Sophie Aldred's Ace Odyssey

Pause whatever interdimensional housekeeping you’re pretending is under control, glance nervously at the door we absolutely cannot open, and join us for something rather special. This week we’re celebrating 15,000 downloads — which is extraordinary, humbling, faintly surreal, and entirely your fault (in the best possible way). Thank you for travelling with us.And because so many of you have climbed aboard recently, we’ve prepared an omnibus transmission: the dramatic story so far. All the peril. All the paradoxes. All the escalating improbabilities stitched together in one gloriously unstable sequence. It’s a chance to catch up — or to experience the chaos afresh — because the truth is… that door won’t stay shut for much longer.Starring Sophie alongside an astonishing constellation of fellow travellers — Sylvester McCoy, Janet Fielding, Sally Knyvette, David Banks, Nicholas Briggs, Russell T Davies and Carole Ann Ford — this is the saga as it stands. A stellar cast. A growing mystery. A gathering momentum.And if you listen carefully… you may even detect a whisper of who is waiting just beyond the threshold next.“Who,” indeed.You can find us all over your social media.Bluesky/Instagram/X: @aceodyssey63Facebook: Sophie Aldred's Ace OdysseySophie's Instagram: @sophie_ace_aldredFor listeners who want even more adventure, you can step inside the Ace Odyssey Patreon Community-*Episodes released early*Two exclusive podcasts every month*Online meet-ups and interactive events*Direct involvement in the evolving universe of the showwww.patreon.com/aceodysseySophie Aldred's Ace Odyssey stars Sophie Aldred with James Showers as Hobbes.Special Guests- Sylvester McCoy, Janet Fielding, Sally Knyvette, David Banks, Nicholas Briggs, Russel T Davies and Carole Ann FordMusic, Sound Effects and Sound Design by Michael Livesleywww.michaellivesley.co.ukProgramme Assistant Liz WhitmoreWritten, Produced and Directed by Paul Carmichael.Sophie Aldred’s Ace Odyssey is an Eh? Aye! Production © 2026

Set aside whatever reality-maintenance you’re currently engaged in (or pointedly neglecting), ensure time is still behaving in a broadly cooperative fashion, and make yourself comfortable as we once again step aboard the venerable Nosferatu 2.5 — a vessel of such seasoned provenance that several of its systems function largely on memory alone. With Sophie Aldred at the helm, our journey continues through reminiscence, imagination, and those delicate intersections where lived history and creative legacy quietly entwine.At Sophie’s side, as ever, stands Hobbes: the ship’s automaton butler, procedural purist, and indefatigable custodian of standards. Polished to a fault and deeply suspicious of improvisation, Hobbes oversees operations with meticulous care, particularly when faced with temporal anomalies, unscheduled arrivals, and the persistent enigma of the door that stubbornly refuses to open — or explain itself. Together, Sophie and Hobbes navigate temperamental technology, philosophical digressions, and the occasional existential tremor rippling through the bulkheads.This week, the Time Scoop once again demonstrates its aversion to consultation and retrieves Carole Ann Ford — actor, pioneer, and forever woven into the origins of Doctor Who itself. As Susan Foreman, Carole stood alongside William Hartnell when the programme first aired in 1963, helping to define not only a character but the emotional heart of a series that was inventing itself in real time. Her performance combined curiosity, intelligence, and a quiet otherness that grounded the show’s earliest explorations of time and space. Beyond Doctor Who, Carole’s career has encompassed theatre, television, film, and audio drama, marked by a thoughtful engagement with character and story across decades. Once the Scoop’s formalities are reluctantly satisfied, Carole joins Sophie on the Sofa of Infinite Understanding to reflect on beginnings, endurance, and what it means to be part of a mythology that never truly stops unfolding.No expedition aboard the Nosferatu 2.5, however, would be complete without a descent into the shimmering depths of the Ffantaface — that vast, ever-shifting reservoir of fan memory, connection, and beautifully obsessive devotion. Standing watch, as always, is Mrs C, the Cockney goldfish, whose telepathic observations are sharp, forthright, and largely unconcerned with chronological decorum. With the appropriate rituals observed, Sophie is granted access to this week’s guide: Arron Lowe — founder of the online community Friends of Ace.Inspired by Sophie’s portrayal of Ace, Friends of Ace has grown into a welcoming, inclusive space that celebrates not just a character, but the values she represents: courage, loyalty, compassion, and the freedom to challenge injustice. Through community-building, charity initiatives, and shared enthusiasm, Arron has helped transform fandom into something active and connective — a place where admiration becomes action and storytelling sparks real-world solidarity. Together, Sophie and Arron explore how a single character can inspire lasting community, why Ace continues to resonate across generations, and how fandom, at its best, becomes a force for belonging.You can find us all over your social media.Bluesky/Instagram/X: @aceodyssey63Facebook: Sophie Aldred's Ace OdysseyFollow @FriendsOfAce on Instagram!For listeners who want even more adventure, you can step inside the Ace Odyssey Patreon Community-*Episodes released early*Two exclusive podcasts every month*Online meet-ups and interactive events*Direct involvement in the evolving universe of the showwww.patreon.com/aceodysseySophie Aldred's Ace Odyssey stars Sophie Aldred with James Showers as Hobbes.Special Guests- Carole Ann Ford and Arron LoweMusic, Sound Effects and Sound Design by Michael Livesleywww.michaellivesley.co.ukProgramme Assistant Liz WhitmoreWritten, Produced and Directed by Paul Carmichael.Sophie Aldred’s Ace Odyssey is an Eh? Aye! Production © 2026

Set aside whatever reality-maintenance you’re currently engaged in (or pointedly neglecting), check that time is still moving in a broadly cooperative direction, and settle in as we once more step aboard the venerable Nosferatu 2.5 — a ship of such distinguished age that some of its mechanisms operate purely out of habit. Under the steady hand of Sophie Aldred, our journey continues through recollection, creativity, and those curious overlaps where imagination, fandom, and lived experience quietly collide.At Sophie’s side, as ever, is Hobbes: the ship’s automaton butler, procedural absolutist, and self-appointed guardian of standards. Gleaming, meticulous, and faintly appalled by almost everything, he oversees the ship with a mixture of diligence and weary suspicion — particularly when it comes to unexplained noises, ill-defined anomalies, and the unresolved question of the door that resolutely refuses to open. Together, Sophie and Hobbes negotiate eccentric technology, philosophical detours, and the occasional wobble in causality.This week, the Time Scoop once again asserts its independence and deposits Tomek Bork — actor, storyteller, and unforgettable as Captain Sorin in the 1989 Doctor Who classic The Curse of Fenric. A Polish-born performer trained in the rigorous traditions of European theatre, Tomek brought a rare gravitas and emotional depth to the role: a doomed naval officer caught between duty, belief, and ancient forces stirring beneath the North Sea. His performance helped ground Fenric’s cosmic horror in human fear and faith, leaving a lasting impression on viewers. Beyond Doctor Who, Tomek’s career spans British television, international film, and a long-standing presence at the Edinburgh Fringe as actor, producer, and mentor. Once the temporal paperwork is reluctantly approved, Tomek joins Sophie on the Sofa of Infinite Understanding to reflect on performance, displacement, and the quiet power of restraint in storytelling.No voyage aboard the Nosferatu 2.5 would be complete without a descent into the luminous depths of the Ffantaface — that vast, ever-shifting archive of fan memory, interpretation, and lovingly hoarded detail. Keeping watch, as always, is Mrs C, the Cockney goldfish, whose telepathic commentary remains incisive, opinionated, and only loosely tethered to linear time. With suitable appeasement achieved, Sophie is granted access to this week’s guide: Anthony Lamb — artist and illustrator whose work has become a familiar and much-admired presence across the Doctor Who universe.Anthony has contributed extensively to the visual identity of the range, producing striking artwork and covers for Doctor Who Magazine and related publications. His illustrations capture the breadth of the series — its monsters, heroes, moods, and mythologies — translating complex ideas into instantly recognisable imagery. A creator who understands both the weight of legacy and the freedom of interpretation, Anthony joins Sophie to discuss visual storytelling, the challenges of depicting a constantly evolving universe, and how art helps shape the way fandom remembers, revisits, and reimagines Doctor Who.You can find us all over your social media.Bluesky/Instagram/X: @aceodyssey63Facebook: Sophie Aldred's Ace OdysseySophie's Instagram: @sophie_ace_aldredAnthony's X: @AnthonyLambAnthony's Bluesky: @AntLambFor listeners who want even more adventure, you can step inside the Ace Odyssey Patreon Community-*Episodes released early*Two exclusive podcasts every month*Online meet-ups and interactive events*Direct involvement in the evolving universe of the showwww.patreon.com/aceodysseySophie Aldred's Ace Odyssey stars Sophie Aldred with James Showers as Hobbes.Special Guests- Tomek Bork and Anthony LambMusic, Sound Effects and Sound Design by Michael Livesleywww.michaellivesley.co.ukProgramme Assistant Liz WhitmoreWritten, Produced and Directed by Paul Carmichael.Sophie Aldred’s Ace Odyssey is an Eh? Aye! Production © 2026

Pause whatever task you are heroically attempting (or heroically avoiding), ensure causality is still loosely attached, and make yourself comfortable as we once again board the indefatigable Nosferatu 2.5 — a ship so stubbornly historic that some of its systems insist on doing things the way they’ve always been done, even when no one remembers why. With Sophie Aldred guiding proceedings, our voyage continues through memory, invention, and the softly humming fault lines where fandom, craft, and time itself intersect.Standing crisply at Sophie’s side is Hobbes, the ship’s automaton butler and vigilant custodian of propriety. All polished brass, anxious protocols, and finely honed disapproval, he monitors the ship with a practised eye and a belief that most problems can be traced back to “insufficient filing.” Between them, they manage temperamental machinery, philosophical uncertainties, and the persistent mystery of the door that steadfastly refuses to open — or explain itself.This week, the Time Scoop activates with its customary lack of consultation and retrieves David Banks — actor, performer, and forever etched into collective memory as the chilling Cyberleader of Doctor Who. Across multiple appearances, David helped define one of the series’ most iconic adversaries, bringing authority, intelligence, and an unsettling calm to a role that demanded far more than a silver mask. Beyond the Cyber Wars, his career spans theatre, television, voice work, and audio drama, revealing a performer deeply engaged with character, discipline, and the mechanics of storytelling. Once disentangled from the Scoop (and after Hobbes conducts a stern evaluation of his suitability for command structures), David joins Sophie on the Sofa of Infinite Understanding to discuss performance, presence, and what it takes to give humanity to something designed to erase it.No expedition aboard the Nosferatu 2.5, however, would be complete without a descent into the shimmering currents of the Ffantaface — that vast, shifting reservoir of fan knowledge, debate, and beautifully obsessive recall. Standing guard, as ever, is Mrs C, the Cockney goldfish, whose telepathic observations are sharp, unsolicited, and largely unconcerned with chronology. With the appropriate negotiations concluded, Sophie is granted access to this week’s guide: Beth Axford — writer, researcher, and a familiar voice within the pages of Doctor Who Magazine.As a contributor to the magazine, Beth has explored the series from multiple angles, examining its themes, history, and evolving cultural impact with clarity and insight. A writer with a keen eye for detail and context, she brings both enthusiasm and analysis to her work, bridging the space between fandom and scholarship. Together, Sophie and Beth delve into writing about a show that never stops changing, the responsibility of chronicling a living mythology, and why Doctor Who continues to invite reinvention — both on screen and on the page.You can find us all over your social media.Bluesky/Instagram/X: @aceodyssey63Facebook: Sophie Aldred's Ace OdysseySophie's Instagram: @sophie_ace_aldredBeth's X: @0hMySt4rsFor listeners who want even more adventure, you can step inside the Ace Odyssey Patreon Community-*Episodes released early*Two exclusive podcasts every month*Online meet-ups and interactive events*Direct involvement in the evolving universe of the showwww.patreon.com/aceodysseySophie Aldred's Ace Odyssey stars Sophie Aldred with James Showers as Hobbes.Special Guests- David Banks and Beth AxfordMusic, Sound Effects and Sound Design by Michael Livesleywww.michaellivesley.co.ukProgramme Assistant Liz WhitmoreWritten, Produced and Directed by Paul Carmichael.Sophie Aldred’s Ace Odyssey is an Eh? Aye! Production © 2026

Pause whatever noble or ill-advised task currently occupies you, check that reality is still behaving itself, and prepare for another courteous bending of the cosmic rules as we return aboard the indefatigable Nosferatu 2.5 — a vessel of such venerable pedigree that certain bulkheads still insist the universe is expanding “quite enough, thank you.” With Sophie Aldred confidently at the helm, our voyage continues through memory, invention, and those peculiar regions where fandom quietly rewrites the laws of time.Attending Sophie with immaculate precision is Hobbes, the ship’s clockwork butler and self-appointed guardian of standards. All brass fittings, clipped vowels, and deeply entrenched mistrust, he oversees proceedings with an air of restrained alarm, firmly convinced that civilisation peaked shortly before the invention of plastics. Between them, they manage eccentric systems, unpredictable machinery, and the unresolved philosophical challenge posed by “the door that refuses to acknowledge it has hinges.”This week, the Time Scoop — once again operating with more enthusiasm than restraint — reaches into the timestream and extracts Sally Knyvette, forever celebrated as the cool, courageous Jenna from Blake’s 7. Actor, performer, and veteran of both studio drama and audio storytelling, Sally brings with her a career spanning cult science fiction, theatre, television, and the expanded universes of audio drama, including memorable work with Big Finish. Once safely released from the Scoop’s grasp (and after Hobbes has conducted a brisk assessment of her qualifications for surviving dystopian futures), Sally joins Sophie upon the Sofa of Infinite Understanding to reflect on performance, endurance, and what it truly means to fly fast ships in very dangerous times.Naturally, no journey aboard the Nosferatu 2.5 would be complete without an immersion into the luminous depths of the Ffantaface — that vast, ever-shifting archive of shared fan obsession and collective memory. Guarding its gateway is Mrs C, the Cockney goldfish, whose telepathic commentary remains piercing, perceptive, and entirely unconcerned with relevance. Once appeased, she permits Sophie entry to meet this week’s guide: Tim Burrows, co-host of the Doctor Who Missing Episodes Podcast and a tireless explorer of television history.With a scholar’s curiosity and a fan’s passion, Tim has spent years delving into lost episodes, recovered fragments, and the extraordinary detective work that keeps missing television alive in the public imagination. Together, Sophie and Tim explore the strange afterlife of lost stories, the joy of reconstruction, and why sometimes the gaps in the archive are just as fascinating as what survives.You can find us all over your social media.Bluesky/Instagram/X: @aceodyssey63Facebook: Sophie Aldred's Ace OdysseySophie's Instagram: @sophie_ace_aldredTim & The MIssing Episodes Podcast on X: @drwhopodcastersFor listeners who want even more adventure, you can step inside the Ace Odyssey Patreon Community-*Episodes released early*Two exclusive podcasts every month*Online meet-ups and interactive events*Direct involvement in the evolving universe of the showwww.patreon.com/aceodysseySophie Aldred's Ace Odyssey stars Sophie Aldred with James Showers as Hobbes.Special Guests- Sally Knyvette and Tim BurrowsMusic, Sound Effects and Sound Design by Michael Livesleywww.michaellivesley.co.ukWritten, Produced and Directed by Paul Carmichael.Sophie Aldred’s Ace Odyssey is an Eh? Aye! Production © 20256

Check your temporal bearings, ignore the faint smell of ozone, and step once more aboard the Nosferatu 2.5 — a ship of such venerable design that several of her corridors insist on remembering things slightly differently each time you walk through them. With Sophie Aldred at the helm, we continue our elegant drift through time, television history, and the strange emotional weather systems of fandom.Hovering nearby (and polishing something that does not need polishing) is Hobbes, the ship’s indefatigable automaton butler: custodian of protocols, guardian of tradition, and vocal opponent of any mechanism that suggests it might be “opened just to see what happens.” Together, Sophie and Hobbes negotiate creaking bulkheads, unexplained alarms, and the persistent mystery of the door that steadfastly refuses to cooperate.This week, the Time Scoop behaves with particular theatrical flair, delivering Sophie into the hands of Susan Twist — whose presence in the most recent series of Doctor Who carried Sutekh’s chilling gift of death across time and space. Once safely disentangled from the Scoop’s enthusiasm, Susan joins Sophie on the Sofa of Infinite Understanding to discuss the craft behind the spectacle: the joys, challenges, and quiet endurance required to spend six transformative hours in make-up, and the collaborative alchemy that brings such unforgettable moments to life.No expedition aboard the Nosferatu 2.5 would be complete without a descent into the glowing currents of the Ffantaface — that vast, shimmering reservoir of shared fan knowledge and collective obsession. Standing watch at its threshold is Mrs C, the Cockney goldfish, whose telepathic commentary remains sharp, opinionated, and only loosely related to the matter at hand. With the appropriate permissions secured, Sophie ventures inside to meet Christel Dee: content creator, broadcaster, and co-host of the BBC’s The Whoniverse Show.Together, they explore Christel’s deep-rooted love of Doctor Who, the creative momentum that fandom can generate, and how enthusiasm, curiosity, and community continue to shape new voices and new stories. Along the way, we also learn why “cutting it open” is not always the wisest course of action — whether one is dealing with a sealed bulkhead, an ancient mystery, or a Mars probe with opinions of its own.Thanks to the wonderful team at WHO ON THE WIRRAL for facilitating our first ever live interview!You can find us all over your social media.Bluesky/Instagram/X: @aceodyssey63Facebook: Sophie Aldred's Ace OdysseySophie's Instagram: @sophie_ace_aldredChristel's Instagram/TikTok: @christeldeeofficialwww.christeldee.co.uk For listeners who want even more adventure, you can step inside the Ace Odyssey Patreon Community-*Episodes released early*Two exclusive podcasts every month*Online meet-ups and interactive events*Direct involvement in the evolving universe of the showwww.patreon.com/aceodysseySophie Aldred's Ace Odyssey stars Sophie Aldred with James Showers as Hobbes.Special Guests- Susan Twist and Christel DeeMusic, Sound Effects and Sound Design by Michael Livesleywww.michaellivesley.co.ukWritten, Produced and Directed by Paul Carmichael.Sophie Aldred’s Ace Odyssey is an Eh? Aye! Production © 2025

Pause whatever you were doing, glance warily at the ceiling, and accept that the laws of physics are about to be negotiated as we step once more aboard the indefatigable Nosferatu 2.5 — a vessel so steeped in history that parts of her still insist on calling space “the ether.” With Sophie Aldred at the helm, we continue our stately drift through memory, invention, and those strange, glittering constellations where fandom and imagination collide.Hovering attentively at Sophie’s side is Hobbes, the ship’s clockwork butler and moral arbiter: all polished brass, impeccable diction, and tightly wound suspicion. He attends to the running of the ship with frosty devotion, offering commentary whether requested or not, and maintaining a firm belief that most modern innovations peaked somewhere around 1897. Between them, they negotiate eccentric machinery, recalcitrant systems, and the persistent mystery of “the door that absolutely refuses to explain itself.”This week, the Time Scoop — displaying its usual enthusiasm for chaos — hauls from the timestream Jamie Anderson: producer, archivist, and torchbearer of the legendary Anderson legacy. Son of the incomparable Gerry Anderson, Jamie has dedicated his career to preserving and expanding the worlds of Supermarionation, from Thunderbirds to Space: 1999, while championing new productions that honour the craft, optimism, and meticulous ingenuity that defined his father’s work as well as stepping foot in the Whoniverse as a director for Big Finish productions. Once disentangled from the Scoop’s temporal upholstery (and subjected to Hobbes’ stern enquiries regarding puppets, strings, and existential plausibility), Jamie and Sophie settle onto the Sofa of Infinite Understanding to discuss legacy, creativity, and what it means to grow up with the future permanently under construction.And, of course, no expedition aboard the Nosferatu 2.5 would be complete without a descent into the radiant currents of the Ffantaface — the vast, shimmering reservoir of shared fan memory. Standing sentinel at its threshold is Mrs C, the Cockney goldfish, whose telepathic observations remain razor-sharp despite her legendary inability to finish a thought. Once suitably placated, she grants Sophie access to this week’s guide: Andrew Games, an independent filmmaker from the Wirral whose work springs directly from a lifelong love of science fiction and Doctor Who.Working beyond the studio system and powered largely by imagination, ingenuity, and stubborn persistence, Andrew has carved out a distinctive creative voice through fan-led filmmaking, collaboration, and visual storytelling. Together Sophie and Andrew explore the strange alchemy by which enthusiasm turns into craft, and how stories made with care can echo far beyond their point of origin.You can find us all over your social media.Bluesky/Instagram/X: @aceodyssey63Facebook: Sophie Aldred's Ace OdysseySophie's Instagram: @sophie_ace_aldredJamie's Instagram:@iamjamieandersonJamie's Twitter: @ImJamieAndersonAndrew's Instagram: @andrewgamesofficialFor listeners who want even more adventure, you can step inside the Ace Odyssey Patreon Community-*Episodes released early*Two exclusive podcasts every month*Online meet-ups and interactive events*Direct involvement in the evolving universe of the showwww.patreon.com/aceodysseySophie Aldred's Ace Odyssey stars Sophie Aldred with James Showers as Hobbes.Special Guests- Jamie Anderson and Andrew GamesMusic, Sound Effects and Sound Design by Michael Livesleywww.michaellivesley.co.ukWritten, Produced and Directed by Paul Carmichael.Sophie Aldred’s Ace Odyssey is an Eh? Aye! Production © 2025

Get your Gravboots on give Mrs.C a dusting of flakes to encourage basic Ffantaface cooperation, and welcome once again aboard the venerable Nosferatu 2.5 — a ship so antique her instruction manual was engraved on trilobite shells. Guided by our dauntless host, Sophie Aldred, we press on through the slipstreams of time, nostalgia, and the delightfully peculiar archipelagos of fandom.At Sophie’s elbow is Hobbes, the ship’s resident automaton butler: equal parts Victorian splendour, clockwork anxiety, and barbed observation. He polishes, he mutters, he judges, and he remains deeply suspicious of any technology that wasn’t first unveiled at the Great Exhibition — particularly anything Rodent-like! Together, they navigate cosmic oddities, creaking bulkheads, and the eternal enigma of “the door we still can’t open.”This week, the Time Scoop whirs into life with its habitual lack of manners, dredging from the timestream none other than Janet Fielding — forever adored as the formidable, whip-smart Tegan Jovanka from Doctor Who. Once she is successfully liberated from its grabby appendages (and Hobbes has finished his officious questions about entry visas), Sophie and Janet retreat to the Sofa of Infinite Understanding to reminisce, ponder, and relish stories from both studio floor and starry expanse.But no voyage aboard the Nosferatu 2.5 would be complete without a plunge into the luminous depths of the Ffantaface — that colossal, pulsing archive of fan devotion. At its shimmering gateway waits Mrs C, the Cockney goldfish whose telepathic snark is only outdone by her inability to recall what she said five seconds ago. With fins twitching and commentary locked to “forthright,” she grants Sophie safe passage.In this chapter, the Ffantaface presents Nik Moyle: a devoted Doctor Who fan whose passion for the series has helped them triumph over adversity and fuel their creative fire! Together they explore fandom as a force for resilience, imagination, and downright cosmic joy.But the question must be asked: who really has control of the ship’s rodent population?You can find us all over your social media.Bluesky/Instagram/X: @aceodyssey63Facebook: Sophie Aldred's Ace OdysseySophie's Instagram: @sophie_ace_aldredJanet's Instagram/Twitter:@jfmouthonlegsJanet's Bluesky: @janetfieldingJanet's Facebook: Janet Fielding (Mouth on Legs)For listeners who want even more adventure, you can step inside the Ace Odyssey Patreon Community-*Episodes released early*Two exclusive podcasts every month*Online meet-ups and interactive events*Direct involvement in the evolving universe of the showwww.patreon.com/aceodysseySophie Aldred's Ace Odyssey stars Sophie Aldred with James Showers as Hobbes.Special Guests- Janet Fielding and Nik MoyleMusic, Sound Effects and Sound Design by Michael Livesleywww.michaellivesley.co.ukWritten, Produced and Directed by Paul Carmichael.Sophie Aldred’s Ace Odyssey is an Eh? Aye! Production © 2025