🎙️ A special bonus episode of Popcorn & Patriarchy.
🍿💋 This week, Esme and Joe step away from their usual film discussion and creative challenge format to unpack a major debate in the UK screen industry.
Following the BBC's decision to commission a drama about Sarah Everard, more than 400 female screenwriters signed an open letter criticising the appointment of a male writer. Esme and Joe explore the arguments on both sides, discuss why they disagree with the letter's central position, and ask broader questions about authorship, representation, and who gets to tell whose stories.
As always, the conversation is thoughtful, feminist, and unafraid to challenge assumptions—even when those assumptions come from within the creative industries themselves.
This episode discusses violence against women and girls, sexual violence, domestic abuse, and policing. If anything raised in this conversation affects you, support is available via the resources below:
Film & TV Support Line (free & confidential, available 24/7)
📞 0800 054 0000
🌐 filmtvcharity.org.uk
National Domestic Abuse Helpline (run by Refuge, 24/7)
📞 0808 2000 247
🌐 nationaldahelpline.org.uk
Rape Crisis England & Wales (free helpline & online support)
📞 0808 500 2222
🌐 rapecrisis.org.uk
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline (run by Galop)
📞 0800 999 5428
🌐 galop.org.uk
Police Anti-Corruption and Abuse Reporting Service (run by Crimestoppers – completely anonymous)
📞 0800 085 0000
🌐 crimestoppers-uk.org
Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) (independent of the police, investigates serious complaints)
🌐 policeconduct.gov.uk
Through the Creative Hangup Hotline, listeners can anonymously share their creative fears, blocks, and doubts, with the hosts responding with encouragement, perspective, and inspiration.
Want even more? Join our Patreon for early access to episodes, bonus content, behind-the-scenes updates, post-episode discussions, and exclusive access to all things Popcorn & Patriarchy.
📲 Follow us everywhere at @PopcornAndPatriarchy
🎞️ Find our film diaries and ratings on Letterboxd:
https://letterboxd.com/PopPatriarchy/
☎️ Stuck in a creative spiral? Send your dilemmas to the Creative Hangup Hotline! Expect honesty, confidence boosts, and creative inspiration:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeinE3oshLOnXd220wbLhKwvuWrZIpBtRHRxgQFgn2rXYpePA/viewform?fbclid=PAT01DUAQ8t_dleHRuA2FlbQIxMABzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA81NjcwNjczNDMzNTI0MjcAAaeTnt-AvIVe1qilUg1Enf7kodYaGzHw4r8Qr5LI3zS5OseOW0JYDVeKJ0oE4g_aem_NWBxgnFQ1VOoqKWTWpOBBA
