I'll Explain Later: a Doctor Who podcast

Page Peter Snow, brace for the exit poll - I’ll Explain Later goes psephological to explore three Doctor Who tales with political guru special guest Lewis Baston. A duped demos dragged into drudgery slave away to fly the ship of state into unknown territory. If someone can get the Haynes manual off eBay. Live vivisection is just one of the highlights in lighthearted Fourth Doctor romp Full Circle. The fall of an American president plays second fiddle to some tinpot story about a...

Rocks, redemption and referendums in episode 35 of I'll Explain Later. Tom Baker does his best to hold his own against unexpressive and rigid screenmates, while the Ogri and Romana I co-star in 1978's The Stones of Blood. The Eleventh Doctor battles wobble boards and has to eat humble pie as a hopeless dad beats off wooden dolls - disturbing pyjama-based chills in 2011's Night Terrors. And a dead-eyed leader believes the ends justify the means when desperately interpreting the will of the...

We're back - and it's ABOUT TIME! In our long-awaited comeback special, we enjoy a bit of horseplay with the First Doctor in The Myth Makers, relish a chicken dinner with the Tenth Doctor in Silence in the Library / Forest of the Dead, and get schooled by the Fifth Doctor in Mawdryn Undead. Along the way, we asked whether the First Doctor was a mass murderer, rate the sizzlin' chemistry that the various Doctors had with River Song, and wonder why the Brigadier is obsessed with beating up...

It's ninety minutes of hellos and goodbyes on this somewhat delayed, erm, April instalment of I'll Explain Later. This month, the Third Doctor encounters some harsh imperial measures in The Mutants; the Eleventh Doctor rolls up his sleeves and gets under the hood in The Doctor's Wife; and the Fourth Doctor gets all big-headed about The Face of Evil. Along the way, we consider Geoffrey Palmer's motivations, reminisce about anthropomorphised TARDISes of yore, and sadly bid a fond farewell to...

Genius abounds in this slightly delayed 32nd I'll Explain Later. With the Tardis crew keen to escape the clutches of Butcher Cumberland, the Second Doctor channels all his thespian guile to hoodwink his adversaries in 1966-7 knockabout romp The Highlanders. A schlub or a savant? Rose wants to know more about her deceased dad and uncovers his yogurt-based plan for riches in 2005 heart string-tugger Father's Day. And leave the girl, it's the man we want. But which one? Take your pick from...

Some scenes filmed in Tiger Bay, some set by the Silvery Tay, Daleks seek their glory day - Cybermen in Haringey! That's right, folks - hit us with your rhythm stick (aka sonic device) for this 31st episode of I'll Explain Later. Monopoly capitalism, camp sneering and Patrick Troughton more animated than usual in 1968 epic The Invasion. The Tenth Doctor and Rose encounter a beastie that's far from tim'rous in 2006 gothic horror romp Tooth and Claw. And disco derring-do from the pepperpots'...

Sometimes, inspiration does just fall from the sky. This 30th I’ll Explain Later explores three mysteries centred on alien threats mistaken as meteorites. The Third Doctor goes topless in fashion-centric debut Spearhead from Space. Public school and planetary peril in 2007 two parter Human Nature/The Family of Blood. And Who does Hammer Horror, as the Fourth Doctor and Leela tackle the Horror of Fang Rock. Along the way, Matt bungs up, Jim is non-plussed and John fluffs his line. Don't...

Because what says Christmas like honeymoon-based sex cosplay? That’s right, I’ll Explain Later delves deep into St Nick’s bulging sack to pull out, parboil and roast 2010 Yuletide special A Christmas Carol. Jingling along the way, Jim pulls a cracker, Matt spills his port and John goes deep throated. Have a very merry Christmas, and see you on 3rd February at the Blue Posts for our listener drinks!

A December Dalek double as I’ll Explain Later heads back to 1973. A beleaguered leader inches towards a conflict with her trading allies she knows to be folly, egged on by forces internal and external and lacking the courage needed to face down the populist nonsense of her critics. Meanwhile, we review Frontier in Space. The Third Doctor asks for help from the Time Lords, who oblige by transporting him to a dangerous locale populated by conveniently invisible creatures and sexist militia....

Double trouble for the Doctor and pals in this 28th episode of I’ll Explain Later. Troughton meets his match - literally - in recently discovered deadly doppelgänger demagoguery thriller The Enemy of the World. Frozen in lifeless, arid suspension...or dying of cold in the Tardis? Karen Gillan must act, fast, to make Amy’s Choice. And a Fourth Doctor copyist needles the Tigellans into showing him their dodecahedron in sci-fi horticulture favourite Meglos. Along the way, John vamps it up,...

How many impossible things can you believe before breakfast? I'll Explain Later's 27th episode whisks you away to unimagined realms and mythical times. Tegan might not be well drawn, but her draughtswoman credentials are not in doubt. A smörgåsbord of cultures let bygones be Bigon as the Fifth Doctor takes Four to Doomsday. Incoming showrunner Chris "safe-hands" Chibnall once again nails a chilling dystopia with his uncanny depiction of a future economy in which a world-leading project...

Doors to manual! The I'll Explain Later cabin crew are delighted to disembark you into three more terminals of Doctor Who adventure! No perfume counter and no flight-side 'Spoons, but one almighty immigration problem as the Fourth Doctor, Harry and Sarah Jane arrive at The Ark in Space. An overzealous border official goes beyond a cavity search and takes a skin sample, creating excess family baggage for inbound traveller David Tennant in The Doctor's Daughter. And Gatwick takes the...

Bikinis and budgie-smugglers at the ready, as the 25th episode of I'll Explain Later accompanies your summer break with another trio of tales! Why have one when you can have two? A duo beating down on them, can Tom Baker and Louise 'Leela' Jameson ride out the heat and avoid the taxman in 1977 yarn The Sun Makers? Oh no, it's clouded over! A typical British summer explored in harrowing depth over New Who Season 4 two-parter The Sontaran Stratagem / The Poison Sky. And the Fifth Doctor...

We're on a summer break so no new episode from us this month, sadly. However, to tide you over until our August return, here's a treat from our archives. Earlier this year we were thrilled to be invited to contribute to the spectacular 250th episode of JR Southall's Blue Box Podcast, and we recorded this minisode where we discuss what makes for Bad Doctor Who. Hope you enjoy it. We'll be back in August looking at The Kings Demons, The Sunmakers and The Sontaran Stratagem/The Poison Sky....

Roll up, roll up – pay your shilling to play the game as the 24th episode of I’ll Explain Later runs the gamut from intergalactic tag to the grandmastery of an existential chess match! Hartnell & Co take in some costume dramas, dodge Daleks in their cardboard quantum coach and encounter anachronistically-named planets in 1965’s The Chase. Ninth Doctor Christopher Eccleston, Rose and him off Corrie battle the #fakenews media and need a run-in with the The Mighty Jagrafess of the Holy...

Shuffling shag, a horny monster - and the Myrka. I'll Explain Later once again waves its torch at Doctor Who where the sun's May rays don't shine. As much Midnight at the Lost and Found as Down in the Tube Station at Midnight - yes, we examine recently-discovered Second Doctor epic The Web of Fear. Only one man engenders sufficient faith to make us believe he can lead us with courage to see things we never thought we would. No, not Philip Morris this time! Matt Smith stars in The God...

Clocking on and plunging deep into the shaft, I'll Explain Later returns with a heavily accented "Trouble Down t'Pit" special. The Doctor dangles, as David Tennant and chums confront evil itself in The Impossible Planet / The Satan Pit. Tyneside tykes and wooden miming as the Sixth Doctor tries to rub off The Mark of the Rani. And we make all the obvious comments about Erato as Tom Baker grapples with The Creature from the Pit. Along the way, Matt embraces his inner Yorkshireman, Jim ponders...

It's 1st April, so what better time to examine three more Doctor Who adventures that have flown under the radar. Okay, so it's not the ACTUAL episode 22 - check back on 15th April for your regular dose of I'll Explain Later fun...

Salty seamen and terrified cabin boys aplenty as we set sail for a pirate-themed 21st voyage aboard the good ship I'll Explain Later. The Fourth Doctor and Romana marvel at the Captain's massive spheres on The Pirate Planet. Plank or catwalk? Tough to tell, as Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith encounters fashion muse Lily Cole in The Curse of the Black Spot. Meanwhile, Hartnell and Co. dodge Brexity brigands in The Smugglers. Along the way, Skipper Jim proves he knows it all, Bosun Matt admires a...

Roses are red, police boxes are blue... In this twentieth, Valentine's edition of I'll Explain Later, The Third Doctor muses on tea ladies and gentlemen's clubs in Terror of the Autons, Ten and Rose mix feline and saline during visiting hours on New Earth and Peter Davison is not the first Brit to stagger around Amsterdam in a dazed state of collapse as he stars in universally-adored 1983 classic Arc of Infinity. Along the way, Jim salutes our imbibing listeners, Matt chews over a CSO...