Movies with Rhianna

We're dipping into the back catalogue for this episode of Screen Time, and we time travel back to 2023 to hear Florence Pugh talk to our Ali about her career so far whilst she was in town talking about her (then) latest film, 'A Good Person'. Since then she’s been in 'Oppenheimer' and - if you listen to this interview - was up for being in Paddington 3. But then in the end, wasn't.

Ted Lasso veteran and star of the new series of 'Surface', Phil Dunster, joins Ali for a chat about all sorts of happy nonsense this week. Including Reading’s best bits (the place, not the thing you do with words). There's also chat about YouTube rabbit holes and the times people have accidentally called Phil “Jamie Tartt” and not, you know, his actual name. There’s also some genuinely grown-up conversation about his career in there too. Anyroad, he’s perfectly charming, as you'll find out by listening to this episode!

Ali talks to the cast of Captain America: Brave New World! So find out what Anthony Mackie, Harrison Ford & Danny Ramirez have to say for themselves!

It's awards season, so here are some awardsy conversations with awards-worthy people! That's Adrien Brody on 'The Brutalist' in the first half, and then Sean Baker and Mikey Madison on 'Anora'. 'The Brutalist' is, at long last - with emphasis on the word "long" - in cinemas here in the UK, while 'Anora' is available on digital download (the film first came out in November last year). Both are likely to win a fair few awards at the BAFTAs and the Oscars! So if you wanna feel like you're in the loop of award-worthy films, you've come to the right podcast!

Wicked has been, it’s fair to say, a bit of a hit. Filling up cinemas up and down the country (and across the globe), it’s undeniably a very big deal - and now it’s getting BAFTA and Oscar nominations even whilst it’s still in theatres, including one for Ariana Grande, Glinda herself. The very same Ariana Grande was kind enough to stop by BBC Radio 1 HQ recently for an in-depth discussion of her character and favourite moments from the film with our Ali. So as you may have guessed, if you’ve not seen the film yet… you may want to watch it before you press play on this one!

Just in the nick of time - as January finally decides to pack up its things and go home - friends of the podcast Clarisse Loughrey (of The Independent's Chief Film Critic Fame) and Ian Sandwell (Digital Spy's Movie Expert) stop by once again to talk to Ali about those motion picture films you've been hearing so much about. Things start with a review of films worth checking out that first arrived in 2024, then they look forward to the future to let you guys know what's worth circling on your calendars, release date-wise. Apologies in advance, of course, if any film releases change their dates at the last minute (we're looking at you, Mickey 17).

Friend of the show and TV expert Scott Bryan stops by for his annual "review of the year before, preview of the year to come" special, touching on loads of shows worth watching (or rewatching) in the near future. Then, as a bonus of bonuses, Timothée Chalamet and Edward Norton appear to talk about their new Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, which just so happens to have earned six BAFTA nominations this week - including one for both TC and EN, but of course...

Colman Domingo is an incredible actor and his new film, Sing Sing, is incredible in of itself, telling as it does the real-life story of the thatre group in New York’s Sing Sing Correctional Facility, incorporating real-life people who went through what you see on screen, acting as versions of themselves. It’s a special film and if it’s passed you by, this interview will make you very curious to watch it indeed, we think...

Star of Spaced, the Cornetto Trilogy, Paul, Tintin, Cuban Fury, the upcoming How To Train Your Dragon live action remake and now his own new horror comedy called Get Away (which he just so happened to write) Nick Frost is one of those human beings who likes to keep himself busy, whether it's in films or TV or writing books or cooking up a storm in his kitchen. Here as a little New Year treat, he talks to our Ali about all that and more in a rambling conversation best suited for an idle wintery walk or a lengthy bit of Masterchef-worthy food prep. Or, well, anything else you fancy to be honest.

Robert Eggers (The Witch, The Lighthouse, The Northman) is finally releasing his take on Nosferatu - you may be aware of the 1922 vampire classic - over 100 years since the original. In doing so, he’s gathered together an incredible group of actors, some of which spoke to Ali for this here podcast on advance of its Jan 1st, 2025 release. So… happy nearly new year! (And look out for Count Orlok, just in case)

Today we have a very, very, very special episode of Radio 1's Screen Time for you in honour of the upcoming Wallace And Gromit adventure, Vengeance Most Fowl - set to hit UK TV screens on Christmas day at 6.10pm on BBC One, by the by - in the form of a bumper-edition behind-the-scenes on-set audio documentary all about everyone's favourite stop-motion duo. Heading to Aardman's studios in Bristol to see how the magic is made, Ali has (as you'll hear) the time of his life speaking to the likes of directors Nick Park and Merlin Crossingham, star Ben Whitehead and many of the other incredible people who work so hard to bring the cheese-loving icons of animation to our screens.

Today we have a return visit from a friend of the show, the comedian and actor and voice artiste Ben Schwartz, who just happens to be Sonic in that new motion picture film called Sonic The Hedgehog 3 (out next week, December 21st, fact fans). He’s also Jean Ralphio in Parks and Rec, Clyde Oberholt in House Of Lies, Dewey Duck in Ducktales… the list goes on and on. He’s also the man behind touring improv super show “Ben Schwartz And Friends” and just so happens to think and speak supersuperfast, so expect an "all over the place" conversation between Ali and Ben - in a good way - as they talk about all sorts, including James Marsden in Jury Duty and what to do when an interview goes very, very wrong...

That foolish human being known as Ali Plumb has managed to injure himself - but that’s not stopped him from getting you a podcast for this particular week, oh no no. Stepping up to the plate to help is the wonderful Auliʻi Cravalho, voice of Moana - as well as two of the directors of Moana 2 and its songwriters, Barlow And Bear. Not bad eh? Particularly when you remember this new sequel is break box office records left and right.Safe to say Moana 3 is going to be a thing sooner rather than later (not forgetting that live-action version they’re cooking up…)

An accidentally rhyming title for this week's episode of BBC Radio 1's Screen Time as friends of the show Clarisse Loughrey (The Independent's Chief Film Critic) and Ian Sandwell (Head of film at Digital Spy) stop by to give Ali their thoughts on two of the biggest films out right now, namely Wicked and Gladiator 2 - plus a few other bits and pieces as well. Then at the end, as a special bonus extra, the eternally charming Jude Law talks about his role in the new Star Wars TV series Skeleton Crew (out December 3rd, fact fans), carefully dancing around whether his character is a Jedi or not. He's done this press junket dance before, it seems...

Simply put, Thomasin McKenzie is of the best young actresses working today, appearing in the likes of Leave No Trace (one of Ali's favourite dramas of the past decade or so), Last Night In Soho, The Power Of The Dog, Jojo Rabbit, Eileen and now Joy, her latest, now on Netflix. Joy tells the story of the three British fertility pioneers who helped make IVF a reality, namely an obstetrician called Patrick Steptoe (Bill Nighy), a physiologist called Robert Edwards (James Norton) and a nurse / embryologist called Jean Purdy (McKenzie). In this episode of the podcast, Thomasin talks about working within this trio of charming acting types, the importance of highlighting Purdy's achievements and her love of My Neighbour Totor (you'll see).

Today we’re talking about Gladiator 2 with - would you believe it - the cast of Gladiator 2, namely Paul Mescal, Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington, not forgetting relative newcomer Fred Hechinger (Eighth Grade, The White Lotus, The Fear Street series). You’ll hear them talk about working with the legend that is Ridley Scott, the joy of being in a swords and sandals epic, the legacy of the first film and what it’s like performing with a monkey. Yes, a monkey. One of the emperors has a monkey. Yes, there are two emperors. Just... enjoy.

Friend of the podcast Daisy Ridley stops by BBC Radio 1 towers to talk about her new film, Magpie, which she not only stars in but also produces, alongside her husband Tom Bateman, who also - checks notes - wrote the screenplay. It's a family affair, this one. It's also a neo-noir (as it goes) centring around an unhappily married couple (Ridley and Shazad Latif), their child and an alluring actress. Perhaps it's best if Daisy explains, which she does oh-so-eloquently early on in this episode. As well as Magpie, Ali and Daisy talk all sorts of other nonsense (as it often the way) including The Great British Bake Off and the most eccentric actor she's ever worked with. Let the guessing start... now.

Himesh Patel - star of Yesterday, Tenet and Good Grief - stops by BBC Radio 1 towers to chat with Ali about his new TV show, the behind-the-scenes-of-a-superhero-blockbuster comedy from Armando Iannucci, Sam Mendes and Jon Brown called ‘The Franchise’. Along the way, the pair talk about the new Hugh Grant horror film The Heretic, the pleasures of In The Loop and the joy of doing jigsaws with Richard E. Grant. Seriously.

For this very special episode of BBC Radio 1's Screen Time, Ali got to visit Framestore, the legendary visual effects house where - amongst other things - the preposterously charming Paddington is brought to life. So that bathtub down the stairs scene? The barbershop chicanery? The hair-raising train sequence from the end of Paddington 2? These guys. Speaking to producer Rosie Alison, VFX animation director Pablo Grillo and our new director Dougal Wilson (stepping into the shoes of Paul King, the man behind the first two Paddington films), Ali found out more about how everyone's favourite marmalade-loving bear ends up on our screens, makes us cry and leaves us really hankering for a particular kind of sandwich.

Friends of the podcast Clarisse Loughrey (The Independent's chief film critic) and Mike Muncer (of Evolution Of Horror podcast fame) stop by to talk about three things: Joker: Folie à Deux, The Wild Robot and, um, Smile 2. As you probably worked out from the title of the episode here. Plus, Naomi Scott (the star of Smile 2) also pops up towards the end to talk about the fun and games she enjoyed - sort of - on the set of the eagerly anticipated horror sequel.