The Custard TV Podcast

TV Time Machine # 27: Popstars

Matt, Luke and Dawn hop aboard their TV Time Machine to visit January 2001 and watch the whole first series of Popstars from ITV. The show that introduced us to Nasty Nigel, Darius and Kym Marsh, as well as being the pre-cursor to music reality shows like Pop Idol and The X Factor. It was a strange show, part reality show, part docuseries, the experience is a strange one. The show feels from a bygone era, a time when reality TV was still in its infancy and so it feels more genuine. What are your memories of the show and of Hear'Say?

# 505: Agatha Christie's The Seven Dials, Things You Should Have Done, Blackshore

Matt and Dawn are back to review three big TV shows available this week. Luke joins them to give his take of Netflix's big Agatha Christie adaptation from Doctor Who and Broadchurch writer Chris Chibnall The Seven Dials. Then, Dawn and Matt gush over the sheer silliness of the second series of BBC Comedy, Things You Should Have Done. Lastly, BBC Four have another, ultimately, forgettable Irish crime drama in Blackshore. Lastly, how many of the BFI's top 100 shows of the 20th Century could you name in our quiz? #TV #TVPodcast #SevenDials #Netflix #BBCCOMEDY 

504: Hijack, Heated Rivalry, His and Hers and Can You Keep a Secret?

Matt and Dawn are joined by Sarah Kennedy to review four more shows available this week. Apple's Hijack sees Idris Elba's Sam in a perilous situation as he travels, this time aboard a train rather than the plane from the first series. Next, the trio try and get their heads around Heated Rivalry, which is the most talked about shows of the time.  His and Hers is the latest airport novel type show on Netflix. Finally, Dawn French and Mark Heap star in the BBC's new comedy, Can You Keep a Secret, as a married couple who are given a life insurance payout.  

Lastly, to celebrate Mark Heap and Dawn French, our own Dawn tests her fellow podcasters to name as many shows the pair have starred in over the course of their long comedy careers.

 

# 503: The Night Manager, Lynley, Waiting for the Out, The Traitors UK

Matt and Dawn return for their first podcast of 2026, reviewing four shows available this week. They are joined by site contributor Ruthie Nugent to review, the return of The Traitors on BBC One as well as the strange return of The Night Manager after nearly ten years away. The new shows this week are, the baffling remake of the Inspector Lynley mysteries in Lynely, which is all available on the iPlayer. Lastly, and spoiler alert, brilliantly, the team gush about the intimate, funny and life-affirming, new prison set drama Waiting For The Out, which stars The Responder's Josh Finan, as Dan, a man, tortured by his past, starts work at a prison, teaching prisoners philosophy. 

Lastly, Matt challenges Dawn and Ruthie to name as many winners of the Best Supporting Actresses as they can.

 

# 502: The Best TV Shows of 2025

It's that time of year again as Luke joins Matt and Dawn to count down the top 10 shows of 2025. Expect discussion on Hacks, Big Boys, Pluribus, Task, Dying for Sex and more.

TV Time Machine #26 - December 2000 - January 2001 - The Last Ever Fast Show, Victoria Wood: All the Trimmings, 2000 Acres of Sky.

Our final TV Time Machine of 2000 is also our first of 2001. Christmas of 2000 saw sketch show The Fast Show bowed out with a trio of farewell episodes. Victoria Wood had the prime-time slot on Christmas day with her 'All The Trimming's' special.  Whilst in early January, Michelle Collins and Paul Kaye starred in gentle family drama 2000 Acres of Sky and on BBC Two, there's zany comedy, Fun at the Funeral Parlour. There is also a quiz on the charts of the time. 

Our Christmas Party Pod

With the festive season upon us, Luke, Matt and Dawn and various other members of the wider Custard TV team reflect on the year in television, get merry, and in the case of Dawn, recite poetry to top off the year on the podcast.

# 501 - Stranger Things, The War Between The Land and the Sea, Amadeus, Simon Cowell: The Next Act

Matt and Dawn are joined by Mo Walker for their last proper podcast of 2025. They review the return of Stranger Things on Netflix, the latest Doctor Who project The War Between The Land and The Sea on the BBC and Sky's upcoming take on Amadeus starring former White Lotus star Will Sharpe.

Lastly, they look at Simon Cowell's new Netflix series, which follows the former X Factor judge as he attempts to form a new boyband in a new age of music.