Doctor Who: The PodKast with a K

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 PatreonHelp 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,

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:

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

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 Ap

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.ShownotesChristian's time-shifted Substack journal project, Ten Years GoneSo, 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 fir

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 iPlayerFor 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 Podca

Christian Cawley delivers the latest Doctor Who news of any 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

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 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

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 DateEtymology 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 Patr

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?

What is survival for Doctor Who? Over the past few weeks, we've explored the current streaming and televisual landscape, and indeed, the wider view of other media.  With a limbo scenario, no new series announced, and a perpetually postponed spin-off, no one knows where new Who is coming from. And if it isn't going to be on TV, where will you find original Doctor Who content in future? This is the final part of our chat on this topic, but we're going to come back to it when we hear from you. Get in touch below and tell us what you think could be the way for Doctor Who to survive off-screen, until the time comes for its return (if that can even happen...). Patreon benefits  This podcast and the preceding four episodes were launched originally on our Patreon, complete with video editions and additional content. There are no ads on the Patreon version, either. Joining our Patreon also gives access to the Kasterborous Archive, a growing collection of artifacts from the website's past. Sign up to enjoy acces

Hello, and welcome to this week's podcast. A little later than planned, this is a chat already released on Patreon in video and audio form. Christian and James move the previous conversation along, and ask what form Doctor Who might take if it isn't on TV... This episode, and the previous bumper-length edition, will be released episodically over the next few weeks on Spotify and Apple Podcasts (and all the other places). So, you get them early, complete, ad-free, and with accompanying video on Patreon. We really want to hear from you on the matter of what form a continuing Doctor Who might take if not on TV or streaming services, so please, get in touch! Drop a line to Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and let us know. Patreon benefits  While we're serializing it over the next few weeks for Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the other places, you can enjoy a classic deep-cut of this podcast in its entirety by joining our Patreon. Supporters of the podcast on Patreon also got this week

Doctor Who is asleep, but will it wake up? In the third part of our look at the world in which Doctor Who needs to be reinvented for, Christian Cawley and James McLean consider alternative shows, and how they have been able to sustain themselves despite long gaps between series. Patreon benefits  While we're serializing it over the next few weeks for Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the other places, you can enjoy a classic deep-cut of this podcast in its entirety by joining our Patreon. Supporters of the podcast on Patreon also got this week’s show ad-free, and with a video version. Sign up to enjoy the same benefits.  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.

Welcome to the second part of an in-depth discussion in which Christian Cawley and James McLean explore the shifting landscape of media, television, streaming, and everything associated. Where is Doctor Who now, and where is it going? This podcast is part of a longer chat that our Patreon members have already enjoyed. We would love to know what you think about the points raised here -- your thoughts on this are pretty vital to a future discussion! Use the contact options below. Patreon benefits  While we're serializing it over the next few weeks for Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all the other places, you can enjoy a classic deep-cut podcast in its entirety by joining our Patreon. Supporters of the podcast on Patreon also got this week’s show ad-free, and with a video version. Sign up to enjoy the same benefits.  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 el