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Kermode & Mayo’s Take

Now & Ben: Benedict Cumberbatch on THE THING WITH FEATHERS

Kermode & Mayo’s Take

Sony Music

Film Interviews, Tv & Film, Film Reviews, Tv Reviews

4.32.9K Ratings

🗓️ 21 November 2025

⏱️ 18 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Howdy Take listeners—it's about time for another Now & Ben, don’t you think? This time it’s Benedict Cumberbatch—who chats to our Ben about his new film ‘The Thing With Feathers’, alongside director Dylan Southern. Based on the bestselling Max Porter novel, the movie follows Cumberbatch’s character ‘Dad’ through his grief at the sudden death of his wife, and his efforts to raise their two sons alone. It’s a hefty subject matter and emotional performance—but as you’ll hear there were some pretty hilarious on-set antics too. When you’re working with two child actors and a guy in a giant crow costume, things are bound to be some laughs... Enjoy, and watch out for more of these bonus interview nuggets dropping into the Take feed every ‘Now & Ben’. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

So, Mark, you know when you've done enough in a day? Let's say you've spoken about your new book for the first time, recorded our wonderful show with the premium episodes for subscribers, maybe rehearsed with a band, you know, like the gang of three, that kind of thing.

0:13.9

I'm getting tired at just a thought. Well, when you've done enough, Uber eats. Get my favorite meals.

0:23.4

Well, food, snacks, shopping. all the Epicurean delights which your heart desires. Imagine hopping onto that sleeper, depends ants. And as

0:29.7

you're pulling out, you open Uber eats and have them deliver what you want as you arrive home.

0:35.0

What are you getting, would you say, in an ideal world?

0:37.9

I don't know, a plate of sushi and some ice cold Japanese beer.

0:40.8

I have to say my favourite is the slightly guilty last-minute emergency supermarket delivery

0:47.4

when you've just come back from holiday and you realise you've got like nothing in the house at all.

0:51.6

So when you've done enough, order some food on Uber Eats.

0:55.9

Hello and welcome to another episode of Now and Ben. Where our super sub Ben Bailey Smith collars

1:00.6

the big stars we just couldn't miss while they're in town and gets the lowdown on their latest

1:04.6

projects. In today's episode, it's British big and small screen favourite Benedict Cumberbatch.

1:10.2

Double Ben.

1:11.1

That's right. He's talking about his new drama The Thing with Feathers, which is out this week.

1:15.4

Plus, director Dylan Southern joins them too.

1:17.8

They both chat to Ben about bringing this best-selling novel to the screen,

1:21.1

the onset silliness behind a very serious performance and acting alongside a giant crow.

1:26.0

Yes, enjoy. And keep an eye out for more episodes dropping into the take feed every now and Ben. How you doing, Ben? Yeah, I'm all right. I'm all right. Dude, the performance is phenomenal. Thank you very, thank you very, very much. That genuinely, I'm not, I'm not just saying that. Like, I was blown away. Thank you.

1:45.0

And I suppose, you know what it is?

1:47.0

You get, I'm me and you the same age.

1:48.0

You get to a certain age and like everything upsets you and makes you cry.

1:54.0

So I was like, oh God, you know, have these kids and the weight that your character's bearing.

...

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