It's 25 Years Since The Phantom Menace Ruined/Revived Star Wars
Incredibly, it is 25 years since The Phantom Menace hit cinemas and launched a revival of Star Wars that continues to this day. Inspired by the discovery of a 4K vs 35mm comparison video on YouTube, Christian Cawley and James McLean discuss The Phantom Menace. From watching it for the first time, to modern questions and inconsistencies, this talk hits a number of key points about Star Wars pre...
49m May 22, 2024
49m
Philip Bates Talks Racoons, Doctor Who Companions, and UNIT Books
We're back with a new, later-than-planned podcast with guest Philip Bates of The Doctor Who Companion. Philip chats to Christian Cawley about some projects he's working on with Candy Jar Books, which includes some books on The Racoons, an update to Companions: Fifty Years of Doctor Who Assistants (https://www.candy-jar.co.uk/books/companions.html) called Companions: Sixty Years of Doctor Who A...
47m Feb 29, 2024
47m
2023 Doctor Who Christmas Special Reviewed: The Church on Ruby Road
The Church on Ruby Road is reviewed in our latest Doctor Who podcast. Christian Cawley is conducting other activities this week, so James McLean is joined by "Magnus" to discuss the 2023 Doctor Who Christmas special. But who is Magnus, and will you ever find out? Probably not, but it's an interesting conundrum to consider as you listen to this chat... Shownotes Doctor Who: The Church on Rub...
1hr 2m Jan 14, 2024
1hr 2m
Doctor Who 60th Review: The Giggle
Admittedly later than planned, we're back for our review of the third Doctor Who 60th anniversary episode, The Giggle. Guest starring Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howzer MD, How I Met Your Mother, etc.), the episode reintroduces Bonnie Langford as Melanie Bush and brings us our first look at the 15th Doctor Who, Ncuti Gatwa. Quite a bit of him, in fact. This week's show features Christian Cawl...
55m Dec 16, 2023
55m
Doctor Who 60th Review: Wild Blue Yonder
We're back with a discussion about the latest Doctor Who 60th anniversary episode, Wild Blue Yonder. Christian Cawley and James McLean discuss various elements of the story, how it came across and compared to the previous episode (The Star Beast (https://www.kasterborous.co.uk/doctor-who-60th-review-the-star-beast/) ), and spend a few minutes slagging off the Power of Three (https://www.kasterb...
50m Dec 05, 2023
50m
Doctor Who 60th Review: The Star Beast
The first part of Doctor Who's 60th anniversary has aired - but what did the Kasterborous team think of The Star Beast? This week, Christian Cawley and James McLean are joined by Philip Bates, the driving force behind The Doctor Who Companion. We cover everything from steelworks in North London (!) to Miriam "Margoyles" with gender transitions and empty lofts along the way. Shownotes https:/...
41m Nov 28, 2023
41m
How Does Doctor Who 60th Hype Compare With Other Anniversaries?
It's Doctor Who's 60th anniversary today, but how does the promotion and hype compare with other years? Christian Cawley and James McLean look back at 1998, 2003, and 2013 to contrast and discuss how things were very different in Doctor Who celebrations in landmark years gone by. Shownotes: Russell T Davies and David Tennant on The One Show (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgRghsMbs9w) Russel...
40m Nov 23, 2023
40m
John and Jim’s Excellent Journey #8: 60 Years of Star Trek in Another 60 minutes (or so)
John Kenneth Muir and James McLean's deep dive into Star Trek continues in our latest podcast. John Kenneth Muir and James McLean finish off their discussion on 57 years of Star Trek with a reflection on Star Trek's impact in the 21st Century... desperately, needfully, and irresponsibly seeking to conclude what the franchise means to them. If you missed the first part (https://www.kasterborou...
43m Nov 12, 2023
43m
The Whoniverse: An Amazing Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Celebration
What does the Whoniverse bring to Doctor Who? 60th anniversary celebratory wonder! We're here; it's November 2023, it is the month of Doctor Who's 60th anniversary, and the BBC has gone all-out to provide celebratory media in all shapes and sizes. Central to all of this is The Whoniverse, the BBC iPlayer hub of Doctor Who episodes, documentaries, spin-offs, DVD extras, and more. In this week'...
50m Nov 06, 2023
50m
The Risks of Generative AI and Why Scriptwriters Are Striking
Between May and September 2023, the "Hollywood double strike" - joint industrial action by the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA - halted production of TV and movies (and some video games). The reason for this was generative AI - artificial intelligence that has been programmed to produce text, art, video, and audio material from text prompts. Recorded during the strikes, this week's pod...
47m Oct 29, 2023
47m
John and Jim’s Excellent Journey #7: 60 Years of Star Trek in 60 minutes (and Beyond)
James McLean and cult writer and critic John Kenneth Muir return with a new episode of the podcast that focuses on American cult film/television of the late 20th century (and beyond). In the first installment of a two-part chat, James and John discuss the biggest sci-fi phenomenon to come out of 1960s TV: Star Trek. (Yes, Doctor Who fans, you read that right. Sorry.) Get in touch If you sub...
1hr 3m Oct 11, 2023
1hr 3m
Who Is the Celestial Toymaker? Doctor Who 60th Anniversary Trailer Discussed
As we've just been blessed with an amazing Doctor Who trailer for the 60th anniversary, Christian and James have got together to discuss what we saw. But it's not all about the Celestial Toymaker! Our existing podcast was due to go live yesterday, so we hurriedly recorded some extra material - found in the first 15 minutes of the episode - to discuss Neil Patrick Harris, Avengers UNIT HQ, Donn...
1hr 1m Sep 25, 2023
1hr 1m
Excellent Journey #6: Has Modern Fandom Burned Everyone Out?
James McLean and cult writer and critic John Kenneth Muir are back with a sixth episode of the podcast that focuses on American cult film/television of the late 20th century (and beyond). This time, John and James look forward, then look back, then look now at the crisis of infinite media that threatens to drown us all. Are we at the cusp of a brand new media crunchpoint? Get in touch If you...
1hr 22m Sep 02, 2023
1hr 22m
Recalling Doctor Who: The Eternity Clock with Writer David Bailey
Doctor Who's exploits in the video game world have often left fans and gamers cold. Despite the success of other franchises (think Star Wars, Star Trek, Harry Potter, Jurassic Park, and many others) in the video game arena, Doctor Who's main hits have been a pinball machine and an appearance in Lego: Dimensions. And yet, Doctor Who has spawned an incredible 18 official, dedicated titles. One ...
46m Aug 13, 2023
46m
John and Jim’s Excellent Journey #5: The House Between
Join James McLean and cult writer and critic John Kenneth Muir for the fifth in what has become a highly irregular series of podcasts focusing on American cult film/television of the late twentieth century (and occasionally, or sometimes quite frequently, other stuff). This episode considers the role of the audio drama drawing upon John's own experiences in producing his own, The House Between...
54m Jul 31, 2023
54m
The end of Network On Air and what can we learn from Going for Gold?
In a wide-ranging chat Christian Cawley and James McLean consider the impact of the closure of Network on Air, why we love to collect TV and movie stuff, and try and work out what quiz show Going for Gold was all about. Shownotes Some useful links to get you through the podcast. Midsomer Murders: Written in Blood (https://www.britbox.co.uk/watch/Written_in_Blood_69843) Written in Blood (http...
1hr 4m Jun 23, 2023
1hr 4m
Kasterborous Catch-up: What's Coming Soon?
Doctor Who is off-air, so what the heck are we going to talk about? And what happens when two middle aged white guys realise they're not necessarily saying anything new about the show they've been watching since 1980ish?
14m Jun 20, 2023
14m
The Kasterborous Doctor Who Podcast Review of the Year 2022
It's nearly 2023, so we thought: why don't we do something different with our Doctor Who podcast? The result is our "review of the year" in which Christian Cawley and James McLean look back at 2022, picking the most topical stories for a series of 12 months that are among the strangest in Doctor Who's 59 years. Shownotes Some links to help you better understand this week’s podcast. January: ...
1hr 57m Dec 28, 2022
1hr 57m
Doctor Who Christmas Specials to Return! PLUS: New TARDIS Interior Leaked
As we head into a winter with no seasonal Doctor Who episode, there is good news: Russell T Davies has confirmed that Doctor Who Christmas specials will be back! We also look at some uncanny Doctor Who art created by artificial intelligence (AI). Meanwhile, the new TARDIS interior has been leaked! Then pulled! But we saw them, and we'll give you an idea of how it looks. (We recorded this show...
1hr 8m Dec 12, 2022
1hr 8m
Millie Gibson is the New Doctor Who Companion (PLUS Vworp Vworp 5's Shock Feature)
We're back with a new podcast as we look at Millie Gibson's casting as the new Doctor Who companion and take a look at the new Vworp Vworissue 5 cover. Consider this a short and sweet "latest news" update before we deliver some seasonal Doctor Who podcast goodies over the next few weeks. Shownotes Millie Gibson is the new Doctor Who companion (https://thedoctorwhocompanion.com/2022/11/18/mil...
28m Nov 27, 2022
28m
Doctor Who Disney+ Distribution PLUS Gareth Kavanagh Talks Vworp Vworp 5, Cutaway Comics
Disney+ will be distributing Doctor Who in territories beyond the UK and Ireland from 2023. Host Christian Cawley mulls over this news, along with speculating on just who is starring in the three specials in 2023 - surely they can't all feature David Tennant...? The main part of this week's podcast is the second half of Christian Cawley's chat with Gareth Kavanagh, covering everything from Vwo...
30m Nov 01, 2022
30m
The Power of the Doctor Reviewed
It's the end, but the moment has been prepared for. If the recent "regeneration" trailer told us anything, it's that The Power of the Doctor would be jam-packed with subtle references to the show's great history. Conceived and scheduled to coincide with the BBC's centenary, the 90 minote special also marked the end of Jodie Whittaker's time as the Doctor, and Chris Chibnall's turn as showrunner...
1hr 6m Oct 26, 2022
1hr 6m
What Are the Greatest Doctor Who Speeches?
Many fans of the series admire the various Doctor Who speeches. From the original Doctor bidding farewell to Susan in The Dalek Invasion of Earth to Jodie Whittaker's memorable statement of intent in The Woman Who Fell to Earth, speeches are a vital component of the main character. But it isn't only the Doctor Who throws memorable speeches out - his companions are prone to monologues, too. In ...
49m Oct 23, 2022
49m
The Power of the Doctor Trailer Reaction
We're just one week away from The Power of the Doctor in which Jodie Whittaker's Doctor leaves our screens and Chris Chibnall's time as Doctor Who showrunner comes to an end. However you feel about this, it cannot be denied that it has been an interesting few years. With this in mind, and with a look at the episode's first trailer (https://kasterborous.co.uk/the-power-of-the-doctor-trailers/) ...
32m Oct 16, 2022
32m
Your "Definitive" Doctor Who PLUS Ace's Bomber Jacket
As The Power of the Doctor rumbles ever closer, we take a look at a new publicity photo of Sophie Aldred as Ace, complete with baseball bat and bomber jacket! Along with a brief chat about recent news, our Doctor Who podcast also takes a look at your reactions to our last show. Your thoughts on which actor might be considered the "definitive" Doctor Who are quite interesting... Shownotes Who...
42m Oct 08, 2022
42m
Who Is the Definitive Doctor Who: And Why?
Tom Baker, Jon Pertwee, David Tennant, Matt Smith... hell, any of them could be considered the definitive Doctor Who. In a world where particular actors are inextricably linked to characters by audiences - Sean Connery as Bond, Christopher Lee as Dracula, Christopher Reeve as Superman - we explore why this happens, and how it affects Doctor Who. Inspired by the return of Hugh Jackman to the ro...
50m Sep 30, 2022
50m
Examining the Spectrum of Doctor Who Guest (or "Stunt") Casting
Some Doctor Who casting is inexplicable. You might call it bizarre, bonkers, barmy, or stunt casting. In this podcast, Christian Cawley and James McLean consider the history of Doctor Who's guest casting ups and downs, highs and lows, covering names such as (but not limited to) Barbara Windsor, John Cleese, Simon Pegg, Ken Dodd, Richard Briers, Stubby Kaye, and that woman in Silver Nemesis who...
1hr 8m Sep 23, 2022
1hr 8m
Matt Smith in House of the Dragon PLUS How Does David Tennant Return to Doctor Who?
House of the Dragon is the new Game of Thrones prequel that has just hit HBO and Sky Atlantic and among the cast is former Doctor Who star Matt Smith. In this podcast, we look at how Matt has faired since leaving Doctor Who in 2013, and his career ups and downs. Interestingly, the ups appear to be largely on TV while the downs invariably occur on the big screen. Also, as we move closer to the ...
40m Aug 27, 2022
40m
Could Doctor Who Be Streamed on Disney+?
Recent Doctor Who news concerning the 60th anniversary and Russell T Davies' new series s the topic of this week's show, which takes a short pitstop in the world of Game of Thrones. Shownotes Composer Segun Akinola to Leave Doctor Who (https://thedoctorwhocompanion.com/2022/07/22/composer-segun-akinola-leaving-doctor-who-alongside-jodie-whittaker-and-chris-chibnall/) Christopher Eccleston Has...
29m Aug 07, 2022
29m
Remembering the Late David Warner and Bernard Cribbins
Following the passing of David Warner and Bernard Cribbins, we consider their roles in Doctor Who and beyond.
35m Aug 01, 2022
35m
Doctor Who Commentary: The Android Invasion
In one of those episodes where we talk over Doctor Who, James McLean and Christian Cawley revisit 1975's The Android Invasion. Starring Tom Baker and Lis Sladen as the Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith, the serial is a rare 1970s adventure from the hand of Terry Nation - rare, as it doesn't rely on Daleks, Thals, or radiation. Discussing everything from sex dolls to ginger beer (and the figurative ...
1hr 36m Jul 10, 2022
1hr 36m
Are DVD Promos Canon? PLUS: Neil Patrick Harris in Doctor Who
The crazy Doctor Who casting keeps coming, so this week's podcast has a chat about Neil Patrick Harris before turning attention to Blu-ray boxset promos. Do Mel's Dragon's Den antics count as "real" Doctor Who? Is the Fourth Doctor's chat with a disembodied head between seasons part of your canon? Or, is it fine to dismiss these as little more than promotional fluff? Christian Cawley and Jame...
42m Jun 21, 2022
42m
How Does David Tennant's Doctor Who Return Fit into the Show's Future?
It's the question on everybody's lips: what does David Tennant's return as Doctor Who actually mean to the show's ongoing story? And what's the deal with that new sonic screwdriver? To get to the bones of it all, we've teamed up with Brian Terranova once again to talk Tenth/Fourteenth (?) Doctors, Catherine Tate, sonic screwdrivers, and new shoes. Shownotes This week we discuss: Ncuti Gatw...
54m Jun 06, 2022
54m
Why Do TV and Movie Prequels Rarely Seem to Work?
Prometheus, House of the Dragon, the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and many more all have one thing in common: they're all prequels. While it remains to be seen how House of the Dragon will turn out, looking around there aren't many people crying out for a Game of Thrones prequel. But even if they were, would it be any good? Are prequels really necessary, or are they a waste of time? Does the suc...
27m May 30, 2022
27m
"Multitudes of Doctors!" Are We Heading into a Doctor Who Multiverse?
As we saw in Survivors of the Flux, the idea of a multiverse has been reawakened in Doctor Who, 52 years after Inferno first introduced the concept to the show. In the post-Spider-Man: No Way Home/Loki/Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness cultural landscape, the concept of multiverses has become mainstream. No longer the conceit of forgotten comic strips or ancient TV episodes, the mult...
44m May 25, 2022
44m
David Tennant and Catherine Tate Doctor Who Return Announced!
Well, the title says it all! Just a week after the new Doctor was announced, David Tennant and Catherine Tate are confirmed as returning to Doctor Who in 2023. Last week, who could have imagined a David Tennant and Catherine Tate Doctor Who return at all, never mind so swiftly?  Christian Cawley and James McLean come to terms with the news and its possible inferences...
35m May 16, 2022
35m
Ncuti Gatwa Is the New Doctor Who!
Yesterday you probably hadn't heard of Ncuti Gatwa. Today, he's the new Doctor Who. The actor is probably best known for his role in the Netflix show Sex Education, but all that is about to change with his casting as the Fourteenth Doctor. In this podcast, Christian Cawley and James McLean recap the casting, and feature some reaction from Doctor Who fans on Facebook.
25m May 08, 2022
25m
Legend of the Sea Devils Reviewed PLUS Where Does Doctor Who Go Next?
With one more episode of Jodie Whitakker's Doctor Who run to go, we review Legend of the Sea Devils, an episode that promises but doesn't quite deliver. Christian Cawley and James McLean explore the episode's high and low points, and discuss the impact of the "Next Time" trailer. They also consider where Doctor Who might go post Chibnall. Will RTD go "full MCU" on the show, and detach it from e...
1hr 5m Apr 29, 2022
1hr 5m
394: Legend of the Sea Devils Previewed PLUS Revisiting the "Meet a Doctor Who Actor" Podcast
Doctor Who is back this Easter weekend with Legend of the Sea Devils, the penultimte adventure of the 13th Doctor. We check out the trailer, make some observations about what is known (or rumoured) and look forward to the episode. Meanwhile, the reaction to our last podcast (How Much Does it Cost to Meet Doctor Who Actors? (https://kasterborous.co.uk/how-much-does-it-cost-to-meet-doctor-who-ac...
58m Apr 14, 2022
58m
393: How Much Does it Cost to Meet Doctor Who Actors?
Stunned by the price fans pay for a photo, autograph, and meet Doctor Who actors, this podcast looks at encounters the podcast team has had with people from the show. We cover everything here, from youthful encounters with larger-than-life actors to interviewing renowned television directors. We also have some "fantasy guest" chat, in which we try to choose which people we'd like to meet or in...
51m Apr 03, 2022
51m
392: Omega, Cutaway Comics, and Gallifrey One With Gareth Kavanagh!
Our podcast this week welcomes back Gareth Kavanagh for a longer chat, mainly about Cutaway Comics' latest projects, selling issues in the basement at Gallifrey One, and taking a trip to Aldbourne in honour of 1972 Doctor Who serial The Daemons. Gareth joins Christian Cawley and James McLean in a wide ranging conversation that takes in Brian Blessed, Eric Saward, retro gaming, and much more. ...
46m Mar 27, 2022
46m
391: Is Hugh Grant Doctor Who Number 14 & What Would Your MCU-Style Spin-offs Be?
This week's show is a bit shorter than usual, to let you find out what we think about the Hugh Grant Doctor Who rumour, and have some fun with some possible spin-off ideas. In case you had forgotten, Hugh Grant was approached to lead Doctor Who way back before Christopher Eccleston was cast. He had also appeared in Steven Moffat's Comic Relief special The Curse of Fatal Death (https://kasterbo...
20m Mar 22, 2022
20m
390: Life on Mars Episode 1 Commentary
We've promised and threatened, and this time we deliver: our commentary of Life on Mars episode 1, in which Sam Tyler wakes up in 1973. The episode stars John Simm (Doctor Who's Master 2007-2017) and Philip Glenister. This discussion takes place while watching the episode, and covers all manner of topics, from the show's early inception to fashion and style, logistics of reimagining Manchester...
1hr 2m Mar 18, 2022
1hr 2m
Missing Doctor Who? Why Now Is the Time to Discover Life on Mars
With no time travel in a police box to thrill you on TV for most of the year, we recommend you take time travel in a policeman's head as an alternative. Yes, it's Life on Mars, one of the greatest TV shows since the turn of the century. In this podcast, Christian Cawley and James McLean look back at what intrigues them about the adventures of Sam Tyler and Gene Hunt. Shownotes Some useful li...
30m Feb 20, 2022
30m
388. Why Is Phil Collinson Back as Doctor Who Producer?
We take a look at some recent Doctor Who news in this week's show, specifically the return of Phil Collinson to the day-to-day running of the RTD2 era. There is also some chat about archiving old data, and the fate of the older pages from the official Doctor Who website. Where are they? Christian Cawley and James McLean are your hosts. In the vaguest possible sense, of course. Shownotes Phi...
38m Feb 13, 2022
38m
387. Evolution of Chibnall’s Doctor Who: Cold Blood Commentary
It's the third part of our retrospective of Chris Chibnall's time on Doctor Who, in which we take a look at 2011's Cold Blood. The concept is simple: we watch the episode and talk over it. You're invited to watch along with us, but you can listen without pressing play on your Season 5 DVD or iPlayer. Christian Cawley and James McLean witter on endlessly with the occasional drink/toilet break i...
54m Feb 06, 2022
54m
386. Evolution of Chris Chibnall’s Doctor Who: The Hungry Earth Commentary
This week we continue our look at Chris Chibnall's early Doctor Who contributions with The Hungry Earth from 2010.
45m Jan 30, 2022
45m
385: Can the BBC Survive Without the Licence Fee?
The UK government has announced that the TV licence fee is to be frozen, with the BBC's funding reviewed to establish a new income model. What are the implications of this to the organization? Why did the BBC not see this coming? Could it make changes now to mitigate the impact of the changes? Why was the youth-oriented BBC Three returned to broadcast TV when its audience consumes TV almost wh...
40m Jan 18, 2022
40m
384: Evolution of Chris Chibnall: 42 Commentary
In this podcast, we take a look at Chibnall's first Doctor Who episode, aiming to identify motifs and themes that might later appear under his stewardship of the show. Back in 2007, Chris Chibnall made his first contribution to televised Doctor Who with 42. An adventure in real-time inspired by shows like 24, it starred David Tennant and Freema Agyeman as the Doctor and Martha Jones. Christia...
55m Jan 16, 2022
55m
383: Doctor Who: Eve of the Daleks Reviewed
The latest Doctor Who has aired, which means that after Eve of the Daleks, we have just two episodes of Jodie Whittaker's Doctor to enjoy. Christian Cawley and James McLean recall their thoughts on the episode, with contributions from commenters on our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/thekasterborous/) . Listen out too for some recommendations and thoughts about other TV shows - and a c...
47m Jan 04, 2022
47m