The Channel Hopper Podcast

This week on The Channel Hopper Podcast host John Mabey was joined by acting royalty in the form of Brian Croucher, famed for his roles in Doctor Who, Blake's 7, Eastenders and many more. One of those familiar faces that's graced our screens for over sixty years. John and Brian have a right old natter about the industry with some cheeky and slightly close to the knuckle banter along the wa...

Welcome to a brand new episode of the Channel Hopper Podcast! This week, host, TV and film historian John Mabey, is joined by legendary Coronation Street bad boy Nigel Pivaro, best known for playing the iconic Terry Duckworth from 1983 onwards. Nigel looks back on his remarkable career, shares stories from his time on one of Britain's most beloved soaps, discusses some of his favourite films,...

This week on Channel Hopper , host John Mabey is joined by one of Britain's most beloved television stars, the legendary Su Pollard . Best known for her unforgettable roles in classic sitcoms including Hi-de-Hi! and You Rang, M'Lord? , Su reflects on a remarkable career spanning decades in television, theatre and entertainment. She shares behind-the-scenes stories, fond memories from the s...

This week on Channel Hopper , host and TV and film historian John Mabey is joined by actor, impressionist, voice-over artist and writer Jon Glover for a fascinating look back at a remarkable career in entertainment. Jon shares fond memories of his early television days, including his work on the much-loved children's programme Play School , and reflects on the changing face of British televisi...

This week on Channel Hopper, host and TV & film historian John Mabey is joined by comedian, writer and actor Vaun Norman for a wide-ranging and entertaining conversation covering the screen stories that shaped him. From favourite films and beloved television series to the realities of working in comedy and acting, Vaun reflects on his career with warmth, wit and plenty of behind-the-scenes ins...

This week on Channel Hopper, host and TV & film historian John Mabey welcomes writer and artist Stephen Brotherstone, best known as co-author of the critically acclaimed Scarred For Life series. Together, they take a fascinating, and often unsettling journey through the films, television, public information films, adverts, comics and cultural moments that traumatised a generation of children g...

This week on Channel Hopper, host and TV & film historian John Mabey welcomes actress Cathy Shipton, best known to millions as the much-loved Lisa “Duffy” Duffin from the iconic BBC medical drama Casualty. In a warm, funny and deeply honest conversation, Cathy reflects on her remarkable career in television, the lasting legacy of Casualty, and life both on and off screen. Along the way, she sh...

This week on Channel Hopper, host and TV & film historian John Mabey is joined by legendary director Ed Bye for a fascinating look back at a remarkable career in British television comedy. From ground breaking favourites like Bottom, The Young Ones, French and Saunders, The Detectives and My Family, Ed reflects on the iconic shows, unforgettable moments and creative partnerships that helped sh...

This week on the Channel Hopper podcast, host and TV & film historian John Mabey sits down with acclaimed actor Glyn Baker for a fascinating look back at a remarkable career both on and off screen. Glyn reflects on appearing in a host of cult classic films, including James Bond: The Living Daylights , The Wild Geese alongside Richard Burton and Roger Moore, Who Dares Wins with Lewis Collins, a...

This week on Channel Hopper, host and TV and film historian John sits down with writer, comedian and fellow nostalgia obsessive Bob Fischer for a gloriously overstuffed deep dive into the strange worlds of television, cinema, folklore and the uncanny corners of pop culture. Naturally, there’s an obligatory ghost story along the way, but mostly this episode descends into a full-scale nerd off as Jo...

In this brand new episode of Channel Hopper, our host—renowned TV and film historian—sits down with a true authority on vintage broadcasting, special guest Dick Fiddy. With decades of experience and an unrivalled depth of knowledge, Dick offers a fascinating window into the golden age of television and the cultural moments that defined it. As a curator at the BFI, home to one of the world’s larges...

This week on Channel Hopper, host John Mabey, TV and film historian, sits down with legendary actress Carolyn Seymour for a fascinating deep dive into her remarkable career. From cult classics to enduring television favourites, Carolyn reflects on her roles in iconic series such as The Twilight Zone , Murder, She Wrote , Cagney & Lacey , Space: 1999 , and Terry Nation’s Survivors . With candid...

This week on Channel Hopper , host and TV and film historian John Mabey welcomes a true multi-hyphenate guest: comedian, actor, writer, and lifelong Doctor Who devotee, Toby Hadoke. Best known to fans for his deep involvement in the Doctor Who universe—both on stage and behind the scenes—Toby joins John for a wide-ranging and deeply engaging conversation that spans decades of television history, f...

In a brand new episode of Channel Hopper , host John Mabey—TV and film historian—welcomes a true cult favourite, actor Neil Dickson, for an engaging and deeply personal conversation that spans decades of screen history. Best known to many as the daring WWI pilot “Biggles” from the 1986 sci-fi adventure Biggles , Dickson reflects on the unique legacy of the film and how the role connected him with...

This week on Channel Hopper , things take a delightfully unexpected turn for a special Easter episode packed with reflection, nostalgia, and a few surprises along the way. For once, host John Mabey steps out from behind the mic as interviewer and into the hot seat himself. Swapping roles for the episode, John opens up about his lifelong love of film and television — from the shows that shaped his...

This week on Channel Hopper , host and TV & film historian John Mabey welcomes a familiar face from British screens for over four decades — the ever-reliable and quietly brilliant Gerard Horan. Best known to millions as the lovable Terry in the acclaimed BBC sitcom Detectorists , Gerard joins John for a warm and insightful conversation that spans the breadth of his long and varied career as on...

In a brand new episode of Channel Hopper , host and TV & film historian John Mabey welcomes a truly iconic guest: legendary actor and voice artist Tim Bentinck. Best known for his extensive work across stage, screen, and radio, Tim brings his unmistakable voice and wealth of experience to a fascinating and deeply personal conversation. In this edition, Tim takes listeners on a nostalgic journe...

In this brand new episode of Channel Hopper , host and TV and film historian John Mabey is joined by legendary voice-over artist and master impressionist Steve Nallon. Best known for his iconic work on the groundbreaking political satire Spitting Image , Steve brought to life unforgettable characters including Margaret Thatcher, Roy Hattersley, and the Queen Mother. John and Steve dive into the cr...

In this week’s episode of Channel Hopper , host TV and film historian John Mabey is joined by legendary composer and silent film expert Neil Brand for a fascinating deep dive into music, cinema, and cultural history. Neil reflects on his remarkable career, including his work with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and his long-standing relationship with the BFI, offering behind-the-scenes insights into ho...

🎙️ New Episode – Channel Hopper Podcast This week on Channel Hopper , host and TV & film historian John Mabey sits down with legendary writer Richard Sparks . Richard looks back on his time at the sharp end of British comedy, working on the groundbreaking sketch show Not the Nine O’Clock News alongside icons Rowan Atkinson, Ruby Wax and Mel Smith. He also revisits his work on the classic 1970s...

In this episode of Channel Hopper , host and TV & film historian John Mabey sits down with actress Clare Clifford for a heartfelt and fascinating conversation about her life on screen. Clare is best known to many viewers for her role in the beloved BBC medical drama Angels and for appearing in the classic 1982 Doctor Who serial Earthshock , alongside James Warwick , Beryl Reid , and the iconic...

In a brand new episode of Channel Hopper , host and TV & film historian John Mabey sits down with celebrated writer Stephen Wyatt for a wide-ranging and deeply enjoyable conversation. Stephen reflects on his remarkable career with the BBC, including his work on much-loved series such as House of Elliott and Casualty , as well as two standout Doctor Who serials, Paradise Towers and The Greatest...

In this brand new episode of Channel Hopper , host and TV & film historian John Mabey sits down with British actor Tom Roberts — best known to many viewers for his appearances in the beloved 90s sitcom 2 Point 4 Children and the long-running British soap Coronation Street . Tom reflects on his career in television, shares memories from working in some of Britain’s most recognisable shows, and...

This week on Channel Hopper , host and TV & film historian John Mabey sits down with the truly amazing Rosemary Crowson , aged 89, whose remarkable career at the BBC spanned from the late 1960s through to the early 1990s. Starting as a production assistant and rising to production manager, Rosemary worked behind the scenes on some of British television’s most iconic shows, including The Brothe...

TV and film historian John Mabey sits down with acclaimed actor Vincent Franklin for a wide-ranging conversation about a remarkable career and the screen stories that shaped him. From growing up on formative TV and film to becoming a familiar face on some of Britain’s most loved (and sharpest) shows, Vincent reflects on the influences that guided his path into acting. The pair dive into Vincent’s...