General Witchfinders: The British Horror Podcast

60 - Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970) – Hammer Horror

Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970). We’re back to Hammer Horror, back to Christopher Lee, and back to Dracula. In this episode of General Witchfinders, we sink our teeth into Taste the Blood of Dracula (1970), the fifth official film in Hammer’s Dracula series and our sixth Hammer Dracula review to date. You can find links to all previous vampire escapades at https://tinyurl.com/Witchdrac. This British gothic horror classic, directed by Peter Sasdy and written by Hammer regular Anthony Hinds (under the alias John Elder), was nearly a Dracula-free affair. Christopher Lee had originally declined to return, and the script focused instead on Ralph Bates’s doomed Lord Courtley. But Warner Bros. insisted: no Dracula, no deal. So #BigChrisLee once again rises from the grave — bloodthirsty, silent, and furiously regretting his contract. Taste the Blood of Dracula opens with a satanic ritual involving Dracula’s powdered remains, a trio of Victorian hypocrites, and the ill-fated resurrection of evil. It’s a moody, blood-soaked revenge tale packed with brooding graveyards and Hammer’s trademark blend of sex, sin and satin capes. Cast Highlights:Christopher Lee as Count Dracula — in his fourth Dracula outing for Hammer.Ralph Bates as Lord Courtley — Hammer’s would-be replacement for Lee.Geoffrey Keen as William Hargood — a patriarch with a hidden penchant for brothels.Linda Hayden as Alice Hargood — the daughter turned devotee, previously seen in Baby Love and The Blood on Satan’s Claw.Peter Sallis as Samuel Paxton — yes, that Peter Sallis: Cleggy, Wallace, and voice of animated British melancholy.Roy Kinnear as Weller — bringing tragic optimism, as only Kinnear can. There’s Hammer horror royalty in every frame, from Linda Hayden’s eerie innocence to Ralph Bates’s foppish devilry. And Geoffrey Keen? You may recognise him as Sir Frederick Gray, the Defence Minister across six Bond films — The Spy Who Loved Me, Moonraker, For Your Eyes Only, Octopussy, A View to a Kill and The Living Daylights. Ralph Bates, meanwhile, would go on to star in Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde, The Horror of Frankenstein, Lust for a Vampire, becoming one of Hammer’s key players. He also turned up in the final season of Secret Army (inspiring ’Allo ’Allo), and was once considered for major roles in Lifeforce — as discussed back in episode 39.Peter Sallis, who we last touched on in our Nicolas Lyndhurst deep-dive (episode 54), had an extraordinary career in British television, from Doctor Who to The Wind in the Willows to Wallace & Gromit. His role in this film might be brief, but his CV is longer than Dracula’s cape. And finally, Roy Kinnear: from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory to Help!, Watership Down, Blake’s 7, and beyond — always brilliant, always beleaguered. Trivia for the diehards:This film was part of a double bill with Crescendo on release.The infamous brothel scene was trimmed from the theatrical cut but restored for later DVD editions.Released just 22 weeks before Scars of Dracula (covered back in episode 28). Whether you’re a lifelong Hammer horror collector, a Christopher Lee completist, or simply a fan of vintage British horror with gothic flair, Taste the Blood of Dracula is essential viewing.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/general-witchfinders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

59 - Terry Nation's - Survivors / The Fourth Horseman (1975)

In this episode of General Witchfinders, we revisit one of the most unsettling and prophetic dramas ever broadcast by the BBC – Survivors (1975), created by Terry Nation, the man behind the Daleks and Blake’s 7. Specifically, we’re talking about The Fourth Horseman, the chilling first episode of this 1970s British post-apocalyptic classic.💀 Trigger warning / content note: this episode contains discussion of global pandemics, mass death, and social collapse. If the subject feels a little too close to home after recent years, we completely understand if you choose to skip this one.Survivors imagines a world where a man-made virus, accidentally released by a scientist, spreads globally via air travel. Within weeks, nearly the entire population is dead. Society collapses, infrastructure crumbles, and the few who remain must fend for themselves in a near-empty Britain.This isn’t zombie apocalypse stuff or glossy sci-fi. There’s no government bunker, no miracle cure—just grief, loss, and the brutal reality of surviving in a world where almost everyone is gone.Created by Terry Nation—best known for creating the Daleks in Doctor Who—Survivors taps into the very real fears of the Cold War era: disease, nuclear disaster, the fragility of civilisation. Nation was also behind Blake’s 7, and brought his trademark bleakness to both series. But before that, he was a comedy writer for the likes of Tony Hancock, Spike Milligan, and Peter Sellers—a strange career path that makes the grim tone of Survivors all the more striking. The pilot episode features a brilliant, if doomed, ensemble cast. Peter Bowles plays David Grant, alongside Peter Copley as Dr Bronson. Bowles was a fixture of 70s telly (The Bounder, To the Manor Born, Only When I Laugh, Lytton’s Diary, and The Sarah Jane Adventures). Copley also had an enviable run, including The Forsyte Saga, The Avengers, Pyramids of Mars, and The Colour of Magic.We’re also introduced to the show’s core survivors:Carolyn Seymour as Abby Grant – later seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Voyager, ER, Quantum Leap, and more. She’s also a prolific voice actor, particularly for Big Finish.Lucy Fleming as Jenny Richards – niece of Ian Fleming and a regular presence in British drama.Talfryn Thomas as Tom Price – the go-to Welsh character actor of his day, best known for Dad’s Army, Steptoe and Son, Hi-de-Hi!, and Doomwatch.Although Survivors only ran for three series (1975–77), it remains one of the most grounded and frightening depictions of societal breakdown ever broadcast. The lack of music, the naturalistic dialogue, and the eerie emptiness all contribute to its unsettling power.Whether you remember watching Survivors when it first aired, or you’re coming to it fresh in an age where its central premise no longer feels far-fetched, this is vintage British TV worth revisiting. It’s thoughtful, well-acted, and grim as hell. Just how we like it.And if you’d like episodes early (and ad-free), you can support General Witchfinders over on Patreon.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/general-witchfinders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

58 - 28 Weeks Later (2007): British Horror’s Brutal Zombie Follow-Up

This time on General Witchfinders, we’re heading back into the blood-soaked, Rage-infected streets of post-apocalyptic Britain with 28 Weeks Later — the 2007 zombie horror sequel to Danny Boyle’s groundbreaking 28 Days Later. Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, 28 Weeks Later builds on the legacy of 28 Days Later (which we covered in episode 43), expanding the world of the Rage Virus and the aftermath of a collapsed society. While Danny Boyle didn’t direct this time around — due to commitments on Sunshine — he stayed on as executive producer and even directed key sequences himself, including the ferocious opening scene. The original creators — Boyle, producer Andrew Macdonald, and screenwriter Alex Garland — initially considered a direct sequel called 29 Days Later, potentially continuing the story of Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris’s characters. Instead, they pivoted to a broader, bleaker vision: an infected London under military quarantine, a supposed victory against the virus, and the inevitable resurgence of horror. Set weeks after the events of the first film, 28 Weeks Later follows the failed attempt to repopulate a ‘safe zone’ in London, guarded by the US Army. As expected in a British zombie film, things go catastrophically wrong. Filming took place in iconic London locations, including Canary Wharf and 3 Mills Studios. A sequence planned for Wembley Stadium had to be shot in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium instead. The film’s viral marketing campaign — quite literally — included a huge biohazard warning projected onto the White Cliffs of Dover. The Rage Virus was back. Opening in 2007, 28 Weeks Later landed in over 2,000 US cinemas and took nearly $10 million on its opening weekend. It didn’t match the cultural impact of 28 Days Later, but it cemented the franchise as a landmark of modern British horror — helping shape the next wave of post-apocalyptic zombie cinema.28 Weeks Later features a fresh cast, including Robert Carlyle, Rose Byrne, Jeremy Renner, Harold Perrineau, Idris Elba, and a young Imogen Poots. While none of the original characters return, the film builds on the terrifying groundwork Boyle and Garland laid in 28 Days Later — exploring themes of infection, trust, trauma, and institutional failure. The trilogy-that-never-was stalled with 28 Months Later, which entered development hell. But a proper sequel, 28 Years Later, has finally been greenlit, with Danny Boyle returning to direct and Cillian Murphy on board as producer. The Rage Virus isn’t done with us yet. If you’re searching for podcasts about 28 Weeks Later, 28 Days Later, 28 Years Later, Danny Boyle, zombie movies, the Rage Virus, post-apocalyptic horror, or modern British horror cinema — you’ve found the right episode. Expect discussion of British zombie films, Rage-infected lore, military horror, abandoned London, and whether 28 Weeks Later holds up next to its predecessor. 🎧 Subscribe to General Witchfinders for more British horror deep dives, and catch up on our previous episode on 28 Days Later for the full Rage Virus experience.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/general-witchfinders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

57 – Doomwatch: Vintage BBC Sci-Fi by Gerry Davis, Kit Pedler & Terence Dudley

This time we watched Tomorrow, the Rat — Episode 4 from Series 1 of Doomwatch, first broadcast 2 March 1970 and written by Terence Dudley. That’s four years before James Herbert published The Rats (which we covered in episode 4). It’s highly likely he was inspired by this vintage BBC sci-fi thriller—pen in hand, watching Doomwatch unfold.Doomwatch was a vintage BBC science fiction series that aired from 1970 to 1972. A prime example of British sci-fi, it followed a government scientific agency led by Dr Spencer Quist (John Paul) investigating futuristic environmental and technological threats. Think of it as classic BBC sci-fi with serious Black Mirror energy.The show was created by Doctor Who masterminds Gerry Davis and Kit Pedler—the very same duo who invented the Cybermen. Davis had been a Doctor Who story editor; Pedler served as scientific adviser. Their fascination with the dangers of science run amok became the foundation of Doomwatch, this cult BBC science fiction drama.Series 1 and 2 each had thirteen episodes; Series 3 had twelve (though one, Sex and Violence, was never broadcast). The BBC got cold feet, possibly due to real execution footage and unflattering portrayals of public figures like Mary Whitehouse and Cliff Richard.As with far too much vintage BBC content, parts of Doomwatch are missing—wiped or taped over. At its peak, the show pulled in over 13 million viewers, cementing its place in classic British sci-fi history.Dr Quist was a Nobel-winning physicist haunted by his involvement in the Manhattan Project. (Yes, he appears in Oppenheimer.) John Paul, who played him, was a familiar face on British television: I, Claudius, Triangle, The Avengers, The New Avengers—proper BBC veteran.Toby Wren, played by Robert Powell (who we talked about in episode 46, The Survivor), was a key figure in Series 1. He met a legendary end in the finale, Survival Code. Powell asked to go out with a bang—literally. The BBC received more letters about his on-screen death than any issue since World War II.This episode, Tomorrow, the Rat, was written by Terence Dudley—then the producer of Doomwatch. Dudley directed three episodes and went on to work extensively in Doctor Who, including directing Meglos (1980), and writing Four to Doomsday, Black Orchid, and The King’s Demons. He also wrote Target novelisations and K-9 and Company. Classic vintage BBC sci-fi pedigree.Simon Oates plays Dr John Ridge—you may remember him from Beasts (The Dummy episode, which we reviewed in 44a). He also played Steed in the stage version of The Avengers.Penelope Lee appears as Dr Mary Bryant. She once auditioned to play Barbara, the Doctor’s original companion. She later voiced Lyn Driver in The Plague Dogs (a British animation not for the faint-hearted) and a computer in Doctor Who: Revelation of the Daleks. She also featured in Richard Donner’s Superman as the Ninth Elder. Peak British sci-fi credentials.Hamilton Dyce turns up as the Minister. You might recognise him as Major General Scobie in Doctor Who: Spearhead from Space—another vintage BBC sci-fi staple.And no, before you ask, none of this cast ever turned up in Boon.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/general-witchfinders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two New Books from Your Hosts

Sorry to audio-spam you all, but we've got two things on the go that we thought you might like to hear about:First up, Jon’s teamed up with his designer mate Sean Rees to create a photography book celebrating his 25-year love affair with the South Wales Valleys. It’s 72 pages of full-colour images and B5 sized.He’s currently crowdfunding it, so if you’d like to get a copy, head here:👉 https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/valleys-photography-bookAnd secondly, the second issue of our General Witchfinders horror ’zine is now out!76 pages of pagan rites, glam rock ghosts, Catholic dread, murderous roadies and more. Strange stories. Fantastic articles. Killer art.You can pick one up here:👉 https://ko-fi.com/s/b70a30924cWe’d love your support — whether it’s a purchase, a share, or just telling your spooky mates.Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/general-witchfinders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.