As Mrs Flood kept reminding us, the finale was on 24th May 2025, but a combination of jetlag and food poisoning conspired to keep our thoughts from you until now. But all's that's behind us - here's our slightly cooled-off take on Wish World and The Reality War , along with some overall thoughts on Doctor Who's Disney run. Along the way, we discuss getting to the airport without your passport, introduce a new taxonomy of how to rank Who eras, and ponder on why the show is apparently obsessed wit...
Jun 13, 2025•1 hr 25 min•Season 5Ep. 6
After a week's break, we return to the fray with a conversation about the two most recent episodes of Doctor Who - The Story and The Engine and The Interstellar Song Contest . Along the way we discuss how "British" Doctor Who actually is, more on-the-nose metaphors and where Dugga Doo ranks in the Murray Gold songbook. We're taking another break next week, but join us wherever you get your podcasts on 1st June for a conversation about the two-part finale and our post-season debrief. We'll be cat...
May 18, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Season 5Ep. 5
We hit the halfway point of Doctor Who's 2025 season with a podcast episode about Lucky Day , an episode about a podcast. Along the way we discuss cowardly robots, the limits of state power and crypto spam. Watch this episode on Youtube Email us at [email protected] Find us on Bluesky & Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
May 04, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 5Ep. 4
On this week's I'll Explain Now instalment, we review the latest episode of the 2025 series of Doctor Who - The Well . Along the way we discuss radical optimism, David Lynch and where and when less really does give you more. Watch this episode on Youtube Email us at [email protected] Find us on Bluesky & Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Apr 27, 2025•40 min•Season 5Ep. 3
Our I'll Explain Now season of bleeding-edge Doctor Who reviews continues with yesterday's Fifteenth Doctor adventure, Lux . Along the way we consider some common ground between Jon Pertwee and Ncuti Gatwa's Doctors, ruminate on vibes-based Doctor Who and take a detour into discussing TV chefs. Watch this episode on Youtube Email us at [email protected] Find us on Bluesky & Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Apr 20, 2025•55 min•Season 5Ep. 2
I'll Explain Now! Join us as we celebrate Doctor Who's return with a blazing-hot take on last night's episode, The Robot Revolution . Along the way we discuss Tintin rockets, our awkward teenage years and the peculiar bind that Doctor Who finds itself in in 2025. Watch this episode on Youtube Email us at [email protected] Find us on Bluesky & Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Apr 13, 2025•50 min•Season 5Ep. 1
For the final instalment of our missing-presumed-wiped 2019 recording, we look at Hartnell-era SFX spectacle The Web Planet. Along the way, we consider how autobiographical this story might have been for Bill Strutton, whether or not its reputation is deserved, and - of course - insect movement. Watch this episode on Youtube Email us Find us on Bluesky & Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 28, 2025•31 min•Season 4Ep. 21
In the second instalment of our freshly reconstructed 2019 "lost" recording, we look at the Tenth Doctor's bout of motorway madness, Gridlock. Along the way we consider RTD's use of messianic imagery, coo over some kittens and revisit our initial reactions to that Macra reveal. Watch this episode on Youtube Email us Find us on Bluesky & Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 21, 2025•31 min•Season 4Ep. 20
We're taking a couple of weeks off recording, but to tide you over, here's a little treat from the vaults for you - a previously unreleased review of Frontios from a missing-presumed-wiped recording we made back in 2019. Along the way we consider where the vibe shift between Peter Davison and Colin Baker actually took place, why Tegan continues to have very little faith in the Doctor, and what you need to effectively convey trauma in Doctor Who. Watch this episode on Youtube Email us Find us on ...
Mar 14, 2025•36 min•Season 4Ep. 19
This week, we catch up with the Twelfth Doctor and Bill as we skate over Thin Ice. Along the way we discuss the Doctor's morality, sing Pearl Mackie's praises and weight up which Doctors evolved the most over their tenures. Watch this episode on Youtube Email us Find us on Bluesky & Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 07, 2025•54 min•Season 4Ep. 18
This week, we look at the earth-shattering conclusion to the Key to Time saga with the Fourth Doctor epic The Armageddon Factor. Along the way, we get to grips with Tom Baker's late-era antics, consider some beguilingly odd telly and weigh up Bob Baker and Dave Martin's contributions to Doctor Who. Watch this episode on Youtube Email us Find us on Bluesky & Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 28, 2025•49 min•Season 4Ep. 17
This week, we turn up the voltage with the Thirteenth Doctor and chums as they face Nikola Tesla's Night Of Terror . Along the way we discuss the myths surrounding Tesla himself, the ethics of the "celeb historical", and experience some monster deja-vu. Watch this episode on Youtube Email us Find us on Bluesky & Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 21, 2025•52 min•Season 4Ep. 16
This week, we grab a hanky and join the Fourth Doctor in saying goodbye to Sarah Jane as we wave through The Hand of Fear . Along the way, we consider Tom Baker's emotional availability, great Episode Ones, and Matt deploys an unfortunate turn of phrase. Watch this episode on Youtube Email us Find us on Bluesky & Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 14, 2025•54 min•Season 4Ep. 15
This week, we watch the Tenth Doctor and Donna's rocky trip to ancient Pompeii. Along the way, we full our "Doctor Who history story" bingo card, consider RTD's input into guest-writer scripts, and weigh up the optimal number of companions. Watch this episode on Youtube Email us Find us on Bluesky & Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Feb 07, 2025•59 min•Season 4Ep. 14
This week we wind right back to the Hartnell era for a look at historical epic The Crusade. Along the way we discuss ants, filming with bows and arrows, and start to unpick exactly what we do and don't want from Doctor Who stories set in Earth's past. Watch this episode on Youtube Email us Find us on Bluesky & Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 31, 2025•51 min•Season 4Ep. 13
This week we're looking back twenty years (twenty! years!) to the first proper episode written by one Steven Moffat - someone who I think we'll be hearing a bit more from in future. Along the way we discuss shame, romance and the ways in which a sprinkling of science fiction can get us closer to historical truth. Watch this episode on Youtube Email us Find us on Bluesky & Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 24, 2025•58 min•Season 4Ep. 12
This week, in an episode recorded prior to the recent, sad passing of writer Barbara Clegg , we look aloft at the Fifth Doctor and chums as they search for Enlightenment. Along the way we consider the role of gods in Doctor Who, reasses the conventional view of Peter Davison's Doctor as "nice" and add another 80s celebrity to our cameo tally. Watch this episode on Youtube Send us an email Follow us on Bluesky and Instagram For everything else, head to illexplainlater.com . Hosted on Acast. See a...
Jan 17, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 11
This week we hit the pub with the Fourth Doctor as he faces down The Android Invasion. Along the way we discuss the benefits of having a journalist on board the TARDIS, stinky facial accessories, and whether or not we might have been a tad unfair to one of the elder statesmen of Doctor Who. Read the article about Terrance Dicks' politics that John mentions here . Watch this episode on Youtube Send us an email Follow us on Bluesky , Instagram and X For everything else, head to illexplainlater.com...
Jan 10, 2025•50 min•Season 4Ep. 10
Happy New Year! We ring in 2025 with a look at one of Doctor Who's more recent seasonal traditions - the New Year's Day episode, as inaugurated by Thirteenth Doctor epic Resolution. Along the way we discuss the influence of Andrzej Zulawski, consider the show's odd approach to families, and of course have a conversation about the "have a conversation" scene. Watch this episode on Youtube Send us an email Follow us on Bluesky , Instagram and X For everything else, head to illexplainlater.com . Ho...
Jan 03, 2025•55 min•Season 4Ep. 9
It's a Christmas miracle! We got on an international call to discuss yesterday's brand new episode of Doctor Who, Joy To The World. Along the way, we consider the importance of hope, the challenges of watching Doctor Who with your family and begin our journey with Doctor Who's Disney era. We hope you're having a wonderful festive period - we'll be back on Friday 3rd January with a brand new episode to ring in 2025... Watch this episode on Youtube Send us an email Follow us on Bluesky , Instagram...
Dec 26, 2024•40 min•Season 4Ep. 8
And incidentally a Happy Christmas to all of you at home! We're full of the festive spirit at I'll Explain Later - but will 2014's yuletide episode Last Christmas turn out to be an absolute cracker? Listen in to find out... Along the way, we consider companions who could have been, doff our caps to Greg Lake, and exchange some Christmas gifts. Watch this episode on Youtube Send us an email Follow us on Bluesky , Instagram and X For everything else, head to illexplainlater.com . Hosted on Acast. ...
Dec 20, 2024•54 min•Season 4Ep. 7
We dry-clean our tuxes and prepare for the all-time high of Spyfall (parts 1 and 2), the opening episode of the Thirteenth Doctor’s second season. Along the way, we consider the connective tissue between James Bond and Doctor Who, weigh up the Master’s views on outsourcing, and begin the yeoman’s work of fully unpacking Chris Chibnall’s contribution to the show. Watch this episode on Youtube Send us an email Follow us on Bluesky , Instagram and X For everything else, head to illexplainlater.com ...
Dec 13, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 4Ep. 6
This week, we move in with the Eleventh Doctor and James Corden by way of 2010 romcom episode The Lodger. Along the way, we consider the value of the guest star in Doctor Who, the Doctor’s approach to making an omelette, and reveal an extraordinary Sliding Doors moment in Matt’s life. You can watch the Doctor Who sketch from Swinging (featuring Matt as a Dalek) here ! Watch this episode on Youtube Send us an email Follow us on Bluesky , Instagram and X For everything else, head to illexplainlate...
Dec 06, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 5
This week we cast a spell and summon the 1971 Third Doctor classic The Daemons. Along the way, we admire the UNIT lads' civvies, take a detour into the work of Erich von Daniken, and contemplate the role of magic in Doctor Who. All that, plus a world-exclusive look behind the scenes at BBC3 thanks to some recently unearthed footage! Watch this episode on Youtube Send us an email Follow us on Bluesky , Instagram and X For everything else, head to illexplainlater.com . Hosted on Acast. See acast.c...
Nov 29, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Season 4Ep. 4
We bring the curtain down on Doctor Who's sixtieth anniversary year with a look back at the show's twentieth anniversary epic - 1983's The Five Doctors. Along the way we consider the malleability of the First Doctor, whether any directorial notes were given for THAT High Council scene, and what we actually want from an anniversary anyway. Read Dave Owen's review of The Five Doctors from 2003 here . Watch this episode on Youtube Send us an email Follow us on Bluesky , Instagram and X For everythi...
Nov 22, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 4Ep. 3
This week, we're looking at Twelfth Doctor two-parter The Zygon Invasion and The Zygon Inversion, and - going out on a real limb here - consider whether it might possibly have some sort of socio-political subtext. Along the way, we indulge in some uninformed speculation on show-runners that could have been, throw mild shade at The Thick of It, and consider the usefulness of an on-the-nose metaphor. Watch this episode on Youtube Send us an email Follow us on Bluesky , Instagram and X For everythi...
Nov 15, 2024•59 min•Season 4Ep. 2
We're back! And what better way to mark our triumphant return to your ears - and now eyes! - than one of the most consequential Doctor Who stories of all time? This week we unpack Tenth Doctor classic Blink. Along the way, we speculate on what a rare DVD business might stock, extol the virtues of seizing the moment, and consider whether making Doctor Who is ultimately just an exercise in throwing stuff against the wall. Watch this episode on Youtube Send us an email Follow us on Bluesky , Instag...
Nov 08, 2024•58 min•Season 4Ep. 1
It's the end! And the moment has been reached with our signature lack of preparation. Thankfully we've still got two blockbuster Doctor Who stories to enjoy in our sequeltastic season finale - the Fourth Doctor's first encounter with Davros in Genesis of the Daleks, and the Twelfth Doctor's return to Skaro in The Magician's Apprentice and The Witch's Familiar. Thanks so much for joining us over the last six weeks - it's the last episode in the season, but we'll be back in the not too distant fut...
Oct 12, 2023•1 hr 30 min•Season 3Ep. 6
It's the "Of Death" special! In perhaps our most tenuously-themed episode yet, we discuss the uncanny valley, AI and helium as we consider Fourth Doctor classic The Robots of Death, then we switch mediums entirely to cop a load of X-rated VR while untangling the knots in our minds as we indulge ourselves in Third Doctor radio romp The Paradise of Death. (The latter nearly inspired us to upload last week's episode again in a high concept practical joke, but we thought better of it.) Plus we unvei...
Oct 05, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Season 3Ep. 5
It's a holiday special! Not in the Christmas sense, or indeed in any meaningful way at all beyond that these are two stories where the Doctor and co attempt to take a holiday and fail. Under the microscope this week are Eleventh Doctor double threat The Girl Who Waited and the Seventh Doctor's encounter with Delta and the Bannermen. Questions? Thoughts? Email them to [email protected] - and if you're enjoying this season of episodes, do leave us a lovely review wherever you get your podc...
Sep 28, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Season 3Ep. 4
