
About the show
If you have tinsel on the brain and mulled wine in your blood, this is the podcast for you. We’re living in a golden age of delightfully cheesy Christmas movies, and on Bah Humbug we examine the biggest new offerings this season, as well as looking back at classic seasonal favourites. Think Kurt Russell in The Christmas Chronicles 2, Dolly Parton in Christmas On The Square and Kristen Stewart in Happiest Season. Hosted by Helen O’Hara (the Empire podcast, His Darker Materials) and a rotating cast of film experts and guests, this will take a (mostly) affectionate look at the snowiest, coziest, Scroogiest, and Santa-iest films of all.

If you have tinsel on the brain and mulled wine in your blood, this is the podcast for you. We’re living in a golden age of delightfully cheesy Christmas movies, and on Bah Humbug we examine the biggest new offerings this season, as well as looking back at classic seasonal favourites. Think Kurt Russell in The Christmas Chronicles 2, Dolly Parton in Christmas On The Square and Kristen Stewart in Happiest Season. Hosted by Helen O’Hara (the Empire podcast, His Darker Materials) and a rotating cast of film experts and guests, this will take a (mostly) affectionate look at the snowiest, coziest, Scroogiest, and Santa-iest films of all.
A couple split up and negotiate shared custody of their dog – but when he gets depressed, they reunite for Christmas to cheer him up. It’s a rock-solid premise for some light comedy, with likeable stars – Charlie Cox and Zooey Deschanel – and a great canine performance. But does it live up to the basic idea? And is it even Christmassy? Your host, Helen O’Hara, is joined by journalist and author Kat Brown to hash it out.
Merv is out on Prime Video now.
For more from Kat, check out her website katbrown.com here, or follow her on Bluesky here. Her book, No One Talks About This Stuff, is particularly relevant to this film and may be of help if you’ve been affected by infertility and childlessness.
For more from Helen, you can find here on Bluesky @HelenLOHara, or at helenohara.com. Her latest books, A Quentin Tarantino Dictionary and 50 Film Ideas You Really Need To Know, are available now, and Women Vs Hollywood: The Fall And Rise Of Women In Film remains on sale.
This podcast is produced and edited by Helen O’Hara with Stripped Media. For more on this podcast, and others produced by Stripped Media, please visit www.stripped.media or email producers@stripped.media.
If you enjoyed this podcast, please leave a shiny five-star review on your podcast provider of choice; it really does help. And Merry Christmas!
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