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Rating
5from
This podcast has
50 episodes
Language
EnglishPublisher
Chris BainbridgeExplicit
No
Date created
2021/11/10
Latest episode
2025/12/21
Average duration
61 min.
Release period
33 days
Description
A weekly look at one of the most enigmatic tv shows ever made, Patrick McGoohan's 'The Prisoner'. Each week screenwriter Cai Ross and media lecturer Chris Bainbridge, delve into the 17 episodes of The Prisoner interpreting them in their own unique way. With guest interviews including original cast members, Free For All is a light hearted, funny, critical and sometimes analytical exploration of McGoohan's televisual magnum opus. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Podcast episodes
Check latest episodes from Free For All podcast
Rebellion on Prime Time: The Press and Public Reactions to The Prisoner
2025/12/21
In this episode, Chris Bainbridge and Cai Ross dive deep into the original press and public reactions to The Prisoner when it first aired in 1967. Lauded by some as visionary and condemned by others as baffling, Patrick McGoohan’s enigmatic series sparked one of the most divided responses in British television history. Chris and Cai explore contemporary newspaper reviews, viewer letters, and broadcast commentary to uncover how audiences really felt about the show’s surreal storytelling, political undertones, and groundbreaking style. Was The Prisoner celebrated as a work of genius, dismissed as nonsense, or something in between? Join us as we step back into the social and cultural climate of the late 1960s to understand why this strange, defiant series confused, captivated, and ultimately transformed its viewers. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Return to Wandering Planet - Special (Number 45)
2025/06/16
In this special episode of Free For All, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge are once again joined by Wandering Planet's own Gavin Hignight and Chris "Doc" Wyatt to discuss the recently released Wave Two Prisoner action figures with exclusive news on the upcoming Wave Three! Not only that but Gavin and Chris spill the beans about the new Ultimate Edition 6 inch figures (1/12 scale) coming very soon. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Live from PortmeiriCon - Part 2 (Number 44)
2025/05/25
In this second special live episode, Chris and Cai trade the studio for the beautiful north Wales village of Portmeirion—the iconic filming location of The Prisoner, to record straight from Six of One's PortmeiriCon! Joining Chris and Cai is editor and PortmeiriCon host Cyril Martin, who takes us through his work restoring the Prisoner episodes to the original shooting scripts with some interesting results. Recorded on Sunday 13th April 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Live from PortmeiriCon - Part 1 (Number 43)
2025/05/18
In this very special live episode, Chris and Cai trade the studio for the beautiful north Wales village of Portmeirion—the iconic filming location of The Prisoner, to record straight from Six of One's PortmeiriCon! Surrounded by die-hard fans, eccentric architecture, and plenty of Number Six lookalikes, our hosts dive deep into the lasting legacy of the cult classic series. Joining Chris and Cai is Six of One founder member Dave Barrie, who reminisces about the first ever Portmeiricon back in 1977 as well as his new book - The Prisoner - What's It All About? Recorded on Sunday 13th April 2025. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Artificial Intelligence and The Prisoner - Part 2 (Number 42)
2025/05/11
The Prisoner. 1967. A Village where everyone is watched—and no one is free. But what happens when we look at it through the lens of AI?
In Free For All, we dive deep into The Prisoner, the groundbreaking cult TV series starring Patrick McGoohan, and explore how its themes of surveillance, identity, and autonomy eerily anticipate our modern world of artificial intelligence. Each episode unpacks how this psychedelic, philosophical spy thriller foreshadowed algorithmic control, predictive behavior, and machine-driven governance—decades before Silicon Valley even existed. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Artificial Intelligence and The Prisoner - Part 1 (Number 41)
2025/05/04
The Prisoner. 1967. A Village where everyone is watched—and no one is free. But what happens when we look at it through the lens of AI?
In Free For All, we dive deep into The Prisoner, the groundbreaking cult TV series starring Patrick McGoohan, and explore how its themes of surveillance, identity, and autonomy eerily anticipate our modern world of artificial intelligence. Each episode unpacks how this psychedelic, philosophical spy thriller foreshadowed algorithmic control, predictive behaviour, and machine-driven governance—decades before Silicon Valley even existed. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Prisoner and the Beatles - Part 2 (Number 40)
2025/04/27
Return to the kaleidoscopic world of 1967, a year when pop culture bent reality, and nothing was quite what it seemed. In this episode, Chris and Cai explore the surreal, symbolic, and subversive parallels between the cult TV show The Prisoner and the cultural phenomenon of The Beatles. From the psychedelic aesthetics to the themes of identity, control, rebellion, and the search for truth, this podcast dives deep into how both The Prisoner and The Beatles reflected — and shaped — the countercultural spirit of the 1960s. Was Number Six just a Day Tripper to Portmeirion trying to break free? Was The White Album a tribute to Rover? Join us as we connect the dots between sitars and surveillance, Strawberry Fields and secret societies. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Prisoner and The Beatles - Part 1 (Number 39)
2025/04/20
Step into the kaleidoscopic world of 1967, a year when pop culture bent reality, and nothing was quite what it seemed. In this episode, Chris and Cai explore the surreal, symbolic, and subversive parallels between the cult TV show The Prisoner and the cultural phenomenon of The Beatles. From the psychedelic aesthetics to the themes of identity, control, rebellion, and the search for truth, this podcast dives deep into how both The Prisoner and The Beatles reflected — and shaped — the countercultural spirit of the 1960s. Was Number Six just a Day Tripper to Portmeirion trying to break free? Was The White Album a tribute to Rover? Join us as we connect the dots between sitars and surveillance, Strawberry Fields and secret societies. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Man in a Suitcase - The Prisoner's Production Twin (Special)
2024/11/03
In this special episode, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge celebrate the release of Imprint's Man in a Suitcase Blu-ray box set. ITC expert and author Rodney Marshall shares his thoughts about the synergy between the two shows. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Portmeirion - The Real Life Village - Part 2 (Number 38)
2024/10/27
In the final episode of series four, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge spend an afternoon recording in the Hotel Portmeirion. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Portmeirion - The Real Life Village - Part 1 (Number 37)
2024/10/20
In the fifth episode of series four, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge travel to Portmeirion to meet the managing director and grandson of Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, Robin Llewellyn. As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Proposed 1996 Prisoner Movie - Part 4 (Number 36)
2024/10/13
In the fourth episode of series four, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge conclude their look at Patrick McGoohan's 1996 first draft for a proposed Prisoner movie. What will marine scientist Tom Yates discover as descends into the depths of the Village? As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Proposed 1996 Prisoner Movie - Part 3 (Number 35)
2024/10/06
In the third episode of series four, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge look at Patrick McGoohan's 1996 first draft for a proposed Prisoner movie. What dangers face marine scientist Tom Yates, as he orientates in a familiar-looking Italianate village? As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Proposed 1996 Prisoner Movie - Part 2 (Number 34)
2024/09/29
In the second episode of series four, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge look at Patrick McGoohan's 1996 first draft for a proposed Prisoner movie. Who will marine scientist Tom Yates meet as he awakens in a familiar-looking Italianate village? A familiar figure from the Village's past is keen to introduce himself... As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The Proposed 1996 Prisoner Movie - Part 1 (Number 33)
2024/09/22
In the first episode of series four, Cai Ross and Chris Bainbridge look at Patrick McGoohan's 1996 first draft for a proposed Prisoner movie. What will marine scientist Tom Yates discover as he awakens in a familiar-looking Italianate village? As ever, minutiae will be scrutinised and tangents will be explored with discussion, interpretation, trivia and humour. The only Prisoner podcast produced in north Wales, home of the Village itself, Portmeirion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Podcast reviews
Read Free For All podcast reviews
Zorak80 2026/01/22
A+
Queued this up as I started a re-watch and it’s a great companion that doesn’t get bogged down in scene-by-scene breakdowns.
Miss Gibbs 2024/07/04
Only Podcast I Ever Needed
OMG- as always, I’m late to the party but just like The Prisoner is the only TV show I ever needed to watch, this podcast is-well, you get the gist.
...
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