Any questions for this week’s Empire Podcast, folks?

Delighted to see that Send Help has become something of a sleeper hit. It had a really impressive hold at the box office at the weekend. All hail Linda Liddle. All hail my beloved possessed GOAT boy, Sam Raimi.

Caught up with the first two eps of Masterchef: The Professionals. It’s the one Masterchef show that didn’t need to replace Gregg (or John) — Marcus and Monica are more than capable, but Matt Tebbutt has slotted in nicely. M&M should do the skills test, mind. They’re amazing chefs — let them cook!

Friends fear that he caught Blade halfway through on Sky Movies and is watching it through to the end. Again.

Hello, friends. Any questions for this week’s Empire Podcast? I don’t wish to constrain you in any way, but perhaps think along the lines of Valentine’s Day. Thank you.

Recording our SEND HELP spoiler tomorrow, folks. Don’t send help — send questions and comments instead!

My apologies: I was fooled by the pic of Jackie Cooper. The episode on right now is a Robert Culp episode, and as such is a belter. I accept all responsibility for this egregious error. I guess you could say I was Culp-able.

What a bounty for Columbo fans today on 5Select. Jack Cassidy as a murderous Nazi magician; Donald Pleasance striking up an unlikely friendship with the good lieutenant; Jackie Cooper as a plotting politician (one of the great gotchas); a rare cracking latter Columbo; and Johnny motherfucking Cash!

You know what really boils my piss? The pissboiler2000 from JML.

Think I might have a new specialist subject.

Here is a podcast. Ain’t that enough?

And please, do keep suggestions coming for James Dyer’s new nickname.

What’s that? The first person to say, ‘Mount Rushmore of EGOTs!’, will have their question read out on the show? Wow!

Any questions for this week’s Empire Podcast, folks? Fire away!

I could share every single track from Groundhog Day — and maybe I have, for the last 10,000 years or so. But I’ll settle for this, the closing track, in which the clouds part for Phil. Love this song so much. music.apple.com/gb/album/see...

The original Broadway cast recording sees Barrett Doss excel as Rita in this song, One Day, which ends the first act. Love the meta reference to Ghostbusters II here. #GroundhogDayTheMusical music.apple.com/gb/album/one...

Andy Karl was tremendous as Phil Connors when I saw it at the Old Vic. (Naturally, it closed early on Broadway; no accounting for taste) Here’s his intro number, Day One. music.apple.com/gb/album/day...

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t... It’s Groundhog Day, so I’m going to take a few minutes to celebrate the amazing Tim Minchin musical. Here’s a podcast special I did with Minchin, director Matthew Warchus, and original Groundhog Day writer Danny Rubin.

Middle-aged status: researching cruises.

Again? The little shit did this yesterday!

Heard a rumour that Laura Kuenssberg will be the next high profile Tory to defect to Reform.

This is the guy whose question about specialist subjects triggered our little Mastermind segment. And he’s actually been on Mastermind!

Here is a podcast, available wherever you cast your pods. Ain’t that enough?

The weather in February has been absolutely shit. Do something, Baby Jesus.

The Mastermind (but, for legal reasons, nothing like Mastermind) section on this week’s pod was one of my favourite things in a while. Hope you enjoyed it, if you listened to it.

Hello, everyone. If you’ve binge watched WONDER MAN (it only takes about four hours all in), and have any questions and comments for the spoiler special we’re recording this afternoon, slide into my DMs like Trevor Slattery into the role of King Lear.

Of course Blades Brown isn’t his real name. Don’t be daft. Did you really think a professional golfer was actually going to be called Blades Brown? His real name is Blades Smith.

I am shocked — shocked — that The Traitors’ huge success has been followed by takedown pieces. Shocked, I tell you.

HOW IS THERE STILL A WEEK OF JANUARY TO GO???

Looks like Freddy got his Revenge after all.

Found my battered, tattered, slightly stained copy of How To Be A Superhero, one of the funniest books I’ve ever read. Anyone else read it?

Here is a podcast. Ain’t that enough?

picturehouses.com/movie-detail... Hey! You! Come along to this live commentary for THE BALLAD OF WALLIS ISLAND tonight! It’ll be fun and educational!

Any questions for the first in-studio Empire Podcast of the year, folks?

Due to a combination of live show, lurgy, and incompetence, we haven’t recorded this yet. Doing so tomorrow. Questions! We need more questions! About Avatar: Fire And Ash, principally. Can be story stuff, character stuff, box office stuff. Whatever you fancy.

It has now dropped. I am going back to bed. Hope you enjoy it (the pod, not my bed).

For those of you wondering why Episode 700 of the Empire Podcast hasn’t yet dropped, I was sick in bed all day yesterday (and some of today), so have only just finished editing it. Final checks to go, it’ll be up by the morning. Sorry for the delay. It’s worth the wait. Honest.

What a stellar evening. Incredible guests, hilarious chat. The stress of getting down there in time was worth it @chrishewitt.bsky.social @jamescdyer.bsky.social @helenlohara.bsky.social @bethwebb.bsky.social @benstravis.bsky.social @mrgodfrey.bsky.social Erm...when does the whistle thing kick in?

“It’s a sexy trap!”

An amazing night. I lost my voice the second the pod ended. Many of you will be wishing it happened sooner. Three and a half hours of great guests and giggling idiots. A glorious evening. 700 episodes in, and I’m ready for the next 700. Oh God, I’m going to be doing this until I die, aren’t I?

Sadly, I now have two tickets for the live Empire podcast tonight at @kingsplacelondon.bsky.social available for £15 each. DM or meet at venue. @empiremagazine.bsky.social @chrishewitt.bsky.social @helenlohara.bsky.social @jamescdyer.bsky.social

Things are awful, so a little treat for the real Crush-Heads. It is now eleven years since I got this printed in the Metro.

Timings for tomorrow night’s live show. There’s may still be some returns available online or on the door. This one is going to be truly special. Come along!

Hello, everyone. We are doing, as promised, an Avatar: Fire And Ash listener questions special. For this to work, we need questions from listeners. So, have at it. Do your worst. And do slide into my DMs with your questions, lest you anger Mother Eywa.

Hello, everyone. We are doing, as promised, an Avatar: Fire And Ash listener questions special. For this to work, we need questions from listeners. So, have at it. Do your worst. And do slide into my DMs with your questions, lest you anger Mother Eywa.

In "celebration" of thr Pepto Bismol ad now being on the radio, I took some popular radio-friendly songs and added the "Diarrhea" guy.

Three days!