Explore every episode of the podcast Free For All
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merchandise and Memorabilia - 'Danger Man' (Number 32) | 28 Apr 2024 | 00:43:33 | |
In this special episode of Free For All, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge geek out over the wealth of merchandise available to fans of Danger Man including jigsaws, novels, annuals and even bubblegum! As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Merchandise and Memorabilia - 'The Prisoner' (Number 31) | 21 Apr 2024 | 01:13:06 | |
In this special episode of Free For All, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge geek out over the wealth of merchandise available to fans of The Prisoner from 1967's Dinky Mini Moke to the recent Wandering Planet Toys action figures. Joining Cai and Chris are Wandering Planet's own Gavin Hignight and Chris "Doc" Wyatt to discuss how the idea formed and the wave two of Prisoner action figures coming in 2025. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/wanderingplanettoys/the-prisoner-retro-style-action-figures-wave-no2 As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Fall Out: Part 3 (Number 22) | 19 Jun 2022 | 01:26:24 | |
The Fall Out Tripartite: Part Three Screenwriter Cai Ross and lecturer Chris Bainbridge continue discussing the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. The final fifteen minutes of episode seventeen, Fall Out are deconstructed and explored. Chris and Cai leave the cave via the A20 and head back to normality ably abetted by their special guests: Six of One Founder Dave Barrie, Prisoner expert and curator of TheUnmutual.co.uk Rick Davy, and Six of One's PortMeiricon Organiser Anthony Brierley. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with dash of light humour, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Fall Out: Part 2 (Number 21) | 12 Jun 2022 | 01:22:28 | |
The Fall Out Tripartite: Part Two Screenwriter Cai Ross and lecturer Chris Bainbridge continue discussing the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. The next twenty minutes of episode seventeen, Fall Out are deconstructed and explored. Chris and Cai are joined by author Robert Fairclough (The Prisoner: The Official Companion) who talks about working with Kenneth Griffiths and provides some interesting trivia from the production. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with dash of light humour, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Fall Out: Part 1 (Number 20) | 05 Jun 2022 | 01:28:14 | |
The Fall Out Tripartite: Part One. In this episode, screenwriter Cai Ross and lecturer Chris Bainbridge continue discussing the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. The first fifteen minutes of episode seventeen, Fall Out are deconstructed and explored. Chris and Cai descend into the subterranean world of Plato's Cave to the strains of the Beatles, armed with etymological dictionaries and the York Notes guide to Freud. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with dash of light humour, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Once upon a Time (Number 19) | 29 May 2022 | 01:00:33 | |
In this episode, screenwriter Cai Ross and lecturer Chris Bainbridge continue discussing the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. Was Once upon a Time, a very personal piece of work for Patrick McGoohan? What are the numerous connections to professional theatre? As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with dash of light humour, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Special - Discovering The Prisoner (Number 18) | 22 May 2022 | 01:05:16 | |
In this special episode, screenwriter Cai Ross and lecturer Chris Bainbridge looks at the broadcast and home media history of The Prisoner. This week, a multitude of special guests including Dave Barrie, Rick Davy, Robert Fairclough and Anthony Brierley discuss their first 'Arrival' at The Village. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. 3rd party audio clips copyright belonging to Channel 4, ITC, ITV, Precision Video, Channel 5 video, ATV and Polygram. Copyrighted material as 'fair usage' for limited and “transformative” purposes, such as to comment upon, criticise, or parody a copyrighted work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Girl Who Was Death (Number 17) | 15 May 2022 | 00:54:25 | |
In this episode, screenwriter Cai Ross and lecturer Chris Bainbridge continue discussing the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. This week, special guest Rick Davy (writer, researcher, and curator of TheUnmutual.co.uk) weighs in on The Drake Debate, following our Twitter poll - Was Number 6 actually John Drake? Minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with dash of light humour. Regular feature Who's The Two looks at the career of Welsh actor Kenneth Griffith, with input from writer Robert Fairclough (author of The Official Prisoner Companion). As ever, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Living in Harmony (Number 16) | 09 May 2022 | 00:58:06 | |
In this week's episode, screenwriter Cai Ross and lecturer Chris Bainbridge continue discussing the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. This week, special guest Dave Barrie (writer, and founding member of Six of One: The Prisoner Appreciation Society) discusses Living in Harmony and how his friendship with episode writer Ian Rakoff helped produce the book Inside The Prisoner: Radical Television and Film in the 1960s. Minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with dash of light humour. Regular feature Who's The Two looks at the career of American actor David Bauer. As ever, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling (Number 15) | 01 May 2022 | 00:50:51 | |
In this episode, screenwriter Cai Ross and lecturer Chris Bainbridge continue discussing the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. This week, special guest Rick Davy (writer, researcher, and curator of TheUnmutual.co.uk) defends Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling and why he feels this episode deserves much more appreciation. Minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with dash of light humour. Regular feature Who's The Two looks at the career of Welsh actor Clifford Evans. As ever, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| A Change of Mind (Number 14) | 24 Apr 2022 | 00:57:14 | |
In this second episode of series/season 2, screenwriter Cai Ross and lecturer Chris Bainbridge discuss the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. This week, Number 6 is deemed 'unmutual' and undergoes a staged lobotomy in A Change of Mind. Minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with dash of light humour. Regular feature Who's The Two looks at the career of actor John Sharp. As ever, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| It's Your Funeral (Number 13) | 17 Apr 2022 | 00:55:54 | |
In the first episode of series two, Chris and Cai discuss episode 11, It's Your Funeral. Who's The Two looks at the career of actor Derren Nesbitt with the added pleasure of interviewing him first hand (the full length 30 minute version of the interview is also available). As ever, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Danger Man (1964) - Part Two (Number 30) | 14 Apr 2024 | 00:49:05 | |
In this special episode of Free For All, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge conclude their look at the second iteration of Patrick McGoohan's classic spy show, Danger Man (1964). The pair look at McGoohan's work on the show, firstly as actor and later as a director, building up his creative collaborations and skills which paved the way towards The Prisoner. This episode focuses on The Ubiquitous Mr Lovegrove and No Marks for Servility, two classic stories that shares themes with The Prisoner and showcases McGoohan's talent as an actor. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| (Special) In Conversation with Derren Nesbitt | 17 Apr 2022 | 00:32:33 | |
The full length 30 minute interview with Number 2 actor Derren Nesbitt. Derren discusses his career highlights to date including Where Eagles Dare, The Prisoner, Doctor Who, Special Branch and most recently Tucked. Contains strong language. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Hammer Into Anvil (Number 12) | 20 Feb 2022 | 00:55:36 | |
In this final episode of series/season 1, screenwriter Cai Ross and lecturer Chris Bainbridge discuss the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. This week, Number 6 goes up against a sadistic Number 2 in Hammer Into Anvil. Minutiae will be scrutinised, tangents will be explored and some new elements added to the show for comic effect. Regular feature Who's The Two looks at the career of the inimitable Patrick Cargill. As ever, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Checkmate (Number 11) | 13 Feb 2022 | 00:53:09 | |
Happy Valentine's Day! Love is in certainly the air for Number 8 as she fawns over our hero in Checkmate. It's the penultimate episode of season/series 1, screenwriter Cai Ross and lecturer Chris Bainbridge are still trapped in the studio discussing the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. The board is set, the pieces assembled and 'Chess for Beginners' has been consulted, the game begins! One of the most iconic and enduring episodes of The Prisoner is deconstructed, square by square, piece by piece. Regular feature Who's The Two looks at the career and influence of the legendary Peter Wyngarde; the man whose myths forged his own unique legend. As ever, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Dance of the Dead (Number 10) | 06 Feb 2022 | 00:59:05 | |
Screenwriter Cai Ross and Lecturer Chris Bainbridge continue to discuss the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. This proves to be a polarising episode for Chris and Cai, with different opinions over meaning and quality. Sleeves will be rolled up, Hoyle's rule book observed, but hopefully they can find some common ground! As ever, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Many Happy Returns (Number 9) | 31 Jan 2022 | 01:08:31 | |
Screenwriter Cai Ross and Lecturer Chris Bainbridge continue to discuss the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. In episode nine, Cai celebrates his birthday by watching and discussing Many Happy Returns featuring the best fruitcake he has ever tasted! As ever, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The General (Number 8) | 24 Jan 2022 | 00:53:50 | |
Screenwriter Cai Ross and Lecturer Chris Bainbridge continue to discuss the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. In episode eight, Chris gets on his educational soapbox to discuss the elements of The General that have come to pass in the 21st Century. As ever, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Schizoid Man (Number 7) | 17 Jan 2022 | 01:05:24 | |
Screenwriter Cai Ross and Lecturer Chris Bainbridge continue to discuss the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. In this seventh episode, Chris and Cai take on The Schizoid Man with special guest Jane Merrow, who shares her experiences working on the episode. Who's the Two looks at Anton Rodgers' wonderful portrayal of the village administrator and as ever, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Free For All (Part 2 of 2 - Number 6) | 10 Jan 2022 | 00:44:47 | |
Screenwriter Cai Ross and Lecturer Chris Bainbridge continue to discuss the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. In this sixth episode, your hosts conclude their look at Free For All, its satirical take on politics as well as its predictions for automated processes. Who's the Two looks at the inimitable Eric Portman and new feature Supporting Artist of the Week pays tribute to the non credited background artistes. As ever, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Free For All (Part 1 of 2 - Number 5) | 03 Jan 2022 | 00:47:11 | |
In this episode, hosts Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge continue discussing the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. Chris and Cai discuss the episode Free For All and its satirical take on politics as well as its predictions for instant and fake news. As ever, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| A. B. & C. (Number 4) | 27 Dec 2021 | 00:59:48 | |
In this fourth instalment of Free For All, hosts Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge continue discussing the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. Chris and Cai discuss the dreamy episode A. B and C, looking at interpretations, influences, guest stars and the production process. Regular feature Who's the Two? looks at Colin Gordon's initial but arguably second portrayal as the village administrator, shedding light on his work and career. As ever, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Danger Man (1964) - Part One (Number 29) | 07 Apr 2024 | 00:49:08 | |
In this special episode of Free For All, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge look at the second iteration of Patrick McGoohan's classic spy show, Danger Man (1964). The pair look at McGoohan's work on the show, firstly as actor and later as a director, building up his creative collaborations and skills which paved the way towards The Prisoner. This episode focuses on Colony Three, a classic story that foreshadows themes used later in The Prisoner. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Chimes of Big Ben (Number 3) | 20 Dec 2021 | 00:52:27 | |
In this third episode, hosts Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge continue discussing the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. Chris and Cai discuss the strange scheduling of The Chimes of Big Ben, beard issues, show bibles, plot holes, themes and production. Regular feature Who's the Two? looks at Leo McKern's portrayal as the village administrator, shedding light on his work and career. As ever, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Arrival (Number 2) | 12 Dec 2021 | 01:00:40 | |
In this second episode, hosts Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge continue discussing the first episode of The Prisoner, Arrival. Chris and Cai discuss the prescience of McGoohan's masterpiece as Arrival sets out to create the world of The Prisoner and set out its own unique set of rules. Regular feature Who's the Two? looks at Guy Doleman and George Baker's portrayals as the village administrator, shedding light on their work and careers. As ever, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the episode, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Preamble to Arrival (Number 1) | 06 Dec 2021 | 00:56:54 | |
In this inaugural episode, hosts Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge introduce and discuss the first episode of The Prisoner. The hosts cast a critical eye over the episode Arrival, with discussion, interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process, giving kudos to those behind the camera as well as in front. This week, Cai and Chris cast their minds back to 1990, as they remember their own introduction to the show. Along they way they look at The Prisoner's title sequence and the opening scenes of Arrival whilst regularly going off on tangents. The only Prisoner podcast produced in beautiful north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Free For All - The Prisoner Podcast | 09 Nov 2021 | 00:01:09 | |
New podcast arriving on 6th December 2021 dedicated to the classic 1967 tv show The Prisoner. Join your hosts, screenwriter and film journalist Cai Ross (HeyUGuys, CinemaRetro) and Chris Bainbridge, lecturer in creative and broadcast media. Recorded in beautiful north Wales, home of the real life Village, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Danger Man (1960) - Part Two (Number 28) | 31 Mar 2024 | 01:18:53 | |
In this special episode of Free For All, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge conclude their discussion on the first iteration of Patrick McGoohan's classic spy show, Danger Man (1960). The pair look at McGoohan's work on the show, firstly as actor and later as a director, building up his creative collaborations and skills which paved the way towards The Prisoner. Joining Cai and Chris, is Danger Man expert Rodney Marshall, author of Lone Wolf and many more ITC related books. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Danger Man (1960) - Part One (Number 27) | 07 Dec 2023 | 01:09:38 | |
In this special episode of Free For All, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge discuss Patrick McGoohan's classic spy show, Danger Man (1960). The pair look at McGoohan's work on the show, firstly as actor and later as a director, building up his creative collaborations and skills which paved the way towards The Prisoner. Joining Cai and Chris, is Danger Man expert Rodney Marshall, author of Lone Wolf and many more ITC related books. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| McGoohan and Columbo (Number 26) | 19 Mar 2023 | 01:30:05 | |
In this special episode of Free For All, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge discuss Patrick McGoohan's work on the classic detective show, Columbo. The pair look at McGoohan's contribution to the show as director, writer and actor, which earned him a special place in Peter Falk's circle of trust. Joining Cai and Chris is Columbo expert Mark Dawidziak, author of The Columbo Phile. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Christmas Special (Number 25) | 19 Dec 2022 | 01:12:56 | |
In this special festive episode of Free For All, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge discuss the absence of religion in The Prisoner. Questions pondered include 'What if there was a Prisoner Christmas special?' and 'What would Number Two's Christmas party look like?' Sanity is restored as legendary movie director and Prisoner fan, Alex Cox joins the duo to discuss his love of the show and his book 'I Am Not a Number: Decoding the Prisoner'. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Conclusion and Conclusions (Number 24) | 03 Jul 2022 | 01:48:08 | |
In the final episode of season/series two, Screenwriter Cai Ross and lecturer Chris Bainbridge draw to a close their discussion on the seventeen episodes of the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. From Campbell's Monomyth to the Beatles' mono mixes, this feature length episode goes off on several pop culture tangents because why the hell not? It's the last episode so why not go out with some fun? Cai and Chris discuss their episode running orders with episodic and narrative justification and generally wrap up the conversation. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with dash of light humour, with discussion on interpretation, trivia, humour and an exploration of the production process. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Fact and Fiction: The Prisoner in Literature (Number 23) | 26 Jun 2022 | 01:03:03 | |
Screenwriter Cai Ross and lecturer Chris Bainbridge discus the books inspired by the prescient 1967 TV show, The Prisoner. In this episode Cai and Chris look at the plethora of literature that has been created over the past 50 years that has kept interest in the show alive. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with dash of light humour, your hosts will cast their critical eyes over the Prisoner literature, with discussion on interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Cooler by George Markstein, with special guest David Hughes (Special) | 21 Sep 2024 | 00:32:36 | |
In this bonus episode of series four, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge speak to David Hughes about his 2024 reprint of George Markstein's The Cooler. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. David Hughes is a film critic for Empire and Time Out and a widely published magazine and newspaper journalist, he is also the author of six non-fiction books, including The Greatest Sci-Fi Movies Never Made, Tales from Development Hell and critically-acclaimed volumes about filmmakers Stanley Kubrick and David Lynch. As a screenwriter, he has scripted a dozen feature films and several prize-winning shorts, rewritten many more, and has scripted comedy material for John Cleese, Mike Myers, Leslie Nielsen, Chris Rock, Steve Coogan, Will Ferrell, Sacha Baron Cohen, Jack Black, Vince Vaughn, Owen Wilson and numerous other comic talents. To grab a copy of The Cooler, visit: https://plumeriapics.co.uk/shop/ols/products/the-cooler-pbk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Proposed 1996 Prisoner Movie - Part 1 (Number 33) | 22 Sep 2024 | 01:16:55 | |
In the first episode of series four, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge look at Patrick McGoohan's 1996 first draft for a proposed Prisoner movie. What will marine scientist Tom Yates discover as he awakens in a familiar-looking Italianate village? As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Proposed 1996 Prisoner Movie - Part 2 (Number 34) | 29 Sep 2024 | 01:13:28 | |
In the second episode of series four, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge look at Patrick McGoohan's 1996 first draft for a proposed Prisoner movie. Who will marine scientist Tom Yates meet as he awakens in a familiar-looking Italianate village? A familiar figure from the Village's past is keen to introduce himself... As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Proposed 1996 Prisoner Movie - Part 3 (Number 35) | 06 Oct 2024 | 01:17:26 | |
In the third episode of series four, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge look at Patrick McGoohan's 1996 first draft for a proposed Prisoner movie. What dangers face marine scientist Tom Yates, as he orientates in a familiar-looking Italianate village? As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Proposed 1996 Prisoner Movie - Part 4 (Number 36) | 13 Oct 2024 | 01:18:59 | |
In the fourth episode of series four, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge conclude their look at Patrick McGoohan's 1996 first draft for a proposed Prisoner movie. What will marine scientist Tom Yates discover as descends into the depths of the Village? As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Portmeirion - The Real Life Village - Part 1 (Number 37) | 20 Oct 2024 | 00:54:48 | |
In the fifth episode of series four, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge travel to Portmeirion to meet the managing director and grandson of Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, Robin Llewellyn. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Portmeirion - The Real Life Village - Part 2 (Number 38) | 27 Oct 2024 | 00:53:23 | |
In the final episode of series four, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge spend an afternoon recording in the Hotel Portmeirion. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Man in a Suitcase - The Prisoner's Production Twin (Special) | 03 Nov 2024 | 00:41:11 | |
In this special episode, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge celebrate the release of Imprint's Man in a Suitcase Blu-ray box set. ITC expert and author Rodney Marshall shares his thoughts about the synergy between the two shows. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Prisoner and The Beatles - Part 1 (Number 39) | 20 Apr 2025 | 00:46:59 | |
Step into the kaleidoscopic world of 1967, a year when pop culture bent reality, and nothing was quite what it seemed. In this episode, Chris and Cai explore the surreal, symbolic, and subversive parallels between the cult TV show The Prisoner and the cultural phenomenon of The Beatles. From the psychedelic aesthetics to the themes of identity, control, rebellion, and the search for truth, this podcast dives deep into how both The Prisoner and The Beatles reflected — and shaped — the countercultural spirit of the 1960s. Was Number Six just a Day Tripper to Portmeirion trying to break free? Was The White Album a tribute to Rover? Join us as we connect the dots between sitars and surveillance, Strawberry Fields and secret societies. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| The Prisoner and the Beatles - Part 2 (Number 40) | 27 Apr 2025 | 00:52:04 | |
Return to the kaleidoscopic world of 1967, a year when pop culture bent reality, and nothing was quite what it seemed. In this episode, Chris and Cai explore the surreal, symbolic, and subversive parallels between the cult TV show The Prisoner and the cultural phenomenon of The Beatles. From the psychedelic aesthetics to the themes of identity, control, rebellion, and the search for truth, this podcast dives deep into how both The Prisoner and The Beatles reflected — and shaped — the countercultural spirit of the 1960s. Was Number Six just a Day Tripper to Portmeirion trying to break free? Was The White Album a tribute to Rover? Join us as we connect the dots between sitars and surveillance, Strawberry Fields and secret societies. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Artificial Intelligence and The Prisoner - Part 1 (Number 41) | 04 May 2025 | 00:46:42 | |
The Prisoner. 1967. A Village where everyone is watched—and no one is free. But what happens when we look at it through the lens of AI? In Free For All, we dive deep into The Prisoner, the groundbreaking cult TV series starring Patrick McGoohan, and explore how its themes of surveillance, identity, and autonomy eerily anticipate our modern world of artificial intelligence. Each episode unpacks how this psychedelic, philosophical spy thriller foreshadowed algorithmic control, predictive behaviour, and machine-driven governance—decades before Silicon Valley even existed. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Artificial Intelligence and The Prisoner - Part 2 (Number 42) | 11 May 2025 | 00:46:09 | |
The Prisoner. 1967. A Village where everyone is watched—and no one is free. But what happens when we look at it through the lens of AI? In Free For All, we dive deep into The Prisoner, the groundbreaking cult TV series starring Patrick McGoohan, and explore how its themes of surveillance, identity, and autonomy eerily anticipate our modern world of artificial intelligence. Each episode unpacks how this psychedelic, philosophical spy thriller foreshadowed algorithmic control, predictive behavior, and machine-driven governance—decades before Silicon Valley even existed. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Live from PortmeiriCon - Part 1 (Number 43) | 18 May 2025 | 01:00:35 | |
In this very special live episode, Chris and Cai trade the studio for the beautiful north Wales village of Portmeirion—the iconic filming location of The Prisoner, to record straight from Six of One's PortmeiriCon! Surrounded by die-hard fans, eccentric architecture, and plenty of Number Six lookalikes, our hosts dive deep into the lasting legacy of the cult classic series. Joining Chris and Cai is Six of One founder member Dave Barrie, who reminisces about the first ever Portmeiricon back in 1977 as well as his new book - The Prisoner - What's It All About? Recorded on Sunday 13th April 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Return to Wandering Planet - Special (Number 45) | 16 Jun 2025 | 00:29:48 | |
In this special episode of Free For All, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge are once again joined by Wandering Planet's own Gavin Hignight and Chris "Doc" Wyatt to discuss the recently released Wave Two Prisoner action figures with exclusive news on the upcoming Wave Three! Not only that but Gavin and Chris spill the beans about the new Ultimate Edition 6 inch figures (1/12 scale) coming very soon. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Live from PortmeiriCon - Part 2 (Number 44) | 25 May 2025 | 00:44:48 | |
In this second special live episode, Chris and Cai trade the studio for the beautiful north Wales village of Portmeirion—the iconic filming location of The Prisoner, to record straight from Six of One's PortmeiriCon! Joining Chris and Cai is editor and PortmeiriCon host Cyril Martin, who takes us through his work restoring the Prisoner episodes to the original shooting scripts with some interesting results. Recorded on Sunday 13th April 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| Rebellion on Prime Time: The Press and Public Reactions to The Prisoner (Number 46) | 21 Dec 2025 | 02:06:06 | |
In this episode, Chris Bainbridge and Cai Ross dive deep into the original press and public reactions to The Prisoner when it first aired in 1967. Lauded by some as visionary and condemned by others as baffling, Patrick McGoohan’s enigmatic series sparked one of the most divided responses in British television history. Chris and Cai explore contemporary newspaper reviews, viewer letters, and broadcast commentary to uncover how audiences really felt about the show’s surreal storytelling, political undertones, and groundbreaking style. Was The Prisoner celebrated as a work of genius, dismissed as nonsense, or something in between? Join us as we step back into the social and cultural climate of the late 1960s to understand why this strange, defiant series confused, captivated, and ultimately transformed its viewers. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||