Custard TV Podcast

Matt and Dawn are joined by TV fan Mo Walker, to review four new shows available to watch this week. Firstly, Lisa McGee, the creator of Derry Girls is back with a brand new twisty comedic thriller in Netflix's surprising series, How to Get to Heaven of Belfast. Next, also set in Ireland, the foursome watch the gentle drama, The Walsh series. The series is the sort of family kitchen sink drama that the team are always hoping TV would return to, but does the RTE series deliver for them? Next, ITV has a new true story four-parter for Sunday nights. The Lady, about the mystery surrounding The Dutchess of York's dresser. The series is elevated by strong lead performance from Mia Mckenna Bruce who was last seen elevating Netflix's Agatha Christie adaptation, The Seven Dials. Lastly, Dawn struggles to get through Channel 4's docudrama, Dirty Buisness which takes a dramatic look at water companies polluting Britain's waterways. 

We're back aboard the TV Time Machine and the date is January 2001. Channel 4's comedy offerings are Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights as well as the strange take on a Japanese gameshow, Banzai. On BBC Two, yes BBC Two, an 18-year-old writer is handed her own sitcom which becomes surprisingly big 2 Pints of Larger and a Packet of Crisps starring Ralf Little, Sheridan Smith, Will Mellor and Natalie Casey. Lastly, ITV's gritty crime drama The Vice. What were you watching 2001??

Matt and Dawn are joined by Ruthie Nugent to review four brand new shows available this week. Beginning with the BBC's impressive adaptation of Lord of Flies. Written by Adolescence writer Jack Thorne, his four-part take on the classic story almost plays like a sequel to the Netflix series. Next, ITV have another paint-by-numbers spy drama in Betrayal, a four-part thriller about spy which choses to tell the least interesting parts of its own story.  Next, we loved Detectorists and Small Prophets, the new gentle comedy from Mackenzie Crook feels as if it comes from the same world and that can only be the a good thing. It's the story of a man, mourning the loss of his girlfriend, stuck in a job he hates, just trying to get by, full of gentle humour that immediately warms you to the characters.  Finally, Dawn gets the chance to share her love of the Muppets as the iconic series is rebooted by Disney+

Matt, Dawn and Sarah are back to review four new shows available this week. First, Apple's sweet comedy Shrinking is back for its long-awaited third season and proves yet again what an incredible performer Harrison Ford is and how special that cast is. Next, Kelly Riley and Timothy Spall star in Sky Atlantic's new dark crime drama Under The Salt Marsh. It's a story of a town coming to terms with the death of a young child, unfortunately, the accents and a tough lead character make it a more distracting experience than it should be. Next, Ryan Murphy is at it again with his new Disney+ Hulu series, The Beauty. It's a strange show that sees two FBI agents investigating a cluster of people literally exploding after undergoing a new procedure to achieve attractiveness. Lastly, Netflix has a new docuseries on Britain's first real boyband, Take That, but is the way the series decides to tell their story satisfying?  Lastly, Matt challenges his co-hosts to name as many nominees in the best supporting Comedy role at the Emmys. How many could you name?

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?

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 

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.  

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.  

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.

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. 

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.

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.  

To mark 500 episodes of the podcast we get the old band back together. Matt, Luke and Gary reunite with the newest member Dawn to count down their favourite shows that have debuted over the course of the 14 years of the custard TV Podcast. Thank you all for your tremendous support over the years and here's to the next 500 episodes!!

Matt and Dawn are joined by TV fan Tyler to review four brand new shows available this week. Matt Smith stars in Sky's new drama Bunny Monroe which really surprises the team. Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys join forces in Netflix's pulpy drama The Beast in Me, Channel 5 revive TV tradition in their take on Play For Today. Lastly, Nicole Lecky brings her new series Wild Cherry to BBC One. Even if it doesn't feel quite right for a BBC One audience. Finally, how many new era Doctor Who characters can Dawn and Whovian Tyler name?

Luke, Dawn and Matt are back to review four shows available this week. Beginning with Vince Gilligan's sci-fi genre-bending new series Pluribus which is now available on Apple TV. After a long time in his own Breaking Bad Universe, the acclaimed showrunner is back with a completely original idea, which is best seen without knowing anything about. The trio discuss the first two episodes, which are available on Apple TV now.  Succession's Sarah Snook stars in a surprisingly effective new thriller All Her Fault, which sees Snook's working mother discover her son has been kidnapped. Next, from Channel 4 there's period drama Trespasses which looks at a dangerous love affair during the troubles. Lastly, more celebrities are abroad in a new series of Celebrity Race Across The World. For the quiz, how many nominees of Best Drama Series at the Emmy's can Matt and Dawn name?

Matt and Luke fire up their TV Time Machine to travel to November 2000 to revisit the final episode of iconic BBC comedy One Foot in the Grave. As well as Rob Brydon and Julia Davies' mostly forgotten but still a little gem relationship comedy Human Remains. Also, John Simm and Sophie Okenado star in surprising two-part drama Never Never, whilst BBC Two try and be contemporary in website drama Attachments.

Fellow podcaster Mo Walker joins Matt and Dawn to review four new shows available this week. Slow Horses is a massive hit for Apple TV, so now the streamer is banking on another series of novels from author Mick Herron in the hopes of lightning strikes twice. Dame Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson lead an impressive British cast of familiar faces in thriller Down Cemetery Road. Next, and perhaps less successful, after a major run on Netflix, author Harlan Coben comes to Prime Video with ghostly new drama Lazarus. On the BBC, there's the thriller The Ridge, which stars Karen Pire's Lauren Lyle. Lastly, comedian of the moment, Tim Robbins, best known for his fast-paced Netflix sketch series, I Think You Should Leave, leads his first sitcom in HBO's The Chair Company, which is available in the UK on Sky Boxsets or NOW. Lastly, in our three strikes quiz, Matt and Mo compete to name as many dead EastEnders characters as they can. How well would you do?

Matt is joined by both Maids from Maid for TV in Sarah and Dawn. The trio reviews Sally Wainwright's new drama Riot Women, which sees women of a certain age form a rock band, initially to enter a school talent show, but eventually as a way to channel their frustrations with life and to be seen by those who have taken them for granted. Next, the creator of Luther has a confusing and mysterious for mysterious sake 'thriller' called The Iris Affair. Next, a gentle and sweet romantic comedy from BBC Two, which is likely to fly under the radar, but that is well worth a watch in Leonard and Hungry Paul. Lastly, the trio look at every episode of Celebrity Traitors to air so far and picks apart what has made it such a hit. Finally, in our quiz, Matt challenges the Maids to name actors who have appeared in Sally Wainwright shows.

Luke and Matt are back aboard their TV Time Machine. This time, they are looking at four shows which aired in October 2000. Made for the Millennium Dome, Sky airs Blackadder: Back and Forth, which sees the iconic cast reunite for what is a strange beast. Ross Kemp is back in ITV's crime drama Without Motive. Rupert Penry-Jones and Phil Davies lead Channel 4's legal drama North Square. Lastly, they watch the first episode of Kay Mellor's comedy drama Fat Friends, which is relevant because it's the show where Ruth Jones met James Corden and also because it made the top 10 of Netflix's weekly charts for several weeks when it turned up on the streaming giant late last year.  

Matt and Dawn are joined by Sophie Davies to review four new shows available this week. First, Mae Martin's mysterious new Netflix series Wayward. Next, Suranne Jones and Jodie Whitaker play a pair of conwomen in ITV's six-part drama Frauds. Then, continuing her domination of 2025 ater Toxic Town on Netflix and HBO's The White Lotus, Aimee Lou Wood is back with her own comedy Film Club. Lastly, (and the reason Sophie is joining) Alan Partridge is back on the BBC with, How Are You? It's Alan Partridge where the iconic broadcaster looks into mental health. Lastly, how many BBC Three originals can the team name in our quiz?.

Matt, Luke and Dawn are back to celebrate the return of the best British drama series, Slow Horses as well as Jack Thorne's take on the hacking scandal in the form of ITV's The Hack. Netflix has Jude Law and Jason Bateman as a pair of unconvincing brothers. And from Apple, but now on BBC One and iPlayer comes adoption comedy, Trying.  There's also a quiz naming as many BAFTA drama series nominees. How would you do?

Luke and Matt are back aboard their TV Time Machine, heading to September 2000. FOX has a new anarchic family sitcom in Malcolm in the Middle, which is hugely significant as it gives us Bryan Cranston. Rob Brydon makes his debut as a taxi driver recalling the breakup of his marriage in the truly superb short-form comedy Marion & Geoff.  On Channel 4, a fresh-faced comic, Ricky Gervais, gets his own chat show, Meet Ricky Gervais which feels like an awkward hybrid between So Graham Norton and The Larry Sanders Show which sadly doesn't work. Also on Channel 4, Dylan Moran's cult comedy Black Books, which brought together Bill Bailey and Tamsin Grieg as a strange found family. Lastly, Channel 4 also has Faking it, which takes a Yorkshire women and attempts to turn into a posh girl.    

Matt and Dawn are joined by CustardTV Editor Luke to review four shows available this week. Firstly, Mare of Easttown creator Brad Ingelsby has a new show in the brilliantly tense and human Task available weekly on NOW, Sky and HBO. Next, there's another murder in the building so Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez are back recording their podcast for the fifth season of Only Murders in the Building on Dinsey+ and Hulu. Next, the creative team behind the US Office is back with an official spin-off in The Paper. But does it stand up? Finally, the trio watch what might be the first sketch shows we've covered in 5 years. Channel 4 are putting a lot behind, Mitchell and Webb aren't Helping but can it revive a long lost type of television? Lastly, Dawn quizzes the boys on British sketch shows. How many could you name?

TV is finally back in a normal rhythm, and that means the podcast is back! Matt and Dawn are joined by Dawn's podcast co-host Lucy from The Shipyard to review four shows available this week. It's September, and it's ITV, so by law, Sheridan Smith must portray a real person in a true crime drama. Sticking to tradition, she stars as Anne Ming, in, I Fought the Law, the story of a mother's fight for justice when her daughter's body is found in her own home. Next, the BBC has a crazy thriller inspired by The Hand That Rock The Cradle and others of that ilk. Eve Myles and the brilliant Gabrielle Creevy star in in The Guest. Already on Netflix, Surrane Jones stars in a crazy pollicital thriller that sees her husband kidnapped and become a 'Hostage' Lastly, and perhaps the most important show of the week, Channel 4's fixed-rig cameras return to Thornhill Academy for a second series of the probably brilliant Educating Yorkshire, over 10 years since the first. Then, Dawn and Lucy test their knowledge of TV's biggest slow burn relationships for our quiz.    

Matt and Luke hop abroad the TV Time Machine to look at the TV landscape of August 2000. He will soon have so many TV shows to his name and swimming pools full of money, but in August of 2000, Ryan Murphy debuted his first show on the teen skewing network The WB. The show, Popular, is a teen comedy with a strange mix of tones but some DNA of Glee, the show that made him a household name and a titan in the industry. Next, sketch comedy TV to Go, a sketch series billed as a show 'to skewer the annoyances of everyday life.' The forgotten series, featured Martin Freeman and Hugh Dennis, but unsurprisingly, the standouts are Sean Lock and Bill Bailey. Then, a show that would become a megahit, as Anne Robinson dons a cape for a new quiz show that would become a global hit in The Weakest Link. Finally, there's Scottish drama Tinsel Town, which is a hard show to pin down.  

Matt and Dawn welcome a new voice to the show, site contributor Ruthie Nugent, to review 4 brand new shows. First up, Jimmy McGovern's hard hitting single drama Unforgivable. Prime Video's The Assassin, which sees Keeley Hawes as a retired Assassin forced out of retirement just as her son arrives to visit. Next, Lena Dunham's first new project in years, this time for Netflix and London set RomCom homage Too Much. Lastly, the BBC are hoping they can continue their streak of popular reality series with Destination X, which, in theory, could be a Traitors and Race Across the World hybrid. That's the theory, anyway. Finally, Dawn challenges Matt and Ruthie to name as finalists of I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here as they can.

In the summer of 2000, Channel 4 took a gamble. They devoted 7 weeks of their schedule (albeit, at 11pm) to a brand new show branded as a 'social experiment' which placed strangers in a house. Locked away from the public for 7 weeks, voted off by members of the group, Big Brother launched to little fanfare or expectation but slowly morphed into one of Channel 4's landmark series of the period and a huge word of mouth hit at the dawn of livestreaming and the rise of the celebrity magazine.   For this special episode of their TV Time Machine, Custard TV podcasters, Luke and Matt rewatch the key episodes of the very first Big Brother, looking at what makes it so compelling. What worked from the start and what didn't. 25 years on, the show seems quaint and gentle when compared to the show it would become, where fame hungry contestants would apply and launch careers off the back of their time in the house. The 'Nasty Nick' cheating scandal cemented the show as a must watch, with conversation reaching parliament, but looking back, was it really that much of a scandal?    There's also discussion on where Big Brother went wrong, the raft of programming that came after it and why it just doesn't have the same appeal in 2025 despite ITV flogging it. 

TV has been pretty quiet of late. That is, of course, unless you're a Wimbledon or Football fan. However, Luke, Matt and Dawn are back to review 4 new shows available on streaming Platforms and ITV2. Firstly, one of the best shows of the decade, The Bear, returns for its fourth season. It's fair to say that season 3 received a lukewarm response from critics and fans alike. Without spoiling it, season 4 is a huge improvement and gives fans who love what The Bear does well exactly what they want and perhaps more. Secondly, fresh from the huge success of The Queen's Gambit, writer Scott Frank is back with Netflix adapting the Danish novel Department Q and relocating the characters to Scotland for what becomes a gripping Slow Horses and Nordic Noir hybrid. Next, Apple TV+ has a 9-part crime thriller Smoke, which sees two fire investigators looking into two arsonists.  Finally, it's a rare trip for us to ITV2, for comedy Transaction about a trans woman who is called upon to work in a supermarket who suffer a PR nightmare. Then, what is quickly becoming the best part of the pod, our 3 strikes you are out quiz, where Dawn and Luke go head-to-head in naming Netflix Original Series.    

Matt and Luke are back aboard their TV Time Machine to journey back to June of 2000. June isn't a great time for television, and the four shows that debuted back in 2000 are proof of that. There's McCready and Daughter which is the first post EastEnders role for Patsy Palmer. Then there's BBC comedy Chambers which was a studio based sitcom about a law chambers which stars a post Corrie Sarah Lancashire, strange ITV comedy Up Rising about a neighbourhood and its residents. Finally, Alan Davies stars in BBC comedy A Many Spilntered Thing about a man who moans about having two women in his life. It's a strange, and quite frankly instantly forgettable set of shows but it's always interesting to look back at what works and what doesn't about these shows that have disappeared. 

Original host of the podcast, Luke, joins Matt and Dawn to review four new shows available this week. Firstly, there's queer coming of age drama What It Feels Like a Girl from BBC Three. Followed by cosy crime drama Death Valley starring Timothy Spall as a beloved TV detective who is coaxed out of his hermit lifestyle when a murder happens on his doorstep. Next, Apple TV+ continues their raft of 'nice guy comedy' with Owen Wilson golf comedy Stick. Lastly, the team feel too old for Disney+ FX comedy Adults about a group of Gen Z friends. There's also discussion of Hacks, Doctor Who, The Handmaid's Tale and Dawn quizzes us boys on cast members from Line of Duty.    

Matt and Luke board the TV Time Machine to look at the TV landscape of May 2000. Steven Moffat's relationship comedy Coupling begins on BBC Two. David Baddiel and Frank Skinner take to a sofa for their new format which sees them sit in front of an audience with no plans of what they're going to discuss, Baddiel & Skinner Unplanned. Guy Ritchie rides the success of Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels to bring Lock Stock... to the small screen with a less charismatic cast. There's also a new sci-fi anthology Urban Gothic, which might be one of the worst things ever watched on the podcast. 

Matt is joined by regular contributors Dawn Glen and Mo Walker to review four new shows available this week. First, there's the second season of Rian Johnson's exquisite procedural Poker Face, which finally returns after a long wait. Next, the BBC has their take on the Lockerbie disaster in the calmly told The Bombing of Pan Am 103. On ITV, there's new crime drama Code of Silence, whilst on Apple TV +, there's an adaptation of the Murderbot book series. There's also discussion around the surprises at the BAFTA's as well as a new TV quiz to finish which will have you screaming as you listen!

In a change of pace, Matt is joined by Luke to assess how they are feeling about the TV we've had so far this year. Has it been a good year so far? Have there been many original hits? Have the returning favourites lived up to expectations? Can terrestrial television still be part of the conversation? Enjoy this free flowing conversation between two TV lovers.

Matt, Dawn and Mo are back to review the new shows available this week. On ITV, there's a second series of medical thriller Malpractice. It's an odd show to bring back given that it wasn't a big show or overly discussed but it would appear that ITV are hoping this will be a returning series featuring a team who are brought in to investigate medical malpractice. On Prime Video, Amy Sherman Paladino is back for ballet drama Étoile. As a big fan of the Gilmore Girls, Bunheads and The Marvellous Mrs Maisel, how to the trio feel about this new show which sees fictional dance schools in New York and Paris swap dancers. Finally, on Netflix, there's relationship drama The Four Seasons which sees three couple spend four holidays together. Spoiler, its one of the warmest and surprising shows of the year with a great cast which includes Tina Fey, Colman Domingo and Steve Carell.  There's also discussion on Doctor Who, Race Across the World, Andor and Hacks.

Matt and Luke hop back aboard their TV Time Machine to look at the TV landscape of April 2000. On ITV, there's comedy Bob Martin, starring Michael Barrymore who somewhat spoofs his own career as a narcistic game show Bob Martin. On the BBC Two, Louis Theroux gets to know Jimmy Saville in a documentary that has come to dominate Theroux's career. On Channel 4, there's Paul Abbott's bold but baffling two-part drama,  The Secret Life of Michael Fry about a council worker who finds himself out of his depth in a Welsh town. Finally, Luke gets quizzed on the charts of the time.

Matt, Dawn and Sarah review new Sky Max travelogue Joe Lycett's United States of Birmingham, which gives Sarah the opportunity to talk eloquently about the city she loves.  Then, Unforgotten writer Chris Lang has a new mystery series on U&Alibi featuring a ton of familiar faces. There's also a sweet hidden gem in Canadian drama North of North which is now available on Netflix.

Matt and Dawn are joined by Doctor Who superfan Suky to discuss the second series of Russell T Davies' take on the iconic character. They also review an episode of the seventh series of Black Mirror which is available on Netflix. Finally, a show that the team genuinely can't get their heads around with quirky Apple TV+ show Government Cheese. There's also discussion on the best show to return this week, season 4 of Max comedy Hacks.

Dawn and Mo join Matt to review 4 shows available this week. First, the BBC's latest tense crime drama entitled Reunion, the shows centres around a deaf man being released from Prison. Next, Michelle Williams and Jenny Slate shine in brand new Disney+ dramedy, Dying for Sex. Based on the podcast of the same name, it centres around a woman who goes on a journey of sexual exploration following a diagnosis of Stage 4 Breast Cancer. Next, over on BBC and iPlayer, Ben Miller and Sally Philips star in gentle Aussie comedy Austin, which sees Miller's character learning his has a son with autism. Finally, on Apple TV+, John Hamm is back in suave businessman mode in Your Friends and Neighbours.

Dawn and Tyler join Matt to review the week's notable TV. First, BBC One's gangster drama This is City is Ours starring Sean Bean. Next, Netflix's lavish comedy murder mystery from Shondaland, The Residence. Then, Apple lampoons Hollywood in Seth Rogen's comedic satire The Studio. Finally, the trio breaks down the Season 2 finale of Severance discussing where the show could go from here.

Matt and Dawn are joined by the original Custard TV podcaster, Gary Redrup to review 3 shows available this week.   They begin with the truly staggering Netflix drama series Adolescence, which might be the most discussed and praised British drama in a very long time. It is a marvel in both writing and filmmaking. All 4 episodes are filmed in one single shot. It's a truly incredible achievement. Next, over on ITV, they take a look at Protection, a new disposable thriller and on Apple TV+, there's limited series Dope Thief.

Luke and Matt board the TV Time Machine to view the TV landscape of March 2000. Ross Kemp signs a 'golden handcuffs deal' with ITV to work for solely for that broadcaster. The result, at least initially, is a single drama entitled Hero of the Hour, which stars Kemp as a security guard who unwittingly becomes a hero when he foils a robbery.  On the BBC, Reeves and Mortimer revive classic TV show Randall and Hopkirk (deceased) whilst on Channel 4, they're still pushing boundaries with their comedy output. Firstly, a new project from Chris Morris, JAM, which plays more as an uncomfortable art piece than it does a comedy. Meanwhile, fresh from his debut on the 11'o'clock show, Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy creation Ali G gets his own show. It's a mixed bag of shows.  

Mo Walker and Dawn Glen join Matt to review four new shows available this week. On Netflix, Jack Thorne's tackles the little-known story of what happened to mothers who gave birth to babies with birth defects in the Northamptonshire town of Corby in four-part drama Toxic Town. Channel 4 has new crime drama, Get Millie Black, which sees a British African detective head back to Africa to track down her trans sister whilst also investigating the case of a missing girl. Alibi has their own take on '80s mainstay Bergerac and over on Sky and NOWTV, there's quirky comedy drama Small Town Big Story from Chris O'Dowd.

Matt and Luke hop aboard their TV Time Machine to view the TV landscape of February 2000. EastEnders turns 15 with a double episode which sees the residents of Albert Square locked in the Vic when an unexploded WW2 bomb discovered nearby. The BBC try their at a traditonal American sitcom, with audience laughter and a team of writers producing the Ardal O'Hanlan superhero comedy My Hero. In better comedy, a fresh-faced, but very astute and already polished northern comedian, Peter Kay gets his first full series in Channel 4's That Peter Kay Thing. The series, in which Kay plays a variety of different characters, is done in the docusoap style popular at the time, and the lads watch two episodes of the series. The first of which would become Kay's hit sitcom, Phoenix Nights. Lastly, there's gritty drama Nature Boy, which aired on the BBC and starred Lee Ingelby as a teen who was living in an abusive foster environment who finds he has an affinity with wildlife.  And, as always, Matt tests Luke's knowledge of the UK music scene of the time.

In this bonus episode - Matt, Dawn and Mo discuss Eastenders' 40th anniversary week including the live episode. Topics include Mo's Eastenders origin story and Dawn's love of people acting whilst trapped under beams.  As ever please let us know if you like this bonus and whether you would like similar episodes in the future. 

TV Insider Paul Symonds joins Matt and Dawn to review 4 of the biggest shows available this week. Firstly, it's the return of Mike White's HBO anthology series The White Lotus, set at another luxurious resort this time in Thailand. The podcast trio look into what makes the show so successful and drills into the big themes of the opening episode.  Next up, a starry cast does not an interesting drama make as they look at political thriller Zero Day from Netflix. The series, which boasts a lead performance by Robert De Niro feels rather odd given the current state of American politics.  Over on Disney+, there's period drama A Thousand Blows from prolific TV scribe Steven Knight which has been promoted as the 'Stephen Graham Boxing drama' but is actually something much more interesting. Finally, the only BBC offering this week is Dope Girls, similar in tone to 'Blows' this gritty period piece promises a lot but does it deliver? There's also discussion on Sky's Mussolini drama, the final episodes of Big Boys on Channel 4 and ITV's Unforgotten.  

Matt, Dawn and Sarah are back to review three shows we've always championed. Firstly, Sanjeev Bhaskar packs his backpack for series 6 of the jewel in ITV's crown Unforgotten. He returns along with new colleague Jessie (Sinéad Keenan) to investigate another cold case when body parts are found in a river. The series introduces us to four disconnected families or stories but how do they connect to the body? Next, it's been a long wait for the third season of the hit US comedy Hacks. The series, which originally aired on Prime Video is now available on Sky and NOW and they've bought the first two seasons and the third season which means our wait is over. The incredible comedy with two equally powerful performances from Jean Smart and Hannah Einbeinder delivers possibly its strongest season yet. Next, Jack Rooke's semi-autobiographical comedy Big Boys is back for its third and final series, and on Netflix, there's a new true-crime drama Apple Cider Vinegar about an infamous Australian cancer scammer. 

Matt is joined by Dawn and Mo to review another 4 new shows. On Channel 4, Steve Coogan interviews Harriet Walter's Margeret Thatcher in true life drama Brian & Maggie. The BBC's latest Sunday night fare tells the little known story behind the Austen sisters in Miss Austen. Channel 4 tackles people's views on the migrant crisis in slightly controversial new series, Go Back Where You Came From. Finally, Motherland's Queen Bee Amanda gets her own spin-off in the BBC's Amandaland.   There's discussion on the anti-climatic finale of The Traitors as well as new twisty drama The Paradise on Hulu & Disney+

Matt, Dawn and Gary board the TV Time Machine and enter a new Millennium. They review four new shows that began in January. Dom Jolly takes to the streets to terrorise and irritate the British public in Channel 4's hidden camera hit Trigger Happy TV. The BBC attempt the UK's first big reality series by sending groups of people to spend a year on a not so deserted island in Castaway. Though it's remembered as being the show that launched Ben Fogle, in practice, it was a mess. Poorly planned, and poorly executed with most of those who took part either leaving before the end or suing the production company. Next, At Home with The Braithwaites, the show that launched Sally Wainwright and the almost forgotten but still absolutely perfect, Clocking Off, with one of the best ensemble casts to ever grace our screens.   Finally, Dawn and Gary go head to head in the first music quiz of the new era.

Dawn and Sarah join Matt to review four new shows and break down their thoughts on the latest episodes of The Traitors. First, after a 3-year absence, Severance is finally back on Apple TV+ Easily one of the most anticipated shows of the year, the trio get lost in the immersive world of Lumon Industries while Sarah turns to Reddit to explore what the 'clever' fans are talking about. Next, also on Apple, there's preposterous 'Maths thriller Prime Target. On ITV Martin Clunes stars in new drama Out There about a rural farmer caught up in County Lines created by the same team who worked with Clunes on the true-life crime drama Manhunt. Finally, on Netflix, there's American Primeval, a gritty, brutal and violent of the 1800's with another stunning performance from the always brilliant Betty Gilpin as a woman trying to find save passage through America. It takes the trio by pleasant surprise. There's also discussion on The Breakthrough from Netflix 

Dawn and Sarah join Matt to talk about the best Christmas TV and review the first 4 new shows of the new year. Firstly, Sky and Peacock bring us Colin Firth in a harrowing retelling of one man's search for answers following the Lockerbie disaster. Then, James Norton stars as a father who learns he may have brought the wrong baby home from the hospital in ITV's melodramatic airport novel Playing Nice.  Then, Channel 4 adapts French drama Astrid: A Murder in Paris, transporting the story of an autistic woman who works in the police records office from Paris to York. The results are mixed to be kind and mind-numbing to be truthful. Finally, the BBC helps fight off the January Blues with the return of The Traitors. All three podcast hosts are already hooked.

It's the final pod of 2024, looking back on the very best the TV had to offer. Luke and Dawn join Matt to count their personal Top 10's of the year whilst also counting down the favourites of the wider Custard TV team. Expect discussions on Slow Horses, Mr & Mrs Smith, True Detective: Night Country, Rivals and many more.