The Custard TV Podcast

Luke Knowles
  • 3.6 (5)
  • TV REVIEWS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Reviews and opinions from a trio of TV obsessives on a variety of the week’s biggest shows. Expect hot takes, bad jokes and people who have spent far too much time in front of the TV. Read more from the team on thecustardtv.com

  1. 3H AGO

    TV Time Machine # 30 - Messiah, Murder in Mind, Survivor and Ant & Dec's Slap Bang!

    Matt and Luke fire up their TV Time Machine and set course for April 2001. Fresh off the huge success of SMTV Live, Ant & Dec get their first shot at a primetime Saturday night show on ITV. The result, isn't Takeaway, but Slap Bang, a mix of comedy sketches, game shows and Ant & Dec doing a lot of acting. Next, the BBC have Murder in Mind, an anthology drama series, which focues on stories of ordinary people pushed to their limits and commiting the ultimate crime. The episode we watch is called 'Neighbours' about how an idylic, quiet life is upenended when nightmare neighbours move in next door. Next, we revisit Ken Stott's grusome crime drama Messiah and also the first series of the Surivior. The reality series had a huge impact when it launched in the US and has been running for 50 seasons. We've now had two versions of the show, most recently in 2023. How does this version fare?

    1h 42m

  2. APR 28

    516: Half Man, The Cage, Secret Service, Prisoner

    *The episode suffers from some audio issues*. Gary returns to the podcast alongside Matt and Dawn to review four brand new British dramas available this week. Fresh off the massive success of his Netflix series Baby Reindeer, Richard Gadd is back with his first original idea for a series. Half Man, available on BBC One and iPlayer, and co-produced by HBO, is the story of toxic masicnility between two men who were brought together when their two mothers fall in love. In a lot of ways, it shares some DNA with the show that catapulted Gadd to stardom, but is that a good thing? Next, we loved the BBC drama The Responder, which starred Martin Freeman as a stressed out police responser struggling to keep his head above water. Writer Tony Shumacker is very good at writing ordinary people in increasingly stressful situations. His new show, The Cage, stars Sheridan Smith and Michael Socha as two employees of a casino who abuse their position to get ahead in their difficult lives. It's another show that feels a lot like the show that proceeded it. Somehow, though, despite strong lead performances, something doesn't click. Next, ITV have a new political thriller in Secret Service. It's a tropey show that feels very much like a show Gary should and would like, but is that the case? Finally, there's Prisoner, a propulsive new thriller on Sky Atlantic. The series puts Big Boys Izuka Hoyle in the spotlight as a prisoner officer who gets caught in the action when trying to transport a prisoner from one place to another.  *The episode suffers from some audio issues*.

    1h 11m

  3. APR 21

    # 515: Euphoria, Beef, Hacks, Mint

    Luke is back with Matt and Dawn to review four new shows available on different platforms this week. First, HBO's teen drama Euphoria returns for its long-awaited third season. The series, which was once one of the most talked-about and provocative shows on television, now sees its characters outside of the high school setting. The third season still features a powerhouse performance from Zendaya as drug addict Rue, but it's the outer edges and the inclusion of other stars like Jacob Elordi and Sydney Sweeney and their disjointed stories that work less well. Was the long wait really worth it? Next, one of the most beloved shows of the last ten years, Hacks, returns to Sky One for its fifth and final season. Jean Smart and Hannah Einbeinder are still fantastic together, and this season gets off to a strong start because it sees the pair on the same page and not at odds as they have been at the start of each previous season. It's a show full of confidence that knows what it wants to do, full of characters we care about, and we're not quite ready for its final bow. Also returning is Netflix's now-anthology series, Beef. The twisted comedy drama, which began as a series starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong, as two people caught in a petty argument that takes over their lives. With the second season, the argument or 'beef' at the centre of the story comes when a young couple stumbles across a vicious domestic fight between their bosses. Helemed by strong performances from Calliee Spaney and Carey Mulligan, it's a show about power, and one that puts you in the same stressed place as its characters. The first season was focused solely on the two caught up in the 'beef', but season 2 has a lot going on outside of the battling couples.  Lastly, the BBC has a brand new drama, Mint, which is a romantic gangster show aimed at a younger audience. On one hand, it's another example of the BBC trying something new in prime time, but on the other, we have a lot of thoughts about why it just doesn't work. For our quiz, Dawn challenges the boys to name as many Friends guest stars as they can.

    1h 51m

  4. APR 14

    # 514: Margo's Got Money Troubles, Malcom in the Middle, Big Mistakes, Your Song

    It's just Dawn and Matt this week who review four shows available this week. On Apple TV, there's Margo's Got Money Troubles, with another strong lead performance from the always brilliant Elle Fanning. The series tells the story of a college student who finds herself pregnant and forced to look for a new way to keep herself afloat. Add in great performances from Michelle Pfeiffer and Nick Offerman as her parents, and really likeable characters, this show is really surprising. Next is Big Mistakes, a new comedy thriller from Dan Levy of Schitt's Creek fame. It's a show with interesting characters and great comedic performance from the always dependable Laurie Metcalfe, but it gets bogged down in a silly crime plot.  Next, back from the early noughties, Frankie Muniz and the whole cast (minus one recast) returns for a four-part series, Malcolm in the Middle: Life's still unfair. It's strange for this show in particular to return, but its hard to pin down why it exists. Finally, Channel 4 returns to 'The Piano-verse' for a new singing show, Your Song. Hosted by Alison Hammond (because, of course), the show sees ordinary members of the public who take to the stage (this time in Liverpool) and perform a song that means something to them. Judged by Paloma Faith and Sam Ryder. The show is another example of Channel 4 trying desperately to find a hit. This one lacks the sincere nature of The Piano but forms an interesting discussion between Matt and Dawn.

    56 min

  5. APR 8

    # 513: Race Across The World, Twenty Twenty Six, The Minatare Wife, The Burbs

    Matt and Dawn are joined by Mo Walker to review four new shows available to watch this week. Race Across The World returns and still manages to delight us. Hugh Bonneville returns as Ian Fletcher, who is in charge of running the World Cup after leaving the BBC. Twenty Twenty Six is the third in the 'Fletcher trilogy' after 2012 and W1A, but does this third instalment live up to the previous two series, or has John Morton's mockumentary run out of steam? Next, and both available on Sky, there's strange comedy drama, The Minature Wife, about a successful novelist (Elisabeth Banks) who is accidentally shrunk to miniature by her inept and power-hungry scientist (Mathew MacFayden). Lastly, there's another comic, murder mystery in The Burbs. The series is led by a striking performance from Keke Palmer and podcast favourites Paula Pell of Girls5eva and Dying For Sex, and Mark Proksch from What We Do in the Shadows. Less convincing is Jack Whitehall.

    1h 3m

  6. MAR 30

    # 512: The Pitt, Babies, Bait, Something Very Bad is Going to Happen

    Luke joins Matt and Dawn for another look at four shows available this week. HBO Max has finally launched in the UK, which means our long wait for the award-winning medical drama The Pitt has come to an end. The 15-episode series functions differently from any other show in the genre, with each episode capturing an hour of the same hectic shift for the medics. It's a show we've had to wait over a year for, but is it worth the wait? Next, the creator of Mum and Him & Her has a brand new BBC One series about a couple desperate for childern. Babies, features the same naturalistic dialogue we've come to expect from this writer, with two wonderful performances in the lead roles. It's the other side of the story that confuses us. Next, Netflix has a new horror show, Something Very Bad is Going to Happen, which, despite its title warning you of worse to come, feels overstuffed, desperate to be scary and strangely empty. Lastly, Prime Video has a new British comedy, Bait, written by and starring Riz Ahmed as an actor whose life is upended when he is spotted leaving an audition for James Bond. It's a clever idea, but is it disciplined enough to keep us watching? For the The Strikes Quiz, Luke challenges Matt and Dawn to list as many of the shows they reviewed in 2025 as they can. It's harder than you think.

    1h 20m

  7. MAR 24

    # 511: SNL UK, Last One Laughing UK, Jury Duty Presents: Company Retreat, Imperfect Women

    Comedy expert Sophie Davies joins Matt and Dawn to review a very comedy heavy week. The American institution Saturday Night Live comes to the UK with the launch of SNL UK on Sky One. Two comedy hits return for their second seasons on Prime Video. Jimmy Carr hosts another impressive cast of British comics and comedy stars who try not to laugh in Last One Laughing. And the team behind Jury Duty return of a second season. This time, instead of a Jury, their focus is on a company retreat. The premise remains the same, all of but one of the cast are comedy actors and we see how the non-actor who isn't in on the joke responds. Lastly, Imperfect Women, a new airport novel type mystery drama elevated by performances from Elisabeth Moss and Kerry Washington. Lastly, how many SNL actors can Matt and Sophie name in our quiz?

    1h 11m

  8. MAR 17

    TV Time Machine # 29: The Dave Gorman Collection, Teachers, Celebrity Big Brother for Comic Relief.

    Matt and Luke are back aboard their TV Time Machine to March of 2026. BBC Two launches the innovative and brilliantly funny The Dave Gorman Collection, which sees a then unknown new comic Dave Gorman, set out to meet as many people with his name as he can. Presented as a slide show presentation, Gorman's journey is a lot of fun and fresh.  Next, off the back of the first Big Brother, Channel 4 and the BBC join forces for a Celebrity edition of the reality show which only ran for 8 days and was structured strangely. Half-hour episodes and quick nominations and evictions. The main thing the show is remembered for is Vanessa Feltz, who had a bit of a breakdown when she was nominated for eviction. But, actually, the more surprising takeaway from the show is how being in the house affected comedian and eventual winner Jack Dee. Next, having finished The Fast Show, Paul Whitehouse brings us BBC comedy Happiness. The dark comedy, is an odd pitch: A man who voices a popular children's character is lost when his wife is run over by an ice cream truck. It's dark and absurd topic, but there's pathos in there and some really familiar faces giving their first performances. Lastly, Channel 4, launches raunchy and risque comedy drama Teachers with a star turn from Andrew Lincoln. It's a show where the teachers are just as badly behaved and desperately to be liked as the teenagers they are teaching. It's vibrant, fast-paced and immediately aware of it is.  Finally, Matt challenges Luke to name as many chart hits from March 2001 as he can.

    54 min
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3.6
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Reviews and opinions from a trio of TV obsessives on a variety of the week’s biggest shows. Expect hot takes, bad jokes and people who have spent far too much time in front of the TV. Read more from the team on thecustardtv.com

Information

  • Creator
    Luke Knowles
  • Years Active
    2012 - 2026
  • Episodes
    600
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Custard TV Podcast
  • Show Website
    The Custard TV Podcast

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