TV & Film

Cracking TV

by Luke & John

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Latest episodes

Teatime Gameshows Part 3

May 12, 2026 · 1 hr 11 min

Do you know your Willi Wacker from your Fanny Chmelar? It's almost time for John to pick a teatime gameshow. But not before we hear about two of the biggest shows to the century: Luke's final pitch The Chase, versus John's own pick…
Teatime Gameshows Part 2

April 28, 2026 · 1 hr 15 min

Luke's pitching more teatime game shows, and he's bringing out the big guns: perhaps the best quizzers in the world in Eggheads; and arguably the greatest TV format deviser, Richard Osman, with his House of Games. And, erm, 100% and…
Teatime Gameshows Part 1

April 14, 2026 · 1 hr 18 min

Game shows are back - and this time it's personal. Luke is pretty desperate to get a game show commissioned. Having failed with morning and afternoon slots, he's now pitching for teatime - the home of Blockbusters, Eggheads, The Chase…
Top of the Pops - 00s Crash

December 16, 2025 · 1 hr 11 min

Who killed Top of the Pops? We leap into the 21st century… as TOTP is heads towards its doom. John will pitch the Chris Cowey, Andi Peters and Mark Cooper eras. And Luke must choose the best era of all. John has nine chances to win…
Top of the Pops - 90s Hangover

December 2, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min

The 90s are dawning, and Top of the Pops is on a comedown after the excesses of the 80s. Paul Ciani tries to keep the party going, but before long Stanley Appel decides a Year Zero approach is needed. That doesn't last either, and Ric…

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Top of the Pops - 80s Party

November 18, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min

We move into the 80s, and Luke's favourite era of Top of the Pops: the Michael Hurll years. It's a massive party, with balloons, lasers, and cheerleaders. There's even a roundabout. Great presenters like Kid Jenson, Janice Long, and John…
Top of the Pops - 70s Glam

November 4, 2025 · 1 hr 12 min

Top of the Pops has moved into the 70s and John’s pitching the Stanley Dorfman and Robin Nash eras. Can he convince Luke that this was peak TOTP? Glam! Disco! Punk! Bowie blowing a nation’s mind by putting his arm around another man! Legs…
Top of the Pops - 60s Groove

October 21, 2025 · 1 hr 2 min

It was Number 1, it was Top of the Pops... but when was it at its best? The greatest bands and singers? The coolest theme tune? The least irritating hosts? Luke and John are about to find out. They start in the 60s, when Johnnie Stewart…
Saturday Nights - Live! Part 3

April 8, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min

Let’s get rrrrrrrreaddddyyy to rhuuuuuuumble…. Our quest for the perfect live Saturday night show moves into the 21st century, as the new kings of TV, Ant and/or Dec, build on the House Party and Toothbrush formula - and arguably perfect…
Saturday Nights - Live! Part 2

April 1, 2025 · 59 min

Luke and John are still looking for the perfect live Saturday night show for their schedule. As Noel’s House Party wanes, Channel 4 brings something totally different: a live anarchic and interactive show hosted by a sometime Radio 1…
Saturday Nights - Live! Part 1

March 25, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min

John has given Luke a very specific brief: a live Saturday night show, packed with unpredictable and exciting ideas and loads of audience interaction. Naturally Luke’s first thought is Noel Edmonds. But will John be impressed by gunge…
Saturday People Shows Part 3

February 11, 2025 · 55 min

In the final part of their quest for a Saturday night people show, Luke and John move into the 90s with You Bet! and Barrymore. It’s time for Luke to make his mind up - but not before some incredible stunts, outrageous antics, and a Brucie…

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About the show

We're Luke & John, two mates who've been working behind the scenes in television for nearly fifty years between us, trying to crack its secret. We're on a mission to create the dream schedule for our very own TV station, Cracking TV. In each episode we'll be talking about classic shows from a particular genre, picking one to fill a slot in our schedule. We're going to find the ultimate programmes for the ultimate TV channel. We'll take it in turns to be the commissioner and the pitcher; the pitcher will bring a number of shows in the hope of scoring that big commission. However, the commissioner's already got a first-rate show in mind. Will the pitcher successfully get one of his shows commissioned, or will he fail and suffer the embarrassment of being thrown out of the commissioner’s office in disgrace? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.