Radio Times Podcast
We’ve all been there – sat in front of the television, flicking through channels, getting increasingly frustrated – there’s so much on, but nothing to watch. TV critics Caroline Frost and Shem Law have you covered. Each Friday, they serve up short, sharp television recommendations to mark your cards for the week ahead. They’ll tell you what to watch – and what to avoid. They watch it all, so you don’t have to. No more asking: what’s on TV tonight? What to watch? Or, what should I watch? Instead, listen to Smart TV for your weekly round-up of TV programmes and film reviews. You’ll find out about the latest series dropping that week, what to binge and what television show will become the next watercooler moment. Radio Times’ journalists Caroline Frost and Shem Law will cover all things terrestrial as well as what’s on the streaming sites – they’ll cover what’s broadcast on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky to NOW, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Netflix and Apple TV. Whether you like Entertainment, Current Affairs, Documentaries, Dramas, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Thrillers, Sports or Radio – they’ll have you covered.If you enjoy our weekly round-up of television reviews, do search for the View From My Sofa podcast which sees Kelly-Anne Taylor sit down with a celebrity guests to talk about their lives through the prism of TV.
Latest episodes
Mar 28, 2025 • 17min
Smart TV: Austin and Dying for [title censored]
Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week.You can get in touch with our hosts via email (podcast@radiotimes.com) and Spotify users can write in directly using the Q&A box at the bottom of the episode. SHOW NOTES:TV:Austin, BBC1 The Secret Genius of Modern Life, BBC2Dying for Sex, Disney+OUR READERS SAY......Any Answers isn't what it used to beFROST BITE:Does the ancient game of chess work on TV? Spoiler: sometimes!THE ARCHIVE:Wogan Night, BBC4...Happy Viewing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 20, 2025 • 23min
Smart TV: Doctor Who Special
Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law and Huw Fullerton about the best things coming up on the box this week.You can get in touch with our hosts via email (podcast@radiotimes.com) and Spotify users can write in directly using the Q&A box at the bottom of the episode. SHOW NOTES:TV:Beyond Paradise, BBC1Great British Menu: The Finals, BBC2Doctor Who, BBC1OUR READERS SAY...Please stop ad banners at the end of BBC shows...Stop trying to improve the already perfect Miss Marple... THE ARCHIVE:Douglas Adams: The Man Who Imagined our Future, Sky Arts...Happy Viewing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 13, 2025 • 22min
Smart TV: Michael Sheen and Protection
Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this weekYou can get in touch with our hosts via email (podcast@radiotimes.com) and Spotify users can write in directly using the Q&A box at the bottom of the episode. SHOW NOTES:TV:Protection, ITV1The Marlow Murder Club, U&DramaThe Residence, NetflixOUR READERS SAY...When will the BBC realise they were wrong about Question of SportFROST BITE:Giving Michael Sheen his DueTHE ARCHIVE:Face to Face, BBC Four...Happy Viewing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Mar 7, 2025 • 24min
Smart TV: Adolescence and Is Meghan's New Show Any Good?
Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this weekYou can get in touch with our hosts via email (podcast@radiotimes.com) and Spotify users can write in directly using the Q&A box at the bottom of the episode. SHOW NOTES:TV:Adolescence, NetflixTen Pound Poms, BBC1The Au Pair, C5 OUR READERS SAY...Poor ServiceEastenders AppreciationFROST BITE:All the sound and fury (Caroline's!) aside, is Meghan Markle’s lifestyle show any good?THE ARCHIVE:The Fall and Rise of Reggie Perrin, BBC4...Happy Viewing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Feb 28, 2025 • 24min
Smart TV: Oscars 2025 Special
Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law and Max Copeman about the Oscars and all the best things coming up on the box this weekYou can get in touch with our hosts via email (podcast@radiotimes.com) and Spotify users can write in directly using the Q&A box at the bottom of the episode. SHOW NOTES:Oscars round up(Oscars Ceremony Live on ITV1)TV:Agatha Christie’s Towards Zero, BBC1A Cruel Love: the Ruth Ellis Story, ITV1OUR READERS SAY...Which TV chefs deserve the Rick Stein treatment on Saturday Kitchen...FROST BITE:Is it time to bin off the Brits and other televised Awards ceremonies?THE ARCHIVE:Loch Ness: They Created a Monster, BBC2...Happy Viewing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Feb 21, 2025 • 20min
Smart TV: A Thousand Blows and Should Netflix Leave Reality TV Alone?
Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this weekYou can get in touch with our hosts via email (podcast@radiotimes.com) and Spotify users can write in directly using the Q&A box at the bottom of the episode. SHOW NOTES:TV:A Thousand Blows, Disney+Bergerac, U&DramaDavid Frost Vs, Sky AtlanticOUR READERS SAY...Mushrooms aren't vegetables... FROST BITE:Celebrity Bear Hunt - Why Netflix should leave reality TV well aloneTHE ARCHIVE:Steptoe and Son, BBC4Harry H Corbett: Acting in the Sixties, BBC4...Happy Viewing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Feb 14, 2025 • 21min
Smart TV: EastEnders 40th and Paradise
Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this weekYou can get in touch with our hosts via email (podcast@radiotimes.com) and Spotify users can write in directly using the Q&A box at the bottom of the episode. SHOW NOTES:TV:Paradise, Disney+The White Lotus, Sky AtlanticLuther: Never Too Much, NowTVOUR READERS SAY...It would be great to have the restorative powers of a character in Casualty!andLinda agrees with Caroline about Brian and MaggieFROST BITE:Inside the Oval Office - What makes a good screen President?THE ARCHIVE:EastEnders' 40th Anniversary, BBC1...Happy Viewing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Feb 7, 2025 • 19min
Smart TV: Crime Drama Week
Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this weekYou can get in touch with our hosts via email (podcast@radiotimes.com) and Spotify users can write in directly using the Q&A box at the bottom of the episode. SHOW NOTES:TV:Unforgotten, ITV1Virdee, BBC1Robson Green’s Weekend Escapes, BBC2FROST BITE:Can crime drama solve the problem of the departed lead?OUR READERS SAY...Paddy McGuinness Izal DebateCall the Midwife becoming Eastenders?THE ARCHIVE:The Treasures of Tutankhamun, BBC4...Happy Viewing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 31, 2025 • 22min
Smart TV: New Austen Drama and Sitcom Spinoffs
You can get in touch with our hosts via email (podcast@radiotimes.com) and Spotify users can write in directly using the Q&A box at the bottom of the episode. SHOW NOTES:TV:Miss Austen, BBC1Go Back To Where You Came From, C4Celebrity Bear Hunt, NetflixFROST BITE:What’s the secret to a successful sitcom-spinoff?Amandaland, BBC1THE ARCHIVE:Bob Marley, BBC2 ...Happy Viewing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Jan 24, 2025 • 24min
Smart TV: Death in Paradise and Idris Elba Knife Crime Doc
You can get in touch with our hosts via email (podcast@radiotimes.com) and Spotify users can write in directly using the Q&A box at the bottom of the episode. SHOW NOTES:TV:Brian and Maggie, C4Death in Paradise, BBC1Uncanny, BBC2 OUR READER SAYS:Why are the news sending their anchors all over the world?!FROST BITE:When celebs meet charities - a cause for good?Idris Elba: Our Knife Crime Crisis, BBC1 THE ARCHIVE:Eldorado, U&Drama ...Happy Viewing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
