

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

Mar 10, 2023 • 17min
Smart TV Episode 49
Kelly-Anne Taylor joins Acting Features Editor Caroline Frost to guide you through this weeks telly plus something from the archiveShow Notes:Comic Relief, BBC1Gogglebox – Ten Year Anniversary Special, Channel 4Paula, Channel 4Wild Isles, BBC1Nazanin, Channel 4The Last Of Us, Sky AtlanticEndeavour, ITV1One from the Archive:Caroline Flack: Her Life And Death, All 4 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 7, 2023 • 47min
Comic Relief co-creator Richard Curtis on Blackadder, Notting Hill and Four Weddings and a Funeral
This week’s guest is Richard Curtis – the man behind all your favourite rom-coms – About Time, Love Actually, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill – and, also under his belt, is some of the greatest British telly – Mr Bean, The Vicar of Dibley, Blackadder. In this episode, Richard talks about his Love Island obsession, the tragedy of his acting career, working with Rowan Atkinson, where the ideas for his rom-coms stem from – and why Hugh Grant wouldn’t play him in a biopic. Plus, he reflects on his favourite Comic Relief moments – the charity he co-founded which has raised £2billion pounds! – and why this year’s red nose is revolutionary… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 3, 2023 • 19min
Smart TV Episode 48
Acting Features Editor Caroline Frost joins Kelly-Anne Taylor to guide you through this weeks telly plus something from the archiveShow Notes:George Michael: Outed, Channel 4Jamie’s £1 Wonders, Channel 4Becoming Frida Kahlo, BBC2We Need To Talk About Cosby, BBC2Luther: The Fallen Son, NetflixElvis, NowSuccession, Now Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 28, 2023 • 39min
Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston on his life-changing role - and what it's like to be broke
This episode's guest is Bryan Cranston best known for playing Walter White in the hit series Breaking Bad. Bryan became a regular on our TVs playing Hal in the sitcom, Malcolm in the Middle. In this episode he talks to Kelly-Anne Taylor about spending his childhood on Hollywood sets, how growing up without money has made him frugal, despite his overwhelming success, and why he consults his wife about every job before he takes it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 24, 2023 • 14min
Smart TV Episode 47
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:Unforgotten, ITV 1Endeavour, ITV 1Stephen Fry: Willem and Frieda – Defying the Nazis, Channel 4Murder in the Pacific, BBC TwoDaisy Jones and The Six, Amazon PrimeWhat’s Love Got To Do With It, CinemaStath Lets Flats, All Four Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 21, 2023 • 33min
Dame Emma Thompson on saying the unsayable, staying grounded and what she's learnt about love
Sense and Sensibility, Howards End, Fortunes of War, Nanny McPhee and Good Luck to You Leo Grande are just a handful of Thompson’s notable screen credits – to which there are many. She’s a powerhouse – being the only person to win an Oscar for both acting and screenwriting. In this episode, we talk about women being treated as second class citizens whilst she studied at Cambridge, handling fame – how to stay grounded – and, what she has learnt about love. Plus, Emma talks about her new film What’s Love Got To Do With It? in which she plays Cath, the mother of documentary-maker Zoe (Lily James) who makes a film about her best friend’s ‘assisted’ marriage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 18, 2023 • 4min
Coming up in the new series…
Join us on the Radio Times Sofa every Tuesday, where we’ll be sitting down with celebrity guests to talk all things telly. What’s the view from their sofa? What do they watch? And who do they watch with? Plus, we’ll deep dive into their glittering on-screen careers. Kicking off our series we have the inimitable Dame Emma Thompson – which will be available on the 21st Feb. Don’t forget to follow so you never miss an episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 17, 2023 • 15min
Smart TV Episode 46
Acting Features Editor Caroline Frost sits down with Kelly-Anne Taylor to pick 5 top telly treats to watch this week – covering everything from documentaries to drama. Show Notes:Beyond Paradise, BBC OneSecrets of the Jurassic Dinosaurs, BBC TwoFleishman Is in Trouble, Disney+Drive to Survive S5, Netflix(K)nox: The Rob Knox Story, ITVX From the Archive: Fortunes of War, BBC iPlayerLuther, BBC iPlayer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 10, 2023 • 16min
Smart TV Episode 45
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:The Gold, BBC1Better, BBC1The Twelve, ITVXInside Our Autistic Minds, BBC2Pru and Danny's Death Road Trip, C4From Scratch, NetflixBettany Hughes’ Treasures of the World, C4Scott & Bailey ITVXHosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 3, 2023 • 20min
Smart TV Episode 44
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 quick recap of the hottest event of the year so far: the Radio Times Covers PartyShow Notes:Happy Valley finaleThe Shamima Begum Story, documentary, BBC2Consent, C4Funny Woman, Sky MaxPamela, a Love Story, NetflixYour Honor S2, Paramount+Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices