The Problematic Gaze

For decades, the Morecambe & Wise Christmas specials were more than just television — they were a seasonal institution. In this episode of The Problematic Gaze, we take a joyful deep-dive into the 1971 Morecambe & Wise Christmas Special, fondly remembered as one of their most beloved festive showcases. Broadcast on Christmas Day 1971, this classic brought together Eric Morecambe, Ernie Wise and an unforgettable lineup of guests — including showbiz legends like Shirley Bassey, André Previn and Glenda Jackson — for a rich variety of sketches, musical performances and moments that have become part of British Christmas tradition. We’ll revisit Eric’s ridiculous piano concerto with Previn, Shirley Bassey’s set malfunction, and the duo’s effortless blend of slapstick and warmth that made millions tune in each holiday season. This episode celebrates how the 1971 special helped define festive TV entertainment — bringing laughter, music and a sense of shared joy to families across the UK and beyond.Click here to watch the 1971 Morecambe and Wise 1971 Christmas Special on IPlayerClick here to follow us on all our socialsPlease leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.  And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at [email protected]. We love hearing from you!GAZER HOMEWORK: Next week we focus on Blackadder's Christmas Carol. Click here to watch on Amazon Prime in the UK

THIS EPISODE CONTAINS SOME BACKGROUND INTERFERENCE! WE BLAME OUR DAVE'S HANGOVER. APOLOGIES, MUST TRY HARDER (OR DRINK LESS)Welcome to The Problematic Gazette, a bonus addition to our main show. Our Dave and Dr Lee chew the fat, read out Gazer comments  and  discuss things we've seen, read and heard this week.To watch video versions of our full episodes check out The Problematic Gaze YouTube channel here!Click here to follow us on all our socialsPlease leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.  And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at [email protected]. We love hearing from you!

In this episode of The Problematic Gaze, we take a smart yet light-hearted look at It’s a Wonderful Life  from 1946, starring Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, the man whose shattered dreams somehow become the emotional glue holding Bedford Falls together. We explore how the film mirrors a nation rebuilding itself after WWII, balancing hope, anxiety, and the looming pressure of the corporate machine embodied by Mr. Potter.We dig into the film’s gender politics, especially the Madonna/Whore dynamic that frames Mary as the idealized homemaker while Violet is cast under the town’s moral magnifying glass. We also zoom out to the cultural moment: the news events shaping the postwar world,  the film landscape Frank Capra re-entered after the war, and the popular songs that set the mood of 1946.Deep dive into with us into a beloved holiday classic—proof that beneath all the tinsel lies a rich tangle of ideals, anxieties, and unfulfilled ambitions.Click here to follow us on all our socialsPlease leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.  And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at [email protected]. We love hearing from you!

Welcome to The Problematic Gazette, a bonus addition to our main show. Our Dave and Dr Lee chew the fat, read out Gazer comments  and  discuss things we've seen, read and heard this week.To watch video versions of our full episodes check out The Problematic Gaze YouTube channel here!Click here to follow us on all our socialsPlease leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.  And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at [email protected]. We love hearing from you!

In this festive deep dive, The Problematic Gaze visits the candlelit halls of Downton Abbey to dissect the beloved—and controversial—2011 Christmas Special. From Mary and Matthew’s snow-dusted proposal to the unspoken emotional labor of the servants, we unwrap how the episode uses holiday warmth to soften the edges of Edwardian class hierarchy, gender expectations, and the romanticisation of aristocratic life. Through critical analysis and cultural context, we explore how period drama is often used to remind us of the good old days, when everyone knew their place, Britannia ruled the waves and even the poorest could be happy (unless you're Daisy the kitchen maid, and then life was actually shit!)Watch the episode of international hit drama Downton Abbey from Christmas Day 2011.  Click here to watch on itvX in the UKPlease leave us a review wherever you get your podcasts. They really help to spread the word of The Problematic Gaze.  And if our fellow Gazers want to comment on what they've heard in our episodes, or to suggest future topics, please email us at [email protected]. We love hearing from you!GAZER HOMEWORK: Next Week we dissect the beloved US Christmas film (or is it?) It's A Wonderful Life from 1946