Doctor Who: The Ood Cast

In which we catch up on the past three years, stand roughly in a straight line and buy things off Etsy."He's giving everyone a last chance. He's saying this is where the show's going. This is the politics of the show ... it's about hope and love and inclusion and diversity. So, get back on board or otherwise F&*% off. I think it's amazing that he's doing that in such a beautiful, eloquent way." Review: The Star Beast by Russell T DaviesAir Date: 25th November 2023 Song: A Space Beast Came Travelling based on A Spaceman Came Travelling by Chris de BurghSketches: Metacrisis Introduction by Chris Mead. Meep Engineering 101 by Chris Mead. Noble Beasts & Where to Find Them by Laura Mead, Chris Mead and Chris Fosten. The Cunning Wrarth Attack Formation by Chris Fosten.Haiku:Pasts are catching up/ As furry evil escapes/ Child benefits winWhat's making us feel g-ood?Alpha: Show finale of Brooklyn 99Loz: OodiesSigma: A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers  Additional notes: We're back. And we've forgotten how to use all the equipment, editing software and publishing platforms. Please bear with us as we take our first faltering steps back onto the internet, like podcasting bambis.

"To be honest, a lot of things have made me cry over the past few days but this was a different kind of cry."Reviews: Message from the Doctor Air Date: 25th March 2020 Song: Doctor in a Cupboard based on Michael in the Bathroom from Be More Chill Sketches: Hide & Strax by Chris Mead Haiku: Even in hiding/ she's saving us from ourselves/ darkness never wins Additional notes: Even though this is our shortest episode ever (and still approximately four times longer than the thing it's reviewing) this also features the BIGGEST GUEST STAR we've ever had on The Ood Cast. So thank you to Dan Starkey (taking a break from nursing and destroying his enemies in battle).

"Even when her mind is wiped. Even when she's returned to being a child and the Time Lords are trying to integrate her back into society and be a normal boring Time Lord. That name comes back. That same TARDIS comes back. That need to go out and help people comes back. It's so deep within her that even if you wipe her brain and try and start again. She's still going to become that amazing rebel."  Reviews: The Ascension of the Cybermen/ The Timeless Children Air Date: 23rd February & 1st March 2020 Song: There Is No Escape based on You Can Go Your Own Way by Fleetwood Mac Sketches: Doctor Queue by Chris Fosten. Jimmy Riddle by Chris Fosten. Ko Sharmus by Tom Salinsky. Remember Where We Parked the TARDIS by Chris Mead & Chris Fosten. Shooting the Cybershit by Chris Mead. So I Guess Basically Anyone Can Get Into the TARDIS now? by Chris Mead. Taking the Credit by Michael Gilroy-Sinclair. The Celestial Toy Shop by Chris Fosten. The Master Workshops New Names For A Cyber Patrol by Chris Mead. The Timeless Podcasts by Chris Mead. Haiku: Miracle child lives/ while last humans just survive/ unsafe haven waitsThe Doctor listens/ surrounded by strip lighting/ tiny death goes largeWhat's making us feel g-ood? Loz: Talking about mental health Alpha: Rule of Three podcast Sigma: Jagged Little Pill: the musical (recommended by Emily Jenik) Additional notes: In the old days of the podcast we used to write too much, talk too much and have grandiose ideas that we were never going to pull off. We've calmed down a little over the years but this is a brief return to the grandiloquent Ood Cast of old. We had a blast.

"I don't think I've really seen people on Doctor Who eating ever." Reviews: The Haunting of Villa DiodatiAir Date: 16th February 2020Song: Unfinished Cyberman based on Bittersweet Symphony by The VerveSketches: Taking the Tour by Chris Fosten. Lord Byron Introduces his Latest Work by Chris Fosten. Cyberwoman II: Cyber Boogaloo by Chris Mead.Haiku: Cellar-based poet/ finds clever metal dollop/ lone tin-man inspiresWhat's making us feel g-ood?Loz: Future ManAlpha: A Shaun the Sheep Movie: FarmageddonSigma: Andrew Ellard's tweetnotesAdditional notes: Bit of behind the scenes info - we all realised we couldn't do our normal recording day, so this episode became a bit of a mission to schedule. When we did finally get into a room together it was a very silly recording session with a lot more tangents and A LOT more talking over each other than normally happens. We think the results are chaotic but fun. Hope you agree?

"She's not tackling her own trauma at all because she's spending all her time entertaining her companions." Reviews: Can You Hear Me?Air Date: 9th February 2020Song: What if Gods Were Arseholes? based on One of Us by Joan OsborneSketches: Nightmare Season by Chris Fosten. Alternative Reactions by Chris Fosten.Haiku: Dark visions point them/ to jailed nightmarish prankster/ they stay bottled upAdditional notes: Laura had a cold recording this episode. In the edit there were A LOT of cuts which were just removing mucus-choked sneezes and coughs. Like a lot a lot. You wouldn't believe how many.

"Do you think the Doctor has got better at steering the TARDIS or do you think the Doctor just hates Adric?" Reviews: PraxeusAir Date: 2nd February 2020Song: I am a Bird based on I'm Like a Bird by Nelly FurtadoSketches: Two Oods Roaming by Chris Fosten. Un Chat by Chris Mead. The Operation by Chris Fosten.Haiku: Alien virus/ might solve plastic pollution/ goes for birds insteadAdditional notes: This is a catch-up episodes and was recorded in two parts because we ran out of battery the first time. The splice is somewhere in the middle of Loz's anecdote about the fish parasites. See if you can spot it. Also, why is the cat French when under 4% of Ontario's population is Francophone? It's because the double-meaning of the title "Un Chat" made us laugh.

"This is an amazing story arc. I think it blows all the previous story arcs out of the water." Reviews: Fugitive of the JudoonAir Date: 26th January 2020Song: Ho Flo Blo Ro based on Heart Beats by José GonzalezSketches: The Keepers at the Gate by Chris Fosten & Chris Mead. The Chris Chibnall Gang by Chris Mead. Dead Punny by Chris Mead.Haiku: Rhino police force/ find new depths to the Doctor/ contract is cancelledAdditional notes: We had such a good time recording this episode. We were also trying to record the next episode at the same time (we're a week behind due to a festival in Amsterdam). We wrote all the extra sketches and songs but were foiled by our recording equipment running out of batteries. We also spoiled our own Doctor Who audio adventure project - The Nth Doctor. Oh well!

"That's a genuinely warm feeling I get when he ... talks about buses." Reviews: Nikola Tesla's Night of TerrorAir Date: 19th January 2020Song: Danger High Voltage (Tesla edit) based on Danger High Voltage by Electric 6Sketches: Creating Fear by Chris Fosten. No Patents by Chris Fosten. Bread Ahead by Chris Mead.Haiku: Inventor wanted/ by sparky alien queen/ their end is a shockAdditional notes: Some of us didn't watch the episode itself until a few hours before recording. That makes for some frenzied sketch writing. Also Loz wasn't here this week but still manages to be in the episode a lot. Technology, eh?

"I don't think she's talking entirely to them. And I don't think she's talking entirely about Earth. I think she's talking to herself and she's talking about Gallifrey." Reviews: Orphan 55Air Date: 12th January 2020Song: Benni based on Smooth Criminal by Michael JacksonAdditional notes: We will always remain a positive and upbeat podcast about Doctor Who, even when there are parts of an episode that aren't to our tastes. In fact, the more janky bits there are, the more material there is for sketches and songs. Hence, this week, we were extremely happy Oods. BENNI, ARE YOU OKAY?

"Can you slide shambolically?""You can - it hurts though. It's hell on the knees." Reviews: Spyfall Parts I & IIAir Date: 1st January 2020 & 5th January 2020Song: Spyfall based on Skyfall by AdeleAdditional notes: It really doesn't seem that long since we were all together but it is DEFINITELY over a year. Scary how fast time moves but probably appropriate given our subject matter. In terms of amazing making of info for this episode - we've upgraded our editing equipment and lost our sound effects library in the process so the sound of the omelette being whisked was recorded LIVE in the Ood kitchen. Wow!

“The battle of number 46 plus a naan bread is a lot easier to say.” Reviews: The Battle of Ranskoor Av KolosAir Date: 9th December 2018Additional notes: It was great to have all the Oods back in one place for this episode. As well as the review, we look back on Series 11 as a whole and think big thoughts about wonderful Doctor Who.

“A deep, steep inlet of the sea...” Reviews: It Takes You AwayAir Date: 2nd December 2018Song: Portal Connection based on Rainbow Connection by Kermit the FrogAdditional notes: Yes. We were slightly drunk during this episode. That might be seen as slightly unprofessional but hey, ain't nobody being paid for this s*!%. Recognise the voice of the President? It's none other than Erik Stadnik, legendary podcaster and the fifth Ood (of our hearts).

“The Morax King looked a bit like Earthworm Jim…” Reviews: The WitchfindersAir Date: 24th November 2018Song: I Vomit Mud on You based on I Put a Spell on You by Nina SimoneAdditional notes: As well as the normal Ood review, this specially extended episood has a bonus review from comedic superfans Gemma Arrowsmith (of Big Finish fame), John Henry Falle and Jenny Rowe. There's also a sketch co-written with Michael from the Tin Dog Podcast. It's a busy one.

“We are the candy floss surrounding the razor blades of public opinion…” Reviews: Kerblam!Air Date: 17th November 2018Song: Pop based on Stop by The Spice GirlsAdditional notes: Back together again for this episode. And many thanks to listener (and honorary Ood) Emily Jenik for her Yaz sketch this week. Also Kerblam! is the first Doctor Who episode with an exclamation mark in the title. But Kerpow! is by no means the first Ood Cast episode with an exclamation mark. We are excitable in that way.

“People are unfathomably cruel to each other. Nationalism and tribalism … that turns people into caricatures of the worst aspects of humanity.”Reviews: Demons of the PunjabAir Date: 11th November 2018 Song: Both Sides of the Border based on Both Sides of the Story by Phil Collins Additional notes: Once again the Oods are split up for this episode but it’s probably appropriate for the subject matter that we’re geographically dispersed. If you’re interested in seeing the Children in Need segment that we mention, there’s a great article on it here.

"If the Pting guzzles energy then the Doctor guzzles knowledge…" Reviews: The Tsuranga ConundrumAir Date: 4th November 2018Song: Nom Nom Nom based on You'll Be Back by Hamilton Original Broadway CastAdditional notes: Chris Sigma has been wanting to make Loz do a Hamilton song for YEARS. The Doctor mentioning the musical during the episode was all the excuse he needed. Thanks, Chibnall. CHIBNALL!!!!!

"It was like being slapped directly on the nose by a side of ham…" Reviews: Arachnids in the UKAir Date: 28th October 2018Song: Spider-Doc based on Spider-Man by Moxy FruvousAdditional notes: This week's song is insanely catchy and took Loz a huge amount of time because she had to create all the layered harmonies from scratch.

"To navigate by our hearts is only, and VERY, human..." Reviews: RosaAir Date: 21st October 2018Song: Stormcage based on Starman by David Bowie

"Apologies for those of you listening through very high fidelity headsets as you'll probably be able to hear everything that's sliding around my eustachian tubes..."Reviews: The Ghost MonumentAir Date: 14th October 2018Song: No song this week either due to Loz still being ill (sorry)Additional notes: This episode was recorded using the equipment we used for the very first Ood Cast ever and was edited mostly in Saudi Arabia - very suitable for an episode concerning a desert planet.

"I feel so many things inside myself. I have so many emotions..." Reviews: The Woman Who Fell To EarthAir Date: 7th October 2018Song: No song this week due to Loz being ill (sorry)Additional notes: At one point during the editing of this episode on a train, Chris Sigma got so engrossed that he missed his stop and ended up in Guildford. Great showbiz story that.

This is it. The last episode of the season. Chris Sigma, Stephen Davidson and Zara Swanton rip up the Ood One Out rule book and just talk about the sixty or so things they loved about The Doctor Falls. PLUS we're back to a full compliment of sketches, songs and oods for one final hurrah.

Join Chris Sigma and improviser/actor/Big Finish designer Tom Webster as they trawl through the embarrassment of riches that was World Enough and Time. There is also a lot of talk about The Five Doctors. Probably more than is necessary.

Some pretty impressive guerrilla-podcasting this week. This whole episode was recorded, edited and uploaded in under 2 hours from start to finish. So expect a certain ... artisanal roughness ... as the Sigmas review The Eaters of Light.

The ood one is well and truly out this week as Laura and Alpha review Empress of Mars. What did they think of this rollicking tale of subterranean adventure? Plus Ice Warrior beat poetry ... as you do.

The Sigmas review The Lie of the Land and contend with sleep deprivation, politics and ridiculous accents.

Ood One Out Chris Sigma is joined by playwright and improviser Tom Salinsky for a chat about The Pyramid at the End of the World - a meditation on love, war and happenstance & winner of the 2017 award for longest title of an episode of Doctor Who. Also there's a bit of Beckett and a Commoodity-chosen song about the end of the world as we know it.

Oods Alpha & Sigma are joined by the Story Beast himself, John Henry Falle to discuss Extremis, a none-more-Moffat tale of virtue, hope and valour in the final hour.

The lonely ood, Chris Sigma, is joined by Bryn Salisbury and Dylan Emery to review the episode Oxygen (continuing the preference for very short titles this season). Plus These Suits Were Made for Working, Classic Andy, Chris Apha's HaikWho and we get Siri to help us record. There might even be a special guest... (there is a special guest).

Sigma is joined by Angus Dunican to review the latest episode of Doctor Who, Knock Knock. Plus there's the usual songs, poetry and comment from the other Oods.

Join Chris Sigma as he reunites with Andy to review Thin Ice. This week we also have the first in our rolling roster of honourary Ood co-hosts - Emily Jenik.

Sigma and Alpha reunite to review Smile - a sort-of spiritual sequel to Blink in that both titles revolve around things you can do with your face.

This week Chris Sigma is joined by long term co-host (and excellent life-partner) Laura Mead to review the Doctor Who Series 10 opener - The Pilot.

"It was a bit like Sean Connery trying to do an American accent through an electrified sock..." Reviews: Time HeistAir Date: 20th September 2014Song: Spoon Forehead based on Goldfinger by Shirley BasseyAdditional notes: This episode was recorded in the present day of 2015. Next week we return to 2014 - yes, our brains hurt too.

"This is like the Sharon Stone's crotch of monsters..." Reviews: ListenAir Date: 13th September 2014Song: Listen based on Real Love by John LennonAdditional notes: This is the first episode after Chris Sigma returned from his three month sabbatical to the States. We had to edit out the snogging.* *true

"He had a bouquet of quivering fronds..."Reviews: Robot of SherwoodAir Date: 6th September 2014Song: Ood-e-lally based on Oo-De-Lally by Roger MillerAdditional notes: We recorded this during the week that Robot of Sherwood went out and then promptly forgot to release it until April 2015. So we did the sketch about Jeremy Clarkson BEFORE he actually got fired for punching someone. Timey, and indeed, wimey.

"Talk to the plunger coz the eyestalk ain't listening..."Reviews: Into the DalekAir Date: 30th August 2014Song: A Dalek Called Rusty based on Money for Nothing by Dire StraitsAdditional notes: What of the absent Ood Sigma? He was actually in Texas this week and completely forgot to record a review or write any sketches. This is why the discussion is a little more highbrow and intellectual than normal.

"This is a Doctor who doesn't really care if people like him." Reviews: Deep BreathAir Date: 23rd August 2014Song: Brand New Face based on Super Bass by Nicki MinajAdditional notes: Sigma wasn't actually in Texas during his segments. He was in Chicago. This is why he mentions eating "Chicago Mix" popcorn and not a massive slab of barbecue beef brisket. Cheese and caramel really do go together incredibly well.

"It's a wonderful idea. The Doctor stops running is a wonderful idea."Reviews: The Time of the DoctorAir Date: 25th December 2013Song: It's Time (of the Doctor) based on It's Time by Imagine DragonsAdditional notes: This was the first time we had recorded together for 6 months. It was so lovely to all be in the same room again and we had a cracking time. Laura's impression of Handles was so funny that we kept spoiling the take by laughing over the top of her recording. We are professionals.

"I punched the air in delight!""No, that was my face." Reviews: Day of the DoctorAir Date: 23rd November 2013Additional notes: This episode was recorded in January 2014 which is an embarrassingly long time after the anniversary episode aired. However we didn't publish the podcast until July 2014 so the whole January thing isn't looking so bad now, is it?

“Like mayflies, we are! Fluttering around with no mouths...”  Reviews: Doctor Who Live - The Next DoctorAir Date: 4th Aug 2013 Additional notes: Peter Capaldi is credited in mega zombie flop "World War Z" as W.H.O Doctor. Did the producers have a secret portal to the future? Probably not, judging from box office receipts...

“I find the sight of a man begging for the lives of his friends… quite sensual.” Reviews: The Name of the DoctorAir Date: 31st May 2013Additional notes: This episode, our season finale, contains our most ambitious sketch to date with 17 podcasters from 3 separate continents getting involved. Thanks to The Doctor Who Podcast, The Tin Dog Podcast, Radio Rassilon, The Minute Doctor Who Podcast, Doctor Who: The Writer's Room, The Doctor Who Book Club, Two-minute Time Lord, Radio Free Skaro and Verity! for their wonderful vocal stylings. Happy summer everyone (or winter).

“We have to get the thrip-wibble to modulate the tharack bar.” Reviews: Nightmare in SilverAir Date: 16th May 2013Additional notes: Guest star Warwick Davis has been in more SF films than you can shake a lightsaber at. But we chose to name this episode after a Ricky Gervais mockumentary he starred in. It isn't very funny. At one point, he gets stuck in a dog flap.

“It was like Batman with old people.”  Reviews: The Crimson HorrorAir Date: 9th May 2013Additional notes: Two sketches this week had to be completely re-done because Sigma used the laptop's internal microphone to record them by mistake. The Northern gentleman in the first sketch (with a voice like melted chocolate) is special guest star, Jim Atkins. The other one is Alpha. He is trying out a range of accents.

“Overall I enjoyed it ... as I would a drawer of cables.” Reviews: Journey to the Centre of the TARDISAir Date: 2nd May 2013Additional notes: The talented chap who provides our theme song this week was one of the brilliant students we met during our recent trip to San Francisco. We climbed a big hill to visit his school. In San Francisco you have to climb big hills to do pretty much anything. It's part of the deal - along with awesome dim sum, killer views and hanging off of trams. Also our thighs got pretty trim.

“It's a thing in a thing in a thing...” Reviews: HideAir Date: 25th April 2013Additional notes: Immediately preceding the recording of this episode the Ood Cast consumed an entire Thorntons Easter egg that didn't even belong to them. See, we're not all sunshine and smiles ... we have an edge. Try not to cut yourself.

“The Ice Warriors are a double threat, if they could dance they'd be a triple threat...”Reviews: Cold WarAir Date: 18th April 2013Additional notes: This entire episode was recorded with all the Oods sitting crossed legged on the floor beside a low table. All except Chris Sigma. He had a luxury bean bag.

“When I saw my wife, I was so aroused I vomited up a fruit salad!”Reviews: The Rings of AkhatenAir Date: 11th April 2013Additional notes: During this week the Sigmas have escaped London and travelled to all three countries in Great Britain. Lots of planets have a north...

"I'll tell you right away who I think is wrong ... The Doctor!"Reviews: The Bells of Saint JohnAir Date: 2nd April 2013Additional notes: The music in this episode spans some 500 years. The day of release was exactly 5 years after the Ood Cast published their first blog post. Happy Anniversary, us!

"Strax's potato bumble fun." It's February. And what's the first thing you think of when you think of February? That's right...Christmas.So with that in mind, the Ood Cast present their review of the Christmas special - The Snowmen.What would Strax have done in biblical times? What other tall tales did Clara tell? How did Sir Arthur Conan Doyle explain away Madame Vastra to his agent? Can Jenna-Louise Coleman do just the two accents?These are all questions. Good ones. And we'll answer every single one of them in a vigorously dramatic format. All that and a couple of spirited musical interludes besides.Come with us on our hideously delayed sleigh ride of wonder.IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR.FEBRUARY.

"To fire monkeys into people's bums..." You know when you win a Christmas hamper at the raffle? You're really excited but then you peek underneath the bottle of cava, bits of raffia and Elizabeth Shaw mints, and you find that someone's padded out the bottom with dusty tins of spam, pineapple chunks in sugar-free syrup and those crackers that taste like baked paper? This episode is nothing like that. The Ood Cast (Audio) Annual 2012 is exploding from top to bottom with Christmassy goodness (a bit like Andy), including an opportunity to win a spot as a guest host, the Audio Ood Cast Monster Guide, a story from Michael of Tin Dog Podcast fame, puzzles, fact files, an 80's smash hit and most importantly, THE LITTLEST DOCTOR! Listen until you feel bloated and sick, then swear off us, promise you'll do better in January and wait for two weeks before giving in and listening again. We know that's what you'll do.We'll be doing it too.