A Hamster With a Blunt Penknife - a Doctor Who Commentary podcast

Joe, Frazer & Si; ‘You will not make fire!’ According to fan lore the first episode is great and the rest of the story is a dull chore. The Trio are here to dispel that rumour and explain why the story just gets better…

Joe, Si & Frazer; ‘It’s alive!’ Happy anniversary! We’re going right back to the beginning of this magical show and watching the pilot episode of Doctor Who. Does it get any better than this?

Joe & Jim; ‘The energy levels are low…’ Time for the rousing conclusion of this four part SF horror with the Cybermen on the move and the villains up to dastardly schemes. How will prevail?

Joe & Jim; 'You will be the first...and you will be the second...' Many people say this is where the story bombs...but not us! Much discussion on the power of the Cybermen and the fabulously arch villains in this instalment.

Joe & Jim; ‘You belong to us…you shall be like us…’ How much can you laugh at this story whilst still being impressed by its premise, atmospherics and chills? We’re beguiled by this iconic scenes at the climax.

Joe & Jim; ‘50 pounds to the first man to open those doors!’ We approach the 60th with discussion of a stone cold classic! Talk of quarries, Morris Barry, Troughton, advertising your presence and living your best snivelling life (Vinder)!

Steve Lyons very kindly entered the Book Club to talk about all of his books and selected audios. We cover his work on Virgin New Adventures, Eighth Doctor Adventures, Missing Adventures & Past Doctor Adventures...and even the New Series Adventures! Enjoy.

Join Joe, James, Jason & Ian as they head to Zanytown where there is a spread of swearing, violence and sex with the appearance of three time travellers. We'll also discuss favourite authors, and more reccomends...and that's all folks!

Joe & Ross; 'Don't go, Mr Sweet! Don't leave me!' We cannot wax lyrical enough about the hilarious, grotesque, outrageous and unforgettable performance by Diana Rigg. And Rachel Stirling is just hairs breath behind. This madcap, visually outrageous and unique episode of Doctor Who gets the Ross treatment and it is all the better for it.

Joe & Matt; 'We surely do, honey. We surely do!' We bring our riveting date to a conclusion by heading out into the countryside in a stretch limo with an American rich bitch, shooting gold coins at Cybermen in a warehouse and unleashing a living statue on a war fleet!

The charming & erudite Chris Chapman delights with discussions about documentaries, celebrating people’s lives, powerful audios, honouring history and navigating Doctor Who.

Joe & Matt; 'What matter...it is dead but I live!' Our date continues with ruthless skinheads threatening us for money, Nazi's ping ping pinging Cybermen, a little stop off for some jazz in the countryside before shrouded lizards (and warfleets!). What a day!

Hamster community member & and commentator to be offers up his top ten most rewatchable/nostalgic stories.

Joe & Matt; 'straight blowing!' The Who Birkin Boyfriends are flouncing around Windsor in period costume, having themselves painted by Frenchmen and avoiding death by Nazi by the arrival of a Cyberman spaceship. What a date!

Joe & Daniel; ‘What are we going to do with this fellow? He’s utterly irresponsible!’ Dennis Spooner at this hilarious best with scenes as the Doctor and the Monk attempt to outwit one another. This has been a joy to unpick.

Joe & Daniel; ‘It’s a TARDIS…the Monk’s got a TARDIS!’ What a Carry On, as we plunder the movies to cast Doctor Who. And William Hartnell is back and we’re only to delighted (to celebrate him!).

Does losing William Hartnell harm the story? Huge love and discussion of Dennis Spooner and his effect on Doctor Who. And we cover the elephant in the room - the assault of Edith.

Joe & Daniel; ‘Sheer poetry, dear boy!’ Hartnell, Purves and O’Brien in fine form, atmosphere in the studio, a witty, anachronistic script, Edith, celebrity guest stars, chairs with pandas on them! What will we talk about?

Joe & Si; ‘You really are mad!’ The finale of the new, bombastic Doctor, the end to Mestor’s evil plot and goodbye to dishy Hugo Lang! This is the worst story ever…why are we laughing so much?

Joe & Si; ‘Never argue with me again!’ The plot kicks in and we’re a lot happier. We discuss the nature of enjoying bad stories and why that is perfectly okay. Plus weird science and Gastropods.

Joe & Si; ‘A bump - A BUMP?’ Titan Three is where we shall repent! Is Peri devout? Is Azmael fabulous? Do we find a part of the production to praise? And does Joe explain well enough why he really enjoys this nonsense?

Joe & Si; ‘We all know the fate of alien spies!’ Colin arrives in an explosion of energy, turbulence and violence - and that’s just the show! Si is appalled, Joe is excited - can they find some common ground and a craggy knob?

Joe & Rod; monkeying around or not real? Moffat love! Rod loves the era, and the writing and we bring that positivity to hone in on one of Moffat’s most labyrinthine scripts. ❤️ Missy ❤️

Joe & Paul; ‘if you stop enjoying it, give it up!’ In which the glorious Paul Quinn charts the systematic destruction and death of science fiction in the 80s & 90s and it all starts with this story…

Joe & Michael Mills meet up in the snowy Derbyshire hills for an adventure of romance, fatherhood, angst, Transformers, Thatcher's Britain, rose petal towers, stealing spaceshuttles and so much more...