Podcasts about bbc books

Remember the lost BBC Books novel, Freaks, by Rebecca Levene? No, neither did we, for a long time! We bring this novel to life with readings of the chapter outlines from a talented team, and discuss how this novel would have fitted into the Eighth Doctor Adventures range. We speak to editor Steve Cole who commissioned the novel, plus writer Bex Levene. The cover art mock up was created by Will Brooks. (This episode originally appeared on Pieces of Eighth)

Why is American editorial cartooning in crisis? Sure, journalism is melting down. But the cartoonists might be guilty too. Joining cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) to discuss is DC-based cartoonist Alexandra Bowman.Alexandra Bowman is a versatile American political cartoonist, illustrator, satirist, journalist, and fine artist based in Washington, D.C. Born in March 2000 in Sierra Vista, Arizona, she graduated early from Georgetown University with a BA and MA in English while double-majoring in Art. Bowman served as editorial political cartoonist for The Hoya (Georgetown's student newspaper) and has created work for The Lincoln Project, Our Daily Planet, World War Zero (John Kerry's climate initiative), Voice of America, BBC Books, and the National Wildlife Federation. She is known for live political cartooning at events like the MSNBC Climate Forum and her role as Director of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Her syndicated work appears via Cagle Cartoons. A multi-medium artist skilled in traditional pen-and-ink, digital tools, murals, and fine art painting, Bowman also illustrates children's books, designs costumes, and hosts The Hilltop Show, a student political comedy series. Her sharp, witty style blends cultural commentary, environmental advocacy, and satire, establishing her as a rising voice in editorial cartooning.Support the showThe DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

Why is American editorial cartooning in crisis? Sure, journalism is melting down. But the cartoonists might be guilty too. Joining cartoonists Ted Rall (from the Left) and Scott Stantis (from the Right) to discuss is DC-based cartoonist Alexandra Bowman.Alexandra Bowman is a versatile American political cartoonist, illustrator, satirist, journalist, and fine artist based in Washington, D.C. Born in March 2000 in Sierra Vista, Arizona, she graduated early from Georgetown University with a BA and MA in English while double-majoring in Art. Bowman served as editorial political cartoonist for The Hoya (Georgetown's student newspaper) and has created work for The Lincoln Project, Our Daily Planet, World War Zero (John Kerry's climate initiative), Voice of America, BBC Books, and the National Wildlife Federation. She is known for live political cartooning at events like the MSNBC Climate Forum and her role as Director of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Her syndicated work appears via Cagle Cartoons. A multi-medium artist skilled in traditional pen-and-ink, digital tools, murals, and fine art painting, Bowman also illustrates children's books, designs costumes, and hosts The Hilltop Show, a student political comedy series. Her sharp, witty style blends cultural commentary, environmental advocacy, and satire, establishing her as a rising voice in editorial cartooning.Support the showThe DMZ America Podcast is recorded weekly by political cartoonists Ted Rall and Scott Stantis. Twitter/X: @scottstantis and @tedrallWeb: Rall.com

Hannah Murray will start by looking at the bestseller lists on Amazon.co.uk and The Sunday Times, the oldest and most influential book sales chart in the UK, and seeing what new entries there are.Guy Lloyd is our resident UK Publishing Expert. In a 40 year publishing career, Guy worked for some of the biggest publishing houses in the business, including Penguin Random House, BBC Books and Virgin. He joins us once a month for all the latest book news. This month he's talking about the decline of WH Smith, The Beano, The British Book Awards, and new books from Jo Brand and Celia Imrie. Robin Rowan's mother was a writer and his father was an engineer, so he was brought up on Wind in the Willows and Meccano. He became an engineer but writing alos remained an abiding passion. His short story collection 'Skimming the Surface' blurs truth with fiction. The author is the main protagonist in each story who meets a principle character, developing a relationship with them as either friend or foe. Rob McIvor began his writing career at a music magazine before moving into business journalism, and later, corporate and political affairs. An experienced touring and long-distance cyclist, he has also served as a director of Audax UK, the governing body for endurance cycling in the UK. 'What Goes on Tour' is a Tour de France mystery that sees Jim Chatham investigating his father's fatal cycling accident. ...Dr Marc Abraham OBE aka 'Marc the Vet' is a veterinary surgeon, broadcaster, and one of the UK's best-known animal welfare campaigners in the world. He was the presenter of the documentary Dogspiracy, and is a passionate advocate for children's understanding of animals and each other. His debut children's picture book 'Leon's Reef' is a joyful, colourful book that takes children aged 3 and over on an unforgettable undersea adventure. It shows young readers that communities thrive when every creature - however different - is valued, included and respected. Christine Carbo grew up in Florida and Montana. After earning a pilot's license, pursuing various adventures in Norway, and a brief stint as a flight attendant, she got an MA in Linguistics and taught college-level courses for over a decade. Her latest novel 'The Confession Artist' is a propulsive thriller that pits a small town ex-cop against a viral vigilante killer. Leonie Swann's debut novel 'Three Bags Full' was an instant hit, topping the bestseller charts in her native Germany for months. Her latest novel in her cosy crime series is 'Agnes Sharp and the Wedding to Die For'The TRE Book Show airs every Friday between 14.00-16.00CET (repeated Sunday from 13.00CET)

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

Throughout a career spanning roles as a teacher, BBC television producer, coach and prolific author, Jenny Rogers has never been afraid of getting things wrong.In this episode of The Coach's Journey Podcast, the executive coach, supervisor, trainer and author of coaching titles such as Are You Listening? tells host Neil Mackinnon about the vital importance of experimentation and of embracing our mistakes in order to benefit from a lifetime of learning experiences that make us better coaches and ground us in our humanity.Jenny flies the flag for a whole-life perspective in coaching, eschewing narrow approaches in favour of a style that acknowledges the way our personal and working lives are inextricably intertwined, and makes room for all the parts of us.A deep interest in psychotherapy has enriched Jenny's coaching practice and she highlights the modalities that fascinate her the most, as well as the key therapeutic ideas and techniques that are readily transferrable to any coaching practice.Jenny also discusses her latest books, which address important questions about navigating boundaries as a new coach and working through the challenges many women face in midlife.This episode is full of sage advice drawn from a wonderfully diverse, rich career in coaching and creativity, shared by a practitioner whose dauntless spirit of curiosity and passion for understanding human relationships is as infectious as it is inspiring.Jenny and Neil also talk about:- The relationship between trauma-aware coaching and psychodynamic therapy- Nurturing a healthy writing practice and overcoming creative blocks- How we accumulate rigid ways of thinking, and why it is hard to make change on your own- The art of embodying a place of non-judgement, and offering challenge with compassionTHINGS WE TALKED ABOUT THAT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN:- Jenny Rogers https://www.jennyrogers.com- BBC https://www.bbc.co.uk- Delia Smith https://www.deliaonline.com- Madhur Jaffrey https://www.madhurjaffrey.com- BBC Two https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbctwo- BBC Books https://www.penguin.co.uk/company/publishers/bbc-books- Columbia University https://www.columbia.edu- Management Futures https://www.managementfutures.co.uk- Are You Listening (book) https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/111/1115931/are-you-listening/9780241973986.html- Julia Vaughan-Smith https://www.juliavaughansmith.com- Nscience https://nscience.uk- Franz Ruppert https://www.franz-ruppert.de/en/- Irvin Yalom https://www.yalom.com- The Gift of Therapy (book) https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-gift-of-therapy-irvin-d-yalom- Carl Rogers https://www.britannica.com/biography/Carl-Rogers- Gabor Mate https://www.upaya.org/person/dr-gabor-mate- University College Hospital London https://www.uclh.nhs.uk- Guildhall School of Music & Drama https://www.gsmd.ac.uk- How Not to Be a Doctor, by John Launer https://www.duckworthbooks.co.uk/book/how-not-to-be-a-doctor/- Barbican Centre https://www.barbican.org.uk- City of London Corporation https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk- EMCC Global https://www.emccglobal.org- ILM https://www.institutelm.com- Coaches Training Institute (Co-Active) https://coactive.comBIOGRAPHY FROM JENNYI am an executive coach, coach trainer and supervisor, and accreditation assessor for APECS, the premier coaching accreditation body of the UK. Along with these roles, I am a writer, textile artist, cook, grandmother and keen walker. Thirty five years ago, I was an early entrant to the world of coaching, after earlier careers in teaching, television production and publishing. Typically, my clients are facing a major transition in their lives and find that a coaching perspective is the key to finding solutions that work. As a coach I work with senior clients in the law, medicine, finance, healthcare, performing arts and media along with volunteer roles for severely disadvantaged women. I consider myself to be a leader in a new approach to coaching which combines insights from psychotherapy with the pragmatic emphasis on change that distinguishes the best coaching traditions.I was honoured to win the Henley Business School Award for Outstanding Contribution to Coaching in 2019. My books include Are You Listening? a book of coaching stories published by Penguin Random House in 2021. I have written 9 other books on coaching, including Coaching Skills: the definitive guide to being a coach. A fifth edition, much updated, was published in 2024. My latest book, Fearless Coaching, will be published in 2026 and a book for women in mid-life (title TBD) in early 2027 by Octopus Books.

We're taking a look at one of the first Eleventh Doctor novels published by BBC Books, as we turn the clock back to 2010. Night of the Humans was one of three original novels featuring the Doctor and Amy Pond, as they ventured out into the universe together. We're delighted to be joined by writer David Llewelyn, as he talks us through his process for writing this book - and mentions a party which we might all wish we had been at!

Send us Fan MailAs MayGann continues, Dylan is joined by Martin to look at the EDA 'Vampire Science' by Kate Orman & Jonathan Blum and the DWM comic strip ' Children of the Revolution' by Scott Gray. 

Regeneration - the book that went through the hands of Virgin Publishing and BBC Books, before finally finding a home at Harper Collins.Co-author Gary Russell joins us to explain how this masterpiece on the making of the Doctor Who TV Movie came into being.Plus! Stand by for revelations on the mythical Leekley Bible!

Who was surprised when it was announced that BBC Books were publishing a novelisation of The Chimes of Midnight?We speak to author Robert Shearman and editor Steve Cole, about how this Big Finish classic was adapted for the printed page.And Matt and Kenny celebrate a new version of one of their audio favourites.

Under the microscope today is a novel by the godfather of Doctor Who fiction, Mr Terrance Dicks. Today, Catastrophea, his Third Doctor and Jo Past Doctor Adventure for BBC Books, is examined. We're delighted to feature never before seen (or in this case heard!) material from Terrance's archive, courtesy of his widow Elsa and biographer Simon Guerrier. Editor Steve Cole drops by too, to reveal how this novel was commissioned.

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without The Chimes of Midnight, if you ask any Big Finish fan. And Eighth Dcotor tale Chimes has been given a 2025 makeover in print form by author Robert Shearman, who's also novelised his Sixth Doctor plauy Jubilee, for BBC Books. We're joined by Rob and editor Steve Cole, for a festive treat.

It's been a while since be brought you an original novel featuring the Sixth Doctor - so here we go! We're delighted to be joined by the brilliant Kate Orman, discussion her first - and last! - Past Doctor Adventure from BBC Books. Plus, we feature the usual readings from the novel, plus the contemporary DWM review, and how readers look at it now.

We return to the earliest days of BBC Books' Past Doctor Adventures. Today, we take a look at just the third book they published, The Ultimate Treasure. We're delighted to be joined by the joyous Christopher Bulis as he talks us through the process of switching from Virgin Publishing to the BBC.

BBC Books recently released four new Target novelisations - of four stories in a row! Today, we're joined by Gareth L Powell, who has adapted the Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda adventure The Well, for the printed page. Courtesy of our friends at BBC Audiobooks, we also have an extract from the book too, read by Caoilfhionn Dunne. Get ready to find out how big a fan he is of Doctor Who, and how he tried to write a New Adventure in the 1990s too! Find out more about Gareth's work at his website, www.garethlpowell.com/

Guy Stagg is an award-winning British writer interested in travel, religion, mental health and the places where they meet. In 2013 he walked from Canterbury to Jerusalem. His first book, The Crossway (Picador, 2018), was an account of this journey. It was a BBC Book of the Week and shortlisted for several prizes. His second, The World Within (Simon and Schuster, 2025), looks at the role of retreat in creative lives.Stagg's site: https://www.guystagg.co.uk/Book link: https://www.simonandschuster.co.uk/books/The-World-Within/Guy-Stagg/9781398533509---Become part of the Hermitix community:Hermitix Twitter - ⁠⁠ / hermitixpodcast⁠⁠ Hermitix Discord - ⁠⁠ / discord Support Hermitix:Hermitix Subscription - ⁠⁠https://hermitix.net/subscribe/⁠⁠ Patreon - ⁠⁠ www.patreon.com/hermitix⁠⁠ Donations: - ⁠⁠https://www.paypal.me/hermitixpod⁠⁠Hermitix Merchandise - ⁠⁠http://teespring.com/stores/hermitix-2⁠⁠Bitcoin Donation Address: 3LAGEKBXEuE2pgc4oubExGTWtrKPuXDDLKEthereum Donation Address: 0xfd2bbe86d6070004b9Cbf682aB2F25170046A996

We're back with the Seventh Doctor today, as we join him and Ace for the second adventure in the BBC Books version of Season 27. Co-author Mike Tucker joins us to talk about Matrix, and how it began life as a novel with Virgin Books, before being rejected. Editor Steve Cole explains why he picked it up, and we have our usual readings from the book too.

Are you missing the FIfteenth Doctor already? Fear not - we're able to help you out, as we discuss the latest original Doctor Who novel from BBC Books, Fear Death By Water. We speak to editor Steve Cole and author Emily Cook, and courtesy of our friends at BBC Audiobooks, bring you a sample of Susan Twist's reading.

When BBC Books launched the PDAs, there was a real system shock for readers of the Virgin New Adventures range. All of the developments and ongoing story arcs were gone, and this was a Seventh Doctor stripped back to his TV origins. The Hollow Men was the second novel to feature this incarnation from BBC Books, and we speak to editor Steve Cole, and co-author Martin Day, about this adventure.

The Sixth Doctor is back - and he's up against one of his oldest foes. Killing Ground, by Steve Lyons, features the Doctor with his new travelling companion Grant Markham, as they encounter the Cybermen. Steve joins us for a discussion about the book, and how he featured a new monster for the BBC Books range, months before it had been published. Plus, we have two readings, complete with authentic Revenge of the Cybermen-style voices!

Presenter, author and actor Stacey Dooley has a booking this week, and she's expecting fuss, fuss, fuss. Stacey Dooley's new book ‘Dear Minnie' published by BBC Books. Buy it here. Stacey is also starring in the touring production of ‘2:22: A Ghost Story'. For dates and tickets go to 222aghoststory.com Follow Stacey on Instagram @sjdooley Off Menu is a comedy podcast hosted by Ed Gamble and James Acaster.Produced, recorded and edited by Ben Williams for Plosive.Video production by Megan McCarthy for Plosive.Artwork by Paul Gilbey (photography and design).Follow Off Menu on Twitter and Instagram: @offmenuofficial.And go to our website www.offmenupodcast.co.uk for a list of restaurants recommended on the show.Watch Ed and James's YouTube series 'Just Puddings'. Watch here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month, we're diving into the 2001 BBC Books Eighth Doctor novel, Father Time. Following on from our recent synopsis episode, this is the main event: a full discussion of the novel—what works, what doesn't, and how it fits into the broader Eighth Doctor era. We also explore the plot, the tone, and some standout characters, including the Doctor's daughter, Miranda! Before all that, we kick things off with the usual mix of news and short topics you've come to expect. Then, after the book chat, we open the mailbag for a bumper listener feedback section—nearly 25 minutes of your thoughts, theories, and reactions. Our listeners are the best. And if you enjoy our musical moments, don't skip the end! Inspired by some of that listener feedback, we play a very special song after the closing credits—one that was nearly lost to time after its chance to appear in a recent episode of Gin & TARDIS came and went. Contact us: X / Twitter: @theDWshow Bluesky: @thedwshow.net Facebook: facebook.com/theDWshow Email: hello@theDWshow.net

This episode is a full synopsis of the 2001 BBC Books Eighth Doctor novel, Father Time. Given the book's age—almost 25 years old—we know many listeners might not have read it recently, or perhaps ever. So we're here to help! With Father Time being discussed on Sunday's main show, this episode isn't a discussion itself, but a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of the novel's events—perfect for refreshing your memory or getting up to speed before the conversation. Contact us: X / Twitter: @theDWshow Bluesky: @thedwshow.net Facebook: facebook.com/theDWshow Email: hello@theDWshow.net

We're putting The Story of Martha under the microscope today. This was an unusual release at the time from BBC Books, as it was an anthology, with a framing device written by Dan Abnett. David Roden, Steve Lockley and Paul Lewis, Robert Shearman and Simon Jowett write the stories presented. Featuring the Tenth Doctor and Martha Jones, we today speak to Dan, Steve, Paul and Simon about their work on this book.

Our book club listening takes us into the era of the Thirteenth Doctor, for just the third time. We've previously featured David Solomons's novels, which were aimed at younger readers, so this is our first dip into the run of three BBC Books. We speak to Steve Cole about writing Combat Magicks, and returning to the post of project editor on the Doctor Who novels.

The Fifteenth Doctor is back in an all-new adventure - and we're not talking about Joy to the World (yet!). Today, we take a look at the latest original novel from BBC Books, Eden Rebellion, and speak to author Abi Falase about their first Doctor Who work. We've also got an excerpt from the audiobook, read by Genesis Lynea.

Send us a textIn this latests episode of Too Hot For TV Dylan is joined by Jon Arnold to discuss 2 stories by Nick Briggs. First up it's the eleventh Doctor novel 'The Dalek Generation' from BBC books, then its the third & second Doctor story 'The Annihilators' from Big Finish. And as always our hosts answers the burning questions: Who is a Tory bullshitter? Can something be 5/5 if you have not read it?When did all mom's have a thing for Peter Davison? 

Joe, Luke & Dylan; 'Nothing but filthy rags!' Are things too good to be true for the intrepid trio as they head into Morphoton City and offered all manner of splendid food, BBV videos and BBC Books?

Today's guest is truly beloved figure in British television - someone who many of us feel we already know so well - Monty Don. For over two decades, Monty has been the heart and soul of BBC's Gardeners' World, inspiring millions to embrace the joys and therapeutic benefits of gardening. His connection to nature has taken him all over the globe, all in search of the profound ways that different cultures engage with the land. Alongside Gardeners' World, Monty has brought us stunning travel series like Around the World in 80 Gardens, Monty Don's Italian Gardens, Adriatic Gardens and most recently, Spanish Gardens. This latest series, which is accompanied by a beautiful book, delves into the country's breathtaking historic and contemporary landscapes, from Moorish-inspired patios to vibrant urban greens paces, revealing the depth and diversity of Spanish garden design.It was also fascinating to hear about Monty's journey to TV stardom, and how he had a completely different and hugely successful career in the fashion world, before, somewhat by chance, getting a new break into gardening and TV.From the gardens that stole his heart to the wild landscapes that left a lasting impression, here are Monty's travel diaries.Destination Recap:Leominster, Herefordshire, EnglandThe Black Mountains, WalesHydra, Greece Budleigh Salterton, Devon, England Mevagissey, Cornwall Provence, FranceLondon, EnglandAnnapurna, Nepal Native Tree Fern Forests, New ZealandThe Amazon Rainforest, BrazilIranChileJapanSummer Palace, Beijing, China Galicia, SpainNinfa Gardens, ItalyWollerton Hall, Shropshire, EnglandFinland through Eastern Europe to TriesteSpanish Gardens by Monty Don and Derry Moore, BBC Books, £39.99 out now.*COMPETITION* Head to my Instagram, @hollyrubenstein, for a chance to win a 3 night full board stay at one of the Maldives' most luxurious hotels, Kuda Villingili. Good Luck!With thanks to Skyscanner - The full travel trends 2025 report is available on Skyscanner app/site and of course you can always look for your 2025 trip whether it's flights, hotels or car hire on Skyscanner too.And to Airbnb - Your home could be worth more than you think. Find out how much at Airbnb.co.uk/host. Thanks so much for listening today. If you'd like to hear more from the podcast don't forget to hit subscribe, or if you use Apple Podcasts to press follow so that a new episode lands in your podcast app each week. If you want to be the first find out who is joining me on next week's episode come and follow me on Instagram I'm @hollyrubenstein, and you'll also find me on TikTok - I'd love to hear from you.And if you can't want until then remember there's the first 12 seasons to catch up on, that's over 125 episodes to keep you busy there. Don't forget that all the destinations mentioned by my guests are included in the episode show notes here on your podcast app, and listed on my website, thetraveldiariespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Did you know that there's a lost Ninth Doctor adventure from BBC Books? Mike Tucker was originally scheduled to write it, but a clash with other work meant it was shelved. However, it was resurrected for the 2-in-1 book range, with the Doctor, Amy and Rory, rather than Rose and Jack. Mike tells us all about it!

It's Halloween week, and we're getting into the spooky and scary mood with a Third Doctor PDA. We're looking at Rags, released by BBC Books in March 2001, and gained itself a reputation for its high horror content. We chat with author Mickey Lewis, and find out what Doctor Who Magazine had to say about this book that's full of horrific moments.

Rick Stein is one of Britain's best-loved chefs. He's also a highly successful businessman, restaurateur, writer and TV presenter, who has single-handedly put Padstow on the map. HIs warm, down-to-earth manner and infectious curiosity about food have made him a star. What you may not know is that, surprise surprise, he and Gyles know each other - they were actually at Oxford University together in the 60s. But Rick's route to Oxford was highly unconventional, and in this conversation he tells Gyles about his lack of academic success, the death of his father, his two years spent travelling and "running away to sea" and his eventual return to university and subsequent start in the restaurant trade. Rick's new book, Rick Stein's Food Stories, is out now, published by BBC Books. It's inspired by Rick's travels around the UK and is a very nice Christmas present! Thank you to Rick for this great conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Rick Stein is one of Britain's best-loved chefs. He's also a highly successful businessman, restaurateur, writer and TV presenter, who has single-handedly put Padstow on the map. HIs warm, down-to-earth manner and infectious curiosity about food have made him a star. What you may not know is that, surprise surprise, he and Gyles know each other - they were actually at Oxford University together in the 60s. But Rick's route to Oxford was highly unconventional, and in this conversation he tells Gyles about his lack of academic success, the death of his father, his two years spent travelling and "running away to sea" and his eventual return to university and subsequent start in the restaurant trade. Rick's new book, Rick Stein's Food Stories, is out now, published by BBC Books. It's inspired by Rick's travels around the UK and is a very nice Christmas present! Thank you to Rick for this great conversation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Holmwood Foundation is a bi-weekly Found Footage Horror-Fiction Podcast created by Fio Trethewey (Big Finish: Gallifrey War Room, 18th Wall Productions) and Georgia Cook (Big Finish: The Eleventh Doctor Chronicles, Gallifrey War Room, BBC Books, The Dracula Daily Sketch Collection). It is a modern day sequel to the gothic novel Dracula.   In The Holmwood Foundation, We follow Maddie Townsend (Rebecca Root) and Jeremy Larkin (Seán Carlsen), two co-workers at the Holmwood Foundation: a secret organisation that has been maintaining and studying the remains of Count Dracula over the last 130 years, as they are possessed by the ghosts of Jonathan and Mina Harker, and embark on a road trip across the country in an effort to achieve the Harker's wish: stop Dracula once and for all. This is a story about identity and self discovery, family loyalty and devotion, wrapped around a nightmare of a road trip with a rejuvenating severed head, incredibly sincere Victorian ghosts, and an analogue recorder. The Holmwood Foundation is crowdfunding on Kickstarter now! Support them at kickstarter.com/projects/georgiacook/the-holmwood-foundation Episode 1 transcript here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We join the Doctor, Amy and Rory as they crash through time, quite literally, after an encounter with damaged robot. What could be more Steven Moffat, than finding an artificial life form in the Thames, which has been there since the Victorian era, and it then saying: "Doctor"? That's how George Mann's Paradox Lost begins, and he tells us about how this book really helped to kick off his writing career, which has taken him to do more Doctor Who with BBC Books, Titan, Big Finish - and Star Wars! George has a new book in the Star Wars: High Republic series, Tears of the Nameless, released on 24 September this year - we recommend you give it a read!

Thanks to the lovely folk at BBC Books we were lucky to get our hands on a MASSIVE haul of brand new Doctor Who Target books AND the debut novel by Bonnie Langford: Death in the Stars.Geoff was busy on Horsham Film Festival duties but Paul decided to take Bonnie's book away with him on holiday so he could read it on the beach. Which he did!As anyone who's listened to us before will know, Paul is very particular with his books, and arguably way too obsessed with 'science' for a show which features a magic police box and aliens who can regularly change their form when they get killed. However, he is a massive fan of Target novels - often dropping into misty-eyed nostalgia as soon as anyone mentions "The Auton Invasion" or "Doctor Who and the Loch Ness Monster". So what did he think of this brand new original novel written by Bonnie who played the novel's main character, ex Doctor Who companion of the 1980s (recently returned to New-Who) Ms Melanie Bush?Has Paul fully exorcised his demons since first watching Terror of the Vervoids?What did he think of Mel and Glitz's relationship?What does Lord of the Flies have to do with any of this?Is there any 'hard science' among the shenanigans of Death in the Stars to keep him happy?And how many cups of tea out of five has he awarded the book?Listen up to find out the answers to all these questions and 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!

Our look at the Virgin Missing Adventures concludes (logically!) with an Eighth Doctor Adventure from BBC Books. Well, we couldn't not do another book with a classic Doctor, so here Kenny and Matt discuss this novel. And we have an exclusive chat with author Lloyd Rose, down the phoneline from America!

We need more adventures with the Doctor and Ruby! So, we've read Ruby Red, the new BBC Book featuring our time travelling heroes. And, in true Unleashed Confidential Work Experience style, we chat with the people who brought the story to life, with editor Steve Cole, and author Georgia Cook.

My guest this week is Steve Cole, a bestselling children's author of more than 200 books.  Those books cover many styles and children's genres, with titles including the Astrosaurs and Young Bond ranges, Go to Sleep or I Let Loose the Leopard, and most recently, Drowning in my Bedroom. Steve is also the creative consultant for BBC Books' Doctor Who list, as well as project editing and writing titles. Steve and I talk about how TV influenced him as a child, beginning his career in editing, how he moved into writing—and how his editing background influences his writing—and more. Read this week's post, The World is Your Creative Fuel, here.   Episode breakdown: 00:00 Introduction 01:56 Creative child, loved words, invented imaginative worlds. 05:24 Teacher encouraged imaginative storytelling. 07:39 Writing became unexpected career path. 10:43 Fascination with Incredible Hulk, from production to details. 15:05 Influential writer Enid Blyton's office and typewriter. 16:59 Published short poems on aliens in space. 22:35 Manage 22 novels, videos, audios, and more for BBC Doctor Who range. 25:18 Transitioned from editing to writing children's books. 29:53 Managing editor at Ladybird, facing challenges. 32:13 Writing books on various popular children's shows. 36:48 Pitch: "Star Trek with dinosaurs. Instant publisher interest." 40:21 Authors be clever, editors be wise. 41:57 Juggling edits for US and UK publishers. 47:38 Doctor Who authors now pursue other endeavors. 50:06 Editing for renowned authors was thrilling and intimidating.   Check out the full show notes (now including transcripts!!) at fycuriosity.com, and connect with me and fellow creatives on Substack. Please leave a review for this episode—it's really easy and will only take a minute, and it really helps me reach new listeners. Thanks! If you enjoyed our conversation, I hope you'll share it with a friend. Want more? Here are handy playlists with all my previous interviews with guests in Doctor Who and writing.  

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!

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!

It's the penultimate episode of Doctor Who Season 1 and the mysteries are piling up in UNIT HQ! Who or what is Susan Twist? What about the cloaked lady who may or may not be Ruby's mum? Why in the name of all the gods in the pantheon is Sutekh causing trouble and blinged out in Disney finery? The Three Who Rule don't have the answers but they do have baseless speculation and a bunch of irrelevant Classic Who references to tide us over until next week! Plus some book and comic and Big Finish stuff but let's be real…..SUTEKH'S BACK!  Links: Support Radio Free Skaro on Patreon Magna Carta Day Review: Doctor Who S1E07 “The Legend of Ruby Sunday” Reminder: A new Tales of the TARDIS episode airing on BBC Four on June 20 Doctor Who: Print The Legend now available BBC Books to publish four Target Doctor Who novels featuring the Fifteenth Doctor Doctor Who: The Official Guide coming August 15 Doctor Who: Annual 2025 coming September 5 Doctor Who: Fifteen Doctors 15 Stories coming September 19 Cutaway Comics Paradise Towers: Volume 1: Paradise Found graphic novel due Oct 30 Cutaway Comics Lytton: Volume 1 graphic novel due Oct 30 Big Finish: Doctor Who – Conspiracy of Raven due July 2024 Big Finish: The Worlds of Doctor Who – Susan's War: Family Ties due August 2024 Next Time: “Empire of Death”, Saturday, June 22 at 640pm on BBC One

This episode of Pieces of Eighth takes us to Sweden... and there's not a Muppet chef in sight. We discuss this 1990s take on UNIT, and are joined by editor Steve Cole and writer Nick Walters, as we discuss the 22nd Eighth Doctor novel from the BBC Book. Kenny and Matt also discuss the DWM review of Dominion.

We're back - at long last - for a brand new season of episodes. Kenny is joined by Matt Michael for this run of 18 episodes, as we take a look back at the Eighth Doctor novels from BBC Books, starting with the arrival of Fitz Kreiner in Doctor Who and the Taint. We've got lots of new content for you - the original character outline, his DWM reveal, plus what the DWM review said at the time, as well as chats with author Michael Collier (COUGH, COUGH), editor Steve Cole, and Rebecca Levene, who helped to co-create Fitz. Our new series starts here...

Lance talks about how different it was working with BBC Books, and regales us with stories of the writing of The Infinity Doctors and Father Time and also a valuable insight into writing for television and what books make money, and what books don't.

Attention all I, Claudius cosplayers, stand ready! Sir Derek Jacobi is headlining Gallifrey One in February, so get all your Brother Cadfael questions prepared ahead of time! Also, there's a surfeit of Ncuti Gatwa content for you to enjoy as we hurtle toward The Church on Ruby Road! The aforementioned episode also has a Target book, of which we have more exciting news on several fronts, and for all you transaction enthusiasts, a…series of auctions including one with Jon Pertwee? Listen and learn! Links: Support Radio Free Skaro on Patreon Sir Derek Jacobi Headlines Gallifrey One Ncuti Gatwa guested on The Graham Norton Show on December 15 Ncuti Gatwa interviewed by Lizo Mzimba Preview clip from “The Church on Ruby Road” Doctor Who takeover on Blue Peter Blue Peter: Behind the scenes at NEW Doctor Who with Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson and Russell T Davies The Church on Ruby Road teaser from Disney+ The Church on Ruby Road media screening Ncuti Gatwa's New Sonic Screwdriver The Goblin Song – Official Lyric Video Millie Gibson interviewed by Paul Kirkley in Waitrose Weekend Profile on Painting Practice about their work on the 60th Anniversary Specials The Giggle BBC One overnights 4.62M, AI 85 Wild Blue Yonder final BBC One viewing figures 7.14M, 9th on UK TV for the week Ncuti Gatwa appearance on Zoe Ball's BBC Radio 2 show on December 13 The Giggle Target novelisation extract The Church on Ruby Road Blu-Ray/DVD preorder available BBC Books to publish novelisation of ‘The Church on Ruby Road' on January 25 The Church on Ruby Road novelization audio CD due Feb 29 Target Books 10 book collection released Nov 29 Children of the Circus novelization from Oak Tree Books released Dec 14 Magic the Gathering DW 60th anniversary cards due Apr 26 Imagine… Russell T Davies: The Doctor and Me airing December 18 at 10:40pm on BBC One Reeltime Pictures Reverse the Polarity Starring Jon Pertwee

Tom Hagler in conversation with David Eastaugh https://www.waterstones.com/book/bowie-at-the-bbc/david-bowie/tom-hagler/9781802796209 Bowie at Thee BBC - A Life in Interviews The life of an icon, in his own words. David Bowie had a unique relationship with the BBC, making more appearances on 'the beeb' than any other broadcaster throughout his career. An anonymous pre-fame teenager, a blossoming starlet, a white-hot rock star and a veritable elder statesman of pop: the BBC had the inside scoop on it all. In this fascinating collection of BBC television and radio transcripts, Bowie's life story is told in his own words, across more than 35 appearances spanning over forty years. Each provides an illuminating snapshot of moments in a remarkable career. But read together, they offer a completely new take on Bowie himself, a first-person look at the rise and rise of a star. Compiled and guided by David Bowie expert and BBC journalist Tom Hagler, Bowie at the BBC is the complete story of an incredible life lived on the airwaves.

EPISODE 1676: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Anna Funder, author of WIFEDOM, about George Orwell's "invisible wife" Eileen O'Shaughnessy, Orwell's homosexuality, and patriarchy as doublethink ANNA FUNDER is the author of Stasiland and All That I Am, and the novella The Girl with the Dogs. Stasiland, hailed as a ‘classic', tells true stories of ordinary people who heroically resisted the communist dictatorship of East Germany, and of others who worked for the Stasi. In 2004 Stasiland won the UK's premier award for non-fiction, the Samuel Johnson Prize, and was a finalist for many other awards. Anna's novel All That I Am is an homage to four German anti-Hitler activists living bravely but precariously in exile in London in the 1930s. All That I Am won many literary awards including Australia's most prestigious, the Miles Franklin Prize, and was a finalist for the International IMPAC Dublin Award and the Commonwealth Writers Prize. It spent over a year on the bestseller lists, was BBC Book of the Week and Book at Bedtime, and The Times Book of the Month. Both books are international bestsellers, published in over twenty-four countries. Originally trained as an international human rights lawyer, Anna is a former DAAD Fellow in Berlin, Australia Council Fellow, and Rockefeller Foundation Fellow. She has lived in Paris, Berlin, and Brooklyn, and now lives in Sydney, Australia. Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EPISODE 1676: In this KEEN ON show, Andrew talks to Anna Funder, author of WIFEDOM, about George Orwell's "invisible wife" Eileen O'Shaughnessy, Orwell's homosexuality, and patriarchy as doublethinkANNA FUNDER is the author of Stasiland and All That I Am, and the novella The Girl with the Dogs. Stasiland, hailed as a ‘classic', tells true stories of ordinary people who heroically resisted the communist dictatorship of East Germany, and of others who worked for the Stasi. In 2004 Stasiland won the UK's premier award for non-fiction, the Samuel Johnson Prize, and was a finalist for many other awards. Anna's novel All That I Am is an homage to four German anti-Hitler activists living bravely but precariously in exile in London in the 1930s. All That I Am won many literary awards including Australia's most prestigious, the Miles Franklin Prize, and was a finalist for the International IMPAC Dublin Award and the Commonwealth Writers Prize. It spent over a year on the bestseller lists, was BBC Book of the Week and Book at Bedtime, and The Times Book of the Month. Both books are international bestsellers, published in over twenty-four countries. Originally trained as an international human rights lawyer, Anna is a former DAAD Fellow in Berlin, Australia Council Fellow, and Rockefeller Foundation Fellow. She has lived in Paris, Berlin, and Brooklyn, and now lives in Sydney, Australia.Named as one of the "100 most connected men" by GQ magazine, Andrew Keen is amongst the world's best known broadcasters and commentators. In addition to presenting KEEN ON, he is the host of the long-running How To Fix Democracy show. He is also the author of four prescient books about digital technology: CULT OF THE AMATEUR, DIGITAL VERTIGO, THE INTERNET IS NOT THE ANSWER and HOW TO FIX THE FUTURE. Andrew lives in San Francisco, is married to Cassandra Knight, Google's VP of Litigation & Discovery, and has two grown children.

The Classic Companion Reunion Victory Tour as one Melanie Bush aka Bonnie Langford is set to join Ncuti Gatwa's Doctor Who for an adventure in space and/or time next year! Doom has also started experiencing their first of twenty-four hours of mayhem and of course we have the Timelash to entertain you with ad-hoc takes of time gone by. But more importantly, we have Gav Rymill of the Terry Nation Army in a return interview about his fantastic fan series of videos about Skaro's crankiest denizens! Set aside a few rels and listen, won't you? Links: Support Radio Free Skaro on Patreon The Timelash Bonnie Langford returns to Doctor Who Doom's Day – Doom's first hour Titan Comics Doom's Day “A Doctor in the House? Part One” available for pre-order Doctor Who Chronicles 1963-64 now available BBC Books to Publish ‘Whotopia: The Ultimate Guide to the Whoniverse”, due Nov 16 Interview: Gav Rymill and Terry Nation Army