Riding a wave of demand following his star turn on The Celebrity Traitors, Alan Carr has partnered with fellow comedian Lee Peart to launch Bottoms Up! – a new weekly video podcast that aims to make wine culture fun, accessible and gloriously chaotic.
Produced by Platform Media label Listen and launched in partnership with wine retailer Laithwaites, the series positions itself as “a wine show for people who don’t own a decanter,” blending Carr and Peart’s trademark irreverence with wine know-how. The pairing marks another notable entertainment collaboration for Laithwaites, reflecting the retailer’s push into culturally led partnerships that bring wine to broader audiences.
Each episode sees the duo pop open a bottle—sometimes without any idea what they’re drinking—and dive into everything from blind tastings to bargain-bin gems and splash-out specials. Along the way they’re joined by wine experts, winemakers and the celebrity guests, offering listeners a mix of real insight and riotous conversation.
“Half the time we’ve no idea what we’re drinking,” Carr said. “This podcast is a way of enjoying a glass together and trying to get a bit more wine savvy on the way.”
Peart added: “There are loads of wine shows out there, but none where two idiots like us try a Barolo and then argue about which celebrity definitely owns a vineyard. We wanted something fun, welcoming and just a bit unhinged.”
With a format that flows from chat to tasting to expert commentary, Bottoms Up! aims to demystify a world the hosts admit they’ve enjoyed for years but never quite mastered. From decoding tannins to debating whether ice cubes in rosé should be a punishable offence, the show promises a blend of relatable dilemmas, unexpected discoveries and the kind of chemistry that can’t be manufactured.
The launch marks another strong moment for Platform Media, with momentum building around its growing slate of talent-driven formats. It also comes amid a broader podcast boom triggered by The Celebrity Traitors. Aside from the show’s own companion podcast, former rugby player Joe Marler has launched a new show off the back of his appearance on the show. Lucy Beaumont, another contestant on Celebrity Traitors, also recently launched a second series of Lucy & Sam’s Perfect Brains with fellow comedian Sam Campbell. The first series dropped in March 2024
