A pivotal summer term book this time, as we look at the Chalet School's final term on St Briavel's - a book which might well have inspired Roald Dahl, given that it could be subtitled "The Chalet School and the Chocolate Factory". Subjects I had to google while researching this episode included how much milk a goat produces, 1950s university entrance requirements, the Allied occupation of Austria, and the actual definition of a step-sister.

Please don't panic if the next episode is late - we are about to go on holiday a podcast research trip to Guernsey.

Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/06/02/s3e17-so-long-farewell-auf-wiedersehen-good-bye/

You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com.

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The 50th book in the Chalet School series was specially written by EBD to mark the occasion, and she dedicated it to fans - so this is OUR book. It's more of a romance than a school story, but mostly we, the readers, are reunited with characters we love, in situations which we recognise from earlier tales in the series. Cliff-dangling rescue? Check. Torrent of water blocking the way? Check. Marriage to a doctor? Check. But this isn't recycling. It's referencing, and that makes all the difference.

Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/05/19/s3e16-fat-shaming-drug-pushing-and-an-ornate-belt-buckle/.

You can find Tophole on Facebook or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hayley and Deborah discuss fan fiction, particularly about Chalet School. Audio warning: we recorded this using Teams, and you can tell Kit was not there supervising!

Transcript available at https://topholepodcast.wordpress.com/2026/05/05/s3e15-comfort-and-joy/

You can find Tophole on Facebook, or email us at topholepodcast@gmail.com.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.