We review pivotal Christmas episodes and not so pivotal ones. The 2000 remake of A Christmas Carol which starred Ross Kemp on ITV. The 1986 infamous episode of EastEnders. Plus, our favourite Royle Family Christmas special.

# 324: 2020 Christmas Special - Eastenders 1986, A Christmas Carol, The Royle Family

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

TV & Film

Film Reviews

Matt and Dawn are joined by occasional site contributor, film fan and big Inside No.9 enthusiast Nick Bartlett to review 4 new shows this week. They look at a dodgy English accent from Elisabeth Moss in the FX now on Disney+ drama The Veil. Then, big budget HBO drama The Sympathiser from Park Chan-wook which has interesting cameos from Robert Downey Jr. Then, the story of the rise of the Black Panther Party in The Big Cigar from Apple. Lastly, and mostly for Nick, the trio look at the most recent episode of Inside No.9 and dissect the series as it stands so far.
There's also talk on Doctor Who.

# 429: The Veil, The Big Cigar, The Sympathiser, Inside No.9 so far.

Matt and Luke head back to 1999, more specifically May 1999 to review 4 shows debuting that month. They look at the first couple of episodes of Season two of South Park which began on Channel 4 in May as well as examining the phenomenon around the animated hit at that time. They also watch Channel 4 drama Physcoes which looked at life in a psychiatric unit. Then, also on Channel 4, they watch Geri - a documentary which followed Geri Halliwell in the immediate aftermath of her departure from The Spice Girls. The documentary charts her struggle to find a purpose after leaving the group and was a properly fascinating look at a different kind of stardom. Finally, they watch Sir Bernard's Stately Homes, a 10-minute mockumentary fronted by a very young Matt Lucas and David Walliams and directed by a young up-and-comer named Edgar Wright. Luke is tested on his music knowledge with a chart from May of 1999.

TV Time Machine # 9

Matt and Dawn are joined by Doctor Who superfan Suky to review the return/reboot of the iconic BBC series. The trio also review Channel 4's new teen thriller The Gathering alongside sci-fi drama Dark Matter on Apple TV+ and Bodkin on Netflix.

# 428: Doctor Who, Dark Matter, The Gathering and Bodkin.

Matt and Dawn are joined by regular guest and token American Mo Walker to review 4 new shows debuting this week. Martin Freeman returns in the brilliantly tense crime drama The Responder. Steve Pemberton & Reece Shearsmith prepare to say goodbye to Inside No.9 as the ninth and final series begins on BBC Two. Over on Netflix the trio review two very different dramas in David E Kelley's adaptation of Tom Wolfe's A Man in Full and a take on Neil Gaiman's Dead Boy Detectives.
 
There's also discussion on Mo's recent trip to the UK, the good and bad surrounding the huge conversation around Baby Reindeer as Race Across the World.

# 427: The Responder, A Man in Full, Dead Boy Detectives, Inside No.9

Matt and Luke hop aboard the Time Machine to April 1999. Going back to see Clooney's last appearance in ER. The time the BBC gave Vic & Bob their own Saturday night show. The time everyone was frozen and chased by hungry dogs in ITV's The Last Train and the time Adam & Joe sent Adam's dad to meet Coolio in The Adam & Joe Show. There's also a look at the headlines and a test on the biggest Chart hits.

# 324: 2020 Christmas Special - Eastenders 1986, A Christmas Carol, The Royle Family

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