If you have tinsel on the brain and mulled wine in your blood, this is the podcast for you. We’re living in a golden age of delightfully cheesy Christmas movies, and on Bah Humbug we examine the biggest new offerings this season, as well as looking back at classic seasonal favourites. Think Kurt Russell in The Christmas Chronicles 2, Dolly Parton in Christmas On The Square and Kristen Stewart in Happiest Season. Hosted by Helen O’Hara (the Empire podcast, His Darker Materials) and a rotating ...
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It's not often that you see a Christmas film with Oscar buzz, nor one that the studio for some reason decide to release in the second half of January. Yet here we are, with the excellent cast and crew of The Holdovers. The reunion of Sideways' director and Star, Alexander Payne and Paul Giamatti respectively, sees them tackle the story of a depress…
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SHOW BLURB Welcome to Pop Culture, the podcast that puts soft drinks at the top of the menu. Helen O'Hara and Kat Brown are arts journalists who don’t drink: Helen's a life-long teetotaller, and Kat is four years sober. Join us as we explore the culture lifting soft drinks out of the dark ages, hear from guests about their favourite non-booze optio…
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Folklore: not just a Taylor Swift album. In this Norway-set horror / comedy, an enraged barn elf just ruins a family Christmas in revenge for being fed fish instead of cookies. It may be a relatable beef, but it's taken to extremes in a sort of Gremlins-esque romp through Norwegian folklore. Director Magnus Martens joins us to talk about the levels…
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John Woo is back, and he's brought a Christmas movie: now that's the kind of present we like to see under the tree. Or is it? To discuss this new Christmas-set tale of revenge and voicelessness starring Joel Kinnaman, your host Helen O'Hara (@HelenLOHara) is joined by Amon Warmann (@AmonWarmann) to delve into questions of action, representation and…
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Apple TV's big Christmas extravaganza this year is a showcase for the multi talented Hannah Waddingham, the star of Ted Lasso who is also a classically trained opera singer and Broadway star. As she gathers celebrity friends and family for an evening of Christmassy fun, Charlotte Harrison (@sometimescharlotte) joins me to talk variety shows, musica…
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Is it a Christmas film? Technically maybe not. But then again, yes, utterly. Paul King's follow-up to Paddington 2 is a musical, an ode to the power of chocolate and one of the most delightful films of the year, and in this episode Helen is joined by The Independent's film critic Clarisse Loughrey (@ClarisseLoughrey on Twitter) to discuss how Wonka…
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It's Christmas Eve at Wayne Manor, and little Damian Wayne is home alone. WHAT COULD GO WRONG? Well, this animated caper suggests quite a lot might happen, and our young hero is going to have to extend every bit of his efforts to saving Christmas for the whole of Gotham. It's a madcap adventure, and joining your host, Helen O'Hara (@HelenLOHara) in…
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Bad news: you've lost your job and your wife and daughter have left you. Good news: you just rubbed a random antique and a genie popped out. That's the premise of the new film Genie, starring Paapa Esiedu and Melissa McCarthy and based on a Richard Curtis TV film of 1991. We spoke to director Sam Boyd all about directing this new version of the sto…
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You know the one about the dyslexic who sold his soul to Satan? Well, imagine that but it's a family comedy starring Eddie Murphy and instead of Satan it's a rogue Christmas elf. We have an exclusive interview with director Reginald Hudlin and screenwriter Kelly Younger to find out more about how it all came together. Then join your host, Helen O'H…
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How can the same s**t happen to the same couple twice, as John McClane might ask? Well, it's a bigger and weirder mix-up of Christmas plans in this British comedy, the sequel to last year's Your Christmas Or Mine. We're once again joined by stars Asa Butterfield and Cora Kirk to talk about everything that went into making this Alpine adventure, and…
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It was a famous flop, but the big-budget magic of Santa Claus: The Movie - just re-released in cinemas in a new 4K format - still has a lot to offer. That's especially true for today's guest, comedian and author Marc Burrows (@20thCenturyMarc), who joins your host Helen O'Hara (@HelenLOHara) to talk animatronic reindeer, Mrs Claus-related trauma an…
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It's a spectacular pun, based on the best Christmas Film Of All Time (TM), but now with added slasher action. This Christmas horror isn't for the faint of heart, but definitely has lots of red in it, a small-town where everyone has lessons to learn about the holiday spirit, and even a bit of romance. What's not to love? Your host, Helen O'Hara (@He…
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20 Years of Tokyo Godfathers, Love Actually, Elf, and Bad Santa
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It's 20 years since perhaps the best year for Christmas movies, the 2003 binge that gave us Love Actually, Elf and Bad Santa. But it also gave us one other Christmas classic, less well-known but at least as good. Your host, Helen O'Hara (@HelenLOHara), sits down with Jake Cunningham and Michael Leader of @Ghiblioteque to discuss Satoshi Kon's extra…
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Spirited AND Scrooge: A Christmas Carol
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It wouldn't be Christmas without some variation on A Christmas Carol attacking our screens, and this year offers two new takes on Charles Dickens' classic story. So Victoriana enthusiast Sarah Cooke joins the pod to talk about both, and The Dickens Fellowship General Secretary Paul Graham stops by to explain what it is about this story that has mad…
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Another special bonus episode today, this time focusing on Christmas monsters. Dr Emily Zarka has made an academic study of things that go bump in the night, and as well as teaching her students how to survive the monster apocalypse (we assume) she's the host of PBS show Monstrum. We invited her to come in for a chat earlier this year about the Kra…
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Guardians Of The Galaxy Christmas Special
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The Marvel Cinematic Universe has delivered another Christmas-themed treat, and Radio 1 film critic Ali Plumb joins us to discuss it. This time it's a one-off short that sees Dave Bautista's Drax and Pom Klementieff's Mantis head to Earth to kidnap Kevin Bacon. Ah, Christmas spirit! If you’ve enjoyed listening to “BAH HUMBUG”, please take a moment …
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One of the classics turns a sprightly 75 this year, so film historian Pamela Hutchinson and The Independent's film critic Clarisse Loughrey took the time out to talk Cary Grant, angels, having fantasies of someone tidying your office, and the many charms of The Bishop's Wife... If you’ve enjoyed listening to “BAH HUMBUG”, please take a moment to gi…
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Brace yourself: The Noel Diary is a Netflix Christmas romance that has some actual dramatic substance! Film critic Amon Warmann and editor Amanda Keats get involved in the discussion of this story of buried family secrets, long-lost parents and a tiny degree of actual realism among the fairy lights. If you’ve enjoyed listening to “BAH HUMBUG”, plea…
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Christmas is not just a time for peace and joy; it also makes a great setting for mayhem. The Evolution Of Horror's Michael Muncer comes by to talk about this robot killer Santa Claus movie, while director Joe Begos drops in to explain just why he loves carnage. If you’ve enjoyed listening to “BAH HUMBUG”, please take a moment to give us a lovely 5…
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It's strange that one of America's favourite holiday films, A Christmas Story, is barely a blip on the radar in the UK, but with new sequel A Christmas Story Christmas emerging this year, now seemed like the perfect time to discuss the phenomenon that is Ralphie Parker (Peter Billingsley) and his desperate quests for the perfect Christmas. Sam Clem…
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Tim Allen returns in the role that defined Santa for a generation - this time on the small screen - and film critics Tom Beasley and Charlotte Harrison drop by to give their verdict. Allen's Scott Calvin is thinking of turning in the suit and retiring to Florida, but first he has to find another Santa to replace him. All these legal clauses, who'd …
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BONUS EPISODE: Your Christmas Or Mine interview with Screenwriter Tom Parry
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A special bonus episode today, with Your Christmas Or Mine screenwriter Tom Parry explaining how his Christmas comedy of errors came to be, and how he spends his own Christmas. Best enjoyed in conjunction with the Your Christmas Or Mine episode, of course, which also contains cast interviews. If you’ve enjoyed listening to “BAH HUMBUG” please take …
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Muppet Christmas Carol 30th Anniversary
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It's time for one of the big ones! The Muppet Christmas Carol turns 30 this year so podcaster Tom Salinsky and film critic Olly Richards dropped in to explain why it's one of the absolutely nailed on Christmas classics. Does it need the extra song that's been added back in? What's it like to meet Kermit? All these and more questions will be answere…
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Lindsay Lohan is back, and this time she's in a Christmas movie that dares ask, what if Overboard, but no-one was awful? Cathy and Dave from The Cinemile join Bah Humbug for a thorough dissection of the hunky hotel owner that an amnesiac Lohan meets, and discuss all the movie's couples we wish had ended up together... If you’ve enjoyed listening to…
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What if Jolly Old Saint Nick went bloody all John Wick? That's the brilliant premise of Tommy Wirkola's fun Christmas action movie, and author and award-winning podcast Maria Lewis joins the show to talk through all the madness of a film where David Harbour's Santa Claus does for man-buns what Colin Firth once did for wet shirts. If you’ve enjoyed …
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This Is Christmas is the heartwarming story of what might happen if you stood up and talked to some strangers on the train. No, it's not about murder! People can be nice. Joining your host, Helen O'Hara, is guest Christmas expert and journalist Olly Richards. We're also joined by the star of the film, Alfred Enoch, who has perhaps the most unusual …
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Welcome back to Bah Humbug for another Christmas season! Today we're starting with Your Christmas Or Mine, the first of two train-based British Christmas movies this year. Here, young lovers James (Asa Butterfield) and Hayley (Cora Kirk) decide to surprise one another at Christmas - only to miss one another in the middle and end up at the other's f…
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In order to celebrate the release of Helen's book "Women Vs Hollywood" in North America, we're releasing this special episode featuring the full interview with the amazing Lani Diane Rich. If you're in North America make sure to grab a copy now! You can follow Lani Diane Rich (she/her): @LaniDianeRich on Twitter Find out more about her work at http…
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In order to celebrate the release of Helen's book "Women Vs Hollywood" in paperback, we're releasing this special episode featuring the full episode with Shelley Stamp. If you prefer paperback books or love purple books make sure to grab a copy now! Shelley Stamp (she/her): @StampShelley on Twitter Find out more about her work at https://people.ucs…
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A Hawkeye Christmas with Directors Bert and Bertie
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Bert and Bertie, directors of the Marvel TV show, join Helen to talk all about filming a TV show based at Christmas If you’ve enjoyed listening to “BAH HUMBUG” please take a moment to give us a lovely 5 STAR rating on Apple Podcasts. It really helps other people to find the show. If you haven’t done so already please subscribe to this podcast so yo…
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Everyone loves "Home Alone", don't they? Well maybe not! Ali Plumb and Chris Hewitt join Helen to debate this as well as discussing the latest film in the series "Home Sweet Home Alone" If you’ve enjoyed listening to “BAH HUMBUG” please take a moment to give us a lovely 5 STAR rating on Apple Podcasts. It really helps other people to find the show.…
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"Silent Night" director Camille Griffin joins Helen to talk all about her film and Christmas in general. If you’ve enjoyed listening to “BAH HUMBUG” please take a moment to give us a lovely 5 STAR rating on Apple Podcasts. It really helps other people to find the show. If you haven’t done so already please subscribe to this podcast so you auto-magi…
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Last Train to Christmas with Michael Sheen
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Renowned actor Michael Sheen joins Helen to talk about The Last Train to Christmas and his own traditions at Christmas! If you’ve enjoyed listening to “BAH HUMBUG” please take a moment to give us a lovely 5 STAR rating on Apple Podcasts. It really helps other people to find the show. If you haven’t done so already please subscribe to this podcast s…
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The Advent Calendar - A Scary Christmas Movie Chat with Kim Newman
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"Do you like scary Christmas movies?" Wait. Hold on. Is there such thing as scary Christmas Movies? Kim Newman, the UK's foremost horror critic joins Helen to discuss the niche. If you’ve enjoyed listening to “BAH HUMBUG” please take a moment to give us a lovely 5 STAR rating on Apple Podcasts. It really helps other people to find the show. If you …
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Helen is joined by comedian Richard Sandling (@RSPerfectMovie, @Squat_Betty) to talk about "Love Hard" If you’ve enjoyed listening to “BAH HUMBUG” please take a moment to give us a lovely 5 STAR rating on Apple Podcasts. It really helps other people to find the show. If you haven’t done so already please subscribe to this podcast so you auto-magica…
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Is "Love Actually", actually any good or is it bad, actually? Helen invites Olly Richards and James Dyer to debate its merits! If you’ve enjoyed listening to “BAH HUMBUG” please take a moment to give us a lovely 5 STAR rating on Apple Podcasts. It really helps other people to find the show. If you haven’t done so already please subscribe to this po…
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Should there be 3 Princess Switch Movies??? Helen is joined by actor Stephen Hagan and friends Clarisse Clarisse Loughrey, @clarisselou and Charlotte Harrison, @CharlotteSometimes to decide! If you’ve enjoyed listening to “BAH HUMBUG” please take a moment to give us a lovely 5 STAR rating on Apple Podcasts. It really helps other people to find the …
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Comedian David Morgan joins Helen O'Hara to chat about Netflix' "Single All The Way" If you’ve enjoyed listening to “BAH HUMBUG” please take a moment to give us a lovely 5 STAR rating on Apple Podcasts. It really helps other people to find the show. If you haven’t done so already please subscribe to this podcast so you auto-magically get the next e…
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Director Aml Ameen joins Helen in the Bah Humbug studios to discuss the new festive film "Boxing Day" If you’ve enjoyed listening to “BAH HUMBUG” please take a moment to give us a lovely 5 STAR rating on Apple Podcasts. It really helps other people to find the show. If you haven’t done so already please subscribe to this podcast so you auto-magical…
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Helen chats with Director Gil Keenan about A Boy Called Christmas! If you’ve enjoyed listening to “BAH HUMBUG” please take a moment to give us a lovely 5 STAR rating on Apple Podcasts. It really helps other people to find the show. If you haven’t done so already please subscribe to this podcast so you auto-magically get the next episodes for free a…
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A Castle For Christmas with Jenny Colgan
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Jenny Colgan joins Helen to talk about the merits of living in a Scottish Castle in real life and otherwise! If you’ve enjoyed listening to “BAH HUMBUG” please take a moment to give us a lovely 5 STAR rating on Apple Podcasts. It really helps other people to find the show. If you haven’t done so already please subscribe to this podcast so you auto-…
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In this episode of Women Vs Hollywood, Helen O’Hara is joined by actress and founder of Primetime Victoria Emslie, film financier Jasmin Morrison, and Laura Grange, who is Head of Acquisitions at a major broadcaster. Helen asks her guests how things are changing for the better in the film industry, especially in terms of finance, distribution, and …
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In this episode of Women Vs Hollywood, Helen O’Hara is joined by investigative journalist Lucy Osborne, film historian Shelley Stamp, and actress Jessica Regan to discuss the impact of the #MeToo movement on Hollywood and society at large. We’ll hear how far back sexual abuse in Hollywood goes, what impact it has on women in the film industry, and …
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You can purchase Women vs Hollywood in the UK, here: https://uk.bookshop.org/books/women-vs-hollywood-the-fall-and-rise-of-women-in-film/ You can purchase the audiobook of Women vs Hollywood on Audible in the UK, here: https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Women-vs-Hollywood-Audiobook/ You can purchase the audiobook of Women vs Hollywood on Audible in the U…
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In this episode of Women Vs Hollywood, Helen O’Hara is joined by economist Dr Sofia Izquierdo Sanchez, academic Susan Kemp, and actor Jessica Regan to talk about the gender pay gap between men and women in Hollywood. You’ll hear about research into Hollywood’s wage inequality, how society dictates the value we place on ourselves, and our guests’ pe…
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In this episode of Women Vs Hollywood, Helen O’Hara is joined by film critics Anna Smith, Simran Hans and Rebecca Harrison to discuss the impact of film criticism on the movie industry. You’ll hear about our guests’ experiences as female film critics, great critics of the past like Pauline Kael, and also how things are slowly beginning to improve f…
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EPISODE 5 - STUDIO ERA In this episode of Women Vs Hollywood, Helen O’Hara is joined by Shelley Stamp and Susan Kemp to discuss the Studio Era, which began in the early 1920s and lasted until the end of the 1940s. The studio system was designed to treat film as a factory product, and it had a huge impact on women, people of colour, and LGBTQ+ peopl…
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Helen O’Hara is joined by Phyllida Lloyd, Tina Gharavi, Amy Adrion, Sarah Grant and Cathy Brady to discuss their experiences as female directors. We’ll hear about their struggles, their triumphs, and their hopes for the future. You can find our host, Helen O’Hara (she/her), on Twitter @HelenLOHara. You can also find Helen on The Empire Film Podcast…
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EPISODE 3 - SILENT MOVIES In this episode of Women Vs Hollywood, Helen O’Hara is joined by Radha Vatsal, Shelley Stamp and Pamela Hutchinson, to discuss the very beginning of the film industry, and the women who found success in the Silent Era. Surprisingly, women often had better opportunities to make it in the movie business in the early 1900s th…
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In this episode of Women Vs Hollywood, Helen O’Hara is joined by Clare Binns, Holly Tarquini, Sophie Monks Kaufman and Tricia Tuttle, to discuss the impact of festivals on women in the film industry. They’ll explore the ways that festivals have excluded women in the past, and the ways that women are fighting for better representation today. You can…
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