Always Foolish: A Positive Doctor Who Podcast

Firstly, are you OK? On June 10th we got the news that the 2026 Christmas special had been cancelled, RTD/Bad Wolf were gone and the show had been put out to tender. And people went a little crazy. But what does this all mean? Well don't worry, David and Tom are here to explain why things are actually probably sort of fine, and breakdown all the new Doctor Who stuff that is coming over the next fe...

David's soon to be back from his travels, but for now here's the next instalment of quiz game, so play along at home! Will Tom find the fake Big Finish story this time? Or will he be saddled with yet another piece of unwanted Japanese tat? Is this Scunthorpe? Who is David's most goblinesque friend? Will Tom finally break when Lady Christina meets Harry Sullivan? Bazoingo amirite? Answers to all th...

David's off on his jollies (he's in New Zealand as you're reading this, can you spot him?) so here's the next instalment of quiz game, so play along at home! Can Tom work out which of these Big Finish stories is a big fake? Does David need to go into so much detail about the Churchill Years? Does Sergeant Andy have Dyslexia? How would pig-hamlet go? Answers to all these questions on this episode o...

David's still on his jollies around the world, so it's time for Tom to challenge David to once more determine which of these weird eighth doctor novels is a fake? If he can't, David will punish himself by buying something he hates in Japan to lug around with him forever more. Has the Time Hotel been done before? Why does anything happen in these books? Who presents Sandi Tovskig's Richard Osman's...

On this episode we're not hitting snooze on Mark Gatiss' series 9 fiendish found footage film, Sleep No More. How should the critique of capitalism be drawn out more? Is Reece Shearsmith acting, or is he just like that? Isn't the implementation of found footage sorta excellent? Is Tom Blair Witching out? Why isn't this episode scary, and how can we change that? What would Clara vlog about? How sho...

On this episode David takes Tom through his weird experience at Chris Chibnall's book launch, including a few Doctor Whoy tidbits that you probably won't hear anywhere else. How did Chibnall bring his own experiences to his detective novel? Is David a long lost Chibnall son? What were the greatest successes of the 13th Doctor's era? How would a weeping angel do at Total Wipeout? What made Flux so...

Welcome to the second Dimensions in time Loop, our yearly tradition where we find new ways to lose our minds over Doctor Who's bizarre Eastenders crossover, Dimensions in Time (1993). Is Mandy the worst politician in British history? (Yes, Tom has the stats)! How much would David spend on a Silurian murder board? Is this in fact purgatory? Are we seeing the wilderness years made manifest? What exa...

It's another in person quiz, pitting Tom and Secret Third Member in a contest to see who knows David's sense of humour better? Can they distinguish him from an AI? What is Time Vogue? What if Alex Trebek did stuff? Should David have made this episode? (No). Answers to all these questions on this episode of Always Foolish. Also sorry for the slightly echoey audio in this episode. We're trialling a...

On this episode David looks at the story of David Burton, the definitely still alive actor who definitely claimed to be the 8th Doctor possibly to get a free car. Get ready for supportive evidence, confusing contradictions, and a bunch of other David Burtons who are not him. Legally I can't prove anything one way or another. Illegally though, when I was 7 I stole a Freddo. Always Foolish is a posi...

In this episode we're continuing to wish for a new reality as we get to the second part of our discussion of the insane firework finale of series 15. What should Belinda's actual arc have been? Why is Belinda exiled to the baby cube? What could Billie Piper bring to The Doctor? Did the Christmas star eat the Doctor's soul too? What themes should be drawn through the whole era? Did David engage in...

In this episode we're wishing for a new reality as we discuss the insane firework finale of series 15. Could one extra scene fix skeleton Omega? Is David Tennant in debt to the Mafia? What are the underlying messages behind all the madness? Who is a better actor - duck or baby? Where does spectacle give way to farce? Is this literally just the End of Time again? How did RTD capture the 13th Doctor...

Contrary to popular belief, 2025 had not just one, but four Doctor Who christmas specials, courtesy of Big Finish. Doctor Who: Christmas: It's a Wonderful War and Other Stories is one of the best Big Finish sets of the year, and in this episode we'll be reviewing and summarizing each story to explain why they hit all the right Christmassy Doctor Whoy notes. Doctor Who: Christmas: It's a Wonderful...

In our holiday special, we're gobbling up RTD's chaotic coincidence festive Christmas episode, The Church on Ruby Road. Who is the breakout performer opening the Gatwa era? Why is Jurassic Park so badly run? What makes a villain versus sympathetic? Did the gobins kill Adric? Is popcorn television enough at christmas, or do we need more depth? Is Carla Sunday an alt-reality serial killer? How shoul...

David's been listening to Big Finishes spooky season special boxset, Halloween: Sea Smoke and Other Stories and he has thoughts. Mostly about episode 2. Enjoy this little review of one of the weirder Big Finish sets of the year. Doctor Who: Halloween: Sea Smoke and Other Stories from Big Finish Productions Dare you step into the shadows? Terror awaits across time and space. Silent assassins, primo...

Trigger warning: This episode contains discussion of events in the Middle East, racism, homophobia and transphobia. If these topics may be distressing to you, please feel free to skip the episode. On this episode will we be singing the praises of series 15's Eurovision tribute act, The Interstellar Song Contest? How should Doctor Who tackle complex real-world issues? Is Belinda a sociopath? How sh...

We're really busy this week and so as we're already editing the Interstellar Song Contest episode, rather than releasing nothing we thought it'd be nice to compile some of the funny or interesting stuff that's been cut or condensed, to hint at what's coming up next. Hopefully it'll also give you an insight into how we edit things. Does David own every book? Why do so many horrible people have such...

It's another special episode, pitting Tom against Secret Third Member once again as they attempt to prove who is the master when it comes to Eric Roberts, the most prolific actor of all time (but most importantly The Master in the TV Movie of all time). Which of these terrible Eric Roberts movies is the fake? How come all of these terrible Eric Roberts movies sound real? Has Dr Albert Beck crossed...

On this episode we need to discuss the Children in Need special, Destination Skaro, 2 years after it aired, and somehow also 2 days (timey-wimey). We also dive into classic series colourisations and Big Finish's Seventh Doctor epic, The Last Day. How much does continuity matter? Can Davros rollerblade? How can you adapt classic who for the modern age? How many wigs did Anthony Ainley wear? Which c...

It's quiz time again, with Tom versus Secret Third Member in America's favourite game: Master or Mestor? Who will weed out more details about renegade time lord The Master from hot facts about disgusting slugman The Mestor? Who will claim the coveted golden Pond? What did The Master do?! Answers to all these questions on this episode of Always Foolish. Also sorry for the slightly echoey audio in t...

On this episode Frank Cottrell-Boyce's series 8 foliage-based fairytale is growing on us, as we discuss In the Forest of the Night. Does every story need a villain? Does every story need a Doctor? Does every tree respond to flamethrower? Do wooden trees sail in flesh ships? Are the kids the real stars here? Is it a wolf or a labrador? How does this episode miss the mark on mental health? Will Clar...

On this episode David explores the impact of the Weeping Angels, and dives deep into the expanded whoniverse to reveal the Weeping Angel Doctor Who story that may be better than Blink. Always Foolish is a positive Doctor Who podcast, about finding things we like in episodes we don't. We pick out our favourite bits for these stories, and suggest quick fixes to some common critiques. Please, listen,...

On this episode it's story time as we ride the spider-train of thought through series 15's metafictional masterpiece, The Story & the Engine. This episode was recorded live from a house. How are stories intertwined with our basic humanity? Why can't David be trusted with scissors? How important is it to truly belong? Would you want to be on the front lines with Major Gasleak? What do the old g...

On this episode it's your lucky day because we're discussing series 15's prescient podcaster-based political thriller, Lucky Day. This episode was recorded live from a house. How should the show explore post-Doctor PTSD? Why does Davros hate mouths? Are UNIT the other villains of this episode? Are Ruby's family the worst researchers of all time? What questions does Pete McTighe want us to ask? Did...

We're having a little summer break, so please enjoy another compilation of some of our favourite bits and deleted scenes that didn't make the episode's the first time. We'll be back with regularly scheduled content soon. Who is Burning Bill the Gecko? What happens just off-screen in Oppenheimer? Does David know what an eclipse is? Which Doctor can dunk? How about an X-rated K9 spin-off? What happe...

On this solo investigation David delves into the mystery of Lost in the Dark Dimension, Doctor Who's missing anniversary special. It's a story of egos and mismanagement that makes The Reality War look like Hamlet. Always Foolish is a positive Doctor Who podcast, about finding things we like in episodes we don't. We pick out our favourite bits for these stories, and suggest quick fixes to some comm...