British Culture: Albion Never Dies – Details, episodes &amp; analysis

Thomas Felix Creighton continues The Alphabet of Britishness, looking especially at Queen Victoria.

The first ten minutes covers:

Thomas’ top three cinematic and TV depictions of Queen Victoria

Mrs. Brown (1997)
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)
Doctor Who “Tooth and Claw” (modern season 2, episode 2)

...and also in brief some other 'V' topics such as:

Victoria & Albert Museum
Vauxhall (London)
Vermouth
Vesper (seems silly not to)
Victory! Although perhaps we’ll cover this far more in the next installment…
Vicar - again a great suggestion for a deep dive
Viceroy – check out my video and podcast episode looking at my top five books on the British Empire: www.youtube.com/britishculture
Vickers machine gun

The main part of this podcast comprises of two readings, one on the height of the Victorian Era, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee of 1897, and the second on The Great Exhibition of 1851.

“Pax Britannica: The Climax of the Empire” by James / Jan Morris.
“A Portrait of Britain Between the Exhibitions 1851 – 1951” by Donald Lindsay and E.S. Washington, part of the Oxford Introduction to British History series.

Visit the website: https://albionneverdies.com/

Interview with Jonathan Sothcott - CEO of Shogun Films [Episode 202]

mardi 4 novembre 2025 • Duration 30:08

https://www.shogunfilms.com/

Thomas Felix Creighton interviews the CEO of Shogun Films, Jonathan Sothcott.

Jonathan Sothcott is one of the UK's most experienced and successful independent producers with a track record of success with high concept, low budget genre films. Described by GQ Magazine as "a film producer behind a whole new generation of on-screen hardmen", a 2021 Sothcott profile piece in The Telegraph noted his movies "have saved our film industry."

Over the years Sothcott has worked with a galaxy of stars including Ray Winstone, Danny Trejo, Lee Majors, Mark Hamill, Jason Statham, Michael Paré, Steven Berkoff, Richard E Grant, Charlie Cox and Sir Roger Moore.

Notable successes amongst his 40+ feature credits include ‘Vendetta’, ‘We Still Kill The Old Way’ and ‘Renegades’. He set up Shogun Films in 2020 as a genuine international counterpoint of independence and the company has won a slew of awards recognising it's trailblazing approach.

He has over 20 years of experience in the British film industry, and we discuss what makes a movie ‘British'?. We also discuss some of the best films of the 1980s, and the established stars at the time. We also discuss his forthcoming movie, ‘Knightfall’, currently in post-production:

“Charles Knight, a paranoid former spy catcher, must work with his estranged daughter to foil an international terrorist plot, while surviving a terrifying home invasion in this explosive espionage thriller”.

Before making his name in feature films, Sothcott produced documentaries and moderated DVD commentaries for numerous cult films, including The Wild Geese.

Our topics include:

Roger Moore
Roger Moore’s son, Geoffrey Moore
Ian Ogilvy - an English actor, playwright and novelist best known as the star of the television series Return of the Saint (1978–79), in which he assumed the role of Simon Templar from Roger Moore (1962-69)
The Fourth Protocol (1987) starring Pierce Brosnan and Micheal Caine, based on the 1984 book by British novelist Frederick Forsyth
The debt that modern action movies owe to traditional 007 films
The Wild Geese (1978) with Roger Moore, John Glen (second unit director) and Ewan Lloyd (producer)
Joan Armatrading wrote and recorded the theme song
Ingrid Pitt, Polish-British actress and writer, most famous for her role in ‘Where Eagles Dare’ but also appeared in The Wild Geese II
The Sea Wolves (1980), Gregory Peck, Roger Moore and David Niven
Ewan Lloyd – BFI: “Lloyd stood alone within the depressed British film industry of the late 1970s and early 1980s as a producer with the self-belief, charisma and bluff to mount large-scale independent action-adventure films, such as The Wild Geese (1978) and Who Dares Wins (1982)".
Lewis Collins, star of the TV movie, ‘Who Dares Wins’ (1982), also known as The Final Option, the star was the tabloid’s favourite for ‘next James Bond’ for some years due to his action star credentials
David Wickes, TV producer best known for his work on ‘The Sweeny’ ‘The Professionals’, and ‘CI5: The New Professionals’
Jonathan recommends the TV show, ‘Roger Moore: A Matter of Class’, which is available to watch on Youtube.

Finally, we discuss he state of the British film industry, and the way ahead.

Visit the website: https://albionneverdies.com/

The Fourth of July - The British Perspective

lundi 30 juin 2025 • Duration 29:36

Thomas Felix Creighton talks about the British perspective on 4th July – American Independence Day. This episode is perfect to listen to as you drive to a family barbeque on the day, giving you fun facts, and a unique perspective you can share!

Why is there a triumphal arch close to where this episode was recorded in England, celebrating the American victory?
Was 1776 the start of a new identity?
What inspired the US constitution?
Would slavery have ended sooner for the USA if the colonies had stayed with Britain?

All these questions are answered, with the following books and films recommended (listen in order of mention in the episode):

Books:

Unruly: The Ridiculous History of England's Kings and Queens, by David Mitchell
A Great and Terrible King: Edward I and the Forging of Britain by Marc Morris
Cromwell, by Antonia Fraiser
Origins of the American Revolution (2nd ed.) by John Chester Miller

Movies:

1973’s Robin Hood (Disney)
1968’s The Lion in Winter (with Timothy Dalton as Phillip II of France)
2010’s Robin Hood (the Russell Crowe one)
1970’s Cromwell

Released on the first of July, to give you time to listen in advance of the celebratory day, when many will be busy with family, or in case you have a really long drive to get to that barbeque!

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'S' is for... 'Sports', 'Scotland', and 'SAS (and SBS)' [Episode 103]

mardi 3 janvier 2023 • Duration 31:06

Happy New Year! Yes! The 'Alphabet of Britishness' is back!!

S is for... Sport!
I talk about the British codification of football (or 'soccer'), and how this was affected by the development of the railways, recommending Michael Portillo's 'Great British Railway Journeys'. I also talk about cricket, the magnificent beard of W.G. Grace, and 363 day Premiership of former cricketer Alec Douglas-Home. I spend the longest time looking into the origins of snooker in British India.

[Minute 12]

S is for... Scotland
I look at Roman Scotland, which actually surprised me because like many I tend to think of life beyond The Wall(s) as non-Roman. I amuse myself with the historical inaccuracies of Braveheart. I also can't resist talking about the non-historicity of 'clan tartans' which is always a fun topic.

My Recommended Rabbit Hole: Scots of the British Empire

[Minute 23]

S is for... SAS (Special Air Service) and SBS (Special Boat Service)

Here, I go through an obituary of Paddy Ashdown, a well-known liberal politician in the UK who had a special forces and diplomatic background. I felt his colourful early career would be of particular interest to international listeners. I take much of my information from The Guardian, which would tend to be critical of such exploits.

***

Since the Alphabet of Britishness is now a monthly project, feel free to message me with more suggestions for 'S'. There certainly is one more coming up. Next week, Episode 104 will be "S" is for... "The Saint" with a very special guest. Stay tuned for that, coming up on January 10th, 2023.

Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.com

Check out my https://www.youtube.com/britishculture

Check out my Red Bubble shop

Several subscribers have their postcards and other little 'thank you's in the post, randomly drawn from the list, and one has a free mug on the way!

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How British is Star Wars? [Episode 102]

mardi 27 décembre 2022 • Duration 25:56

After over 100 episodes looking at the positive definition of 'Britishness', it's time to ask what are the limits to 'Britishness'? A negative definition of 'Britishness' attempts to define it by what it is not. Boundaries.

To this end, I use the BFI (British Film Institute) rubric to test the 'Britishness' levels of the original 1977 Star Wars movie (A New Hope). The rubric is as follows:

Section A – cultural content
A1: Film set in the UK or a European Economic Area (EEA) – Up to 4 points
A2: Lead characters British or EEA citizens or residents – Up to 4 points
A3: Film based on British or EEA subject matter or underlying material – 4 points
A4: Original dialogue recorded mainly in English or UK indigenous language or EEA language – Up to 6 points

Section B – cultural contribution

The film demonstrates British creativity, British heritage and/or diversity – Up to 4 points

Section C – cultural hubs

C1:
(a) At least 50% of the principal photography or SFX takes place in the UK – 2 points
(b) At least 50% of the VFX takes place in the UK – 2 points
(c) An extra 2 points can be awarded if at least 80% of principal photography or VFX or SFX takes place in the UK – 2 points
C2: Music Recording/Audio Post Production/Picture Post Production – 1 point

Section D – cultural practitioners

D1: Director – 1 point
D2: Scriptwriter – 1 point
D3: Producer – 1 point
D4: Composer – 1 point
D5: Lead actors – 1 point
D6: Majority of cast – 1 point
D7: Key staff (lead cinematographer, lead production designer, lead costume designer, lead editor, lead sound designer, lead visual effects supervisor, lead hair and makeup supervisor) – 1 point
D8: Majority of crew – 1 point

Total available points: 35 (I mis-speak at the start of the episode, correcting myself later)

Number of points needed to pass the Britishness test: 18 points

https://www.bfi.org.uk/apply-british-certification-tax-relief/cultural-test-film/summary-points-cultural-test-film

***
I refer to several books throughout the episode:

Tales of the Perilous Realm
by J.R.R. Tolkien

Star Wars: The Magic of Myth
by Mary Henderson

The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Scenes of the Original Film
by J.W. Rinzler

The Hero With A Thousand Faces
by Joseph Campbell

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Merry Christmas! [Episode 101]

dimanche 25 décembre 2022 • Duration 03:04

Merry Christmas! I hope you're having a wonderful day. Just a quick chat, as I know some people might have 3 minutes to spare as they dash in a car somewhere, or find some time to themselves, to wish you all a very merry Christmas.

The 100th Episode: What have I learned, and what's coming up?

mardi 20 décembre 2022 • Duration 30:02

Today, I’m talking about:

(1) T is for… Thomas
I talk about my experience in China, with Chinese social media and blogs, which led me ultimately to creating my @FlemingNeverDies Instagram account, and this podcast, which I chose *not* to give the same name.

(2) What have I learned?

Social media works best when it is more 'social' than 'media'.
Where you stand depends on where you sit; as I gained perspectives from around the world, and as I move betwen China, the USA, and the UK itself.
Where you stand depends on *when* you sit; the lag between perception and reality, which can be increased through geographic distance.

(3) 1-100 in ten minutes
Okay, maybe not a whole ten minutes here, but I talk about how my podcast evolved from its initial form - influenced by Chinese social media - to the regular podcast you now get every week.

(4) Where next?
Learning a lesson from Elliot Carver (or was it James Bond?), I will remember the first rule of mass media and give the people what they want:

I will bring back 'The Alphabet of Britishness'.
I will finally review Bond content (I've resisted this one a long time)
I will create more Youtube videos, both uploading the 'deep dives' there and 5 minute video-only content.

Plenty to look forward to, and plenty of room for your suggestions.

Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.com

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Something that really is new is my newsletter. Several subscribers have their postcards and other little 'thank you's in the post, just randomly drawn from the list!

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REISSUE: A Deep Dive Into Christmas, with Caine [Episode 99]

vendredi 16 décembre 2022 • Duration 01:56:53

British Christmas traditions feel universal and timeless to us Brits... yet as my interviewee Caine explains, Christmas has changed a great deal since the time of the first Christians in Britain, and indeed, since the first Christians!

This is a special two-hour truly deep dive into what makes Christmas special, and what aspects are specially British. There are little breaks, so feel free to listen to this in installments. That's how we intended it to be listened to.

(But if you want to listen to it all in one go, all power to you!)

Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.com

Follow Caine on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/videosbycaine

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A British Novelist Discusses a Classic British Novel: Roland Hulme on "Lady Chatterley's Lover" [Episode 98]

mardi 13 décembre 2022 • Duration 33:57

The number one movie on Netflix (UK) right now is the latest adaptation of D.H. Lawrence's "Lady Chatterley's Lover". Joining me to talk about this remarkable novel is British author Roland Hulme, described in his Amazon biography as "a digital Don Draper with a Hemingway complex - one of the world's foremost experts on social media and interactive marketing". Roland was born in the UK, but is currently living and working across the Atlantic in the USA. You can find him on Instagram and Youtube.

I last had him on the podcast last October, so we are overdue another appearance!

Roland is the author of the Knuckleheads Motorcylcle Club books, 'High Point', and also the Edventure Eddie series. He got his start writing romantic fiction, and here gives me his unique take on Lady Chatterley's Lover, by D. H. Lawrence, which was published in a limited English-language edition in Florence (1928) and in Paris (1929). and then in England in an expurgated edition in 1932. The full text was published only in 1959 in New York City and in 1960 in London, when it was the subject of a landmark obscenity trial that turned largely on the justification of the use in the book of until-then taboo sexual terms.

This episode is, as always, a clean-language podcast. I hope you enjoy our discussion.

Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.com

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The Railway Children by E. Nesbit | The Book, The Film (1970), and The Railway

mardi 6 décembre 2022 • Duration 33:43

This week's episode looks at:

Edith Nesbit: British children’s author, novelist, and poet. Among many other stories, she wrote, '5 Children and It' which I talk about here.
The Dreyfus Affair: a sandal that captured the world's attention (and was obliquely references in 'The Railway Children').
The TV Show: starring Jenny Agutter in BBC black and white glory.
The Film (1970): there are, of course, many movie adaptations, but this one is the classic, and no film review of any of the others fails to mention that!
The Railway itself: the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway (yes, pronounced 'Keith-ley'), a fantastic place to visit in West Yorkshire, and home to the films.

I hope you enjoy this - just over thirty minute - episode... and the poems. Couldn't resist.

Oh, and I also announce the competition winner. Stay subscribed so you don't miss out!

Message me anytime on Instagram, or e-mail: AlbionNeverDies@gmail.com

Check out my https://www.youtube.com/britishculture

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Something that really is new is my newsletter. Several subscribers have their postcards and other little 'thank you's in the post, just randomly drawn from the list!

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