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Staggering Stories Podcast

Staggering Stories Podcast

Description:: Random thoughts from the Staggering Stories team, mainly featuring discussion on television Science Fiction such as Doctor Who, Firefly, Star Trek and so many more. Also general randomness on MMOs and all manner of other geek topics! Come and join in on the insanity!

Homepage: https://www.staggeringstories.net/index2.html

RSS Feed: https://blog.staggeringstories.net/?feed=rss2&cat=23

Staggering Stories Podcast Statistics

Episodes:: 653
Average Episode Duration:: 0:0:50:05
Longest Episode Duration:: 0:2:13:15
Total Duration of all Episodes:: 22 days, 17 hours, 1 minutes and 35 seconds
Earliest Episode:: 24 June 2007 (7:46pm GMT)
Latest Episode:: 31 March 2024 (8:00am GMT)
Average Time Between Episodes:: 9 days, 9 hours, 5 minutes and 48 seconds

Staggering Stories Podcast Episodes

Staggering Stories Podcast #161: The Perfect Matt Finish

22 June 2013 (11:55pm GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 31 minutes and 50 seconds

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Summary:;

Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Fake Keith, the Real Keith Dunn and Scott Fuller say their Best Of and Worst Of for the Matt Smith era of Doctor Who (so far!) and a variety of other stuff, specifically (NOTE: This update text is preliminary and hopefully will be finalised a couple of days after publication):
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 01:?? — Welcome!
- 01:?? – News:
- 0?:?? — All to be filled in shortly!.
- ??:?? – Doctor Who: Best of… Worst of Matt Smith’s tenure.
- ??:?? – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- ??:?? – Farewell for this podcast!
- ??:?? — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Commentary #90: Doctor Who - Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS

16 June 2013 (9:00am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 48 minutes and 20 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, charred, in front of the 2013 Doctor Who story, Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS, and spout our usual nonsense!

Tricky is unlikeable, Bram is unlikeable, Gregor is really unlikeable and Clara just wants out. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS...

Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #160: The Season of Gurning

9 June 2013 (7:27am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 57 minutes and 31 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Fake Keith, the Real Keith Dunn and Scott Fuller give their ratings for Doctor Who ‘Series 7′ (in a way that doesn’t really work in audio!) and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 01:15 — Welcome!
- 01:53 – News:
- 02:15 — Karen Gillan: Being naughty in Guardians of the Galaxy.
- 04:24 — Star Wars: New CGI cartoon series – Rebels.
- 06:39 — Jack Vance: DEAD!
- 07:52 — Babylon 5: JMS gives the truth on Michael O’Hare’s departure.
- 09:31 — GPS Hackery: Garmin hacked to change car for Sci-Fi ships.
- 10:50 — Matt Smith: DEAD!
- 26:06 – Doctor Who: Series 7 rated by facial expression.
- 59:25 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 111:49 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 112:23 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Commentary #89: Doctor Who - Hide

2 June 2013 (8:40am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 47 minutes and 13 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, spooked, in front of the 2013 Doctor Who story, Hide, and spout our usual nonsense!

Emma sees dead people, Alec likes inviting young women to his ‘haunted’ house and the Doctor doesn’t trust Clara. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy Hide...

Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #159: Introducing the Head of Pertwee As...

26 May 2013 (8:48am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 54 minutes and 28 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Keith Dunn and Scott Fuller discuss the new Doctor Who stories ‘Nightmare in Silver’ and ‘The Name of the Doctor’, review ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 01:17 — Welcome!
- 02:01 – News:
- 02:15 — Doctor Who: Series 8 confirmed.
- 05:04 — Warehouse 13: Knocking at death’s door.
- 07:37 — Ray Harryhausen: DEAD!
- 08:22 — Doctor Who and Star Wars: Fans FIGHT!
- 14:28 – The Weather.
- 15:47 – Doctor Who: Nightmare in Silver.
- 25:50 – Doctor Who: The Name of the Doctor.
- 46:12 – Star Trek Into Darkness.
- 60:43 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 110:11 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 110:55 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Commentary #88: Doctor Who - Cold War

19 May 2013 (8:32am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 43 minutes and 12 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, naked, in front of the 2013 Doctor Who episode, ‘Cold War’, and spout our usual nonsense!

Skaldak’s a naturist, Clara’s getting wet and Professor Grisenko has a foul taste in his ears. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy Doctor Who: Cold War...

Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #158: Journey to the Crimson Centre of Tony Stark

12 May 2013 (8:41am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 49 minutes and 55 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler, the Real Keith Dunn and Scott Fuller discuss the new Doctor Who stories ‘Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS’ and ‘The Crimson Horror’, review ‘Iron Man 3′ and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 01:17 — Welcome!
- 02:35 – News:
- 02:43 — Doctor Who: New Executive Producer.
- 05:12 — Game of Thrones: Ratings keep climbing.
- 07:49 — Birthday: Adam is even older!
- 08:22 — Doctor Who (now generic Sci-Fi): Themed adult show.
- 10:21 — Doctor Who: Free Target books for schools.
- 11:59 — ASDA-Man: Stalking more Doctor Who fans!
- 14:37 – Doctor Who: Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS.
- 29:49 – Doctor Who: The Crimson Horror.
- 47:24 – Iron Man 3.
- 58:19 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 106:08 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 106:30 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Commentary #87: Doctor Who - The Rings of Akhaten

5 May 2013 (8:59am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 45 minutes and 54 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell and Keith Dunn sit down, bored, in front of the 2013 Doctor Who story, The Rings of Akhaten, and spout our usual nonsense!

Their god is feeling peckish, the Star Wars cantina denizens miss their band and, as it’s her second proper story, Clara’s contractually obliged to somehow save the day. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy The Rings of Akhaten...

Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #157: The Chilly Hide

28 April 2013 (8:38am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 23 minutes and 0 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler and the Real Keith Dunn discuss the new Doctor Who stories ‘Cold War’ and ‘Hide’, review Jeff Wayne’s ‘Musical Version of War of the Worlds’, play a game and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 01:17 — Welcome!
- 01:42 – News:
- 01:52 — Star Wars: Annual box office grab.
- 05:02 — Heroes: Microsoft to dig up the dead series?
- 07:39 — Futurama: DEAD (again)!
- 08:35 — Storm Thorgerson: DEAD!
- 09:36 – Doctor Who: Cold War.
- 21:21 – Game: The Unbelievable Truth.
- 28:29 – Doctor Who: Hide.
- 43:31 – Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of War of the Worlds, The New Generation.
- 55:42 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 78:09 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 79:28 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Commentary #86: Doctor Who - The Bells of Saint John

21 April 2013 (9:00am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 46 minutes and 56 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell and Keith Dunn sit down, downloaded, in front of the 2013 Doctor Who episode, ‘The Bells of Saint John’, and spout our usual nonsense!

Clara’s lost the Internet, Amy’s ripped off Enid Blyton and the monks fear the Doctor’s ring. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy Doctor Who: The Bells of Saint John...
Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #156: The Two Somethings of Something

14 April 2013 (8:32am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 51 minutes and 23 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler, the Real Keith Dunn and Scott Fuller discuss the new Doctor Who stories ‘The Bells of Saint John’ and ‘The Rings of Akhaten’, report on some recent convention activity, feel the ire of the Agony Nanny and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 01:05 — Welcome!
- 02:37 – News:
- 01:52 — Star Wars: LucasArts – DEAD!
- 03:57 — Misfits: DEAD! (soon).
- 05:34 — Iain (M) Banks: Dying.
- 07:17 — JMS: Sense8 coming to NetFlix.
- 08:59 — Blake’s 7: Syphy contracts the reimagining.
- 11:53 — David Tennant: Awkward scenes in The Politician’s Husband.
- 14:29 – Doctor Who: The Bells of Saint John.
- 24:54 – Nanny Ireland: The Agony Nanny.
- 26:40 – Doctor Who: The Rings of Akhaten.
- 40:09 – Convention reports: Dalek Invasion of Portsmouth 2013AD and Big Blue Box 2.
- 63:40 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 106:13 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 106:43 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #155: The Ranking of Doom

31 March 2013 (8:52am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 59 minutes and 50 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler, the Real Keith Dunn and Scott Fuller continue cataloguing their favourite Doctor Who stories and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 01:22 — Welcome!
- 02:37 – News:
- 02:46 — Doctor Who: Peter Jackson names his price.
- 04:08 — Firefly: Joss Whedon too busy to Kickstart.
- 06:59 — Doctor Who: Caroline Skinner: GONE!
- 10:22 — James Herbert: DEAD!
- 12:35 — Karen Gillan: Joins Adult Swim’s NTSF:SD:SUV.
- 14:22 — Doctor Who: Offical web site is a cesspit of spoilers.
- 15:52 — Justin Bieber: YouTube videos of death.
- 16:38 – Things in Five Words.
- 22:47 – Doctor Who: Favourite stories for each Doctor.
- 82:16 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 117:27 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 117:58 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
- Staggering Stories.
- Staggering Stories: Podcast Drinking Game, Fifth edition.
- BBC: Doctor Who.
- Wikipedia: Firefly (TV series).
- TARDIS Data Core: Caroline Skinner.
- Wikipedia: James Herbert.
- Wikipedia: NTSF:SD:SUV (National Terrorism Strike Force: San Diego: Sport Utility Vehicle).
- Adrian’s Link: Twinkies are coming back.
- Voyagers in the TARDIS.
- An Improbable Podcast.
- The Liberating Podcast.
- The Pratchett Podcast.
- Who The Man Podcast.
- Doctor Who Podcast Alliance.
- Facebook: Staggering Stories Group.
- Google+: Staggering Stories Page.
Staggering Stories Commentary #84: Doctor Who - Doomsday

24 March 2013 (11:02am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 48 minutes and 38 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, maltesered, in front of the Doctor Who episode, ‘Doomsday’, and spout our usual nonsense!

Pete’s feeling lively, Yvonne’s feeling chilly and Rose is feeling deceased (or is she?) But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy Doctor Who: Doomsday...

Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Commentary #83: Doctor Who - Army of Ghosts

24 March 2013 (11:02am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 44 minutes and 56 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, spooked, in front of the 2006 Doctor Who story, Army of Ghosts, and spout our usual nonsense!

The Doctor cosplays as a Ghostbuster, Jackie wants a bit of how’s her father, Torchwood likes its big thrusting tower and Derek is a fraud. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy Army of Ghosts...

Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #154: Eleven of the Best

17 March 2013 (10:57am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 29 minutes and 43 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn discuss the new BBC Radio 4 version of Neverwhere, catalogue our favourite Doctor Who stories and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 01:04 — Welcome!
- 02:26 – News:
- 02:39 — Doctor Who: Official three-day event in London.
- 05:54 — Star Wars: Luke, Leia and Han in Episode VII.
- 07:08 — Doctor Who RPG: First Doctor source book released.
- 13:36 — Star Wars – Clone Wars: DEAD!
- 14:58 — Amelia: Favourite name for baby girls in the UK.
- 17:34 – Doctor Who: Favourite stories for each Doctor.
- 51:18 – Neverwhere: Radio 4, episode one.
- 61:45 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 86:06 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 86:38 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #153: Every Dalek Loves Raymond

3 March 2013 (10:49am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 37 minutes and 24 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler and the Real Keith Dunn discuss Inspector Spacetime (specifically the Untitled Web Series About A Space Traveler Who Can Also Travel Through Time), play a game of Top Trumps, remember Dalek designer Raymond Cusick and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 01:16 — Welcome!
- 02:21 – News:
- 02:31 — Doctor Who: 3D Anniversary Special plus a Christmas Special but nothing more.
- 05:09 — Being Human & Primeval New World: DEAD!
- 10:07 — Atlantis: Merlin’s replacement named.
- 11:37 — Dead: Bernard Horsfall, Richard Briers, Elspet Gray and Raymond Cusick.
- 16:03 – Inspector Spacetime.
- 28:36 – Game: Top Trumps.
- 40:29 – Raymond Cusick.
- 54:46 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 90:32 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 91:55 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #152: The Gally Gallimaufry

24 February 2013 (10:58am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 17 minutes and 50 seconds

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Summary:
Andy Simpkins (back in the studio) and Adam J Purcell, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler and the Real Keith Dunn in Los Angeles, at the Gallifrey One Doctor Who convention, discuss the event, play a game, have a 30 second recommendation, talk with a Radiophonic genius and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 00:50 — Welcome!
- 01:30 – Game: Tea Duelling.
- 11:53 – 30 Second Recommendation: ‘Eon’ by Greg Bear.
- 12:38 – Gallifrey convention discussion.
- 31:02 – Post-Gallifrey convention discussion.
- 56:33 – Dr. Dick Mills.
- 74:48 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 75:22 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Commentary #81: Doctor Who - Fear Her

18 February 2013 (6:59am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 46 minutes and 52 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, rubbed out, in front of the 2006 Doctor Who story, Fear Her, and spout our usual nonsense!

The Doctor is carrying a torch, Rose is assaulted by a scribble and Chloe’s swallowed something nasty. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy Fear Her...

Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #151: Anniversary Dreaming

3 February 2013 (10:53am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 35 minutes and 11 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler and the Real Keith Dunn have hopes for the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary, discuss the Science Fiction books of their youths, play a game, find some general news and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 01:10 — Welcome!
- 03:08 – News:
- 03:20 — Doctor Who: 7B starts at Easter and Anniversary Special length.
- 05:09 — Star Wars: J J Abrams directing Episode 7.
- 09:10 — Alphas: Syfy cancels it, DEAD!
- 10:37 — Zombieland: Soon to be an Amazon original ‘TV’ programme.
- 13:31 — Corin Nemec: Has a little nautical accident.
- 15:26 — Doctor Who: ‘A Big Hand for the Doctor’ eBook released.
- 16:48 — Ted: Sequel for the fuzzy bear.
- 17:29 – Game: The Unbelievable Truth.
- 27:08 – Doctor Who: What we hope for in the 50th Anniversary.
- 43:27 – Science Fiction novels of our youth.
- 61:02 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 92:44 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 93:19 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Commentary #79: Doctor Who - Love and Monsters

27 January 2013 (10:39am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 47 minutes and 45 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, absorbed, in front of the 2006 Doctor Who story, Love and Monsters, and spout our usual nonsense!

Mr Skinner is feeling absorbed, Bliss is feeling absorbed, Bridget is feeling absorbed, Ursula is feeling absorbed and Elton is wanting some paving slab action. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy Love and Monsters...

Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #150: Streams of Indulgence

20 January 2013 (10:38am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 2 hours, 1 minutes and 3 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Jean Riddler and Keith Dunn talk about their worst TV Doctor Who stories, Science Fiction TV from the past 50 years, find some general news and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 01:23 — Welcome!
- 02:33 – News:
- 02:45 — Doctor Who: Big Finish’s The Five Doctors.
- 05:46 — Star Wars: TV series back from the dead?
- 07:45 — Star Wars: US White House refuses to build a Death Star.
- 09:09 — William Shatner: Tweeting a real astronaut, in space.
- 10:42 — William Shatner: Rock guitarist Michael Schenker uses the Shat.
- 12:32 — Doctor Who: Troughton Yeti production stills discovered.
- 13:56 — Staggering Stories: Keith spotted by a listener!
- 17:34 – Doctor Who: Our least favourite stories.
- 50:00 – Fifty years of TV Science Fiction.
- 99:04 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 117:20 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 117:51 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Commentary #78: Doctor Who - The Snowmen

13 January 2013 (11:13am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 3 minutes and 3 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, snowmanned, in front of the 2012 Doctor Who story, The Snowmen, and spout our usual nonsense!

The Doctor’s put aside his bow tie, Strax is desperate for a grenade and Clara’s about to fall to Earth. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy The Snowmen...

Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #149: Straddling the Bongs

6 January 2013 (12:10pm GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 52 minutes and 40 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Fake Crumbly, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler and the Real Keith Dunn talk about the Doctor Who: ‘The Snowmen’, our Predictions, Hopes and Dreams, and Fears for 2013, see how wrong we were about our Predictions for 2012, find some general news and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 01:10 — Welcome!
- 01:58 – News:
- 02:08 — Doctor Who: Anniversary stamps.
- 06:46 — The Twilight Zone: CBS looking to make a new series.
- 05:43 — Radio Times Poll: Sci-Fi & fantasy down in the poll.
- 08:00 — Gerry Anderson: DEAD!
- 09:52 — Drinking Game!
- 10:36 — Doctor Who RPG: More expansions, finally!
- 14:30 — Boxing Day Sales: Zombie customers.
- 16:00 – The News Quiz 2012.
- 21:48 – Predictions, Fears and Hopes & Dreams for the future:
- 21:54 — How wrong we were: Predictions for 2012.
- 28:56 — Predictions for 2013.
- 38:36 — How wrong we were: Hopes and Dreams for 2012.
- 44:12 — Hopes and Dreams for 2013.
- 53:55 — How wrong we were: Fears for 2012.
- 59:49 — Fears for 2013.
- 64:58 – Doctor Who: The Snowmen.
- 84:04 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 99:16 — New Year’s Bongs!
- 106:00 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 106:43 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #148: A Solstice Game

23 December 2012 (11:02am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 30 minutes and 33 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler and the Real Keith Dunn ‘write’ their own Doctor Who Christmas Special, discuss The Hobbit and Jeff Wayne’s War of the Worlds, play some festive games of Name That Sci-Fi Tune, Swanee-Kazoo and Pass the Parcel, pull some Christmas Crackers, find some general news and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 02:15 — Welcome!
- 04:18 – News:
- 04:26 — Doctor Who: Anniversary audios, books and Christmas Special tie-in eBook.
- 06:46 — Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell: BBC TV adaptation.
- 08:17 — Tron 3: New writer and returning star.
- 12:09 — Lapcat: Design stolen from Thunderbirds?
- 13:04 — Daily Mail: Where’s the Pond-like outrage?
- 14:02 — Huffington Post: Explaining Doctor Who.
- 14:53 — The Big Bang Theory: Carnal activities in a Police Box.
- 16:00 – Name That Sci-Fi Tune.
- 25:04 – Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds: The New Generation.
- 33:54 – Christmas Crackers!
- 45:41 – Doctor Who: Our Staggering Christmas story.
- 51:30 – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
- 65:37 – Swanee-Kazoo: Christmas Carols.
- 67:21 – Pass the Parcel: Christmas Sci-Fi Quiz.
- 75:20 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 83:35 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 84:59 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Commentary #76: Doctor Who - The Satan Pit

16 December 2012 (10:58am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 48 minutes and 33 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, bestially, in front of the 2012 Doctor Who story, The Satan Pit, and spout our usual nonsense!

The Ood are rampant, the Beast has entered Toby and the Doctor is feeling tiny. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy The Satan Pit...

Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Commentary #75: Doctor Who - The Impossible Planet

16 December 2012 (10:58am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 47 minutes and 5 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, sanctuaried, in front of the 2012 Doctor Who episode, The Impossible Planet, and spout our usual nonsense!

Rose feels abandoned, the Doctor is feeling trapped and the Beast is coming. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy The Impossible Planet...

Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #147: Bleating Backstory

9 December 2012 (10:57am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 29 minutes and 35 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler and the Real Keith Dunn discuss Doctor Who’s backstory, David Tennant’s new film Nativity 2, how Merlin should end and what should replace it, plus play a game of Extreme Tea Duelling, have a 30 Second Recommendation, find some general news and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 01:15 — Welcome!
- 02:18 – News:
- 02:48 — Merlin: DEAD!
- 04:25 — Star Wars: Original trilogy screenwriter strikes back.
- 06:50 — Community: Chase is off.
- 09:50 — Dinah Sheridan: DEAD!
- 11:50 — End of the World: Have a Gally con in Limbo!
- 13:51 — Neverwhere: BBC Radio adaptation in Spring 2013.
- 16:17 — Twitter: Now Adam is being stalked by a Pond!
- 17:52 – Merlin: How should it end?
- 28:39 – What should replace Merlin?
- 38:09 – 30 Second Recommendation: Community.
- 40:08 – Extreme Tea Duelling: A Space Odyssey.
- 43:59 – Nativity 2: Danger in the Manger.
- 48:43 – Doctor Who: Should we see more of the Doctor’s backstory?
- 64:41 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 84:02 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 84:56 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Acquisition Links (Amazon UK):
- Amazon.co.uk: Community, Season One.
- Amazon.co.uk: Community, Season Two.
Acquisition Links (Amazon US):
Staggering Stories Podcast #146: Prequel of Festivity

25 November 2012 (10:32am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 29 minutes and 44 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Fake Keith and the Real Keith Dunn discuss the Doctor Who Christmas 2012 Prequel – The Great Detective and the new Red Dwarf X episode The Beginning, play a game of Things in Five Words, find some general news and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 00:45 — Welcome!
- 02:58 – News:
- 03:22 — Doctor Who: Kingston reads The Angel’s Kiss.
- 04:08 — The Tomorrow People: US Network wants to resurrect ITV children’s TV series.
- 06:54 — SHIELD: Two Brits added to Avenger’s Assemble spin-off TV series.
- 08:12 — Battlestar Galatica: Blood and Chrome web series out now.
- 10:41 — Star Trek: Daily Mail denies Barrowman’s bottom.
- 11:25 — Podcasting: Fellow podcaster Ken Deep, of Podshock, has heart attack but is now okay.
- 12:09 — Doctor Who: Amy and Rory in real 1950s painting?
- 14:05 — Doctor Who: John Lewis snowman advert – are they Weaping Angels?
- 15:07 – Doctor Who: Children in Need Christmas 2012 Prequel – The Great Detective.
- 26:56 – Things in Five Words.
- 36:36 – Red Dwarf X: The Beginning.
- 48:47 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 85:57 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 86:32 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Acquisition Links (Amazon UK):
- Amazon.co.uk: Red Dwarf X Blu-Ray.
- Amazon.co.uk: Red Dwarf X DVD.
Staggering Stories Commentary #73: Doctor Who - The Angels Take Manhattan

18 November 2012 (8:46am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 48 minutes and 33 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, suicidal, in front of the 2012 Doctor Who story, The Angels Take Manhattan, and spout our usual nonsense!

Rory is feeling farmed, Amy is wanting her man and the Doctor is bouncing off parts of New York. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy The Angels Take Manhattan...

Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #145: Escape from the Throat

11 November 2012 (10:36am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 15 minutes and 21 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Jean Riddler and Keith Dunn discuss one of their Doctor Who birth stories plus Doctor Who: The Visitation, the new Red Dwarf episodes Entangled & Dear Dave and this whole business about Disney buying Lucasfilm, find some general news and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 00:57 — Welcome!
- 01:47 – News:
- 01:55 — Doctor Who: Christmas Prequel on Children in Need.
- 03:44 — Star Wars: Disney buys out George Lucas.
- 05:50 — Community: Season Four dated on NBC for 7th February 2013.
- 07:29 — US Presidential Elections: Joss Whedon ‘endorses’ Mitt Romney.
- 08:29 — Doctor Who: BBC newsreader dresses as a Sontaran!
- 09:26 — The Hobbit: Air New Zealand Hobbit safety video.
- 10:19 — The Colin Baker: Reality TV victim.
- 12:23 — Doctor Who: Whostrology book now available!
- 12:47 – Doctor Who: Our birth stories – The Web Planet
- 16:09 – Doctor Who: The Visitation
- 33:13 – Star Wars: What does the Disney buyout mean?
- 48:59 – Red Dwarf X: Entangled and Dear Dave.
- 59:43 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 69:32 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 70:10 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Acquisition Links (Amazon UK):
Acquisition Links (Amazon US):
Staggering Stories Commentary #72: Doctor Who - The Power of Three

4 November 2012 (11:27am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 43 minutes and 2 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, rubixed, in front of the 2012 Doctor Who story, ‘The Power of Three’, and spout our usual nonsense!

The Doctor can’t give them up, Amy and Rory are losing their lust for adventure and Brian’s cubely obsessed. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy Doctor Who: The Power of Three...

Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #144: Birthing Doctor Who

28 October 2012 (11:07am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 8 minutes and 2 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Fake Keith and the Real Keith Dunn discuss their Doctor Who birth stories, the new Red Dwarf episodes Fathers and Suns & Lemons, find some general news and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 00:57 — Welcome!
- 01:44 – News:
- 01:47 — Doctor Who: 7B writers, including Gaiman.
- 03:12 — Doctor Who: Christmas Special dated, for Christmas!
- 04:17 — Community: On indefinite broadcast hiatus – again.
- 06:26 — Elysium and Robocop: New films bumped back.
- 07:56 — Paul Cornell: Now a father.
- 08:25 — Merchandise: Sci-Fi and fantasy rings.
- 09:08 — Barrowman: Moons all the Star Trek captains.
- 11:52 – Doctor Who: Our birth stories:
- 13:39 — Planet of the Spiders.
- 21:08 — The Reign of Terror.
- 25:10 — Planet of the Giants.
- 30:10 — The Space Pirates.
- 32:08 — Whostrology – quick Q&A with author Michael M Gilroy-Sinclair.
- 42:24 – Red Dwarf X: Fathers and Suns & Lemons.
- 53:19 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 62:47 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 63:17 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Acquisition Links (Amazon UK):
Acquisition Links (Amazon US):
Staggering Stories Commentary #71: Doctor Who - A Town Called Mercy

21 October 2012 (8:25am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 46 minutes and 8 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, high nooned, in front of the 2012 Doctor Who story, A Town Called Mercy, and spout our usual nonsense!

The Doctor’s not liking his mirror, Amy’s shooting crazy and the townsfolk feel besieged. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy A Town Called Mercy...

Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #143: Bye, Bye Pond

14 October 2012 (8:21am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 35 minutes and 26 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler and the Real Keith Dunn discuss the new Doctor Who story The Angels Take Manhattan, the new Red Dwarf episode Trojan, find some general news and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 02:00 — Welcome!
- 02:28 – News:
- 02:38 — Doctor Who: Now Australia wants some Who action!
- 04:08 — Babylon 5: Michael O’Hare – DEAD!
- 06:10 — JMS and Wachowskis: New TV series ‘Sense8′ in the works.
- 08:27 — Stan Lee: Now bionic!
- 09:16 — World of Warcraft: Death in the cities!
- 10:24 — Matt Smith: Top Gear, breaks Who track times.
- 11:29 — Death: Sci-Fi coffins for sale.
- 13:13 — Doctor Who: New UNIT RPG supplement.
- 14:28 — Quickfire Plug: Novelisation of the Rush ablum Clockwork Angels, out now!
- 15:03 — Dredd: USA let us down, film bombs in the US.
- 16:09 – Doctor Who: The Angels Take Manhattan.
- 39:19 – Jean’s autograph book quest.
- 40:39 – Extreme Tea Duelling.
- 44:48 – Red Dwarf X: Trojan.
- 56:08 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 87:20 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 88:01 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Commentary #70: Doctor Who - Dinosaurs on a Spaceship

7 October 2012 (8:47am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 50 minutes and 10 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, side-split, in front of the 2012 Doctor Who story, ‘Dinosaurs on a Spaceship’, and spout our usual nonsense!

Riddell and Nefi are up a tree, Rory’s Dad has regenerated after the wedding and the writer’s apparently taken an early holiday. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy Doctor Who: Dinosaurs on a Spaceship...

NOTE: apologies for the audio quality, one of the two mics failed…

Vital Links:
Now available - Doctor Who: The Angel's Kiss

4 October 2012 (10:19am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds

Today is finally the day that the tie in novel for The Angels Take Manhattan is published.

Here’s the blurb:

On some days, New York is one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

This was one of the other days...

Melody Malone, owner and sole employee of the Angel Detective Agency, has an unexpected caller. It's movie star Rock Railton, and he thinks someone is out to kill him. When he mentions the 'kiss of the Angel', she takes the case. Angels are Melody's business...

At the press party for Railton's latest movie, studio owner Max Kliener invites Melody to the film set of their next blockbuster. He's obviously spotted her potential, and Melody is flattered when Kliener asks her to become a star. But the cost of fame, she'll soon discover, is greater than anyone could possibly imagine.

Will Melody be able to escape Kliener's dastardly plan - before the Angels take Manhattan?

I can’t seem to find it on the Google Play bookstore but it is available on Amazon, eBook only. I have no idea about Apple bookstore. For your convenience (and as a little experiment on my part) you can purchase from Amazon UK or US here:
Staggering Stories Podcast #142: The Power of a Game Called Mercy

30 September 2012 (8:44am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 25 minutes and 56 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler and the Real Keith Dunn discuss the new Doctor Who stories A Town Called Mercy and The Power of Three, review the new Judge Dredd film known only as Dredd, find some general news and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 00:55 — Welcome!
- 02:47 – News:
- 02:55 — Doctor Who: Five Doctors unite to help Janet Fielding.
- 04:44 — Amanda Tapping: Recuring role on Supernatural.
- 05:29 — Alfonso Cuaron & J.J. Abrams: New genre TV series.
- 07:25 — Manimal: Hollywood gets even more desperate.
- 10:10 — Doctor Who: Peter Jackson interested in directing?
- 12:17 — Quickfire Plug: Novelisation of the Rush ablum Clockwork Angels, out now!
- 12:28 — Quickfire Plug: Red Dwarf X starts on Dave, 9pm 4th October 2012.
- 12:38 — Quickfire Plug: Iain M Banks’ new Culture novel The Hydrogen Sonata published 9th October 2012.
- 12:41 — Quickfire Plug: Ben Aaronovitch’s Rivers of London novel, out for a while but still really, really good!
- 12:21 – Doctor Who: A Town Called Mercy.
- 25:15 – Doctor Who: The Power of Three.
- 41:43 – Dredd (the 2012 film).
- 56:43 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 79:20 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 81:18 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Commentary #69: Doctor Who - Asylum of the Daleks

23 September 2012 (8:24am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 53 minutes and 3 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, nanogened, in front of the 2012 Doctor Who story, Asylum of the Daleks, and spout our usual nonsense!

Amy’s all about the hate, Rory is feeling rejected and the iDaleks have rightly shrunk into the background out of self loathing. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy Asylum of the Daleks...

NOTE: apologies for the audio quality, one of the two mics failed…

Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #141: TV Movies of the Week

16 September 2012 (8:42am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 25 minutes and 46 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler and the Real Keith Dunn discuss the new Doctor Who stories Asylum of the Daleks and Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, fondly look back at the recent Doctor Who convention Whooverville 4, play some games, find some general news and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 01:11 — Welcome!
- 02:12 – News:
- 03:00 — Doctor Who: Another Hugo win, this time Neil Gaiman gets it.
- 03:46 — Steven Moffat: Twitter quitter.
- 04:52 — Joss Whedon: His Marvel TV series pilot called SHIELD.
- 05:47 — Red Dwarf: New series starts on the 4th October 2012 on Dave.
- 08:00 — DEAD: Michael Clarke Duncan and the legend Neil Armstrong.
- 09:13 — Jean Riddler: Finished her Olympic duties.
- 12:21 – Whooverville 4 Doctor Who convention.
- 20:40 – Doctor Who: Asylum of the Daleks and Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.
- 46:11 – Extreme Tea Duelling.
- 51:59 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 83:57 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 84:16 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Random thoughts on Doctor Who: Dinosaurs on a Spaceship

12 September 2012 (8:48pm GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds

Let’s cut straight to the chase here, I didn’t enjoy Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.

The other night we recorded Staggering Stories Podcast 141, where we discussed this episode (and Asylum of the Daleks). I was given the opportunity to rant about Dinosaurs on a Spaceship but I found I just couldn’t. It’s not that I didn’t want to but, when the time came, I just couldn’t perform! The problem was that I just couldn’t quite figure out what I didn’t like about it. That’s the problem with liking or disliking things, often you don’t really know why. It’s an emotion and that all happens in the more primitive, subconscious, parts of the mind. Nonetheless, after a routine night of not being able to sleep, because of all the oh-so-dark thoughts that constantly hurtle around my brain, I think I may have figured it out…

Dinosaurs on a Spaceship was trying to be a comedy. Such things are always subjective, comedy more than most. Script writing is an art and comedy is another art again, fusing them is always difficult and you’ll never please all of the people any of the time! Now, don’t worry, I won’t get into the discussion on how Hollywood are trying to turn the art of filmmaking into a science, though given how much this episode of Doctor Who relied on common Hollywood formulae, perhaps it wouldn’t be entirely out of place! Anyway, it seems that the vast majority of people enjoyed it and even found it funny. I barely laughed.

My frame of mind at the time my be considered relevant here. To get into the mood for Dinosaurs on a Spaceship I watched, back to back, A Good Man Goes to War and Let’s Kill Hitler, directly before. I had no real knowledge of the upcoming episode, other than its name. I didn’t know if the eponymous Dinosaurs were real, mechanical or even outright imaginary. Nor did I know anything about the guest stars or characters. Basically I knew nothing, I hadn’t even watched the ‘next time’ trailer at the end of Asylum of the Daleks. I was going in cold but for the fine warm up double act of A Good Man Goes to War and Let’s Kill Hitler. I greatly enjoyed rewatching those two ‘old’ episodes and laughed many times. I was in a good mood. That wasn’t the problem.

Sat there watching the new episode, with its comedy double act robots and golf ball chasing dinosaur, I just thought it was silly, rather embarrassing and generally (as I said to myself at the time) rubbish. I honestly expected a severe backlash against this episode due to how childish it was. Clearly I was very wrong!

I normally enjoy Mitchell and Webb’s work but bringing them in as the robots gave me a nasty flash back to the likes of Hale and Pace in the last ever broadcast Classic Doctor Who story, Survival. True, it’s not the first time that New Who has called upon comedians to ‘fun it up’, with perhaps the most blatant being Lee Evan’s Malcolm from Planet of the Dead. This time we had bickering robots, though. Cheesoid this is not! It wasn’t just the robots or the dog-like triceratops but the tone of the whole thing and the general lack of any real drama. Oh and the comedic robots then suddenly slaughter the aforementioned innocent triceratops. Mixed messages?

It’s time for me to accept that it isn’t you, Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, it’s me. Some almost primal fear that was instilled in me as a teenager, that everybody will suddenly hate Doctor Who (again), welled up. Note that I had no such problem with the abundant humour in A Good Man Goes to War and Let’s Kill Hitler. I’d like to think that’s because it was just smarter humour in those Moffat penned episodes – no contrived testicle gags, for example! Then there’s the convenient picking up of a big game hunter – why did the Doctor do that, exactly? Yet another literal count down to destruction? The two control chairs needing familial DNA, really? Yes, all plots are engineered with the best crafted to near perfection but this one was still rather showing its workings out in the margins. Things you can probably accept if you enjoyed the experience. A few people have said of this episode that you shouldn’t complain about such trivial matters, with a title such as it has, you knew going in it wasn’t a serious one (as if that’s really an excuse for lazy writing). The point is, if you don’t enjoy something you may not really be able to say why and all you can latch onto are those untidy little bits but they aren’t generally the cause, at least not wholly.

I may never like Dinosaurs on a Spaceship or I may get lucky, as I did with Victory of the Daleks, and have an enjoyment epiphany after three or four watches. Time will tell. Even if not, it doesn’t really matter – not even for my ongoing enjoyment of Doctor Who, let alone the bigger picture. It’s just one episode and they’ll be another along next week. It’s just ironic that it is probably my deep seated fear that Doctor Who will become something of a laughing stock again, hated or dismissed (as it seemed to be in the mid to late 1980s) that actually prevented me from enjoying it myself. I so want everyone to love every episode of Doctor Who (most of all me) but I think that has at the very least contributed to me not liking one at all…
Staggering Stories Commentary #68: Doctor Who - The Idiot's Lantern

9 September 2012 (8:32am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 47 minutes and 31 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, coronated, in front of the 2006 Doctor Who story, The Idiot’s Lantern, and spout our usual nonsense!

The Doctor’s having a bad hair day, the Wire’s permanently on TV and Rose has lost some face. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy The Idiot’s Lantern...

Vital Links:
Random thoughts on Doctor Who: Asylum of the Daleks

7 September 2012 (8:27am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 minutes and 0 seconds

Given we won’t be recording our podcast review of Asylum of the Daleks for several more days yet (after the next episode of Doctor Who airs, in fact), I think I should put down a few random thoughts now, before that next episodes goes out.

The first and most obvious one – was that the new companion appearing much earlier than expected? At first I thought ‘that can’t be her, just someone that looks like her, surely?’ It quickly became clear it was at least Jenna-Louise Coleman but was it this ‘Clara’ character? The jury’s still out on that one but if it is her, then how? I can’t believe Moffat will pull another River Song, seeing her death before the Doctor properly meets her, if for no other reason than that was a rubbish way to die (assuming she did!) Modern day companions (and indeed Doctors) should die heroically, saving other characters we care about. Maybe technically Oswin did but it didn’t really feel that way. Also, why didn’t she remember the Doctor? The horrific Dalek conversion? Maybe but a little too neat, I’d have expected some trace memory at the end, if only to intrigue the Doctor and entice the majority of the viewers who won’t have known who she was.

Talking of Dalek conversions, I think we’ve only ever seen Davros do this in the past and it doesn’t seem to fit into the racial purity of the Daleks themselves, let alone the ‘new paradigm’ lot. Of course perhaps Oswin was from an earlier non-pure era (perhaps even from Necros). On the subject of that earlier era, it is interesting that so many of the Doctor’s past battles with the Daleks were referenced, did the Time War have so little effect (besides upgrading most of the survivors casings?!)

The Dalek Supreme is now calling itself Prime Minister, eh? Complete with a Parliament, no less? I can’t imagine left wing Dalek political parties do too well in the Dalek elections! I suppose Moffat is trying to suggest a new start for the Daleks, a continuation of that theme from Victory of the Daleks. Now they don’t even remember the Doctor. Isn’t is convenient that their minds are all now linked?! I could buy that all of their onboard computers are linked and, as is slowly happening to humanity, they rely on their computers to remember nearly everything for them but actively wiping their short term memory, too? They really must be cyborgs now.

Then there’s the Ponds (or Williamses, technically!) I hadn’t watched the ‘Pond Life’ prequel shorts, for fear of spoilers, so it was a total surprise when it was revealed that they were divorcing. It was rather less of a surprise that Amy was instigating it, for yes, we have long been shown that Rory cares for her more than she does him. She has her moments, when she is reminded of him in some extraordinarily positive light (such as his waiting nearly 2000 years for her or just plain dying again) but, of the two, only one has never, could never, wander (holographic siren doctors aside!)

Compressed story telling, so we were warned to expect. The cleverest man in the room fixes Amy and Rory’s relationship with a some slight of hand, both physical and psychological. Was that all of 30 seconds screen time, including the straightening of his bow tie? It may have been compressed but it was nonetheless strong stuff and was so neatly spelled out that they didn’t need an hour to build up to it or ten minutes to resolve it. It really is a testament to Gillan and Darvill’s acting and Moffat’s character building for the past two years. This isn’t your old school Doctor Who, this is proper drama and really quite brave stuff for a programme that is aimed at family viewing. Plot-wise it does raise the question of will the Doctor help them in their baby making dreams? A quick visit to some future super-advanced medical facility should be able to quickly fix whatever problems Demons Run inflicted on Amy, I would think. Is that the ‘heartbreaking’ end Moffat has in store for the Ponds, them living happily ever after with a new baby? Probably not as that’s probably more ‘heartwarming’ but this is Moffat, so don’t forget Rule Number One!

Should we expect more medical drama in the form of the Dalek nanogenes still affected Amy? I suspect not. It wasn’t explicitly stated but I get the feeling they were brought back under control and then eradicated by the bracelet. If not then the lack of threat after Amy and Rory’s reconciliation, not to mention the Doctor casually dropping them off home, would seem to be sloppy writing at best (possibly hand waved away by saying the Doctor doesn’t realise the threat but in that case it should still be raised again for the audience, in a ‘you know something the Doctor doesn’t’ sort of way). If Amy starts behaving mechanically and eating nothing but Smarties then maybe she’s in trouble!

On the subject of these new ‘robomen’, the partially converted Dalek servants, let me go all stand-up and say, what was that all about?! They have the Moffat trademark of potentially being popular in the school playground – kids could pretend an eyestalk is popping out of their head and gun out of their hand. The dead ones were particularly nightmare-fuelling. The idea of trespassers being integrated into the defence systems was good, too. Still, didn’t it seem just a little silly to anyone else? Why have a Dalek eye-stalk come out of someone’s head? True, the long dead crew’s eyes probably weren’t working so well after all that smelly rotting but their bodies could have (should have?) been converted before bits started falling off them – alive or dead, it’s all the same to the nanogenes, so why should the dead ones be any more decayed than the apparent survivor? Picky, I know, but it’s a shame that ‘every Dalek, ever’ got such short shrift when they could have taken the screen time of these illogical zombies.

I am beginning to sound a little negative but, on the whole, I don’t feel that way about the episode. True, it wasn’t an instant favourite such as the likes of The Eleventh Hour or The Big Bang were for me. It was a runaround of an adventure that, besides a bit of much needed Dalek reworking, felt a little throwaway. Clearly ‘Oswin Oswald’ is leading somewhere (‘Oswald’, really? Coming up to the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who and JFK’s bullet catching? A bit on the nose, perhaps?) Also the reiteration of ‘Doctor Who?’ (two stories in a row now, ignoring the 2011 Christmas Special) is clearly leading to something. Presumably the fields of Trenzalore and all that but I don’t believe (and certainly hope) that Moffat really intends to name the Doctor. What would be the point? He has a functional name that we know him by and short of revealing him to be god, the devil or some Doctor Who specific mythical figure, I can’t see there’s anything to be gained by giving him yet another moniker (John Smith, Theta Sigma, The Other…)

Anyway, I’m getting off topic. I’d award Asylum of the Daleks a B-, good corridor running fun with the added pleasure in seeing the hated ‘new paradigm’ Daleks melting into the background, hopefully soon to disappear completely (though the red Dalek, one time referred to as the ‘drone’, does look rather better with the darker red metallic paint job, though). With luck we’ll never have the chance to be told what an Eternal Dalek does!

All in all, a good, energetic start to the new season, clearly intended to win over those casual viewers but keep the interest for us old fans. Now only four more to go until bye, bye Pond and then Christmas…
Staggering Stories Podcast #140: What If... Eccleston Had Lived

1 September 2012 (6:17pm GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 20 minutes and 39 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Fake Keith, Jean Riddler and the Real Keith Dunn discuss what might have been if Christopher Eccleston had done a second season of Doctor Who, review Seth MacFarlane’s Ted, look back on Harry Harrison’s work, play some games, find some general news and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 01:23 — Welcome!
- 02:46 – News:
- 03:00 — Doctor Who: 50 anniversary Docu-Drama to be Gatissed.
- 04:43 — John Barrowman: Taking an Arrow.
- 06:12 — Joss Whedon: Doing Avengers 2 and a Marvel TV series.
- 07:19 — Harry Harrison: SF author – DEAD!
- 08:10 — ALF: He’s back – in CG form.
- 09:13 — Tony Scott: Director/Producer takes his own life.
- 10:42 — Doctor Who Magazine: Losing yet more readers.
- 11:57 — Doctor Who RPG: Info on the Time Traveller’s Companion supplement.
- 13:05 — Doctor Who: Changing opening credits for each new episode?
- 15:18 – Opening Andre’s care package.
- 18:02 – Ted (the 2012 film by Seth MacFarlane).
- 28:06 – Just a Minute.
- 33:25 – Harry Harrison.
- 43:21 – Doctor Who: What if… the Ninth Doctor did a second season?
- 55:16 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 73:55 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 74:31 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #139: Tomorrow's TV

19 August 2012 (8:15am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 7 minutes and 7 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn discuss hopes and fears for the upcoming S7 of Doctor Who, do much the same for the proposed US remake of Blake’s 7, play some Things in Five words, find some general news and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 01:22 — Welcome!
- 02:21 – News:
- 02:36 — Doctor Who: Mary Tamm and Geoffrey Hughes – DEAD.
- 04:49 — Blake’s 7: US remake on the cards.
- 05:41 — The Hobbit: Now there are three of them.
- 09:56 — Doctor Who: Richard E. Grant in Christmas Special.
- 12:14 — Christopher Eccleston: Cast as villain in Thor 2.
- 14:30 – Doctor Who: Hopes and fears for S7.
- 26:52 – Things in Five Words.
- 34:17 – Blake’s 7: Thoughts on the possible US remake.
- 47:20 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself at show@StaggeringStories.net
- 63:12 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 71:07 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
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Staggering Stories Commentary #66: Doctor Who - The Age of Steel

12 August 2012 (8:54am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 49 minutes and 24 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, deleted, in front of the 2006 Doctor Who episode, The Age of Steel, and spout our usual nonsense!

Mickey’s seeing double, Rose’s in a waitresses outfit and the Doctor’s turned into a penguin. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy Doctor Who: The Age of Steel...

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Staggering Stories Commentary #65: Doctor Who - Rise of the Cybermen

12 August 2012 (8:53am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 47 minutes and 33 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, upgraded, in front of the 2006 Doctor Who episode, Rise of the Cybermen, and spout our usual nonsense!

Lumic thinks he’s Davros, Rose is a dog and the Cybermen crave more brains. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy Doctor Who: Rise of the Cybermen...

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Staggering Stories Podcast #138: The Dank Vogon Rises

5 August 2012 (8:31am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 13 minutes and 51 seconds

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Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn discuss who should, could and shouldn’t take over Doctor Who after Moffat, review The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Radio Show Live and The Dark Knight Rises, invite over dream dinner guests, find some general news and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 00:58 — Welcome!
- 01:59 – News:
- 02:09 — Doctor Who: 50th anniversary ‘docu-drama’?
- 03:41 — Black Mirror: Three more episodes coming.
- 04:50 — Neil Gaiman: Returning to The Sandman.
- 06:46 — JMS: Straczynski back to TV and starts Studio JMS.
- 09:32 — Jeffery’s Tubes: British sailing ship has Jefferies tubes.
- 11:03 — Claudia Christian: Kiss and tell book.
- 14:34 – Doctor Who: The next show runner should be..?
- 31:02 – Crumbly’s Dinner Party Guests.
- 37:10 – The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Radio Show, Live!
- 50:02 – The Dark Knight Rises.
- 41:12 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 64:00 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself atA show@StaggeringStories.net
- 71:07 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
- Staggering Stories.
- Staggering Stories: Podcast Drinking Game, Fifth edition.
- BBC: Doctor Who.
- Channel 4: Black Mirror.
- Neil Gaiman.
- J. Michael Straczynski.
- Wikipedia: Jefferies Tube.
- Wikipedia: Claudia Christian.
- Claudia Christian.
- Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy Radio Show Live.
- Wikipedia: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.
- Warner Brothers: The Dark Knight Rises.
- Doctor Who Podcast Alliance.
- Facebook: Staggering Stories Group.
- Google+: Staggering Stories Page.
Staggering Stories Commentary #64: Babylon 5 - Divided Loyalties

29 July 2012 (8:16am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 43 minutes and 14 seconds

Direct Podcast Download
Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins and Keith Dunn sit down, tratoring, in front of the Babylon 5 second season episode, Divided Loyalties, and spout our usual nonsense!

Susan has a dark secret, Lyta has the stare and Talia has a headache. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy Divided Loyalties...

Vital Links:
Staggering Stories Podcast #137: Scaring Little Children Since 1963

22 July 2012 (8:50am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 1 hours, 1 minutes and 47 seconds

Direct Podcast Download
Summary:
Adam J Purcell, Andy Simpkins, Fake Keith and the Real Keith Dunn discuss if Doctor Who needs to be scary, review The Amazing Spider-Man, invite over dream dinner guests, find some general news and a variety of other stuff, specifically:
- 00:00 – Intro and theme tune.
- 01:05 — Welcome!
- 03:10 – News:
- 03:05 — Doctor Who: More guests stars announced.
- 04:58 — Ernest Borgnine: DEAD!
- 06:12 — True Blood: Sixth season confirmed.
- 08:00 — Doctor Who: Possible spoiler for S7.
- 10:59 – The Amazing Spider-Man.
- 24:37 – Adam’s Dinner Party Guests.
- 30:02 – Does Doctor Who have to be scary?
- 41:12 – Farewell for this podcast!
- 56:39 – Emails and listener feedback.* Hit us yourself atA show@StaggeringStories.net
- 57:29 — End theme, disclaimer, copyright, etc.
Vital Links:
- Staggering Stories.
- Staggering Stories: Podcast Drinking Game, Fifth edition.
- BBC: Doctor Who.
- Wikipedia: Ernest Borgnine.
- HBO: True Blood.
- Wikipedia: True Blood.
- Sony: The Amazing Spider-Man.
- Doctor Who Podcast Alliance.
- Facebook: Staggering Stories Group.
Staggering Stories Commentary #63: Doctor Who - The Girl in the Fireplace

15 July 2012 (8:46am GMT)
Episode Duration: 0 days, 0 hours, 46 minutes and 21 seconds

Direct Podcast Download
Summary:
Adam J Purcell, ‘Fake Keith’ and the Real Keith Dunn sit down, pre-Ponded, in front of the 2006 Doctor Who story, The Girl in the Fireplace, and spout our usual nonsense!

The Doctor’s got a new mistress, Rose is feeling dumped, Mickey’s just making up the numbers and Arthur is a horse. But enough of their problems, please sit down with us to enjoy Doctor Who: The Girl in the Fireplace...

Vital Links:

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