Doctor Who and the Episodes of Death

Welcome back to the Doctor Who film club, where we watch the films of Doctor Who when he or she isn't being Doctor Who. This episode it's Doctor Who and the Evil Hypnotist, as William Hartnell takes a trip to a psychic circus for a tale of romantic triangles and mind control in The Dark Tower. With guests John Richards ("Night Terrace") and artist Millie McKenzie. Watch the film on Youtube at: https://youtu.be/LSE_VKzjfrs

Next week we kick off our ongoing version of the Doctor Who film club podcast "Who Else?"! So to get you in the mood here's a repost of our pilot episode first released in April. Watch along then join us to discuss William Hartnell in the gripping classic Hell Drivers.

A cavalcade of friends joins us for the last Episodes of Death, to celebrate everyone’s favourite dodgy Doctor Who story: Paradise Towers. There’s dubious moustaches, milk toast macho men and the pool at the end of the world… so will we want to How You Do this Seventh Doctor adventure?

Comedian, writer, actor and super-fan Adam Richard pops by to help us absorb the joys of Doctor Who's most divisive story, Love and Monsters.

April Interlude! Since we’re stuck inside, I decided it would be a fun change of pace to have something “new” to watch. So welcome to WHO ELSE, our occasional film club where we watch the movies of Dr Who when he or she isn't being Dr Who! For our first instalment, it's Dr Who vs the Truck Drivers as William Hartnell joins a ridiculously star-studded cast in the 1957 noir classic Hell Drivers. Joining me to discuss the film are comic book artist Marc Laming and host of the All New Adventures of the Doctor Who Book Club podcast, Chris Hawton. Watch Hell Drivers first on Youtube (or restored Bluray), or just jump in and let us tell you what you missed…

Recorded way back in a more innocent time when our main worry was whether Captain Jack would return for the Series 12 finale, it’s Episodes of Death 24! This episode, it's the 9th Doctor's time to shine (or be shamed), as poet Adam Ford returns to lead us through the philosophy and pratfalls of Boom Town. It's a story full of big questions but is it all talk?

Jon Pertwee makes his entrance to The Episodes of Death, as we talk the horror of The Mutants. Can our guest George Ivanoff convince us this story is actually a beautiful space butterfly?

Jodie Whittaker makes her entrance in the Episodes of Death as arts critic and broadcaster Richard Watts gives us a Tsuranga Conundrum to try to get our heads around. Does Series 11′s most maligned episode have unappreciated delights to chew on, or is it a puzzle not worth solving?

The sets are fake but, for many, the pain is all too real... We talk the Fourth Doctor's CSO extravaganza Underworld (and sofas) with Tim Dickinson, creator of the blog "Watching Blake's 7".

"Ya gotta see the baby!" Before we move on to our next Episode of Death, last month's guest Michael Dennis pops back for a few minutes to talk about one more, erm, joy of Delta and the Bannermen. And stay tuned at the end for the reveal of what story we’re talking about next episode!

Here's to the past, rather than the future, as writer Michael Dennis drops by chat about Season 24's "Delta and the Bannermen". Will he persuade you that love really is the answer when it comes to this 50s oddball?

"Encounter At Farpoint: The British Years" or an imaginative space fairytale about choice and social responsibility? It's back-to-back Big Finish as writer Selim Ulug joins us this month to talk Steven Moffat's least favourite Steven Moffat story, The Beast Below.

It's the legendary "worst Doctor Who story ever". But as The Gunfighters shows us, sometimes legends aren't what they're made out to be. Big Finish writer Eddie Robson joins us to explain why this infamous First Doctor story is an underappreciated gem.

You think your gran gives you bad birthday presents? When the Doctor turned 20, he got fluoro socks, a troublingly tight despot jumpsuit, a skeletal chicken, and way too many sofas. Yes, we’re heading to the Arc of Infinity, guided by our guest for this month, David Ross.

The delightful Ben McKenzie (Splendid Chaps, Night Terrace) joins us again to try to show us why there's nothing to fear about Fear Her. We're sorry. We're so, so sorry.

Take 2 all-time favourite companions, add '70s plot tropes, '80s lighting and the musical stylings of Ian Levine. What could go wrong? Mary Helen Norris joins us to talk K-9 And Company. But can it work its witchcraft on our hearts?   Mary Helen is the editor of the new anthology: Defending Earth: The Adventures of Sarah Jane Smith, available digitally now or pre-order your physical copies by mid-March at https://defendingearth.bigcartel.com/

It's two to Four to Doomsday as Chris Hawton from the All-New Adventures of the Doctor Who Book Club Podcast returns to take Lucas on a spacewalk through the 5th Doctor's second story. But can even a cricket ball save them from this one?

The first story of the 13th Doctor arrives next week, so George Ivanoff is getting us in the mood this episode by making us discuss the first story of the 7th Doctor, Time and the Rani. Are fandom right to have no time for Time and the Rani, or is this tale of geniuses actually a tale of genius?

Relive the highs of Doctor Who On Twitch as artist & writer Sophie Iles takes us back to London 1965 to explain the joys of the Doctor's dash from the Daleks in "The Chase".

Pull on your platform shoes and strap on your laser horns, because this episode we wander into the rock opera labyrinth that is The Horns of Nimon. Will guest Richard Watts convince you to praise Nimon, or is it just four episodes of weakling scum?

Big Finish writer John Dorney joins us to talk the alien joys and horrors of The Web Planet. Zarrrrrbiiii!!! This episode was recorded way back in the forgotten age before Doctor Who came to Twitch, so little did we know the phenomenon #Barbarian would soon become, and our discussion about whether bingeing 60s Who is the best way to watch now has new dimensions we never suspected. Enjoy, and tell us your feelings on The Web Planet on Facebook or Twitter @EpsOfDeath

Save your breath for this episode, brave listener. Most people greet Timelash with a scream. The 6th Doctor is back in the stocks again but, don’t fret, this is a super fun one as Chris Hawton (the All-New Doctor Who Book Club Podcast) tries to convince us that one of the series' most infamously derided stories is really just misunderstood.

Avril Hannah-Jones serves up a delightful Christmas surprise when she joins us to champion The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe, and Lucas finds himself watching a quite different story than he grumbled his way through the first time round. Is there more inside this wardrobe than we thought?

We're back! But will you regret it once you face the terror of the Myrka? Or will this episode's returning guest Ben McKenzie (Splendid Chaps; Pratchat) convince you Warriors of the Deep is actually a beautiful pearl waiting to be rediscovered on the ocean floor of Doctor Who? Listen to the episode then vote in our listener poll on Twitter @epsofdeath

Splendid Chap David Ashton joins us to talk three-quarters of the 1st Doctor's 1st appearance, The Tribe of Gum! Will it set our world on fire, or make us want to smash someone's skull in with a rock?

Even if you don't think Silver Nemesis is poetry itself, after this episode there will be no denying it. Poet Adam Ford joins us and not only defends Doctor Who's 25th Anniversary story but actually immortalises it in verse. Sad Cybermen, dodgy stunts, potions, villainous go-getters - this one has it all.

It's an exciting day for at least one of us as film critic Thomas Caldwell (Plato's Cave) picks The Krotons for us to tackle as our latest Episode of Death. But does the story deserve a re-evaluation or should it be dissipated?

We don't know how to pronounce it, and we don't know if it's a planet, but we do know it's Matt Smith's least popular episode. We try to find some shine on The Rings of Akhaten with guest Lee Zachariah (The Bazura Project; Night Terrace)

It's Doctor Who's least popular Doctor in one of its least popular seasons, and introducing possibly its least popular companion. We face the terror of Terror of the Vervoids, with special guest Ben McKenzie (Splendid Chaps, Night Terrace).