Scott Bryan (television critic)

Scott Bryan
Born (1989-06-24) June 24, 1989
England
EducationUniversity of York (BA)
Occupations
  • Television critic
  • broadcaster
  • journalist
  • podcaster
  • author
Years active2010–present
Known for
  • Must Watch
  • The Bachelor of Buckingham Palace
  • television criticism
  • live television commentary
Websitescottygb.com

Scott Bryan (born 24 June 1989)[1] is an English television critic, journalist, broadcaster and author.[2][3][4] He co-hosts the BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Sounds TV review podcast Must Watch and was previously TV editor at BuzzFeed UK.[5] He has written about TV and the media for publications including The Guardian, Variety and The i, and appears regularly as a commentator on British TV and radio.[6][7] In 2026, he published Out Now: A Queer Journey Through Modern Television.[8]

Early life and education

Bryan grew up in Hampshire.[9] His mother Carol and late father Glenn were air traffic controllers.[10] Bryan's first TV appearance was in February 2003 in the CBBC series Xchange.[11]

Bryan graduated with a degree in global development from the University of York in 2010.[12] Whilst there, he wrote for the student newspaper York Vision, where he was TV editor.[13] Bryan was also involved in student broadcasting through University Radio York, where he was station manager.[14]

Bryan's career began with digital journalism and media roles, writing for The Times, HuffPost, The Radio Times, The Guardian and the creative careers charity IdeasTap, for which he hosted events on the stigma of dyslexia.[15]

Career

Early career and BuzzFeed UK

In 2014, Rife magazine described him as the TV editor of BuzzFeed UK, noting that he joined the digital media company in 2013 after working for The Times social media team and as a freelance writer.[16][17] At BuzzFeed UK, Bryan wrote about TV, film, internet culture and entertainment news.[18][19][20]

In 2014, Journalism.co.uk listed Bryan as a mentor in a Wannabe Hacks scheme for young journalists.[21][22] It also referenced him as co-host with Dionne Grant of #What2Watch, a live weekly broadcast by BuzzFeed UK on Twitter.[23][24] In 2018, the Broadcasting Press Guild elected Bryan, then TV editor of BuzzFeed UK, to its executive committee.[25] He served as vice chair and chaired the jury selecting its Audio Awards winners in 2022.[26][27]

TV criticism and journalism

Bryan has written columns and criticism for the likes of The Guardian, Broadcast, The i and Variety.[28][29][30] His work for the latter includes interviews with celebrities such as Kylie Minogue.[31][32][33] Bryan has also contributed to The New Statesman, The New York Times, The Daily Telegraph, The Radio Times and Rolling Stone magazine.[34]

Broadcasting and podcasts

In June 2023, he featured as the guest expert on Today in Focus, The Guardian podcast, discussing the ITV daytime programme This Morning after the departure of Phillip Schofield.[35] Ofcom included Bryan in a February 2023 episode of its Life Online podcast about broadcast complaints, reality TV and freedom of expression.[36][37][38] In May 2026, he appeared on Times Radio Breakfast to discuss viewer concerns about the treatment of contestants on the reality TV programme Married at First Sight UK.[39] In 2024, Press Gazette cited Bryan's ranking of British broadcasters' general election night TV coverage.[40] He has also contributed to BBC Radio Scotland's programme Afternoons and the CBBC's Newsround.[41][42][43]

In 2024, Bryan hosted The Bachelor of Buckingham Palace, a podcast distributed by Wondery about the 2014 US reality series, I Wanna Marry "Harry".[44][45][46] The Guardian journalist Miranda Sawyer called it "an enjoyable show that should be required listening for anyone who thinks reality show contestants are in on the joke".[47] It was named one of the "best podcasts of 2024" by The Week, and The Financial Times described it as "a hoot", while taking the deception at the heart of the show "entirely seriously".[48][49]

Bryan is co-host of Remember Me? with Maisie Adam & Scott Bryan, a Mike Drop Studios podcast with stand-up comedian Maisie Adam about tabloid and early internet fame.[50] Guests of the show have included Nadia Almada (Big Brother), Honey G (X Factor), Kelli Young (Liberty X), James 'Hunter' Crossley (Gladiators) and comedian Dom Joly. In its "best podcasts of the week" feature, The Guardian described it as "a loving homage to pop culture's also-rans", praising its "humorous, sensitive" approach to former tabloid personalities.[51] The Observer described it as a "warm", "timely, sympathetic show".[52]

Event and industry roles

In November 2019, Bryan chaired a Royal Television Society event with filmmaker Fenton Bailey on how the BBC was adapting RuPaul's Drag Race for UK audiences.[53] The Edinburgh Television Festival listed Bryan as host of a panel event on Channel 4's Gogglebox at its 2023 festival.[54][55]

Bryan delivered red carpet commentary for BBC News at the 2024 BAFTA Television Awards.[56][57] The National Student Television Association listed him as a judge for its "Broadcaster of the Year" prize, noting he hosted its 2022 awards.[58][59]

In August 2024, Bryan hosted a discussion on Channel 4's First Dates at the LGBTQ+ TV and film festival, "Scene".[60] In 2025, the Royal Television Society listed him as chair of a Q&A on BBC One's Celebrity Race Across the World.[61][62] That same year, Bryan interviewed presenter Claudia Winkleman at a Q&A for BBC One's reality show The Traitors.[63]

Book

Blink Publishing is the publisher of Bryan's debut non-fiction book Out Now: A Queer Journey Through Modern Television.[64][65] Combined with personal memoir, the book examines the evolution of queer representation on British TV from the era of section 28 to contemporary programmes such as Heartstopper, Queer as Folk, Coronation Street and It's a Sin.[66][67][68][69] It incorporates interviews with TV figures including Jonathan Harvey and Russell T Davies[70][71][72] and its foreword is written by Joe Lycett.[73]

Personal life

Bryan is gay and neurodivergent.[74] In March 2025, he paused a live segment on BBC Breakfast to express his gratitude to staff at Salisbury District Hospital for care provided to his (now late) father, Glenn Bryan.[75] During a House of Commons debate on LGBTQ+ History Month in February 2026, Labour MP Tom Hayes referenced Bryan's analysis of historical queer representation in UK media.[76]

Selected work

Podcasts

Book

  • Out Now: A Queer Journey Through Modern Television (Blink Publishing, 2026) ISBN 9781785128509

References

  1. ↑ Scott Bryan (2024). "35th birthday announcement". Instagram. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  2. ↑ "Scott Bryan". The RSA. Royal Society of Arts. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  3. ↑ "Scott Bryan". Yahoo News. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  4. ↑ "Scott Bryan". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  5. ↑ "Must Watch". Apple Podcasts. BBC Radio 5 Live. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  6. ↑ "Daniel Pascoe: Scott Bryan on how he fell in love with TV". BBC. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  7. ↑ Bryan, Scott (22 July 2026). "BBC funding shake-up could see Netflix and Disney+ users pay extra". The i Paper. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  8. ↑ Out Now : A queer journey through modern television. 9 March 2026. ISBN 978-1-78512-850-9.
  9. ↑ Bryan, Scott (13 September 2011). "Why the gay scene has got to change". HuffPost.
  10. ↑ Bryan, Scott (30 July 2018). "I watched "Love Island" with my parents and here's what happened". BuzzFeed.
  11. ↑ "Old footage of Holly Willoughby on CBBC goes viral". indy100. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  12. ↑ "Alumni Takeover: The Scott Bryan Show". University Radio York. 10 March 2018. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  13. ↑ "Scott Bryan's articles in York Vision". York Vision. 29 June 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  14. ↑ "Scott Bryan". University Radio York. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  15. ↑ "The Business, writing and dyslexia: Scott Bryan, Sally Gardner and Henry Swindell". IdeasTap. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  16. ↑ "How to get into digital journalism, Buzzfeed-style". Rife Magazine. 30 October 2014. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  17. ↑ "Claudia on Sunday: Scott Bryan from BuzzFeed gives his podcast recommendations". BBC. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  18. ↑ "Scott Bryan". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  19. ↑ "BBC Radio 2: Claudia on Sunday with Scott Bryan (Buzzfeed)". BBC. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  20. ↑ "Why is Netflix's Queer Eye connecting so much with viewers?". BBC News. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  21. ↑ Edge, Abigail (7 February 2014). "Wannabe Hacks launches journalist mentoring scheme". Journalism.co.uk. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  22. ↑ "Wannabe Hacks: Journalism careers, tips and media advice". Wannabe Hacks |. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  23. ↑ "Artificial intelligence, Brexit and LGBTQ+: here is your weekly journalism news update". Journalism UK. 24 May 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  24. ↑ Lamon, James (6 June 2019). "6 reasons to watch Buzzfeed's new show about TV: #What2Watch". BuzzFeed.
  25. ↑ Bulkley, Kate (3 July 2018). "Kanter named new BPG chairman". Broadcasting Press Guild. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  26. ↑ "BPG Awards 2022: Audio nominations revealed". Broadcasting Press Guild. 3 March 2022. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  27. ↑ Goldbart, Max (3 March 2022). "Broadcasting Press Guild audio awards: Jon Ronson and Amol Rajan nominated". Deadline. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  28. ↑ Move Beyond Words with Scott Bryan. 15 December 2021. Retrieved 18 May 2026 – via shows.acast.com.
  29. ↑ "Scott Bryan". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  30. ↑ Bryan, Scott. "Scott Bryan: The industry should follow these new year resolutions". Broadcast. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  31. ↑ Bryan, Scott (22 March 2026). "'SNL UK' is strongest when leaning into what makes British comedy great - but its replicated format risks feeling too American". Variety. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  32. ↑ Bryan, Scott (14 May 2022). "Who cares about your opinion? Why the Foxification of British news isn't working". Variety. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  33. ↑ Bryan, Scott (18 May 2026). "Kylie Minogue on opening up for a Netflix docu-series, refusing to be 'boxed in', and navigating '90s tabloids". Variety. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  34. ↑ Bryan, Scott (16 September 2024). "Inside CNN's New Comedy Quiz Show. Yes, You Read That Right". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  35. ↑ Nosheen Iqbal (1 June 2023). "Sofas, smiles and scandal: What's going on at ITV's This Morning?". Today in Focus (Podcast). The Guardian. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  36. ↑ "F-bombs, full frontal and freedom of expression: Lifting the lid on how Ofcom handles TV complaints". Ofcom. 27 February 2023. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  37. ↑ "Cadbury defends ad featuring gay couple sharing Creme Egg after a Twitter-storm". adage.com. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  38. ↑ James, Alastair (18 August 2021). "Channel 4 apologises after broadcasting homophobic slur on Countdown". Attitude. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  39. ↑ Bryan, Scott (19 May 2026). Married At First Sight: Viewers 'rightly' concerned about contestants on the programme (YouTube). Times News. Retrieved 4 August 2026.
  40. ↑ Tobitt, Charlotte (5 July 2024). "Election TV ratings: BBC is clear winner but Channel 4 doubles 2019 audience". Press Gazette. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  41. ↑ "BBC Radio Scotland: The Afternoon Show with Scott Bryan". BBC. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  42. ↑ "BBC Radio Scotland - Afternoons, With Nicola Meighan, Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo". BBC. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  43. ↑ Bryan, Scott (31 March 2022). "'I realise I have only written down one word – poo': what happened when I was a Newsround presenter for a day". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  44. ↑ "The Bachelor of Buckingham Palace: The bizarre show that tricked US women into dating fake Prince Harry". BBC Sounds. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  45. ↑ "The Bachelor of Buckingham Palace: The bizarre show that tricked US women into dating fake Prince Harry". BBC Sounds. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  46. ↑ Bryan, Scott (19 April 2024). "'It taught me about brainwashing': how reality show stars fell for a fake Prince Harry". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  47. ↑ Sawyer, Miranda (27 April 2024). "The week in audio review: The Bachelor of Buckingham Palace". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  48. ↑ "Best podcasts of 2024: from To Catch a Scorpion to Serial". The Week. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  49. ↑ Sturges, Fiona (22 April 2024). "Reality TV tricks and trials under scrutiny in two new podcasts". Financial Times.
  50. ↑ "X Factor winner Matt Terry recalls producers telling him he looked 'too gay' during 2016 rehearsals". EDGE. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  51. ↑ Davies, Hannah J.; Richardson, Hollie (9 March 2026). "A loving homage to pop culture's also-rans: best podcasts of the week". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  52. ↑ Sawyer, Miranda (21 February 2026). "'Remember Me?' lets the once famous relive their time in the limelight". The Observer. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  53. ↑ "RuPaul's Drag Race UK creators discuss bringing drag to screens at RTS Futures event". Royal Television Society. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  54. ↑ "Celebrating Ten Years of Gogglebox on Channel 4". Edinburgh TV Festival. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  55. ↑ Bryan, Scott. "Scott Bryan: This year's Edinburgh was fascinating, but not for the reasons you'd expect". Broadcast. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  56. ↑ "'Boil in a bag' and five other Bafta TV moments". BBC News. 12 May 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  57. ↑ Bryan, Scott (9 February 2015). "What It's Like Attending The BAFTAs As A Normal Person". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  58. ↑ "Meet the judges for Broadcaster of the Year". Instagram. National Student Television Association. 21 March 2026. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  59. ↑ Marshall, Alex (16 May 2026). "Eurovision 2026: Bulgaria wins, Israel takes second". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  60. ↑ Lowe, Adam (7 August 2024). "Check out Manchester's new LGBTQ+ film festival, SCENE". Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  61. ↑ "Celebrity Race Across The World: Screening and Q&A". Royal Television Society. 27 October 2025. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  62. ↑ "Race Across the World victors pledge winnings to help street children". BBC News. 27 April 2020. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  63. ↑ Evans, Greg (8 October 2025). "Claudia Winkleman reveals moment she almost gave traitor away: 'I was so worried I was almost sick'". The Independent. Retrieved 30 May 2026.
  64. ↑ Out Now: A Queer Journey Through Modern Television. ASIN 1785128507.
  65. ↑ King, Jack (1 July 2022). "From Freddie to Heartstopper: GQ writers pick their landmark British queer cultural moments". British GQ. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  66. ↑ Bryan, Scott. "Seen on screen: LGBTQ+ stories come out of the closet". Broadcast. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  67. ↑ King, Jack (1 July 2022). "From Freddie to Heartstopper: GQ writers pick their landmark British queer cultural moments". British GQ. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  68. ↑ Sulway, Verity (19 October 2020). "Ann Widdecombe slammed for 'homophobic' rant about Strictly's same sex pairing". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  69. ↑ Haigh, Joshua (20 June 2021). "ITV, you're wrong to label LGBTQ+ Islanders a logistical difficulty: Stop dragging your heels". Entertainment Daily. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  70. ↑ "Queer as Folk: How Russell T Davies' drama changed people's lives". BBC News. 23 February 2024. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  71. ↑ "How are LGBT people reacting to Channel 4's gay drama, "Cucumber"?". BuzzFeed. 23 January 2015.
  72. ↑ Bryan, Scott (29 May 2026). "'How often I'm called a paedophile online is shocking': inside Russell T Davies's horrifying drama about rising hatred". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
  73. ↑ "BBC Radio 5 Live: Must Watch on Joe Lycett's 'United States of Birmingham'". BBC. 2 May 2025. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  74. ↑ Bryan, Scott (9 March 2026). Out Now: A Queer Journey Through Modern Television. ISBN 978-1-78512-850-9. Retrieved 17 May 2026.
  75. ↑ Smith, Kelly (27 March 2025). "BBC Breakfast guest interrupts show to share sad update as hosts send support". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
  76. ↑ "LGBT+ History Month: HC Deb, 12 February 2026, vol. 780, col. 985 to 989". Hansard. UK Parliament: House of Commons. 18 May 2026. Retrieved 18 May 2026.
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