On The Time Lash

Send us a textIn a very special seasonal episode, Ben and Mark welcome writer and director Joy Wilkinson to the podcast to discuss writing The Witchfinders, the mechanics of the S11 writer's room, British history and folklore as well as her own love of The Daemons. What other stories from S11 did Joy want to write? Was the Doctor's gender the impetus or a happy accident? What the hell is going on with the Bury Man? We chat all this and more. ALSO: Dick Strawbridge shoots heroin, a fiendish new round of Degsey's Ding-Dong Ping-Pong and that most British of malevolent forces - mud. Support the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Send us a textBen and Mark are joined by Steven from New to Who to discuss the BBC's perceived political bias through the prism of 'Kerblam!' and 'The Sunmakers'.Isn't the system actually the problem? Is it enough in 2018 to just make a Doctor Who story about Space Amazon or do you actually have to have something to say? Is it a by-product of a more centrist approach to entertainment? And how do three men manage to cover all the potential readings of this slightly muddled tale in around 45 minutes?The Sunmakers brings up discussions of high anxiety, Louise Jameson firing a big gun in the back of a car, flushing officials down the toilet and throwing them off the roof. And much more besides!CONTAINS BIG SWEARS FROM THE OUTSETSupport the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Send us a textReligious tensions, post-colonialism, court intrigue,  unimaginable slaughter. It should be a right bloody laugh as Ben and Mark discuss 2018's 'Demons of the Punjab' and 1966's 'The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve'. Ben and Mark have nothing but praise for Vinay Patel's powerful portrayal of a historical moment that is woefully untaught in the history curriculum. It's Doctor Who at its most Reithian and leads to a discussion that takes in legacy, religious extremism and the Doctor's policy of 'no interference'.Meanwhile, the Lash Lads find it harder to speak highly of John Lucarotti and Donald Tosh's flawed historical 'The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve'. Might this be better if we could see it? How on Earth were they portraying such a grisly and grotesque historical event on teatime telly? And what happened to the little boy on Wimbledon Common? Support the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pin

Send us a textAfter some hot off the presses RTD reactions, Ben and Mark are joined by Pting expert Millie McKenzie to discuss 'The Tsuranga Conundrum' and 'Nightmare of Eden'.Is 'The Tsuranga Conundrum' really as bad as everyone says it is? The discussion touches on Chekhov's abdominal pain, Chris Chibnall's limitations as a writer, the tonal inconsistencies and Ben's ginger Dad fetish. And then we snort a few lines and chat all about Bob Baker's insane anti-drug allegory 'Nightmare of Eden'. Is it a hard-hitting tale of the real-life cost of the drugs trade or is it just a load of daft mucking about? Support the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Send us a textIn a creepy crawlie special, Ben and Mark discuss two giant insect stories by way of 'Arachnids in the UK' and 'The Web Planet'. Is 'Arachnids in the UK' even a pun? And is 'The Web Planet' actually just Doctor Who at it's most cynical?Under discussion: 'The Green Death' for the Trump administration, the environmental impact of luxury golf courses, wobbly morals, insect movement by Roselyn De Winter, how Peter Capaldi's talking a lot of shite and Viva Las Vortis! *Apologies for the tinniness of Mark's audio, there was a microphone issue. It's slightly less annoying than a Zarbi though. Support the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Send us a textBen and Mark tackle quite the tonal tightrope as they discuss 2019's 'Rosa' and 1965's 'The Romans'. Dodging both white liberal hand wringing and patronising audiences of colour, Ben and Mark attempt to discuss the importance and freshness of 'Doctor Who' confronting racism head on. As they discuss the relevant Reithian values of both stories, they touch upon the increasing relevance of 'Rosa', amdram productions of 'Grease', the boldness of Season 11's historicals, how Ian and Barbara were definitely at it, and 'The Romans' subtle importance in establishing the character of the Doctor and the show's mission statement going forward. Support the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Send us a textIn a very special bonus episode Ben and Mark try to unpack all the news from a packed and slightly chaotic week in Doctor Who. They've become everything they said they'd never be...Under discussion: San Diego Comic Con, Series 13, potential replacements for both Chris Chibnall and Jodie Whittaker as well as pointless, uninformed speculation about the future of Doctor Who.Support the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Send us a textBen and Mark continue the Jodie Whittaker/Chris Chibnall era with looks at two races against time without much urgency - 'The Ghost Monument' and 'Enlightenment'.Struggling to study for their NVQs, Ben and Mark tackle dodgy portrayals of coordination disorders, one of the best cliffhanger resolutions in Doctor Who and the ghost of Sydney Newman. Whilst back in the 1980s, the first story to be written and directed by women, 'Enlightenment' suffers from dodgy bird hats, mad eyes and the weight of hype for new viewer Mark but wins him round with its high concepts and treatments of class and religion. But what do the bandages say?WARNING: Contains Star Trek chatter. Support the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Send us a textBen and Mark return to cast their bloodshot, drunken eyes over the Jodie Whittaker/Chris Chibnall era as they pair ‘The Woman Who Fell to Earth’ and ‘Time and the Rani’ – two series openers that will eventually lead to the Doctor being revealed to be “more than just a Timelord’.Hoping to avoid being dragged into the never-ending culture war, Ben and Mark discuss the many positives of Jodie Whittaker’s opening episode, from a more naturalistic, real world setting to a more stripped back form of storytelling. But is it a pilot for a series we never get?And for possibly the last time in the current format, Ben and Mark talk about the McCoy era, not that you get much of a sense of it here – great looking monsters that move terribly, the most 1980s Doctor Who weapon ever and Josef Mengele in tinsel and shoulder pads.Also: Who is the UK’s answer to Mr. T? ‘Last of the Summer Wine’ fan fiction, a new game from the Degsestial Funmaker and much more!Support the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on Facebook

Send us a textBen and Mark are joined by artist, model maker and friend of the show Millie McKenzie to bid a fond, melancholic farewell to Peter Capaldi, Steven Moffat and Tom Baker.Is ‘Twice Upon a Time’s meta look at the show’s history from 1963 to 2017 perfect Christmas viewing or one last self-indlugent flourish from a departing writer? And is ‘do the exact opposite of Douglas Adams’ a wise choice for anyone when the result is ‘Logopolis’? We discuss all of this along with mathematics, mortality and getting rid of Tom Baker without pomp or occasion.Also: Can you have too much David Tennant? A very special May Day edition of Degsey’s Impression Challenge Segment and don’t you think Ben and Mark look tired?Support the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Send us a textTwo fine examples of body horror, Ben and Mark discuss Cyber origins by way of 'World Enough and Time'/'The Doctor Falls' and the Big Finish audio 'Spare Parts'. As well as discussing the inevitability of the Cybermen, they also discuss the relatable aspects of the Master's self-destructive downfall.With 'Spare Parts', they ponder how much Big Finish has changed since the show returned in 2005 and how you avoid the pitfalls of "just doing Genesis of the Daleks again".Also: Has Steven Moffat actually written the last ever episode of Doctor Who? What does the Doctor's failure say about the political climate of 2017? And what's it like to cook a lasagne in the company of four different versions of Nick Briggs?Support the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Send us a textBen and Mark discuss two TARDIS trips to bonnie Scotland by way of 'The Eaters of Light' and 'The Highlanders'. As they're roman in the gloaming, they chat about Peter Capaldi's old-school charm, the National Theatre of Scotland, the Falkirk Wheel and Ben's crystal waving fascination with standing stones. After that they top up their glasses and visit another blood soaked battlefield as they discuss balancing historical horror with swashbuckling adventure in 1967's 'The Highlanders'. Mark discusses another BBC production about the battle of Culloden and the lads discuss the historical importance of those dark days in 18th century Inverness. There's some laughs too!ALSO: Who pulls a reverse Marter? An appreciation of Nick Briggs' unique interview style and some gratuitous Proclaimers.Support the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Send us a textBen and Mark tackle two Doctor Who stories placed at Britain's exit and entrance into the Europe - The Empress of Mars and The Curse of Peladon. What do these two stories tell us about exceptionalism, federalism and the ideal of something larger than ourselves? Who are we kidding, it's mostly knob gags and digs at Big Finish.Also: How good are the Ice Warriors, really? An appreciation of Christopher Eccleston, a brief chat about the new Target novelisations, joining DWAS and quite a few references to Star Trek. If you enjoy the podcast, you can buy us a pint here.Support the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Send us a textBen and Mark discuss two benevolent dictatorships as they tackle 'The Lie of the Land' and 'The Macra Terror'? Does the Monk trilogy reach a satisfying conclusion? Were British holiday camps all that bad?Under discussion: Would the Monk arc have worked better as a 12 part Netflix series? Is 'The Lie of the Land' the most overt bit of political commentary in all of Doctor Who? Is the first Troughton series one of the great under-appreciated moments in Doctor Who?Also, Ben and Mark ponder the thesis that humanity never learns from its mistakes, and discuss how 'The Macra Terror' may be more relevant than it's ever been. Support the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Send us a textBen and Mark discuss hangovers, wasted potential and climates of fear as they try to spin a few hours out of ‘The Pyramid at the End of the World’ and ‘Warriors of the Deep’.Ben and Mark try to criticise the failings of ‘Pyramid’ without being too insensitive, discussing how successfully Doctor Who tries to tackle Brexit and Trump through the Monk’s trilogy. Meanwhile, Margaret Thatcher throws a spanner in the works for Johnny Byrne’s Cold War allegory ‘Warriors of the Deep’.Is the Doctor’s blindness actually just a bit insulting? How did that chemical lab meet building regulations with such a dangerously access unfriendly lock? What exactly does Turlough offer young boys watching at home?ALSO: Ben and Mark audition for the Degsestial Funmaker’s Shakespeare Company, Mark’s girlfriend drunkenly tries to describe the Myrka and there’s a competition to win a copy of Sylvester McCoy’s new film ‘The Owners’ on DVD.Support the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Send us a textBen and Mark compare holiday destinations, discuss Catholicism and their own audiences with the Pope as they discuss 2017's 'Extremis'- Just how difficult is it to get information from a book in 2017? Is this just a Greatest Hits collection with a killer new track? Shouldn't it be Donald Trump dead in that chair? And they pair that up with another tale of simulated alien invasion with 1975's 'The Android Invasion', featuring an appreciation of Terry Nation's episode 1s, the best roast dinner Ben's ever had and Kenneth Williams' damning critique of the story.If you like the show, and would like to buy us a pint, you can do so here. Support the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Send us a textIt's space, the final frontier as Ben and Mark traverse two less than utopian visions of mankind's future via 'Oxygen' and 'Colony in Space' from a less than utopian present. Is 'Oxygen' just 40 minutes of set-up for one gag? Is Bill the most human and real Doctor Who companion? Is that a chip and pin terminal on the airlock? And then 'Colony in Space' inspires Ben to give a potted history of both Doctor Who quarries and the East India Company.ALSO: Jimmy Savile, the strangeness of early 00s television and a moment of Zen courtesy of Glen McCoy.If you like the podcast you can buy us a pint hereSupport the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Send us a textIn the first of another round of Lockdown Lashes, Ben and Mark tackle some creepy goings on in an old house and a murderous rampage in a spooky lighthouse as they discuss 'Knock Knock' and 'Horror of Fang Rock'.Just how accurate a representation of modern student life is 'Knock Knock'? What is it about lighthouses that have become so ingrained in popular culture and mythology? Is 'Horror of Fang Rock' a compelling weekly serial or a cracking film split into four parts? Also: Mark reminisces about living in a nunnery, we analyse the Doctor's property portfolio, There's some Accidental Glen McCoy courtesy of Noel Edmonds, unforeseen Brexit casualties and Ben has a full-on breakdown during another round of DICS. Brought to you by Wooden Mother IPAIf you enjoy the podcast, you can buy us a pint here.Support the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Send us a textIn a special live Christmas broadcast, Ben and Mark discuss 'Thin Ice', 'Fury from the Deep', punching Richard Spencer, the obligatory 1960s BBC foam party, dodgy Doctor Who gifts and much much more.ALSO: A couple of absolutely deranged DICS, the return of both negative Ben and negative Mark, canonising the Margate waste water plant, Blinking Angels, pots of white good and music from The Modest. It's been a tough old year, but we hope that we've brought you some good cheer this Christmas and in the past twelve months. Happy times and places!You can buy us a festive pint hereSupport the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint

Send us a textAubergine emojis and a bit of a gunging, it's Ben and Mark's discussion about 'Smile' and 'The Happiness Patrol', will happiness prevail?Yer auld da writing about emojis for yer auld space uncle, the old-school charms of 'Smile', stunning location work. Then it all gets a bit high-fallutin' with a discussion of the influences of Margaret Thatcher, German expressionism, Kafka, Chekhov, and Ionesco on 'The Happiness Patrol'. Also: Ben is buoyed by the positivity of Doctor Who day, a guest appearance from Tom Baker, John Barrowman's Scottish accent and more ropy impressions in another few rounds of DICS. You can listen to Ben's new podcast 'That, But Funny' hereYou can buy us a pint hereJoin the LIVE Christmas podcast on Saturday 19th hereSupport the showFollow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookBuy us a pint