Insiders: The TV Podcast

Expectation / Hat Trick
  • 5.0 (1)
  • TV & Film
  • Updated Weekly

Every Friday, TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville take you behind the scenes of the world of television. Jimmy is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His hit shows include Have I Got News For You (series 69 now airing), Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer Peter ran TalkBack where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 5d ago

    The BBC’S Controversial New Ad, Luke Littler’s Netflix Show & Have UK TV's Diversity Pledges Failed?

    "What has the BBC ever done for me...?" TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville take on the BBC's much-debated new advert, dig into Hollywood's revolt against the $110 billion Paramount-Warner Bros Discovery merger, and ask whether anyone can ‘Beat Luke Littler’ in his new Netflix show… In this episode: Is the BBC's "What Has The BBC Ever Done For Me?" advert a costly own goal?Hollywood stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Alan Cumming and Benedict Wong  speak out against the Paramount-WBD mergerA new report revealing UK TV's diversity promises that haven't deliveredThe latest on Donald Trump's $10 billion lawsuit against the BBCLuke Littler’s new Netflix show with £501,000 prize potPLUS: Chris Martin's baffling cameo, Count Binface’s election chances and why Peter reckons he's more "Luke Littler" than "Mo Farah" Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at podcasts@hattrick.com. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and share it with a friend – it really helps us grow! #BBC #RomeshRanganathan #BBCFundedByAllOfUs #ThisIsOurBBC #BBCAdvert #Advert #LicenceFee #2026 #Paramount #WarnerBrosDiscovery #LukeLittler #Diversity #DonaldTrump #Podcast #Television #Netflix #TVNews #InsidersPodcast Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I'm Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: @insiderstvpodcast Email: podcasts@hattrick.com Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  2. Jul 24

    Should Broadcasters Be Removing British Comedy History? And More Listener Questions!

    TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville answer listener questions on Channel 4 and Netflix removing classic sitcom episodes, the secret scheduling battle between the BBC and ITV and why some revived formats soar while others flop. Correction: It was actually Matt Berry's character of Douglas who dates April, not Chris O'Dowd's character Roy. You'll forgive us for getting this mistaken – we obviously couldn't watch the episode to check! In this episode: Why Channel 4 removed “The Speech” episode of The IT CrowdWhy Netflix removed episodes of Little Britain, Come Fly with Me & The Mighty BooshThe Fawlty Towers, Father Ted and Peep Show scenes that got cut or pulled entirelyWhether broadcasters should be editing TV historyHow the BBC and ITV secretly traded schedules ahead of the Radio Times deadline and why the ITV's Christmas strategy was always to "lose with honour"Forgotten TV creatives, like Brian Clemens, who never get mentioned todayWhy revivals like Gladiators and Blankety Blank succeeded as revivals when Challenge Anneka and Blind Date didn'tThe real story behind Have I Got News for You's rotating host, and how QI almost had a very different presenterHow actors fake smoking, drinking and eating on screen Have a question or opinion? Leave a comment on Spotify, find us on socials (@InsidersTVPod), or email us at podcasts@hattrick.com. If you enjoyed the episode, please give us a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, it really helps us grow. #BBC #ITV #Channel4 #Netflix #ITCrowd #FawltyTowers #FatherTed #PeepShow #LittleBritain #TVPodcast #BritishTV #Television #InsidersTVPod #HaveIGotNewsForYou #QI #Gladiators #PublicServiceBroadcasting #Streaming #Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  3. Jul 17

    Should Under-16s Be Banned From Social Media? Time Team's Patreon Fortune & Snubbing Tom Hanks with Strongwatch Studios

    Ben Powell-Jones and Thom Gulseven of Strongwatch Studios join Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville to reveal what it was really like to work at LADbible when it was booming, why they had to turn down Tom Hanks and whether the UK's proposed social media ban for under-16s can actually work. In this episode: •Why they said no to Tom Hanks's agent (and almost turned down Billie Eilish) •How a £500 video made £80k overnight (and why platform ad revenue can vanish just as fast) •Building LADbible's YouTube channel from zero to millions of views •Why Patreon and direct-to-consumer content is the future of monetisation, from Fin vs History to Time Team •Why focus groups lie (and what LADbible's data really showed about who was watching Love Island) •How TV and YouTube are merging, from Rest Is Football's move to Netflix to broadcasters commissioning entire YouTube channels •Their honest take on the UK's proposed social media ban for under-16s Have a question or opinion? Leave a comment, find us on socials (@InsidersTVPod), or email us at podcasts@hattrick.com. If you enjoyed the episode, please leave a review 5-star review, share it with a friend and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode! CHAPTERS 00:00 Meet Strongwatch Studios 04:37 Building LADbible's YouTube Empire 09:44 Snubbing Tom Hanks and (almost) Billie Eilish 12:40 Starting a Company in a Constantly Changing Digital World 15:30 Patreon and the Rise of Direct-to-Consumer Content 22:10 Data in Digital versus TV and why Focus Groups Lie 23:07 TV as ‘Secondary Distribution for YouTube’ 26:05 Broadcasters Now Commissioning YouTube Channels 33:20 The Social Media Ban for Under-16s #YouTube #LADbible #SocialMediaBan #StrongwatchStudios #ContentCreator #Patreon #TVPodcast #BritishTV #DigitalMedia #InsidersTVPod #TomHanks #BillieEilish #CreatorEconomy #Streaming #Podcast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  4. Jul 10

    Sky buys ITV: How will this change what we see on TV?

    TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville discuss Count Binface, the BBC's World Cup cost saving efforts, Sky's ITV purchase, and Peppa Pig using A.I. Topics discussed: Farage vs Count Binface BBC not going to the US in the World Cup Quarter Finals The Sky/ITV deal Peppa Pig using A.I. for its younger voice actors Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:12 Farage vs Count Binface 03:20 The BBC's World Cup cost saving efforts 09:27 Sky's ITV deal 29:19 Peppa Pig + A.I. Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at podcasts@hattrick.com. If you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow. #CountBinface #NigelFarage #BBC #ITV #FifaWorldCup2026 #Sky #ITV #PeppaPig #GeneWilder Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Sky buys ITV: How will this change what we see on TV?

  5. Jul 3

    Jimmy & Peter Answer Your Questions

    TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville address your comments and questions regarding the BBC's Sarah Everard drama, axing long-running TV shows, Claude writing quiz show questions, as well as discussing Michael Grade's recent comments about terms of trade. Topics discussed: Michael Grade's comments regarding terms of trade The BBC's Sarah Everard drama Exploitative true crime shows TV quiz show question writing Claude and the use of AI in TV Axing long-running TV shows Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:12 Michael Grade's comments regarding terms of trade 09:59 Question 1) regarding the BBC's Sarah Everard drama 12:11 Question 2) regarding the BBC's Sarah Everard drama 13:26 Statement from Lindsay Salt, BBC Director of Drama 19:16 Question 3) regarding exploitative true crime TV shows 20:49 Question 4) some dramatisations are simply poor taste 23:09 Questions from Kenton Allen 24:16 Question 5) regarding TV quiz show question writing and AI 29:59 Peter's Bob Dylan quiz 35:01 Question 6) regarding the axing of long-running TV shows 37:09 Outro Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at podcasts@hattrick.com. If you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow. #MichaelGrade #BBC #BBCDrama #SarahEverard #TrueCrime #KentonAllen #Quiz #QuizShows #Mastermind #BobDylan #TheBill #GMTV Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: / @insiderstvpodcast Email: podcasts@hattrick.com Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Jimmy & Peter Answer Your Questions

  6. Jun 26

    The World Cup Coverage Battle | BBC's 500 Job Cuts | The Government's Social Media Green Paper

    TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville tackle the World Cup coverage battle, the TV Festival's Manchester move, the BBC's 500 job cuts, and the Government's social media green paper - recorded on the UK's hottest June day on record! Topics discussed: The UK's Prime Minister England cs Ghana The World Cup coverage battle between the BBC & ITV The Edinburgh TV Festival moving to Manchester The BBC's 500 job cuts The Government's social media green paper Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:30 The UK's next PM 02:06 England vs Ghana 02:32 What's on the show today? 03:13 The World Cup coverage battle 10:00 The Edinburgh TV Festival moves to Manchester 14:30 Hydration Break 14:53 The BBC's 500 job cuts 25:01 The Government's social media green paper 35:25 Outro Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at podcasts@hattrick.com. If you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow. #PrimeMinister #AndyBurnham #England #FIFAWorldCup2026 #BBC #ITV #HydrationBreak #EdinburghTVFestival #Manchester #UKGovernment #GreenPaper #YouTube Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: / @insiderstvpodcast Email: podcasts@hattrick.com Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The World Cup Coverage Battle | BBC's 500 Job Cuts | The Government's Social Media Green Paper

  7. Jun 19

    C4's Charlie Perkins on Comedy

    TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville are joined by Channel 4's Head of Comedy Charlie Perkins to discuss the importance of comedy for a channel identity, monetising comedy on YouTube, SNL's budget, talent deals and how hit comedies can prove a good investment years after their first release. Topics discussed: Channel 4's sitcom commissions Comedy + YouTube SNL UK New comedy talent Producer's rights Monetising comedy on YouTube Chapters: 00:00 Intro 02:40 Channel 4's sitcom commissions 04:25 The value of comedy 08:10 Comedy on digital platforms 09:27 The trickle down effect in comedy 11:45 SNL UK's on C4? 14:13 TV + Comedy talent 19:45 Will YouTube change how we make TV? 27:26 How to monetise comedy on YouTube 38:07 What's your pitch for more comedy on Channel 4? Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at podcasts@hattrick.com. If you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow. #Comedy #Channel4 #SNLUK #YouTube #DontHugMeImScared Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer. Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube: / @insiderstvpodcast Email: podcasts@hattrick.com Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    C4's Charlie Perkins on Comedy

  8. Jun 12

    2026 World Cup Kick Off

    TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville debate whether it’s coming home after 60 years of hurt in this 2026 World Cup episode that covers The Rest Is Football’s lucrative Netflix deal, extortionate live sport paywalls, and nostalgic chat about previous world cups.  Topics discussed: England winning the World Cup in 1966The Rest Is Football Netflix seriesWorld Cup Coverage tussles between BBC and ITVAre sport paywalls taking the piss?The ongoing issue of viewers illegally streaming live sports eventsWill the 2026 World Cup make Americans finally love football or, as they continue to call it, soccer What is the future relationship between live sports and free-to-air television?Geopolitics and footballThe World Cup and Brazil at Goodison Park, 1966Players who were destined for greatness but sadly never achieved it Chapters: 00.00 - The 1966 World Cup 05.27 - The Rest Is Football World Cup coverage 13.37 - Live sport behind paywalls / Illegal live sport streaming 17.10 - Will America learn to love football? 20.12 - Listed events / World Cup coverage 24.26 - Watching the 2026 World Cup / Geopolitics in football 28.05 - World Cup at Goodison Park Have a question, opinion or suggestion? Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube, find us on socials @InsidersTVPod, or email us at podcasts@hattrick.com. If you enjoyed the episode, please like, subscribe, and share the podcast with a friend — it really helps us grow. #2026WorldCup #TVPodcast #TheRestIsFootball #paywalls #soccer #GoodisonPark #DonaldTrump #ColePalmer #BBC #ITV #LiveSports Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You, Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer.   Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. New episodes every Friday. YouTube:    / @insiderstvpodcast   Email: podcasts@hattrick.com Instagram: @InsidersTVPod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    2026 World Cup Kick Off
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About

Every Friday, TV Insiders Peter Fincham and Jimmy Mulville take you behind the scenes of the world of television. Jimmy is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His hit shows include Have I Got News For You (series 69 now airing), Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer Peter ran TalkBack where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Expectation / Hat Trick
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    69
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Expectation / Hat Trick
  • Show Website
    Insiders: The TV Podcast

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