Made in England

Ralph Fiennes plays Dennis Cleg, a schizophrenic who moves into a halfway house where he remembers and relives the traumas of his 1950s childhood, in David Cronenberg’s Spider (2002) . Violet Lucca , author of David Cronenberg: Clinical Trials , joins to discuss the film. Find Violet on Substack , Twitter and Instagram . Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Violet Lucca Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Breaking Glass (1980) follows new wave singer Kate (Hazel O’Connor) as she rises from the gritty punk scene to pop stardom. Flanked by aspiring manager Danny (Phil Daniels), she tries to hold on to her ideals (and her sanity) as she navigates the perils of the music industry. Music journalist Wesley Doyle joins to discuss the film. His new book Spellbound A Gothic Rock Compendium is published by Ruffian Books. https://wesleydoylewrites.substack.com/ Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Wesley Doyle Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf

Anthony Newley stars as a nightclub compere who has just a few hours to raise £300 to pay a gambling debt or face the violent consequences in The Small World of Sammy Lee (1963) . Writer and journalist Darren Richman joins to discuss the film. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Darren Richman Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf

Decades after the outbreak of the rage virus, the UK is quarantined from the rest of Europe and overrun with zombie-like Infected (and worse) in... 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (2026) . Writer Alex Garland and director Danny Boyle started the series in 2002 with 28 Days Later and returned in 2025 for 28 Years Later, which starred Alfie Williams as Spike, a teenager coming of age in post-apocalyptic Britain, and Ralph Fiennes as doctor-turned-mortician Dr Kelson. Nia Da Costa takes over the reins for the second part of a planned new trilogy, and Jack O’Connell joins the cast as Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal. Tom Allen joins to discuss the film. (02:40) 28 Days Later (09:38) 28 Weeks Later (17:25) 2012 Olympics opening ceremony (30:13) 28 Years Later (1:07:10) 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Tom Allen Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf

The Dashwood sisters find their prospects of marriage suddenly diminished by their family loss of fortune, in Emma Thompson’s adaptation of Sense and Sensibility (1995) . Thompson won the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay and is also part of the stellar cast, which includes Kate Winslet, Alan Rickman, Hugh Grant and Hugh Laurie. Ang Lee directed what is widely considered to be among the very best Jane Austen adaptations. Writer and illustrator Lizzy Stewart joins to discuss the film. Lizzy is the author of Alison and There’s a Tiger in the Garden which won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize and a World Illustration Award. Her new book, The Wreck , is available now from Jonathan Cape. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Lizzy Stewart Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Tom Cruise is forced to live, die, repeat in the sci-fi action thriller Edge of Tomorrow (2014) . Adapted from Hiroshi Sakurazaka’s light novel All You Need Is Kill, the film was directed by Doug Liman from a script by Jez and John Henry Butterworth and regular Cruise collaborator Christopher McQuarrie. Journalist Drew Taylor and filmmaker Charles Hood , who together are Light the Fuse: the official Mission Impossible podcast , join to discuss the film. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Drew Taylor and Charles Hood Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@madeinenglandpodcast Instagram: instagram.com/SLHC https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Richard Widmark stars as Harry Fabian, a conman trying to rustle up a few quid to break into wrestling promotion, in Night and the City (1950) . Based on Gerald Kersh’s novel of the London underworld, the film was made in England with American money, produced by Twentieth Century Fox and directed by the blacklisted Jules Dassin. Night and the City is atmospheric, exciting and gritty, and according to my guest, ‘may well be the definitive noir film’. Film historian Foster Hirsch joins to discuss the film. Foster is the author of many books, including The Dark Side of the Screen: Film Noir and Hollywood and the Movies of the Fifties. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Foster Hirsch Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Love is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998) stars Derek Jacobi in the title role and Daniel Craig as George Dyer, Bacon’s lover and muse. Directed by John Maybury. Writer, historian and broadcaster Sir Christopher Frayling joins to discuss the film. Christopher’s latest book, The Hollywood History of Art, which features this film, is available now from reelartpress.com . Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Christopher Frayling Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Charles Laughton stars as Rembrandt (1936) , in Alexander Korda’s biopic of the Dutch old master. Writer, historian and broadcaster Sir Christopher Frayling joins to discuss the film. Christopher’s latest book, The Hollywood History of Art, which features this film, is available now from reelartpress.com . Christopher will also appear on the next episode of Made in England, talking about Love is the Devil: Study for a Portrait of Francis Bacon (1998). Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Christopher Frayling Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

The Wicked Witch of the West gets to tell her side of the story in the Wizard of Oz prequel, Wicked (2024) . Adapted from the hit stage musical, Wicked follows Elphaba (Cynthia Erivo) and Glinda (Ariana Grande) on their journey from Shiz University to the Emerald City. Tamiko Dooley , composer lyricist and poet, joins to discuss the film. Tamiko is the creator of Flyology, a new musical. Follow Flyology on Instagram and Tiktok . Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Tamiko Dooley Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Naked (1993) stars David Thewlis as Johnny, a charming and articulate but vicious misfit, drifting around London on a nocturnal odyssey, colliding with a succession of desperate and dispossessed characters. Mike Leigh’s script is scintillating and it’s arguably his best directorial work too. The film won the best director and best actor prizes at the Cannes Film Festival. Alonso Ruizpalacios , writer-director of Gueros (2014), Museo (2018), A Cop Movie (2021) and La Cocina (2024), joins to discuss the film. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Alonso Ruizpalacios Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

A married man starts an ‘affair’ with two schoolgirls in bawdy Thatcher-era comedy, Rita, Sue and Bob Too (1987) . Written by Andrea Dunbar based on her own play, directed by Alan Clarke, and starring Siobhan Finneran, Michelle Holmes and George Costigan. Film writer Adam Lowes joins to discuss the film. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Adam Lowes Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

At 9.30pm on 23rd September 1984, with the Cold War still ongoing, the BBC broadcast nuclear fallout drama Threads . Written by Barry Hines and directed and produced by Mick Jackson, the film went well beyond looking at the effect of a nuclear bomb on buildings and people, it examined, in unrelenting and unflinching detail, what it would do to the very fabric of society. The Cold War may be over, but Threads, which is available to watch on BBC iPlayer, remains as terrifying and horrifying as when it was first shown. Illustrator Rebecca Strickson joins to discuss the film. Buy Becky’s work at https://rebeccastrickson.bigcartel.com . Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Rebecca Strickson Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Hitmen Jay (Neil Maskell) and Gal (Michael Smiley) take on a new assignment, but what starts as an easy task soon unravels, revealing darker things beneath, in Ben Wheatley’s Kill List (2011) . Heather Parry , author of Orpheus Builds A Girl and Carrion Crow, joins to discuss the film. Heather writes about film (and other things) at https://heatherparry.substack.com Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Heather Parry Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Steve Coogan stars as Tony Wilson in Michael Winterbottom’s comedy music biopic about the rise and fall of Factory Records, 24 Hour Party People (2002) . Writer and editor Paul Wilson (no relation) joins to discuss the film. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Paul Wilson Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Two brothers, Aston (Robert Shaw) and Mick (Alan Bates), take in a tramp (Donald Pleasence) and offer him the role of caretaker in their run down flat, in Harold Pinter’s The Caretaker (1963) . Barney Farmer, novelist and writer Viz comic strip Drunken Bakers, joins to discuss the film. Barney’s books are available from Wrecking Ball Press: https://wreckingballpress.com/authors/barney-farmer/ Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Barney Farmer Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Brian, a lonely inventor in rural Wales, builds himself a robot out of an old washing machine, but what happens when his companion wants to move on? Brian and Charles (2022) is written by and starring David Earl and Charles Hayward, and directed by Jim Archer. Artist Babak Ganjei joins to discuss the film. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Babak Ganjei Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

Moviedrome premiered on BBC 2 in May 1988, on a mission to show cult films to counter ‘the abysmal drek that passes for entertainment in contemporary cinema’. The show was hosted by Alex Cox, director of Repo Man and Sid & Nancy, who offered balanced and thoughtful intros to the films. A new season at the BFI brings some of Moviedrome’s most popular selections to the big screen and BFI player , with introductions from Alex Cox, producer Nick Freand Jones and others. Alex Cox returns to Made in England to talk about the show, the season and his upcoming film, Dead Souls. Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Alex Cox Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

November 1932: A group of wealthy guests and their servants gather in an English country house for dinner, music, and, inevitably, murder, in Robert Altman’s upstairs-downstairs comedy mystery, Gosford Park (2001) . The film was a hit with critics and audiences, becoming Altman’s biggest hit since M*A*S*H, and won several awards, including an Oscar for screenwriter Julian Fellowes. One of the most impressive ensemble casts ever put together, includes Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Helen Mirren, Kristin Scott Thomas, Bob Balaban, Kelly Macdonald, Clive Owen, Ryan Phillipee, Emily Waton, Alan Bates, Charles Dance, Richard E Grant, Derek Jakobi, and Stephen Fry. Crime novelist Nicolás Obregón joins to discuss the film. Nic’s latest book, The Sugar Man (Penguin Michael Joseph), is out now and https://obregonbooks.com/ You can listen to his podcast, Faceless, here: https://linktr.ee/facelesspod Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Nicolás Obregón Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland

The devil is unearthed in 18th Century England, inspiring the village youth to rape, murder and satanic worship, in one of the granddaddies of folk horror, The Blood on Satan’s Claw (1971) . Dean Puckett , writer-director and lecturer at Falmouth University, joins to discuss the film. Dean’s feature debut The Severed Sun is at select cinemas and streaming on demand in the US from 16 May. There will be a screening of the film followed by a Q & A with Dean on 25th May at Genesis Cinema in East London. Tickets here: https://www.genesiscinema.co.uk/event/98321 Host: Jack McInroy Guest: Dean Puckett Theme music: Harlow Family Group Films featured on upcoming episodes of Made in England: https://letterboxd.com/saintjackmc/list/made-in-england-upcoming-episodes/ Get Mubi free for 30 days: https://mubi.com/t/web/global/qrb2jfqf https://www.holdfastnetwork.com/madeinengland