Your life in film

Ted Bennett

Each week I invite a guest to talk about their life in film. Your Life in Film is a thought-provoking podcast that dives deep into the personal stories, emotions, and memories behind the movies that define us. Each episode features filmmakers, actors, writers, and passionate movie lovers sharing how specific films have influenced their lives, inspired their creativity, and shaped their worldview. Hosted with warmth, humor, and cinematic insight, Your Life in Film isn’t just about what’s on screen — it’s about the connection between film and identity. From cult classics and blockbuster hits to indie gems and forgotten favorites, this podcast celebrates the power of storytelling and the universal language of cinema. Whether you’re a casual movie fan or a die-hard cinephile, Your Life in Film invites you to revisit the films that made you laugh, cry, and dream. With questions including,  What was the first film you saw at the cinema?What film did you watch over and over again as a kid?What was the first 18-rated film you saw and how old were you?What was the first film you watched that you considered grown up?What film holds a special place in your heart?What’s your controversial opinion on a famous film?What have you been watching recently?

  1. 1h ago

    James Cleave - Writer-Director

    Joining me this week, James Cleave James is a London-based Writer-Director and Associate Member of Directors UK, whose work explores human connection through realistic, dialogue-driven drama, often with a sharp thread of humour running through the discomfort. His short films have collectively earned 21 awards, 30 nominations, and 31 Official Selections across national and international film festivals. His debut sci-fi drama Sometime Else, which screened at the BAFTA Cymru-qualifying Carmarthen Bay Film Festival, was described by UK Film Review as sitting "amongst any of Charlie Brooker's best and darkest [Black Mirror] episodes." His BIFA-Qualified comedy-drama MAFIA was praised by Film Carnage for its "clean edge" and "intimate and focused" directorial style. His latest BIFA-Qualified comedy SELF+TAPE, is currently on its festival run following its premiere at BIFA-qualifying Unrestricted View Film Festival. A third-culture kid born in the UK and raised in Limassol, Cyprus, James has over 15 years of industry experience across 86 productions within the AD department, including serving as Kenneth Branagh's on-set Director's Assistant on A Haunting In Venice and on-set Cast Assistant on A Thomas Crown Affair, with further credits on Cinderella, RED 2, Black Mirror, and the BAFTA-winning Pride, to name a few. Outside of his AD career, he has produced close to 100 non-broadcast productions, managing end-to-end delivery across animation, post-production, and multi-language packages, writing and directing a number of them, earning 24 international awards including the WorldMediaFestival's intermedia-globe Grand Award. He is currently developing his first feature film. James' Instagram James' Website My letterboxd: My film Reel Terror: Support the show

    James Cleave - Writer-Director
  2. Jun 2

    Nick Helm - Comedian

    Joining me this week is Nick Helm Nick first took to the stand-up comedy stage in 2007 and quickly became a circuit legend with his tour de force of one-liners, stories, poems and jokes. Since then, he’s become one of Britain’s most loved comedians for his multiple, memorable and moving television appearances, his critically acclaimed writing and his legendary rollercoaster live shows. Across the years, Nick has taken multiple mega hit shows to the Edinburgh Fringe including the must-see Keep Hold of the Gold, the Fosters Edinburgh Comedy Award nominated Dare to Dream and the completely sold out This Means War. In 2017, he embarked on his first full tour, hitting 25 dates across the UK with his hilarious show There Is Nothing You Can Do To Me That I Haven’t Already Done To Myself. He also released two successful albums Nick Helm is F*cking Amazing and Hot ‘n’ Heavy, which feature hit songs from his solo shows and are available on iTunes and Bandcamp. Nick has become a firm TV favourite having appeared on multiple shows both acting and as himself. He was nominated for a Royal Television Society Award for his starring role in critically acclaimed BBC Three sitcom, Uncle, and also played the adorable Watto is Channel 4’s Loaded which was later broadcast on AMC in America. He’s also fronted his own food travelogue show Eat Your Heart Out with Nick Helm on Dave and his own high-octane variety show Nick Helm’s Heavy Entertainment on BBC Three. This is all in addition to his other unforgettable TV appearances such as 8 Out of 10 Cats, Russell Howard’s Good News and Celebrity Mastermind. Nick's Instagram My letterboxd: My film Reel Terror: Support the show

    Nick Helm - Comedian

About

Each week I invite a guest to talk about their life in film. Your Life in Film is a thought-provoking podcast that dives deep into the personal stories, emotions, and memories behind the movies that define us. Each episode features filmmakers, actors, writers, and passionate movie lovers sharing how specific films have influenced their lives, inspired their creativity, and shaped their worldview. Hosted with warmth, humor, and cinematic insight, Your Life in Film isn’t just about what’s on screen — it’s about the connection between film and identity. From cult classics and blockbuster hits to indie gems and forgotten favorites, this podcast celebrates the power of storytelling and the universal language of cinema. Whether you’re a casual movie fan or a die-hard cinephile, Your Life in Film invites you to revisit the films that made you laugh, cry, and dream. With questions including,  What was the first film you saw at the cinema?What film did you watch over and over again as a kid?What was the first 18-rated film you saw and how old were you?What was the first film you watched that you considered grown up?What film holds a special place in your heart?What’s your controversial opinion on a famous film?What have you been watching recently?