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PODCAST

The Problematic Gaze

David Moor and Lee Arnott

Winner - ‘Best History Podcast’ - Independent Podcast Awards 2025‘Top 30 Podcasts To Listen To Right Now’ - The Radio Times 2025Direct from PG Towers, join social historian Dr Lee Arnott and TV producer Dave Moor for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture of yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. Each week we focus on a different piece of pop culture, and put it into context by looking at the news events and cultural landscape of the year it was released

tv & film film history

All Episodes

43:03

Ep 26: 'Educating Rita' from 1983. 'There must be...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/12/03

Direct from PG Towers, join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week, we cast our gaze on the classic British film 'Educating Rita' from 1983, starring Julie Walters and Michael Caine. Touching on patriarchal expectations on women, class and education, there's plenty in this film to gaze upon.Also, Dave's onions are slowly pickling. And will Dr Lee be having a 'Mary' Christmas?...

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52:24

Ep: 25: 'Doctor Who - City Of Death' from 1979. Mona...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/11/26

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week, we cast our gaze on the classic series of Doctor Who with the story 'City Of Death' from Season 17. Join Lee''s favourite Doctor, Tom Baker, and his assistant Romana (in questionable schoolgirl attire) for a campy romp around Paris.Also, Christmas Party season has started! And is death by rhubarb a thing?Click here to watch 'Doctor...

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48:31

Ep 24: 'Friends' US Sitcom from 2001. Speeding...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/11/22

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week, we cast our gaze on the classic US sitcom 'Friends'. Chandler meets his 'Dad', Ross and Rachel go for a drive, and Joey has underwear issues. How does Friends stand up to a modern lens? Also, who has severely depleted Dave's rum stock? And we take a deep dive into Lee's drag bag!You can watch Friends Season 7 Episode 22 on Net...

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48:22

Ep 23: 'The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie' British film...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/11/12

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week, we cast our gaze on the classic British film "The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie", starring Maggie Smith in an Oscar winning turn. Is Jean Brodie a romantic heroine or deluded egomaniac? One things for sure, she'd better watch her back. Her 'girls' are about to turn.Also, Dave and Lee dive into their bulging sack, of Gazers emails...

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44:09

Ep 22: 'Fawlty Towers: The Germans' from 1975:...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/11/05

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week, we cast our gaze on the classic British sitcom Fawlty Towers, and focus on an episode from 1975 called 'The Germans'. Controversial in recent years for its use of racist language, this episode was removed from several platforms. Do the antics of Basil, Sybil, Polly and Manuel hold up through a modern lens?Also, PG Towers is positiv...

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49:04

Ep 21: 'An American Werewolf In London' from 1981....

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/10/29

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week, in celebration of Halloween, we cast our gaze on the classic film An American Werewolf In London. From the Yorkshire Moors to Piccadilly Circus, this film caused a stir upon its release in 1981. Is it a horror or a comedy? Is Jenny Agutter the poshest nurse ever? Let's take a visit to the most unwelcoming pub in England. And have y...

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42:42

Ep 20: 'Absolutely Fabulous' from 1994. Champers...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/10/22

Crack open the Bolly! It's our 20th episode!! Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week, we cast our gaze on the PR and fashion world inhabited by the icons Edina Monsoon and Patsy Stone, from the classic BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous. In Episode 3 from Season 2, Pats and Eddy, take a trip to Marrakech. Unfortunately for Patsy, Edina's daughter Saffy tags along. What could...

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39:01

Ep 19: 'Threads' TV movie from 1984. Sheffield,...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/10/15

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we struggle to find anything uplifting to say about the TV film 'Threads' from 1984. Although, considering its subject matter is nuclear armageddon, we'd challenge anyone to put a positive slant on it! The source of many a child of the 80's nightmares, 'Threads' is an unrelenting study on what can happen when two superpowers c...

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40:03

Ep 18: 'Heartstopper" Teen Drama from 2024. The Kids...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/10/08

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we unite once again in the penthouse boardroom of PG Towers. We come bang up to date to cast our gaze over the latest series of Netflix coming of age teen drama Heartstopper. How has LGBTQIA+ representation on television advanced over the decades? And what can two self confessed 'old gays' learn from Nick, Charlie and their fr...

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34:29

Episode 17: Innocent Love Story or Cynical...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/10/01

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we cast our Gaze over the smash hit reality TV series 'Love Island' from 2022. Watch as the love stories of the villa unfold week by week. Watch as the line of what's real and what's being manipulated by skilled storytellers gets blurred. Are the contestants gullible pawns or savvy entrepreneurs? And what the Ekin-Su can two old gif...

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42:23

Episode 16: Rag and Bone and Nostalgia Porn. "Steptoe...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/09/24

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we cast our Gaze over the phenomenon of nostalgia posts on social media. Who exactly wants us to think that the past was so wonderful compared to now? And why? In Steptoe and and Son, a sitcom where son Harold is desperate to escape the shackles of poverty, thwarted by his father at every turn, the past doesn't look, or smell so ros...

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56:05

Episode 15: Romantic Loveliness or Misogynistic...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/09/16

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we break out the mince pies and sherry to watch the British Christmas movie 'Love Actually' from 2003. A word of warning! If this film fills you with festive cheer, prepare to have your nostalgia vibes well and truly violated! This film is what The Problematic Gaze was invented for. Buckle up! Our peace and goodwill runneth on empty...

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46:37

Episode 14: Mullets, Guns and Arnie's Bum! 'The...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/09/10

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This episode we cast our gaze over 1984's 'The Terminator'. What is hypermasculinity and why was it so prevalent in the 80's? Can a mullet ever look good on a woman? Can the machines really take over? Remember, always be nice to Alexa, it might just save your life come Judgement Day!Also, ever recreated the Torvill and Dean's 'Bol...

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67:51

Episode 13: Sicily, Sin and St Olaf. 'The Golden...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/09/03

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. For the first time in weeks, Lee and Dave are thrust together in the same room!!! Add raging hangovers and a bottle of medicinal champagne and light the blue touch paper! Join us for our robust exploration into the world of Dorothy, Sophia, Blanche and Rose, AKA The Golden Girls. In this episode, Season 3 Episode 11, we join the girls on the ...

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46:41

Episode 12: Sex, Vice and Ginger Spice. The 'Fat...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/08/27

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we watch the 2004 British film 'Fat Slags'. Universally panned by critics and a flop at the box office, Dave and Dr Lee dig deep to find a redeeming feature. Do we succeed?Also, we deep dive Dave's trip to New York and skim the surface on Lee's trip to erm... Wigan.If you'd like to watch the (mercifully short) Fat Slags movie click ...

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51:53

Episode 11: Parky, Pipes and Brown Pants! BBC TV...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/08/20

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we watch the supernatural BBC 1 drama 'Ghostwatch' from 1992. Find out why it had the nation in uproar and jammed the BBC switchboard. Just who is Pipes? And dare you enter the Glory Hole?Sadly the version of Ghostwatch we watched on YouTube has been taken down. But click here to watch a fab documentary about the Ghostwatch controve...

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42:27

Episode 10: Big Mistake, Huge!! "Pretty Woman" from 1990

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/08/06

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we watch the 1990 movie "Pretty Woman" starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts. Romantic fairy tale or a huge bucket of problematic misogyny? Let's discuss.Also, Lee's big night out in Soho and Dave's favourite new podcast (after The Problematic Gaze of course!!)You can watch Pretty Woman.... well, pretty much anywhere really!Follow...

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36:14

Episode 9: Lads Lads Lads!!! TV Comedy "Men Behaving...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/07/30

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we watch an episode of popular UK sitcom 'Men Behaving Badly." from 1994. Just what was Lad Culture and what was it reacting against? Was it all just an advertisers wet dream?Also, Lee's pigeon nightmare. And is beating a rat to death with a spade ever justified?Click here to watch the episode of Men Behaving Badly discussed in this...

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42:04

Episode 8: Man In A Frock, Bikini Wrestlers and...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/07/23

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we delve into the world of 'Carry On' films with Carry On Girls from 1973. Harmless saucy fun? Feminist classic? Hmmm...... Where can we buy a swanee whistle?Also, just where did Bananarama film the video for 'Cruel Summer? Spontaneous nightclubbing. And Dave's Madonna nightmare.You can watch Carry On Girls in ITV X in the UK....

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34:54

Episode 7: I Wanna Kiss You In Paris. Madonna's...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2024/07/16

Join Lee and Dave for a lighthearted look at the world of TV, Film and Popular Culture from yesteryear that has since been considered problematic. This week we cast the Problematic lens over Madonna's 1990 music video for Justify My Love.Madonna caused another commotion with the release of this video. But looking back on it, did it really warrant the moral backlash and slut shaming it received?Also, what would Cilla Black's version of this song sound like? And Lee, why don't you tell us...

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