Off The Telly - That cat deserves an Oscar

Episode Date: April 24, 2024

What are we watching? Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page chat about all things telly.This week they discuss the latest series of Race Across The World on BBC One, a brand new show from Sally Wainwright called Renegade Nell on Disney Plus, and a BBC panel show that's been going for over 30 years - Have I Got News For You.In Off the Telly, Natalie and Joanna talk about what they can’t stop watching, what they definitely aren’t going to bother with, and what you’re all watching at home. From new shows to comfort telly to guilty pleasures, there’s no judgement here. What’s kept us all glued to our screens this week?Self-confessed TV addicts and stars of two of the biggest shows on our screens, EastEnders and Gavin and Stacey, Natalie and Joanna are the perfect companions to your weekly viewing habits.Get in touch by sending us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to 03306 784704.Timecodes for the shows discussed are: 9:12 - Race Across The World 19:12 - Renegade Nell 24:46 - Have I Got News For YouHosts: Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page Producer: Georgia Keating Executive Producer: Richard Morris Commissioning Editor: Rhian Roberts Unit Manager: Lucy Bannister Sounds Editor: Arlie Adlington Music by MCassoOff The Telly is a BBC Studios Audio Production for BBC Sounds.

BBC Sounds Music Radio Podcasts Hello! And welcome to Off The Telly from BBC Sounds. I'm Natalie Cassidy. And I'm Joanna Page. And this is the podcast where we talk... Telly! Please remember that there might be some spoilers in this

because we are talking about telly that we've been watching over the week and there could be a little bit of swearing. That went really well today. I thought that was really smooth, wasn't it? It was. It was as if we'd rehearsed it, but we haven't, I promise. We haven't. We don't rehearse anything. No, we're just getting used to each other. It's good, isn't it? Yes.

Do you believe it's number eight? No. Oh, no, it's nine. Is it number nine? Number nine. Good God, I thought we were still on number six or something. I remember up to number five because I was sort of remembering the numbers because I don't know why I thought it was important.

And then I just sort of just let it go then. It's just so funny. It's part of our weekly routine. It is. It's just like normal now, isn't it? We come in, we chat about the telly and stuff. That's great. And I'm not, yeah, taking any note of what it is.

We've done nine. Nine. I feel so grateful. I'm very lucky to be doing it. Yes. So I'm having a very positive, grateful day. So thank you for everybody. Yes.

Everybody who listens and comments. And it's just really special. It's really nice. Well, I'm having a bit of a shit day, to be honest. Oh, fair do. Here we go. No, but this is going to make me feel better. Because I always feel better after coming in here, having a chat with you,

listening to our voice notes, all of the messages from all of the listeners who were flipping brilliant. Yeah. Because, like, one big, really happy family. And so I think it's going to cheer me up. Of course it will cheer you up, Jo. That and my coffee with coconut milk. You know, for all these years, people have loads of different coffees

and it's always like different flavours and whatever. I have always had an iced caramel latte. It's all I've ever had ever since I started having coffee. And now, this is my second one. I've not pushed too far. I'm on a warm latte with coconut milk. And I've got to be honest, I feel pretty damn cool with that.

I like a coconut milk matcha latte. Right, what is a matcha? It's a green powder. It is a superfood. Oh, so is it healthy? Because everybody always goes on about that you can actually get a healthy thing from the coffee shop. Yeah. And everybody goes on about matcha. I didn't know what it was.

And then I assumed it was tea. And then I thought, I don't want a green tea. What is it? What is it? Can you have matcha i didn't know what it was and and then i assumed it was tea and then i thought i don't want a green tea what what is it what is it can you have matcha with coconut yes that's what i have right i feel like you might like it so you ask can i have a matcha with coconut milk please is that what you are yeah right okay how did you go immediately into what coffee was it a caramel ice latte i started with an iced caramel latte. Yeah, but that is quite a lot. How did you do that?

How did I do that? Yeah, what was your choice? Oh, yeah. I prefer everything iced. Yeah. And so I don't particularly like warm coffees, although I've had a warm one this morning, which is quite soothing.

But I will always have an iced one because I don't like the taste of coffee. And so years ago, when I first started having coffee, when I left like drama school and Friends was on, oh my God, I'm not even joking about this, right? Or exaggerating. I used to have just a normal coffee with eight teaspoons of sugar. No, you didn't.

Honest to God, eight teaspoons of sugar because it's the only way I could get through it. God only knows why. I thought I had to get through having a cup of coffee. Eight teaspoons. And then slowly, not myself,

all the way down until it was like about five teaspoons. I feel like we're here again with my, have I ever told you about the 11 curly whirlies? You haven't told me about the 11 curly whirlies. That's a story. My 11 curly whirlies in a row. But yeah,

so I used to have eight teaspoons of sugar, cut myself down to five, and then just cut sugar out altogether. But because of that, I couldn't have a normal coffee because it just tastes disgusting. Yeah. So from there, I eased myself into, what's the milkiest one you can get?

Well, it's a latte. And then chuck a bit of caramel in. Chuck a bit of caramel in to sweeten it out. And then ice it so you basically can't taste it. That's where I am. And then whilst having the coffee, you're munching on curly whirlies, I assume. I. That's where I am. And then whilst having the coffee, you're munching on Curly Whirlies, I assume. I was, genuinely, I was.

Because this was like a good few years later, after I'd had children. The first was in nursery. And then when the second one was having a nap in the car, I would drive around. Second one would fall asleep in the car. I would pop into the garage, get myself a magazine, a little coffee, which was an iced caramel latte, and a curly woolly.

Because I just love curly. It was, I think, something to do with, you know, the chewing. And so I used to have one. That then upped to three. Because what's the point in one? That then upped to five. Because it was just like, well, after we eat three, I still want to chew some more. So I go up to five.

That then went to eight. Then I thought, well, what's the point? This is ridiculous. Top it at ten. And then I edged over to 10 and I would get 11 I don't know why I just went the extra one to 11 and I'm not even joking I would sit down and I would eat 11 curly whirlies in a row not every day uh yes it was every day and after eight I would feel sick and I wouldn't even want the chewing sensation anymore but I go well you've got to finish the last three now, haven't you? So I'd finish the last three.

I did that for a while. And then I thought, oh, my God, you've just got to stop doing this. You'll get diabetes. So I went on two picnics, you know, picnic chocolate bars. Yeah. Went on to those and then would eat three of those. And then I had to go, oh, this is ridiculous. You have got to stop.

And so I managed to stop, went cold turkey. And now I can't have them. I can't have any of them I if I'm going into a shop and I will know that there's the sniff of a curly whirly there I'll I'll hunt it out and I'll look at it and I have to think are you going to get one you're going to get one and then I just go no you can't you can't because if you do get one you're going down that rocky road and you're going to be right back at 11 again so they're banned i can't have them i have never heard of a curly whirly addict shall we um have a little chat about the television yes oh my god right i've got to say go on polished off ripley absolutely loved it have you polished it off? Loved it. I feel really, really jealous because I've had a super busy week,

so I had to watch the TV that's been recommended for us and the things we're doing for today and haven't had a chance to even go back to it yet, but I really want to. I haven't stopped thinking about it. Was it unbelievable? It was brilliant. It was epic. It was epic.

I loved Tom Ripley. I mean, considering he was, you know, the psychopath. He was my favourite character. I loved him. Just everybody who's seen it, the cat needs to have an Oscar in its own right. And then also his telephone. Can you do Oscars for telephones? I mean, when he's in his first like apartment, just the telephone. My God, every time the telephone would ring, or you'd hear footsteps going up the stairs. I was like, oh my God, I can't take it. I can't wait to get back to it because as I said it,

I was blown away with how it was shot, the music. I just absolutely loved it. Also, we've had a message for you, Nat, about Johnny Flynn who plays Dickie Greenleaf in Ripley. Oh. Hello, this is Kelly from York. How can you not know who Johnny Flynn is? Nat, have you not been watching The Detectorist?

He sings the theme tune and he's absolutely gorgeous. And he's also Jerome Flynn's younger brother, but maybe I'm just old enough to remember that and you're not. Bye. Oh, thank you, Kelly. Do you know, I love The Detectorist. Yeah. I're not. Bye. Oh, thank you, Kelly. Do you know, I love The Detectorist. Yeah. I did not know that.

Oh, my God. She must be very shocked at me for not knowing that information. Yeah. But that is a brilliant fact to know. And how about him being the younger brother of Jerome Flynn? Oh, my gosh. I'm flabbergasted. I feel like I need to go and just watch again now.

Brilliant. Wow. No wonder he's got the most amazing tone to his voice when he's talking and if he sings. Yeah, well I'm going to go and listen because yeah, the Detectorist theme tune is amazing. I didn't realise that at all. I'm going to go and search all that up later. Thank you, Kelly. That's amazing.

Right, what shows are we talking about this week, Jo? Oh, we've got the new series of Race Across the World on BBC One and iPlayer. I've got to say, right, I watched the first episode of the new series and then went straight back. And in two days straight, I watched the entire first ever series of it. So I was like, give me more, give me more.

And me and the kids just watched, boom, in two days straight, the whole of the first series. I don't know how you get the time. It's amazing. You do watch a lot of telly. Well, I do, but that does make it seem like I don't do anything. We were back in Wales on holiday with my parents.

Oh, there you go. And actually all of the kids didn't go to bed until gone midnight. And I would just like to state that this was during the holidays. Yeah, of course. We did sit down and we watched about like four in a row. Oh, lovely though. Oh, God, it was so good. It was so good. It's lovely to do that. Lovely, of course. We did sit down and we watched about like four in a row. Oh, lovely though. Oh, God, it was so good.

Always so good. It's lovely to do that. Lovely to do that. We're also talking about new drama, Renegade Now, which is on Disney Plus and a show in its 67th series. Can you believe that? No, I can't. It's the 67th series of Have I Got News For You on BBC One and iPlayer.

I can't believe it. You know, when I went to find the specific episode I was going to chat about i was like oh my god it's series 67 that's incredible ian hislop and paul martin have done well there they have haven't they i mean very very well my god they really really talk about that yeah later should we get on to our first show yes Yes, yes. Race across the world. Here we go. So the show, it's a... Would you do it? Oh, the show. Let's explain it.

Let's explain it first. Yes, I would. Shall we explain it first? Well, basically, it's a lot of... I think it's five sets of two people. Yeah. So you can have, you know, two best friends, a brother and a sister.

Husband and wife. A mum and a daughter. Husband and wife. Yeah. So it's just a set of two people and then you start in a specific area of the world and then how long do you have? is it 50 days? oh I don't know how many days

I think it's about 50 days it's about two months isn't it? obviously you're flown over to whatever area you're in in the world and you get the budget for each person is the plane ticket oh I didn't realise it was the plane it's the plane tickets price wow to get you there so yeah so you're in one spot yeah then you have to travel all the way over to another spot and you're not allowed to fly at all no so you have to you can

walk you can take taxis you can take boats ferries rail um and you just you have to get there and you're all competing against each other. And so you get, so it's like a really far distance, but there's lots of different drop-off spots. Little stops on the way. And then whoever comes first in those different spots, you have to get to the place, sign into a book,

and then depending on where you are, first to like fourth or fifth of where you've got in, you then get to leave the hotel the first and then the people who came in last, they have to wait like an extra 24 hours before they then set off. And at the whole of the end, when you get to the final, final destination,

the winners get £20,000. It's quite a lot of work, isn't it? It's a load of work, but I've got to be honest. What a lovely experience. I was just like, I'd be well, I would be up for it. Well, this is what happened to me. I said, oh, look at this. So the kids sat down.

Hilariously, Joni, the secret television watcher at all different times of the day, I said, Joni, look, I've got to watch this show. I think you'll really like it. She went, I've watched loads of them, Mummy. Oh, my God. So she really knows the show, really likes it. So we started off the series. And I said, oh, look, Eliza.

I said, you know, we could do this. And she said, oh, I couldn't think of anything worse. She said you know we could do this and she said oh I couldn't think of anything worse she said all we'd do is argue 13 I was like oh thanks very much Joanie bless her she was like I would do it with you mummy we'd have fun you're only saying that because you're seven yeah double your age you'll hate me like the other one me and Eva were watching it and we've picked out the people that we are so she was like right that's nanny and bumper uh that could be you and daddy this is me and mummy so we are bridey oh yes yes that's who me and eva are and what i can't believe right you know like doing this podcast yeah say i have

you know put kids tv on before now just because you know i shoved something on because i need to do the dishes load the dishwasher tidy the flipping house and everything it's really difficult to get the kids to sit down and watch something they're not interested at all but now I'm putting on slightly more grown-up things they sit down and they love it Noah my seven-year-old and there's a small bit of swearing in this so sometimes they'll say shit or whatever. It's not bad, bad swearing. So I was fine about it. But I thought, well, it's not going to hold his attention. My God, he sat there and loved it. Same as Joni, seven.

They love it. Absolutely love it. Well, it's an adventure, isn't it? And I think they're learning a lot. Well, I'm certain that you're learning whilst you're watching it. As much as it's a show and it's a race and it's a competition between people, and it's that sort of reality type show.

I think it's done so, so well because of the culture in it and because of what you're learning as you go. And I love the couples. Oh, my God. My favourite are Stephen and Viv. Are they the older couple? Yeah, they're my favourite. I love them because he's just so socially awkward

and I just love it. Yeah, but I just love the fact they've gone, you know, we're in our 60s all our kids are grown up we're going to go and have an adventure I turned to Mark I said I want that to be like

oh I hope we're like that when we're that age yes and they've gone off and I feel out of all of the couples when you're watching it I just feel like

they're getting on with it yeah they are they've got the jobs going on and you'd think maybe you know the age thing will it be a little you know could they get a bit tired I know they're not old old but you thing, will it be a little, you know, could they get a bit tired? I know they're not old, old, but you think,

oh, will they be a bit stuck in their ways even? Well, yeah, carrying that massive rucksack around everywhere. Yeah, but even being stuck in your ways. But they are up for it. They're walking about in the nude. Oh, my God. It's very thought-flipping good on you. How brilliant is that?

There's no worry about anything. You're just trying it all. They're so respectful. They're going to people's homes. They want to help and they're cleaning the floors and really getting stuck in. Whereas if you look at Owen and Alfie, who are the young 20-year-olds,

they are absolutely brilliant. But come on, you've just finished school. You'd think you'd have a bit more, I don't know, just a bit more now. They've lost the Raddy map. They've lost the map. They're getting Kobe beef for 150 quid or whatever it was. They've got no budget.

It's like, oh, come on. You're letting yourself down now. You're letting your generation down. Yeah. I'm just loving just the bickering that's going on between them. I mean, they're just like the bickering and everything. And they seem to be two complete opposites. And you can see that they're really getting under each other.

They're really starting to, like, annoy each other. Yeah. I was just flabbergasted at the map. How can you lose the map? How can you lose the map? I just think they're a bit laid back, this generation, aren't they? I'm just, like, flabbergasted. But I really do love them.

I love them. Because I haven't got a boy, obviously. I always think, oh, I wish you were my son. Yeah. What about when they're walking through the streets just eating? Yeah. It's just saying that it's just seen as just so rude. And they're like that, just eating away.

The other couple that I really like were Betty and James, the brother and sister. Oh, I like those. She's really endearing. And you can tell she really loves travel. And she wants to kind of, when you watch it, if you haven't watched it, watch it, but Betty and James are siblings

and they're the polar opposites of each other. James obviously just goes to Magaluf and he just gets absolutely steaming and then just comes home hungover and that's his idea of a holiday, whereas she wants to find herself and be in with the culture. But I think they're doing really well well considering they are chalk and cheese oh my god what about when they got the um the noodles was it noodles or rice and the caviar and stuff and they thought they

were paying 250 for it and it turned out to be like 2500 it's like oh my god and then when he when they said to him what's your idea of travel and he said my idea of travel is just basically going out and getting pissed with my friends i mean it's just oh but they're lovely together i think very nice and what about um i like you know the mum and daughter oh eugenia and isabel well they make me laugh because it reminds me of me and my daughter does it yeah because she was saying she was describing that she's got sons and she used to say what did she say oh my Oh my God, yes. I thought that as well. I'd say to my little boys, jump, and they'd say, how high, mummy? But Isabel would say, why?

Yes, I saw that because I was watching the second episode, I think it was last night, and I heard her saying that and I was just like, oh my God, that's so true. Because I was feeling like, oh my God, am I being a rubbish mother at the moment? It's just so overwhelming, there's so much. And I listened to that and I thought,

oh my God, that is so, so right. Girls are just strong. They are, aren't they? Girls are just strong. Her daughter, I mean, what about the fact that she's just like, her language is just amazing. Unbelievable.

She's picking up so much stuff and everything. Really, really good. Really impressive. So would you do it? Because I thought I would love to do this. I mean, I would. I'd like to go around with James and we'd have our money

and we'd love going off working and everything. And what I've thought is you don't need to be the ones who get in first right in the beginning, do you? Right in the beginning. No, not really. You need to do loads of work and everything because you've still got plenty of time. Get loads of money in because right, right at the end,

we're going to need to get that. You're going to be rushing, aren't you? You've got to have the money. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you're not going to be stopping to sort of have that opportunity. And you do want to enjoy it as well whilst you're there. Try and enjoy some of it. I'd love to do it, but I don't know how long it is.

It's a long while away, isn't it? I think it's about two months or something, isn't it? I think it's a long time. I would love to do it. I'd love to do it. But what do you think you'd be like? I don't know, actually, how I'd be because I'm not very worldly. But I would love to do it. I'd love to do it. But what do you think you'd be like? I don't know, actually, how I'd be, because I'm not very worldly,

but I would love to have a go. But I think with Mark, I'd be fine, because he's brilliant. He just... Yeah. He's very good at everything. I'd like to have James with me. Have somebody there who's like the big protective one,

who if it all gets too much, they can look after you. Yeah, yeah. I can imagine, after going on, you know, like countless awful fairies or trains or i bet it would get really really hard after a while i think so yeah and i think you'd miss home and you'd miss you know you'd start missing people and what have you but first and second ep in really enjoying it i tell you what it's one to save right until we're both retired i think the perfect time to do it is not when you're looking after the kids yeah and not when

you're you know like still trying to work or whatever i mean i think the perfect time is get to your mid-60s and go right okay let's apply to go on this because i think it's the perfect time to do it then that's all very well and good but it might not be on then then we would have missed the chance you see what i mean i don't know if it's gonna be be a Have I Got News For You 67 series in. It could be. Could be. It might be. God. It's now become one of my favourites.

One of your bigs. Yeah. No, it's really, really good. I'm really enjoying it and the kids love it. So it's, again, one for the family. Really good viewing. And I think they cast it well. I love all of the couples. Me too.

They're brilliant. They're all brilliant. They're all really, really good. Bridie and Sharon we didn't say much about, but they just really get on, don't they? They're lovely. They're a really, really healthy mum and daughter relationship. That's who me and Eva said that we were going to be.

That's what I'd like to be like. But then after the first episode, there's a spoiler here, I think they came in, they came in like completely last. And Eva then said to me, oh, shall we be Eugenie and Isabel instead? And I went, well, not really, because they're kind of bickering a bit and I want to be like the mum that doesn't bicker and stuff. So please, can we stay? Can we just stay and be last?

And she went, OK, then, all right, you know, we'll just have to be last. So, yeah, Race Across the World, you can catch it on BBC iPlayer, BBC One. We absolutely love it. Well, the next show we're talking about is Renegade Now. We had a lovely... You know the lady, she gave us a lovely recommendation last week. We've taken Rebecca's advice and we have watched Renegade Now this week. It's on Disney+.

Shall I tell you what I thought? Yes! So I put it on and I thought, I must start this now, you know, start one. Put it on, I was on my own. About seven minutes in, I thought, start one. Put it on. I was on my own. About seven minutes in, I thought, this is a kid's show. Why am I sitting watching this on my own? I thought my kids are going to love this. I can't sit and watch this on my own. Anyway, I looked at the age rating and it said 12 plus. But Joanie, as you know, people may not like it or that she does watch things that aren't age appropriate um and i thought this is

fine yes there's a few fights and what have you it is quite violent but i think because of the magic and the fun that comes in with it you kind of know that the fights are real yes yeah in some way so anyway i stopped it i said come on you've got to watch this with me you've got to watch it we sat down the three of us watched the first one joni has then come down the stairs and she said i'm on episode six i said you can't believe you've done that joni we've all got to watch it together so she's steamed on through because she gets up at five o'clock in the morning she's up before everybody else and she's absolutely loving it but i found it it would not be a show that i would sit and watch on my own. I just found it, yeah, something I'd watch with the children.

I feel exactly the same because Eva, who is 11, absolutely loved it. So it's the story of a highway woman called Nell. Yep. But she's got magical powers. Nellie Jackson. Yeah, so I was just kind of a bit like, oh my God, this is you know, I didn't realise it yet. It's really clever. It's really well done. Louisa Harland, who plays Nell, is so

good. She's an amazing actress. But she's got a real earthiness and she's something really special about her. I can't take my eyes off of her. Neither can I. She's really good. I've never at any point thought that she's not Nell. She's just, she's wonderful. I think she's absolutely fab.

But I felt exactly the same. I think it's a great one for the girls. I'm not saying that, though. My boys absolutely loved it. But I think it's really good for the girls because Nell is really strong. I mean, she's solid. It's great. It's great, isn't it?

Talking about strong women. Well, yeah. I was sat there and like, yeah. But you know when the baddie came into the village after he'd gone in and said i want to see your daughter yes and then nell you know had come in and everything and then she'd sent him on his way and then he comes but oh no no then she's outside having a fight with him which was quite shocking actually when he was drowning her in the puddle yeah it was pretty full-on that was quite full-on it was full-on but even my 11 year old was screaming whip him whip him kick him

in the face. And I was a bit kind of like, no, we don't want to say things like that, Eva, but go on now, get him, get him. She was like really, really loving it. But I felt exactly the same. It's rated 12, but I started watching it with the kids because I thought, right, we're going to put it on. And I said to them, so Noah's 7, Kit's 9, and then, you know, Eva's 11. And I said, right, okay, it's a 12, so I don't know if we're going to put it on and I said to them so Noah's seven Kit's nine and then you know Eve is 11 yeah and I said right okay it's a 12 so I don't know if

there's going to be some bits I don't know if there's going to be swearing there isn't any and I don't know if there's you know what the violence is going to be like but we'll give it a go and we'll watch oh and I was holding Bo as well and it started and it's fab it's great it's brilliant all the way through and then you get the fight sequences which are cracking I mean they're brilliant she's brilliant I mean they are get the fight sequences, which are cracking. I mean, they're really good. She's brilliant. I mean, they are good, but they are violent.

They are, you know, they're pretty strong. Yeah, they are. And so Eva was fine, but then I said to Noah, just cover your eyes, cover your eyes, which he wouldn't

because he was completely transfixed. And, you know, like I said earlier, he won't really sit down and watch anything. I really don't think, I thought a little bit, I thought a little bit like you but genuinely when I watch the fights

I think our children know that you know they're clever. Yeah. You know that you're watching a TV programme. Yeah. You know it's not real and especially with the magic and the fairy going in and out of her mouth and all of that you know it's no different to Harry Potter that sort of you know what I mean. Yes. So I think as much as

it's the strong and amazing fight sequences, you kind of know that it's play. Oh my God, it's just, it's so good and it's magical and the kids just love it. Eva was desperate to watch the next episode. No, really, really good. And, you know, really enjoyed it and stuff. And so, yeah, so I reckon, I mean, you know,

I think that Nell is just fab in it. She's really, really good. I think it's, you know, the pace was great and it, you know, thundered along really nicely and stuff. Yeah, I thought the writing was brilliant. It's Sally Wainwright, isn't it? So she can do no wrong. But then saying that, I wouldn't sit down and watch it, another episode, on my own.

No, I wouldn't. I'd want it to be like a family thing. Family viewing. Exactly the same. We've got the same points this week. That is definite. I would not sit and watch that with Mark. Yes, yeah. And my kids were just like, why is everybody wearing wigs? So I was having to do a history lesson trying to explain about wigs

and everything all the way through. But I love the costumes. I love the way it looks. It's nicely hinged and stuff. And it's lovely. And it's her being a woman, but she wants to be a fighter. She wants to get out and do it.

And in those times, women couldn't do that. And it's all that sort of girl power and empowerment for women. I think we definitely recommend. It's one to watch with the kids one to watch with the kids really really good yeah yeah we will keep watching it definitely definitely so listeners although we're enjoying renegade now with our kids and stuff maybe you haven't got children even and you're happily watching it with your mates or your boyfriend or your hubby so please let us know if you see it as

a show which is a family show, or are you very happy and settled and quite content, sat down with your tea and biscuits watching it on your own. Let us know your thoughts. Right, what's our next one? We are on to one that must be

one of the longest running panel shows. It's got to be. 67 series of Have I Got News For You. Catch it on BBC One and iPlayer. I wonder how many episodes are in a series because it's not going to be like six, is it? It's probably like absolutely loads. What's interesting about that is how I watched a documentary on it, actually.

No way! Not long ago. Yeah, they did a documentary because obviously it was angus deaton uh used to host it um and it was very interesting how it continued and evolved without him yeah and it worked didn't it yeah because they thought once he you know he had a load of problems or what have you personal stuff and they had to get rid of him from hosting. But they really thought this show was going to fall apart without him. So they started having guests. They put a guest host on.

And that's what they continue to do. So each week there's a guest host and it works absolutely beautifully. And it's gone on, obviously, for years and years and years. Do you know, I used to watch it religiously because I used to get really excited because it was like the first kind of, you know, grown-up thing that I was watching. But now, I haven't watched it for years. And so, putting it on to watch it again, you know when the music starts? Yeah, yeah, yeah.

It just made me think, oh my God, it just took me back years to when I first watched it and felt grown-up. Yes, yeah. And then I thought, oh God, I'm probably not going to enjoy this now. It's just going to be a bit boring. It's probably had its day. And it started, and within the first couple of minutes, I was laughing. Yeah. And I just thought, it's never not going to be a bit boring it's probably had its day and and it started and within the first couple of minutes i was laughing yeah and i just thought it's never not going to be relevant is it it's always talking about the news it's always going to be relevant what gets me is when there are such huge subjects they're talking about you know and obviously some a lot

of it is political yeah and you know they were talking about the war and they're talking about iran and you know they're talking about all those things but they make it funny somehow well they come out with a one-liner about it and i thought if i was on a show like that i'd be absolutely petrified to say anything about any subject like that i was i was watching it thinking oh my god can you imagine right if you were sitting there next to me in his slop or something and you've got to put your two-penny thing with your gags and you've got to come up with your one-liners you know know, for the subject. And I thought, oh, my God, I would just feel so nervous.

I would like to do it, though. Would you? Yeah, I would like to do it. Would you like to host it or would you like to be on the panel? No, you can't host it. They've had some major people host that show. Your favourite, Danny Dyer, did it. Oh, my God, I bet he was brilliant doing it.

I bet he was so good. He hosted it. But, you know, I bet hosting it is all right because, you know, you love your autocue and you'll be chatting and whatever it oh my god i bet he was brilliant doing it i bet he was so good he hosted it but yeah but it's you know about hosting it is is all right because you know you love your autocue when you'll be chatting and whatever and but still i just thought oh my god being on that panther the pressure you would feel but i mean it's you know like it's stand-ups and it's comedians and it just shows just how talented they are to be able to come up you know with the gags and and you've got to make sure you know that you get your gag in and oh my god i my God. I mean, Ian Hislop's such a...

I mean, he's so clever, isn't he? He is, he is. Because he's the editor of The Private Eye, isn't he? I think he is. But I think if you went on the panel, actually, it would be funny just to, you know, just be yourself. But it is just a skill, isn't it? And it is amazing that they do make you laugh.

And Paul Merton is... I don't care what anyone says. I know he's getting on a bit now, but he is one of the quickest and driest, because you can tell a lot of what he says on the day. I bet he doesn't sit and work anything out. You can just tell that it's off the cuff, it's so quick, what he says.

Do you know Lincoln, to race across the world, in I think it's the first series of it that I saw, Paul Merton's in it. Oh, really? Yeah, it's like a few episodes down, and it's the two older women who are in it and they are trying to get a flight somewhere and they're like, oh my God, you'll never guess who we've just seen

and Paul Merton is in the airport. It's either a ferry crossing or an airport and it must be a ferry crossing, yeah, or a bus thing and he chats to them and he's so lovely. He's just like really lovely and really nice, but I was like, oh, my God, it's Paul Moody. But, yeah, but I'm just, like, oh, just astounded how they can just make the news really funny.

You know, they just come up with gags and stuff, and it still is. 67 series in, I would say it's just still as good. Oh, yeah. I mean, I just don't think it changes. It's an amazing concept. You know, it's just a perfect, perfect panel show. It could run and run and run and run.

Well, it is. Because you're never, ever going to run out of the news. No, never. I think you could host it. You'd be a really good host. So would you. I think you'd be good. No.

I'd be terrified. I'd just be on the panel, I think. Just throwing a few old one-liners. I love Jo Brand. I think she's just fantastic. a few old one-liners. I love Jo Brand. I think she's just fantastic. Jo Brand is one of my... She is brilliant. I did Blankety Blank with her.

Did you? Oh. Yeah, I've done a couple of things with Jo. Yeah. But she used to be a mental health nurse, didn't she? Yes. Amazing woman.

I remember, you know, like when I first started and growing up and everything, and she was one of the first comedians that I absolutely just loved. I just loved her. And then when I lived in London, I lived, you know, like quite close to where she lived. And I used to get very excited when I used to see her walking around in the village. Yeah, I never went up and said hello or anything because I just sort of like idolized her a bit

because I thought she was just so brilliant. But yeah, you just think, oh my God, everybody is like... I think I really embarrassed myself when I last saw her. How? Because I just went, I just really would like to go to dinner with you, Jo. But did you say it as in like, you know, you just didn't go up to her in the street and say it? No, no, we were doing this show and we were chatting

and I said, I just would love to go to dinner with you. And she was like, oh, right, yeah. And I don't think much else was said. Didn't get her number or anything. A bit gutted. I was expecting, oh, that could happen, but then why would she want to go to dinner with me? It's ridiculous.

Trying to go out with Jo Brand for dinner. Desperate to be her friend. Oh, God. But, yeah, I think it's really good. Yeah, it's just a brilliant show. It's an enjoyable show. It's a bit like, you know, would I lie to you? And have I got news for you?

They're very good panel shows. They're just very good at it, aren't they? Yeah. And they're an easy watch, aren't they? Yeah, you haven't got to think, have you? Again, I see that as a bit of a comfort watch, really. Me too. I mean, you finally got the kids upstairs in bed.

You can sit down, have some food and just, you know, put it on. And it's just going to be a nice, easy watch, which you know is just going to make you laugh. Absolutely. Absolutely. Even though you are actually talking about awful things which are going on in the world i know not all of them though yeah yeah not just our stupid politicians yes right it's time to have a look at what recommendations you guys have got for us from home so keep them coming we love getting these recommendations and let's hear what you've got to say um oh we've got a voice note from rachel recommending a new drama on

netflix baby reindeer oh here we go hello everyone um i've got a good recommendation it's called baby reindeer on netflix it's a mini series and it's about a stalker complex situation where a man befriends a woman and she becomes absolutely obsessed with him. But he's trying to be a comedian, a stand up comedian. And there's lots of traumas that have happened in his life that come to light. So it's like very very weird the first two episodes i was watching it going what the heck is this woman doing and there were so many red flags and i was like open your eyes open your eyes but then there's a twist at the end which i won't spoil and it makes you go, has this man learned nothing? So it's like a crazy stalker experience.

And there's also a reason it's called Baby Reindeer, but you don't find that out till the end. So you might think, what the heck? Oh, God, don't tell us. But there is a point to it, I promise. Oh, brilliant. Thank you. Thank you, Rachel. Hey, I know what it feels like now with spoilers,

because I was like, oh, my God, Rachel, don't tell me it's called Baby Reindeer. I can't wait to find out. Oh, yeah oh yeah no I think we might have to do that everybody's talking about it Jo we've got to do Baby Reindeer I think we have to next week yeah we had so many of you get in touch after our comfort telly call out last week so please keep them coming in

here's a voice note from Denise about her favourite comfort watch let's hear it hi Jo hi Natalie loving the podcast this is Denise from Shropshire. And thank you for the recommendations. I love telly and slow horses. Hadn't watched that. Completely binged everything now. Brilliant. My comfort TV has been going for 25 series, so there's plenty of it. It's Holmes Under the Hammer.

Do, do, do, do, do, do, do. I love it. It involves no effort to watch at all. It really appeals to my nosy side. And the soundtrack is just genius. I love that they have quirky tunes for every occasion. Anyway, keep up the good work, ladies. Love hearing you chat.

Bye. Oh, thank you, Denise. What a lovely voice note. Yeah, Holmes under the hammer. Oh, my gosh. There's some, you know, like soundtracks and, you know, that just make you just feel like, oh. That is a real comfort watch, that one.

But thank you, Denise. Yeah, please keep sending them in because we'd love to hear them. Well, that's enough from us this week. It's been a really nice, gentle, enjoyable week. Lovely ease into the week. Yes. Really nice. Really lovely.

So, listeners, what do you think about the shows that we've covered? Let us know. Send us some voice notes in and some messages and tell us if you agree with us or you don't. Just let us know what you think. Let us know. Remember, the number is 0306 784 704. And this week we've been watching Race Across the World

on BBC One and iPlayer. Renegade Now on Disney+. And Have I Got News For You, which you can also catch on BBC One and iPlayer. Thank you so much for listening and we'll be back next Wednesday on BBC Sounds. Bye! Bye! Off the Telly is hosted by Natalie Cassidy and Joanna Page. The producer is Georgia Keating. The commissioning editor is Rhian Roberts

and it's a BBC Studios audio production for BBC Sounds. Hello. I'll start. No, I'll start. No, I'll start. Go on then. Who are you? I'm Miki O'Oliver.

And I'm Lily Allen. Our podcast is called Miss Me. Miss Me! We're going to talk about everything you talk to your best mate about and everything that's affecting all of us. What she said. I don't want to be like, I'm a single girl in East London and you're a married mother in Brooklyn,

but that is kind of what the truth is. Basically what we're doing here. We'll be talking about things like early crushes, rude children, techno, personal finance, grief and ambition. Miss Me. Miss Me? With Lillian Makita.

Listen on BBC Sounds.