 hours early, with a second weekly show and spoiler specials) then sign up to Pilot+!
Nov 17, 2025 • 1h 44min
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 lothario-at-large series The Death Of Bunny Munro (1:30:30). (Episode 363)Note: time stamps are approximate as the ads throw them out, so are only meant as a guide. If you want to avoid this and would like the podcast entirely ad-free (as well as 17 hours early, with a second weekly show and spoiler specials) then sign up to Pilot+!
