MASTERPIECE Studio
MASTERPIECE Studio is your backstage pass to the PBS series—from Sherlock to Poldark. After the show, turn off the TV and tune in to MASTERPIECE Studio for the scoop with host Jace Lacob. Listen for exclusive interviews with the cast and crew of your favorite shows. Get the history lowdown behind the people and places you see on screen, and hear revealing stories from the set. MASTERPIECE Studio is made possible by Viking Cruises and Raymond James. Sponsors for MASTERPIECE on PBS are Viking Cruises, Raymond James, and The MASTERPIECE Trust.
Episodes
December 16, 2025 marks a special day in the world of arts and culture; the 250th anniversary of the birth of Jane Austen. Here at MASTERPIECE, we are admirers of Jane Austen. Through interviews with historian and television presenter Lucy Worsley, Miss Austen novelist Gill Hornby, screenwriter Andrew Davies, and MASTERPIECE’s Senior Series Producer, Erin Delaney, we’re looking back at Austen’s life, her legacy, and what h...
WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Season 1 of The Gold.
In preparation for Season 2 of The Gold, coming to MASTERPIECE in 2026, we wanted to wrap up Season 1 with this special postscript episode. You’ll hear first from The Gold writer and executive producer Neil Forsyth about a few final details of the real-life story, followed by actor Hugh Bonneville who shares his thoughts on the surprising reveal at the end of...
WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Maigret.
Actor Benjamin Wainwright is no stranger to MASTERPIECE audiences, having appeared in Endeavour, World on Fire, and Unforgotten. Today, he joins the podcast to talk about his latest MASTERPIECE role as the lead actor in a new production of Maigret. In this conversation, we discuss stepping into the long line of Maigrets, and how his character balances solving crime wi...
WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Season 1, Episode 5 of The Gold.
Actor Hugh Bonneville is a familiar face here at MASTERPIECE, having appeared in Downton Abbey, Miss Austen Regrets, The Cazalets, and more. Today, Hugh joins us to talk about The Gold and playing the ethical, determined, and legendary DCI Brian Boyce. Hugh shares what he took away from meeting the real-life Boyce to inform his stunning performance...
WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Episode 4 of Maigret.
Actor Stefanie Martini’s Louise Maigret may just be the most patient woman in Paris, forever adjusting to her husband Jules Maigret’s demanding work schedule. But she’s a professional in her own right, working as a psychiatric nurse helping those in need. In this conversation, Stefanie returns to the podcast to discuss themes of hope, loss, and new beginn...
WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Episode 3 of The Gold S1.
For actor Stefanie Martini, getting into character to play Marnie Palmer involved doing away with her drama school style of speaking, and pulling out her native Bristolian accent. Today, Stefanie talks about portraying the real life Marnie Palmer, and what it was like to be stuck in a 1980s time warp while shooting The Gold.
WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Episode 2 of Maigret
When adapting Georges Simenon’s Maigret for the screen, lead writer, director, and executive producer Patrick Harbinson wanted to bring the classic character into the modern day. In this conversation, Patrick talks about the decisions he made to showcase Maigret as a younger detective with something to prove, and what we can expect from the rest of the sea...
The Gold writer and creator Neil Forsyth returns to the podcast in this special episode for an in-depth discussion on details of the larger-than-life heist. He explains the massive social transformation in 1980s Britain, why three tons of gold was at the Brink’s-Mat warehouse, the rumors of police corruption, and more. After this conversation, we guarantee you’ll be able to appreciate every “truth is stranger than fiction”...
WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Episode 1 of The Gold.
Writer and executive producer Neil Forsyth had his work cut out for him when adapting the larger-than-life true story of the Brink’s-Mat robbery. Too big for a single film adaptation, Neil decided this vast web of characters, plot, and conspiracy would be best told as a drama series. In this conversation, Neil talks about Episode 1 of The Gold and the decis...
WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Season 2 of The Marlow Murder Club.
For actor Jo Martin, returning to Marlow for a second season of The Marlow Murder Club felt like returning to a new family. And for her character, dog walker turned sleuth Suzie Harris, a new family is being forged with her friends Judith and Becks. In this conversation, we talk with Jo about drawing on her real-life experiences as a mother, em...
WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Episode Two of The Marlow Murder Club Season 2.
Author Robert Thorogood returns to the podcast to discuss writing the first two episodes of The Marlow Murder Club Season Two, based on his novel, Death Comes to Marlow. Robert shares his thoughts on locked room mysteries, the importance of humor, and what’s in store for Season 3.
WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Episode One of The Marlow Murder Club Season 2.
Author Robert Thorogood fell in love with murder mysteries at a young age when he stumbled across an Agatha Christie novel at his great aunt’s house. Since then, he’s been determined to write his own golden age style murder mysteries. In this conversation, we talk with Robert about his life, creative process, and the inspiration and...
WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Episode Eight of Grantchester Season 10.
Head writer and executive producer Daisy Coulam and actor Rishi Nair join us once again to wrap up this beautiful season of Grantchester. Daisy and Rishi reflect on the heartfelt themes of belonging, family, and parent-child dynamics.
WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Episode Six of Grantchester Season 10.
Actor Bradley Hall joined the Grantchester cast in Season Four, originally for just two episodes, as the young copper Larry Peters. Seven seasons later, Larry has emerged as a fan favorite and Grantchester staple. Today, Bradley makes his MASTERPIECE Studio debut and talks about his friendship with Miss Scott on and off screen, the dynamic b...
This is an encore release of an earlier podcast episode.
The chance to play legendary American President Franklin Delano Roosevelt was one big reason for Kyle MacLachlan to sign on to Atlantic Crossing. But it was the story of the young Norwegian Royal Family at the heart of the miniseries that made him commit to the role. MacLachlan explores Roosevelt, Agent Dale Cooper and wine with lifelong Twin Peaks fan, MASTERPIECE St...
WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Episode Four of Grantchester Season 10.
For actor Rishi Nair, just like his character Alphy Kottaram, returning to Grantchester for another season feels like coming home. In this episode, Rishi explores questions of identity, friendship, and found family for Alphy, as he revisits a formative part of his past and reflects on the advice given to him as a young man, “Don’t look back...
WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Episode Three of Grantchester Season 10.
Head writer and executive producer Daisy Coulam joins the podcast this week to discuss relationship dynamics, balancing murder with morality, and how she continues to keep Grantchester fresh and captivating after 10 heartwarming seasons.
This is an encore release of an earlier podcast episode.
Norwegian Crown Princess Martha was born in Sweden, but Swedish actor Sofia Helin didn’t know her story until she signed on to play the quiet Royal in Atlantic Crossing. But after coming on board the miniseries, Helin helped shape the story of the little-known Princess, bringing a surprising light to her powerful story. Helin talks royalty, FDR, and Saga Noren of Broe...
This is an encore release of an earlier podcast episode.
For American viewers, the story of Norway’s Crown Princess Märtha is likely mostly unknown. But the Crown Princess’ World War II influence was a surprise even for Atlantic Crossing co-writer and director Alexander Eik, who spent almost seven years researching his miniseries. Eik explains how he found the key to Märtha’s story, and what viewers should anticipate in the...
WARNING: This episode contains spoilers for Miss Austen.
Writer Gill Hornby has been a fan of Jane Austen’s work since she first read Mansfield Park as a teenager. But it wasn’t until Gill moved to the village of Kintbury that she became surrounded by and interested in Jane’s life. In her novel, Miss Austen, Gill explores the deep bond between Jane and her loving sister Cassandra. In this episode, Gill talks about writing t...
Popular Podcasts
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Burden is a documentary series that takes listeners into the hidden places where justice is done (and undone). It dives deep into the lives of heroes and villains. And it focuses a spotlight on those who triumph even when the odds are against them. Season 5 - The Burden: Death & Deceit in Alliance On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder, and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.” David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” The results will shock the listener and reduce Maggie to tears and self-doubt. This is not your typical wrongful conviction story. In fact, it turns the genre on its head. It asks the question: What if our champions are foolish? Season 4 - The Burden: Get the Money and Run “Trying to murder my father, this was the thing that put me on the path.” That’s Joe Loya and that path was bank robbery. Bank, bank, bank, bank, bank. In season 4 of The Burden: Get the Money and Run, we hear from Joe who was once the most prolific bank robber in Southern California, and beyond. He used disguises, body doubles, proxies. He leaped over counters, grabbed the money and ran. Even as the FBI was closing in. It was a showdown between a daring bank robber, and a patient FBI agent. Joe was no ordinary bank robber. He was bright, articulate, charismatic, and driven by a dark rage that he summoned up at will. In seven episodes, Joe tells all: the what, the how… and the why. Including why he tried to murder his father. Season 3 - The Burden: Avenger Miriam Lewin is one of Argentina’s leading journalists today. At 19 years old, she was kidnapped off the streets of Buenos Aires for her political activism and thrown into a concentration camp. Thousands of her fellow inmates were executed, tossed alive from a cargo plane into the ocean. Miriam, along with a handful of others, will survive the camp. Then as a journalist, she will wage a decades long campaign to bring her tormentors to justice. Avenger is about one woman’s triumphant battle against unbelievable odds to survive torture, claim justice for the crimes done against her and others like her, and change the future of her country. Season 2 - The Burden: Empire on Blood Empire on Blood is set in the Bronx, NY, in the early 90s, when two young drug dealers ruled an intersection known as “The Corner on Blood.” The boss, Calvin Buari, lived large. He and a protege swore they would build an empire on blood. Then the relationship frayed and the protege accused Calvin of a double homicide which he claimed he didn’t do. But did he? Award-winning journalist Steve Fishman spent seven years to answer that question. This is the story of one man’s last chance to overturn his life sentence. He may prevail, but someone’s gotta pay. The Burden: Empire on Blood is the director’s cut of the true crime classic which reached #1 on the charts when it was first released half a dozen years ago. Season 1 - The Burden In the 1990s, Detective Louis N. Scarcella was legendary. In a city overrun by violent crime, he cracked the toughest cases and put away the worst criminals. “The Hulk” was his nickname. Then the story changed. Scarcella ran into a group of convicted murderers who all say they are innocent. They turned themselves into jailhouse-lawyers and in prison founded a lway firm. When they realized Scarcella helped put many of them away, they set their sights on taking him down. And with the help of a NY Times reporter they have a chance. For years, Scarcella insisted he did nothing wrong. But that’s all he’d say. Until we tracked Scarcella to a sauna in a Russian bathhouse, where he started to talk..and talk and talk. “The guilty have gone free,” he whispered. And then agreed to take us into the belly of the beast. Welcome to The Burden.
"SmartLess" with Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett is a podcast that connects and unites people from all walks of life to learn about shared experiences through thoughtful dialogue and organic hilarity. A nice surprise: in each episode of SmartLess, one of the hosts reveals his mystery guest to the other two. What ensues is a genuinely improvised and authentic conversation filled with laughter and newfound knowledge to feed the SmartLess mind. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of SmartLess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!