This week on Geektown Radio, Dave is joined by Gray, who’s back from his stag do and catching up on a truly eclectic mix of TV, from reality drama and surreal comedy to nostalgic pop documentaries and cerebral sci-fi.
The pair dive into four standout shows: ‘Celebrity Traitors’, ‘Pluribus’, ‘Girl Bands Forever’, and ‘Juice’, along with all the latest news in TV, film and streaming.
‘Celebrity Traitors’
Gray kicks things off with a reality TV masterclass, celebrating the finale of ‘Celebrity Traitors’, which he calls “the best celebrity version of any show in years.”
Hosted by Claudia Winkleman, the celebrity spin-off took everything that made the original Traitors compelling and added a dream cast including Stephen Fry, Jonathan Ross, Paloma Faith, Tom Daley, and Claire Balding. Despite the big names, what made it work was how everyone dropped their egos and played as equals, sharp, strategic, and gloriously dramatic.
It became true appointment-to-view TV, with staff rooms, group chats, and social feeds lighting up after every episode. Even early exits didn’t dent anyone’s reputation; if anything, the show made them more likeable.
Gray highlights the “Big Dog Theory,” a fan-made belief that Claudia would cast one big star as a traitor and another as a faithful, which led to Stephen Fry’s shock exit early on. He also notes how the mix of comedians, broadcasters, and musicians created a genuine social experiment rather than a fame contest.
The BBC has already confirmed a second season for 2026, and the show’s production reportedly injected more than £21 million into the Scottish economy. “It’s redefined what celebrity reality TV should look like,” says Gray. “Everyone’s now calling their agent trying to get on it.”
‘Pluribus’
Dave switches gears to Apple TV for ‘Pluribus’, the latest creation from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul mastermind Vince Gilligan, reuniting him with Rhea Seehorn.
Seehorn stars as Carol, a disillusioned romance author who becomes one of just eleven people immune to a strange alien signal that connects the rest of humanity into a single hive mind. What starts as a mysterious sci-fi setup quickly becomes a philosophical drama about individuality, freedom, and whether peace without choice is paradise or prison.
“It’s clever, patient, and unsettling in the best way,” says Dave. “Gilligan takes a huge concept and grounds it emotionally. Apple’s the perfect home for something this strange and beautiful.”
Only two episodes are out so far, but both agree it’s a series worth sticking with, a slow-burn, brainy hit in the making.
‘Girl Bands Forever’
Next, both Dave and Gray dig into the BBC’s documentary ‘Girl Bands Forever’, a bold and funny three-part history of Britain’s biggest girl groups.
The series features candid new interviews with Melanie Blatt (All Saints), Kéllé Bryan (Eternal), Kerry Katona (Atomic Kitten), and members of Mis-Teeq, Sugababes, and Little Mix. They speak openly about the sexism, exploitation, and double standards that came with fame, from managers controlling what they ate to being punished for pregnancy or outspokenness.
The Spice Girls are covered extensively through archive footage, though none of the five chose to take part, leaving their impact to be reflected by their peers. By contrast, All Saints and Eternal recall how they were positioned as the “cool alternative” to the cartoonish “girl power” brand that dominated the late 90s.
Later episodes follow Atomic Kitten, Mis-Teeq, Sugababes, and Little Mix through the chaos of fame, tabloid scrutiny, and endless line-up changes. But there’s one glaring omission: Girls Aloud, not mentioned at all despite their huge influence.
‘Juice’
Gray also revisits the BBC’s surreal and heartfelt comedy ‘Juice’, created by and starring Mawaan Rizwan, alongside Russell Tovey.
The series blends vivid fantasy, physical comedy and emotional honesty, following Rizwan’s character as he wrestles with family, love, and identity, often literally breaking the fourth wall in bursts of music, dance and chaos.
“It’s bonkers in the best way,” says Gray. “Mawaan’s brain is so clever, and Russell Tovey is perfect as his partner. It’s brave, funny and emotional. I really hope it gets another season.”
(And yes, Gray still has the six-foot cardboard cut-out of Russell Tovey from his stag do, now standing proudly next to the TV.)
TV & Film News
Elsewhere in the episode, Dave and Gray run through all the latest headlines from the world of entertainment, including:
- ‘The Celebrity Traitors’ officially renewed for Season 2 (BBC)
- ‘Reasonable Doubt’ renewed for Season 4 (Hulu / Disney+)
- ‘Nobody Wants This’ renewed for Season 3 (Netflix)
- ‘The Night Manager’ Season 2 premieres on New Year’s Day 2026 on BBC One
- ‘Anne Rice’s Talamasca: The Secret Order’ arrives on Netflix UK this December
- ‘Watson’ starring Morris Chestnut picked up by Sky
- ‘The Revenge Club’ starring Martin Compston and Aimée-Ffion Edwards lands on Paramount+
- ‘Y: Marshals’, the next Yellowstone spin-off, set for 2026
- ‘Safe Houses’, an Apple TV spy thriller from Homeland creator Gideon Raff
- Brett Goldstein heads to Prime Video for his new rom-com Escorted
- And in perhaps the week’s strangest story: Jennifer Lawrence and Emma Stone are developing a Miss Piggy movie inspired by cancel culture
Highlights for the Week Ahead
Some notable premieres hitting UK screens:
- ‘A League of Their Own’ – Final Season (Sky Max) – Wednesday, 12th November at 9pm
- ‘Palm Royale’ – Season 2 (Apple TV) – Wednesday, 12th November
- ‘Allegiance’ – New crime drama (U&Alibi) – Thursday, 13th November at 9pm
- ‘The Beast in Me’ – Thriller starring Claire Danes and Matthew Rhys (Netflix) – Thursday, 13th November
- ‘Chicago Med’, ‘Chicago Fire’ and ‘Chicago PD’ return on Sky Witness – Friday, 14th November
- ‘Landman’ – Season 2 (Paramount+) – Sunday, 16th November
- ‘Summerwater’ – Channel 4 drama based on Sarah Moss’s novel – Sunday, 16th November at 9pm
? Listen to Geektown Radio Episode 479
Join Dave and Gray for full reviews, news, and plenty of geeky chat.
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