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BBFC Podcast

The BBFC is independent and not-for-profit, and we’re here to help everyone in the UK choose age-appropriate films, videos and websites, wherever and however they watch or use them.
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Episodes

Episode 131: A day in the life of a Compliance Officer

Ever wondered what is it like to be a BBFC Compliance Officer? Join Mercy, BBFC Youth Panel member, as she chats to one of our Compliance Officers, Emma, in a brand new episode of the BBFC Podcast!

Feb 05, 202516 min

Episode 130: Release Radar (24 January 2025)

In this week's Release Radar episode, bringing you the latest on what's in cinemas right now, we're talking The Brutalist, A Complete Unknown, Presence and more!

Jan 24, 202510 min

Episode 129: Release Radar (10 January 2025)

Welcome to the BBFC's release radar, bringing you the latest on what's in the cinema right now. In this episode we're talking Nosferatu, Babygirl, The Nickel Boys and more!

Jan 10, 202514 min

Episode 128: Bonus Material with Mike Newell and Duncan Kenworthy

In this special Bonus Material episode, BBFC President Natasha Kaplinsky spends some time with Director Mike Newell (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Four Weddings and a Funeral) and Producer Duncan Kenworthy (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually, Notting Hill) to find out the stories behind these classic films. Who was almost cast in Four Weddings and a Funeral in place of Hugh Grant? What did Hugh bring to his audition? Find out this and more in this special conversation.

Dec 23, 202430 min

Episode 127: Festive film favourites from the BBFC team

What's your favourite festive flick? In this episode, BBFC staff share their personal favourite Christmas films including family-friendly classics like Elf and Home Alone, controversial picks like Die Hard (is it really a Christmas film?) and ones just for the adults such as Black Christmas. Whatever you choose to watch, we hope you find some inspiration from our list. However you celebrate, on behalf of the BBFC team we wish you all a lovely festive season and a Happy New Year.

Dec 19, 202425 min

Episode 126: Youth Panel's 2024 year in review

In the latest episode of the BBFC Podcast, join BBFC Youth Panel members Rumaisa and William as they take a look back at cinema in 2024. Together they discuss some of their favourite 2024 releases, including Deadpool Vs Wolverine, I Saw The TV Glow and The Fall Guy.

Dec 12, 202412 min

Episode 125: Announcing our winner of the 2024 Create The Card Competition!

We're delighted to announce the winner of this year's Create The Card Competition. In partnership with Paramount Pictures UK, we called on creative and artistic young minds aged 4-11 across the UK, offering them a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to design the official Black Card for Sonic the Hedgehog 3. In this episode, hear directly from our brilliant young winner about how they created their masterpiece! Plus, we chat to Paramount Pictures about working with them on the competition, and give y...

Dec 10, 202412 min

Episode 124: What you need to know about Wicked

In this episode of the BBFC podcast, Tash sits down with BBFC Compliance Office Ian to travel back to the magical land of Oz and chat all things Wicked. Starring Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and Jonathan Bailey, here's everything you need to know about the film before you head to the cinema.

Dec 10, 202413 min

Episode 123: What you need to know about Gladiator II

Ridley Scott's epic return to ancient Rome is in cinemas now! Starring Paul Mescal, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington and Connie Nielsen, we rated Gladiator II 15 for strong bloody violence, injury detail. In this episode, sit down with Tash as she chats to BBFC Compliance Manager Chris to find out everything you need to know about the film before you head to the cinema. Plus, hear about how the latest installment compares with the original Gladiator from 2000.

Nov 15, 202415 min

BBFC Podcast Episode 122: Halloween Special

In the latest episode of the BBFC Podcast, sit down with Matt and Tash as they talk through the latest Halloween horrors out in cinemas, as well as some classic scary movies from family-friendly Goosebumps to gruesome horrors such as The Exorcist. Can Matt convince scaredy-cat Tash to watch a film or two?

Oct 31, 202429 min

BBFC Podcast Episode 120: In Conversation With Kelly McMahon, Motion Pictures Association

In the latest episode of the BBFC Podcast, BBFC CEO David Austin sits down with his American counterpart, Kelly Mahon, at the Motion Picture Association. Kelly is the Executive Vice President and Chair of the Classification and Rating Administration for the Motion Picture Association, or MPA for short. The MPA is an American trade association that advocates for the film, television and streaming industry. The MPA established the Classification and Ratings Administration (CARA), which determines ...

Oct 17, 202459 min

Episode 119: What you need to know about Joker: Folie à Deux

Wondering whether this crime drama sequel is suitable for older teens? Find out what to expect before you head to the cinema, including a break down of the age rating for Joker: Folie à Deux alongside our content advice and the key issues in the film.

Oct 03, 20245 min

BBFC Podcast Episode 118: Classifying sex on screen with Rowan Pelling

Ever wondered how the BBFC classifies sex on screen? What's acceptable, what's not, and how do we decide? In this episode, Senior Compliance and Education Officer Wallis is joined by the BBFC's Chief Executive, David Austin. Very special guest, Rowan Pelling, editor of Perspective and writer for the Daily Telegraph, Independent and former editor of The Erotic Review and Amorist also joins. Hear about modern attitudes towards depictions of sex according to the BBFC's latest research, and the deta...

Sep 06, 20241 hr 3 min

BBFC Podcast episode 117 - An intro to classifying horror films

In the latest episode of the BBFC podcast, join two of our team members as they discuss the process of reclassifying classic horror films against our current Classification Guidelines. Also, hear what it takes for a horror movie to be classified 18 in 2024!

Aug 30, 202417 min

BBFC Podcast episode 116 - Our new Classification Guidelines. Shaped by you.

Hear directly from two members of our Compliance team, Chris and Wallis, as they chat about how we undertook our biggest research project to date. In this special episode, the pair dive into how our research findings have directly shaped our new guidelines, with key discussion areas including violence, sex, drugs, and language, alongside an overview of what these changes mean for the future of content classification and UK audiences.

May 01, 202425 min

BBFC Youth Panel Takeover - Episode Two

A brand new episode of the BBFC Podcast is out today and it is another special Youth Panel takeover! In the final episode of our two-part mini-series, our Youth Panel explore some classic coming-of-age films that shaped their growing up experience. Some of these include Billy Elliot, She's the Man, The Perks of Being a Wallflower and more.

Apr 26, 202440 min

BBFC Youth Panel Takeover - Episode One

The latest episode of the BBFC Podcast is out now, and this time with a special takeover episode from our brilliant Youth Panel! In episode one of this two-part mini-series, our Youth Panel dives into some classic coming-of-age films through the decades, and how they feel about them now. We're talking Mean Girls, Ferris Buller's Day Off, Grease, Clueless and more.

Apr 11, 202454 min

BBFC Podcast Episode 110 - Dark Superhero Films

In this episode, we talk about the shifting tone of superhero films and shine a light on the darker side of the Marvel, Sony Pictures Universe of Marvel and DC Comics universes. We'll be discussing recent releases such as The Batman, Morbius and Doctor Strange In the Multiverse of Madness and how we classified them. Please be advised that this episode may contain spoilers.

May 06, 202236 min

BBFC Podcast Episode 109 - Discrimination Research 2021

In this episode, our Compliance Managers alongside special guest Lord Kamlesh Patel, BBFC Vice President, take a deep dive into our latest research findings on racism and discrimination, and talk about the tangible changes we are taking when it comes to classifying these issues in both older and modern content.

Dec 20, 202130 min

BBFC Podcast Episode 108 - In Conversation With Prano Bailey-Bond

In this episode, we speak to director Prano Bailey-Bond about her debut feature film Censor, its inspiration & the 'video nasties' era. Listeners can find out insider knowledge about Prano and her co-writer Anthony Fletcher’s research visits to the BBFC, the film's classification and the horror directors that inspired her.

Aug 18, 202137 min

BBFC Podcast Episode 107 - Welcome Back to the Movies

In this episode, we celebrate the return of cinema in England, Scotland & Wales and discuss all the latest family-friendly releases that are coming to the big screen including Cruella, Peter Rabbit 2, Godzilla Vs. Kong and Nomadland.

May 18, 202133 min

BBFC Podcast Episode 106 - Celebrating Women at the BBFC for International Women's Day

This International Women's Day we're celebrating all the talented and wonderful women who work at the BBFC. In this podcast, you can learn more about the inner workings of the BBFC and hear all about how women keep the wheels turning - in Compliance, Education, Finance and Communications - we talk to women from all corners of our business.

Mar 07, 20211 hr

BBFC Podcast Episode 105 - 2020 in Review

In the last episode of 2020, we're joined by our Chief Executive David Austin as we take a look back on a year of film. We talk about some of the biggest releases, streaming platforms and the impact of COVID on the industry.

Dec 18, 202031 min

BBFC Podcast Episode 104 - Films to watch this Diwali with the BBC's Ashanti Omkar FRSA

As part of our Indian cinema and Bollywood takeover week, we've invited the BBC’s Ashanti Omkar FRSA to talk to us all about films that families can watch this Diwali. In the podcast, you can hear about the classification of films such as Panga, Taare Zammen Par and Kaaka Muttai at the U and PG category and find out about how the BBFC rates Hindi and Tamil language films in the UK.

Nov 12, 202052 min

BBFC Podcast Episode 103 - Pumpkins, Poltergeists & PG: Halloween Horror for kids

Halloween might look a little different for most of us this year - so we're here to help you throw a spook-tacular movie night to celebrate! Our latest podcast is all about horror... at the PG category. We delve into classics, like The Witches, that have been frightening children for decades, as well as recent films like Scoob! and the latest telling of Pinocchio.

Oct 29, 202040 min

BBFC Podcast Episode 102 - VE Day & Classifying WWII Films

To commemorate the 75th anniversary of VE Day, this podcast is all about how we classify WWII films. We talk in detail about films such as Saving Private Ryan & Dunkirk and tell you all about how you can use films to explore the impact of the war with your family.

May 07, 202027 min
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