Episode 261
Sharks, Celebs, and an 80s Mix Tape
Ian and Hannah review the biggest new films and bingeable shows on UK streaming services for the week beginning Friday 18th July 2025, including:
In the vast expanse of Yosemite National Park, a woman's death draws a federal agent into lawless terrain — where nature obeys no rules but its own, in Netflix series Untamed.
Seven celebrities including Sir Lenny Henry and Dougie Poynter embark on a dangerous journey to the Bahamas to swim with sharks in the ITV's aptly named reality show Shark! Celebrity Infested Waters.
A bookseller helps the police solve the strangest of crimes and the knottiest of murders - while hiding his own secrets. Mark Gatiss stars in detective drama Bookish on NOW TV.
Years on from their teen romance in 80s Sheffield, music brings them back together - was this the love they were meant to have? Romance and heartbreak with a banging soundtrack in BBC iPlayer's Mix Tape.
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Transcript
Foreign.
Speaker B:Welcome to Binge Watch, the podcast where we take a look at the hottest new TV and film releases on streaming television platforms.
Speaker B:I'm Hannah Fernando, the group editor of Woman and Womanhome magazine.
Speaker A: th July: Speaker B:And we'll also be checking out Mark Gutiss, period whodunit bookish on you and romantic drama mixtape on BBC iPlayer.
Speaker B:But first, Ian, what is in the news?
Speaker A:Jennifer Aniston will star in the Apple TV plus comedy.
Speaker A:Well, dramedy it says here I'm Glad My Mum Died about a self centered mother and her teenage daughter who is a TV star.
Speaker A:What else is in the news?
Speaker A:Hannah?
Speaker B:Well, appropriately for someone playing a serial killer in Dexter Resurrection, Neil Patrick Harris will host a new Netflix game show called what's in the Box?
Speaker A:Hmm.
Speaker A:Could it be a severed head?
Speaker A:We don't know.
Speaker A:Well, good selection this week.
Speaker A:I know I overused that phrase, but it's actually true.
Speaker A:Hannah and we're going to start on Netflix with a new six part drama called Untamed.
Speaker A:And here's a clip people come here to Explore.
Speaker A:See, maybe 10% of the things happen different out here.
Speaker A:So this stars Eric Banner who's done all sorts of things, hasn't he, from the Incredible Hulk to Troy.
Speaker A:And it's set in Yosemite national park in California and he plays Federal agent Kyle.
Speaker A:And literally the jumping off point is when someone falls from a promontory and is found dead.
Speaker A:And it's suspected that it's a suicide, but he thinks otherwise.
Speaker A:Okay, now he's his character.
Speaker A:I love this character.
Speaker A:Kyle Turner.
Speaker A:He, he's a bit like Matthew Good's character in Department Q in that all his colleagues really hate him and he's just really difficult and rude and arrogant.
Speaker A:They're quite similar in some ways.
Speaker A:And Banner is great in this.
Speaker A:It's good to see him playing this kind of character.
Speaker A:He lives in this sort of cabin in the park which is a complete mess.
Speaker A:He goes around on horseback.
Speaker A:And of course, Hannah, with so many troubled detective types, he's got a complex backstory which is going to unfold.
Speaker A:You've got Sam Neill, veteran actor Sam Neill of Jurassic park fame and so many other things where he plays the head park ranger who is sort of a mentor and friend.
Speaker A:We also have Rosemary DeWitt from La La Land plays Kyle's ex wife Jill, who has a new partner.
Speaker A:But she's still kind of in touch with him and worried about him because he sort of rings her up when he's drunk late at night.
Speaker A:Anyway, long story short, he will be teaming up with this rookie ranger called Naya Vasquez, played by Lily Santiago, and hopefully solve the mystery.
Speaker A:And they've got to say it's a really exciting and unexpected opening sequence which I will not ruin for you.
Speaker A:But yeah, I really liked it.
Speaker A:I thought it was excellent.
Speaker A:What did you think, Hannah?
Speaker B:I quite liked it, actually.
Speaker B:I. I don't know.
Speaker B:I don't know if there's been something recently that sort of, you know, in the news that's been like this.
Speaker B:I.
Speaker B:My brain now, some holidays is completely already fried.
Speaker B:But I don't know, it feels like it's really credible, you know, the idea that someone could fall, it's such an.
Speaker B:It's an accident.
Speaker B:Right?
Speaker B:It seems like an accident, but actually, as you say, you know, they want to uncover the real cause of the death.
Speaker B:And of course that's when the interest really starts.
Speaker B:And I think, I don't know, I was hooked quite quickly.
Speaker B:As you say.
Speaker B:That kind of opening sequence is pretty exciting.
Speaker B:You feel, you feel on a journey and a quest for, I suppose, justice.
Speaker B:And it's not something I think I'd necessarily have gone to actually.
Speaker B:Something like this.
Speaker B:I don't think I've gone yet.
Speaker B:This is something that I really want to, really want to watch.
Speaker B:But, but it, I've.
Speaker B:I've enjoyed what I've seen so far.
Speaker A:Yes.
Speaker A:Funnily enough, it slightly reminded me of Jaws, which has been very much in the news because in that the authorities don't want to say there's been a shark attack because that's bad for tourism.
Speaker A:And in this, people don't want to say there's been a murder in the park because that will frighten off the tourists.
Speaker A:Anyway, speaking of sharks, over on ITVX we have shark celebrity infested waters.
Speaker A:And here's a clip.
Speaker A:Jules made us all think that you get in the water and there's a shark, a Marlowe, and it's gonna come and eat you.
Speaker A:Nothing could be further than the truth.
Speaker A:Seven novice celebrities, three shark experts.
Speaker B:Adams are the biggest, most frightening, majestic creatures on the planet.
Speaker A:Drama, adventure, genuine tears, genuine emotion.
Speaker B:I want to come out.
Speaker B:I want to come out.
Speaker A:Want to come out, please.
Speaker B:Yes, well, this was the right one to give me to review, wasn't it Ian?
Speaker B:Because celebrities in shark infested waters.
Speaker B:I can't think of anything better myself.
Speaker B:Where are the right celebrities in those waters?
Speaker B:I'll leave you to that.
Speaker B:Need you to decide on that one.
Speaker B:But we've got Selena Henry in there, Lucy Punch, Helen George, Dougie Pointer from At Flying Fame, Ross Noble, Aid, Adepatan, Adam and Rachel Riley of course from Countdown.
Speaker B:And it's, I mean it's just another take on another reality show.
Speaker B:So it's been 50 years since Jaws was on.
Speaker B:So I think this is kind of like you know, a clear nod to that and these celebrities and they're not the only celebrities or non celebrities that absolutely terrified of sharks.
Speaker B:So guess what they're going to do?
Speaker B:They're going to put them in those shark infested waters.
Speaker B:It feels like a real it TV production this one.
Speaker B:It kind of reminds me a little bit of I'm a celebrity, get me out of here.
Speaker B:Pushing people in the public eye really out of their comfort zone and when you are scared you tend to act up.
Speaker B:And I think that there's a lot of Personas that people create.
Speaker B:Isn't there a public profile?
Speaker B:And that's the beauty of something like I'm a stability out of get me out of here.
Speaker B:That's sort of the beauty of this really is that you're pushing someone well out of their comfort zone and seeing a different side to them that you, you don't normally see.
Speaker B:So performers confident, you know, out there seemingly and in this, of course, you know, there they are being doing something that they're absolutely terrified of doing.
Speaker B:And I mean the backdrop is absolutely beautiful to be in shark infested waters.
Speaker B:They're pretty clear and so that kind of aquamarine blue and just look absolutely beautiful.
Speaker B:But you can just see.
Speaker B:And of course the editing is absolutely, absolutely perfect on this.
Speaker B:You know, the sharks all swimming at the top of the water and they've got it, they've got to go in there and it really does, it really does push boundaries.
Speaker B:It's a bit silly.
Speaker B:It's, it's, it's.
Speaker B:I don't know that you'd keep on doing something like this.
Speaker B:I don't think it's a show that's.
Speaker B:Maybe I'm wrong that you'll get series out of series but I can see people being pushed out of the conversation with other animals.
Speaker B:I suppose we've seen it with Bear Hunt, haven't we?
Speaker B:And various other ones.
Speaker B:But I For me, and I think I've said this before, the claustrophobia that you feel of being underwater and being that close to sharks.
Speaker B:I originally thought they'll just all be in cages and actually that's not the reality.
Speaker B:And, you know, what could possibly go wrong?
Speaker B:And you can only hope that with a production like this that they really are as safe as they can possibly be.
Speaker B:But, yeah, it's.
Speaker B:It, you know, I.
Speaker B:They showcase sharks in a really good way too.
Speaker B:You know, Jaws was obviously the animal to be frightened of and you should hate sharks.
Speaker B:And this shows a different side, which I think is also really nice as well.
Speaker B:We've never been so aware of the importance of our oceans and I think this highlights that too.
Speaker B:So I think, overall, a pretty big thumbs up from me.
Speaker B:What did you think, Ian?
Speaker A:I was pleasantly surprised because of the title and the fact that it's on itv, which is of course home of I'm A Celebrity.
Speaker A:I was worried that it would be quite naff and that I wouldn't like it, but it's pretty good, I must say.
Speaker A:I. I like the people they've chosen to take part.
Speaker A:Good sort of variety and it's.
Speaker A:It is quite educational.
Speaker A:And as you say, it, it's about teaching people that sharks don't deserve this terrible reputation and they're essential for the ecosystem in our Asians.
Speaker A:So they're literally in at the deep end.
Speaker A:In episode one, they're being taught by one guy who has lost two limbs in a bull shark attack, and they discover that on their very first day, they're going to be diving with bull sharks, but luckily they're going to be in a cage.
Speaker A:And Helen George, well, she has a fear of putting her head underwater and.
Speaker A:And she very quickly becomes.
Speaker A:She becomes the person who would get voted to do every task on I'm A Celebrity because she is.
Speaker A:She's genuinely terrified.
Speaker A:And although part of me thinks, well, why did you sign up for this?
Speaker A:It makes for very good tv, I must say.
Speaker A:And they're all very supportive of each other.
Speaker A:As you say, it looks good, the footage in the water is brilliant.
Speaker A:And then the next stage they go to is having lemon sharks just swimming around their legs while they're in the shallows.
Speaker A:So.
Speaker A:And they're going to build up.
Speaker A:They're going to build up to diving with these bull sharks without a cage.
Speaker A:There's a lot of jeopardy there.
Speaker A:So, yeah, I thought it was great.
Speaker A:I really enjoyed it.
Speaker A:Over on you and Alibi and available as a box set on Sky Virgin.
Speaker A:And now We've got a new period drama series called Bookish and here's a clip.
Speaker A:My name's Book.
Speaker A:Book's Books.
Speaker A:You must be here about the job, Jack.
Speaker A:This is Trotty, my wife.
Speaker B:Hello.
Speaker B:Well, they found something in suspicious circumstances.
Speaker A:My favorite kind of circumstances.
Speaker B:Start at the beginning, Inspector, and leave nothing out.
Speaker A:Especially if it's salacious, gory or vaguely scandalous.
Speaker A:Bit of a puzzle.
Speaker B:What exactly is it you do?
Speaker A:I sell books.
Speaker B:Yeah, but that's not all, is it?
Speaker A:This One is from Mr. Mark Gattis of the League of Gentlemen fame.
Speaker A:He created it, he stars in it.
Speaker A:He plays Gabriel Book, who, yes, runs a bookshop called Books Books and it's set in post war London, so obviously there's still a lot of damage from the Blitz.
Speaker A:And, yeah, everything's kind of up in the air.
Speaker A:You know, women have been doing different kind of roles during the war.
Speaker A:And then the men come back.
Speaker A:There's a lot of illegal weapons out there because soldiers have brought back guns from the war.
Speaker A:Anyway, Polly Walker co stars as Mrs. Book.
Speaker A:Mrs. Trotty Book.
Speaker A:However, of course, at this time, being a homosexual was illegal and so it's actually a lavender marriage.
Speaker A:And, yeah, she runs the shop next door.
Speaker A:And as we start, Book has a new assistant, Jack, played by Connor Finch.
Speaker A:From Everything I Know About Love, he's come out of prison and so he's somewhat surprised to be taking on this job working in a bookshop.
Speaker A:But Book doesn't just run a bookshop, he also solves crimes using his great knowledge of literature.
Speaker A:So it's.
Speaker A:I mean, everything that the guys from the League of Gentlemen have done just has a stamp of quality all over it.
Speaker A:And Gattis, what a CV he has.
Speaker A:I mean, he's done things like Sherlock, he's written a lot of Doctor who.
Speaker A:I mean, he's just incredibly talented as a writer, but he's also a superb actor.
Speaker A:Comedy or straight drama or a sort of combination of the two.
Speaker A:And he.
Speaker A:There's a.
Speaker A:There's a bit of humor in this as well.
Speaker A:He's got some good guest stars lined up.
Speaker A:You've got Rosie Cavaliero and Mr. Daniel Mays.
Speaker A:So, yeah, it's.
Speaker A:It's quirky, it's different.
Speaker A:I enjoyed it.
Speaker A:What did you think, Hannah?
Speaker B:I think it's really lovely, actually.
Speaker B:You talk about this kind of, this relationship, this very unconventional marriage, and that's the bit that hooked me, really.
Speaker B:And the kind of, the close relationship that they, they knowingly have, because, as you say, being gay wasn't legal.
Speaker B:At that point, and that alone, I think that storyline alone is really interesting.
Speaker B:Then add into it, you know, the whole kind of solving these complex cases and what have you, just adds to it.
Speaker B:But it.
Speaker B:Which means it's multi leveled, you know, there's just more and more.
Speaker B:It's the gift that keeps on giving in many ways.
Speaker B:So it's just not one dimensional.
Speaker B:And I think that's really important.
Speaker B:As you say, the people producing this and making this, you would expect no less, really, would you?
Speaker B:And there aren't any, really, chinks in the armor.
Speaker B:Sometimes I think that when there's a script, there's just too much going on.
Speaker B:There's a lot going on here, but you're invested in every single part of it.
Speaker B:So, again, not necessarily something that I'd be drawn to, but I think is absolutely brilliant.
Speaker A:Yeah.
Speaker A:And I should add, there's a couple of good police officers in this.
Speaker A:You got Inspector Bliss a bit.
Speaker A:It's a bit similar to Sherlock.
Speaker A:You should kind of get involved in police investigations because of his expertise.
Speaker A:That's what happens with Burke.
Speaker A:Inspector Bliss, played by Elliot Levy.
Speaker A:And Blake Harrison from the in Betweeners, plays Sgt.
Speaker A:Morris, who finds Book rather annoying.
Speaker A:And yes, the first, it's a sort of double case.
Speaker A:So in a bomb site, lots of skeletons are discovered and Book is called to the scene to give his views.
Speaker A:And then we also have a separate case of.
Speaker A:Of someone who has been poisoned.
Speaker A:Could they be linked in some way?
Speaker A:I will leave you to find out.
Speaker A:We're going to finish on BBC Iplayer with another new drama series called Mixtape.
Speaker A:And here's a clip.
Speaker B:Has anyone ever made you a mixtape?
Speaker B:A collection of songs that remind someone of you?
Speaker A:Someone to play you.
Speaker A:The only thing I care about.
Speaker B:We should be out having fun, seeing girls.
Speaker B:I'm not coming back.
Speaker B:Can't you tell me now, even after all these years?
Speaker B:Just like you said, both married, you never forget the boy who makes you your first mixtape.
Speaker B:Do you know what?
Speaker B:I really wanted this to be exactly what it was, because I am one of those people that used to mix tapes and put songs onto tapes, whether it was for, you know, cassette tapes, for a lot of people won't even know what they are, will they?
Speaker B:Because even.
Speaker B:Even the CD is just so ancient now.
Speaker B:Probably shows up, my age, but you have these cassette tapes and you'd make them.
Speaker B:And I can remember my dad, like, reeling the.
Speaker B:You know, there's that sort of strip, isn't there, that kind of.
Speaker B:That goes around and it.
Speaker B:Yeah, anyway, it's.
Speaker B:It's it makes me feel very, very old.
Speaker B:But yeah, this is absolutely what I wanted and more because this is kind of centers around the idea of mixing tapes and that you, that you, that your first love, the first person that you mix a tape for is a person perhaps that you, that you should end with, end up with, or that you have an ultimate connection with.
Speaker B:And it is, I mean, this is just a very, really, very fluffy romantic, lots of brilliant music, I will say, because of course this, this goes back in time.
Speaker B:So you can see at the very beginning a couple in their early years who made tapes for each other and then as fate would have it, they bring them back together with their paths cross in the future.
Speaker B:So you get sort of the early days with two different actor and actors and then the latterly with older actors.
Speaker B:The two timelines.
Speaker B:Quite often I find timelines a bit long.
Speaker B:Oh, God.
Speaker B:You know, I've got to really concentrate here.
Speaker B:That, that's not, that's not the case here.
Speaker B: ad the novel which was out in: Speaker B:And this is, this is based on that.
Speaker B:So inspired by that, I should say.
Speaker B:And it's a four parter and it's.
Speaker B:I mean, the soundtrack alone is worth, worth tuning in for.
Speaker B:You know, you've got the Cure, Stone Roses, it just absolutely gets you going.
Speaker B:I love music, so it really works for me.
Speaker B:But also underlying that is this kind of, you know, fairly ridiculous love story and, you know, can they, can they end up together?
Speaker B:But I think it will be a big hit with people.
Speaker B:I think people will really, really like it.
Speaker B:And I certainly did.
Speaker B:It's light entertainment, I would say.
Speaker B:Ian, what did you think?
Speaker A: ful, charming, especially the: Speaker A:So, yes, you have Alison and Daniel meet at school in Sheffield.
Speaker A:They bond over their love of music, but they're not destined to stay together because we then meet them as adults and they're played as adults by Teresa Palmer and Jim Sturgess.
Speaker A:Daniel finds Alison, who's now a successful writer and he's a journalist.
Speaker A:He sees something about her latest book, he looks her up on Facebook.
Speaker A:He sends a friend request.
Speaker A:And part of me was thinking this is a really bad idea because, you know it's going to drop a bomb into both of their lives.
Speaker A:And also she now lives in Australia and they've both hooked up with partners who clearly are not the perfect fit for them.
Speaker A:And it's this idea, this kind of yearning of what if, you know, what if.
Speaker A:And we find out that Alison actually has a quite, as a child, has quite a complex home life and there's some tragedy that will play out.
Speaker A:So, yeah, I think it's really well done, really good.
Speaker A:And, and yeah, yeah, I, I don't think people are necessarily going to be thinking, yes, you have to get back together.
Speaker A:They might be thinking this is a bad idea.
Speaker A:But anyway, fantastic soundtrack and yeah, the young actors who play them as teens, I just think they were so naturalistic and convincing.
Speaker A:I was really impressed and that's what really gives this story heart.
Speaker A:So, yeah, recommended.
Speaker A:Well, we've got to that time, Hannah, where we find out what the hell you've been binge watching.
Speaker B:Well, interestingly, because of course, the Gallagher brothers are on tour, hamming it up and being friends all over again.
Speaker B:So mad for it.
Speaker B:I don't know if you've got tickets, Ian, whether you're in that queue, whether you're willing to spend your, your, your life savings, but I'm watching Once in a Lifetime sessions with Noel Gallagher.
Speaker B:He.
Speaker B:He takes you back.
Speaker B:I mean, it's obviously on for this reason, everyone.
Speaker B:There's a massive interest in Oasis at the moment and, and kind of takes you, you back through the years of his kind of recording.
Speaker B:It's.
Speaker B:Yeah, if you like Oasis, you'll like.
Speaker B:You'll like.
Speaker B:You'll like this.
Speaker A:And Supersonic, the Oasis documentary, by the way, is available on iplayer and a jolly good watch.
Speaker A:Well, for my part, yeah, I've really got into this anthology documentary series called Trainwreck that we've talked about a lot, Hannah, and the latest one is called Balloon Boy and it's about this crazy American family man who.
Speaker A:He builds a sort of.
Speaker A:It looks like a big flying saucer and it's inflated by helium and it drifts off into the sky and they think his youngest son is.
Speaker A:Is inside.
Speaker A:So that just goes crazy on the American news networks.
Speaker A:Anyway, see how it pans out.
Speaker A:It's pretty interesting now we've just got time.
Speaker A:Oh, but that's on Netflix, by the way.
Speaker A:Sorry, we've just got time to look ahead to next week's offerings is another good week.
Speaker A:So what's on the agenda, Brenda?
Speaker B:Well, Keeley Hawes and Freddie Highmore play a contract killer and her son in a new Netflix thriller called the Assassin.
Speaker A:Yes, very good, that one.
Speaker A:I've watched episode one and, oh, Tom Basdon's delightful Sam Lee sitcom.
Speaker A:Here we go with Basdon and Katherine Parkinson and fantastic Alison Stedman and Jim Howick, of course, returns on BBC iPlayer.
Speaker A:So looking forward to that and much, much more.
Speaker A:But in the meantime, dear listeners, keep.
Speaker B:Watching.
