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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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Christian Cawley and James McLean conclude their commentary discussion of the classic Doctor Who serial The Robots of Death, focusing on Episodes Three and Four of the 1977 story.

With the mystery aboard the sandminer tightening, the discussion explores how the final two episodes bring together the serial’s many strands. We've got the paranoia among the crew, growing suspicion surrounding the robots, and the increasingly complex motivations of those on board.

Remember, this was written for children!

Christian and James look at how writer Chris Boucher structures the closing chapters of the story as both a science-fiction thriller and a classic murder mystery, and why the solution still holds up decades later. They also query how much input the script editor, Robert Holmes, had.

Along the way, the conversation touches on the serial’s memorable robot designs, its distinctive world-building, and the production choices that give The Robots of Death its enduring reputation as one of the most stylish and atmospheric adventures from the classic era of Doctor Who.

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!

Two long-missing episodes of Doctor Who have been recovered — and they come from one of the most famous lost stories in the programme’s history, The Daleks’ Master Plan.

“The Nightmare Begins” and “Devil’s Planet” have been found, restored, and will be released through BBC iPlayer at Easter.

• Lost Doctor Who episodes found (BBC Leicester)

In this episode, Christian Cawley is joined by fanzine publisher Gareth Kavanagh (Cutaway Comics, Vworp Vworp!), to discuss the discovery of two episodes from the epic 1965 Dalek adventure, a serial that remains one of the most significant gaps in the Doctor Who archive. With around half of the 12-part story still missing, the recovery of any material is a major moment for fans of the series, and anyone interested in lost media.

Christian and Gareth explore how the discovery came about, what we know about the recovered prints, and how they fit into the wider story of the BBC’s missing episodes. They also reflect on why The Daleks’ Master Plan has become such a legendary part of Doctor Who lore — from its scale and ambition to its infamous reputation among fans who have only experienced the story through reconstructions, audio recordings, and novelisations.

Along the way, the conversation touches on the broader history of missing episodes (Gareth previously attended a “missing episodes” event for Kasterborous in 2013), how discoveries like this still happen decades later, and what the find might mean for future archival work.

This is a topic we will definitely be coming back to soon...

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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.

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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.