The Doctor Who Podcast

As every fan will know by now, it was recently announced that nine previously missing episodes of classic Doctor Who had been found and returned to the BBC Archive.  Hooray!  The find means we can watch The Enemy of the World in its entirety and five complete episodes of The Web of Fear. In this episode, James, Stephen and Ian discuss how the story unfolded and speculate about whether the story has now run its course or if we can allow ourselves to believe more episodes are on their way….  

In a bonus edition of The Doctor Who Podcast, we bring you the first in a mini-series of interviews with writers who have become synonymous with Doctor Who fiction, either through writing books, Big Finish audios or extensive articles for Doctor Who Magazine – or in many cases, all three! First up, it’s Jonathon Morris who takes time out from his appearance at Big Finish Day 3 to speak to us. Jonny’s back catalogue of Doctor Who output is vast – and is still growing.  He’s the author of over 40 Big Finish audio plays and four original Doctor Who novels for the BBC. Check out his blog – it makes facinating reading. In this interview he talks to Tony and Laura, our intrepid roving reporters at about writing, missing episodes and how it feels to put words into the mouths of actors we became familiar with by watching them on the telly all those years ago. Many thanks to both Big Finish Productions and to 10th Planet Events for allowing us to cover the event. Enjoy the show!

It a Sergeant Benton special!! Yes, Stephen and Leeson team up once again and review the rather superb documentary included on the Special Edition of The Claws of Axos DVD, Living With Levene.  It’s a unique feature in which Toby Hadoke spends a weekend with John Levene in an attempt to get to know the real person responsible for the character Doctor Who fans know as Sergeant Benton.  Does he succeed?! Tune in to find out. Ian and Michele also bring you a review of John Levene’s first Big Finish Companion Chronicle, Council of War. Tune in again this coming weekend for a bonus edition of The Doctor Who Podcast as we bring you the first in a mini-series of interviews with Doctor Who writers of various media.  First up is Jonathan Morris.

In this episode, Stephen, Tom and James discuss the announcement made last week that The Day of The Doctor will be simulcast in over 75 countries around the globe.  Now just why didn’t that happen with The Five Doctors?! They also bring you the final part in the latest mini-series of Burning Issues – to what extent does the lead actor actually need to act in order to successfully portray the Doctor?! Michele and Ian are also back discussing the final two parts of the second run of Big Finish’s spin-off series from Remembrance of the Daleks, Counter Measures.

The reptiles theme continues this week as James, Stephen and a special guest talk about the much-maligned Warriors of the Deep.  What will the Campervan occupants make of the re-imagined Silurians and Sea Devils and of course, everyone’s favourite pet marine monster, the Myrka? Stephen also has the privilege of talking to the wonderful Tara Ward who played Preston in Warriors about her memories of being cast, filming and what things were like on Sea Base 4. Enjoy the show.  

This week the Campervan time travels back to 1967 to take a look at the classic story, The Ice Warriors. The story has recently been released on two brand new shiny DVDs and the two missing episodes have been animated, allowing fans to experience the story in a way that simply hasn’t been possible until now. So Join Tom, James, Stephen and Leeson as they sit round the Campervan’s small tellybox and take it in turns to do Ice Warrior impressions. For the more discerning listener, Ian and Michele talk about reptiles of a different kind as they review an early Big Finish play featuring Silurians – Bloodtide.

Discussing rumours of newly discovered missing episodes is a prerequisite of being a Doctor Who fan.  Where would be all be if we didn’t allow ourselves the secret hope that one day, someone will find the 106 episodes missing from the BBC archives in a box in someone’s loft or in the bowels of an overseas Broadcaster’s Headquarters?! Well, as pretty much every fan knows, the latest sets of rumours gained some serious traction and have been bouncing around fandom for the last 18 months or so.  What does the DWP team make of them?  Yes, join Stephen, James and Leeson as they discuss what they’ve heard and allow themselves to dream……    

Stephen and Michele share similar cultural and Doctor Who histories. They’ll agree on everything, right? Judge for yourself as they discuss a recent Big Finish main range trilogy – The Burning Prince, The Acheron Pulse and The Shadow Heart. But it isn’t until they turn their thoughts to the casting of Peter Capaldi that things get really … uh … “hot.” We also offer a calmer, more refined Big Finish review from Ian and Michele. This week they conclude their look at the second series of Fourth Doctor and first Romana stories with a review of the two-part finale,  The Dalek Contract and The Final Phase.

Join Stephen, Leeson and James in the second of our newest series of Burning Issues episodes.  The Sonic Screwdriver.  Love it or hate it, it’s become a fundamental part of the show in much the same way as the TARDIS is.   But has it’s continual presence in the series since 2005 done the show any favours? Do writers rely on it too much now as a magic wand that can resolve plot points?  Join us in the campervan to find out what we think. Michele and Ian also pop in and post a review of parts one and two of the second series of Counter Measures – the Big Finish spin-off series from Remembrance of the Daleks.  

And welcome to a landmark episode of The Doctor Who Podcast – for the first time, all six hosts appear on this one! But not at the same time….. it’s timey wimey. Stephen, Tom and James zip all the way back to 1965 and talk about the first story in the third series of Doctor Who, Galaxy Four.  A reconstruction of the story (including the recently recovered complete third episode) was released on the Special Edition of The Aztecs DVD, and it’s this version of the story the team take a look at.  Not being one to be left out of a good ol’ natter about missing episodes, Leeson jumps in with his opinion too. Still locked in the Campervan Annex, Michele and Ian and  have been passing the time by looking at another story that until recently, consisted of just one surviving episode.  Join them as they take a look at The Underwater Menace. We’ll be back next week with the second in our newest series of Burning Issues podcasts. This time we put the sonic screwdriver under the spotlight and ask if it’s time for it to go…..Terileptil style.

Stephen continues his mission to record with the entire DWP Campervan crew in the space of just one month.  Not afraid of controversy, Stephen opts to discuss another thorny issue – can Doctor Who really be considered as a British show any longer? Who better to fly the flag for Britiain, but the softest, fluffiest and sweetest member of the DWP, Mr Leeson Fischer.  Abandon hope all ye who download. For the sane listeners, Michele and Ian bring you a review of the next Big Finish’s fourth Doctor and Romana play, Phantoms of the Deep. For listeners that survive this episode, we’ll be back next week to to look at two early stories that have both had episodes returned to the BBC archives recently, Galaxy Four and the Underwater Menace.

Ian and Stephen are in the Campervan this week talking about the idea of an older actor playing the Doctor.  After having several beautiful young men in the prime of their life play the part, we are now presented with a more mature option, Peter Capaldi. Ian and Stephen talk about their reaction to the casting decision and indeed, what an older lead actor means for show. The boys even dare to discuss the thorny subject of “Just how old is the Doctor?”. Wow.  it’ll be UNIT dating next. If that wasn’t enough, Michele joins Ian for a chat about another fourth Doctor and Romana Big Finish audio, The Justice of Jalxar. Hold on to your hats for next week – it’s the one we’ve ALL been waiting for.  When Stephen met Leeson.  You have been warned.

Following on from our mini-season of Burning Issues podcasts earlier in the year Stephen Tom and James are back with the first in a new series. It’s often been said that Doctor Who takes its lead from other television shows and films, and certainly, there are times when a new story’s inspiration is apparent. But its also widely accepted that Doctor Who is unique and despite many attempts, not one show has been able to emulate the precise je ne said quoi our beloved show so clearly has. So what is it? A Trend Setter or Follower? Tune in to hear our take on the matter. Also, this episode sees the last of our popular Seventh Heaven instalments. Stephen (no,not that one, the other one) has finally finished his quest to watch all of the Sylvester McCoy stories for the very first time. Tune in to hear what he thinks about The Curse of Fenric and Survival. Join us next week for a leisurely discussion (yes, we do those sometimes.  What?!) about just what an older actor playing the Doctor will mean for the show.

The speculation, guesswork, teeth grinding and sleepless nights are over.  We now know who will step into Matt Smith’s shoes at the end of the year. Peter Capaldi, best known from the BBC comedy series The Thick of It, director of a Academy Awards nominated short film, winner of a BAFTA and two British comedy awards, has been announced as the 12th Doctor. Join James, Tom and Stephen as they discuss the reaction to the announcement broadcast on BBC television (and indeed worldwide!).

Join James and Tom for the start of a new era of The Doctor Who Podcast!  In this episode, they unwrap and welcome a brand new, shiny, polished, optimistic new DWP host. But who is it?! Well, tune in to find out as we examine his Doctor Who fan credentials. Or check out the Hosts page if you are ultra-impatient!   The chaps also talk about the recent controversy created by a certain trailer being shown for the first – and perhaps the only time – at this year’s San Diego Comic Con. All this and part five of Seventh Heaven, AND a review from Ian and Michele of The Sands of Life and War Against the Laan – two recent Fourth Doctor and Romana plays from Big Finish Productions.  Phew! Join us next week as we kick off with part 1 of our second Burning Issues mini-series.