Martin Freeman - Apple Podcasts

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment

JAN 21

Martin Freeman - ‘We should be saying no to our kids’

Martin Freeman is one of the most sought-after actors of his generation. Whether it’s Tim in The Office, John - the mild-mannered porn actor in Love Actually, Watson in Sherlock, Bilbo in The Hobbit, the stressed parent in Breeders, the Liverpudlian cop with personal problems in The Responder and Everett K. Ross in Marvel Cinematic Universe smash hits Captain America and Black Panther - Freeman is a star, and to date has won two Emmys and a BAFTA. In this episode, Martin reflects on his childhood as the youngest of five (comparatively modest when you consider his mother was one of fourteen!) as well as the lasting impact of losing his father at ten years old. We talk about parenting, the people who’ve inspired him (hello, Michael Caine), the future of AI from a technophobe’s perspective, his unease with fame and the quieter failures that sit behind public success. Plus: strap yourself in for much hilarity. I don’t think I can remember a guest who made me laugh QUITE this much. Martin can next be seen as the determined Superintendent Battle in Netflix’s new Agatha Christie adaptation, Seven Dials. ✨ IN THIS EPISODE: 00:00 Introduction 02:22 Dealing with Fame and Anxiety 05:12 The Everyman Label 07:35 Exploring Anger and Authenticity 16:28 Academic Struggles and Early Acting 20:33 Personal Reflections and Family 28:08 Comparing to Heroes 32:15 The Office and Sherlock 40:29 Technology Struggles 44:20 AI Concerns 47:47 Meeting Michael Caine 💬 QUOTES TO REMEMBER: You should say no to your kids. You should let them know that life's gonna kick 'em in the ass... that is a manifestation of love for me. There is a great deal of value in making a child bored... How else are you going to paint, or make up a story or learn a trade or learn a skill if you are literally mouth agape looking at a f***ing screen? The people who say it [success] doesn't solve your problems are obviously right... But love is a good start to it - it does more than anything else. 🔗 LINKS + MENTIONS: Seven Dials is available to watch now on Netflix. Join the How To Fail community: https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content Elizabeth’s Substack: https://theelizabethday.substack.com/ 📚 WANT MORE? Stephen Merchant - on feeling like an outsider, learning to live with rejection and being banned from High And Mighty. swap.fm/l/Lta5mlFbVnPHyFb8R1n2 Adeel Akhtar - the actor’s actor on the humbling impact of parenthood, cultural expectations and learning to let go of ego in order to grow swap.fm/l/eWxKBXUJZAAkfovquzwi 💌 LOVE THIS EPISODE? Subscribe on Spotify, Apple or wherever you get your podcasts Leave a 5⭐ review – it helps more people discover these stories 👋 Follow How To Fail & Elizabeth: Instagram: @elizabday TikTok: @howtofailpod Podcast Instagram: @howtofailpod Website: www.elizabethday.org Elizabeth and Martin answer listener questions in our subscriber series, Failing with Friends. Join our community of subscribers here: https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content Have a failure you’re trying to work through for Elizabeth to discuss? Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan Engineer: Matias Torres Assistant Producer: Shania Manderson Senior Producer: Hannah Talbot Executive Producer: Alex Lawless How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

54 min
05/19/2021

Ep 104: Martin Freeman

This week’s episode takes An Unexpected Journey as BAFTA-winning actor Martin Freeman – star of ‘The Hobbit’, ‘Sherlock’, ‘Black Panther’ and Sky’s ‘Breeders’ – orders his dream meal. But what about that ‘Fargo’ accent, eh? Season 2 of ‘Breeders’ will land as a box set on Sky and be available to watch on Sky One and NOW TV from 27th May. Recorded by Ben Williams and edited by Naomi Parnell for Plosive. Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design) and Amy Browne (illustrations). Follow Off Menu on Twitter and Instagram: @offmenuofficial. And go to our website www.offmenupodcast.co.uk for a list of restaurants recommended on the show. Watch Ed and James's YouTube series 'Just Puddings'. Watch here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

1h 4m
04/16/2025

Martin Freeman

We have Emmy & BAFTA winning actor Martin Freeman joining us for dinner this week! And he may have a filthier mind than me! In the midst of rehearsals for his new play, mum served up a delicious Ginger Pig lamb with an array of gorgeous sides for Martin. We heard all about his love of musicals (especially West Side Story), how he nearly became a professional squash player in his youth, how he gave up being a vegetarian after 25 years, what it’s like being the youngest of 5 children, and we hear about the exciting new play he is starring in with Jack Lowden. We laughed throughout this whole episode, Martin was a total dream dinner party guest (even if he had given up puddings for lent!). Martin’s show ‘The Fifth Step’ opens at ‘@SohoPlace' on 12th May and runs through to the end of July. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

58 min
05/01/2024

Martin Freeman and Tony Schumacher, the best bolognese and a negroni

The actor and writer join Nick and Angela to talk about the new series of The Responder. Martin Freeman is a man of many genres and he has mastered most of them in his 27 year career. We first fell in love with him as Tim in The Office in 2001; he gained cult status as Dr Watson in Sherlock in 2010; and then hit the big time as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit in 2012. Martin won a Bafta and an Emmy for Sherlock and last year scooped an International Emmy for his portrayal of Chris Carson in The Responder. Tony Schumacher spent 12 years as a policeman in Liverpool before a period of poor mental health forced him to take stock. While on the road to healing, Tony tried his hand at stand-up comedy and, encouraged by his wife, decided to pursue his dream of becoming an author. Tony has written three novels and penned his critically-acclaimed BBC drama with Martin Freeman in mind. Nick welcomes our guests with a negroni while Angela prepares the best bolognese by Martha Collison, a dish specially requested by Martin. The meal is paired with a Villa Antinori Rosso by the experts at Waitrose. Talk around the table kicks off with praise for Martin Freeman’s Liverpudlian accent, we find out what makes Tony cry and Martin recalls the day he decided vegetarianism was no longer for him. Just so you know, our podcast might contain the occasional mild swear word or adult theme. All recipes from this podcast can be found at waitrose.com/dishrecipes A transcript for this episode can be found at waitrose.com/dish We can’t all have a Michelin star chef in the kitchen, but you can ask Angela for help. Send your dilemmas to dish@waitrose.co.uk and she’ll try to answer in a future episode. Dish is a S:E Creative Studio production for Waitrose Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

36 min
03/31/2019

Martin Freeman, actor

Martin Freeman is a multi-award winning actor, best known for his roles as the lovable Tim in BBC Two’s The Office and as Dr Watson to Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock Holmes. He also played Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy, Lester Nygaard in the US drama series Fargo and Everett K Ross in the film Black Panther. Born in Hampshire in 1971, he grew up in Teddington in south-west London. The youngest of five children, he was just 10 when his father died of a heart attack. As a teenager, he played competitive squash, making the national squad, until he realised he lacked the necessary killer instinct required and switched to youth theatre. He studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama and left in his third year to work at the National Theatre, playing minor roles. He first reached a wider audience when he was cast as Tim in The Office, which was broadcast from 2001 to 2003 and became the first British sitcom to win a Golden Globe. More screen roles followed, including playing Arthur Dent in the film of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. In 2010 he first appeared as Dr Watson opposite Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock and went on to win both a BAFTA and an Emmy as Best Supporting Actor. He has continued to work in films, TV and on stage. He appeared in Sherlock with his ex-partner Amanda Abbington. They have two children. BOOK CHOICE: Animal Farm by George Orwell LUXURY: Tea-making Facilities CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles Presenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Cathy Drysdale

54 min
JAN 22 · BONUS • SUBSCRIBERS ONLY

How to Deal with Envy - with Martin Freeman

Elizabeth and Martin answer YOUR questions in this special subscriber episode, such as: what’s the best practical advice that helps you when feeling low or overwhelmed, how to deal with feelings of envy and is it possible to love the life you have, whilst mourning the lives you haven’t lived? Elizabeth then reflects on time with Martin - and what she actually thought of this legendary actor. To hear Martin Freeman tackling your failures join our community of subscribers here: https://howtofail.supportingcast.fm/#content Do you have something to share of your own? Click here to get in touch: howtofailpod.com Production & Post Production Coordinator: Eric Ryan Sound Engineer: Matias Torres Assistant Producer: Shania Manderson Senior Producer: Hannah Talbot Executive Producer: Alex Lawless How to Fail is an Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment Production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts To bring your brand to life in this podcast, email podcastadsales@sonymusic.com

18 min
08/16/2023

Martin Freeman - Celeb Chataguest

After several minutes of tech issues at Martin's end Joe and David get to guff about how brilliant they think he is. They try and glean from him how to also be brilliant. David tells Martin about his first acting job on Inspector Linley and forgetting to learn his lines. Martin is a bit perplexed about David's obsession with behind the scenes on a tv show, he tells them about filming the Office and sharing the building with real people working down the corridor. They talk about bedtime routines and Martin tells them what time he goes to bed. Joe tells Martin about crying when his hero Roachford came on the pod. Follow Chatabix on Twitter & Instagram: twitter.com/chatabix1 www.instagram.com/chatabixpodcast/ Patreon for early access to our eps: https://www.patreon.com/chatabix Crunchy fresh tees and hoodies: https://chatabixshop.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

1h 42m
01/25/2022

Martin Freeman on The Responder and Cultural Levelling Up

The Responder, a five-part BBC drama broadcast on consecutive nights this week, was written by ex-police response officer Tony Schumacher. He joins Samira along with Martin Freeman, who stars as the disillusioned police responder Chris Carson. A cross party group of MPs from the north of England have just made the case for cultural levelling up in a new report, ahead of the Government's much anticipated white paper on its broader levelling up agenda. We hear from the author of the report, Professor Katy Shaw of Northumbria University and arts policy expert Dr. Abigail Gilmore of the University of Manchester and the Creative Industries Policy and Evidence Centre. Screen Yorkshire’s chief executive Caroline Cooper Charles and Jamie Andrews, Head of Culture and Learning at The British Library, tell us about what they're doing to invest in culture in and around Leeds. Samira is also joined in the studio by Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, Minister for the Arts in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Presenter: Samira Ahmed Producer: Simon Richardson Photo: Martin Freeman Credit: BBC

42 min
04/06/2018

with Emily Blunt and Martin Freeman

Edith Bowman and Clarisse Loughrey sit in for Simon and Mark. Emily Blunt discusses her new film A Quiet Place. Martin Freeman talks about Ghost Stories. Plus the UK Box Office Top 10 and reviews including A Quiet Place, Ghost Stories, 120 Beats Per Minute, Thoroughbreds and Love, Simon. Download the Kermode and Mayo podcast at bbc.co.uk/podcasts/5live. Email: mayo@bbc.co.uk Text: 85058 (charged at your standard network rate) Twitter: @wittertainment.

1h 49m
05/08/2024

Like a Chelsea Pensioner at a rave (with Martin Freeman and Tony Schumacher)

Jane and Fi didn't win an award but that's ok, because they didn't want it anyway... not one bit. In this episode, they also share their non-negotiable respectable habits and what they want their tributes to look like. Plus, actor Martin Freeman and screenwriter Tony Schumacher speak to Fi about the second season of 'The Responder'. You can book your tickets to see Jane and Fi live at the new Crossed Wires festival here: https://www.sheffieldtheatres.co.uk/book/instance/663601 If you want to contact the show to ask a question and get involved in the conversation then please email us: janeandfi@times.radio Follow us on Instagram! @janeandfi Assistant Producer: Eve Salusbury Times Radio Producer: Kate Lee Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

44 min
03/09/2020

#76 - Westworld, Breeders, and Mrs. Fletcher

Martin Freeman and Daisy Haggard are our guests this week, stopping by to talk about their parenting comedy Breeders, which features Freeman hurling obscenities at a toddler and calling an alarm clock a c***. We also tackle Sky’s Mrs Fletcher, in which empty nest syndrome collides with hardcore pornography — an incident that unexpectedly spiced up James' commute. And last but by no means least we return to HBO’s Westworld to see whether Lisa Joy and Jonathan Nolan’s show survives its transition to the real world. If all that wasn’t enough, this week’s listener question leads to a frankly shocking confession from Pilot’s very own Beth Webb.

1h 45m
02/11/2022

Martin Freeman and Tony Schumacher, The Responder, Munich – The Edge of War and Inside Dubai

The Radio Times Podcast, hosted by Jane Garvey with TV expert Rhianna Dhillon, is the place for your trusted TV recommendations each week. This episode: Jane interviews the star of The Responder – Martin Freeman, alongside the show’s writer Tony Schumacher. Rhianna also reviews ‘Munich - The Edge of War’, ‘Inside Dubai’ and ‘Ant and Dec’s Limitless Win’. You can find the programmes mentioned as follows: Inside Dubai All episodes available on the BBC iPlayer Munich – The Edge of War Netflix from Friday 21st January The Responder Starts Monday 24th January at 9pm, and the entire series released as a boxset on iPlayer after the first episode has gone out Ant and Dec’s Limitless Win Two episodes available on the ITV hub, and episode three goes out at 8.30pm on Saturday night (22nd Jan) We’d love to hear from you. You can send us an email anytime to podcast@radiotimes.com or find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @Radiotimes The Radio Times Podcast is produced by Somethin' Else for Immediate Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

48 min
05/30/2022 · BONUS

BONUS TV Festival: with Martin Freeman, Professor Brian Cox, Stephen Fry, Rose Matafeo, Stephen Merchant and Omari Douglas.

The Radio Times Television Festival took place at the British Film Institute on London’s Southbank, on the 20th, 21st and 22nd May. This very special bonus episode of the Radio Times Podcast is your official cut-out-and-keep souvenir edition of the 2022 Festival. Hosted by Jane Garvey and Kelly-Anne Taylor. In this episode you’ll hear from some huge names from the world of TV including... Professor Brian Cox; Martin Freeman; Omari Douglas aka Roscoe from It’s A Sin; Starstruck’s hilarious Rose Matafeo; Stephen Merchant AND Stephen Fry. We’d love to hear from you. You can send us an email anytime to podcast@radiotimes.com or find us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @Radiotimes The Radio Times Podcast is produced by Somethin' Else for Immediate Media. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

43 min

Martin Freeman on Apple