TV Round-Up 2025: The Year That Television Lost the Plot — with Paul Critoph

The Big AnnouncementHey Podrats — I’ve taken a quick pit stop in your feed because things are about to take a turn.After four lovely, slightly well-behaved seasons of Television Times, we have decided to swerve the podcast into a new lane. Same host, same questionable judgement — just a wider map and fewer guardrails.From Season 5, the show will become 'All My Clothes Need Burning'.We’ll still chat with brilliant guests about what they do and how they got there — but now we’re leaning harder into travel disasters, production chaos, and stories of things going gloriously wrong — in far-away lands or right at home.So nothing’s really changing — apart from the name, the direction, and the increased risk of mild peril.New title. Bigger adventures. Possibly worse decisions.Season 5 boarding soon.📢 Follow the PodcastStay updated with the latest episodes and behind-the-scenes content:InstagramTikTokYouTubePodcast: All My Clothes Need BurningHost: Steve Otis GunnGuest: Steve Otis GunnDuration: 4 minutesRelease Date: February 12, 2026Season: 4, Episode 34All music written and performed in this podcast by Steve Otis Gunn.Please buy my book 'You Shot My Dog and I Love You', available in all good bookshops and online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TV Round-Up 2025: The Year That Television Lost the Plot — with Paul Critoph🎙️Episode OverviewHe’s back — and the annual TV autopsy has never been messier. Friend of the podcast Paul Critoph returns for his third end-of-year TV debrief, and within seconds we spiral from shower-screen disasters to xenomorph rage, religious reality-TV meltdowns, terrible teen dramas, plus the slow cinematic chopping of vegetables.Listen as we discuss:Alien Earth: Why are the xenomorphs suddenly bulletproof? Squid Game 2 & 3: Terrible foreign actors (again), and that infuriating ending.Bad Teen TV: The Summer I Turned Pretty — why every character is a vacuum of charisma.Smoke: Steve’s sleeper hit of the year — Taron Egerton as a fire investigator in a show that looked glossy but turned out to be gripping.One Star TV Hell: The uncanny poshness of AI, American remakes nobody asked for, and All’s Fair — Kim Kardashian as a lawyer (no thank you).Star Wars Corner: Paul’s case for Andor as the best Star Wars thing since Empire — fascism, prison planets, and zero space wizards.Physical Asia: Paul's fascination with Asian competitive telly continues, and this year, there are additional Australians!Bonus: Plus Steve and Paul’s yearly battle to find even one show they both actually watched.This episode is for anyone who loves television, hates television, or can’t stop watching it even when it’s objectively terrible.🖋️ About Paul CritophPaul Critoph is a seasoned actor and cultural commentator known for his insightful analyses and engaging discussions on TV and film. With a keen eye for emerging trends and a deep understanding of the industry, Paul offers a unique perspective on the ever-changing landscape of television.🔗 Connect with Paul CritophInstagramFacebook📢 Follow the PodcastStay updated with the latest episodes and behind-the-scenes content:InstagramTikTokYouTubeThis podcast is now called All My Clothes Need Burning. We’ve leaned into the chaos.Host: Steve Otis GunnGuest: Paul Critoph – Actor & Cultural CommentatorDuration: 58 minutesRelease Date: January 1, 2026Season: 4, Episode 32All music written and performed in this podcast by Steve Otis Gunn.Please buy my book 'You Shot My Dog and I Love You', available in all good bookshops and online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

​Do Not Adjust Your Pod! — with Steve Otis Gunn🎙️ Episode Overview​In this Christmas week bonus episode, Steve Otis Gunn steps away from the usual guest format for a candid one-man-band chat. Reflecting on the pivotal fourth season and looking ahead to what comes next, Steve shares the behind-the-scenes realities of producing the show solo and hints at potential changes for the future. He also reviews his favourite podcasts of the year!Subjects include:Creative Evolution: A look at the show's original focus and Steve’s pitch for a new comedy character inspired by his former life as a sound engineer.Listener Feedback: Steve discusses his desire for audience input on everything from the content to the musical interludes.Personal Anecdotes: A quirky dive into Steve's recent experience getting a flu jab and a story about a treacherous journey in Bolivia.This episode will appeal to aspiring creators and long-time listeners looking for an honest, funny, and slightly unfiltered look at the creative mind behind the mic!📚 About Steve Otis GunnSteve Otis Gunn is a Podcaster, Writer/Performer, and former sound engineer known for his distinctive blend of dark humor, storytelling, and vulnerability. After years of working behind the scenes in the world of theatre, Steve stepped into the spotlight, transforming personal awkwardness into a rich source of comedy. His debut solo show, Steve Otis Gunn is Uncomfortable, premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2024, earning a ★★★★ review for its bold, brutally funny exploration of growing up in a criminal environment and the lingering discomfort that shaped his perspective.📢 Follow the PodcastStay updated with the latest episodes and behind-the-scenes content:InstagramTikTokYouTubeThis podcast is now called All My Clothes Need Burning. We’ve leaned into the chaos.Host: Steve Otis GunnGuest: Steve Otis GunnDuration: 47 minutesRelease Date: December 21, 2025Season: 4, Episode 32All music written and performed in this podcast by Steve Otis GunnPlease buy my book, You Shot My Dog and I Love You, available in all good bookshops and online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Doug Naylor: How Red Dwarf Made TV Better Than Life🎙️ Episode OverviewGet ready for a sci-fi-soaked comedy ride as Steve Otis Gunn chats with writer and co-creator of Red Dwarf, Doug Naylor. From the early days of radio comedy and Spitting Image to building one of Britain’s most enduring cult TV shows, Doug brings thoughtful, funny stories from a lifetime in entertainment. They explore Doug’s path through sketch shows, number one singles, and the moment Red Dwarf finally became the show he’d imagined. Doug spills the beans on why the American remake went sideways, and how he'll never get used to the strange feeling of meeting fans who say the show helped them through tough times.They also touch on the big one: the ambitious new Red Dwarf project that was suddenly cancelled — and what Doug plans to do with it next.🌟 Episode HighlightsWriting The Chicken Song and deliberately topping the chartsHow Red Dwarf survived rejections, strikes, rewrites, and producing issuesHow Craig Charles pestered his way into Lister, and Danny John-Jules turned up as the perfect Cat.The bizarre financing story behind the unmade Red Dwarf movieThis episode is perfect for anyone curious about how Red Dwarf found its staying power — or for those who can still fire off a Kryten line or a Lister rant without missing a beat.🎭 About Doug NaylorDoug Naylor is a British writer, producer, and director best known as the co-creator of Red Dwarf, one of the UK’s best-loved comedies. After early work in radio and sketch shows, he wrote for Spitting Image, co-created a chart-topping single, and helped shape modern TV satire. His blend of character comedy and science fiction earned Red Dwarf generations of fans. Beyond TV, Doug has written novels, screenplays, and now children’s fiction.🔗 Connect with DougInstagramFacebookGet Sin Bin Island here:📢 Follow the PodcastStay updated with the latest episodes and behind-the-scenes content:InstagramTikTokYouTubeThis podcast is now called All My Clothes Need Burning. We’ve leaned into the chaos.Host: Steve Otis GunnGuests: Doug Naylor - Writer, Author & Co-Creator of Red DwarfDuration: 55 minutesRelease Date: December 18, 2025Season: 4, Episode 31All music written and performed in this podcast by Steve Otis GunnPlease buy my book, You Shot My Dog and I Love You, available in all good bookshops and online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Orbital FX: Inside the World of Practical Effects, Prop Building & the Future of Filmmaking🎙️ Episode OverviewIn this episode, Steve Otis Gunn sits down with Luke and Paul from Orbital FX, the North-East–based practical-effects and prop-building team whose work spans Star Wars, Marvel, Disney theme-parks, and fan-favourite replicas for collectors around the world. They dive deep into the lost art—and unexpected resurgence—of practical effects: from Ray Harryhausen to The Mandalorian, from clunky 80s prosthetics to cutting-edge CNC and 3D printing. Luke and Paul explain how they build everything from screen-accurate helmets to carbon-fibre Darth Vader pieces, giant convention displays, and even props that end up being purchased by Disney itself for use in productions. Along the way, they share behind-the-scenes stories involving Star Wars fandom, the 501st Legion, building a full-size Millennium Falcon event piece, restoring the original Boba Fett blaster for Adam Savage’s Tested, and navigating the strange legal/industry grey-area of replica prop making.It’s an episode full of nostalgia, technical nerdery, industry insight, and the occasional existential dread about the future of AI, streaming, and the entertainment industry.Highlights include:Why practical effects are making a real comebackThe surprising ways modern CGI artists depend on physical propsProp-building tech: moulding, casting, carbon fibre, CNC, vac-forming, electronics🎭 About Orbital FXOrbital FX is a UK-based practical-effects and prop fabrication studio. They specialise in 3D design and printing, mould-making, casting, carbon-fibre builds, CNC machining, vac-forming, silicone work, electronics, leatherwork, soft goods, and full costume fabrication. Their work has appeared at global fan conventions, in Disney Cruise Line’s Avengers: Quantum Encounter, across major Star Wars costuming groups, on Adam Savage’s Tested, and in film-adjacent commercial and live-event productions worldwide.From screen-accurate helmets to large-scale display pieces, Orbital FX blends high-end craftsmanship with genuine fan passion.🔗 Connect with OrbitalInstagramFacebookWebsite📢 Follow the PodcastStay updated with the latest episodes and behind-the-scenes content:InstagramTikTokYouTubeThis podcast is now called All My Clothes Need Burning. We’ve leaned into the chaos.Host: Steve Otis GunnGuests: Luke & Paul from Orbital FXDuration: 58 minutesRelease Date: December 11, 2025Season: 4, Episode 30All music written and performed in this podcast by Steve Otis GunnPlease buy my book, You Shot My Dog and I Love You, available in all good bookshops and online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Olaf Falafel: The Seriously Silly Art of Being Stupid🎙️Episode OverviewStrap in for a brilliantly bonkers conversation as Steve Otis Gunn chats with comedian, illustrator, author, and all-round mischief-maker Olaf Falafel. From gaslighting his mum with a fart machine to reinventing kids’ comedy one parp at a time, Olaf brings stories as colourful as his graphic novels. They dive into his early days on the stand-up circuit, his sideways leap into children’s books, the chaos of school visits, and the surprising depth of misheard lyrics. Steve and Olaf also bond over comfort-TV favourites (The Office, Red Dwarf, Quantum Leap), celebrity-podcast fatigue, Gregg’s gingerbread muffins, and the eternal mystery of whether mayo counts as dairy.🌟 Episode HighlightsThe joys of performing toilet humour for kids (and Brownies)How a love of sci-fi, mischief, and doodles fused into his new graphic-novel series The Far Out FiveWhy comedians secretly make the best children’s authorsTeaching kids to make the perfect “inward duck fart”This episode is perfect for anyone who loves clever silliness, creative chaos, and comedy that’s as joyful as it is ridiculous — or who just wants to know which animal makes the best fart.🎭 About OlafOlaf Falafel is an award-winning comedian, illustrator, and bestselling children’s author known for his brilliantly silly humour and distinctive artwork. He’s the creator of Old MacDonald Heard a Parp, Trixie Pickle Art Avenger, and the graphic novel series The Far Out Five. His work blends jokes, art, and imagination — appealing to kids, parents, teachers, and comedy fans alike.🔗 Connect with OlafInstagramYoutubeGet Tickets for Olaf Falafel’s Stupidest Super Stupid Show here:📢 Follow the PodcastStay updated with the latest episodes and behind-the-scenes content:InstagramTikTokYouTubeThis podcast is now called All My Clothes Need Burning. We’ve leaned into the chaos.Host: Steve Otis GunnGuest: Olaf Falafel – Comedian, Author & IllustratorDuration: 52 minutesRelease Date: December 4, 2025Season: 4, Episode 29All music written and performed in this podcast by Steve Otis GunnPlease buy my book, You Shot My Dog and I Love You, available in all good bookshops and online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Henry Naylor: From Spitting Image and Rowan Atkinson to the Frontlines of Political Theatre🎙️Episode OverviewIn this episode, Steve Otis Gunn talks with award-winning writer, comedian, and playwright Henry Naylor, whose career has spanned British sketch comedy, blockbuster advertising, and some of the most politically charged theatre of the past decade. Henry explains how he first broke into the industry on Smith & Jones, how he met Armstrong & Miller through his sketch group, and what it was like to star alongside Rowan Atkinson in the hugely successful Barclaycard adverts. Henry also divulges stories from Spitting Image—the legal battles, its political influence, and the chaos of producing weekly satire. He also reflects on his move into political theatre with plays such as Games, Afghanistan Is Not Funny, and Monstering the Rocket Man.Highlights include:Filming million-pound commercials around the worldBeing the first writer to mimic Tony Blair on televisionThe short-lived but groundbreaking CGI satire HeadcasesHow even great shows can suffer when actors are miscast🎭 About HenryHenry Naylor is an award-winning writer, comedian, and playwright. After early success on Smith & Jones and Spitting Image, he co-created the animated satire Headcases and appeared with Rowan Atkinson in the iconic Barclaycard ads. In recent years, he’s become one of the UK’s leading political dramatists with powerful works like Games, Afghanistan Is Not Funny, and Monstering the Rocket Man, earning major awards at the Edinburgh Fringe and touring worldwide.🔗 Connect with HenryInstagramFacebook📢 Follow the PodcastStay updated with the latest episodes and behind-the-scenes content:InstagramTikTokYouTubeThis podcast is now called All My Clothes Need Burning. We’ve leaned into the chaos.Host: Steve Otis GunnGuest: Henry Naylor – Playwright, Actor & DirectorDuration: 43 minutesRelease Date: November 20, 2025Season: 4, Episode 28All music written and performed in this podcast by Steve Otis GunnPlease buy my book, You Shot My Dog and I Love You, available in all good bookshops and online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stephen Mear: Dancing Through Dyslexia and Into the Spotlight🎙️Episode OverviewIn this episode, Steve Otis Gunn chats with legendary choreographer and director Stephen Mear CBE, whose work has illuminated stages from the West End to Broadway.From growing up in Loughborough with dreams of dancing, to working alongside icons like Sir Cameron Mackintosh and Dame Judi Dench, Stephen’s story is one of passion, precision, and pure musical magic.🎬 Episode HighlightsFrom chorus boy to showbiz choreographerWorking with Victoria Wood, Miriam Margolyes & OasisLife between the West End & Broadway, and how each stage tells a different storyBritish TV, lockdown madness & why After Life made him sob🎭 About StephenStephen Mear CBE is an Olivier Award-winning choreographer and director celebrated for his work on Mary Poppins, Hello, Dolly!, Crazy for You, and Gypsy. With a career spanning theatre, television, and film, Stephen is known for his impeccable musicality, inclusive approach to casting, and ability to make choreography feel effortless and emotionally charged🔗 Connect with StephenInstagramFacebook📢 Follow the PodcastStay updated with the latest episodes and behind-the-scenes content:InstagramTikTokYouTubeThis podcast is now called All My Clothes Need Burning. We’ve leaned into the chaos.Host: Steve Otis GunnGuest: Stephen Mear – Choreographer, Dancer & DirectorDuration: 51 minutesRelease Date: November 20, 2025Season: 4, Episode 27All music written and performed in this podcast by Steve Otis GunnPlease buy my book, You Shot My Dog and I Love You, available in all good bookshops and online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Helen White: Standing Tall at 4ft 10🎙️Episode OverviewIn this episode, Steve Otis Gunn sits down with comedian Helen White — a Geordie pocket rocket who started stand-up at 50 and has been lighting up the UK comedy scene ever since. From growing up between army bases in Germany and Northern Ireland to teaching in Teesside and tackling the chaos of gong shows, Helen’s story is one of resilience, reinvention, and finding laughter in unlikely places.This is a Gen X–heavy episode, featuring talk of Angel Delight, BMX bikes, fish paste sandwiches, and the laissez-faire attitude of boomer parenting.🎬 Episode HighlightsPerforming alongside childhood heroes and getting pointers from newcomers90 Day Fiancé, and why 'real' telly is not quite so real anymoreThe secrecy around tampons and how some of them can be a tad mintyThe questionable food choices of a 1980s childhoodHow receiving the wrong bicycle is worse than getting nowt🎭 About HelenHelen White is a stand-up comedian from the North East of England. Known for her quickfire gags, smart observational humour, and disarmingly honest stage presence, she’s fast becoming one of the most exciting voices on the regional and national circuit — proving that the best comedy always comes from real life.🔗 Connect with HelenInstagramFacebook📢 Follow the PodcastStay updated with the latest episodes and behind-the-scenes content:InstagramTikTokYouTubeThis podcast is now called All My Clothes Need Burning. We’ve leaned into the chaos.Host: Steve Otis GunnGuest: Helen White – ComedianDuration: 1 hour, 26 minutesRelease Date: November 13, 2025Season: 4, Episode 26All music written and performed in this podcast by Steve Otis GunnPlease buy my book, You Shot My Dog and I Love You, available in all good bookshops and online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Best of Aussies & N-Zedders🎙️ Episode OverviewIn this laugh-packed compilation, host Steve Otis Gunn sits down with some of the best comedic and acting minds from Australia and New Zealand. From absurdist brilliance to sharp social satire, these comics share stories, punchlines, and a few behind-the-mic moments that’ll have you grinning from ear to ear.Whether you’re into dry wit, character comedy, or straight-up chaos, this episode’s got you covered — a true celebration of Antipodean humour at its finest.😂 FeaturingA killer lineup of talent from both sides of the Tasman:🇦🇺 AustraliaSam SimmonsDaniel MuggletonRobert MorganMark Treverrow (a.k.a. Bob Downe)Harry JunStephen CurryDane SimpsonJenny TianAnge LavoipierreNick SchullerPhil HammondTom BallardJohn Robertson🇳🇿 New ZealandJarred ChristmasNic SampsonPerfect for fans of Aussie & Kiwi stand-up, comedy festivals, and off-beat interviews.📢 Follow the PodcastStay updated with the latest episodes and behind-the-scenes content:InstagramTikTokYouTubeThis podcast is now called All My Clothes Need Burning. We’ve leaned into the chaos.Host: Steve Otis GunnGuest: VariousDuration: 36 minutesRelease Date: November 6, 2025Season: 4, Episode 25All music written and performed in this podcast by Steve Otis GunnPlease buy my book, You Shot My Dog and I Love You, available in all good bookshops and online. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.