Kasterborous Classic TV: Exploring Doctor Who & Classic Sci-Fi Podcast By Christian Cawley (host producer) | James McLean (host) cover art

Kasterborous Classic TV: Exploring Doctor Who & Classic Sci-Fi

Kasterborous Classic TV: Exploring Doctor Who & Classic Sci-Fi

By: Christian Cawley (host producer) | James McLean (host)
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Regular podcast featuring unique and in-depth discussions covering Doctor Who and other classic TV and movies, usually in the sci-fi and sci-fantasy fields.

Launched in 2007, we've lost count of how many episodes we've actually done. Special episodes include interviews with creatives, writers, actors, and notable commentators in the cult TV field.

Your regular hosts are Christian Cawley and James McLean.



Christian Cawley, James McLean, Brian A Terranova, 2007-2024
Art
Episodes
  • Silver Nemesis: The Doctor Who blockbuster that never was
    Apr 7 2026

    In this commentary, Christian Cawley and James McLean dive into the heart of Silver Nemesis, and give some thought to Elizabethan sorceress Lady Peinforte and her loyal murderer Richard. Oh, and Argentinian Nazi refugees, Cybermen, and a couple of youths with a bizarre dislike for social workers.

    Elsewhere in this episode, that "Jazz" interlude between Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred which remains one of the most natural, relaxed moments in the show’s history.

    Line up your DVD or BBC iPlayer (optional) and hit "play!"

    The Patreon option


    Patreon listeners get the full three episode commentary in one go, and you can join the Kasterborous Patreon today to enjoy it that way. Supporters get the podcast first, with extra material, ad-free, and video content, as well as access to the Kasterborous Archive.

    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.

    Thanks!

    Show more Show less
    28 mins
  • The Nazis, the witch, and the Cybermen: Is Silver Nemesis Doctor Who’s weirdest anniversary?
    Mar 30 2026

    In this week’s episode, Christian Cawley and James McLean dive deep into Doctor Who's "official" 25th-anniversary silver jubilee story, Silver Nemesis. From the slightly oversized Cybermen to the curious presence of Dolores Gray, we talk all the way through the oft-derided 1988 adventure and explore what makes it fascinating -- if not somewhat polarizing.

    This podcast looks at the first episode of Silver Nemesis, with the rest of the serial coming up over the next few weeks.

    The Patreon option


    Patreon listeners get the full three episode commentary in one go, and you can join the Kasterborous Patreon today to enjoy it that way. Supporters get the podcast first, with extra material, ad-free, and video content, as well as access to the Kasterborous Archive.

    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.

    Thanks!

    Show more Show less
    26 mins
  • Doctor Who missing episodes: The fallout, the fans, and the frustration
    Mar 23 2026

    The recent recovery of two missing episodes of Doctor Who from The Daleks' Master Plan should be a moment of celebration — but it also raises an uncomfortable question: how many more are still out there?

    In this Patreon-exclusive video, Christian Cawley and James McLean dig into the latest discovery, donated via Film Is Fabulous!, and the ongoing work to restore and preserve missing television. But our conversation quickly turns to the more complicated side of the story — the long history of private collectors holding onto lost material. What the mindset keeps culturally significant footage out of public view?

    Why do people keep these recordings hidden? And what would it take for them to come forward?

    The discussion explores the legacy of figures like Philip Morris and Ian Levine, the often fraught relationship between fandom and preservation, and the strange ways history is shaped by those who control access to it. We also discuss the passing of well-regarded actor Tom Georgeson, who had appeared in two Doctor Who serials, and died last week at 88 years old.

    We also go beyond Doctor Who to consider how classic television is restored and presented today — from controversial cropping choices to changing expectations around picture quality — and how audiences engage differently with media across generations.

    The Patreon option


    Patreon listeners, meanwhile, get the bonus content: detours into The Man from UNCLE, Sapphire and Steel, Teletext nostalgia, shifting attitudes to ownership versus access (renting), and the broader question of how cultural artefacts survive in our increasingly digital world. You can join Patreon today to get the podcast first, with extra material, ad-free, and video content, as well as access to the Kasterborous Archive.

    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.

    Thanks!

    Show more Show less
    34 mins
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