Show overview
Tophole! has been publishing since 2023, and across the 3 years since has built a catalogue of 62 episodes, alongside 1 trailer or bonus episode. That works out to roughly 30 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a fortnightly cadence, with the show now in its 3rd season.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 23 min and 33 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Fiction show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 1 weeks ago, with 8 episodes already out so far this year. The busiest year was 2024, with 23 episodes published. Published by Deborah Lofas.
From the publisher
Episodes look at individual Chalet School books, Elinor M Brent-Dyer's life and other works, and wider themes, with occasional interviews. There will be spoilers, because the books have been in print for over 50 years. There will be mispronunciations, because it's too late now to put right the ones I invented as a 9 year old. And we do not ignore the bonkersness that makes EBD so beloved. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest Episodes
View all 62 episodesComfort and joy
Girls on film
S3 Ep 13Saved by the medium of fashion
Back at last with an episode answering a question posed by Kit.Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/04/07/s3e13-saved-by-the-medium-of-fashion/You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 Ep 12The Secret Life of Mlle Lachenais
In honour of our Winter Olympic medals in skeleton, a look at the Chalet School book which mentions the sport - one which Mlle Lachenais has done many times. I know, right? We're looking at Trials for the Chalet School.Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/03/10/s3e12-the-secret-life-of-mlle-lachenais/You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 Ep 11Something to keep your hands occupied
It's a Wendy week and we're talking about handcrafts at the Chalet School. And also through history. And in the real world. And in our own lives. Context, that's it - we're providing context, we're not just rambling. Glad we've cleared that up.Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/02/24/s3e11-something-to-keep-your-hands-occupied/You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 Ep 10I didn't think!
Which is it to be - a sun-soaked, punch-fuelled trip to Jamaica, or a chilly school term on an island off the coast of Wales? Well, there's really only one answer to that...Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/02/10/s3e10-i-didnt-think/You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 Ep 9Who gave you leave to call me Matey?
It's a Wendy week! And we're talking about the Chalet School's matrons - at some length, because we're easily distracted.Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/01/27/s3e9-who-gave-you-leave-to-call-me-matey/You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 Ep 8Victorian poets and no gym apparatus
We're starting 2026 with an EBD book that finishes on Christmas Day because we have been Rather Unwell and so we are Running A Bit Late. In this episode I'm talking about a Chalet connector, and one of EBD's best books to boot.Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/01/13/s3e8-victorian-poets-and-no-gym-apparatus/You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 Ep 7Pageants and carols
We're somewhat late with this episode (sorry), but we're here now and focussing on fun seasonal stuff! Which is your favourite - The Bells of Christmas, or Strangers at the Inn? I totally want to rush out and create a steaming boar's head prop now.Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/12/17/s2e7-pageants-and-carols/You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 Ep 6The Leader of the Gang
Back to Switzerland this week, as we take a look at the 34th Chalet School book, Mary-Lou of the Chalet School.Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/12/02/s3e6-the-leader-of-the-gang/You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 Ep 5Brown tunics and orange ties (2)
In which Hayley, Wendy and I conclude our discussion about which is better, Malory Towers or the Chalet School, and then I mop up the bits we didn't discuss and the things we got wrong!Transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/11/18/s3e5-brown-tunics-and-orange-ties-2/We'd love to hear from you! You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 Ep 4Brown tunics and orange ties (1)
They wear the same uniform, so what's the difference between the Chalet School and Malory Towers? Well...Episode transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/11/04/s3e4-brown-tunics-and-orange-ties-1/You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at [email protected] 2 in a fortnight! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 Ep 3Back to the very beginning
Loads of spoilers in this consideration of EBD's first book, Gerry Goes to School, without which there would be no Chalet School... what an awful thought.Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/10/21/s3e3-back-to-the-very-beginning/You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 Ep 2Shall we make the uniform more artistic?
In October 1925, a new school story arrived in bookshops: The School at the Chalet, by Elinor M Brent-Dyer. 100 years and 58 books later, here we are still talking about what she had created. Wendy and Hayley join in the conversation - as do several listeners, who shared what the Chalet School means to them.Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/10/07/s3e2-shall-we-make-the-uniform-more-artistic/You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S3 Ep 1Marie loses her temper
New school year, new series - and we're starting with a cracker. Stand by for an explosive - and surprisingly musical - episode!The usual provisos apply with respect to pronunciation, spoilers and bonkersness. In particular, I use a very English pronunciation of the name 'Thekla' all through this episode - sorry not sorry. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/09/23/s3e1-marie-loses-her-temper/I've created a Spotify playlist of (almost all) the music referenced in the book - it's called Exploits of the Chalet Girls. There are a couple of tunes missing and you'll need to go to YouTube for Ivor Novello's A Page's Road Song.There's still time to send us your thoughts on why the Chalet School is important to you - you can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 Ep 23Aunties
It's a Wendy week - woo! - and we're having a discussion about aunties at the Chalet School. Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/07/22/s2e23-aunties/This is the last episode of season 2 - we'll be back towards the end of September. In the meantime, please do get in touch to let us know what the Chalet School means to you. You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at [email protected]. If you're happy for your voice to be included in our 100 Years of the Chalet School celebration episode in the autumn, please send a voice note.Have a lovely summer! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 Ep 22If only I knew what to do with you girls!
It's the summer term, which means reviewing a summer term book, and it can only be The School at the Chalet in this, its centenary year. 'Dreary' and 'drivel', or a modern classic? Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/07/08/s2e22-if-only-i-knew-what-to-do-with-you-girls/You can find Tophole on Facebook or contact us at [email protected]. Please do contact us, because I'd like to make a special episode next term about what the Chalet School means to modern readers (that's you!). If you're happy to have your voice included in the podcast, please send a voicenote, but written words are fine. Thank you! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 Ep 21A holiday in the Austrian Tirol
Kit and I went on holiday to the Austrian Tirol in May 2025. I didn't manage an audio diary, but here's my account - with a Chalet School slant on everything we saw, of course!If you listen to the very end, you'll hear the full recording I made from our hotel balcony: the church bells of Zell am Ziller again, and then some birdsong, and then the railway crossing bell, and eventually a train. Transcript and also photos at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/06/24/s2e21-a-holiday-in-the-austrian-tirol/You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 Ep 20The school run (2)
Hayley's back! And this time we're talking about travelling within the UK to the Chalet School in Armishire and South Wales.Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/06/10/s2e20-the-school-run-2/You can find Tophole on Facebook, or you can email us at [email protected]. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
S2 Ep 19The school run (1)
Special guest Hayley joins me on this episode, as we discuss the trains the Chalet girls took to get to and from school on the continent.Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/06/10/s2e19-the-school-run-1/You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at [email protected] Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.