Cult Connections

On it's release in 1999 The Matrix wowed audiences with its mix of kung fu action, dazzling visuals and mindbending concept of living in a virtual world. However, starting decades before on the small screen, the concept of living in a simulation has already been portrayed in the most imaginative ways. Ian is joined by Holger Hasse to review three such examples!World On A Wire (1973). Directed by Ranier Werner Fassbinder. Written by Fassbinder and Fritz Muller-Scherz. Based on the novel simulacron-3 by Daniel F Galouye. starring Klaus Lowitsch and Barbara Valentin. Red Dwarf. Season 5 episode 6. "Back to Reality" (1992). Directed by Juliet May. Written by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor. Starring Chris Barrie, Craig Charles, Danny John-Jules and Rober Llewellyn. Welcome to Paradox. Episode 4 "News from D Street" (1998) Written by Miguel Tajada-Flores. Starring A Martinez and Claudette Mink

We reach the actual final episode of ther series, not broadcast until 1991. Ian also gives his thoughts on the series as a whole. Episode 14: Up Above The World So High. Written by Shimon Wincleberg. Directed by John Meredyth Lucas. Guest starring Joanna Barnes

It's episode 13 and the last to be broadcast on network television. So this must be the series finale? Or is it?The Liberator. Written by Howard Dimsdale. Directed by Arnold Laven. Guest starring John Ireland. 

Ian reaches the penultimate broadcast episode of the show!The Cure. Written by Edward J Lakso. Directed by Bernard McEveety. Guest starring Sondra Locke and David Sheiner

A nice surprise as we get to the business end!Episode 11: The Tyrant. Directed by Ralph Senensky. Written by Walter Black. Guest starring Percy Rodrigues

We head back to Central City for a bit of that old 70s favourite, brainwashing!The Interrogation. Directed by Alf Kjelin. Written by Richard Collins. Guest starring Beverly Garland and Anne Seymour. 

Our heroes get up to some horsey highjinks but is this episode a thoroughbred or fit for the knackers yard?Episode 9: The Horse race. Directed by Jack Starret. Written by David P Lewis and Booker Bradshaw. Guest starring John Hoyt

The Doctor as Merlin? Two Brigadeers? Is Ace really ace?  Battlefield (1989). Directed by Michael Kerrigan. Written by Ben Aaronovitch. Starring Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred and Jean Marsh. 

The Bantha Liberation Front return as Maria and Ian review the first three episodes of Andor Season 2. 

Ian reviews the latest version of HG Wells classic novel starring Ice Cube and Eva Longoria

Episode 8: The DeceptionDirected by Don MacDougall. Written by Anthony Lawrence. Guest starring Jane Actman. 

Our trio head into medical drama terriotry for epsode 7.The Surgeon. Directed by Arnold Laven. Written by Barry Oringer. Guest starring Jacqueline Scott, Michael Strong. 

Ian and Mark "Planty" Plant continue their very occasional series by covering one of Michael winners good ones!The Mechanic (1972) Directed by Michael Winner. Written by Lewis John Carlino. Starring Charles Bronson and Jan-Michael Vincent. 

Ian gives us his thoughts on the new superman film from James Gunn

It's an absolute cracker this week as Ian and Nathan discuss the debut of two Doctopr Who icons, the debut of one not so iconic regular and the return of a favourite enemy. Terror of the Autons (1971) Directed by Barry Letts. Written by Robert Holmes. Starring Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning and Roger Delgado. 

Our trio get into a spot of fishy business!Episode 6: Tomorrow's Tide. Written by Robert W Lenski. Directed by Don McDougall. Guest starring Roscoe Lee Browne 

The Timelords have sent Ian and Nathan on a quest to review what is possibly the greatest Doctor Who story of all time!Genesis of the Daleks. Written by Terry Nation. Directed by David Maloney. Starring Tom Baker, Elizabeth Sladen, Ian Marter, Michael Wisher and Peter Miles. 

Ian and Nathan round off their review of the second season of Doctor Who starring Ncuti Gatwa!

A message from the past gives our heroes hope for the future. The Legacy: Written by Robert Hamner. Directed by Bernard McEveety. Starring Zina Bethune and Jackie Earle Hailey 

As Omega returns in the Doctor Who season finale Ian flies solo to review the last time he turned up!Doctor Who Season 20. Arc of Infinity. Written by Johnny Byrne. Directed by Ron Jones. Starring Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton and Janet Fielding. With Leonard Sachs, Michael Gough and Colin Baker

Ian and Nathan review the first three episodes of season 2 of Doctor Who The Robot Revolution LuxThe Well 

Ian finds out about crop rotation in  the 31st century. The Good Seeds. Directed by Don Weiss. Written by Robert W Lenski. Guest starring Geoffrey Deuel 

Ian and Nathan are thawed out to review probably the most iconic 2nd Doctor story!The Tomb of the Cybermen (1967). Directed by Morris Barry. Written by Kit Pedler and Gerry Davies. Starring Patrick Troughton, Frazer Hines and Deborah Watling 

Find out why The Trap remindds Ian of a classic Simpsons episode!The Trap. Directed by Arnold laven. Wriiten by Edward J Lakso 

Ian continues his journey through the Planet Of The Apes tv seriesEpisode two - The Gladiators. Directed by Don McDougall. Written by Art Wallace. Starring Roddy McDowell, James Naughton, Ron Harper, John Hoyt, William Smith and Marc Singer

In this bonus series Ian is going to review of the Planet Of The Apes tv series from 1974. We start with the first episode Escape From Tomorrow. 

Ian reviews the first season of the 60s sci-fi classic created by Irwin Allen 

Ian gives a review of some of the films he has watched recently, what's coming up on the show and why things have been a bit quiet lately. 

Ian and Nathan travel to 1066 via 1965 to review a story which changed Doctor Who forever!The Time Meddler (1965). Directed by Douglas Camfield. Written by Dennis Spooner. Starring william Hartnell, Maureen O'Brien, Peter Purves and Peter Butterworth 

Ian and Nathan finally kick off 2025 with a round up the festive Doctor Who treats for 2024!

Ian is joined by Mark Plant to discuss the hardhitting and unsettling Spanish cult horror. Would You Kill A Child? (1976). Directed by Narciso Ibanez Serrador. Written by Serrador and Juan Jose Plans. Starring Lewis Fiander and Prunella Ransome. 

Ian is joined by Ben Baker to discuss his new book Kiss Your Television, an affectionate, insightful and funny look at favourites and obscurities young and old. Ian and Ben share their passion for, Sapphire and Steel  Tuckers Luck and Cannon and Ball amongst many others!You can find Kiss Your Television here https://t.co/eKswySk5Ih

Ian finds himself in the Ozverse to review the new release Wicked and goes back to 1925 for a version of the original stry that started it all. Wicked (2024) Directed by John M Chu. From the book by Gregory Maguire. Stars Ariana Grande, Cynthia ErivoThe Wizard of Oz (1925). Directed by Larry Semon. Written by Larry Semon, Leon Lee and Frank Joslyn Baum. Starring Dorothy Dwan, Larry Semon and Oliver Hardy 

Ian reaches the finale episode of the flagship BBC dramaEpisode 6 - Sweet England's Pride. Directed by Roderick Graham. Written by Ian Rodger. Starring Glenda Jackson and Robin Ellis 

 Ian is joined by Dr Matt Melia to discuss one of Britain's most prolific, influential and contoversial filmmakers, Ken Russell. On this opening episode we discuss three of his trademark composer biographies as he made the transtion from the small to the big screen. Song of Summer (1968). Directed by Ken Russell. From the book by Eric Fenby. Starring Max Adrian, Christopher Gable and Maureen Pryor,Dance of the Seven Veils (1970). Directed by Ken Russell. Written by Russell and Henry Reed. Starring Christopher Gable, Judith Paris and Kenneth Colley,The Music Lovers (1971). Directed by Ken Russell. Written by Melvyn Bragg. Starring Richard Chamberlain and Glenda Jackson Matt Melia is a senior lecturer in Literature, Film and Media at Kingston University, London. He is the editor of Refocus: The Films of Ken Russell

On this epiosde Ian is joined by steve Hatton to review the first series of the cult BBC sci-fi drama. The Tripods: Sereis One (1984). Written by Alick Rowe. From the book by John Christopher. Directed by Christopher Barry and Graham Theakston. Starring John shackley, Ceri Steel and Jim Baker

How do you defeat the Spanish Armada on a BBC budget?Episode 5: The Enterprise of England. Directed by David mcWhinnie. Written by John Prebble. Starring Glenda Jackson, Peter Jeffrey, John Woodvine and Robert Hardy 

Ian and Nathan land on Androzani Minor to cover the Fifth Doctors last story. The Caves of Androzani (1984). Written by Robert Holmes. Directed by Graeme Harper. Starring Peter Davison, Nicola Bryant, John Normington and Christopher Gable. 

We reach the tragic ending of Mary, Queen of Scots in our rewatch of the vlassic BBC drama. Elizabeth R: Episode 4 - Horrible conspiracies. Directed by Roderick Graham. Written by Hugh Whitemore. Starring Glenda Jackson, Stephen Murray and Vivien Pickles. 

Ian and Nathan have dematerialised on the planet Necros for a visit to Tranquil ReposeRevelation of the Daleks (1985). Directed by Greame Harper. Written by Eric Saward. Starring Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Eleanor Bron and Clive Swift. 

It's a hey nonny no as Ian contunues his rewatch of the classic BBC drame series. Episode 3 - Shadow of the Son, Written by Julian Mitchell. Directed by Richard Martin. Starring Glenda Jackson, Michael Williams and Bernard Horsfall. 

Ian continues his rewatch of Elizabeth R. Episode two - The Marriage Game. Directed by Herbert Wise. Written by Rosemary Anne Sissons. Starring Glenda Jackson and Robert Hardy 

In this bonus series Ian reviews the BBCs flagship 70s drama Elizabeth REpisode 1 - The Lion's Cub. Directed by Claude Whatham. Written by John Hale. Starring glenda Jackson and Ronald Hines

Kicking off our new occasional  series focusing on the titles that are too obscure even for us Ian is joined by Holger Hasse to review the Eurocult short film series starring Diana RiggMinikillers (1968). Directed by Wolfgang von Chmielewski. Written by Wolfgang and Michael von Chmielewski. Starring Diana Rigg and Jose Nieto. 

Ian and Nathan travel to a deserted London to tackle conspiracy, traitors and feeble monsters. Invasion of the Dinosaurs (1974). Written by Malcolm Hulke. Directed by Paddy Russell. Starring Jon Peetwee. Elizabeth Sladen and Noel Johnson

The BLF return as Maria and Ian review the latest Star Wars tv series The Acolyte

Ian is joined by Robbie Sherman for a special crossover episode as we both celebrate three years of our respective shows. Robbie introduces Ian to the world of manga/anime series Lupin the 3rd. We chat about the series in general and take an in depth look at one recent installment. Lupin the 3rd vs. Cat's Eye (2023). Directed by Hiroyuki Seshita, Kobun Shizuno and Keisuke Ide. Voices by Kan'ichi Kurita, Keiko Toda, Ako Otsuka and Miyuki SawashiroIan also guested on Robbie's show, Conversations with Robbie Sherman to chat Lupin the 3rd: Fujiko Mine's LieYou can find Conversation with Robbie Sherman here - 

Ian reviews Carol Morley's Typist Artist Pirate King. A portriat of the British artist Audrey Amiss as she travels from London to Sunderland. A road trip through England touchig on creativity, mental health and relationships. Typist Artist Pirate King (2023). Written and Directed by Carol Morley. Starring Monica Dolan, Kelly Macdonald and Gina McKee

Ian and Nathan return to review the final four episodes of the debut season for Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor

To help celebrate turning fifty Ian asked Aaron Huggett from Zed1 podcast to review the cult zombie classic of 1974. Let Sleeping Corpses Lie (1974). Directed by Jorge Grau. Written by Sandro Continenza. Starring Christina Galdo, Ray Lovelock and Arthur KennedyZed1 is Farringdon, Englands number one zombie based audio drama podcast. 

Ian and Nathan are off to Terra Alpha to confront the Kandyman and hopefully dodge the advance of The Happiness PatrolThe Happiness Patrol (1988). Directed by Chris Clough. Written by Greame Curry. Starring Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldrfed, Sheila Hancock and Lesley Glanville