Best British Sitcom History Podcast Podcasts (2025)

1
Red-tinted Pasts and Ursula Le Guin's Five Ways to Forgiveness 1:22:06

10d ago1:22:06

1:22:06

Eden and Langdon both exist (maybe) and with this snippet of existence, they discuss the historiography of the Paris Commune on the left and suggest a proper position (empathy) towards its hopes and failures.Then, they discuss the beautiful and problematic "Five Ways to Forgiveness" by Ursula K. Le Guin, a short story suite about slavery, feminism,…

1
The Empusium - Olga Tokarczuk 1:38:17

22d ago1:38:17

1:38:17

Olga Tokarczuk's first book since winning the Nobel prize in Literature is deeply feminist folk-horror with more than a little influence from Thomas Mann's Magic Mountain. Is it just a fun ghost story or a warning about how the Male Loneliness Epidemic(tm) will end in tragedy. More importantly, does Langdon yearn for the production lines?…

1
16. The Conservative Party Transformation in the 70s and 80s - with Dr Simon Griffiths 1:02:09

23d ago1:02:09

1:02:09

Support the showBy Harry White

1
Bonus Episode - Live Comedy Events 2024 34:58

1M ago34:58

34:58

Just a quick bonus as we prepare for the new series. Allen has been immersing himself in the world of comedy and going to a few live events and meeting the big nobs from the world of light entertainment. Here he shares his experiences.In this episode we talk about Su Pollard: Fully Charged; An Afternoon with Gloria ( Melvin Hayes); Why We Love Stev…

1
Forgotten Work and the Individual in History 2:10:17

2M ago2:10:17

2:10:17

This time around, Langdon and Eden discuss what can be done in our personal lives, regardless of the potential for a revolution or any feelings of hope and despair.Then, they dive into the mesmerizing verse-prose of Jason Guriel's Forgotten Work, a novel in heroic couplets about the power of music, obsession, cult followings, and sick teleportation…

1
Alex Pheby - Waterblack 1:10:22

2M ago1:10:22

1:10:22

One of the greatest fantasy epics of the 21st century ends here, with Alex Pheby's mind-bending Waterblack. We go in-depth into the trilogy and the surprising inspirations behind its central themes. Also, Skibidi Toilet.Music by Homeskin: https://homeskin.bandcamp.com/track/blood-to-diskTheme tune by Caïna: https://cainaband.bandcamp.com/…

1
Code Damp: An Esoteric Guide to British Sitcoms - Sophie Sleigh-Johnson 1:07:18

2M ago1:07:18

1:07:18

Ready to get DAMP? Sophie Sleigh-Johnson's Code: Damp explores fucked Anglo vibes through the work of sitcom legend Leonard Rossiter, star of Rising Damp and The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.Buy it from Repeater Books here: https://repeaterbooks.com/product/code-damp-an-esoteric-guide-to-british-sitcoms/…

1
Silicone God - Victoria Brooks 1:11:27

3M ago1:11:27

1:11:27

Y'all ready to get DELEUZIAN? Victoria Brooks' Silicon God is a goopy, rhizomatic book about time mistresses from the future and a bunch of stuff that we definitely can't talk about here.Music by Phrenelith: https://phrenelith.bandcamp.com/album/ashen-wombBy DEATH // SENTENCE

1
Ask The Audience 2: Extolling Guan Yu's Many Virtues 2:28:25

3M ago2:28:25

2:28:25

Why is Guan Yu so powerful? Which Universal Movie Monster tastes best? How can you get somebody to enjoy Brutal Death Metal? Will Communism win? Our audience has asked all of these questions and many more, and we tackle them all with our trademark professionalism and focus.Music by Wrekmeister HarmoniesTheme tune by Caina.…

1
Nosferatu! With Kayte Terry and Jon Greenaway 2:14:47

3M ago2:14:47

2:14:47

Langdon is joined in the Wizard's Tower by Kayte Terry of Tender Subject and Jon Greenaway of Horror Vanguard to discuss Robert Eggers' tale of a Dracula trapped in a world he never made, looking for love in all the wrong places.Music by Ambrose AkinmusireBy DEATH // SENTENCE

1
Uknown Language - Time, Memory, And Holy Violence 1:53:44

3M ago1:53:44

1:53:44

Langdon and Eden tackle linear time and how World War II, and its retellings, fit in with our cultural memories of the past.Then, they dive into the fragmented, gorgeous, and shocking Unknown Language, a tale shifting rapidly between alternative presents, futures, holy wars, love, and violence, all through the inimitable and kaleidoscopic lens of H…

1
Kazuo Ishiguro - Never Let Me Go 1:51:25

4M ago1:51:25

1:51:25

Kazuo Ishiguro season keeps on truckin' into 2005's Never Let Me Go, perhaps his most widely read and equally widely loved novels. There are brain-donor clones drawing dank pepes, Ruth being a total b-word and -even though we are 100% anti-worldbuilding- some bad worldbuilding.Music by Skagos: https://skagos.bandcamp.com/album/chariot-sun-blazing…

1
THE SUBSTANCE with Kayte Terry and Jake Flores 1:56:53

4M ago1:56:53

1:56:53

ENTER THE WIZARD'S TOWER with this episode in which we stretch the concept of a 'text' to breaking point by talking about a film- specifically 2024's The Substance. Joined by comedian Jake Flores and Tender Subject host Kayte Terry, will we survive the intricate mind maze of feminist discourse?By DEATH // SENTENCE

1
Oh God, The Sun Goes And The Decline? Of American Empire 1:44:38

4M ago1:44:38

1:44:38

This time around, Langdon and Eden dive into the question of geo-political narratives and the stories we tell ourselves, specifically about the "American Century" and it's dubious decline.Then, they dive deep into Oh God, the Sun Goes, the debut novel by David Connor. State of mind, Pynchon-esque misconnections, hazy realities, and the power of the…

1
Till Death Us Do Part (Christmas special) 43:43

4M ago43:43

43:43

For this year's christmas special we are venturing back to the Garnett household in 1966 where the family are upholding all the christmas traditions such as falling out and throwing stuff at the wall.By British Sitcom History Podcast

1
Emily Herring - Henri Bergson, the Biggest Philosopher You've Probably Never Heard Of 1:14:22

4M ago1:14:22

1:14:22

In the early 20th century Henri Bergson was a rockstar of philosophy, able to pack lecture halls and create the first ever traffic jam on Broadway. Today he's virtually unknown in the English-speaking world, and Dr. Emily Herring is aiming to fix that with her book Herald of a Restless World.Music by Lowen: https://lowen.bandcamp.com/album/do-not-g…

1
Ghosts (Part 2) 53:22

5M ago53:22

53:22

Part 2 of our look at Ghosts, which we're classing as very recent history in the world of sitcom.This week we are taking a look at some more of the actors such as Simon Farnaby and (spoiler alert) going all the way to the end and discussing how they closed it all off.This is the end of our regular series for now but there will be a Christmas specia…

1
John Trefry - Massive 1:17:19

5M ago1:17:19

1:17:19

John Trefry's Massive is 764 pages of the densest post-everything literary noise possible, a monolith that you don't read, you move through. There's absolutely no way to describe it and it's brilliant.Buy it from Asterism here: https://asterismbooks.com/product/massiveMusic by Sunrise Patriot Motion: https://sunrisepatriotmotion.bandcamp.com/album/…

1
Everything To Play For - The Potential, and Failures, of the Video Games Industry with Marijam Did 1:16:49

5M ago1:16:49

1:16:49

This time around, Gareth and Eden are joined by Marijam Did to discuss her excellent research into the revolutionary and reactionary potentials, avenues, and practices of the video games industry! The three talk the COVID boom and bust, professionalizing esports as a practice of capitalism, and games under future communism!Music played:Solar Wimp -…

1
Ghosts (Part 1) 50:28

5M ago50:28

50:28

This week we are doing our most recent sitcom yet with Ghosts. They officially closed off the series with a christmas special in 2023 so now is our chance to look back at what is arguably one of the best mainstream sitcoms of the last twenty years.By British Sitcom History Podcast

1
The Other One (Part 2) 47:31

5M ago47:31

47:31

Part 2 of our look at The Other one in which we delve into the very odd second series and have a closer look at the comedy career of Michael Gambon.By British Sitcom History Podcast

1
Charlene Elsby - Red Flags and Violent Faculties 56:07

5M ago56:07

56:07

CW FOR BASICALLY EVERYTHINGCharlene Elsby is one of the most renowned literary horror writers out there right now, and her two most recent books, the novel Violent Faculties (Clash Books) and short story collection (House of Vlad) are both incredibly intelligent and utterly horrific.Music by Gutless: https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/hi…

1
Kyle Winkler, Tone-Bone, And Heavy Fucking Metal 35:46

5M ago35:46

35:46

This time around, Eden is joined by Kyle Winkler, author of Grasshands and, more recently, the cosmic horror, punk-infused, metal-slinging tale of a biker who refuses to go quietly. They talk violence, revenge, metal as aesthetics, and more!Music played:Dance with the Dead - Neon Cross https://dancewiththedead.bandcamp.com/track/neon-cross-feat-bra…

1
The Other One (Part 1) 47:36

5M ago47:36

47:36

Thanks to a listener poll, this week we are taking on the relatively obscure seventies sitcom The Other One. Richard Briers teams up once again with the writers Esmonde and Larbey in the immediate aftermath of their biggest hit, The Good Life. Michael Gambon makes a relatively rare sitcom appearance to make up the odd couple who meet and become fri…

1
Talia Lavin - Wild Faith, or Neon Genesis Evangelical (Taylor's Version) 1:03:15

5M ago1:03:15

1:03:15

Talia Lavin joins us to talk about her new book Wild Faith, on how the Christian Right is taking over America, but also raw milk, cruelty, demons and more. Also we declare Beef on another podcast.Music by MINTTTThe power of Christ compels you to join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/DeathSentence…

1
Kazuo Ishiguro - When We Were Orphans 1:41:46

5M ago1:41:46

1:41:46

Kazuo Ishiguro season keeps on truckin' to 2000's When We Were Orphans. After the divisive The Unconsoled, Kaz' is getting his groove back with this story of a gentleman detective who is so English that his brain doesn't work right.Music by Pig Destroyer and StreetfighterBy DEATH // SENTENCE

1
Phoenix Nights (Part 2) 50:46

6M ago50:46

50:46

Part 2 of our breakdown of Phoenix Nights as we continue to struggle with the urge to quote every single line. We do love it so but we take time to look at the further careers of writers Dave Spikey and Neil Fitzmaurice as well as asking the question: Peter Kay - git?By British Sitcom History Podcast

1
Jillian Luft - Scumbag Summer 1:02:58

6M ago1:02:58

1:02:58

Ever wanted to live out your worst impulses in America's sweaty armpit? Of course you have, and debut author Jillian Luft knows this. Her book Scumbag Summer is about failing to live up to your potential in Florida and it is glorious.Music by Full of Hell: https://fullofhell.bandcamp.com/album/scraping-the-divineOur Discord has often been called 'T…

1
Bug Jack Barron And The Burning Power Of The Debut 1:57:31

6M ago1:57:31

1:57:31

Langdon and Eden travel to a future-past where TV hosts bring nations to their knees (hahahah oh god that's just our present) with Norman Spinrad's controversial (and excellent) Bug Jack Barron! But first, they discuss the fading power of debuts, early works, and the role of passion in art!Music played:Excuse - Sworn to the Crimson Oath https://sha…

1
Phoenix Nights (Part 1) 53:04

6M ago53:04

53:04

Part 1 of our take on Phoenix Nights, a personal favourite for both of us so prepare yourself for some nostalgia and laughter but also we try and take an in-depth and completely speculative look at the psychology of Peter Kay.By British Sitcom History Podcast

1
'We've solved transport' - How the Railways Will Fix the Future with Gareth Dennis 1:05:30

6M ago1:05:30

1:05:30

There are cars, hyperloops, even blimps - but no form of transport is better than the train. Gareth Dennis has been in the rail industry for a decade and hosts the podcast Rail Natter... and has been targeted by sleazy government officials after speaking up about safety. He joins us to talk about why trains are perfect, why hyperloop will never wor…

1
Don Bronco's (Working Title) Shell with Donald Ryan 2:28:41

6M ago2:28:41

2:28:41

The Wizard's Tower emerges once more, this time gathering in its clutches Donald Ryan, author of Don Bronco's (Working Title) Shell! Meta-narrative, eggs (sort of), truth (not really), experimentation, and more!Music played:"I Cover the Mountaintop" by Elephant9 https://elephant9band.bandcamp.com/track/i-cover-the-mountaintop…

1
Desmond's (Part 2) 50:17

6M ago50:17

50:17

Part 2 of our look at Desmond's and this week we get up close and personal with the writer and creator Trix Worrell and of course we take a look at the (lesser) sequel/spin-off, Porkpie.By British Sitcom History Podcast

1
Cyberbiomancy And Updated Flesh With Adam C. Jones 50:38

6M ago50:38

50:38

Eden is joined by Adam C. Jones of the Acid Horizon podcast to discuss his upcoming book - The New Flesh: Life and Death in the Data Economy! The two discuss cybernetics, the human as battery, data flows as cybernetics, and the fall and fall of cyberpunk.Music played:Graveyard Addicted by Warpstone https://warpstone.bandcamp.com/track/graveyard-add…

1
Desmond's (Part 1) 51:43

6M ago51:43

51:43

Desmond's was the culmination of a big push in the 80s (mostly by Channel 4) to have wider cultural and racial representation on TV. But this was no box ticking exercise; at its heart it is a down-the-line family sitcom but it does it oh so well.Norman Beaton, Carmen Munroe, Rom John Holder; these were performers at the top of their game captured i…

1
Rakesfall, Genocide, And What Comes Next 1:50:18

6M ago1:50:18

1:50:18

Langdon and Eden happily return to Vajra Chandrasekera's Rakesfall but first must unhappily return to the ongoing and intensifying genocide in Palestine. They discuss ideas that appear in both the book and our lived experiences of culpability, memory, storytelling, and future imaginaries as well as delay on the subject of hype and attention.Music p…

1
Whoops Apocalypse (Part 2) 47:50

6M ago47:50

47:50

Part 2 of our look at Whoops Apocalypse takes us to the White House and the Kremlin and we also take a look at the film version of the same idea (but it's not a spin-off). We also take a closer look at Richard Griffiths and find out he's not quite what we expected.By British Sitcom History Podcast

1
The Handyman Method with Kayte Terry of Tender Subjects 2:32:52

7M ago2:32:52

2:32:52

The Wizard's Tower appears out of the mist once more! This time, Langdon conjures forth Katye Terry of Tender Subjects to dive into The Handyman Method by Nick Cutter and Andrew Sullivan. Homeliness, horror, DIY, and real estate mix within!Music played:Adorior - "Scavengers of Vengeance" https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/track/scavengers-of-v…

1
Whoops Apocalypse (Part 1) 50:21

7M ago50:21

50:21

Today we go back to the eighties and Cold War paranoia with the relatively obscure Whoops Apocalypse. More interesting for its position in the history of comedy than for its actual content, could this show be the glue between the sixties satire boom and the alternative comedy of the eighties?By British Sitcom History Podcast

1
Yu Miri's The End of August with Morgan Giles 1:02:02

7M ago1:02:02

1:02:02

Langdon goes into the Wizard's Tower and summons Morgan Giles to discuss the expansive and fantastic The End of August by Yu Miri which Giles translated! Family, memory, loss, betrayal, and war are contained therein!Music played:Floating Points - Vocoderhttps://floatingpoints.bandcamp.com/album/vocoder…

1
Dark Fantasy And Between Two Fires 1:11:41

7M ago1:11:41

1:11:41

It's chaos configuration as Eden, Gareth and Langdon sit down to discuss the...sort of good and very hyped Between Two Fires! And also argue about dark fantasy, Dark Souls, and listen to some sick doom metal.Music played:The Flight of Sleipnir - North https://theflightofsleipnir.bandcamp.com/track/north…

1
Keeping Up Appearances (Part 2) 50:29

7M ago50:29

50:29

Part 2 of our look at Keeping Up Appearances and we do our best not to be too negative!By British Sitcom History Podcast

1
Keeping Up Appearances (Part 1) 53:15

7M ago53:15

53:15

Maybe it's just our age but it feels like Keeping Up Appearances was almost ever present when we were growing up. But how does it hold up in the cold light of day? Could it be a timeless classic or is Hyacinth Bucket a true britcom villain?By British Sitcom History Podcast

1
The West Passage And Occulted Knowledge 1:41:42

7M ago1:41:42

1:41:42

On this episode, Langdon and Eden are forced to tackle the so-called "Hegelian E-girl Council" and explain why they suck. While they tackle them. To the ground.Then, they talk about the tantalizing, subtle, and down-right inimitable The West Passage. Weird fantasy, even weirder honey, and the weirdest eldritch beings in the form of Ladies, plus all…

1
15. A History of BBC Election Night Broadcasting - Crossover with The British Broadcasting Century Podcast 44:43

8M ago44:43

44:43

A History of BBC Election Night Broadcasting - Crossover with The British Broadcasting Century Podcast. Ever wondered how the BBC has covered elections? How this has changed over the decades? Well time to find out! Support the showBy Harry White

1
Arthurian Myth, Weird, And Lev Grossman's The Bright Sword 1:02:59

8M ago1:02:59

1:02:59

In this solo episode, Eden talks about the Arthurian myth and its weird potentialities by covering Lev Grossman's The Bright Sword. Gender-bending, political disorder, and why weird fantasy matters and, of course, sick ass swords and cool mage duels!Eden's essay on the political uses of science fiction: https://www.notthesky.com/posts/essays/the-me…

1
Roger Zelazny - Roadmarks 1:10:47

8M ago1:10:47

1:10:47

In this episode, Langdon and Eden discuss the merits, oddities, and uses of mediocrity before covering a mediocre, but fun, book from an excellent author, Roger Zelazny. Time travel, making fun of Hitler, zen koan martial arts, dinosaurs, and a lot of confused writing!Music played:Lie Heavy - Burn to the Moon https://lieheavy.bandcamp.com/album/bur…

1
Michael Swanwick - Stations of the Tide 1:53:17

9M ago1:53:17

1:53:17

We definitely didn't record this three months ago and only remembered to post this now! Langdon's computer definitely didn't die at the end! Stations of the Tide is DEFINITELY an excellent and weird book and Spring is definitely NOT the best season (that last part is true, actually)!Music played -BIG | BRAVE - I felt a funeral https://bigbrave.band…

1
Lydia Kiesling - Mobility 1:10:25

9M ago1:10:25

1:10:25

In Mobility, Lydia Kiesling really bildungs the heck out of a Roman. Bunny is a foreign-service brat who wants a conventional life and, spoilers, she gets one - but it's a conventional life while the oil industry and American imperialism kills the planet. Music by Orgone.By DEATH // SENTENCE

1
Jen Calleja - Vehicle 1:04:14

9M ago1:04:14

1:04:14

Babe, wake up, my new favourite book just dropped.Music by Sauna Youth.By DEATH // SENTENCE

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British Sitcom History Podcast

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