What’s it called?

Two Shot Podcast

What’s it about?

Hosted by Craig Parkinson, more of whom in a minute, it’s a series of intimate and funny sit-down interviews with a range of people, mostly actors but also musicians, stand-up comedians and even a chef or two. There are one or two standout names – Quincy Jones, for instance, veteran British actor Art Malik and TV presenter Dermot O’Leary to name just three – but plenty of curveballs too, such as bowl-haired Inspiral Carpets keyboardist Clint Boon, fellow musician Bill Ryder-Jones (formerly of The Coral) and Killing Eve star Jodie Comer.

So who is Craig Parkinson?

If you don’t know the name, you’ll certainly know the face, the voice and the accent: the laconic, Blackpool-born actor played Matthew ‘Dot’ Cottan in BBC smash Line Of Duty and can also be seen in Channel 4 series MisFits.

What’s so good about it?

Parkinson is one of those chipper, Northern English wits capable of engaging with anyone but he’s at his best when he’s talking to someone with a similar background. Thanks to the success of actresses such as Jodie Comer and productions like Happy Valley there are plenty of them around so among the best of the podcasts are his chats with the excellent Siobhan Finneran (Sarah Lancashire’s drug addict sister in Happy Valley) and Wigan-born comedian Chris Washington. There are also interviews with Line Of Duty co-stars Martin Compston and Vicky McClure, and with Biffy Clyro frontman Simon Neil.

Fun fact

Jodie Comer still lives in Liverpool with her mum and her dad, a sports therapist who works for Everton FC which, luckily, is also his football team of choice.