Community

Our leading contributor and consultant is Gary Wells, a writer and commentator on mid-20th century popular culture encompassing media, film, music and books. His work is appreciated around the world for its historical accuracy and sincerity, not only by his many thousands of loyal readers, but by researchers seeking a totally trusted source, and frequently by people with a personal connection to the subjects he writes about.

Join Gary at soulrideblog.com, ‘Your home for vintage leisure’.

You can also hear Gary with his regular segment, Words With Wellsy, on the Cocktail Nation Podcast, and follow his active social media.

Selected Words With Wellsy segments are now available as standalone episodes. Search your favourite platform.

In this clip from our episode on More American Graffiti and American International Pictures, Gary talks about the ethos behind his work on soulrideblog.com, navigating the line between commentator and fan, and clinging to authenticity in an AI landscape.

Oliver Crocker is a filmmaker, podcaster, publisher, and leading writer and historian on classic British television. He is the author of three successful and acclaimed books; Witness Statements: Making The Bill Series 1-3 and Making The Bill 1988, as well as All Memories Great and Small. Oliver has also edited and published the autobiography of Larry Dann, who made a huge contribution to the early years of The Bill as Sgt Alec Peters.

Available from Devonfire Books, Amazon, and selected book stores.

His ongoing project, The Bill Podcast, has had over 500 000 plays in 50 countries, and according to Listen Notes is in the top 1.5 percent of podcasts globally.

Oliver joined us over several episodes to discuss everything from The Bill and Dad’s Army to adventures in guerrilla indie filmmaking, as well as his writing and publishing ventures.

He also co-produced and presented very special DEC4 episodes paying tribute to his friend, versatile actor and playwright, Frank Williams, and recalled his experiences working with Frank’s fellow Dad’s Army legend, the late Ian Lavender, on a segment for ITV.

Oliver is the producer of the Apple Top 40 scripted podcast series, Letter From Helvetica, written by and starring Andrew Mackintosh (DS Alistair Greig in 333 episodes of The Bill), and starring fellow The Bill legend, Natalie Roles (DS Debbie McAllister in 191 episodes).

Read more at our External Productions page.

Andrew Mackintosh, Natalie Roles and Oliver

Our podcast theme and incidental music are written by Michael Falge and Detlef Wolff, and performed by Gainesville; keeping the spirit of Tom Petty alive in Europe and playing great live rock and roll.

Get to know the band, and listen to a studio sample as well as some live selections from their website here, and more on YouTube. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Stage photography by Fonse Demmelhuber.

We’re grateful to Steve Collins for technical support and advice, and for voicing our original closing credits. Steve is a genuine legend of Australian radio production, having worked in public and commercial radio at the highest level, and with some of the biggest local and international music acts during the golden age of pub rock.

Steve joined us to recall the Sydney live scene in the 1970s, and working at pioneering rock radio station 2JJ, in our Once Upon a Time in Sydney episode.

Steve has a huge following for his travel commentary, you can keep up with his latest adventures at his YouTube channel, Steve Collins Traveller.