Tophole!

An account of our recent holiday in Guernsey - where I was, of course, constantly thinking about the CS and EBD. Kit, not so much. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/06/30/s3e18-to-guernsey/ . You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A pivotal summer term book this time, as we look at the Chalet School's final term on St Briavel's - a book which might well have inspired Roald Dahl, given that it could be subtitled "The Chalet School and the Chocolate Factory". Subjects I had to google while researching this episode included how much milk a goat produces, 1950s university entrance requirements, the Allied occupation of Austria,...

The 50th book in the Chalet School series was specially written by EBD to mark the occasion, and she dedicated it to fans - so this is OUR book. It's more of a romance than a school story, but mostly we, the readers, are reunited with characters we love, in situations which we recognise from earlier tales in the series. Cliff-dangling rescue? Check. Torrent of water blocking the way? Check. Marria...

Hayley and Deborah discuss fan fiction, particularly about Chalet School. Audio warning: we recorded this using Teams, and you can tell Kit was not there supervising! Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/05/05/s3e15-comfort-and-joy/ You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's a Wendy week and we're discussing how a talented producer might go about making a documentary about the Chalet School, just in case any talented producers listen to the podcast. Please substitute 'Paul Ozanne' where I said 'Julian Lucy'. Episode transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/04/21/s3e14-girls-on-film/ . You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at tophol...

Back at last with an episode answering a question posed by Kit. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/04/07/s3e13-saved-by-the-medium-of-fashion/ You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In honour of our Winter Olympic medals in skeleton, a look at the Chalet School book which mentions the sport - one which Mlle Lachenais has done many times. I know, right? We're looking at Trials for the Chalet School . Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/03/10/s3e12-the-secret-life-of-mlle-lachenais/ You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email us at topholepodcast@gm...

It's a Wendy week and we're talking about handcrafts at the Chalet School. And also through history. And in the real world. And in our own lives. Context, that's it - we're providing context, we're not just rambling. Glad we've cleared that up. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/02/24/s3e11-something-to-keep-your-hands-occupied/ You can find Tophole on Facebook or em...

Which is it to be - a sun-soaked, punch-fuelled trip to Jamaica, or a chilly school term on an island off the coast of Wales? Well, there's really only one answer to that... Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/02/10/s3e10-i-didnt-think/ You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informatio...

It's a Wendy week! And we're talking about the Chalet School's matrons - at some length, because we're easily distracted. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/01/27/s3e9-who-gave-you-leave-to-call-me-matey/ You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're starting 2026 with an EBD book that finishes on Christmas Day because we have been Rather Unwell and so we are Running A Bit Late. In this episode I'm talking about a Chalet connector, and one of EBD's best books to boot. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/01/13/s3e8-victorian-poets-and-no-gym-apparatus/ You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at topholepo...

We're somewhat late with this episode (sorry), but we're here now and focussing on fun seasonal stuff! Which is your favourite - The Bells of Christmas , or Strangers at the Inn ? I totally want to rush out and create a steaming boar's head prop now. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/12/17/s2e7-pageants-and-carols/ You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at top...

Back to Switzerland this week, as we take a look at the 34th Chalet School book, Mary-Lou of the Chalet School. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/12/02/s3e6-the-leader-of-the-gang/ You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In which Hayley, Wendy and I conclude our discussion about which is better, Malory Towers or the Chalet School, and then I mop up the bits we didn't discuss and the things we got wrong! Transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/11/18/s3e5-brown-tunics-and-orange-ties-2/ We'd love to hear from you! You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com . Hosted on A...

They wear the same uniform, so what's the difference between the Chalet School and Malory Towers? Well... Episode transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/11/04/s3e4-brown-tunics-and-orange-ties-1/ You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com Part 2 in a fortnight! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Loads of spoilers in this consideration of EBD's first book, Gerry Goes to School , without which there would be no Chalet School... what an awful thought. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/10/21/s3e3-back-to-the-very-beginning/ You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In October 1925, a new school story arrived in bookshops: The School at the Chalet , by Elinor M Brent-Dyer. 100 years and 58 books later, here we are still talking about what she had created. Wendy and Hayley join in the conversation - as do several listeners, who shared what the Chalet School means to them. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/10/07/s3e2-shall-we-mak...

New school year, new series - and we're starting with a cracker. Stand by for an explosive - and surprisingly musical - episode! The usual provisos apply with respect to pronunciation, spoilers and bonkersness. In particular, I use a very English pronunciation of the name 'Thekla' all through this episode - sorry not sorry. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/09/23/s3...

It's a Wendy week - woo! - and we're having a discussion about aunties at the Chalet School. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/07/22/s2e23-aunties/ This is the last episode of season 2 - we'll be back towards the end of September. In the meantime, please do get in touch to let us know what the Chalet School means to you. You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us...

It's the summer term, which means reviewing a summer term book, and it can only be The School at the Chalet in this, its centenary year. 'Dreary' and 'drivel', or a modern classic? Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/07/08/s2e22-if-only-i-knew-what-to-do-with-you-girls/ You can find Tophole on Facebook or contact us at topholepodcast@gmail.com . Please do contact us,...

Kit and I went on holiday to the Austrian Tirol in May 2025. I didn't manage an audio diary, but here's my account - with a Chalet School slant on everything we saw, of course! If you listen to the very end, you'll hear the full recording I made from our hotel balcony: the church bells of Zell am Ziller again, and then some birdsong, and then the railway crossing bell, and eventually a train. Tran...

Hayley's back! And this time we're talking about travelling within the UK to the Chalet School in Armishire and South Wales. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/06/10/s2e20-the-school-run-2/ You can find Tophole on Facebook, or you can email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Special guest Hayley joins me on this episode, as we discuss the trains the Chalet girls took to get to and from school on the continent. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/06/10/s2e19-the-school-run-1/ You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A non-Chalet EBD book this week, although it includes a Chalet character (not that you'd recognise her) and reference to a Swiss sanatorium. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/05/13/s2e18-high-heels-and-a-hand-grenade/ You can contact Tophole via Facebook or at topholepodcast@gmail.com . Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Wendy and I discuss some of the top bonkers moments and situations in the Chalet School Series. There are plenty to choose from, so if your particular favourite isn't here, please do get in touch. You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com . Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/04/29/s2e17-bonkers/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...