In this commentary-style episode, Christian Cawley and James McLean revisit the classic Doctor Who story The Robots of Death. This is the first of a two-part podcast, covering the serials first two episodes.

We compare the experience of watching classic Doctor Who episodically versus the omnibus VHS edits that hit rental stores in the 1980s. Those different formats affect pacing, cliffhangers, and the rhythm of a story, and The Robots of Death is no different.

It might look amazing, but there is much more to The Robots of Death. Writer Chris Boucher blends science fiction with the traditions of classic detective fiction, and we look at the impressive world-building behind the sandminer setting, the story’s layered social tensions, and why The Robots of Death feels larger than its four episodes suggest. Could the story even work without the Doctor at all?

Christian and James also discuss the performances and character dynamics that make the story memorable, from Tom Baker’s more serious Fourth Doctor to Louise Jameson’s "savage" Leela, whose unique relationship with the Doctor offers a different companion dynamic from the more familiar eras of the show.

Did you know that Patreon supporters are likely already listening to next week’s episode? While we love sharing the show with everyone, our subscribers get the “VIP” experience: early access, a completely ad-free stream, and an exclusive video version of every episode.

Get Kasterborous on Patreon!

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you.

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

This week’s Kasterborous opens on sad news, as Christian Cawley and James McLean reflect on the passing of Red Dwarf co-creator Rob Grant.

You probably know that the writing partnership between Grant and Doug Naylor pre-existed Red Dwarf, and while it certainly helped to define Britain’s most enduring sci-fi comedy, obviously there was a split. So we consider the curious parallel timelines created by split novels and later revivals, and explore Grant’s legacy — and what his absence might mean for the future of the franchise.

Let's not forget, Grant was working on a new Red Dwarf book with co-writer Andrew Marshall, Titan, set for release this July.

Along the way, we recall our own first encounters with Red Dwarf.

From there, the conversation returns to familiar territory with a deep dive into Doctor Who’s famously unfinished story Shada. An interesting archival research and visual-effects analysis on Substack prompted us to examine both the model and SFX work that wasn't completed, and why the Douglas Adams script continues to fascinate fans decades later.

The episode wraps up with a look at creativity and longevity through filmmaker Adrian Munsey’s upcoming Spymasters documentary series for Sky Arts, and William Shatner's upcoming heavy metal album (yes, you read that right).

Links:

• Red Dwarf: Titan by Rob Grant and Andrew Marshall
• Shada model work feature by Jonathan Helm
• TV Movie article
• Adrian Munsey's Spymasters trailer (and our previous chat with Adrian)
• William Shatner heavy metal album announcement
  
  

The Rob Grant news sort of overshadowed our plans to complete the Robots of Death commentary, but we're planning to have that with you soon...

Did you know that Patreon supporters are likely already listening to next week’s episode? While we love sharing the show with everyone, our subscribers get the “VIP” experience: early access, a completely ad-free stream, and an exclusive video version of every episode.

Get Kasterborous on Patreon

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you.

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Thanks!

It's a bumper edition of the podcast this week, as Christian Cawley and James McLean attempt to squeeze in not just discussion of the upcoming 4K release of the 1996 Doctor Who TV Movie and share a short chat between Brian Terranova and Paul McGann, to give you an idea of the sort of thing you can hear in the Kasterborous Archive.

• Doctor Who TV Movie 4K/UHD Blu-ray on Amazon
• Kasterborous Archive on Patreon

Did you know that Patreon supporters are likely already listening to next week’s episode? While we love sharing the show with everyone, our subscribers get the “VIP” experience: early access, a completely ad-free stream, and an exclusive video version of every episode.

Get Kasterborous on Patreon

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you.

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Did you know that Patreon supporters are likely already listening to next week’s episode? While we love sharing the show with everyone, our subscribers get the “VIP” experience: early access, a completely ad-free stream, and an exclusive video version of every episode.

Get Kasterborous on Patreon

Help us climb the charts

We are on a mission to raise our profile on Apple Podcasts, and we can’t do it without you.

If you enjoy what we do, please leave a review.

It takes 30 seconds but makes a massive difference in helping new listeners find us. While you’re there, make sure you’re subscribed so you never miss a drop.

Not on Apple Podcasts?

No problem. You can still help us grow. Leave a review on your platform of choice and send us the link via X/Twitter, Facebook, or directly to editor@kasterborous.co.uk. We’ll make sure to give you a shout-out in a future episode as a thank you for your support.

Recent comments from Mark Gatiss and Peter Capaldi (made separately) concerning Doctor Who's current status are the focus of our conversation this week.

Christian Cawley and James McLean cover a number of points, with everything from the dying requirement for basic screen language (such as a documentary where two people greet each other at a door before a more in-depth interaction) to whether Steven Berkoff should have had more time on-screen in The Power of Three.

Come on, we all know the answer to that one.

This is a big hour-long chat, so hold onto your loins, gird your hats, and mix your metaphors. Oh, and listen out for mention of the first of Brian Terranova's Doctor Who interview collection, now available on our Patreon.

Most episodes of our podcast go out on Patreon first. This week's episode is the same as the one that went out on Patreon, but subscribers there got it early, ad-free, and with a video version.

We'd really appreciate your help in raising our profile on the Apple platform, so please leave a review. If you don't already subscribe, you should -- it alerts you when new episodes are available.

Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and you’ll get a mention.

This week's podcast is Patreon first as ever, with no ads! Christian Cawley chats with Brian Terranova, and then with James McLean, about the early years of Kasterborous.

Among other things, we cover how we started it, the tools we used early on, and how we overcame Brian's departure...

• Why did we start the podKast with a K?
• The first podKast
• SPLINK
• First podcast with James in 2011

This week, you get the podcast ad-free and early on Patreon. As this is a 500ish episode, it goes out in its entirety on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Plus, I have the list of interviews provided by Brian, which will appear exclusively in the Kasterborous Archive.

The following actors, writers, and producers will be added to the Kasterborous Archive over the coming months:

• John Peel (author)
• Simon Fisher-Becker
• Ian McNeice
• Sylvester McCoy
• Matt Smith
• Caroline Skinner
• Karen Gillan
• Yee Jee Tso
• Paul McGann
• Terrance Dicks
• Emma Campbell-Jones
• Frazer Hines, Wendy Padbury, Deborah Watling
• Terry Molloy
• Daphne Ashbrook

Most episodes of our podcast go out on Patreon first. This week's episode is the same as the one that went out on Patreon, but subscribers there got it early, ad-free, and with a video version.

We'd really appreciate your help in raising our profile on the Apple platform, so please leave a review. If you don't already subscribe, you should -- it alerts you when new episodes are available.

Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and you’ll get a mention.

Christian Cawley and James McLean take a break from 500ish to discuss the news that Blake's 7 could be heading for a reboot after the IP was picked up by Multitude Productions.

As James is a big Blake's 7 admirer and has also worked on an eventually uncompleted project based on the show, it seemed a good opportunity to discuss what might be needed to make a Blake's 7 reboot work...

• Blake's 7 IP acquisition announcement
• Is the Life on Mars sequel Lazarus now happening?

Patreon and Apple Podcasts

Most episodes of our podcast go out on Patreon first. This episode went out early, ad-free, and with a video version.

We'd really appreciate your help in raising our profile on the Apple platform, so please leave a review. If you don't already subscribe, you should -- it alerts you when new episodes are available.

Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and you’ll get a mention.

We tend to avoid introspection on the podcast, but for the next few weeks, Christian Cawley, James McLean, and, we're pleased to say, Brian Terranova will be bringing you a series of discussions and recollections to commemorate (other words have been suggested) our 500th edition -- whenever it may or may not have happened.

As we lost count some time ago, it's difficult to pinpoint when the 500th episode was (or will be). This is the background to "500ish" which will be a series of episodes of the podcast that look at how we started it, how it evolved, how podcasting itself has changed since we started in 2007, and also looks at many of the other things we did beyond the confines of the old Kasterborous website.

Shownotes

• Christian's time-shifted Substack journal project, Ten Years Gone
  
  

So, hit play, and enjoy the reaction and the realisation of reaching 500 episodes (or so).

As this is our 500th episode, everyone gets the same material.

Most episodes of our podcast go out on Patreon first. This episode went out early, and with a video version.

We'd really appreciate your help in raising our profile on the Apple platform, so please leave a review. If you don't already subscribe, you should -- it alerts you when new episodes are available.

Not on Apple Podcasts? Leave us a review somewhere else, send the link over on Twitter or Facebook or editor@kasterborous.co.uk, and you’ll get a mention.