Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Kasterborous Classic TV: Exploring Doctor Who & Classic Sci-Fi

What happens next to Doctor Who — and who might actually make it?

Christian Cawley and James McLean discuss the latest speculation surrounding the programme's future, including Netflix's apparent lack of interest and Amazon's much more welcoming response to the prospect of getting involved.

Could Amazon do for Doctor Who what it once did for Ripper Street? Would moving further into the streaming world give the programme greater creative freedom, or would something important be lost along the way?

Then there's the small matter of Billie Piper.

With Mark Gatiss discussing the unresolved ending to the most recent series, Christian and James consider whether a future production team really needs to explain what happened — or whether Doctor Who should simply move forward.

From Sherlock and Dallas to Blake's 7, Sapphire & Steel and the Seventh Doctor's final adventure, we look at the peculiar power of an unresolved ending — and wonder whether Doctor Who's controversial cliffhanger might actually be helping to keep the series alive in the public imagination.

With Christian Cawley and James McLean.

Chris Carter has returned to 2008's The X-Files: I Want to Believe and created a new director's cut — but unusually, his preferred version is shorter than the film we already had.

James McLean and Brian Terranova have watched the new cut and join Christian Cawley to discuss what's changed, including its renewed emphasis on horror, alterations to Mulder and Scully's relationship, and whether Carter has actually made I Want to Believe a better movie.

But that raises a bigger question: when should creators stop changing their own work?

From Chris Carter and The X-Files, the conversation moves to Ridley Scott's Blade Runner, George Lucas and Star Wars, fan edits and the very idea of a definitive version.

Films and television are collaborative works involving writers, directors, actors, editors, composers, and producers. So when somebody returns decades later to create their preferred cut, whose work are they actually changing?

And does being the director necessarily give them the final word?

With Christian Cawley, James McLean and Brian Terranova.

What should Doctor Who do next? We look to its uncertain future — and back to the BBC's memorable Doctor Who Night in 1999.

Christian Cawley, James McLean and Brian Terranova discuss Dean Devlin's recent comments about Doctor Who, the prospect of another David Tennant return, and whether the programme might benefit from something resembling the clean break it received in 2005.

Should a future producer embrace decades of continuity, or give new viewers an easier way in? Could Tennant's Fourteenth Doctor provide a bridge to another incarnation? And has Doctor Who become too reliant on its own past?

Then we head back to 1999, when Doctor Who faced a very different uncertain future, to revisit BBC Two's Doctor Who Night.

Featuring Tom Baker, specially made sketches, documentaries and a showing of the 1996 TV movie, the evening arrived at a fascinating point in Doctor Who history: ten years after the original series ended and several years before its eventual return.

Was Doctor Who Night simply a nostalgic celebration — or, looking back, can we see the beginnings of the rehabilitation that eventually brought the Doctor back to Saturday-night television?

What happens when the films and TV programmes we grew up with aren't quite the same things we remember?

This week, a mix of Doctor Who and Star Wars, with Christian Cawley, James McLean and Brian Terranova beginning with some surprising discoveries about Luke Skywalker's decidedly ordinary trousers and Han Solo's blaster, changing lightsaber props, and the surprisingly problematic dimensions of the Millennium Falcon.

That leads us into the world of film and television restoration. What can modern transfers reveal that VHS and old television broadcasts concealed? And why might the Peter Cushing Doctor Who movies never make the jump to true 4K?

Doctor Who presents another puzzle. The series has always contained changing props, models, sets, and continuity, yet fans seem remarkably willing to accept them. More recent projects such as The War Games in Colour take things further, effectively creating alternative versions of familiar stories.

Then things get personal. James reveals that he edits songs he likes into what he considers their "correct" versions, leading to a discussion about fan edits, remixing, copyright and whether audiences have always customised the media they consume.

As CGI, AI and increasingly powerful editing tools become available to everyone, could personalised versions of films and television become commonplace? And if we can all "fix" the things we don't like, are we still watching the same thing?

What actually counts as Doctor Who canon—and who gets to decide? 

Christian Cawley, James McLean and Brian Terranova head down the rabbit hole of Doctor Who fan productions, unofficial spin-offs and alternative continuities, beginning with Brian's experiences developing his own Orville fan production. 

That leads us to Doctor Who projects such as Downtime, and The Stranger, where familiar actors and characters could appear in productions that existed somewhere between fan fiction and the television programme they were inspired by. 

An additional "aftershow" section for subscribers: https://www.patreon.com/cw/kasterborous/membership

But things become even more complicated once officially licensed Doctor Who enters the equation. Does Big Finish "count?" What happens when established continuity contradicts something that was previously accepted? And is our obsession with arranging television, audio, comics and other media into a hierarchy of "canon" itself part of the problem? 

We also discuss different approaches to shared fictional universes, why people create fan films and fiction in the first place, and how working within an established universe can help develop creative skills. 

Finally, there's the curious case of Richard E. Grant: announced as the official Ninth Doctor for Scream of the Shalka—only for the return of Doctor Who to television to rewrite his place in the programme's history. So perhaps the real question isn't simply what counts as Doctor Who canon, but whether canon matters as much as we think it does. 

Shownotes

Downtime on Amazon Prime: https://amzn.to/4xoikps

What can Tracy Island, Wonky Donkey and a TARDIS tell us about growing up with television in the 1990s? 

Well, Christian Cawley is about to find out. 

He chats with author Thom Gray about 100 Objects of '90s Children's TV, his celebration of a decade of CBBC, CITV, Saturday morning shows and programmes that have since slipped from memory, which is out now from Candy Bar Books.

Thom explains how the book came together, the challenges of researching children's television from the period, and his conversations with around 35 people who helped make it, including Pat Sharp, Anne Wood and Tony Robinson. 

We also delve into some of the 100 objects themselves, including Anthea Turner's famous Blue Peter Tracy Island, Wonky Donkey from SM:TV Live, the MicroSoap Rubik's Cube, and the TARDIS. Doctor Who might have been absent from television for most of the 1990s, but it wasn't entirely absent from children's TV. Thom explains how the TARDIS continued appearing elsewhere during the Wilderness Years, prompting a wider discussion about Doctor Who's curious place in the decade. 

Plus: forgotten programmes, VHS tapes, YouTube archaeology, and why '90s children's television is ripe for rediscovery. 

Links 100 Objects of '90s Children's TV on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4fMhmwi

This week’s podcast explores what the future might hold for Doctor Who—and whether the problems facing the BBC’s flagship series are really part of a much bigger shift across television and film.

Hosted by Christian Cawley and James McLean, the show discusses Sylvester McCoy’s surprise appearance in the Commonwealth Games trailer, what it tells us about the BBC’s continuing commitment to Doctor Who, and the implications of the programme’s move to open tender.

From there, the conversation broadens into Marvel fatigue, Netflix’s audience drop-offs, Spider-Noir, Chris Chibnall’s attempts to reinvent Doctor Who, and whether modern audiences still want long-running serialised storytelling—or something completely different.

Talking points:

• Sylvester McCoy and the Commonwealth Games trailer
• BBC Studios and Doctor Who’s future
• What happens after Bad Wolf?
• Why Marvel’s current strategy may no longer work
• Spider-Noir and character-first storytelling
• Reassessing Chris Chibnall’s era
• What Netflix’s viewing figures tell us
• Why Doctor Who may need a completely different release strategy

Let us know what you think, and if you have any thoughts on how Doctor Who should end, get in touch!
Meanwhile, Patreon supporters can enjoy some exclusive “after show” chat…

This week, Christian Cawley, James McLean, and a returning Brian Terranova revisit Doctor Who Series Two (2006)!

Twenty years after Doctor Who Series Two first aired, we look back at the stories that established David Tennant as the Doctor and cemented the modern series as a television phenomenon.

From New Earth and Tooth and Claw to School Reunion, The Girl in the Fireplace and the return of the Cybermen, we revisit our original reactions, discuss how our opinions have changed over the years, and ask whether this celebrated run of episodes deserves its reputation.

The conversation also broadens into a look at modern Doctor Who as a whole, from the Chibnall era to Russell T Davies' recent return, considering which stories have stood the test of time and how fandom's views continue to evolve.

In this episode

• Looking back at Doctor Who Series Two (2006)
• First impressions versus twenty years of hindsight
• New Earth and the strengths (and weaknesses) of the opening story
• Tooth and Claw and the evolving Doctor/Rose relationship
• Why School Reunion remains one of the defining stories of the era
• Revisiting The Girl in the Fireplace
• The Cybermen's return in Rise of the Cybermen and The Age of Steel
• Which episodes have improved with age—and which haven't
• Flux, the Whittaker era and recent Doctor Who highlights

• Why every era of Doctor Who has both classics and disappointments

What are your memories of Series Two? Has your opinion changed over the last twenty years, or does it still represent the high point of modern Doctor Who?

Let us know in the comments, or get in touch: podkasterborous@gmail.com

You can support the podcast via our Patreon, which features a full unedited discussion about this topic and others. You'll also find the Kasterborous archive, which resurfaces old interviews and other material from the old Kasterborous website.

Doctor Who artist Lee Sullivan joins Christian Cawley to look back on a career that has spanned Transformers, Marvel UK, Doctor Who Magazine, and some of the most memorable comic strips of the Seventh and Eighth Doctor eras.

Beginning with his childhood love of comics and Gerry Anderson, Lee explains how an ambition to become a comic strip artist eventually led him from British Aerospace to Marvel UK, where he cut his teeth drawing Transformers before unexpectedly becoming one of Doctor Who's defining artists.

The unedited interview is available on our Patreon.

The conversation explores the creative process behind classic Doctor Who Magazine strips, the challenges of sequential storytelling, and the evolution of the comic throughout the Wilderness Years and beyond. 

Along the way, Lee discusses: 

• How Transformers became his first professional comic strip work. 
• Breaking into Marvel UK and working with editors including Richard Starkings. 
• Becoming a Doctor Who artist during the programme's 25th anniversary. 
• The enduring popularity of the Seventh Doctor comic strips. 
• Bringing the Eighth Doctor to life in comic form. 
• Storytelling techniques, page layouts and visual pacing. 
• Working on graphic novels, illustrations and Doctor Who publications beyond the comic strip. 
• Why Doctor Who has remained such a constant throughout his career. 

 Whether you discovered Lee Sullivan's artwork through Doctor Who Magazine, Marvel UK's Transformers, or later Doctor Who books and illustrations, this interview offers a fascinating insight into one of the franchise's most recognisable artists.

Learn more about Lee Sullivan and his work: https://leesullivanart.co.uk/

The conversation continues beyond Doctor Who this week as Christian Cawley and James McLean turn their attention to the changing world of film, gaming, and digital entertainment.

Starting with the prospects for DC Studios’ Supergirl and the current state of superhero cinema, the discussion broadens into the future of the cinema experience, the decline of physical media, and what it really means to own the films and games we pay for.

Along the way, they consider whether streaming has changed our relationship with entertainment forever, why Blu-rays and boxed games still have a place on the shelf, and whether services like Steam have fundamentally altered consumer expectations.

Also discussed:

• Is superhero fatigue really to blame for declining cinema audiences?

• DC Studios, Marvel Studios and the challenge of rebuilding franchises.

• Why some films still deserve to be seen on the big screen.

• The continuing appeal of Blu-ray and other physical media.

• Sony’s changing approach to physical PlayStation releases.

• Steam, digital ownership and the risks of an all-digital future.

• Evercade and the resurgence of physical retro gaming.

• Windows 11, ageing hardware and planned obsolescence.

The full uncut edition of this week’s podcast discussions can be found on our Patreon, along with the Kasterborous Archive.

The Doctor Who world lost one of its most important creative voices with the passing of Justin Richards. This week, Christian Cawley and James McLean celebrate his remarkable contribution to the Whoniverse and discuss why his work mattered to generations of fans.

From the Virgin New Adventures to BBC Books, Big Finish audio dramas, comics, and countless reference works, Justin Richards helped define Doctor Who during the years it was off television—and continued shaping the franchise long after its return.

Christian and James both experienced the books when they were released, back when there was no Doctor Who on TV. Pre-Big Finish, these titles were the only tangible Doctor Who stories beyond the comic strip and the short-lived TV Movie, and were vital to positioning Doctor Who as a serious brand. 

Along the way, the conversation explores favourite novels, the evolution of Doctor Who publishing, and the enduring importance of books in keeping the series alive between 1989 and 2005. 

Also in this episode: 

• Updates from the growing Kasterborous Archive on Patreon.

• A preview of an upcoming interview with Doctor Who artist Lee Sullivan.

• Our favourite Justin Richards novels and recommendations for new readers.

• The transition from Virgin Books to the BBC Books range.

• Justin Richards’ editorial influence on Doctor Who publishing.

• Why the Wilderness Years remain one of Doctor Who’s most creative periods.

Whether you discovered Justin Richards through his novels, his audio dramas, or his work behind the scenes, this episode celebrates a writer whose influence on Doctor Who is difficult to overstate.

The full uncut edition of this week’s podcast discussions can be found on our Patreon, along with the Kasterborous Archive.

Kasterborous Archive on Patreon

Look out for our main chat, landing later.

Christian Cawley and James McLean address some recent show reviews and consider a growing trend in major fandoms: the desire to rewind the clock, and remove episodes, or movies, that don’t align.

Following a surprising Apple Podcasts review that labelled certain eras of Doctor Who as “ersatz,” they dive into the psychology of canon, the reality of “brand positivity,” and why big studios might actually consider wiping the slate clean.

This episode first aired on our Patreon. Support the Kasterborous Archive on Patreon, and unlock interviews and "lost" items from our old website.

Our topics this week

• The “professional” fans: Christian reads out a selection of listener reviews, including a three-star critique that calls out the “modern abomination” of Doctor Who.

• Defining “ersatz” Who: Where do you draw the line? Is everything off-screen fake? We discuss the subjective nature of what “counts” as real Doctor Who.

• The Star Wars sequel trilogy erasure rumours: Addressing the recurring social media storm that Disney is planning to “delete” the Star Wars sequels. Is it a legitimate business move or just fan wish-fulfilment?

• Canon as an audience construct: James argues that while fans obsess over timelines, producers only care about IP utility. Does “canon” even exist to the people making the movies?

There’s also time to consider how shows like Scrubs and Roseanne used “light-touch revisionism” to ignore unpopular final seasons and return to familiar status quos, and the 1990s Timothy Zahn-penned Star Wars novels.

Let us know what your thoughts are on this matter -- is it useful to remove or ignore multimillion dollar movies from a timeline? Can the same be done to Doctor Who -- or is it simply not necessary?

Email us: podkasterborous@gmail.com

In this episode of Kasterborous, Christian Cawley and James McLean take a trip down memory lane to discuss the infamous "wilderness years" of Doctor Who. 

Inspired by current industry headlines and the recent status of the series, they recall and reflects on how they—and the wider fandom—navigated the period following the show's 1989 cancellation. 

Key topics this week

• The "Cancellation" Conversation: We break down the current state of Doctor Who and explore whether rumors of cancellation are merely a strategic attempt to generate discourse or a genuine reflection of industry instability. 

• 1989 vs. Now: Comparing the experience of the late 80s with the modern era, and why it is so difficult for fans to determine the actual status of a production in today’s "post-truth" media landscape. 

• The 90s Wilderness Years: James and Christian recall how they stayed engaged with the show during the hiatus, focusing on the rise of the Virgin New Adventures novels, VHS releases, and the importance of specialist shops like Forbidden Planet. 

• Canonicity and Cash Cows: A deep dive into the 90s obsession with "official" canon and the changing perception of tie-in merchandise—from "crass commercial cash cows" to the more integrated, sophisticated marketing seen in modern franchise media. 

• The Power of Independent Media: We highlight the opportunities for creativity in the "digital wild west," referencing the work of people like Gareth Kavanagh and Cutaway Comics as a blueprint for how fans and creators can keep a franchise alive.

Mentions and links

• Substack: Follow our latest writing and discussions at gamingretro.substack.com.
• Cutaway Comics: Check out the excellent work being done by Gareth Kavanagh and the team at Cutaway Comics.

• Support our work in bringing lost and forgotten interviews and features from our old website to the Kasterborous Archive

Christian, Brian, and James dive into the complex, hodgepodge world of special effects in Classic Doctor Who. From the creative ingenuity required to mask limited budgets to the philosophical debate between practical effects and modern CGI, the team explores what makes certain classic effects timeless while others fall short.

Key Discussion Points:

• The Art of "Classic" FX: Discussion on why classic Doctor Who effects often feel more engaging than seamless modern CGI, specifically the audience's enjoyment in understanding the "how-to" behind the curtain.

• Practical vs. CGI: Why practical effects, such as elaborate alien suits, maintained a sense of reality through consistent lighting and physical interaction, whereas some modern CGI struggles with aging and believability.

• The "Rubber Nose" Trope: Examining the shift in alien design from elaborate, ambitious suits to the more common Star Trek: TNG-inspired humanoid-with-a-prosthetic approach, and whether this was due to budget constraints, audience expectations, or actor comfort.

• CSO (Chroma Key) Analysis: A deep dive into the use of CSO in Classic Doctor Who, highlighting the technical ambition of stories like Underworld—despite its flaws—and comparing it to the near-seamless work in Silver Nemesis.

• The Best and Worst Effects: We offer our thoughts on what are the best and worst special effects in classic Doctor Who. Let us know what you think, as we really only skimmed the surface in this episode.

Plus, there is also mention of:

• Doctor Who: Death to the Daleks, Silver Nemesis, The Five Doctors, Underworld, Revenge of the Cybermen, Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Trial of a Time Lord.

• Blake’s 7: Discussion on the recent release with updated VFX.

• Star Trek: Comparisons between its alien designs and the riskier, more varied approach taken by Doctor Who.

• Random Acts of Hopkirk (Deceased): Tom Baker’s interaction with extensive green screen work.

Thanks for watching, and don't forget, joining our Patreon as a paid subscriber gives you access to the Kasterborous Archive, a growing collection of material that was either unused, or forgotten, from the days of the old Kasterborous website.

The TARDIS is changing hands—or at least, the keys might be. In a massive shake-up, the BBC has officially put Doctor Who out to tender, signaling a potential end to the current Russell T Davies era. While the show is far from cancelled, the search for a new production house to take the helm has sent shockwaves through the fandom.

Join Christian Cawley and James McLean as they break down the implications of this news. What does it mean for the future of the series? Could this open the door for a radical creative shift, or are we looking at a period of uncertainty as the show prepares for its next phase?

We also weigh in on whether the festive hiatus is a temporary blip or a sign that the BBC’s priorities are shifting away from appointment viewing.

Tune in as we dissect the headlines and try to make sense of one of the biggest Doctor Who news stories of the year.

As ever, let us know what you think. 

This week on Kasterborous, Christian chats with Gareth Kavanagh about the latest Kickstarter from Cutaway Comics, Paradise Towers: Unalive the Multiverse.

Returning to the neon-soaked world of Doctor Who's classic 1987 story Paradise Towers, the new graphic novel continues the adventures of the Kangs, Rezzies, and Caretakers as a fresh threat emerges from across the multiverse. The project is written by Sean Mason and builds on Cutaway's previous Paradise Towers comics. 

Visit the Paradise Towers: Unalive the Multiverse Kickstarter.

Christian and Gareth discuss:

• Why Paradise Towers remains such a rich setting nearly 40 years after its television debut

• The development of Unalive the Multiverse
  
  

• Cutaway Comics' approach to expanding corners of the Doctor Who universe

• The continuing involvement of original Paradise Towers creator Stephen Wyatt

• Wyatt's first-ever comic strip, Scary Cat, created especially for this project

• The importance of creating opportunities for new comic creators

• The search for a brand-new artist to illustrate Wyatt's story, following Cutaway's tradition of helping emerging talent break into professional comics

As Gareth explains, the artist search mirrors the process that originally brought artist Silvano Beltramo into the Paradise Towers range, demonstrating Cutaway Comics' commitment to discovering fresh talent.

Also in this episode

After the interview, Christian takes viewers on a brief tour of the growing Kasterborous Archive on Patreon, showcasing some of the exclusive material available to supporters, including vintage podcast episodes, interviews, video content, and other treasures from nearly two decades of Kasterborous productions.

Links

• Paradise Towers: Unalive the Multiverse Kickstarter
  
  
• Cutaway Comics official website
  
  
• Kasterborous on Patreon
  
  

Build high for happiness — and watch out for multiversal murder squads!

You cannot have helped but notice that rumours are swirling about the future of Doctor Who, with tabloid reports suggesting that next year’s series and the 2026 Christmas special are facing cancellation. We dig into the reality behind these headlines, the struggle to find the next Time Lord, and why the current climate of “content saturation” is creating such an atmosphere of uncertainty.

Quick TL;DR -- we don’t buy the “no one wants to play the Doctor” schtick, and nor should you.

This chat does interrupt previously-scheduled chat about Mind Warp. We will be picking this up soon, but wanted to catch up on the latest news.

Episode Highlights

Here’s what we actually cover this week:

• The comfort of the classics: Why we’re finding more affection for classic Doctor Who than the modern era. Is it nostalgia, or does the scarcity of the old episodes simply make them more precious?
• Panini stickers and the 1980s: A trip down memory lane. We discuss the joys of completing sticker albums—from Return of the Jedi to Transformers—and how they served as a vital, physical conduit to films in an era before on-demand viewing.
• Cutaway Comics and the Paradise Towers revival: We look at the new Unlive the Multiverse graphic novel and the exciting open artist competition for Scary Cat. Could this be the perfect time for a resurgence in spin-off material?
• Ncuti Gatwa on SNL UK: Thoughts on the recent Saturday Night Live monologue and why the current discourse surrounding Doctor Who feels like it’s being played for laughs.

• The cancellation rumours: Addressing the recent reports in The Sun and Radio Times. We break down why the “unnamed insider” narrative is often misleading and discuss the broader implications of the BBC’s current “uncertainty” era.

Links and resources

• Cutaway Comics: Explore their library and find out more about their current projects and artist opportunities.
• The Doctor Who Companion: Our favourite Doctor Who online magazine.
• Join the Kasterborous Archive: Our Patreon is a collection of lost, forgotten, overlooked, and unheard interviews, features, and curios from 20+ years of writing and talking about Doctor Who

Help us climb the charts!

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you.

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

Christian Cawley and James McLean reach the final episode of The Mysterious Planet — and by this point, the commentary itself may be more entertaining than the serial under discussion. 

As the pair pick apart collapsing pacing, endless corridors, meaningless courtroom interruptions, and the baffling lack of anything recognisably “Earth-like” about Ravalox, the conversation expands into a broader discussion about Doctor Who itself: companion writing, Colin Baker’s wasted strengths, the failures of Trial of a Time Lord as a format, and whether the season could have worked better as a genuine deconstruction of the Doctor. 

There’s nostalgia for VHS culture, comparisons with The Daleks’ Master Plan, frustration over Peri’s lack of agency, and a surprisingly thoughtful debate about why some companions endure while others become little more than plot devices. 

By the end, the hosts are already bracing themselves for Mind Warp — and wondering if the real trial was the episodes they watched along the way.

Join the Kasterborous Archive and influence topics for future shows.

Help us climb the charts!

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. 

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

What do you think of the Sixth Doctor's final stand? Let us know in the comments.

Christian Cawley and James McLean continue their Trial of a Time Lord marathon with Episode 3 of The Mysterious Planet — and the cracks are beginning to show.

What starts as a nostalgic conversation about VHS tins, HMV trips, and the ritual of physical media quickly becomes a forensic dissection of pacing problems, intrusive courtroom scenes, and a strangely muted “it was Earth all along” reveal.

Along the way, the pair discuss Robert Holmes’ recycled story ideas, the abandoned "Yellow Fever and How to Cure It," unreliable narration in Trial of a Time Lord, and why the serial feels oddly disconnected from Earth despite its central twist.

There’s also sympathy for Colin Baker being awkwardly hoisted by a wobbling robot, comparisons to the Kandyman, and the growing suspicion that the courtroom framework may actually undermine the storytelling it was supposed to enhance.

Join the Kasterborous Archive and influence topics for future shows.

Help us climb the charts!

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. 

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

What do you think of the Sixth Doctor's final stand? Let us know in the comments.

Christian Cawley and James McLean return to discuss the increasingly uncertain future of television — starting with reports that AMC will become the US streaming home for classic-era Doctor Who.

Does the AMC deal mean Doctor Who is heading back toward an American co-production model? Or is this simply another distribution agreement being overanalysed by a fandom starved for news?

(We think it might be that one ^^...)

The conversation expands into a much broader discussion about the current state of television and streaming: collapsing audience attention spans, the “age of suffocation” caused by overwhelming amounts of content, and whether long-form prestige TV can even survive in a world dominated by YouTube, TikTok, gaming, and algorithm-driven viewing habits.

Along the way, Christian and James discuss:

• AMC acquiring US streaming rights to classic-era Doctor Who
  
  

• Whether Doctor Who could ever become an American production

• Why streaming has created an “age of suffocation” for TV audiences

• The Mandalorian movie and the collapse of “event television”

• Gaming, YouTube, and the battle for audience attention

• William Shatner, AI-generated artwork, and authenticity online

• Remembering Blake’s 7 actor Michael Keating

We also head back into the world of AI, and explore whether AI tools are quietly eroding creative industries, why audiences instinctively reject AI-generated work, and how websites and streaming platforms are increasingly losing their individual identities.

Join the Kasterborous Archive and influence topics for future shows.

In this episode, Christian Cawley, James McLean, and Brian Terranova reunite to look back at the 1996 Doctor Who TV movie. It was a night of high stakes, big budgets, and a transition that would define the "wilderness years" for a generation of fans.

This week:

* Brian Terranova Explains the PAL Problem: We welcome back the podcast’s original co-host to discuss his experience watching the movie’s US premiere on Fox and the "commercial break" mishaps that haunted his VHS recordings for years. Brian reveals why UK audiences have never actually heard Paul McGann’s real voice or the correct musical pitch due to the NTSC-to-PAL conversion speed-up.

* The Jules Verne TARDIS: A deep dive into the 1996 console room. Is it too Victorian, or is it the first time the show actually looked like it had money behind it?

* A Poetic End for Seven: We debate Sylvester McCoy’s regeneration. Was it a "un-heroic" mistake, or the perfect end for a master manipulator who finally missed one small detail?

* The Pilot Problem: Why cramming 30 years of lore—Time Lords, Daleks, and Master-snakes—into 90 minutes might have alienated the very American audience Fox was trying to court.

* Ahead of Its Time: How the movie’s reverence for props like the sonic screwdriver and jelly babies predated the modern era of "prestige" reboots.

On the Kasterborous Archive, we have new chats with various people involved with the Doctor Who TV Movie, including Daphne Ashbrook and Sylvester McCoy.

We dive headlong into the second installment of The Mysterious Planet this week, only to find a struggle with the overarching structure of The Trial of a Time Lord.

From the pitfalls of 1980s "stunt casting" to the surprisingly accurate technological predictions of the mid-80s, we explore why this era of Doctor Who often feels like a struggle between a standalone story and a courtroom drama.

Our key talking points

• The "Bland" Factor: Why The Mysterious Planet lacks a certain "humanity" compared to other "mid-tier" stories like Black Orchid or Paradise Towers.
• Stunt Casting vs. Character: We look at the appearances of Joan Sims and Brian Blessed, and whether their larger-than-life personas pull the audience out of the story.
• A Win for the Prop Department: We marvel at a service robot that looks suspiciously like a modern-day automated vacuum cleaner—is this 1980s Doctor Who's most accurate prediction of future tech?
• Scale and Sci-Fi Talk: Why "wanted in the six galaxies" feels like a hollow threat compared to the more grounded stakes of Star Wars or earlier eras of the show.
• Peri’s Perspective: A rare moment where Peri isn't being objectified or "claimed" as a future wife (at least until Mindwarp).

But here's the thing: at the midway point of this 4-parter season opener, it oddly feels more taxing than any commentary we've done before -- especially comparing this with how the show's format and pace was completely different a couple of years later.

We're presenting our commentaries to you on Patreon in a complete story-by-story package, in both video and audio. To remind you, Season 23 comprised the following individual stories:

• The Mysterious Planet by Robert Holmes

• Mindwarp by Philip Martin

• Terror of the Vervoids by Pip and Jane Baker

• The Ultimate Foe by Robert Holmes (with Pip and Jane Baker)

Help us climb the charts!

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. 

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

What do you think of the Sixth Doctor's final stand? Let us know in the comments.

Christian Cawley and James McLean settle in for a long-overdue rewatch of The Trial of a Time Lord, the Sixth Doctor’s epic 14-part swan song. Things kick off in signature style with a false start on the wrong episode, followed by a deep dive into the high-budget model work and low-budget "starched doily" fashion of 1986...

This is the first part of our commentary/talking over The Mysterious Planet, with each subsequent installment coming to your podcast app over the next few weeks.

However, if you want the whole thing in one go, you'll find it on our Patreon, details below.

We'd love it if you watched along with us, via DVD, Blu-ray, or even BBC iPlayer. Just be sure not to hit "continue watching" or whatever if you've already enjoyed some classic Doctor Who lately...

Shownotes

We're presenting our commentaries to you on Patreon in a complete story-by-story package, in both video and audio. To remind you, Season 23 comprised the following individual stories:

• The Mysterious Planet by Robert Holmes

• Mindwarp by Philip Martin

• Terror of the Vervoids by Pip and Jane Baker

• The Ultimate Foe by Robert Holmes (with Pip and Jane Baker)

Your Patreon option

This week, you get just the first part of the conversation, BUT Patreon listeners got the whole thing AND earlier than you, by a full 3 days. To join them, visit the Kasterborous Patreon today and sign up to support us with a free trial. Patreon supports will be getting our thoughts on Mind Warp and Terror of the Vervoids and the rest of the Doctor's trial much sooner than everyone else, too.

Every week, supporters get the podcast first, with extra material (this one had video), ad-free, and other video content, and we give you access to the Kasterborous Archive (this week: Karen Gillan!)

Help us climb the charts!

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. 

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

What do you think of the Sixth Doctor's final stand? Let us know in the comments, look out for our conversation about part two next week.

This week, Christian Cawley and James McLean prepare for the journey they’ve avoided for over 500 episodes: the 14-part epic, The Trial of a Time Lord. 

As the longest single serial since The Daleks' Master Plan, it was intended to save the show, but instead, it became a fascinating, frustrating mirror of Doctor Who’s real-world struggle for survival in 1986.

No shownotes as such this week, but look out for discussion of:

• The binge-culture disconnect: We discuss the "memory of disappointment" surrounding the 14-week structure. Does a story this long work better in the era of streaming, or was the "trial" format fundamentally flawed from the start?

• The unlikable hero: James revisits his "pre-teen" struggle with Colin Baker’s Doctor. We look at the "clownish" costume, the bullish personality, and whether a simple wardrobe change could have saved his legacy (probably, yes).

• Interruptions in the matrix: Why the constant cutaways to the courtroom dampen the stakes of stories like Mindwarp and The Mysterious Planet.

• The "lost" season 23: Christian breaks down the original plans for the season—including The Nightmare Fair and Yellow Fever and How to Cure It—and how a behind-the-scenes "trial" at the BBC led to the version we eventually got.

• The Valeyard revelation: We talk about the "adult vagueness" of the show's dark mirror-Doctor and why the revelation of his true identity didn't quite land for a younger audience in the 80s.

• Missed opportunities: From the lack of past companions in a courtroom evidence-giving scenario (where was Jamie or Ian Chesterton?) to the "meta-danger" of putting the show on trial while it was actually under threat from BBC management.

We're hitting play on The Trial of a Time Lord from next week, and we'll be presenting our commentaries to you on Patreon in a complete story-by-story package, in both video and audio. To remind you, Season 23 comprised the following individual stories:

• The Mysterious Planet by Robert Holmes

• Mindwarp by Philip Martin

• Terror of the Vervoids by Pip and Jane Baker

• The Ultimate Foe by Robert Holmes (with Pip and Jane Baker)

The Patreon option

This week, it's a full show for everyone, BUT Patreon listeners got it earlier than you, by a full 3 days. To join them, visit the Kasterborous Patreon today and sign up to support us with a free trial.

Every week, supporters get the podcast first, with extra material (this one had video), ad-free, and other video content, and we give you access to the Kasterborous Archive.

Help us climb the charts!

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. 

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

What do you think of the Sixth Doctor's final stand? Let us know in the comments, and look out for our deep dive into The Mysterious Planet next week!

In this week's chat, Christian and James revisit their recent discussion about recovered episodes from missing Doctor Who serial The Daleks' Master Plan. 

Was the initial reaction to viewing the episodes harsh? 

Sourcing comments from the Facebook thread on the episode, we add some context, underline a few points, and possibly even concede a few things.

As stated at the time, Christian and James have different views on this, which makes it all the more interesting. Could The Daleks' Master Plan have been viewed differently if it had always existed in the hands of the BBC? Is the currency of scarcity something we need to understand better?

Enjoy the podcast now on video, pick it up in audio format via Spotify, or wait until Monday for the public release on all platforms.

Shownotes

• TIMELASH: Confessions of a Visual Effects Assistant

The Patreon option

This week, it's a full show for everyone, BUT Patreon listeners got it earlier than you, by a full 3 days. To join them, visit the Kasterborous Patreon today and sign up to support us with a free trial.

Every week, supporters get the podcast first, with extra material (this one had video), ad-free, and other video content, and we give you access to the Kasterborous Archive.

Help us climb the charts!

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. 

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

We'll be back next week with the first part of our look at The Trial of a Time Lord...

We're back for part 3 of our commentary of Silver Nemesis, the official Doctor Who 25th anniversary story from 1988. Starring Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred, the serial has various versions and edits -- we watched the cut you can see on BBC iPlayer, and you're free to watch along with us.

This week, Christian Cawley and James McLean reach the rooftop showdown, where it’s the endgame for Lady Peinforte, the Fourth Reich, and a battalion of Cybermen who probably should have invested in better respiratory filters...

The Patreon option

Patreon listeners get the full three episode commentary in one go, and you can join the Kasterborous Patreon today to enjoy it that way. Supporters get the podcast first, with extra material, ad-free, and video content, as well as access to the Kasterborous Archive.

Help us climb the charts!

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. 

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

"It feels like a show which has kind of lost its spirit a bit... I could see in a different timeline where Doctor Who did not regenerate into Patrick Troughton, and this was the tired back end of a format." 

This week, Christian Cawley and James McLean dive into the recent recovery (and release on BBC iPlayer/YouTube) of two episodes from the legendary 1965 epic, The Daleks’ Master Plan. While the "discovery" of episodes 1 and 3 has sent shockwaves through the fandom, our hosts find themselves at odds over whether this "lost" footage is a masterpiece or a sign of a format running out of steam...

"The Nightmare Begins" and "Devil’s Planet" were found, restored, and released on Good Friday 2026 thanks to the efforts of Film is Fabulous. 

On the one hand, Christian is enthusiastic, and loved watching the episodes. On the other, James was intrigued from an artistic point of view, but felt that the recovered installments don't really add anything to The Daleks' Master Plan.

So, it's a discussion about the importance of these finds, and a look at the poor characterization -- in the script -- for one of the show's most interesting early characters, Katarina. Even if the episodes are "bland television" to some, how much does the recovery of characters like Katarina and Bret Vyon (Nicholas Courtney's first appearance) matter to Doctor Who's history?

The Patreon option

Patreon listeners get the full three episode commentary in one go, and you can join the Kasterborous Patreon today to enjoy it that way. Supporters get the podcast first, with extra material, ad-free, and video content, as well as access to the Kasterborous Archive.

Help us climb the charts

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. 

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

In this commentary, Christian Cawley and James McLean dive into the heart of Silver Nemesis, and give some thought to Elizabethan sorceress Lady Peinforte and her loyal murderer Richard. Oh, and Argentinian Nazi refugees, Cybermen, and a couple of youths with a bizarre dislike for social workers.

Elsewhere in this episode, that "Jazz" interlude between Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred which remains one of the most natural, relaxed moments in the show’s history.

Line up your DVD or BBC iPlayer (optional) and hit "play!"

The Patreon option

Patreon listeners get the full three episode commentary in one go, and you can join the Kasterborous Patreon today to enjoy it that way. Supporters get the podcast first, with extra material, ad-free, and video content, as well as access to the Kasterborous Archive.

Help us climb the charts

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. 

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

In this week’s episode, Christian Cawley and James McLean dive deep into Doctor Who's "official" 25th-anniversary silver jubilee story, Silver Nemesis. From the slightly oversized Cybermen to the curious presence of Dolores Gray, we talk all the way through the oft-derided 1988 adventure and explore what makes it fascinating -- if not somewhat polarizing.

This podcast looks at the first episode of Silver Nemesis, with the rest of the serial coming up over the next few weeks.

The Patreon option

Patreon listeners get the full three episode commentary in one go, and you can join the Kasterborous Patreon today to enjoy it that way. Supporters get the podcast first, with extra material, ad-free, and video content, as well as access to the Kasterborous Archive.

Help us climb the charts

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. 

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

The recent recovery of two missing episodes of Doctor Who from The Daleks' Master Plan should be a moment of celebration — but it also raises an uncomfortable question: how many more are still out there?

In this Patreon-exclusive video, Christian Cawley and James McLean dig into the latest discovery, donated via Film Is Fabulous!, and the ongoing work to restore and preserve missing television. But our conversation quickly turns to the more complicated side of the story — the long history of private collectors holding onto lost material. What the mindset keeps culturally significant footage out of public view?

Why do people keep these recordings hidden? And what would it take for them to come forward?

The discussion explores the legacy of figures like Philip Morris and Ian Levine, the often fraught relationship between fandom and preservation, and the strange ways history is shaped by those who control access to it. We also discuss the passing of well-regarded actor Tom Georgeson, who had appeared in two Doctor Who serials, and died last week at 88 years old.

We also go beyond Doctor Who to consider how classic television is restored and presented today — from controversial cropping choices to changing expectations around picture quality — and how audiences engage differently with media across generations.

The Patreon option

Patreon listeners, meanwhile, get the bonus content: detours into The Man from UNCLE, Sapphire and Steel, Teletext nostalgia, shifting attitudes to ownership versus access (renting), and the broader question of how cultural artefacts survive in our increasingly digital world. You can join Patreon today to get the podcast first, with extra material, ad-free, and video content, as well as access to the Kasterborous Archive.

Help us climb the charts

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. 

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

Christian Cawley and James McLean conclude their commentary discussion of the classic Doctor Who serial The Robots of Death, focusing on Episodes Three and Four of the 1977 story. 

With the mystery aboard the sandminer tightening, the discussion explores how the final two episodes bring together the serial’s many strands. We've got the paranoia among the crew, growing suspicion surrounding the robots, and the increasingly complex motivations of those on board.

Remember, this was written for children!

Christian and James look at how writer Chris Boucher structures the closing chapters of the story as both a science-fiction thriller and a classic murder mystery, and why the solution still holds up decades later. They also query how much input the script editor, Robert Holmes, had.

Along the way, the conversation touches on the serial’s memorable robot designs, its distinctive world-building, and the production choices that give The Robots of Death its enduring reputation as one of the most stylish and atmospheric adventures from the classic era of Doctor Who.

Why wait for your next fix of Kasterborous?

Did you know that Patreon supporters are likely already listening to next week’s episode? While we love sharing the show with everyone, our subscribers get the “VIP” experience: early access, a completely ad-free stream, and an exclusive video version of every episode.

Get Kasterborous on Patreon!

Help us climb the charts

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. 

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

Two long-missing episodes of Doctor Who have been recovered — and they come from one of the most famous lost stories in the programme’s history, The Daleks’ Master Plan.

“The Nightmare Begins” and “Devil’s Planet” have been found, restored, and will be released through BBC iPlayer at Easter.

• Lost Doctor Who episodes found (BBC Leicester)

In this episode, Christian Cawley is joined by fanzine publisher Gareth Kavanagh (Cutaway Comics, Vworp Vworp!), to discuss the discovery of two episodes from the epic 1965 Dalek adventure, a serial that remains one of the most significant gaps in the Doctor Who archive. With around half of the 12-part story still missing, the recovery of any material is a major moment for fans of the series, and anyone interested in lost media.

Christian and Gareth explore how the discovery came about, what we know about the recovered prints, and how they fit into the wider story of the BBC’s missing episodes. They also reflect on why The Daleks’ Master Plan has become such a legendary part of Doctor Who lore — from its scale and ambition to its infamous reputation among fans who have only experienced the story through reconstructions, audio recordings, and novelisations.

Along the way, the conversation touches on the broader history of missing episodes (Gareth previously attended a “missing episodes” event for Kasterborous in 2013), how discoveries like this still happen decades later, and what the find might mean for future archival work.

This is a topic we will definitely be coming back to soon...

Help us climb the charts

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. 

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

In this commentary-style episode, Christian Cawley and James McLean revisit the classic Doctor Who story The Robots of Death. This is the first of a two-part podcast, covering the serials first two episodes.

We compare the experience of watching classic Doctor Who episodically versus the omnibus VHS edits that hit rental stores in the 1980s. Those different formats affect pacing, cliffhangers, and the rhythm of a story, and The Robots of Death is no different.

It might look amazing, but there is much more to The Robots of Death. Writer Chris Boucher blends science fiction with the traditions of classic detective fiction, and we look at the impressive world-building behind the sandminer setting, the story’s layered social tensions, and why The Robots of Death feels larger than its four episodes suggest. Could the story even work without the Doctor at all?

Christian and James also discuss the performances and character dynamics that make the story memorable, from Tom Baker’s more serious Fourth Doctor to Louise Jameson’s "savage" Leela, whose unique relationship with the Doctor offers a different companion dynamic from the more familiar eras of the show. 

Why wait for your next fix of Kasterborous?

Did you know that Patreon supporters are likely already listening to next week’s episode? While we love sharing the show with everyone, our subscribers get the “VIP” experience: early access, a completely ad-free stream, and an exclusive video version of every episode.

Get Kasterborous on Patreon!

Help us climb the charts

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. 

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

This week’s Kasterborous opens on sad news, as Christian Cawley and James McLean reflect on the passing of Red Dwarf co-creator Rob Grant. 

You probably know that the writing partnership between Grant and Doug Naylor pre-existed Red Dwarf, and while it certainly helped to define Britain’s most enduring sci-fi comedy, obviously there was a split. So we consider the curious parallel timelines created by split novels and later revivals, and explore Grant’s legacy — and what his absence might mean for the future of the franchise. 

Let's not forget, Grant was working on a new Red Dwarf book with co-writer Andrew Marshall, Titan, set for release this July.

Along the way, we recall our own first encounters with Red Dwarf.

From there, the conversation returns to familiar territory with a deep dive into Doctor Who’s famously unfinished story Shada. An interesting archival research and visual-effects analysis on Substack prompted us to examine both the model and SFX work that wasn't completed, and why the Douglas Adams script continues to fascinate fans decades later.

The episode wraps up with a look at creativity and longevity through filmmaker Adrian Munsey’s upcoming Spymasters documentary series for Sky Arts, and William Shatner's upcoming heavy metal album (yes, you read that right).

Links:

• Red Dwarf: Titan by Rob Grant and Andrew Marshall
• Shada model work feature by Jonathan Helm
• TV Movie article
• Adrian Munsey's Spymasters trailer (and our previous chat with Adrian)
• William Shatner heavy metal album announcement
  
  

The Rob Grant news sort of overshadowed our plans to complete the Robots of Death commentary, but we're planning to have that with you soon...

Why wait for your next fix of Kasterborous?

Did you know that Patreon supporters are likely already listening to next week’s episode? While we love sharing the show with everyone, our subscribers get the “VIP” experience: early access, a completely ad-free stream, and an exclusive video version of every episode.

Get Kasterborous on Patreon

Help us climb the charts

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. 

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

It's a bumper edition of the podcast this week, as Christian Cawley and James McLean attempt to squeeze in not just discussion of the upcoming 4K release of the 1996 Doctor Who TV Movie and share a short chat between Brian Terranova and Paul McGann, to give you an idea of the sort of thing you can hear in the Kasterborous Archive.

Shownotes

• Doctor Who TV Movie 4K/UHD Blu-ray on Amazon
• Kasterborous Archive on Patreon

Why wait for your next fix of the show?

Did you know that Patreon supporters are likely already listening to next week’s episode? While we love sharing the show with everyone, our subscribers get the “VIP” experience: early access, a completely ad-free stream, and an exclusive video version of every episode.

Get Kasterborous on Patreon

Help us climb the charts

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. 

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

It’s podcast time! Christian and James mull over the BBC’s decision not to put Doctor Who in the massive online game Fortnite, and celebrate the extension of Big Finish’s licence to continue producing audios and more.

The most frustrating takeaway from the chat was what increasingly seems like a missed opportunity for a full Doctor Who x Fortnite integration. On paper, it’s a perfect match—a show about infinite possibilities and a game (and much more) that thrives on them.

Yet, the collaboration never materialized.

Whether this was a failure of digital literacy at the BBC or a fundamental misunderstanding of Fortnite’s culture, it really does seem to be a massive oversight, and we go pretty deep into trying to understand how the BBC missed an opportunity to supercharge Doctor Who’s audience.

This week, Christian found the button that enables a video podcast (available exclusively on Patreon) to be shared as an audio podcast AT THE SAME TIME. This significant development means there is less editing required!



PLUS: A new interview from the Terranova Collection has been added to the Kasterborous Archive, with Frazer Hines, Wendy Padbury, and the late Deborah Watling.

Why wait for your next fix of the show?

Did you know that Patreon supporters are likely already listening to next week’s episode? While we love sharing the show with everyone, our subscribers get the “VIP” experience: early access, a completely ad-free stream, and an exclusive video version of every episode.

Get Kasterborous on Patreon

Help us climb the charts

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you. 

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Recent comments from Mark Gatiss and Peter Capaldi (made separately) concerning Doctor Who's current status are the focus of our conversation this week.

Christian Cawley and James McLean cover a number of points, with everything from the dying requirement for basic screen language (such as a documentary where two people greet each other at a door before a more in-depth interaction) to whether Steven Berkoff should have had more time on-screen in The Power of Three.

Come on, we all know the answer to that one.

This is a big hour-long chat, so hold onto your loins, gird your hats, and mix your metaphors. Oh, and listen out for mention of the first of Brian Terranova's Doctor Who interview collection, now available on our Patreon.

Patreon and Apple Podcasts

Most episodes of our podcast go out on Patreon first. This week's episode is the same as the one that went out on Patreon, but subscribers there got it early, ad-free, and with a video version. 

We'd really appreciate your help in raising our profile on the Apple platform, so please leave a review. If you don't already subscribe, you should -- it alerts you when new episodes are available.

Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and you’ll get a mention.

This week's podcast is Patreon first as ever, with no ads! Christian Cawley chats with Brian Terranova, and then with James McLean, about the early years of Kasterborous. 

Among other things, we cover how we started it, the tools we used early on, and how we overcame Brian's departure...

Shownotes

• Why did we start the podKast with a K?
• The first podKast
• SPLINK
• First podcast with James in 2011

This week, you get the podcast ad-free and early on Patreon. As this is a 500ish episode, it goes out in its entirety on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 

Plus, I have the list of interviews provided by Brian, which will appear exclusively in the Kasterborous Archive.

The following actors, writers, and producers will be added to the Kasterborous Archive over the coming months:

• John Peel (author)
• Simon Fisher-Becker
• Ian McNeice
• Sylvester McCoy
• Matt Smith
• Caroline Skinner
• Karen Gillan
• Yee Jee Tso
• Paul McGann
• Terrance Dicks
• Emma Campbell-Jones
• Frazer Hines, Wendy Padbury, Deborah Watling
• Terry Molloy
• Daphne Ashbrook

Patreon and Apple Podcasts

Most episodes of our podcast go out on Patreon first. This week's episode is the same as the one that went out on Patreon, but subscribers there got it early, ad-free, and with a video version. 

We'd really appreciate your help in raising our profile on the Apple platform, so please leave a review. If you don't already subscribe, you should -- it alerts you when new episodes are available.

Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and you’ll get a mention.

Christian Cawley and James McLean take a break from 500ish to discuss the news that Blake's 7 could be heading for a reboot after the IP was picked up by Multitude Productions.

As James is a big Blake's 7 admirer and has also worked on an eventually uncompleted project based on the show, it seemed a good opportunity to discuss what might be needed to make a Blake's 7 reboot work...

Shownotes

• Blake's 7 IP acquisition announcement
• Is the Life on Mars sequel Lazarus now happening?

Patreon and Apple Podcasts

Most episodes of our podcast go out on Patreon first. This episode went out early, ad-free, and with a video version. 

We'd really appreciate your help in raising our profile on the Apple platform, so please leave a review. If you don't already subscribe, you should -- it alerts you when new episodes are available.

Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and you’ll get a mention.

We tend to avoid introspection on the podcast, but for the next few weeks, Christian Cawley, James McLean, and, we're pleased to say, Brian Terranova will be bringing you a series of discussions and recollections to commemorate (other words have been suggested) our 500th edition -- whenever it may or may not have happened.

As we lost count some time ago, it's difficult to pinpoint when the 500th episode was (or will be). This is the background to "500ish" which will be a series of episodes of the podcast that look at how we started it, how it evolved, how podcasting itself has changed since we started in 2007, and also looks at many of the other things we did beyond the confines of the old Kasterborous website.

Shownotes

• Christian's time-shifted Substack journal project, Ten Years Gone
  
  

So, hit play, and enjoy the reaction and the realisation of reaching 500 episodes (or so).

Patreon and Apple Podcasts

As this is our 500th episode, everyone gets the same material. 

Most episodes of our podcast go out on Patreon first. This episode went out early, and with a video version. 

We'd really appreciate your help in raising our profile on the Apple platform, so please leave a review. If you don't already subscribe, you should -- it alerts you when new episodes are available.

Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and you’ll get a mention.

Christian Cawley and James McLean discuss The War Between the Land and the Sea, the Doctor Who spin-off serial that aired over Christmas 2025.

Our 499th podcast has a lot to cover. The five episodes are addressed as a whole, along with the ramifications beyond the series (Disney, RTD, Doctor Who itself) and what went wrong.

But remember: you only get the full length show on Patreon, where it is also early, ad-free, and often with video.

Shownotes

• The War Between the Land and the Sea on BBC iPlayer

For more in-depth thoughts from Christian, please check the Kasterborous Substack, where a full review has been published.

Patreon and Apple Podcasts

Most episodes of our podcast go out on Patreon first. You can hear the show there several days earlier, often with video, and usually with additional material.

We'd really appreciate your help in raising our profile on the Apple platform, so please leave a review. If you don't already subscribe, you should -- it alerts you when new episodes are available.

Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and you’ll get a mention.

Taking in The War Between the Land and the Sea and a new Doctor Who cartoon, Christian Cawley delivers the latest Doctor Who news of significance, and offers his top recommendations for quality TV viewing this Christmas.

Shownotes

• The War Between the Land and the Sea overnights:
  • episodes 1 and 2
  • episodes 3 and 4
• Blue Zoo to produce Doctor Who animation for CBeebies
• Christmas recommendations:
  • Man vs Baby
  • All Creatures Great and Small Christmas special on Channel 5 (Christmas Eve)
  • Original All Creatures Great and Small 1990 Christmas special on BBC Four (December 27th)
  • Beyond Paradise Christmas special BBC 1 (December 21st)
  • Midsomer Murders on Acorn TV (US only)
  • Morecambe and Wise on BBC Two Christmas Day
  • Monty Python And Now for Something Complete Different also BBC Two, early hours of Boxing Day
  • Sky Arts Boxing Day: Elvis Presley night, movies and documentaries

  • Double Indemnity BBC 2 on Dec 28th 

Enjoy the podcast, enjoy your Christmas, and we'll be back with new episodes in 2026!

Best wishes

Christian Cawley and James McLean

Patreon and Apple Podcasts

Most episodes of our podcast go out on Patreon first. You can hear the show there several days earlier, often with video, and usually with additional material.

We'd really appreciate your help in raising our profile on the Apple platform, so please leave a review. If you don't already subscribe, you should -- it alerts you when new episodes are available.

Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and you’ll get a mention.

This week's Doctor Who podcast is a collection of chats that were held back for Patreon members. So, yes, you've heard some of these before -- but the listeners on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the other places you get podcasts, have not.

As such, this podcast is free to listen to on Patreon and wider afield -- and if you want to get additional chats like this at the end of your usual podcast, then you can join our Patreon for this and other extra material with most podcasts, and access the Kasterborous Archive.

Christian Cawley chats with James McLean and Philip Bates, with Just Sarah, the AI upscaling on Doctor Who Blu-rays, and the notion of personal, independent websites returning to the fore (think MySpace, Geocities, etc.)

Patreon and Apple PodcastsMost episodes of our podcast go out on Patreon first. You can hear the show there several days earlier, often with video, and usually with additional material.

We'd really appreciate your help in raising our profile on the Apple platform, so please leave a review. If you don't already subscribe, you should -- it alerts you when new episodes are available.

Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and you’ll get a mention.

Christian is joined by The Doctor Who Companion editor Philip Bates to preview The War Between the Land and the Sea and shared some expectations.

Shownotes
This week, we refer to:

• The War Between the Land and the Sea
• Just Sarah
• Doctor Who Stars in Ads

Patreon and Apple Podcasts
This podcast went out on Patreon first. You can hear the show there several days earlier, often with video, and usually with additional material.

We'd really appreciate your help in raising our profile on the Apple platform, so please leave a review. If you don't already subscribe, you should -- it alerts you when new episodes are available.

Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and you’ll get a mention.

James and Christian are back with a new chat, looking at Doctor Who cutscenes (and the whole cutscene reveal culture), classic BBC One Christmas trailers, Teletext (!) and a few other things.

Shownotes

• Vintage BBC Christmas trailers
• Woolworths 1981 Christmas ad (ft Tim Brooke-Taylor, Bill Oddie, Anita Harris, et al)
• Teletext VHS recovery

Patreon and Apple Podcasts
As ever, this podcast went out on Patreon first. You can hear the show there several days earlier, often with video, and usually with additional material.

We'd really appreciate your help in raising our profile on the Apple platform, so please leave a review.

Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and you’ll get a mention.

Christian Cawley and James McLean look at some of your comments on our recent episodes, mostly concerning Ncuti Gatwa's legacy in Doctor Who.

We also look at the existence of 90 minute omnibus editions of classic Doctor Who and their presentation as "gifts" to fans, 40 years after very similar edits were released on VHS to cries of "sacrilege!"

Shownotes

• William Shatner in Airplane 2
• Free Enterprise trailer
• What will Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor Who legacy be?

Patreon and Apple Podcasts
As ever, this podcast went out on Patreon first. You can hear the show there several days earlier, often with video, and usually with additional material.

We'd really appreciate your help in raising our profile on the Apple platform, so please leave a review.

Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and you’ll get a mention.

This week's show rounds up the latest Doctor Who related headlines, and features Christian Cawley hosting solo.

Shownotes

• Tom Baker receives MBE
• The Sea Devils gets 90 minute edit for TV
• The War Between the Land and the Sea launch Date
  • Etymology of homo
• Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill launch Pondcast
• Sophie Aldred in Doctor Who-themed short for Children in Need

As ever, this podcast went out on Patreon first. You can hear the show there several days earlier, often with video, and usually with additional material. 

We'd really appreciate your help in raising our profile on the Apple platform, so please leave a review.

Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and you’ll get a mention.

With just 18 episodes under his belt and moving on at a time when the show's future was temporarily in doubt, Gatwa's story isn't completely new to the show -- it has echoes of 1985. 

But with the actor apparently now done with Doctor Who and the show struggling to achieve the same levels of adoration we saw previously with its (perhaps outgoing) showrunner, we wonder how Gatwa's episodes will be looked upon in years to come...

Shownotes

• The Rest is Entertainment on "The Future of Doctor Who"
• Disney sources on Doctor Who's ditching
• Bonnie Langford talks Reality War reshoots
  
  

As ever, the longer edition of this podcast went out on Patreon first. There is also a video of that chat.

We'd really appreciate your help in raising our profile on the Apple platform, so please leave a review.

Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and you’ll get a mention.

We've had the good news about Doctor Who's long-term survival, but we still don't know who will run it, or where it will stream...

This week, Christian Cawley and James McLean bring you a long discussion about the recent news from the BBC, as well as speculating on where the next iteration of Doctor Who might be streamed.

We also consider the approach the upcoming CBeebies animation show might take, in light of the abandoned Nelvana animation, Lance Parkin's 1998 novel "The Infinity Doctors," and the K-9 TV series.

Shownotes

• Doctor Who Confirmed to Return in 2026, But Has Been Dropped by Disney+
• The Future of Doctor Who, 2026 And Beyond: What We Know and What We Don’t Know
• Bad Wolf
• Star Trek: Strange New Worlds on Paramount+
• The Infinity Doctors by Lance Parkin
• K-9 TV show
  
  

Due to this being quite a topical and important discussion, we've done something different this week.

The full length video version is free on our Patreon!

As is now customary, the full length audio is exclusive to Patreon -- but you can get an idea of what to expect with that video.

Also, a video edit closer in length to this public audio edition is also available on our Substack.

This means everyone can get a sample of what Patreon subscribers enjoy -- early episodes, video content and ad-free, too. 

Sign up to enjoy extra content and access the growing Kasterborous Archive.

Was Robert Shearman really "rude" when he expressed an opinion about his relationship with Doctor Who? Are missing episodes being liberated from private collectors?

And do classic series Blu-ray releases really need AI upscaling?

Christian Cawley and James McLean mull this over in this week's Kasterborous podcast. 

Shownotes

• Rob Shearman express Doctor Who frustration
• Jane Tranter: Rob Shearman comments "rude"
• Existence of more Doctor Who missing episodes confirmed
• Sora 2 AI explained
  
  

Patreon benefits This podcast was pre-released last week, ad-free, and complete on Patreon, complete with video editions and additional content. 

Joining our Patreon also gives access to the Kasterborous Archive, a growing collection of mostly Doctor Who-related artifacts from the past 20 years.

Sign up to enjoy access to that, and get everything early.


Get in touch 
Subscribe to our podcast? Then head to Apple Podcasts to leave a rating and review. Any new reviews will be read out.

Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and you’ll get a mention.