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? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or [email protected], and you’ll get a mention.

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 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? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or [email protected], and you’ll get a mention.

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 [email protected], 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’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. 

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 [email protected], 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 else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or [email protected], and you’ll get a mention.

We cover how ongoing drama series have changed in length and shape, and the demand of streaming services for libraries. And inevitably, during a time when Doctor Who could be put on hold for a while, we consider how the show might be rebooted... from scratch(?!). This podcast is part of a longer chat that our Patreon members have already enjoyed. We would love to know what you think about our conclusion -- your thoughts on this are pretty vital to a future discussion! 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 else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or [email protected], and you’ll get a mention.

This week's show is a news round up, looking at the key scifi/cult TV and movie stories of the past few weeks.  Did you know the Twelfth Doctor had been recast by Big Finish? That there was a new Star Wars movie with Matt Smith? Or an upcoming Blu-ray release of the BBC's Chronicles of Narnia adaptation? If not, you'll learn about them here, along with news of Thunderbirds - FAB at 60, and Hammer's The Curse of Frankenstein getting a 4K remaster.  Christian Cawley brings you five key stories, and when that's all done, Patreon members get an exclusive "after show" chat between Christian, James McLean, and Gareth Kavanagh, recorded in 2024. Shownotes Jon Culshaw is playing Twelfth Doctor for Big Finish New Star Wars movie, Star Wars: Starfighter BBC Chronicles of Narnia Blu-ray edition announced Chronicles of Narnia pre-order on Amazon Thunderbirds - FAB at 60 Thunderbirds 60th anniversary screening Hammer's The Curse of Frankenstein gets 4K remaster edition Frankenstein 4K on Amazon

As the attentive among you might know, former Doctor Who script editor Christopher H. Bidmead died in early August. His work as a computer journalist directly informed his contributions to the show, not just as its script editor but also writer of serials such as Logopolis and Castrovalva, and Frontios. This week, Christian Cawley and James McLean look back at Doctor Who's divisive Season 18. A new producer, an executive producer for the first time, a new script editor, and a lead actor on his way out of the door, it makes for interesting viewing, both as a show, and as a behind-the-scenes drama.  But central to all of that was Bidmead's new approach to the show, one that stripped back "The Tom Baker Show" and moved the adventures back into the realms of discovery and education.

Once upon a time, everyone knew who Steve McQueen was. These days, it's difficult to find a current Hollywood star, or musician, or comedian, that everyone knows. In this week's podcast, Christian Cawley and James McLean go beyond Doctor Who to discuss personalities and media, and how household names and popular genres have all but vanished, their successors splintering into niches and sub-cultures. Meanwhile, the Patreon-only section explores the phenomenon of disappearing media formats and their return as premium items. Shownotes Blankety Blank playlist Blankety Blank spoof Taskmaster S3 E1 Ted Lasso trailer Project X (Amiga) Project X Light Years trailer ZX Spectrum trailer for Ulysses 31 Christian's retro gaming site: www.gamingretro.co.uk Heil Honey I'm Home intro Fantastic Four (2025) trailer Patreon benefits  Supporters of the podcast on Patreon got this week’s show ad-free, early, and with around 20 minutes more talking. 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 [email protected], and you’ll get a mention.

This discussion looks at recent comments made at the Edinburgh Television Festival concerning the future of Doctor Who, with or without Disney+, and the streaming platform's changing output. Are cutbacks in drama affecting the BBC and Disney+ partnership concerning Doctor Who? Is this a major or minor bump in the road? And why has The War Between the Land and the Sea been put back until 2026? We look for some answers. For patrons, meanwhile, we have an exclusive chat about Sarah Jane Smith, following news of a new book dedicated to Lis Sladen's popular companion. Shownotes BBC states Doctor Who will return with or without Disney(Same link for The War Between the Land and the Sea) Just Sarah: More Than Fifty Years of a Doctor Who Companion Kasterborous Substack Get in touch  Enjoy the podcast? If you head to Apple Podcasts to leave a rating and review, it will help us build our audience there. Any new reviews will be read out -- let us know you've left one. Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link to [email protected], and you’ll get a mention!