Kermode & Mayo’s Take

Emerald Fennell, Oscar-winning writer-director known for Promising Young Woman, discusses her bold adaptation of Wuthering Heights. She talks casting Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, creating a tactile emotional landscape with rain and design, and why Brontë’s violent romance still fascinates. Expect talk of youth, obsession, and the controversies around modernizing a classic.

A sneak preview of the bonus Take 2 content available on Patreon. Conversation revisits unfinished topics and a charity pledge discussion. Heated debate about the moral implications of a Melania film and cultural differences in audience reactions. Film talk ranges from scary versus horrific to performance praise and the narrative purpose of controversial scenes.

Riz Ahmed, British actor, rapper and producer, discusses his bold reinvention of Hamlet. He talks about bringing Shakespeare’s music and rhythm into rap, relocating the story to a British South Asian property‑development setting, and reimagining key scenes like 'to be or not to be' as high‑stakes modern confrontations.

Will Arnett, actor and producer best known for Arrested Development and BoJack Horseman, talks about making Is This Thing On? and playing a dad who rediscovers stand-up. He discusses how John Bishop’s real-life origin inspired the film. They describe prepping authentic comedy scenes, performing at the Comedy Cellar, and the actor’s six-week stand-up crash course.

Claire Foy, renowned for her role in The Crown, discusses her latest film H is for Hawk, where she portrays Helen, a woman training a challenging goshawk to cope with grief. She dives into the intense training with these 'perfectly evolved psychopaths' and how the character's isolation mirrors her own struggles. Claire emphasizes the film’s exploration of internalized grief, the spontaneity of working with live birds, and the authentic involvement of ornithologists, ensuring both accuracy and connection to the avian world.

Jack O’Connell, the charming English actor known for his roles in *This Is England* and *Unbroken*, dives into his latest project, *28 Years Later: The Bone Temple*. He shares behind-the-scenes stories, including insights into his character, the flamboyant Sir Jimmy Crystal, and the distinctive costume choices like tracksuits and tiaras. Jack reflects on his collaboration with Ralph Fiennes and the challenges of working alongside younger actors. Plus, they explore the film's themes of evil and redemption, making for a captivating conversation.

The hosts dive into listener emails, sharing festive film viewing traditions and hilarious holiday mishaps. They review the documentary about the beloved Victoria Wood, exploring her impact on comedy. The much-hyped film Hamnet brings discussions about Shakespeare's family life, with Jessie Buckley's stunning performance stealing the show. They critique the use of a familiar score that sparked controversy and emotional reactions. Lastly, they preview the boxing drama Giant, focusing on the dynamic between Naseem Hamed and his trainer.

Mark ranks his best and worst films of 2025, highlighting both cinematic triumphs and flops. He passionately discusses standout performances in "Song Sung Blue" and the gritty realism of "Peter Hujar's Day." The hosts celebrate the year's best television, with their top picks including "Narrow Road to the Deep North" and "Adolescence." They also pay heartfelt tributes to industry legends lost this year, reflecting on their immense contributions and sharing anecdotes that keep their legacies alive.

Some exciting news—The Take is now on Patreon: www.patreon.com/kermodeandmayo. Become a Vanguardista or an Ultra Vanguardista to get video episodes of Take Two every week, plus member‑only chat rooms, polls and submissions to influence the show, behind‑the‑scenes photos and videos, the monthly Redactor’s Roundup newsletter, and access to a new fortnightly LIVE show—a raucous, unfiltered lunchtime special with the Good Doctors, new features, and live chat so you can heckle, vote, and have your questions read out in real time. We’ve got a proper festive treat for you in this week’s Christmas week Take special. The one and only Kate Winslet—Oscar winner, Hollywood royalty and all round very good egg. She’s given acclaimed performances as an actress in films like Titanic, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Sense and Sensibility, Steve Jobs and more—as well as in HBO’s Mare of Easttown series. She looks back over all that with Simon and Mark in this bumper chat—plus this time she’s getting behind the camera to direct her first film, Goodbye June. It’s a Christmas movie about a dysfunctional family thrown together when the elderly matriarch (June) falls ill during the festive period. As well as directing, Winslet plays Julia, one of June's four adult children. She came in person to our studio to unpack it with the Good Doctors—and she was so brilliant that she gets this Christmas Take special all to herself. She talks about her experiences as a debut director, working with her screenwriter son Joe Anders, and the incredible cast—from Helen Mirren and Timothy Spall to Toni Colette, Johnny Flynn and Andrea Riseborough. We even got a sneak peak of what a Winslet Christmas looks like. You won’t want to miss this. Happy holidays one and all! You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo Please take our survey and help shape the future of our show: https://www.kermodeandmayo.com/survey EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/take Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some exciting news—The Take is now on Patreon: www.patreon.com/kermodeandmayo. Become a Vanguardista or an Ultra Vanguardista to get video episodes of Take Two every week, plus member‑only chat rooms, polls and submissions to influence the show, behind‑the‑scenes photos and videos, the monthly Redactor’s Roundup newsletter, and access to a new fortnightly LIVE show—a raucous, unfiltered lunchtime special with the Good Doctors, new features, and live chat so you can heckle, vote, and have your questions read out in real time. Howdy Take listeners! We’re approaching the very end of the Christmas corridor—and we’ve got all the movie reviews you need to get you through the final push and onto the sofa eating Quality Street and turkey leftovers. First up, The Housemaid—Paul Feig’s psychological thriller starring Sydney Sweeney as a live-in maid for a family with dark secrets. Plus Marty Supreme, the high-speed Josh Safdie drama starring Timothée Chalamet as a aspiring table-tennis star in 1950s New York—and finally, Avatar: Fire and Ash. Regular listeners will know about Mark’s longstanding love for (slating) the Avatar films—so buckle up for a festive rant. The wonderful Paul Bettany—star of A Knights Tale, Dogville, and more recently the Marvel Cinematic Universe as both the voice of J.A.R.V.I.S. and as Vision—is our guest this week. He’s with us to discuss the new Sky adaptation of Amadeus—in which he plays Salieri, the frustratedly mediocre nemesis of Will Sharpe’s Mozart. The Oscar-winning 1984 film adaptation is Simon’s favourite movie of all time—but will Bettany win him over to this new TV version? They unpack it and talk music, the truth about Mozart, and whether Paul will ever direct again. Thanks for listening, and Merry Christmas ya filthy animals! Timecodes (for Vanguardistas listening ad-free) The Housemaid review – 11:17 BO10 – 20:34 Paul Bettany Interview: 28:20 Laughter Lift – 53:55 Marty Supreme review 57:55 Avatar Fire & Ash review 1:10:24 You can contact the show by emailing correspondence@kermodeandmayo.com or you can find us on social media, @KermodeandMayo Please take our survey and help shape the future of our show: https://www.kermodeandmayo.com/survey EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/take Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! A Sony Music Entertainment production. Find more great podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts To advertise on this show contact: podcastadsales@sonymusic.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices