This week, with Alex Mahon’s announcement that she’s leaving Channel 4, Peter and Jimmy assess the challenges a new Chief Exec will face. We talk the alchemy of Top Gear, and when (if ever) is the best time to reboot a hit show from yesteryear. And in the light of the latest batch of M&A rumours around ITV, we ask whether buying the broadcaster and its production arm would actually be good business?

Plus, the joy of soft leather car seats, why politicians all end up wanting to be on the telly, and the REALLY big question on everyone’s lips… will Peter or Jimmy being going for the C4 job?

Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You (series 69 now airing), Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer.

Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal.

Our email address is InsidersTVPod@expectationtv.com, or you can get in touch via our socials at @InsidersTVPod.

New episodes every Friday.

Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.

The producer is Owen Braben.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we’re delving into the Insiders inbox to answer some brilliant questions from listeners. In the age of streaming, what’s the point of the linear schedule? What’s become of the multi-camera audience sitcom? And is there a secret to making successful period dramas? (Answer: not really, but sort of...).

And as if that wasn’t enough, we talk Peter’s mother-in-law, Jimmy letting his kids skive off school, and Julian Fellowes being pleasingly odd.

Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You (series 69 now airing), Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer.

Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal.

Our email address is InsidersTVPod@expectationtv.com, or you can get in touch via our socials at @InsidersTVPod.

New episodes every Friday.

Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.

The producer is Owen Braben.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, as Sky announce they’re making a British version of Saturday Night Live, we ask, will it work here? Jimmy and Peter talk the pitfalls and impracticalities of the idea suggested by a committee of MPs to tax the streamers to help fund the UK production sector. And as Angela Rippon (aged 80 years young) prepares to host HIGNFY next week, we recall some of our favourite older hosts, including Brucie, Roger Moore, and the pleasingly bonkers William Shatner.

Jimmy Mulville is the co-founder and Chief Executive of Hat Trick Productions. His list of hit shows includes Have I Got News For You (series 69 now airing), Father Ted, Derry Girls, Outnumbered, and Episodes. In the US Hat Trick launched Whose Line Is It Anyway in 1997 which ran on ABC for seven years and was the first British series to be recreated for American network television by a British producer.

Peter Fincham ran TalkBack, where he executive produced many of their biggest shows including I’m Alan Partridge, Never Mind The Buzzcocks, and Da Ali G Show. He went on to be Controller of BBC1, then he was Director of Television at ITV, before returning to the independent sector as the co-CEO of Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm and Alma's Not Normal.

Our email address is InsidersTVPod@expectationtv.com, or you can get in touch via our socials at @InsidersTVPod.

New episodes every Friday.

Insiders: The TV Podcast is an Expectation and Hat Trick co-production.

The producer is Owen Braben.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.