The Whitby Cast

Emma & Ceri
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The Whitby Cast is a brand new podcast by Emma Ryan and Ceri Oakes, two journalists from Whitby who have never recorded a podcast in their lives.... until now. Join us to hear, in broad Yorkshire tones, what we've been covering in Whitby for our new online newspaper, The Anchor. We'll be discussing the latest news, interviewing guests and sharing our escapades along the way.

  1. 3d ago

    We Finally Find Out Why The Sheep Graze Among The Graves

    Sheep in a graveyard sounds like the start of a ghost story, but the truth is far more down to earth and honestly quite brilliant. We promised we’d get an answer about the sheep at St Stephen’s Church in Robin Hood’s Bay, so we put it to the test and ring Deb while we’re recording. What we learn is a perfect example of conservation grazing on the Yorkshire coast: sheep keep the grass down, save human effort, and even help the churchyard bloom better next year. From there, things go exactly as they usually do with us: one practical question turns into a bigger chat about nature, nutrients, and the idea of green cemeteries. It’s a bit morbid, yes, but also oddly reassuring, and it links back to the way our landscapes are managed across North Yorkshire, from churchyards to estates. We also catch up on the best bits of local life, including Castleton Show and its seriously hilly six-mile run, plus the produce tent entries that restore your faith in humanity. Staithes Festival of Arts and Heritage gets a proper mention too, because live music in the street, kids dancing, and strangers smiling is exactly the kind of community moment we all need. On the news side, we talk school new starters, village schools working together, and the proposal to grant the honorary Freedom of the Town of Whitby to RAF Fylingdales, a landmark that fascinates us and sparks the inevitable “secret bunker” speculation. We round off with Whitby being transformed into a Netflix film set and a question we want you to answer: what’s the biggest thing you’ve seen being filmed near you? If you enjoy the pod, please subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave us a review.

  2. Sep 11

    Crab Lines And Tourist Tax

    Twenty-two crabbing lines, nets, and buckets pulled from Whitby Harbour in about an hour and a half is not “a bit of litter” We talk honestly about what is actually going wrong, why “just ban crabbing” misses the point, and what practical fixes might make it harder to leave a mess behind in the first place. From there we step into a bigger argument about pressure on the town: rules that exist but are rarely enforced, the cost of keeping a busy coastal destination clean, and the sense that Whitby’s infrastructure is creaking. That sets up our deep dive into the proposed North Yorkshire tourist tax, a £1 per person per night visitor levy that could raise serious money. We weigh up fairness for locals and visitors, the trust issue of where the money would really go, and whether a small charge would genuinely put people off coming to Whitby. We also bring the joy back with a round-up of what’s on, including Staithes Festival, Castleton Show, Heritage Open Days, and a proper Whitby heritage detour into ganseys with Deb Gillanders and her interactive Propagansey exhibition. If you care about Whitby Harbour, sustainable tourism, and the stories that make this place what it is, hit subscribe, share the episode with someone who loves the coast, and leave us a review so more people can find the podcast.

  3. Sep 4

    It's All Change In Whitby This Week

    We’re back after a week off and catch up on the most Whitby chain of events imaginable, from a chaotic Egton Show photo that ends with a giant marrow on the floor to big ones like the whalebones being removed. We also share news from town, celebrate locally caught food, and reveal a major milestone for the Whitby Anchor as we move into our first proper office.  If anyone wants to bring a biscuit, we won't complain...

  4. Aug 21

    Landing Tuna And Turning Capstans

    A single conversation on Whitby’s swing bridge leads us to one of the biggest local stories of the year, a bluefin tuna landed in Whitby for the first time in around 90 years. The headline travels fast, but the detail gets messy even faster. We chat about what is actually true about tuna fishing and why regulated commercial landings aren’t the same as recreational catch and release.   Then we swing from marine wildlife to maritime heritage on the pier, as we discuss the capstans, the hidden cupboard in the stonework, and the mind-bending idea of a tunnel running under the pier for maintenance.  We finish with the simple joy of local traditions: Barnby and Egton shows, pantomime tickets, and that unmistakable end-of-summer shift into a proper Whitby autumn.  Subscribe, share The Whitby Cast with a friend, and leave us a review if you want more local stories.

  5. Aug 14

    Why Whitby Will Always Feel Like Home For David Atherton

    We’re joined in Ceri’s kitchen by Whitby favourite David Atherton, Great British Bake Off winner (2019). We chat about his illustrated kids’ cookbooks, his podcast Sticky Bun Boys, and the kind of kitchen disasters nobody forgets, including an unfortunate sausage flavoured flapjack incident. After we delve behind the scenes into filming Bake Off, we chat about all things Whitby - the old school traditions and the changes. That means favourite food stops like Botham’s and Mary’s in Sandsend, the loss of banks, the rise of new businesses, the pressure of second homes and affordable housing, and the explosion of community life from wild swimming to the beach sauna and yoga on the sand.  If you enjoy Whitby stories, local culture, and honest chat about modern coastal living, you’ll feel right at home with this one. Subscribe for more, share it with someone who loves Whitby, and leave us a review so more people can find the Whitby Cast.

  6. Aug 7

    Why Whitby Regatta Still Works When People Pitch In

    Jon Stokoe, around the table. We laugh about the memories of trying to caption rowing winners at speed, the fear of getting a name wrong, and the moment someone gives you “Mickey Mouse” while the next team is already pushing forward for their photo. Then we get sensible, because Whitby Regatta is not magic, it’s logistics. Jon talks about the biggest challenge - not enough volunteers. A handful of committee members and marshals hold up a weekend that draws huge crowds, and even giving two hours can be the difference between an event running or being cut. We also chat about why the return of folklore favourites like the greasy pole takes far more work than most people imagine. Money is the other reality. Whitby Regatta is funded by donations, local business support, We chat about what raising the £40,000 costs look like and why turning up, buying a programme, or putting a pound in the pot matters.  We finish with what the weekend feels like at its best - rowing at the heart of the tradition and fireworks as the end-of-summer full stop before a little detour into the wonderfully serious Egton Bridge Old Gooseberry Show....

  7. Jul 31

    Looking Back At Whitby’s Burberry Factory

    We ride the wave of a viral Gothland Hotel story as Trisha Penrose takes over behind the bar and the internet decides we must be the pub. Then we step back 25 years with Sally Landers to remember Whitby’s Burberry factory, the graft, the laughs, and the bargains we all wish they'd kept.

  8. Jul 24

    Whitby Swing Bridge Sagas Since 1327

    We’re back in person by the sea, catching up on Whitby life and the quaint history of the swing bridge. We dig into centuries of crossings, today’s funding headaches, and what it takes to keep a seaside town running.

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About

The Whitby Cast is a brand new podcast by Emma Ryan and Ceri Oakes, two journalists from Whitby who have never recorded a podcast in their lives.... until now. Join us to hear, in broad Yorkshire tones, what we've been covering in Whitby for our new online newspaper, The Anchor. We'll be discussing the latest news, interviewing guests and sharing our escapades along the way.

Information

  • Creator
    Emma & Ceri
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Whitby Cast
  • Show Website
    The Whitby Cast