Tophole!
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.
The 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 topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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Something 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 topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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I 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 topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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Who 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 topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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Victorian 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 topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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Pageants 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 topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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The 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 topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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Brown 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 topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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Brown 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 topholepodcast@gmail.com
Part 2 in a fortnight!
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Back 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 topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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Shall 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 topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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Marie 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...
Aunties
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 topholepodcast@gmail.com. If you're happy for your voice to be included in our 100 Years of the Chalet School celebration...
If 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 topholepodcast@gmail.com. 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...
A 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...
The 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 topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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The 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 topholepodcast@gmail.com
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High heels and a hand grenade
A non-Chalet EBD book this week, although it includes a Chalet character (not that you'd recognise her) and reference to a Swiss sanatorium.
Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/05/13/s2e18-high-heels-and-a-hand-grenade/
You can contact Tophole via Facebook or at topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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Bonkers
Wendy and I discuss some of the top bonkers moments and situations in the Chalet School Series. There are plenty to choose from, so if your particular favourite isn't here, please do get in touch. You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com.
Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/04/29/s2e17-bonkers/
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I need nine frocks
Back in wartime Armishire for a review of Lavender Laughs at the Chalet School.
Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/04/15/s2e16-i-need-nine-frocks/
You can contact Tophole via Facebook or at topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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Our highest total ever!
It's that time of year when we finish varnishing our scrapbooks and stuffing our toy animals, and encourage our friends and family to get out their purses and spend, spend, spend at THE SALE! Are we organising the stalls by forms, groups, or houses? Do we need a Sale Committee or shall we skip it for this year? Readers participate in 13 sales of work at the Chalet School - here's a recap of each one.
Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/04/01/s2e15-our-highest-total-ever/
You can contact Tophole via Facebook or at...
A Romance for Older Girls
Let's spend a year or so in Guernsey, catching up with friends. Or, if you've never read any of the La Rochelle books, let's get hugely confused by dozens of characters. Either way, settle down for an authentic portrait of the first year of married life.
Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/03/18/s2e14-a-romance-for-older-girls/
You can find Tophole on Facebook or contact us at topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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Paperback writer (2)
Second half of our discussion of Armada paperbacks - second style covers from 1972 to 1985.
You can see most (although not all) of the covers we discuss at https://uk.pinterest.com/deborahlofas/chalet-school/2nd-style-pb/
Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/03/04/s2e13-paperback-writer-2/
You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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Paperback writer (1)
It's a Wendy week (woo-hoo!) and we're discussing Armada books, and particularly their covers. You can see most of these on the boards at https://uk.pinterest.com/deborahlofas/chalet-school/. Obviously this took us hours so part 2 of our conversation will come next time.
Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/02/18/s2e12-paperback-writer-1/
You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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This one started with Antonia Forest
Delayed for technical reasons (for which apologies) - in this episode I consider Prunella Davidson's arrival at the School, and refrain from wondering what exactly 'It' is. I also don't talk much about the arrival of Bruno because we covered that last time.
Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2025/02/04/s2-e11-this-one-started-with-antonia-forest/
You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at at Topholepodcast@gmail.com - I do get round to reading the emails eventually...
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Woof, I quite agree, barked Rufus
The long-promised episode where Wendy and I discuss dogs in EBD's books, and what we learn about training and caring for them. We talk about Rufus and Bruno in the Chalet School books, as well as They Both Liked Dogs, The Lost Staircase, and Kennelmaid Nan - and there are, of course, spoilers, but it is absolutely still worth reading Kennelmaid Nan for yourself if you get the chance.
Where I refer to 23 November 'this year', actually I mean 2024!
You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at Topholepodcast@gmail.com.
<...A magazine, Christmas, and a bath
It's that time of year, so there's really only one Chalet book to talk about!
Brittany can be found here
You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email us on topholepodcast@gmail.com (and I promise I will get to the emails this week).
Episode transcript available here
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Oof!
Third time lucky for recording this particular episode, which is about backs and back problems (a) at the Chalet School (b) elsewhere in children's literature and (c) across the whole of recorded time. We are nothing if not ambitious.
Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/12/17/s2e8-oof/
You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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On my honour
An overview both of Girlguiding, and the Chalet School's experience of it.
Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/12/03/s2e7-on-my-honour/
You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email us on topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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The Series Re-boot
The final book set at Plas Howell (which I keep accidentally calling Plas Gwyn, but I think Kit has managed to edit out all the incidents).
Full transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/11/19/s2e6-the-series-re-boot/
Tophole has its own Facebook page, or you can email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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The kitten did it
Loads of spoilers in this discussion, and also the shock of a man's voice, as Kit joins us to discuss The Lost Staircase. He's made clear he won't be doing it again.
You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com.
https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/11/05/s2e5-the-kitten-did-it/
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Campfire's burning
We conclude our conversation about The Chalet Girls in Camp, and our own experiences of guide camp, with reference to camp fires, latrines, rest hour, and much more.
Full transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/10/22/s1e4-campfires-burning/
Tophole has a Facebook page, and you can email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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Don't walk on the table!
It's a Wendy week, and what could be better for two former Guide leaders than a Chalet School book devoted to Guide camp? We compare our experiences to those described by EBD (who, I think it's safe to say, never tried incinerating disposable nappies at a girlguiding campsite).
You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com. Full episode transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/10/08/s2e3-dont-walk-on-the-table/
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Slipping something into the coffee
I'm joined today by Caroline Crampton (Shedunnit, A Body Made of Glass) to discuss health, and health anxiety, at the Chalet School.
Transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/09/24/s2e2-slipping-something-into-the-coffee/
You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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I've as much right to the book as Moira!
A look at the start of the Chalet School's final year.
You can find Tophole on Facebook and email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com.
Full transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/09/10/ive-as-much-right-to-the-book-as-moira/
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Deborah visits the Chalet School
End of term so Wendy does the interviewing in this one! Transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/07/09/s1e23-deborah-visits-the-chalet-school/ and you can find us on Facebook or email topholepodcast@gmail.com.
Podcasts recommended for your summer break:
The Kindred Spirits Book Club
The Children's Literature Podcast
Backlisted
Shedunnit
A Body Made of Glass
Countrystride
The History Chicks
Pictures and Conversations
Book Hoots
BBC Sounds - Val McDermid on the Chalet School (2011)
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A holiday to remember
It's the centenary of the Chalet School's conception this summer, so today I'm taking a look at the holiday which inspired it all.
I made considerable use of Behind the Chalet School by Helen McClelland in preparing this week's episode - more than usual, I mean - but also went down lots of lovely rabbit holes about fashion, ski-ing, and station departure boards.
Transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/06/25/s1e22-a-holiday-to-remember/
You can find us on Facebook or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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The Chalet School in Yorkshire
Obviously the entire Chalet School never made it to Yorkshire. But Jo, Frieda, Simone and Marie did, and EBD wrote a book about it. Get into the holiday mood early with a look at Jo to the Rescue.
Episode transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/?p=79
Find us on Facebook or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com
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Friends, fill-ins and fans
Today's episode is an interview with Clarissa Cridland, of Girls Gone By Publishers and Friends of the Chalet School.
You can find Girls Gone By (and order your copy of Millies of the Chalet School) at www.ggbp.co.uk
Friends of the Chalet School can be found at www.chaletschool.org.uk
Episode transcript at www.topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/05/28/s1e20-friends-fill-ins-and-fans
Find us on Facebook or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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Unpacking - tennis - and an unsuitable novel
This week I'm talking about the only Chalet School book my husband attempted to engage with. Apologies for both the lateness, and the sniffs (the two are connected).
Full transcript at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2024/05/14/s1e19-unpacking-tennis-and-an-unsuitable-novel/
You can find us on Facebook or email at topholepodcast@gmail.com.
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