Box of Delights

Julia is joined by Scottish giant (often mistaken for hot Santa) Stephen Oswald who tells her all about filming the excessively festive Netflix movie, A Castle for Christmas.It was lockdown, 2020, and an obsession with knitting was about to take a hold of the plucky thespian as he travelled back to his native Scotland for 3 months to film with a bunch of similarly confused actors and Brook Shields! This one is quite a (sleigh) ride.If you're looking for a podcast episode to put you in a Christmas mood, step right up. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The brilliant author, Hattie Williams, joins Julia to recount her early experiences watching The X Files on BBC Two.No 9-year-old should see the things she's seen, but she finds the show's serial killer - Eugene Tooms - more funny than frightening now. Remember the yellow-eyed lurker who lived in nests made of his own lick and slithered through sewage pipes in search of his next victim?Well, Hattie does in great, gratuitous detail.Her gripping debut novel - Bitter Sweet - is out now in hardback and is totally unputdownable. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist and author Michael Hogan reminisces with Julia about the blink-and-you'll-miss-it BBC soap opera Eldorado. A costly experiment for the BBC which built a small village in which to shoot the sun-soaked Spanish saga that only ran for a year in the early nineties.Julia's never really gotten over the cancellation of Wogan to make way for it and for what?Michael's brilliantly witty and twisty debut cosy crime novel - The Dog Walkers' Detective Agency - is out now and available in paperback. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The brilliant actor Liz Bower asks you to push away your dinner and join her in the offices of Sterling-Cooper advertising agency in New York as a feckless employee mounts a ride-on mower, after one too many wines, and causes bloody havoc.A truly memorable moment from one of the greatest TV shows of all time. Is Jon Hamm still hot? How did production design get the blood to spatter so perfectly on the shocked faces of those extras? And a short Dave Grohl correction. Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The star of, among other things, Netflix's A Castle For Christmas, Stephen Oswald chats to Julia about being far too small to watch Hammer House of Horror in 1980 when it went out on ITV and the particular moment from his favourite episode which involved a children's birthday party and a lot of fake blood.If you have yet to watch A Castle For Christmas, go and check it out. An absolute delight of a festive film and it'll be good homework for our festive special closer to Christmas! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actor and audio-book queen Liz Bower tells Julia (who is basically Zombie-phobic) about the time her favourite undead series killed off one of her favourite characters.Full disclosure, we recorded Liz's episodes ages ago and The Walking Dead universe may have thrown up several new iterations since we sat down to chat about it almost TWO YEARS ago. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author Hattie Williams tells Julia about her formative love of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, and how it broke her heart when Angel died. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join author Kate Weston as she remembers watching in horror the episode of Byker Grove (CBBC) where young Gemma touched a dodgy plug and died of electric to the horror of us all.Kate's latest novel - How to Make a Killing - is set in the sordid world of high-powered estate agency and has been described as "Selling Sunset with incident tape". And it's OUT NOW. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brilliant actor and voice of the Don't Make Me Laugh audiobook, Liz Bower tells Julia about the deep emotional scars left by watching Grange Hill's Zammo descend into heroin addiction.And she remembers the TV moment which, for a while, she was most recognised for. Listen to the end for a nostalgic reminder. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist and author Michael Hogan talks about his love of duffle-coated, accidental detective Jonathan Creek and how his fondness for cosy crime went on to inspire his debut novel.The Dogwalkers' Detective Agency is out now and follows the adventures of Charlie Boardman and his beloved Staffy, Ruby as they go on the trail of a killer after finding a body on their morning walk.It's been hailed by the likes of Claudia Winkleman and Marian Keyes and is the perfect Autumnal read, full of twists, turns and Hogan's trademark humour. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Surprise! Julia and Joel are jiving back into your feed for a special episode of COME STRICTLY DANCING. Hepped up on tinsel and at least two cocktails a piece, they discuss the whole Strictly 2024 shebang including the summer of scandal, what was going on with Wynn and Katya and how the nation and the show got the right winner in the end.Put another log on the fire and kick back for an hour and a bit of inconsequential dance chat. Happy Christmas! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After the world's longest podcast hiatus (will verify with Norris McWhirter) Julia is back for a chat with regular guest (and, yes, he happens to be her husband), comedy writer Joel Morris.They reminisce about the TV of Christmases past and look forward to the new traditions they're making with their own family. But mostly it's just them bunking on about Blue Peter fire hazards, Victoria Wood, the big Christmas day film, Noel Edmonds, more Victoria Wood, dancing newsreaders and how excited they are about the Ghosts special on Christmas Day.If you're in a Yule-ish mood, why not scroll back to some of our Christmas specials from 2020 including THIS lovely one about The Good Life Christmas Special with Greg Haiste or THIS absolute beauty from Toby Davies looking back at the quite wonderful Children of Green Knowe. We hope you have a lovely Christmas free of disease and distemper and we'll see you in 2024! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

TV producer Geri O'Donohoe remembers the utterly heart-wrenching finale to Six Feet Under and the personal resonance it particularly holds for her. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian Mitch Benn talks to Julia about the time he saw the mighty Rik Mayall at the first ever Comic Relief live show in 1986. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Brilliant actor and star of Home (C4) Youssef Kerkour joins Julia to recount the thrilling, often excruciating episode of Succession in which Logan Roy (Brian Cox) returns to his home town in Scotland. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writer and podcaster Chris Thorpe-Tracey joins Julia to discuss his deep love for the 90s blood-sucker butt-kicker. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Novelist Jenny Colgan remembers the pure teen lust generated by Nick Kamen stripping to his pants in a launderette. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christmas is a time for ghost stories, so let's tenuously link to that by listening to the brilliant Tony Way reminisce about the bone-chilling terror induced by his viewing of Ghostwatch (BBC One) as a slightly tipsy teenager. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia helps comedian Mitch Benn to revisit the trauma of that day in 1982 when his innocence was swiftly taken by the death of Doctor Who companion, Adric. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcaster and man Jake Yapp barely controls his emotions as he returns to the Wales of his boyhood to weep over Small Films' delicate wonder, Ivor the Engine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writer and broadcaster Sali Hughes remembers the furore around the Blind Date fake contestant scandal of 1998 and reveals some thrilling new behind-the-scenes details. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian Tom Burgess buckles up to relive the THRILL ride that was Richard Hillman's gruesome tenure as the Coronation Street serial killer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The brilliant actor Youssef Kerkour tells Julia about getting the feels watching the Money Train episode of The Shield, just after experiencing 9/11 in New York. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian and podcaster Jake Yapp (he's on Radio 4 every week with Now Wash Your Hands) gets all misty talking about one of the world's most soothing TV programmes, Irish Paint Magic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writer and podcaster Chris Thorpe-Tracey comes to sing a hymn of praise to Toby of The West Wing. Amen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian Eleanor Morton tucks into a plate of devilled nostalgia in the shape of BBC Two's The Supersizers. They would literally eat anything. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia and her husband, comedy writer Joel Morris, remember the magical day they visited Peter Firmin's house in Kent, where Small Films made Bagpuss, Noggin and the rest of their wondrous shows. (And do visit @boxdelightspod on Twitter to see some photos.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedy writer (and Julia's husband) Joel Morris takes us all back to our happy place, in front of the TV, watching the best children's programme ever, Bagpuss. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actor and sometime Reeves and Mortimer collaborator Tony Way relives the delicious comedy treat that is Vic & Bob's take on Masterchef. BONG. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Screenwriter Toby Davies takes us back to the early 90s where a good-hearted physicist tried desperately to help others in a bid to go home. Quantum Leap, anyone? (May contains scenes of someone singing Imagine.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Television producer Geri O'Donohoe takes one for the team and relives her teenage (and ongoing) Joshua Jackson obsession with this classic episode of 90s teen drama Dawson's Creek. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcaster Jake Yapp demonstrates an impressive command of French pronunciation as he lavishes praise on the sexy French agents of Dix Pour Cent (Call My Agent). Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Podcaster and producer Chris Thorpe-Tracy goes all misty thinking about the lovely surrealist animation Adventure Time and their mesmerising food chain sequence. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian Mitch Benn remembers the hazy days at the end of the 80s, sitting up and watching ITV's Night Network into the small hours. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Television critic Michael Hogan straps on a ponytail and canters happily through the memory of Darius Danesh's appearance on ITV's Popstars. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist Sophie Harris steps through the smoky doors of time as, tonight Matthew, she sings the praises of Stars in Their Eyes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Broadcasting legend Richard Madeley remembers the sliding doors moment, on Calendar News, when his job led him to true love. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian Tom Burgess shudders at the memory of the children's TV adaptation of Gillian Cross's The Demon Headmaster. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The actor Tony Way peers through his fingers at the memory of Angie Bowie causing chaos in the CBB house, 2016, when news broke of David Bowie's death. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Comedian Eleanor Morton gets her torch and goes back to investigate 90s educational drama, Spywatch, taken from the BBC's Look & Read programme. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Satirist and podcaster Jake Yapp joins Julia to discuss the baffling 1980s gameshow 3-2-1. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Author Jenny Colgan chews her lip at the memory of a very racy Northern Exposure episode where the residents of Cicely, Alaska are waiting for the ice to crack. Happy Valentine's. x Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writer and actor Mark O'Sullivan chooses Lynne Perrie's memorable appearance on no-holds-barred 90s entertainment show, The Word. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist and broadcaster Sali Hughes enthuses about her solid gold love for Victoria Wood and, in particular, the glorious mock-doc from As Seen on TV. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actor and star of Home (Channel 4) Youssef Kerkour talks about warm times making series 1 as we celebrate the launch of series 2 on 5th Feb 2020. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist Sophie Harris rounds off the Christmas specials talking to Julia about her ultimate festive TV treat - The Box of Delights. (This is part 2, so please listen to part 1 first!) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Journalist Sophie Harris goes small and goes swift as she remembers the magic of the BBC's The Box of Delights. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Actor Greg Haiste bows down before the festive greatness that is the Father Ted Christmas special. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia's husband, Joel Morris, interviews her about her favourite festive comedy, Knowing Me Knowing Yule with Alan Partridge. (Part two of two.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julia's husband, Joel Morris, interviews her about her favourite festive treat, Knowing Me Knowing Yule with Alan Partridge. (Part one of two,) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.