The Lowdown, The Hunting Wives, and A Ghost Story For Christmas. With guests Paul Bettany and Will Sharpe

The Lowdown, The Hunting Wives, and A Ghost Story For Christmas. With guests Paul Bettany and Will Sharpe

Author: Empire Magazine December 22, 2025 Duration: 1:28:25

Paul Bettany and Will Sharpe don their frock coats for Amadeus on Sky and we speak to both of them on this week’s show as they chat all things Mozart with Boyd. Plus we wrap up a festive haul of shows for under your Christmas tree, taking a look at Mart Gatiss’ latest Ghost Story For Christmas, The Room in The Tower on BBC2, getting drawn into the sweedy underbelly of Texan high society in The Hunting Wives on ITV, and finally getting to take a ride with Ethan Hawke’s ‘truthstorian’ as The Lowdown finally splashes down here in the UK on Disney+. All that and Kay loses the power of speech, Boyd recounts a harrowing experience at The Ivy where the doorman didn’t know who he was, and James reveals the embarrassing truth of how he spent 469 hours this year.

(Episode 368)


If you’re trying to keep up with the sheer volume of television arriving each week, it’s easy to feel adrift. That’s where Pilot TV comes in. Brought to you by the team behind The Empire Film Podcast at Empire Magazine, this weekly discussion cuts through the noise to highlight the series truly worth your time. Each episode finds hosts James Dyer, Boyd Hilton, Steph Seelan, and Kay Ribeiro gathered for a lively, informed chat that feels like eavesdropping on the best kind of TV-loving friends. They deliver a smart, comprehensive rundown of new releases across every platform-from streaming services to terrestrial broadcasts-ensuring you never miss a must-see show. Beyond the reviews, the podcast brings you breaking industry news and sits down for conversations with some of television’s most influential creators and stars. It’s the perfect companion for anyone who wants to navigate the modern TV landscape with insight and a critical eye, transforming the weekly deluge into a curated viewing guide. Tune in for a genuinely essential, and thoroughly entertaining, take on the small screen.
Author: Language: en-gb Episodes: 100

Pilot TV
Podcast Episodes
Prisoner 951, Watson, and Changing End [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:20:39
There are chocolates in the studio this week — albeit ones that were initially destined for our editor Darren, but let’s gloss over that, shall we? In addition to raising our blood sugar levels while doing this week’s sh…
Pluribus, All Her Fault, and Wild Cherry. With guest Jack Whitehall [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:23:48
We get nothing from Malice from guest Jack Whitehall this week, who chats with Boyd about his new show. Malice (20:57-35:20). But on the rest of the pod, we’re all sweetness and light, mainly as we not only have a new Vi…
Down Cemetery Road, I Love LA, and Robin Hood. With guest Ruth Wilson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:35:03
Ruth Wilson in uncovering a conspiracy this week, both in Down Cemetery Road on Apple TV (1:02:18), and on this very podcast, for she is this week’s guest (33:12-48:43). Plus we’re back among the branches of Sherwood for…