

Radio Times Podcast
Radio Times
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 14, 2023 • 19min
Smart TV Episode 54
Caroline Frost chats to Kelly-Anne Taylor about the best things coming up on the box this week, plus a quick dive into the archiveShow Notes:Obsession, NetflixThe Hunt for Raoul Moat, ITV1Deborah James: Bowelbabe In Her Own Words, BBC 2Scared of the Dark, Channel 4 Our Changing Planet, BBC 1One from the Archive:The Gold: The Inside Story, BBC iPlayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 11, 2023 • 36min
Sara Pascoe on stand-up, motherhood and the difficulty of turning down work
This week's guest is the comedian and presenter Sara Pascoe. Joining Kelly-Anne Taylor on the Radio Times sofa, Pascoe opens up about the challenges of being a stand-up and the difficulty of turning down work. Plus, they discuss the evolution of comedy and Pascoe reveals which panel show theme tune makes her nervous... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 7, 2023 • 17min
Smart TV Episode 53 - Easter Special
Caroline Frost and Kelly-Anne Taylor discuss the best TV and streaming programmes coming up this week in the UK as well as giving a roundup of the essential Easter viewingShow Notes:Easter from Kings, BBC2Easter Day Service, BBC1 Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?, ITV1Six Four, ITVXLast Woman on Earth with Sara Pascoe, BBC2Peter O’Toole: Along the Sky Road to Aqaba, Sky Arts and NOWThe Boy, The Mole, the Fox and the Horse, BBC1Archive:Agatha Christie: Lucy Worsley on the Mystery Queen, BBC iPlayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 4, 2023 • 1h 4min
Elizabeth Day on heartbreak, failure and the power of vulnerability
This week's guest is the journalist, podcaster and author, Elizabeth Day. In this episode, Day sits down with Kelly-Anne Taylor to discuss how failure has ultimately led to success and how the plan life carves out for you is often better than the one you envision for yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 31, 2023 • 16min
Smart TV Episode 52
Caroline Frost and Kelly-Anne Taylor discuss the best TV and streaming programmes coming up this week in the UK as well as a few treats from the archiveShow Notes:Magpie Murders, BBC1Unforgotten, ITV1Rain Dogs, BBC1 Dreamland, Sky AtlanticPilgrimage, Good Friday 9pm BBC2Tiny Beautiful Things, Disney+From the archives:Atonement, ITVX (Film)Russia with Simon Reeve, iPlayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 28, 2023 • 42min
Doctor Who's Freema Agyeman on the Tardis, New Amsterdam and fame
This week’s guest is the actor Freema Agyeman – who, in 2007, became famous overnight as David Tennant’s companion Martha in Doctor Who. Since then, she has starred in American medical drama New Amsterdam and most recently alongside Lily Allen in – Dreamland – a Sky comedy series about four sisters. In this episode Freema discusses how Doctor Who has been at the forefront in shaping British television and what she has learnt about fame. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 24, 2023 • 14min
Smart TV Episode 51
Caroline Frost chats to Kelly-Anne Taylor about the best things coming up on the box this week, plus a quick dive into the archiveShow Notes:Great Expectations, BBC 1Succession, Sky Atlantic/NowThe Power, Amazon Prime VideoJason & Clara: In Memory of Maudie, ITV 1DNA Journey, ITV1Bear Grylls Meets President Zelensky, All 4/Channel 4One from the Archive:Spotlight - I Spy, BBC iPlayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 21, 2023 • 34min
Penn Badgley on playing a serial killer, responsible parenting and why he's gone off sex scenes
Actor Penn Badgley reflects on his childhood in LA, discusses the impact of adults playing teenagers, and the need to reassess sex scenes on TV. He talks about the challenges faced by child actors, the influence of social media, life after Gossip Girl, and the responsibility of actors in handling dark roles.

Mar 17, 2023 • 16min
Smart TV Episode 50
Acting Features Editor Caroline Frost sits down with Kelly-Anne Taylor to their top telly treats to watch this week – covering everything from documentaries to drama. Show Notes:Grace, ITV 1Yellow Jackets S2, Paramount+Anton and Giovanni’s Adventures in Sicily, BBC1Race Across The World, BBC1The Holy Land and Me, BBC2The Great Celebtiry Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer, C4From the Archive:No Way Out (Film) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 14, 2023 • 44min
Sam Claflin on pirates, romance and auditions that went wrong
This week's guest is Sam Claflin - the British actor who rose to fame following his portrayal of Finnick Odair in Hunger Games. Since then he has starred as the romantic lead opposite Emilia Clarke in Me Before You and Lily Collins in Love Rosie. In this episode, Sam tells Kelly-Anne Taylor about his first ever read through for Hollywood blockbuster Pirates of the Caribbean and we discuss the darkness of lockdown and how his new role in the adaptation of Taylor Jenkin Reid's Daisy Jones and The Six felt like therapy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices