
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 19, 2024 • 42min
Bryony Gordon on writing, mental health and Mad Women
Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by the journalist, best-selling author and mental-health advocate, Bryony Gordon. Gordon grew up in London in a family of journalists. Her mother is the former gossip-columnist Jane Gordon, and it was thanks to her address book that Gordon landed her first journalism gig. Since then, she has carved a successful career – known for her trademark honesty. In this episode she talks about the ups and downs of life, sobriety and being mates with Prince Harry. Plus, they discuss Gordon’s eighth book, Mad Woman, in which she writes about her experiences with binge-eating disorder, the menopause and OCD. Please note that this episode includes conversations surrounding eating disorders that some listeners might find triggering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 15, 2024 • 19min
Smart TV: A Casualty on Casualty?
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:Manhunt, Apple TV+Beyond Paradise, BBC1The Dropout, BBC1A Life in Ten Pictures, BBC2Palm Royale, Apple TV+Casualty, BBC1ARCHIVE:Oppenheimer (1980), BBC iPlayer...Happy Viewing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 12, 2024 • 54min
Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver on fame, rock-bottom and the perils of being opinionated women
Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by the popstar-turned-actor Lily Allen and the TV presenter Miquita Oliver. They grew up in Ladbroke Grove, West London, in creative households, spending much of their youth roaming Portobello market and flunking school. Allen’s mother is the film producer, Alison Owen, and her father is the actor, Keith Allen. Oliver was raised by her mother, the broadcaster and chef, Andi Oliver. Both Oliver and Allen made their name at a young age – Oliver as a TV presenter on Channel 4’s music show Popworld and Allen for her debut-smash-hit Smile. In this episode they talk about the perils of fame, their new podcast called 'Miss Me?' and how they handle trolls. Plus, they reminisce about the hedonism of the 00s and reveal why they never listened to the advice imparted by their famous family members. Show notesMiss Me? with Lily Allen and Miquita Oliver on BBC Sounds Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 8, 2024 • 20min
Smart TV: Comic Relief and Taylor Swift
Follow our hosts on Twitter (@KA1_Taylor and @FrostReporter) and Instagram (@kellyannect and @frostreporter) You can get in touch with our hosts on either their social media, or 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:The Oscars, ITV1 Darren McGarvey: The State We're In, BBC TwoComic Relief, BBC1Taylor Swift: the Eras Tour, Disney+FILMS:Dune Part 2, Cinemas (Part 1 on Netflix)Gigli, Netflix...Happy Viewing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 5, 2024 • 36min
Theo James on The Gentlemen, Hollywood and Divergent
This week Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by the actor, Theo James. He grew up in Buckinghamshire, the youngest of five siblings, and dreamed of a career as a musician. After reading Philosophy at the University of Nottingham, he segued into acting, enrolling as a student at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre. He catapulted to fame when he landed the leading role of Four in the YA Hollywood hit-series, Divergent. Since then, he has starred in The White Lotus, Sanditon, The Time Traveller’s Wife – and, most recently, Guy Ritchie’s The Gentleman. In this episode, he talks about the harsh realities of overnight fame, how the Me Too movement has shaped films sets and how his latest role exposes Britain’s class system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mar 1, 2024 • 18min
Smart TV: Drive to Survive and the Return of Scandi Drama
Follow our hosts on Twitter (@KA1_Taylor and @FrostReporter) and Instagram (@kellyannect and @frostreporter) You can get in touch with our hosts on either their social media, or 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:Prisoner, BBC iPlayerThe Gentleman, NetflixDrive to Survive Series 6, NetflixSarah Everard: the Search for Justice, BBC1 Navalny, BBC iPlayerFILMS:Ferrari, Now CinemaRush, Netflix...Happy Viewing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 27, 2024 • 46min
Joanna Lumley on the secrets of a long marriage, the Swinging Sixties and beauty
This week joining Kelly-Anne Taylor, in the studio, is the British actress, presenter and author, Joanna Lumley. Born in India, in Kashmir, Srinagar – she was brought up in the Far East, coming to the UK, aged 8, to attend boarding school. She went on to work as a model and actress, living in London in the Swinging Sixties – and made her name starring as Purdy in The New Avengers. She boasts a successful career – spanning over 6 decades – she had audiences in hysterics as Patsy in hit sit-com Absolutely Fabulous, has presented wonderful travel programmes – and, of course, captured the nation in Jan Etherington’s radio show, Conversations From A Long Marriage – in which she stars alongside Roger Allum. In this episode, she talks about why she doesn’t have a mobile phone and how difficult she found it to shed the ‘pretty girl’ stereotype when she moved from modelling to acting. Plus, she talks about raising a child as a single mother, how playing Purdy in The New Avengers changed things financially for her and why she wishes sex scenes would be cut from TV and film. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 23, 2024 • 16min
Smart TV: One Day and The New Look
Follow our hosts on Twitter (@KA1_Taylor and @FrostReporter) and Instagram (@kellyannect and @frostreporter) You can get in touch with our hosts on either their social media, or 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:One Day, NetflixThe New Look, Apple TV+Under the Banner of Heaven, ITVXSaturday Night Takeaway, ITV1RADIOConversations From a Long Marriage, Radio 4FILM:Wicked Little Letters, CinemasARCHIVE:Bloodline, Netflix...Happy Viewing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 20, 2024 • 34min
Martin Compston on Line of Duty, on-screen nudity and running with wolves
This week Kelly-Anne Taylor is joined by the Scottish actor, Martin Compston. Born and raised in Greenock, Scotland – he first made his name starring in the Ken Roach film, Sweet Sixteen (which won the Best Screenplay Award at the 2002 Cannes Film Festival). It was his role as Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott in Jed Mercurio's Line of Duty that made him a household name. In this episode, he talks about how that role changed his life, what it’s like living in Vegas – and why he’s doing less on-screen nudity. Plus, he chats about his latest travelogue Martin Compston’s Norwegian Fling and what it was like running with wolves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Feb 16, 2024 • 14min
Smart TV: 2024 BAFTA Special
Follow our hosts on Twitter (@KA1_Taylor and @FrostReporter) and Instagram (@kellyannect and @frostreporter) You can get in touch with our hosts on either their social media, or 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:FILMS:BarbieOppenheimer Saltburn, Amazon PrimeKillers of the Flower Moon, Apple TV+ Maestro, NetflixAnatomy of a FallWham!, Netflix...Happy Viewing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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