Fantastico: The CBBC Leonardo Podcast

Fantastico: The CBBC Leonardo Podcast
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CBBC Leonardo superfan Dervla gets her friends to watch the show for the first time. With a few surprise guest stars along the way…. Show artwork by the wonderful Hope Anna Follow us on: Instagram: @FantasticoPod TikTok: @FantasticoPod Leonardo is a British action-adventure television series which aired on CBBC between 2011 and 2012. Set in 15th-century Florence, the show follows the adventures of teenage Leonardo da Vinci (Jonathan Bailey), Lorenzo De Medici (Colin Ryan), Lisa Gherardini (Flora Spencer-Longhurst); and Machiavelli (Akemnji Ndifornyen)

Episodes

  1. 07/30/2025

    EP110: Servant of Florence (with Avril Burke)

    There's a party at the Medici palace and the gang wasn't invited! Plus, Lisa discovers Piero is the head of the cult they have been up against all season, Mac is briefly kidnapped, and we finally meet a Charioteer from Lorenzo's infamous Charioteers Monthly. Joining us today to discuss all this and more is comedian and editor Avril (@aviie1296) Together we talk about the best way to reveal a villain, whether we’d tell each other if we discovered one of our parents was in a cult, and the true meaning of Teenage Renaissance Batman. (Originally recorded in 2025 – that’s right, the podcast hasfinally caught up to this year!) Follow the podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tiktok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the hosts: Dervla is on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@dervlaj⁠⁠⁠ Avril is also on Instagram: @aviie1296 Avril on Conan O'Brien's podcast: Spotify Everywhere else SOURCES Leonardo and the Camera Obscura DIY Camera Obscura IRL ! Leonardo's study of feet Leonardo studying frogs

  2. 07/23/2025

    EP109: Lost and Found (with Zoé)

    Mummy issues! Fake marriage! Love triangles! There's lot to unpack in this episode when Lisa’s mother arrives in Florence to take Lisa home and force her into marriage. Zoé (⁠@punk_kinsoup⁠) joins the podcast to help unravel the complications that follow. Together we talk family, gender roles and games where you have a hoop and a stick. Originally recorded in 2023 Follow the podcast on Instagram and Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tiktok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the hosts: Dervla is on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@dervlaj⁠⁠ Zoé's Etsy: Cosmicbonesclub Zoé's Instagram: @punk_kinsoup SOURCES Leonardo and the stars Leonardo Da Vinci + "Earth shine" Ring and hoop (hoop rolling) Spinning top

  3. 07/16/2025

    EP108: Angels and Cherubs (With Meg Barrett)

    Florence’s annual art contest is here, and Leonardo and Lisa are competing against Michelangelo. With oil-based sabotages and schemes of stolen identity, who will triumph? This week we discuss Michelangelo and Leonardo’s rivalry, whether the Duke can truly love democracy as a reigning monarch, and how this should have been a Lisa episode. Joining us today is art historian Meg who has some surprising truths to reveal about the real-life paintings used in his episode. (Originally recorded in 2023) FOLLOW THE PODCAST You can find the show on: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tiktok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW THE HOSTS Hope Anna is on ⁠⁠Substack⁠ Dervla is on Instagram: ⁠@dervlaj⁠ Meg is also on Instagram: @megentomori (a username she picked live on the podcast!) Sources History of the music box Art featured this episode:      Baptism of Christ – Verrocchio and Leonardo Mona Lisa San Francesco al Prato Resurrection - Pietro Perugino Battle of Anghiari (Leonardo's painting irl, Michelangelo's painting in the show)

  4. 07/09/2025

    EP107: Time Waits (with Hannah Scott-Ravikumar)

    The time travel episode is here! Or is it....?  Morgues, corpses, and absentee parents abound in this episode centred around a watch which may (or may not) be the key to time travel. Dervla and Anna are joined by writer, bookseller and historian Hannah (@hannahsrwriter) and together they discuss bodies, daddy issues, and the fantastical. (Originally recorded in 2022) FOLLOW THE PODCAST You can find the show on: Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tiktok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠⁠ FOLLOW THE HOSTS Hope Anna is on ⁠⁠Substack⁠ Dervla is on Instagram: ⁠@dervlaj⁠ Hannah is also on Instagram: @hannahsrwriter Our Recs: 📚 Stiff by Mary Roach Sources: History of the pocket watch Leonardo’s alarm clock / water clock Leonardo and anatomical studies Skull used in Hamlet

  5. 05/15/2025

    Fantastico with Alistair McGowan

    We know him as Piero de Medici, villainous secret society leader and devoted father, but you may also know him as an impressionist, comic, actor and pianist. Alistair McGowan is here with us to discuss everything you’d ever wanted to know about Piero, from what it was like playing the villain and the experience of filming Leonardo in South Africa. *** Please note that this interview was originally recorded in 2022. Since then, Tom Wilkinson, one of the actors who Alistair mentions as being an inspiration for Piero, has sadly passed away. We’re so grateful for Tom's inspiration on this show we love. *** Alistair McGowan Listen and buy Alistair's amazing piano album ⁠here⁠ Alistair's website Alistair's book Follow the podcast on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tiktok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tumblr: CBBCLeonardoPodcast Follow the hosts: Hope Anna is on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠ Dervla is on Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@dervlaj⁠⁠⁠

  6. 05/08/2025

    EP106: The Lightning Box

    Mysterious, ancient boxes that shoot CGI lightning, manipulative Scottish friendly-enemies, and the tragic execution of a watermelon, this episode has it all. Join Dervla and Anna as they delve into the complexities of Mac's relationship with his Scottish frenemy, the power of friendship, and discuss whether or not a lightning box can actually exist. (Originally recorded in 2022) Follow the podcast on Instagram and Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tiktok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the hosts: Hope Anna is on ⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠ Dervla is on Instagram: ⁠⁠@dervlaj⁠⁠ Our Recs: Ezra Furman's album! (released in 2022...when this episode was originally recorded) Sources: Leonardo⁠ and his interest in light and shadow Tesla Coil (real life lightning box? Also NOT a toy)

  7. 05/01/2025

    EP105: It Must be Love

    Leonardo does Twelfth Night (sort of) when Lorenzo's mean cousin comes to town and in typical kids show fashion Leonardo falls immediately in love. This episode may not be CBBC Leonardo's strongest but it allows us to talk about the depiction of gender, teen-romance and how love is portrayed in these kind of plots. Plus, pay close attention and you may be able to work out who is the super secret special guest from the show we interviewed. (All will be revealed soon) (Originally recorded in 2022) Follow the podcast on Instagram and Threads: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Tiktok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow the hosts: Hope Anna is on ⁠⁠Substack⁠ Dervla is on Instagram: ⁠@dervlaj⁠ Our Recs: No recs this week but we wish your dog food to be free of maggots. Sources: Leonardo and the periscope Slashing (Clothing) Houppelande (and more on medieval costumes and clothing) - Medieval Clothing and Costumes : Displaying Wealth and Class in Medieval Times by Margaret Scott

  8. 04/24/2025

    EP104: Something Wicked (with Alice Fowler)

    Something Wicked this way comes in the form of a villain from Mac's past who burned down his village and has come to Florence to force a girl into marriage. Don't worry, Leonardo and the gang have the perfect plan to stop it! It involves a museum heist, fake paintings, a money laundering front and also Scottish alchemists? Joining us this week to discuss heists, sad backstories and turning lead into gold is writer, swimmer, and dog trainer Alice. (@ruskagram) (Originally recorded in 2022) FOLLOW THE PODCAST You can find the show on: Instagram and Threads: ⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠ Tiktok: ⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠ (We are nothing if not consistent) FOLLOW THE HOSTS Hope Anna is on ⁠Substack Dervla is on Instagram: @dervlaj Our Recs: Have a well deserved rest/nap this week Sources: Learn about the history of alchemy

  9. 04/17/2025

    EP103: "A Wing and a Prayer" (with Deanie Vallone)

    This week we cover what is arguably the most iconic episode as Leonardo (Jonathan Bailey) flies over CGI Florence while Song 2 by Blur plays in the background. In this episode we are joined by writer, dramaturg and bird of prey trainer Deanie (@seedeanwrite) as we talk falcons, father figures and flying. Plus we explore the real Leonardo Da Vinci's fascination with birds. (Originally recorded in 2022) Episode summary: Leonardo has invented a pair of wings but needs to study a bird in order to perfect the design. He gets Lorenzo to steal a falcon from Piero but the falcon and the wings catch the attention of the villain of the week who wants to harness the power of flight and take over the world (apparently). FOLLOW THE PODCAST You can find the show on: Instagram and Threads: ⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠ Tiktok: ⁠⁠⁠@FantasticoPod⁠⁠⁠ (We are nothing if not consistent) FOLLOW THE HOSTS Hope Anna (whose audio sadly glitched this episode) is on Substack Deanie is on Instagram: ⁠@seedeanwrite⁠ Dervla is on Instagram: @dervlaj Our Recs: Merlin the bird app Sources: Leonardo's infamous wings Leonardo the animal rights activist:

  10. 04/10/2025

    EP102: "Da Vinci's Code"

    Cults, maths, sculpting and...eye tests? Episode 2 of Leonardo has it all and Dervla is back with Hope Anna to talk through it! Is telling your new employee to carve a giant rock too much to ask? Did Leonardo DaVinci actually write his notebook backwards? Were there opticians in the 15th century (and were they as iconic as Gilberto degli Specchi?) Come find out in this episode of Fantastico! The CBBC Leonardo podcast (Originally recorded in 2022) Find Hope Anna on Substack: (@bogofbread) ⁠⁠https://bogofbread.substack.com/ ⁠⁠ You can find the show on: Instagram and Threads: ⁠@FantasticoPod⁠ Tiktok: ⁠@FantasticoPod⁠ (We are nothing if not consistent) SOURCES: Renaissance Opticians: https://eyewiki.org/History_of_Ophthalmology#cite_note-23 Duke-Elder S & Wybar KC (1961). The history of the anatomy of the eye. System of Ophthalmology. Vol 2. The Anatomy of the Visual System. London: Henry Kimpton 1–72.

  11. 04/03/2025

    EP101: "Anything is Possible"

    The very first episode! Dervla is watching with Hope Anna (the artist responsible for our cover art) who is seeing it for the first time. Is any of this show historically accurate? Does anyone buy Lisa's "boy" disguise? Is Piero maintaining a good cult/home life balance? Come find out in this episode of Fantastico! (Originally recorded in 2022) Find Hope Anna on Substack: (@bogofbread) ⁠https://bogofbread.substack.com/ ⁠ You can find the show on: Instagram and Threads: @FantasticoPod Tiktok: @FantasticoPod (We are nothing if not consistent)

  • 11 Episodes

About

CBBC Leonardo superfan Dervla gets her friends to watch the show for the first time. With a few surprise guest stars along the way…. Show artwork by the wonderful Hope Anna Follow us on: Instagram: @FantasticoPod TikTok: @FantasticoPod Leonardo is a British action-adventure television series which aired on CBBC between 2011 and 2012. Set in 15th-century Florence, the show follows the adventures of teenage Leonardo da Vinci (Jonathan Bailey), Lorenzo De Medici (Colin Ryan), Lisa Gherardini (Flora Spencer-Longhurst); and Machiavelli (Akemnji Ndifornyen)

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