Podcast appearances and mentions of Andrew Cartmel

Guest: British author Paul Ebbs—Big Finish writer and lifelong Who fan who watched every episode on broadcast from 1970 to 1989—joins John and Jim to close out Classic Doctor Who. Three and a Half Years, One Weekly Show, and Finally the End of the Road This is it. The final story of Classic Doctor Who. After three and a half years of weekly episodes covering every televised adventure in order, John and Jim reach the end of the line with Survival—Sylvester McCoy's swan song, Ace's coming-of-age, and the Master's last classic-era stand. To mark the occasion, they welcome a guest who was there when it first aired: author Paul Ebbs, who calls this his joint-favorite story of all time and makes a passionate case for why it matters far more than its reputation might suggest. A Working Title You Won't Believe Before it became Survival, this story went by two working titles: "Blood Hunt" and—brace yourself—"Cat Flap." Yes, the final story of Classic Doctor Who was nearly called Cat Flap. The hosts have thoughts about this, and about what might have been if that title had stuck. The Show Looking Into a Mirror and Seeing Its Future Self Paul makes a bold argument that runs through the whole conversation: there is no post-2005 Doctor Who without this era. Everything RTD would later do is seeded right here. He points out that Rose is set "one estate across and three streets up" from Survival. Jim extends John's running metaphor—Cartmel walked so RTD could run—into something more specific: Ace walked so Rose, Amy, and every companion after could run. This is the story where the companion's inner life, backstory, and growth finally take center stage, setting the template for everything that followed. A Master Story, a Height Difference, and a Performance That Elevates This marks Anthony Ainley's final televised turn as the Master, and it's a memorable one. The hosts discuss how McCoy holds his own against Ainley despite a notable height difference, the chilling mirror scene, and whether this ranks among Ainley's best work. There's disagreement about where he sits relative to Delgado—and a surprising admission from one host about finally coming around on Ainley this time. The Hottest Shoot on the Coldest-Looking Planet Behind the scenes, this was a punishing production. Filmed in 100-degree heat in Dorset, the elaborate Cheetah People costumes (a departure from writer Rona Munro's more subtle original vision) made life miserable for the cast. An extra walked off. Sophie Aldred suffered dehydration despite not even wearing the costume. Ainley himself took the production team to task over how uncomfortable Lisa Bowerman was. And yet, all shot on location, the story achieves a cinematic quality the hosts and guest clearly relish. A Writer Who Paints a Whole Life in Two Lines Paul—himself a working Who writer—delivers what amounts to a masterclass appreciation of Rona Munro's screenwriting. He singles out a first episode with relentless narrative drive, exposition smuggled invisibly into dialogue, and minor characters who feel fully three-dimensional from just a line or two. There's a subtle detail involving what a street character is collecting money for that ties directly into the story's central theme—and it's the kind of thing you only notice when someone points it out. The Sabotaged Hum and the Only Pacifist in the Room At its heart, this is a story about not winning through violence. The Doctor is the lone voice of pacifism amid chaos, and Paul makes a spirited defense of a much-debated sequence in part two—arguing it's not a misfire but the thematic backbone of the entire story. Whether you agree depends on how you read the Doctor's role, and the hosts don't entirely line up on this one. Planet of the Apes on Horseback The first sight of a Cheetah Person mounted on horseback draws a direct comparison to the iconic gorilla-on-horseback image from Planet of the Apes—an incongruous, unforgettable visual. The hosts and guest also defend the animatronic cat, the Cheetah People makeup, and Doctor Who's whole relationship with special effects. There's a broader argument here about what actually matters in the show, and it's not the monsters. An Accidental Perfect Ending Only John Nathan Turner knew this might be the last episode for a long time. The cast and crew were largely in the dark. Cartmel wrote the melancholy closing monologue—"there are worlds out there where the sky is burning"—which McCoy recorded, fittingly, on the show's actual 30th anniversary. The hosts and guest reflect on how a story nobody knew was a finale became the perfect accidental send-off for Classic Who. Fruit Machines, Finger Tricks, and Pocket Watches Along the way: a discussion of the Doctor's mysterious forehead-finger business, McCoy's prop-driven approach to the role (including a pocket watch used as a scanner), the great sonic screwdriver debate, and a Doctor channeling Pertwee on a motorbike. Plus a small mystery about Ace's mother that the story raises and then quietly drops. Production Details: Production Code: 7P Aired: November 22 – December 6, 1989 Writer: Rona Munro (would later write New Who's "The Eaters of Light" for Capaldi) Director: Alan Wareing (previously The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, Ghost Light) Working Titles: "Blood Hunt" and "Cat Flap" The Master: Anthony Ainley (added at JNT's insistence for a named villain; his final televised appearance in the role) Notable Cast: Lisa Bowerman as Karra (would go on to voice Bernice Summerfield and direct for Big Finish), Julian Holloway as Sergeant Patterson (Paul's favorite guest actor in Who history; passed away recently), comedians Gareth Hale & Norman Pace in the shop Filming Location: Perivale for the Earth scenes, Dorset for the planet of the Cheetah People Closing Monologue: Written by Andrew Cartmel; recorded by McCoy on November 23, 1989 Ratings: 5M / 4.8M / 5M Key Discussion Points: Why this story is the template for all of post-2005 Doctor Who Ace as the proto-New-Who companion and the culmination of Season 26's arc Anthony Ainley's final Master performance and how he compares to Delgado Rona Munro's writing craft and economy of characterization The pacifism theme: "If we fight like animals, we'll die like animals" The debate over part two and whether it drags or lands the story's themes The "Ace walked so Rose could run" thesis The Planet of the Apes visual influence Doctor Who's relationship with special effects and suspension of disbelief Whether holding the Master story for last was the right call The all-location cinematic shooting style The accidental perfect ending and Cartmel's closing monologue The Wilderness Years to come, and the role of the Virgin New Adventures novels Coming Up Next: Friday (Patreon Feed): A look back at McCoy, the 80s, and the Classic Era overall. Monday (Patreon Exclusive 180): Season 26 overview—the good, the bad, and whatever ugly there was. Plus the comics "Party Animals" and "The Chameleon Factor." Patreon subscribers also get the 80s retrospective. Wednesday (Main Feed): Season 20 retrospective (a previously Patreon-exclusive episode). And Then: Hiatus episodes that will look at aspects of the "Wilderness Years", The 1996 TV Movie, and eventually the leap into New Who and the Christopher Eccleston era. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #Survival #SylvesterMcCoy #SophieAldred #Ace #TheMaster #AnthonyAinley #RonaMunro #ClassicWho #EndOfAnEra #PaulEbbs #DoctorWhoPodcast

Guest: Shagg Matthews from the Fire & Water Podcast Network joins John and Jim to discuss the penultimate story of Classic Doctor Who. The Darkest Hour(s) Before the Dawn The hosts are unified in their assessment: this is the darkest, most adult, most dramatically mature story of the entire series. It's not dark in tone alone—it's dark in theme, dark in implications, dark in what it reveals about the Doctor's character. One joke exists in the entire episode; everything else operates in shades of genuine dread. The production team clearly knew they were operating on borrowed time and decided to swing for the fences: a World War II setting, a genuine first-evil antagonist, psychological manipulation, body horror, and questions about faith itself. A Writer and a Producer in a Battle Over Hemovores Ian Briggs returned to Doctor Who after nearly a full season away—Andrew Cartmel had to convince JNT to give him another chance. Once given that chance, JNT immediately began second-guessing and meddling. The hemovores were originally supposed to look different, more monstrous. JNT thought they looked "rather rude"—apparently resembling a sexual organ—and demanded they be toned down. The final design: vampiric-looking humanoids that started as two schoolgirls. It's a compromise that somehow works brilliantly despite the behind-the-scenes friction. A Location Shoot That Feels Real Rather than attempt the Blitz with pyrotechnics and sets, Nicholas Mallet (returning from Paradise Towers) persuaded JNT to film entirely on location. They shot in Dorset and Northumberland, capturing genuine seaside cliffs and windswept locations. The weather cooperated and didn't cooperate simultaneously—freak conditions meant one day brought snow, the next sunshine, then rain. Rather than reshoot, they worked it into the story. McCoy kept his own heavy coat between takes; the production said it looked good, so he wore it throughout. Sophie Aldred handpicked her costume and refused to cover it with an overcoat, keeping her arms visible at all times. A Story That Was Never Meant to Be an Ending (But Knows It Is) Only John Nathan Turner knew the show was ending. Everyone else—including Sylvester McCoy, who'd signed a contract for Season 27—was operating under the assumption the show would continue. McCoy was all set to return; Sophie Aldred hadn't even been offered one yet. The BBC officially called it a "hiatus" while quietly beginning a competitive tender process to find a new production company. But among all the cast and crew, only JNT was preparing this as a potential final chapter. The others were simply making the next story. The Story: A mysterious entity called Fenric—described as one of the first evils of the universe—has been imprisoned for 17 centuries. In 1943, a small English coastal town becomes the battleground. Russian soldiers are hunting for a scientist named Judson, who's secretly developing a computer to decode German ciphers. The Doctor arrives to find ancient Viking ruins, encoded runes that must never be translated, and mysterious creatures rising from the water. When the runes are translated, Fenric's influence begins to spread. The true revelation: Fenric has been manipulating events for centuries, including the entire relationship between the Doctor and Ace. Production Details: Production Code: 7M Aired: October 15 – November 14, 1989 Writer: Ian Briggs | Director: Nicholas Mallet Guest Stars: Nicholas Parsons (Reverend Wainwright), Dinsdale Landen (Commander Millington) Filming Location: Lulworth Cove in Dorset; North Umberland or possibly Whitby (accounts vary) Notable Details: First Doctor Who story set in WWII (War Games covered WWI) All-location filming —rain, snow, and sunlight all captured genuinely Sophie Aldred dove into water three times to get the shot; divers had to follow her on the final take McCoy wore his personal coat between takes; production kept it in final cut Ratings: 4.3M, 4M, 4M, 4.2M (held above 4 million throughout) Music: Mark Ayers Novelization: Ian Briggs (same author), includes epilogue set in 1887 Paris Key Discussion Points: Why this story works as mature television drama The manipulation thread: Fenric manipulating the Doctor and Ace; the Doctor manipulating Ace for a greater good The distraction scene and whether it lands (or whether it makes viewers uncomfortable) Ace's fear of water: genuinely from the story, or character development invented for the finale? The Doctor's faith expressed through his companions' names (from novelization) Why the Ancient One/Great Serpent feels unnecessary when Madison and Fenric were compelling enough The Doctor being "on patrol"—Batman and Robin dynamics with Ace Ace's first genuine character arc across multiple seasons The seduction vs. the seduction scene: why one works and the other doesn't How this story informs RTD's approach to companion arcs in New Who Season 27 plans: Ace was meant to train for the Time Lord Academy The rain and weather: natural hazard or perfect cinematography? Coming Up Next: Monday (Patreon Exclusive 179): Music, Memory TARDIS, and "The Mark of Mandragora" comics. Friday (Patreon Early) / Wednesday (Main Feed): "Survival" (three-parter)—the actual final story of Classic Doctor Who. John handles narration; guest writer Paul Ebbs from England joins the discussion. Special Notes: This is the second-to-last classic Who story John mentions this is only the second time he's "mainlined" multiple episodes in a row (the first time being War Games) The hosts plan to do a retrospective episode after Survival covering favorite doctors, companions, and villains across all 26 years Shag gives credit to the novelization for revealing that the Doctor whispers the names of the First Doctor's companions (Ian, Barbara, Susan, Vicki, Stephen) as his source of faith against the hemovores Hashtags: #DoctorWho #Season26 #TheCurseOfFenric #ClassicWho #SylvesterMcCoy #SophieAldred #Fenric #DoctorManipulates #DarkestStory #DoctorWhoPodcast #PenultimateStory

Guest: Felicity Kusinitz from the Flopcast joins John and Jim to discuss Season 26's most confusing story. A Script Too Big for Its Own Shoes Mark Platt submitted "Lungbarrow" to the show—a bold move for a writer with no professional credits beyond Doctor Who fan fiction. JNT immediately shut down his original concept (a full revelation of the Doctor's origins involving Gallifrey, Rassilon, and Omega) and asked him to rework it. Platt transplanted the thematic weight of that rejected story into a Victorian Gothic setting, creating Ghost Light. The result is a production that was heavily edited, with numerous explanatory scenes cut to fit three episodes. Even now, decades later, the story remains notoriously difficult to follow on first viewing—and according to many, even on subsequent viewings. Why This Story Rewards (and Frustrates) Repeat Viewing Felicity came in as a genuine enthusiast for this story, despite her general ambivalence toward the McCoy era. She's watched it multiple times and finds it improves with knowledge of what's coming. The New Adventures novels (particularly "Lungbarrow," which completed Andrew Cartmel's original Master Plan concept) have deepened her appreciation retroactively. Yet even she admits the first viewing is a puzzle box without instructions. Jim, meanwhile, found it nearly incomprehensible—he spent much of the episode laughing at the absurdity while also trying desperately to understand what was actually happening. Too Many Characters Syndrome Strikes Again The story suffers from the same overcrowding that plagued Battlefield. There's Josiah Samuel Smith, Control, Nimrod, the Reverend Matthews, the Constable, Mrs. Pritchard, Gwendolyn, the maids, Inspector McKenzie, and eventually Light itself. Each arrival adds another layer of confusion. Jerry Lange's earlier concerns about "too many characters" find their most vindicated expression here. Some characters could have been eliminated entirely, and others—particularly the Reverend and the Constable—feel like they exist only because they were written before the cuts. A Doctor Who's Getting Darker (And Meaner) A troubling thread emerges in this viewing: the Doctor is increasingly manipulative and even cruel with Ace. He brings her to a house without explanation, observes her distress as a kind of experiment, and generally treats her as a subject to be studied rather than a companion to be protected. This emotional manipulation—combined with McCoy's alien coldness rather than zany warmth—marks a shift in the character that will come to a head in the final story. Atmospheric But Muddy: The Audio Problem The story is visually and aurally striking—genuinely evoking Hammer Horror and the Hinchcliffe era with its Victorian setting and Gothic atmosphere. Yet the production suffers from audio mixing issues. The soundtrack is prominent enough to drown out dialogue, particularly Ace's lines, which are sometimes difficult to parse. This compounds the story's already confusing nature; listeners are struggling both to understand the plot and to hear what characters are saying. The Incomprehensible Becomes Character-Driven Once Light arrives—a being of pure energy obsessed with cataloguing life but appalled by its constant evolution—the story gains a genuinely interesting thematic core. Light's childlike wonder and petulant rage when confronted with change creates an intriguing antagonist, even if the costume (flowing cape, pale makeup, styled hair) reads more as "space fairy" than "cosmic entity." The Doctor defeats Light not through action but through argument—a Kirk-like tactic that works here because the concept itself is compelling enough to carry it. What Works, What Doesn't The setting works beautifully. The cast interactions (particularly Ace and Gwendolyn's constant wrestling matches) add levity. Sophie Aldred's increasing maturity as an actress and her character's evolution is noticeable. The costume design is excellent—though Ace keeping her boots on under the Victorian dress is a nice character touch. What doesn't work is the clarity; the rushed ending; the revelation that Control, Fenn Cooper, and Nimrod escape in the spaceship (leaving Ace's future burning of the house still unexplained); and the general sense that crucial scenes were left on the editing room floor. The Crown Jewel of Cartmel's Tenure? Cartmel considers Ghost Light the crown jewel of his script-editing era—a statement that says more about what went wrong in his tenure than it does about the quality of this particular story. It's bold, daring, and ambitious. It also fails to deliver on its promises due to time constraints and editorial decisions made by people who didn't care anymore. This is the final production of classic Doctor Who, even though it airs second in the season. The actual last scene filmed was the closing exchange between Ace and the Doctor—a conversation that feels almost tacked on but carries genuine weight: Ace wishes she'd blown up Gabriel Chase instead of burning it down, and the Doctor simply replies, "Wicked." Production Details: Production Code: 7Q Aired: October 4–18, 1989 (but produced AFTER both "Curse of Fenric" and "Survival") Writer: Mark Platt (first professional sale; no prior writing credits outside fan fiction) Director: Alan Waring Original Concept: "Lungbarrow" — a story meant to fully reveal the Doctor's origins on Gallifrey Ratings: Episode 1: 4.2 million | Episodes 2 & 3: 4.0 million (slight bump from previous week) Notable Cast: Michael Cochrane (Fenn Cooper, previously in "Black Orchid"), Carl Forgione (Nimrod, previously in "Planet of the Spiders") Key Detail: Last scene shot was Ace and the Doctor's closing exchange Key Discussion Points: The 75-minute script cut down to fit three short episodes and what was lost Too many characters introduced with insufficient explanation The Doctor's increasingly manipulative treatment of Ace and what it suggests about his character arc Whether the story rewards repeat viewing or if clarity is impossible The Victorian Gothic atmosphere as the story's greatest strength Light as a conceptual antagonist vs. Light as a costume problem Sophie Aldred's maturing performance throughout Season 26 Why Ace's 1983 burning of Gabriel Chase never connects fully to the events of this story Ace keeping her boots on under the Victorian dress as character work The jarring tonal shifts between scenes Patrick Mulkern's assessment that the incoherence lands at Cartmell's feet Coming Up Next: Monday (Patreon 178): Music (The Doubleclicks' version of the Doctor Who theme), comics "Darkness Falling" and "Distractions" (prequels to a larger storyline), Memory TARDIS, and a tribute to BBC Books editor Justin Richards, who passed away. Friday (Patreon Early) / Wednesday (Main Feed): "The Curse of Fenric" (four-parter). Jim handles narration; guest Shagg Matthews joins the discussion. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #Season26 #GhostLight #ClassicWho #SylvesterMcCoy #SophieAldred #AmbitionVsExecution #CartmelMasterPlan #MarkPlatt #VictorianGothic #DoctorWhoPodcast

Your hosts discuss the differences between writing for the screen, the stage, and the page with Andrew Cartmel, whose repertoire includes all of the above. They also talk about writing original work in contrast with existing IP like Doctor Who, and collaborative vs individual projects. Find more from Andrew:https://reclaimedradio.com/shows/andrew-cartmel/https://www.instagram.com/vinyldetectivelondon/https://twitter.com/andrewcartmel?lang=enFind us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

John and Jim bid farewell to the Sixth Doctor with surprising revelations about changed opinions, why fandom got it wrong, companion dynamics, and Colin's enduring legacy as ambassador for a show that screwed him over. John's Shocking Confession: After going into the Colin Baker era expecting disaster based on fan reputation, John emerges with a stunning announcement about where Colin now ranks in his Doctor hierarchy. Discussion covers what changed his mind and why the arrogance that defined Sixth Doctor was actually a feature, not a bug. The Great Reassessment: Where does Colin Baker hate really come from? The hosts dig into the Davison devotion factor, the "hurt/comfort" fiction phenomenon, visual pushback, and story selection bias. Parallels drawn to another controversial modern Doctor currently experiencing reassessment. The question: does Colin deserve a renaissance? Season Showdown: Jim and John compare Season 22's classic monster lineup against Trial of a Time Lord's experimental structure, with numerical ratings revealing surprising sympathies and contradictions. Twin Dilemma gets revisited with fresh perspective. Peri vs. Mel: Deep dive into why the Doctor/Peri dynamic never quite worked (flashback to guests on John's old public access show The Chronic Rift bashing their chemistry), why Mel clicked better with Sixth than she will with Seventh, and what might have been with that brief Tegan/Colin pairing. The BBC Institutional Problem: Doctor Who as "begrudging institution" Britain was done with by 1987, contemporary articles calling for the show to rest, and the uncomfortable parallel to where we are today. Saward vs. JNT: Who really sabotaged Colin's era? The case against Eric Saward for wanting the Doctor "off to the side," the case for JNT staying despite wanting to leave, and how Andrew Cartmel represents the moment fans took over the asylum. The Chris Chibnall irony explored. Colin the Ambassador: Why Colin immediately embraced fandom despite BBC treatment while Tom Baker grudgingly came around decades later. Discussion covers charity work, fan productions, regrets about the regeneration he refused, and the motivation difference between appreciation and adulation. McCoy Preview: John drops a gauntlet: three stories from the Seventh Doctor era will score 15/15 as among the best of the entire classic run. Setup for the Troughton-inspired "don't underestimate me" Doctor and predictions about acting range debates. Final Doctor Rankings Revealed: Jim and John count down their top six Doctors with Colin landing in surprising positions on both lists. The Tom Baker controversy unpacked - why both hosts rank him lower than conventional wisdom despite his institutional status. Coming Up Next: Patreon Exclusive (Monday): Comic "Prophets of Doom," more Doctor Who music, Memory TARDIS wheel spin, and reactions to recovered Dalek Master Plan episodes 1 & 3 (BBC YouTube Easter miracle). Main Feed (Monday - Schedule Change!): "Time and the Rani" - Sylvester McCoy's debut with Kate O'Mara as the Rani. Jim's first narration of the McCoy era. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #ColinBaker #SixthDoctor #Retrospective #11Stories #WeHardlyKnewYou #DoctorRankings #Season22 #Season23 #TrialOfATimeLord #ClassicWho #DoctorWhoPodcast #SylvesterMcCoyPreview #FandomReassessment

The whiplash is immediate and brutal. After the triumph of "Remembrance of the Daleks," this three-part story lands like a thud. Jim gives another harsh —an unprecedented score that suggests something fundamentally broken beneath the surface. Despite strong performances from McCoy and Aldred, the story struggles with disconnected thematic elements, confused production design, and a narrative that never quite coheres. The Setup That Doesn't Work Terra Alpha: an Earth colony where mandatory happiness enforced through surveillance and a cheerful Happiness Patrol keeps citizens compliant. The story also includes a candy-obsessed killer, underground dwellers (indigenous inhabitants driving plot devices), a visiting blues musician, and a complex political hierarchy. None of these elements integrate coherently. Jim's assessment: This is Paradise Towers revisited, but worse. Same drab corridors masquerading as streets, same societal oppression, same everything-we've-seen-before feeling, but without even Paradise Towers' redeeming visual moments. The Candyman Disaster Originally planned as a human villain—just a bored, pale killer. JNT and director Chris Clough wanted a robot instead. The result: an uncomfortable costume that restricted the actor's movement and visibility, made the character nonsensical, and looked rushed and disconnected from every other design element on set. The production nearly got sued by a candy company for the character's visual design. , Tonal Chaos The story can't decide what it wants to be. Satirical critique of authoritarian happiness? Straight thriller? Comedic romp? It tries all three and masters none. The mime-like makeup on the Happiness Patrol's faces goes unexplained. The slot machine execution method appears once, then switches to fondant surprise. These aren't deepening themes—they're random design choices. McCoy and Aldred Carry the Load Both hosts agree the leads transcend the material. McCoy's ad-libbed singing of "As Time Goes By" shows theatrical training and improvisational instinct. Aldred proves her action credentials and moral agency—the Doctor actively investigating rather than stumbling into danger. Yet even their chemistry can't save disconnected storytelling. John's specific note: the Doctor telling Ace "You're no good to me like this" when she's about to attack—character development that deserves better context. Production Quirks The TARDIS gets painted pink by the Happiness Patrol, requiring repainting back to blue. The sets feel claustrophobic despite supposedly being outside on streets. The behind-the-sofa guests (except McCoy, Aldred, and Sheila Hancock) admitted the story didn't work. Ratings dropped after Episode One (5.3M to 4.6M to bounce back to 5.3M). The Political Subtext Nobody Asked For Sheila Hancock (Helen A) read the script as Margaret Thatcher allegory and deliberately amplified her performance toward that direction. Andrew Cartmel apparently got nervous about the comparison; Hancock pushed harder into it. John appreciates the subtext; Jim dismisses it as irrelevant to the story itself. The political commentary doesn't enhance the narrative—it distracts from already-muddled plotting. What Could Have Worked Discussion of road-not-taken choices: What if they'd fully integrated Ace into the Happiness Patrol with brainwashing elements? What if the candy theme permeated every design choice instead of being isolated to the Candyman? What if this story had followed something other than the series' strongest episode? The Colin Baker Question Jim wonders aloud how Colin Baker might have handled this material—would his more theatrical approach have elevated the chaos or made it worse? Speculation on whether "Happiness Patrol" appears in any of the audio continuations (especially with alternate Doctors). Coming Up Next: Monday Patreon Exclusive 173: Music, Memory TARDIS, Doctor Who Unbound audio "Full Fathom Five," and comics—"Time and Tide" and "Follow That TARDIS!" Wednesday Main Feed (Friday Patreon Early): "Silver Nemesis" - the ACTUAL 25th Anniversary story (three parts). Jim handles narration. Will it recover from Happiness Patrol? Hashtags: #DoctorWho #TheHappinessPatrol #Season25 #SylvesterMcCoy #SophieAldred #McCoyEra #SheiliaHancock #Candyman #TerrAlpha #ParadiseTowersPart2 #ClassicWho #DoctorWhoPodcast #WorstMcCoyStory #FromRembranceToRegression

Jim and John experience their most polarizing disagreement since the Colin Baker era as Paradise Towers splits them into opposing camps—Jim delivering a devastating 1 out of 15 ("a Billy") while John counters with an enthusiastic 14 out of 15, declaring it his favorite story of Season 24 and a formative influence on his understanding of world building as a young writer. The Ratings Chasm: Final scores: Jim 1, John 14, averaging to 7.5—perfectly appropriate for a story that divides straight down the middle. Jim places Paradise Towers at "Romans level bad," his first 1 rating in years, possibly ever. John acknowledges flaws but insists "I adore this. It's the best [of the season] to me. The next two aren't as good." Jim's Bewilderment: "It just had no idea what it wanted to be." Jim struggles through four parts feeling lost, bewildered, and unable to take anything seriously. The story veers wildly between dark humor and slapstick, feels like Monty Python meets children's television, and presents concepts (cannibal grannies, color-coded gangs, killer cleaning robots) that never cohere into a satisfying whole. He literally took no notes during Part 2 because he was too disconnected. The Kangs' rapid-fire accents and gang-speak were incomprehensible. The music sounds stolen from Donkey Kong or Pac-Man. Richard Briers' performance left Jim feeling "embarrassed for him." John's Passionate Defense: "This is my favorite of the season... This story as a young 17, 18, 19-year-old person trying his hand at writing finally started to click and say, 'That's what world building is all about.'" John goes against fandom consensus by loving Richard Briers' portrayal, appreciating the rule book escape scene as "absolutely brilliant," and embracing the tone as intentionally campy satire of bureaucracy, hierarchies, and dystopian societies. The Batman Season Revelation: John drops the word he's been holding back all season: "campy." He dubs Season 24 "the Batman season"—meaning Batman's infamous campy third season with Nora Clavicle, flat painted backdrops, and wind-up mice. Jim initially resists but eventually concedes: "Yeah, this is clavicle level." Discussion of JNT's continued obsession with stunt-casting notable British TV stars (Richard Briers was a huge get; Ken Dodd is coming next story). Production Context: Stephen Wyatt wrote episode one in a week without knowing the ending or who would play the Doctor (McCoy not yet cast). Inspired by J.G. Ballard's dystopian novel High-Rise. First story Andrew Cartmel commissioned as script editor. Director Nicholas Mallett loved McCoy's malleability and openness to improv versus Baker's by-the-script approach. BBC Head of Drama Jonathan Powell (not a Who fan) praised the script. Ratings: 4.5, 5.2, 5.0, 5.0—about even with McCoy's other stories. Jim's Specific Complaints: Cannot understand what the Kangs are saying half the time due to rapid delivery and thick accents. Doctor and Mel spend more time apart than any previous story. Sets look like existing ones dirtied up with garbage and wall scrawl. Killer cleaning robots are laughably unthreatening with cartoon buzzsaws—"I could outrun those things any day of the week even if I wasn't feeling well." Video game music drowns out dialogue. Cannibalism appears and disappears without explanation. Why are Tilda and Tabby's cozy apartment untouched by dystopia? Why does Kroagnon need to eat people when he's a machine? Where are all the boys? Why is it all women (Kangs, Rezzies) versus all men (Caretakers)? John's Counterpoints: The rule book escape scene demonstrates the Doctor using the Caretakers' rigid bureaucracy against them—"absolutely brilliant." Richard Briers is proud of ignoring direction and doing what he wanted; interviews on Blu-ray show he has no regrets. The jerky movements after Kroagnon takes his body represent rigor mortis setting in. Clive Merrison (Deputy Caretaker) played the pilot Jim in "Tomb of the Cybermen." The tone is intentionally satirical—mocking rule books, procedures, hierarchies in very British Monty Python style. Behind the Sofa Revelations: Three different commentary teams watched: Sylvester McCoy/Bonnie Langford/Sophie Aldred; Peter Davison/Sarah Sutton/Janet Fielding; Colin Baker/Michael Jayston. Colin and Peter both declared it one of their favorites so far—disappointing Jim but validating John. Bonnie had little to say either way. Pool filmed at private house with freezing water—Bonnie's stunt double did most shots because Bonnie can't swim (redheads apparently don't know how to swim, Jim claims) and the water was unbearably cold. Camera crew in wetsuits couldn't last more than 45 minutes. The McCoy Question: Jim still doesn't know what to think of McCoy. Not engaged, not seeing the cantankerous fellow promised. The R-rolling is Scottish, not an affectation. The left-handed handshakes are unexplained. Still no clear sense of the Doctor-Mel relationship since they're separated the entire story. John insists McCoy's performance improves with better scripts in Season 25 once Ace arrives. The New Who Question: Jim and John publicly ask listeners: should The Doctor's Beard continue into New Who after finishing Classic Who and the TV Movie? They've brought on new listeners recently and want to know if the audience wants Eccleston era coverage or if it's "too new" for Classic Who purists. Email your yes/no vote to thedoctorsbeardpodcast@gmail.com. Mel Scream Count: Screams #10, #11, #12. Less than Time and the Rani but still plenty. Coming Up Next: Patreon Exclusive (Monday - Episode 168): Colin Baker's final Doctor Who Magazine comic story "The World Shapers" written by Grant Morrison (three parts), Memory TARDIS spin, more music discussion. Main Feed (Friday) & Patreon (Monday): "Delta and the Bannermen" - Jim handling narration for the three-part story. Already started watching because he's driving to Ithaca College convention and losing three days of viewing time. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #ParadiseTowers #SylvesterMcCoy #SeventhDoctor #Mel #TheGreatDivide #PolarOpinions #JimHatesIt #JohnLovesIt #1Versus14 #BatmanSeason #RichardBriers #Kangs #Caretakers #Rezzies #Kroagnon #CampyWho #StephenWyatt #AndrewCartmel #Season24 #BuildHighForHappiness #FaultyTowers #NewWhoQuestion #ClassicWho #DoctorWhoPodcast

John and Jim witness Sylvester McCoy's entrance as the Seventh Doctor with sharply divided first impressions, a regeneration Jim wasn't expecting to see, Kate O'Mara's scene-stealing Mel impression, and listener mail exploding with passionate defenses, dire warnings, and Shag's triumphant return. The Regeneration Confusion: The opening delivers McCoy in a wig tumbling around the TARDIS console, but does blunt force trauma from turbulence really count as a dignified send-off for the most maligned Doctor? The Rani's pre-credits kidnapping analyzed as "probably the campiest scene in Doctor Who ever." Jim's Verdict: Not Impressed Opening confession sets the tone for controversy: Jim dubs McCoy "the Tumbler Doctor" and struggles to see anything beyond "Uncle Morty's Carnival of Fun" children's show host energy. Discussion covers whether this is purposeful Troughton homage or just broad physical comedy, whether McCoy's acting reads as awkward versus committed, and Jim's struggle between respecting the evolution promise versus judging what's actually on screen in Part 1. The "Children's Show" Debate: Does Season 24 represent a deliberate pivot back to Doctor Who as kids' programming? Jim raises the uncomfortable question after recognizing McCoy primarily as BBC children's performer. John pushes back on the script but concedes the Doctor's characterization in this story absolutely plays as juvenile. Kate O'Mara's Double Duty: Extended appreciation for Kate's Bonnie Langford impression complete with chirpiness, voice work, and gradually losing it as the Doctor frustrates her. Jim admits the initial visual shock of "seeing Kate O'Mara as Bonnie Langford" but acknowledges she won him over. The hosts debate whether the Rani gets enough screen time and whether this story serves the character as well as "Mark of the Rani." What Happened to Mel?: Jim calls out the regression: "They took the Mickey Mouse out of Mel." From confident agency in Trial to suggesting they just leave and go back to the TARDIS, plus scream count reaching numbers 5-7 in just two episodes. Is this the Mel we admired or has she become Peri 2.0? John defends specific moments (the flip, proving identity, computer knowledge) while acknowledging some scenes don't look good. The Icona chemistry tease explored. Production Highlights: The bubble traps earn universal praise as maybe the best effect in Classic Who history—the spinning, bouncing, exploding sequence perfectly executed. Tetraps debut Doctor Who's first animatronics with six full heads for the leisure center scene. The Citadel exterior combined with effects impresses. Jim notes "effects are better—they made another jump." Malapropisms and Outfits: McCoy's word-mangling wears out its welcome fast for both hosts. The trying-on-previous-Doctors'-outfits sequence judged as "too winky winky" and unnecessary fanservice. Discovery that "Mrs. Malaprop" comes from 1775 play The Rivals. The question mark vest that McCoy hated. The Bowery Boys comparison for hat and coat. The Leisure Center Problem: Why introduce this massive 80s-heavy concept (complete with Dugadoos music) in Part 3 only to abandon it? Discussion of wasted opportunities and typical Doctor Who late-story concept bloat. The anklet bracelets vs. original "ball of bees" control method questioned. Production Context: JNT wanted out, BBC couldn't find replacement, Sidney Newman brought in as consultant with idea to bring back Troughton traveling with old-fashioned 12-year-old Beatles fan. The "impish person" concept stuck. McCoy cast from Twelfth Night production same night Cubby Broccoli saw Timothy Dalton for Bond. Andrew Cartmel signs as new story editor influenced by Judge Dredd and Dr. Manhattan from Watchmen. Ratings: 5.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.9—not good. Coming Up Next: Patreon Exclusive (Monday - Episode 167): Comic "The Gift" (four parts, not one or three!), more music, Memory TARDIS with Colin now added to the wheel, and Big Finish audio Flip Flop featuring Seventh Doctor and Mel. Main Feed (Friday) & Patreon (Monday): "Paradise Towers" - John handling narration for the four-part story. Hashtags: #DoctorWho #TimeAndTheRani #SylvesterMcCoy #SeventhDoctor #Regeneration #TheRani #KateOMara #Mel #BonnieLangford #Season24 #PipAndJaneBaker #AndrewCartmell #Tetraps #ChildrensShow #McCoyDebate #ShagReturns #ListenerMail #WorstThemeEver #WorstLogoEver #ClassicWho #DoctorWhoPodcast #1987

Your hosts are joined by Andrew Cartmel to discuss Like a Bullet, the latest addition to his nefarious Paperback Sleuth mystery novels. They talk about wartime novels, the allure of ill-begotten Nazi good, and Cordelia's “go get ‘em, but have a backup plan just in case" approach to encounters.Find more from Andrew:https://reclaimedradio.com/shows/andrew-cartmel/https://www.instagram.com/vinyldetectivelondon/https://twitter.com/andrewcartmel?lang=enFind us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Your hosts welcome Andrew Cartmel back on to the podcast to chat about Underscore, the latest novel in his cozy crime series The Vinyl Detective. They discuss cinematic inspirations, new characters in established series, and just how hard it is to do bad things to your fictional darlings.Find more from Andrew:https://medwayprideradio.co.uk/show/the-vinyl-detective-show/https://www.instagram.com/vinyldetectivelondon/https://twitter.com/andrewcartmel?lang=enFind us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

This week more Who's at the Playhouse coverage, an interview with Andrew Cartmel.   You may wish to contribute to the show's running costs, it's Patreon is here https://www.patreon.com/tdrury or buy me a coffee here https://ko-fi.com/timdrury   The show is also on Facebook please join the group for exclusive behind the scenes insights and of course also discuss and feedback on the show https://www.facebook.com/groups/187162411486307/   If you want to send me comments or feedback you can email them to tdrury2003@yahoo.co.uk or contact me on twitter where I'm @tdrury or send me a friend request and your comments to facebook where I'm Tim Drury and look like this http://www.flickr.com/photos/tdrury/3711029536/in/set-72157621161239599/ in case you were wondering.  

The DWP Echo Chamber returns with the final episode of Series Two! In Episode 10, James and Michele talk about Winter for the Adept by Andrew Cartmel, released in July 2000 - the tenth story in Big Finish's main range. Listening instructions are very straightforward - Buy Winter for the Adept from Big Finish Productions for just a few pounds (if you don't own it already of course!) Listen to it! Join us in the Echo Chamber, listen to what we thought and join in the discussion! The Echo Chamber will be back with Series 3 later in 2025. Enjoy the show!

Welcome to the beginning of the end of Doctor Who Literature. It's May 1988, and the paperback release of the first of the 12 Sylvester McCoy-era Doctor Who novelizations by Target Books. The Target run had a finite lifespan, and from here on out, with the last Classic Series Doctor finally joining the Target stable, the end is in sight. We will have two guests for each of the Sylvester McCoy books. First up this week is Jim Sangster, who is now officially co-host of the show and the producer of our YouTube channel and video content. Jim has a new song for us this week. We also have an archival interview with Joe Ford from July 2021 extolling the virtues of Time and the Rani, from Jason's first attempt at a podcast, unreleased after all this time until now. Please purchase Andrew Cartmel's Script Doctor from Ten Acre Films. "16 Going on 17" comes from The Sound of Music. Doctor Who Literature expressly refutes Rolfe's political affiliation. As does Family Guy. The history of the Topps 1980 baseball card set is here. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, subscribe, and rate us! Find Doctor Who Literature at https://linktr.ee/DrWhoNovels. Watch this episode and all previous episodes on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@drwhonovels. Doctor Who Literature is a member of the Direction Point Doctor Who podcast network. Please e-mail the pod at DrWhoLiterature@gmail.com. You can catch all past episodes at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/doctorwholit.

Your hosts are once again joined by Andrew Cartmel, this time to discuss his novel Ashram Assassin, the second book in his Paperback Sleuth series. They talk about crime novel tropes, yoga, and curry.More information about Dressing Gown:https://tabard.org.uk/whats-on/dressing-gown/Find more from Andrew:https://venusianfrogbroth.blogspot.com/https://medwayprideradio.co.uk/show/the-vinyl-detective-show/https://twitter.com/andrewcartmel?lang=enFind us on Discord / Support us on PatreonThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Hello Whovians, Werewolves and Whizzkids!Today we are joined are joined by a true LEGEND of classic Doctor Who - none other than 1980s Script Editor ANDREW CARTMEL!Together with a pool of new, talented writers such as Ian Briggs, Marc Platt and Ben Aaranovitch - and with support from Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred and (most of the time) producer John Nathan-Turner - Andrew ushered in a whole new era for Doctor Who which saw the show turning towards thematically more layered and characterful stories  such as Dragonfire, Remembrance of the Daleks, The Curse of Fenric and Ghost Light to name just a few.For co-host Geoff, these stories formed his earliest experience of Doctor Who and for Paul, they ensured that his Doctor Who fan-card was stamped with permanent platinum status.Since Doctor Who was 'rested' in 1989 Andrew has written novels for Virgin's New Adventures and BBC Books, audio stories for Big Finish and become a successful playwright and novelist, creating the VINYL DETECTIVE series of books and, lately, the new PAPERBACK SLEUTH series, the second of which, ASHRAM ASSASSIN launches about the same time as this podcast.We caught up with Andrew to talk about his new books and all things Doctor Who in a truly EPIC interview! So settle down, grab a bowl of unlimited rice pudding, slip on some vinyl and tune in before your tea gets cold.Listen up as we discuss:How Andrew got the jobWorking with JNTPip & Jane Baker (forgiven?)Hunting BenThe 'Doctor Who Flowchart'Sylv and SophieCelebrity CastingHow The Curse of Fenric should've been editedSurvivalThe last days of Doctor WhoThe Vinyl DetectiveThe Paperback Sleuth CordeliaAndrew's new playAnd much MUCH more!Send us a text and let us know what you think of our podcast!Support the Show. Subscribe to Who Corner to Corner on your podcast app to make sure you don't miss an episode! Now available to watch on YouTube! Join the Doctor Who chat with us and other fans on Twitter and Facebook! Visit the Who Corner to Corner website and see our back catalogue of episodes! Enjoying what we do? Consider joining our Explorers Subscription plan for more content! Who Corner to Corner: Great guests and 100% positive Doctor Who chat!

ASHRAM ASSASSIN, the second book in the Paperback Sleuth series of crime capers by one-time Doctor Who script editor ANDREW CARTMEL is OUT NOW!And we were lucky to recieve an advance copy to read and review from the wonderful folk at Titan Books.Given his ability to read stuff very quickly, Paul took on the task of powering through Andrew's latest novel, but what did he think of it and how many cups of tea out of five has he awarded it?Listen in to find out and don't forget to check out our EPIC interview with Andrew Cartmel, also on WHO CORNER TO CORNER!Send us a text and let us know what you think of our podcast!Support the Show. Subscribe to Who Corner to Corner on your podcast app to make sure you don't miss an episode! Now available to watch on YouTube! Join the Doctor Who chat with us and other fans on Twitter and Facebook! Visit the Who Corner to Corner website and see our back catalogue of episodes! Enjoying what we do? Consider joining our Explorers Subscription plan for more content! Who Corner to Corner: Great guests and 100% positive Doctor Who chat!

Subscriber-only episodeHello Whovians, Werewolves and Whizzkids!Today we are joined are joined by a true LEGEND of classic Doctor Who - none other than 1980s Script Editor ANDREW CARTMEL!Together with a pool of new, talented writers such as Ian Briggs, Marc Platt and Ben Aaranovitch - and with support from Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred and (most of the time) producer John Nathan-Turner - Andrew ushered in a whole new era for Doctor Who which saw the show turning towards thematically more layered and characterful stories  such as Dragonfire, Remembrance of the Daleks, The Curse of Fenric and Ghost Light to name just a few.For co-host Geoff, these stories formed his earliest experience of Doctor Who and for Paul, they ensured that his Doctor Who fan-card was stamped with permanent platinum status.Since Doctor Who was 'rested' in 1989 Andrew has written novels for Virgin's New Adventures and BBC Books, audio stories for Big Finish and become a successful playwright and novelist, creating the VINYL DETECTIVE series of books and, lately, the new PAPERBACK SLEUTH series, the second of which, ASHRAM ASSASSIN launches about the same time as this podcast.We caught up with Andrew to talk about his new books and all things Doctor Who in a truly EPIC interview! So settle down, grab a bowl of unlimited rice pudding, slip on some vinyl and tune in before your tea gets cold.Listen up as we discuss:How Andrew got the jobWorking with JNTPip & Jane Baker (forgiven?)Hunting BenThe 'Doctor Who Flowchart'Sylv and SophieCelebrity CastingHow The Curse of Fenric should've been editedSurvivalThe last days of Doctor WhoThe Vinyl DetectiveThe Paperback Sleuth CordeliaAndrew's new playAnd much MUCH more!Send us a text and let us know what you think of our podcast! Subscribe to Who Corner to Corner on your podcast app to make sure you don't miss an episode! Now available to watch on YouTube! Join the Doctor Who chat with us and other fans on Twitter and Facebook! Visit the Who Corner to Corner website and see our back catalogue of episodes! Enjoying what we do? Consider joining our Explorers Subscription plan for more content! Who Corner to Corner: Great guests and 100% positive Doctor Who chat!

Artist Connor Adkins has chosen this partcular story to celebrate, but he doesn't need to do too much to make host Toby Hadoke eulogise this one - it's long been a favourite. All the fun of the fair (or all the curse of the circus) is to be had in this spooky and surreal slice of Sylvester. Script editor Andrew Cartmel (whose latest Vinyl Detectove novel is out now!) joins them - throws his hat into the ring no less - to give his response to the second inslament of this splendid adventure.   Please support these podcasts on Patreon, where you will get advance releases, exclusive content (including a patron-only podcast - Far Too Much Information), regular AMAs and more. Tiers start from as little as £3 per month.  patreon.com/tobyhadoke Or there is Ko-fi for the occasional donation with no commitments: ko-fi.com/tobyhadoke Follow Toby on Twitter @tobyhadoke And these podcasts @HadokePodcasts And his comedy club @xsmalarkey www.tobyhadoke.com for news, blog, mailing list and more. 

To tie in with the release of Andrew Cartmel's latest novel - released on March 19th in the UK and April 9th in the US (by Titan Books) - he's gusting on this edition to respond to host Toby Hadoke and guest Connor J Adkins' reactions to The Greatest Show in the Galaxy.  This one has always been something of a favourite of Toby's so it's a bit of a love-in. In fact, there is too much to choose from - the direction, the music, the location and various cast members would all be shoe-ins on any normal occasion. So what will Connor and Toby - and indeed script editor Andrew -  plump for? (Oh, look, even this blurb has a choice based cliffhanger).   Please support these podcasts on Patreon, where you will get advance releases, exclusive content (including a patron-only podcast - Far Too Much Information), regular AMAs and more. Tiers start from as little as £3 per month.  patreon.com/tobyhadoke Or there is Ko-fi for the occasional donation with no commitments: ko-fi.com/tobyhadoke Follow Toby on Twitter @tobyhadoke And these podcasts @HadokePodcasts And his comedy club @xsmalarkey www.tobyhadoke.com for news, blog, mailing list and more. 

Your hosts are joined by Andrew Cartmel to talk about "Noise Floor," the most recent addition to his Vinyl Detective series. They discuss keeping an ongoing series fresh, managing overlapping storylines, and poly relationship dynamics. They also go over the inherent (or not so much) personality traits of musical genres, and the mystery surrounding Princess Seitan.Find more from Andrew:https://venusianfrogbroth.blogspot.com/https://medwayprideradio.co.uk/show/the-vinyl-detective-show/https://twitter.com/andrewcartmel?lang=enFind us on discord: https://discord.gg/dpNHTWVu6b or support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fictionfanspodThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

The Ancient One Rises from the depths... in other words, host Toby Hadoke has just got out of bed. It means something more in this edition of Happy Times and Places though and the love-in continues and concludes. It's a shame that Allan Lear and Toby can't choose TEN favourite things! And script editor Andrew Cartmel is back for more insight and illumination. Let the chains of Fenric shatter!!! Please support these podcasts on Patreon, where you will get advance releases, exclusive content (including a patron-only podcast - Far Too Much Information), regular AMAs and more. Tiers start from as little as £3 per month.  patreon.com/tobyhadoke Or there is Ko-fi for the occasional donation with no commitments: ko-fi.com/tobyhadoke Follow Toby on Twitter @tobyhadoke And these podcasts @HadokePodcasts And his comedy club @xsmalarkey www.tobyhadoke.com for news, blog, mailing list and more.     

It's not just Allan Lear and host Toby Hadoke scrutinising The Curse of Fenric for its best bits but Andrew Cartmel, the story's script editor, pops in to react to what they pick, and to give his own insights into the story's assets. An Enigma no more Please support these podcasts on Patreon, where you will get advance releases, exclusive content (including a patron-only podcast - Far Too Much Information), regular AMAs and more. Tiers start from as little as £3 per month.  patreon.com/tobyhadoke Or there is Ko-fi for the occasional donation with no commitments: ko-fi.com/tobyhadoke Follow Toby on Twitter @tobyhadoke And these podcasts @HadokePodcasts And his comedy club @xsmalarkey www.tobyhadoke.com for news, blog, mailing list and more.   

Still coming down from the highs of the 60th, why not take a dip into the 7th Doctor's era with Dylan, John Isles and Gareth Preston?  In this episode they look at DWM comic strip 'Fellow Travellers' written by Andrew Cartmel with art by Arthur Ranson. Then it's  the New Adventure 'All Consuming Fire' by Andy Lane, which sees the 7th Doctor meet Sherlock Holmes.  And finally its nearly Doctor Who with the BBV audio 'The Time Travellers: Ghosts' written by Nigel Fairs. They also answer the burning questions: Who is Evil Dead Granny? Why is the 7th Doctor being a bit of bastard? Who is a knock off Servalan? 

What's this? A episode of Hamster without Joe? Never fear, this is an episode of We're All Stories in the End with Iain Martin. If you like the Hamster Book Club then this could be right up your sleeve! Discussing Warhead by Andrew Cartmel...with Andrew Cartmel!

In this episode Dylan is joined by Iain Martin to talk about three very different 7th Doctor adventures. First up it's the Target novelisation of 'The Curse of Fenric' by Ian Briggs, then it's Season 27 audio adventure 'Animal' by Andrew Cartmel and then finally it's the Big Finish adaptation of Russell T Davies' New Adventure 'Damaged Goods' adapted by Jonathan Morris. And as always Dylan and Iain answer the burning questions:What do Michelle Collins and Sylvester Stallone have in common? Which pop star invented homosexuality? Just how big is East London? If all has gone according to plan, this episode has dropped the same day as the latest episode of Iain's podcast We're All Stories In The End, in which he and Dylan talk about the book  'Damaged Goods', which you should track down and listen to as the perfect accompaniment to this episode.https://shows.acast.com/were-all-stories-in-the-end

Your hosts are joined by Andrew Cartmel to talk about “Death in Fine Condition,” the first novel in his new Paperback Sleuth series. They discuss likeable main characters, morally grey main characters, kind of horrible main characters, and endearing main characters (all at the same time!). They also bring up the delightful character crossovers between this series and the Vinyl Detective series, as well as how different the two series are.Find Andrew here:Twitter: https://twitter.com/andrewcartmelInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/vinyldetectivelondonListen to his radio show here: https://www.mixcloud.com/discover/vinyl-detective/?order=latestFind us on discord: https://discord.gg/dpNHTWVu6b or support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fictionfanspodThanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Welcome to this bonus episode of the podcast. Bob (and Alfred) are taking you on a trip back in time to when Bob was lucky enough to interview Andrew Cartmel (his favourite era of Who). They talk about his time as script doctor on the show, from beginning to end and other things too. "best thing that has ever happened to me as a podcasting Who fan." Bob Fleming. Here is the interview in full… Enjoy x https://twitter.com/atheconsole https://www.facebook.com/Around-the-console-103450838818887 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPpa1cf63YOT8DlUllsjXsw

Best known for his work on the Road to Perdition graphic novel, Richard Piers Rayner also worked with Andrew Cartmel on some classic Seventh Doctor comic strips in Doctor Who Magazine. From back in 2015 here is a great interview with Richard about his career and work. Also, news from the latest issue of DWM!!

Ross is joined again by Mark McManus from the Trap One Podcast to talk Doctor Who comics. This time it is the Titan Comic 7th Doctor mini series Operation: Volcano by Andrew Cartmel and Christoper Jones. It also features Ace and the Counter Measures team.  It's almost like having a Season 27.

I need a spinach detector to get all of my spinach organized. Coming soon from Big Finish Productions, for all your kitchen needs: Spinach Detectors. Joining their long and extensive line of kitchen equipment, like Potato Detectors, Beet Detectors, and angry Time Lord Detectors. Winter for the Adept written by Andrew Cartmel and released inContinue reading →

Your hosts once again welcome author Andrew Cartmel on to the podcast to discuss Attack and Decay, the latest book in his Vinyl Detective cozy crime series. Follow the Vinyl Detective to Sweden where he gets embroiled in a mystery involving metal bands, local charity shops, and a crime novelist. As expected, Sara once again talks about all the mouth-watering food in the novel. They also talk about research trips, meta references, and keeping characters consistent over long series.You can find more from Andrew here:https://twitter.com/andrewcartmelhttps://www.instagram.com/vinyldetectivelondon/Thanks to the following musicians for the use of their songs:- Amarià for the use of “Sérénade à Notre Dame de Paris”- Josh Woodward for the use of “Electric Sunrise”Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Playwright, author and ex-Doctor Who script editor Andrew Cartmel undergoes a series of sometimes tailor-made pop culture challenges

TBC Audio original drama presents The UFO Diaries:  File 5 - Wendy Wennington by Andrew Cartmel. Another Family Christmas with the usual family arguments.  For Wendy  Christmas couldn't have been worse, until she hears that someone had spotted a UFO at RAF Bentwaters.  Time to have a bit of fun! AMY SUTTON ( Wendy Wennington.) SIMON MOORHEAD (Producer & Director) Warning - contains explicit language and frightening situations not suitable for younger audiences.

TBC Audio original drama presents The UFO Diaries:  File 3- WPC Strangford by Andrew Cartmel. Boxing Day 1980. WPC Alice Stangford was hoping for a quiet night with a cup of instant coffee and stale digestive biscuit - then the station phone rings - There have been reports of strange lights in the sky and UFO's in Rendlesham Forest. TIGGER BLAIZE ( Alice.) SIMON MOORHEAD ( Producer & Director) Warning - contains explicit language and frightening situations not suitable for younger audiences.

TBC Audio original drama presents The UFO Diaries:  File 4- Colonel Jim Kinghorn by Andrew Cartmel. Boxing Day 1980. An uneventful duty period was coming to a close and Colonel Jim Kinghorn was feeling a little bit frustrated and bored. Then he received a report form of of his security guards.  The word UFO caused his brain to go into red alert. ASHLEY SLATER (Colonel Jim Kinghorn.) SIMON MOORHEAD (Producer & Director Warning - contains explicit language and frightening situations not suitable for younger audiences.

Welcome to THE TARDIS CREW: a Doctor Who podcast. Join your hosts, Baz and Ben Greenland, as they discuss the Seventh Doctor era with guest Darren Mooney and talk the Cartmel Master Plan, Sylvester McCoy's performance, Ace's journey as companion and the wilderness years that followed. Hosts Baz Greenland, Ben Greenland Guest Darren Mooney Editor Baz Greenland Executive Producer Tony Black Support the We Made This podcast network on Patreon: www.patreon.com/wemadethis We Made This on Twitter: @wmt_network wemadethisnetwork.com Title music: Science or Fiction (c) Blackout Memories via epidemicsound.com Artwork: Aricia Greenland

Welcome to THE TARDIS CREW: a Doctor Who podcast.Join your hosts, Baz and Ben Greenland, as they discuss the Seventh Doctor era with guest Darren Mooney and talk the Cartmel Master Plan, Sylvester McCoy's performance, Ace's journey as companion and the wilderness years that followed.HostsBaz Greenland, Ben GreenlandGuestDarren MooneyEditorBaz GreenlandExecutive ProducerTony BlackSupport the We Made This podcast network on Patreon:www.patreon.com/wemadethisWe Made This on Twitter: @wmt_networkwemadethisnetwork.comTitle music: Science or Fiction (c) Blackout Memories via epidemicsound.comArtwork: Aricia Greenland

Andrew Cartmel is a playwright and author of the Vinyl Detective novels.  We spoke about how he tackles research for his books and plays.  We discussed the balance between too much/too little research, getting facts right,  different types of research and using real life experience.   The new Vinyl Detective book and his new play ‘Glacier Lake' is coming out in May. 

Your hosts welcome back Andrew Cartmel to talk about Low Action, the fifth book in his Vinyl Detective series. They ask hard-hitting questions like “in the recipe on pg 292, do you cook the mushrooms before adding them to the pasta?” They also discuss some of his mystery novel inspirations and other things more relevant to the plot than mushrooms. Sara gets very excited by the possibility of a spin-off series focused on book collecting. Andrew also shares about his new play, Glacier Lake, which opens on Tuesday 3rd of May 2022 at the OSO Arts Centre in London.Performances at 7:30pm from Tuesday 3rd to Saturday 7th of May, with matinees at 2:30pm on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th of May (no evening performance on Sunday). You can find out more about the venue at https://www.osoarts.org.uk/ You can find Andrew online at https://twitter.com/andrewcartmelFiction Fans is running a fundraiser! Send in proof of your donations to the Imagination Library before December 29th, 2021 and the podcast will match all contributions up to a total of $2k. You can find more information here: https://www.fictionfanspodcast.com/fundraiser

Joe & David; and the fear factor score game. Are the mucky fingers of Andrew Cartmel all over this script? Is it too silly or too scary? Or a weird fusion of both? David offers a touching treatise on why Doctor Who is a massive comfort in tough times.

Joe and Toni are joined by the former radio pirate Steve Conway to discuss 8 simple facts about our sex life, the age of soda, and Andrew Cartmel’s Hook Hands in the Classic Doctor Who serial Paradise Towers. This episode is brought to you by Friend of Rassilon bisexualbrigadier. If you’re interested in being a … The Watch-A-Thon of Rassilon: Episode 149: Paradise Towers (Ice Shot the Sheriff) Read More » The post The Watch-A-Thon of Rassilon: Episode 149: Paradise Towers (Ice Shot the Sheriff) appeared first on The ESO Network.

Joe and Toni are joined by the former radio pirate Steve Conway to discuss 8 simple facts about our sex life, the age of soda, and Andrew Cartmel's Hook Hands in the Classic Doctor Who serial Paradise Towers. This episode is brought to you by Friend of Rassilon bisexualbrigadier. If you're interested in being a Friend of Rassilon, click here. Download • YouTube • RSS • Patreon • iTunes • Stitcher • Google Play • ESO Network

Originally released episodically to celebrate the release of the Season 24 Blu-ray, we've now packed it all neatly up into a single bundle so that you can enjoy all that Iceworld has to offer in just one trip. But the special guest this time around provides added insight into the story, because not only does he have four favourite things to highlight, he was responsible for some of them because he's only the flipping script editor, Andrew Cartmel, who gives a little interview at the end of each instalment as well as telling your host, Toby Hadoke, what he likes best about the 150th Doctor who story. 

Well, if you enjoyed the trip to Ice World in which Toby and guest Andrew Cartmel discussed the 150th Doctor Who story Dragonfire (Happy Times and Places episodes 17.1 - 17.3), then you'll love this bit of bonus content. That fine actor Edward Peel chats about playing the story's villain Kane, and describes the highlights of his 55 year career as a busy actor in everything from RSC stage productions to cutting edge new theatre writing via TV favourites like Juliet Bravo and Cracker. Edward kindly gave his time for free so anyone who enjoys this can show their appreciation by donating to his chosen charity MacMillan Nurses.  Warning : there is one moment of strong language which is used to illustrate an occurrence of it occurring in real life which has been left unbleeped. 

Hi guys, Welcome to Episode 1 of Please Advise: A Vinyl Podcast. On this episode I am thrilled to be joined by author and all around talented chap Andrew Cartmel. Andrew is the man behind the excellent Vinyl Detective series and a confirmed Jazz enthusiast. We chat about Andrew's collection, his stereo, buying habits, recommendations and much more. Enjoy!

In 2013, Toby Hadoke embarked on an epic quest: interview someone from every single Doctor Who story. To this end, Toby travels the country meeting legends from the show's history from both in front of and behind the cameras.

In 2013, Toby Hadoke embarked on an epic quest: interview someone from every single Doctor Who story. To this end, Toby travels the country meeting legends from the show's history from both in front of and behind the cameras.

In 2013, Toby Hadoke embarked on an epic quest: interview someone from every single Doctor Who story. To this end, Toby travels the country meeting legends from the show's history from both in front of and behind the cameras.

In this week’s show, Shaun and Mel are fresh back from last week’s Gallifrey One Doctor Who convention.  They share with us some of the highlights of this year’s con. Also, some special treats for our listeners. Included in this week’s show are interviews with Lee and Sue Cummings of Tiny Rebel Games – the makers of Doctor Who: Legacy,  Doctor Who Season 24-26 script editor,  Andrew Cartmel and Voice of the Daleks and producer...Read more The post Episode 217 – The Unexpected Virtue of Gallifrey One appeared first on Traveling the Vortex.

The Blue Box Podcast - Episode 84: Andrew Cartmel Brought to you every Saturday by Starburst Columnist - JR Southall, Lee Rawlings, Mark Cockram and Simon Brett.