I'll Explain Later: conversations about Doctor Who

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, int...

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 podcast...

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 hello@illexplainlater.com Find us on Bluesky & Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 hello@illexplainlater.com Find us on Bluesky & Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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 hello@illexplainlater.com Find us on Bluesky & Instagram H...

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 hello@illexplainlater.com Find us on Bluesky & Instagram Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/pr...

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.co...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 A...

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 F...

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 Youtu...

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...

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 episod...

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 Follo...

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 Sen...

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 Youtu...

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 Blues...

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...