Podcasts · TV & Film

Radio Times Podcast

Radio Times

300 episodes

We’ve all been there – sat in front of the television, flicking through channels, getting increasingly frustrated – there’s so much on, but nothing to watch. TV critics Caroline Frost and Shem Law have you covered. Each Friday, they serve up short, sharp television recommendations to mark your cards for the week ahead. They’ll tell you what to watch – and what to avoid. They watch it all, so you don’t have to.

More about the show

No more asking: what’s on TV tonight? What to watch? Or, what should I watch? Instead, listen to Smart TV for your weekly round-up of TV programmes and film reviews. You’ll find out about the latest series dropping that week, what to binge and what television show will become the next watercooler moment.

Radio Times’ journalists Caroline Frost and Shem Law will cover all things terrestrial as well as what’s on the streaming sites – they’ll cover what’s broadcast on the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and Sky to NOW, Amazon Prime, Disney+, Netflix and Apple TV.

Whether you like Entertainment, Current Affairs, Documentaries, Dramas, Comedy, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Thrillers, Sports or Radio – they’ll have you covered.

If you enjoy our weekly round-up of television reviews, do search for the View From My Sofa podcast which sees Kelly-Anne Taylor sit down with a celebrity guests to talk about their lives through the prism of TV.

Episodes page 1 of 6

  1. Smart TV: Adultery and Luke Littler Challenge

    · 22 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Adultery, ITV1 Beat Luke Littler, Netflix The Future with Hannah Fry, BBC2 FROST BITE: Robson Green and Steven Knight…

  2. Smart TV: New LOL and Caroline fixes Strictly

    · 28 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Last One Laughing Halloween, Prime John Le Carre: a New Life, SkyArts Only Fools and Horses: the Lost Archive, U&Gold FROST…

  3. Smart TV: The Diplomat Returns and The Party Starts

    · 26 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: The Party, ITV1 John Simpson: 60 Years at the BBC, BBC2 The Diplomat, Netflix FROST BITE: How hard is it to be the BBC’s…

  4. Smart TV: New Legal Dramas and Oasis Doc

    · 22 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: War, Sky/NOW Pierre, C4 The Reluctant Vampire, BBC1 FROST BITE: Why Oasis’s reunion is about more than the music Learn…

  5. Smart TV: Celeb Traitors and Bake Off Return

    · 23 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Blue Lights, BBC1 Celebrity Traitors, BBC1 Bake Off, C4 Marble Hall Murders, BBC1 FROST BITE: Why Michael Palin is the OG…

  6. Smart TV: The Wargame and The Split Up

    · 24 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: The Split Up, BBC1 The Wargame, Sky1 The Blame, ITV1 FROST BITE: Why Newsnight still offers the best of the BBC Learn more…

  7. Smart TV: Slow Horses and 70 Up

    · 28 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: 70 Up, ITV1 Slow Horses, Apple TV+ All Creatures Great and Small, C5 FROST BITE: Ted Lasso proves the reality of women’s…

  8. Smart TV: Casualty turns 40 and Call My Agent movie

    · 26 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Call My Agent!, Netflix Casualty, BBC1 The Paper, Sky1 FROST BITE: Why Aussie comedies are proving such global favourites…

  9. Smart TV: The Grand Tour Reboot

    · 25 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Wham! in China, BBC2 Vigil, BBC1 The Grand Tour, Amazon FROST BITE: The climate of weather broadcasting is changing Learn…

  10. Smart TV: Bookish Returns and 9/11 Doc

    · 22 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Bookish, U&Alibi 9/11 Reunited, Disney+ My Brilliant Career, Netflix FROST BITE: The NTAs shortlist shows the industry…

  11. Smart TV: Ludwig and Celebrity Masterchef

    · 24 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Ludwig, BBC1 Celebrity Masterchef, BBC1 The Great ADHD Myth, C4 FROST BITE: Why don’t more people like Novak Djokovic?…

  12. Smart TV: Ted Lasso and A House Through Time

    · 26 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Ted Lasso, Apple A House Through Time, BBC2 Hit Point U&Drama FROST BITE: Can a woman host a TV chat show? . . . Happy…

  13. Smart TV: Van der Valk returns!

    · 26 min

    Caroline Frost chats to David Brown about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Van der Valk, ITV1 Possession, Sky Atlantic Joe and David’s Magical Sitcom Tour, U&Gold FROST BITE: The wonder of Ann…

  14. Smart TV: Cosy Crime Week

    · 25 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: The Rapture, BBC1 Benidorm is Dead, C5 The Staircase, ITVX FROST BITE: Why cosy crime is so much harder than it looks . .…

  15. Smart TV: Boris Johnson on Ukraine and Returning Dramas

    · 23 min

    Caroline Frost chats to David Brown about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: The Undeclared War, C4 Granite Harbour, BBC1 FROST BITE: Boris Johnson eschews the gags for an effective portrait of war…

  16. Smart TV: Chris Packham Doc and Will Ferrell Golf Comedy

    · 24 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Ann Droid, BBC1 Evolution, BBC2 The Hawk, Netflix FROST BITE: Katie Price and the changing nature of celebrity . . . Happy…

  17. Smart TV: Gary Stevenson and The Office Reunion

    · 25 min

    Caroline Frost chats to David Brown about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: How To Get Filthy Rich with Gary Stevenson, C4 Little House on The Prairie, Netflix Mackenzie Crook and Martin Freeman…

  18. Smart TV: Wimbledon and Dave Allen Night

    · 25 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Wimbledon, BBC 40 Years of Glasto Gems, BBC2 Dave Allen Night, BBC4 FROST BITE: Goddesses of tennis past (Chris and…

  19. Smart TV: The Bear and other alternatives to football

    · 23 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: The Bear, Disney+ Jon Snow: A Last Big Story, C4 The American Experiment, Netflix FROST BITE: Why we take the BBC for…

  20. Smart TV: Free Nelson Mandela Doc and Ken Burns' American Revolution

    · 32 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Free Nelson Mandela, C4 The American Revolution, BBC4 Rivals: Messi vs. Ronaldo, BBC Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure,…

  21. Smart TV: Brexit 10 Years On and Group Holidays Go Wrong

    · 28 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Brexit: A Very British Civil War, BBC2 Alice and Steve, Disney+ Two Weeks in August, BBC1 FROST BITE: Thinking of going on…

  22. Smart TV: Clarksons Farm Returns and New Russell T Davies Drama

    · 21 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Tip Toe, C4 Clarkson's Farm, Amazon Prime The Vardys, ITV1 FROST BITE: Rebekah Vardy: A case study in modern celebrity . .…

  23. Smart TV: Dear England and Tom Hanks WW2 Doc

    · 23 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Dear England, BBC1 World War II with Tom Hanks, Sky History Channel FROST BITE: Are there any tennis icons left on the…

  24. Smart TV: New Jack Thorne and Duffer Brothers dramas

    · 21 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Falling, C4 Death Valley, BBC1 The Boroughs, Netlfix FROST BITE: Stop overthinking Eurovision songs . . . Happy Viewing!…

  25. Smart TV: Rivals Returns and News Readers in Dramas

    · 25 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Rivals, Disney + The Children of the Blitz, BBC2 Believe Me, ITV1 FROST BITE: News readers in dramas... . . . Happy…

  26. Smart TV: Amandaland and Attenborough at 100

    · 23 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Sherna Noah about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Amandaland, BBC1 David Attenborough’s 100 Years on Planet Earth, BBC1 Berlusconi: Condemned to Win, BBC4 Frostbite:…

  27. Smart TV: Half Man and The Cage

    · 22 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Gareth McLean about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Half Man, BBC1 The Cage, BBC1 Secret Service, ITV1 Frostbite: Masculinity - is toxic the only kind on TV? . . .…

  28. Smart TV: The Queen at 100 and Hacks

    · 23 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Mint, BBC The Queen at 100, BBC1 Hacks, NOW FROST BITE: 2026 - what does it say about senior management? . . . Happy…

  29. Smart TV: World Cup Comedy and Birding

    · 22 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Twenty Twenty Six, BBC2 Sam & Ade Go Birding, C5 The Peace Particle, BBC4 FROST BITE: Miriam Margolyes - the wisdom of the…

  30. Smart TV: Easter Essentials and Michael Jackson Doc

    · 24 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: The Miniature Wife, Sky Atlantic Secret Garden, BBC1 Pilgrimage, BBC1 FROST BITE: Michael Jackson - too talented to be…

  31. Smart TV: Race Across the World and Babies

    · 21 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Babies, BBC1 Race Across the World, BBC1 Harry Clark Goes To Rome, BBC1 FROST BITE: “Oh it’s him!” All the actors we know…

  32. Smart TV: The Pitt and SNL UK

    · 23 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: The Pitt, HBO Max Saturday Night Live (UK), Sky One Beyond Paradise, BBC1 FROST BITE: In 2026, what does the word…

  33. Smart TV: Peaky Blinders and LOL Season 2

    · 26 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: The Other Bennet Sister, BBC1 Last One Laughing, Amazon Prime Peaky Blinders, Netflix FROST BITE: You know you’re getting…

  34. Smart TV: The Capture Returns and A Woman of Substance Remake

    · 24 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: A Woman of Substance, C4 The Capture, BBC1 Scarpetta, Amazon Prime FROST BITE: 30 years after Our Friends in the North -…

  35. Smart TV: Young Sherlock and the new Post Office?

    · 23 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Gareth McLean about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Young Sherlock, Amazon Prime Dirty Business, C4 Man on the Run, Amazon Prime . . . Happy Viewing! Learn more about…

  36. Smart TV: Bridgerton Part 2 and Small Prophets

    · 24 min

    TV: Bridgerton, Netflix Small Prophets, BBC2 Vanished, Amazon FROST BITE: For a drama about Sarah Ferguson’s former dresser, it’s all in the timing . . . Happy Viewing! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit…

  37. Smart TV: Documentary Deep Dive

    · 24 min

    TV: The Walsh Sisters, BBC1 Fukushima: Days That Shocked the World, C4 Being Gordon Ramsay, Netflix FROST BITE: Why self-serving puff-pieces don’t deserve to be called documentaries (Melania and The Tony Blair…

  38. Smart TV: Betrayal and Lord of the Flies

    · 21 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Betrayal, ITV1 Lord of the Flies, BBC1 How to get to Heaven from Belfast, Netflix FROST BITE: The dilemma at the heart of…

  39. Smart TV: Bridgerton and Silent Witness

    · 23 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Bridgerton, Netflix Bangers and Cash, U&Yesterday Silent Witness, BBC1 FROST BITE: Does it work when real-life friends…

  40. Smart TV: Take That Doc and Death In Paradise

    · 24 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Take That, Netflix Death In Paradise, BBC1 Mission to Space with Francis Bourgeois, C4 FROST BITE: Here come the Geeks... .…

  41. Smart TV: Gladiators and What Next for Strictly

    · 22 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Gladiators, BBC1 Winterwatch, BBC2 Blackshore, BBC4 FROST BITE: What next for Strictly Come Dancing? . . . Happy Viewing!…

  42. Smart TV: Industry and Agatha Christie

    · 24 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Industry, BBC1 Call The Midwife, BBC1 Seven Dials Murder, Netflix FROST BITE: 10 years on from Entertainment’s own Annus…

  43. Smart TV: 2025 Hidden Gems

    · 13 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best hidden gems from 2025 Live Aid at 40, BBC iPlayer Richard Burton: Wild Genius, BBC iPlayer The Assembly, ITVX Chris McCausland: Seeing into the Future, BBC iPlayer…

  44. Smart TV: New Years Special

    · 20 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box in the post Christmas period TV: The Night Manager, BBC1 The Traitors, BBC1 Run Away, Netflix Operation Mincemeat, BBC2 Judi Dench,…

  45. Smart TV: Christmas Day Special

    · 19 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box on Christmas Day TV: Amandaland, BBC1 The Scarecrows Wedding, BBC1 Shaun the Sheep: Fleece Navidad, BBC1 Strictly Come Dancing, BBC1 Call…

  46. Smart TV: Amadeus and the best of Christmas Eve TV

    · 16 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Amadeus, Sky Atlantic All Creatures Great and Small, C5 Secrets of the Conclave, BBC2 . . . Happy Viewing! Learn more about…

  47. Smart TV: SPOTY and Bad TV

    · 20 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Steve Backshall's Royal Arctic Challenge, ITV1 Sports Personality of the Year, BBC1 Murder Before Evensong, Channel 5 FROST…

  48. Smart TV: New Knives Out Film and Embarrassing Moments

    · 23 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Wake Up Dead Man: the New Knives Out Mystery, Netflix Apollo 1: Destination Moon, C4 David Dimbleby: What’s the Monarchy…

  49. Smart TV: George Clooney Netflix Film and Mammoth Season 2

    · 19 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Shem Law about the best things coming up on the box this week TV: Say Nothing, C4 Mammoth, BBC2 Jay Kelly, Netflix FROST BITE: How Northern Ireland is making powerful art out of its past .…

  50. Smart TV: The Beatles and AI

    · 26 min

    Caroline Frost chats to Gareth McClean about the best things coming up on the box this week Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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