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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

history

All Episodes

29:51

THE GAZETTE: Haircuts, Hookups & Pop Culture Chaos

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/04/24

In this episode ofThe Gazette, we banter about a new haircut andVin Diesel’s twin brother before one of us shares a story about accidentally "having tea and scones" with both members of an identical twin pair—who, thanks to different hair and facial hair, didn’t look identical at all. We get into howSweet Transvestitehas become a full-blown earworm, and talk through generational gaps andMadonnaatCoachella, where audiences seem more focused on filming than watching.That spirals into a broader chat

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57:08

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975): Dammit Janet:...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/04/21

In this episode, we return—after a battle with some truly on-brand technical “gremlins”—to tackleThe Rocky Horror Picture Show, separating the film from its 1973 stage origins and digging into what makes it endure. We share our own very different relationships withRocky Horror, unpack its production history, and explore how it evolved into a midnight-movie phenomenon with a fiercely devoted cult following, eventually earning preservation in theNational Film Registry.We walk through the plot—from

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29:36

THE GAZETTE: Confessions 2, MAGA meltdowns & please...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/04/17

We’re back in theProblematic Gazette saddle — no plan, no structure, just vibes (and mild chaos). This week, we kick off by comparing ailments like it’s an Olympic sport: one of us is fresh off a greatest hits run of gastroenteritis, a colitis flare,andrecent COVID (thriving!), while the other is living vicariously through a husband who’s just attended a very hush-hush celebrity wedding 👀From there, we spiral — naturally — into TV chat. We debrief theThe Apprentice UKfinal, confess our soft spot

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27:59

THE GAZETTE: Trump, Artemis 2, Bananarama & The Studio

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/04/10

This week on The Gazette, we kick things off with a cozy chat about UK gardening and wildlife—blue tits nesting in the eaves, wasps causing chaos, and the latest updates from our bee hotel—before diving into listener emails about ourTootsieepisode, reactions toAmerica’s Next Top Model, and someStar Trekrecommendations.We talk about nearing the end of a fullCarry Onfilm watch (and the disappointing drop in quality), plus a new 2026 satirical series about organizing the FIFA World Cup, and what we’ve

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1:17:06

Tootsie (1982) with Andrew Mercado: US Soap Opera...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/04/07

In this episode of The Problematic Gazepodcast we dive into the 1982 cross dressing classicTootsie, and we're thrilled to be joined by our Down Under correspondent, TV historian, host of TV Gold Podcast, and former TV VJ Andrew Mercado! Andrew joins us in “Culture Corner,” where we unpack what 1982 looked like in both the US and Australia.We cover key cultural moments and trends—from Brisbane’s Commonwealth Games and political repression under Joh Bjelke-Petersen toE.T., the rise of MTV, early

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19:03

THE GAZETTE: Jane McDonald reigns supreme, Madonna...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/04/03

This weekend on the Gazette, we chat through an Easter bank holiday weekend filled with solo parenting, noisy dogs, and even planting tomatoes and cucumbers—alongside deep dives into culture past and present.We recap our latest main episode on Bo’ Selecta! and Britney Spears, correct the truth about Fergie’s one-handed cartwheel, and explore Madonna’s resurgence as Into the Groove trends again on TikTok. We also discuss reports of Madonna filming inLondonand a possible cameo withSeth RogenandJulia

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54:32

“Bo’ Selecta (2003): From Iconic to Offensive

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/03/31

In this episode ofThe Problematic Gaze, we’re diving headfirst into the messy, hilarious, and sometimes uncomfortable world of early 2000s pop culture.This time, we head back to2003to unpackBo’ Selecta!(Series 2, Episode 2), a chaotic snapshot of pre-social media celebrity culture. From exaggerated caricatures to shock-value humour, we explore how this episode acts as a time capsule of what audiences once laughed at—and what might not fly today.We watched this episode of Bo Selecta from 2003 : Check

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26:28

THE GAZETTE: Manosphere Meltdowns, Midlife Injuries &...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/03/27

In this edition of our bonus episode, we dive into listener emails, TV comebacks, midlife mishaps, and the relentless pace of modern life. Picking up from last week’sFight Clubdebate, we unpackLouis Theroux: The Manosphereand the rise of influencer culture—asking whether it’s all just a phone-fuelled grift.New listener Fiona writes in with a recommendation forDeadlochand a nudge towardStar Trek—so we ask: where should we even start?We celebrate the reopening of Camden’s iconic LGBTQ+ venueThe Black

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1:02:53

Fight Club (1999): Project Mayhem and the Manosphere

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/03/24

Check out our YouTube ChannelThis week onThe Problematic Gazewe revisitFight Club(1999)—soap, anarchy, and all. We unpack the plot, cast, and reception, and take on the enduring question: is this a razor-sharp critique of toxic masculinity, or a film that accidentally glamorises it?We placeFight Clubback in its late-’90s moment, with a detour through 1999 Britain—Y2K jitters, New Labour optimism, Cool Britannia swagger, Spice Girls-era pop, club culture, and the early days of dial-up and brick-like

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23:01

THE GAZETTE 'Last One Laughing' to a dog eating a...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/03/21

Check out our YouTube ChannelThis week onThe Problematic Gazette, we’re back for a chaotic spring equinox catch-up—sharing garden mishaps, recovery updates, and what’s next after ourPsychoepisode.We get into what we’ve been watching, from the return ofThis Lifeon iPlayer to Channel 4’sA Woman of Substance, a twisty ITVX thriller with David Morrissey and Eve Myles, andLast One Laughingseason two on Prime.Listener messages take us everywhere—fromThe Two Ronniesnostalgia to pushback on a Daily Mail

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56:07

Mother Knows Best: Psycho (1960), Hitchcock, and the...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/03/17

Don't forget to visit our YouTube Channel.We’re checking into theBates Motelthis week onThe Problematic Gaze Podcastas we dive deep intoAlfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960)—the horror classic that changed movie history one shocking shower scene at a time.First up, ourCulture Cornerspins the dial back toBritain in 1960—a world of lingeringpost-war austerity, buttoned-upsocial conservatism, emergingyouth culture, and a time whenhomosexuality was still illegal. We set the scene with the films, music, and

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33:06

THE PROBLEMATIC GAZETTE: Doctor Who Lost Episodes,...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/03/14

This week on The Problematic Gazette, apparently two days in the office is now enough to completely wipe us out. When did that happen? We talk about how ageing sneaks up on you, why work feels different than it did in our twenties, and we ask listeners to weigh in on the eternal struggle of work–life balance.Then we stumble across a brilliant showbiz connection that sends us down a disco rabbit hole. Legendary producerBiddu wrote Tina Charles’ smash hitI Love to Love— and the track also

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16:13

Gas Masks & Gladiators: THE PROBLEMATIC GAZETTE

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/03/07

In this relaxed Saturday chat, we talk about Britain’s obsession with the weather and the struggle of “wrong jacket season,” before drifting into existential reflections on old student films and Dr Lee’s memories of watching — and later working with — the legendary Siân Phillips.Dave brings up Dubai influencers facing government crackdowns over missile-related posts, which leads to memories of Bahrain during the 1990 Gulf crisis and a discussion about the limits of influencer freedom.Along the way

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56:36

The Worm That Turned (1980): Gender Panic, PVC...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/03/04

In celebration of International Women’s Day, we begin by digging into gender inequality statistics before turning to one of British television’s strangest dystopias:The Worm That Turned, the 1980 eight-part serial fromThe Two Ronnies.Set in a nightmare vision of 2012 Britain, the serial imagines a world where women rule, men are domesticated and forced into women’s clothing, and law and order is enforced by a PVC-clad female Gestapo led by screen sirenDiana Dors. We follow the unlikely heroes Janet

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30:15

Gladiators, TikTok Conspiracies & Noughties Reality...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/02/28

Welcome back to The Problematic Gazette — The Saturday spin off to our main show - The Problematic Gaze- the queer pop culture podcast where nothing is off limits.This week:🏋️ Why we’re suddenly obsessed with Gladiators (and yes… it’s homoerotic)📺 The reckoning of America’s Next Top Model and toxic 2000s reality TV culture🎭 Celebrating Kenneth Williams at 100 and the genius of the Carry On era📱 TikTok conspiracy rabbit holes — can social media rewrite history?🐩 A poodle haircut that channels

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54:32

Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill! (1965): Sex, Speed &...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/02/24

Watch The Problematic Gaze on YouTubeIn this episode ofThe Problematic Gaze, we revisit Russ Meyer’s cult classicFaster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!(1965) and ask: could it get away with it today?We explore its violent, quotable tale of three go-go dancers tearing through the California desert—drag racing, fighting, kidnapping, and flipping gender roles on their head. Is it pure exploitation, accidental feminism, or both?In our Culture Corner, we set the film against 1965 Britain: post-austerity optimism,

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34:00

THE PROBLEMATIC GAZETTE: Wuthering Heights, Andrew's...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/02/21

We return to the Problematic Gazette on our new Saturday slot and quickly tackle the Prince Andrew revelations, including the iconic photo of him being taken away. We recall the UK ‘Rear of the Year’ celebrity award, from Barbara Windsor as the first winner (1976) through Amanda Holden as the last (2019) We recap our recent Dempsey and Makepeace episode and talk about paparazzi, media scrutiny, and made-up tabloid narratives. And we mark the death of songwriter Billy Steinberg writer of major hits

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1:03:01

Dempsey and Makepeace (1985): Fast Cars, Choppy Bobs...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/02/17

Watch 'Dempsey and Makepeace: Love You To Death' on YouTubeClick here to watch The Problematic Gaze on YouTubeIn this episode ofThe Problematic Gaze, we turn our attention to“Love You to Death” (TX 1985)fromDempsey and Makepeace— the glossy Anglo-American crime drama that paired hard-boiled NYPD import James Dempsey with aristocratic British detective Harriet Makepeace.“Love You to Death” trades on seduction, jealousy, and lethal obsession, but beneath its high-concept crime plot lies a fascinating

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1:01:45

This Valentine’s Day, We’re Side-Eyeing 'Pillow Talk'...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/02/10

Click here to watch this episode on YouTubeThis Valentine’s Day,The Problematic Gazetakes aim atPillow Talk(1959), the pastel-perfect rom-com that taught generations of viewers to confuse deception with desire. 💋With sparkling dialogue, immaculate interiors, and a romance built on lies, this film asks us to root for a man who gaslights a woman into falling in love—and calls it charming. We unpack the gender politics, the fantasy of heterosexual warfare, and why mid-century romance keeps looking

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30:03

THE PROBLEMATIC GAZETTE: Traitors, The Queens's Worms...

The Problematic Gaze ·

2026/02/06

You can make Dave a happy boy and subscribe to our YouTube Channel here!In the 21st episode of the Problematic Gazette, we hosts dive into a jam-packed schedule discussing high fashion knitwear, a fun Geordie Shore retrospective, and tales of celebrity encounters and family links. We also talk about the recent portrayal of Charlie Sheen’s tumultuous life in a Netflix documentary and remember the late Catherine O’Hara. We touch on the Irish edition of 'The Traitors,' Dr Lee's new job, Dave's YouTube

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128 results

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