Learning British

Sam and Natalia have reviewed GAVIN & STACEY and THE ROYLE FAMILY, so it’s time to watch another acclaimed British sitcom—THE OFFICE.

THE OFFICE is a British comedy mockumentary TV show, written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. The show follows David Brent (Ricky Gervais), the manager of an office in Slough, and his employees, Tim (Martin Freeman), Gareth (Mackenzie Crook), and Dawn (Lucy Davis).

The original series ran for two six-episode series, followed by a Christmas special. Sam and Natalia sit down to watch and review the entire first series.

Topics of conversation include Ricky Gervais’s ego, AFTER LIFE, getting blocked on Twitter, woke, real-life David Brent, “Can’t make this anymore” sitcoms, the 2008 financial crisis, not believing in God, bad acting, Steve Carell as Michael Scott, 'Trivia' vs. 'The Quiz', and whether the British OFFICE is better than the American OFFICE.

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If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, ⁠leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS⁠ with your comments included as part of the review.

Learning British is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new piece of British culture, media, or history, from badly aged sitcoms to cancelled celebrities.

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

After watching and reviewing the first two HARRY POTTER films, Sam and Natalia rewatch the fan-favourite, THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN.

Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) begins his third year at Hogwarts with his best friends, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). After learning that notorious criminal Sirius Black (Gary Oldman) has escaped Azkaban prison, Harry uncovers dark truths about his past and his parents.

Topics of conversation include Alfonso Cuarón, CHILDREN OF MEN, nostalgia, puberty, BOYHOOD, Michael Gambon replacing Richard Harris as Dumbledore, the director's favourite HARRY POTTER character, changes to the books, one-shots, WATERWORLD, Cedric Diggory, and whether THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN is the best HARRY POTTER film.

Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram.

If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

If you liked this episode, you may also like...

• ​In "The Goblet of Fire", Sam and Natalia review the fourth book and film in the Harry Potter series (On ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / On ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠).

• ​In "The Order of the Phoenix", Sam and Natalia criticise J. K. Rowling's writing as well as the filmmaking of the fifth Harry Potter story (On ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / On ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠).

Learning British is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new piece of British culture, media, or history, from badly aged sitcoms to cancelled celebrities.

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

When the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) accidentally picks up new companion Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu), he must return her to her hometime on Earth: 24th May, 2025.

But evil lurks in the dark corners of the universe. Reuniting with old friends like Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson) and Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (Jemma Redgrave), The Doctor faces several intergalactic cataclysms. Will Dr. Who finally find his granddaughter? Is Billie Piper really The Sixteenth Doctor? And where is Jonathan Groff?

Stuck in a wormhole somewhere between the Chamber of Secrets and Azkaban prison, Sam and Natalia review DOCTOR WHO: SERIES FIFTEEN.

Topics of conversation include leaks, Juno Dawson, 'Midnight', Eurovision (yes, we open that can of worms), Borat, Jodie Whittaker's Thirteenth Doctor, buns from home, Disney, Rose Ayling-Ellis, Nigeria, STAR TREK, STAR WARS, Peter Cushing, too many TWILIGHT references, Amy/Rory, Ian/Barbara, conspiracies, David Tennant, and an ongoing bit about a Jesse Eisenberg film that nobody has ever watched.

To skip to each episode's review, see the time stamps below:

1. ​00:33: 'The Robot Revolution'
2. ​05:27: 'Lux'
3. ​09:35: 'The Well'
4. ​17:40: 'Lucky Day'
5. ​21:04: 'The Story & the Engine'
6. ​26:40: 'The Interstellar Song Contest'
7. ​37:33: 'Wish World'
8. ​44:54: ‘The Reality War’

Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram.

If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review.

Learning British is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new piece of British culture, media, or history, from badly aged sitcoms to cancelled celebrities.

See you next week for THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN...

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

After watching and reviewing THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE, Sam and Natalia hop back on the Hogwarts Express with THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS.

Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe) begins his second year at Hogwarts with his best friends, Ron Weasley (Rupert Grint) and Hermione Granger (Emma Watson). After a new teacher, Gilderoy Lockhart (Kenneth Branagh), joins the school, Harry discovers that the mythological Chamber of Secrets has been opened.

Topics of conversations include Charles Dickens, THE SILMARILLION, bad special effects, the Hardy Boys, Quibi, Dumbledore being a terrible headmaster, “Are we the baddies?”, Hagrid’s age, child acting, A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS, every Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher, HARRY POTTER tours, single sex toilets, Arthur Weasley, millennials, Jude Law’s age, Moaning Myrtle’s parents, and Daniel Radcliffe’s unscripted ad lib.

Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram.

If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, ⁠⁠⁠⁠leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review⁠⁠⁠⁠.

If you liked this episode, you may also like...

• ​In "The Goblet of Fire", Sam and Natalia review the fourth book and film in the Harry Potter series (On ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ / On ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠).

• ​In "The Order of the Phoenix", Sam and Natalia criticise J. K. Rowling's writing as well as the filmmaking of the fifth Harry Potter story (On ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠ / On ⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠⁠).

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

Bannakaffalatta, strong! Bannakaffalatta, cyborg!

Sam and Natalia take the TARDIS back to 2008 to review every episode of DOCTOR WHO series four, from "Voyage of the Damned" to "Journey's End".

The Tenth Doctor (David Tennant) reunites with Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) to travel in time and space. When the Daleks return with their creator, Davros (Julian Bleach), The Doctor and Donna must join forces with Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), Captain Jack (John Barrowman), and Sarah Jane Smith (Elizabeth Sladen), with the whole of reality at stake.

Topics of conversation include Kylie Minogue, Peter Capaldi in Pompeii, the Ood, ZOOTROPOLIS and ELEMENTAL, Elon Musk, Wilfred Mott, David Tennant's marriage, Children in Need, THE TRAITORS, Leeds, the power of woke, DOCTOR WHO spin-offs, and "That's So Suite Life of Hannah Montana".

Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram.

If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review.

Learning British is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new piece of British culture, media, or history, from badly aged sitcoms to cancelled celebrities.

See you next week for THE CHAMBER OF SECRETS...

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

Sam and Natalia begin their deep dive into the Harry Potter universe with THE PHILOSOPHER'S STONE.

Does the first instalment of the Wizarding World hold up? Or will Sam and Natalia get off the Hogwarts Express early?

A young English boy, Harry Potter (Daniel Radcliffe), discovers he is a wizard. After being accepted into Hogwarts, Harry joins forces with his new friends, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), to defeat a terrible evil plaguing their school.

Topics of conversation include Cho Chang, HOT FUZZ, John Nettleship, Natalia’s fanfiction, MY IMMORTAL, the Eastern European Hogwarts, J. K. Rowling’s publicist, THE WOLF OF WALL STREET, Quidditch, Aunt Petunia, HOME ALONE, gender in sports, and the origins of the Sorting Hat.

Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram.

If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, ⁠⁠⁠leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review⁠⁠⁠.

If you liked this episode, you may also like...

• ​In "The Goblet of Fire", Sam and Natalia review the fourth book and film in the Harry Potter series (On ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ / On ⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠).

• ​In "The Order of the Phoenix", Sam and Natalia criticise J. K. Rowling's writing as well as the filmmaking of the fifth Harry Potter story (On ⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠ / On ⁠⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠⁠).

Learning British is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new piece of British culture, media, or history, from badly aged sitcoms to cancelled celebrities.

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

Justice for Jane! Before Sam and Natalia begin their deep dive into the HARRY POTTER film franchise, they look back at the most famous—or infamous—episode of the British cooking show, COME DINE WITH ME.

In January 2016, Channel 4 released series 37, episode 1 of COME DINE WITH ME, set in East Oxfordshire. And television history was made! Beset with tense dinner conversations and fraught personal politics, this episode ends with the iconic and viral, "Dear Lord, what a sad little life, Jane!" scene, from Peter Marsh. Sam and Natalia rewatch the full omnibus episode, exploring Jane and Peter's rivalry—and what it reveals about British culture.

Topics of conversation include UK reality TV shows, the Voyager Golden Record, German bluntness, TikTok, British cuisine, Reddit AMAs, title sequences, BRAINIAC, baby-food names, bad puns, EASTENDERS, ready meals, Victoria Beckham, and why it's so difficult to watch this episode on YouTube.

Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram.

If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, ⁠⁠leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS⁠⁠ with your comments included as part of the review.

Learning British is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new piece of British culture, media, or history, from badly aged sitcoms to cancelled celebrities.

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

“It’s not just all Jesus, you know.”

Almost thirty years ago, Bloomsbury released the first HARRY POTTER book. Since then, the series has become a renowned British institution. But the books and films have faced renewed backlash in recent years, partly due to J. K. Rowling’s controversial statements on transgender rights.

Join Sam and Natalia as we review the HARRY POTTER franchise before the release of HBO Max’s TV series with John Lithgow, Paapa Essiedu, and Nick Frost – from THE PHILOSOPHER’S STONE to THE DEATHLY HALLOWS, with a quick pit stop at THE CURSED CHILD and FANTASTIC BEASTS.

Together, we’ll explore the politics, the world-building, and the awkward racial coding, before deciding, once and for all, which HARRY POTTER film is the best. Topics of conversation include foreign translations, SHREK, Catholicism, Eddie Redmayne, Scientology, and whether Slughorn is a gay icon.

Don’t forget to follow, rate five stars, and find us on Instagram. ⁠

If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, ⁠⁠leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review⁠⁠.

If you liked this episode, you may also like...

• ​In "The Goblet of Fire", Sam and Natalia review the fourth book and film in the Harry Potter series (On ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ / On ⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠).

• ​In "The Order of the Phoenix", Sam and Natalia criticise J. K. Rowling's writing as well as the filmmaking of the fifth Harry Potter story (On ⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠ / On ⁠⁠Apple⁠⁠).

Learning British is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new piece of British culture, media, or history, from badly aged sitcoms to cancelled celebrities.

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

In this episode of the podcast, the Simpsons visit England!

THE SIMPSONS is an animated sitcom satirising American life. It stars Homer (Dan Castellaneta), Marge (Julie Kavner), Bart (Nancy Cartwright), Lisa (Yeardley Smith), and Maggie. In 'The Regina Monologues' (S15E4), America's favourite yellow family visit London in search of Grampa's lost love.

Topics of conversation include Australian chocolate, the environmental impact of Chat GPT, Tony Blair, the 1990s, Carnaby Street, FAMILY GUY and SOUTH PARK, the letter ß, J. K. Rowling, Kingsley Shacklebolt, YOU, Bumblebee Man, Janis Joplin, gender roles, and the impact of Brexit.

Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram.

If you would like us to read your comments on the podcast, leave us a five-star rating on APPLE PODCASTS with your comments included as part of the review.

If you liked this episode, you may also like...

• ​In "The Harry Potter Haters", Sam and Natalia begin their Harry Potter review series by looking back at the books and discussing J. K. Rowling's controversial political views (On Spotify / On Apple).

• ​In "The Order of the Phoenix", Sam and Natalia criticise J. K. Rowling's writing as well as the filmmaking of the fifth Harry Potter story (On Spotify / On Apple).

Learning British is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new piece of British culture, media, or history, from badly aged sitcoms to cancelled celebrities.

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

After watching GAVIN & STACEY, Sam introduces Natalia to another acclaimed British sitcom: THE ROYLE FAMILY.

THE ROYLE FAMILY centres on the lives of a Manchester-based family, the Royles, comprising Jim (Ricky Tomlinson), Barbara (Sue Johnston), Denise (Caroline Aherne), Antony (Ralf Little), and Denise's fiancé David (Craig Cash).

Topics of conversation include Jessica Hynes, the cultural divide between North and South England, what “nowt” means, Toby Jones in INDIANA JONES, mushroom ketchup, the price of a pint, the Lake District, EASTENDERS vs. EMMERDALE, our terrible geography, spy movies, UKIP, and the value of the British penny.

Don’t forget to follow and find us on Instagram.

Learning British is a weekly show hosted by Sam Brown, a born-and-bred Brit, and Natalia Brammen, a Polish immigrant living in the UK. In each episode, Sam introduces Natalia to a new piece of British culture, media, or history, from badly aged sitcoms to cancelled celebrities.

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