Doctor Who: Toby Hadoke’s Time Travels

And so finally we get to the planet Metebilis III, the eponymous Planet of the Spiders. It's never going to be Planet of the Oscars though, but can host Toby Hadoke continue to be positive about this story, or is the air about to turn blue...? Special guest Annie Wallace - Sally St Clair off of Hollyoaks, has plenty of positivity to bring... Please support these podcasts on Patreon, where you will...

Yes, it's this one, the one with the chase. Not everyone loves the chase. But then again, not everyone loves The Chase and we had a ball with that on Happy Times and Places. So jump aboard whatever crazy vehicle you like and see if you can catch up with the most shambling villain in the show's history as he evades first Pat Gorman, and then a non actor who somehow wangled a few lines and a credit,...

Another Pertwee! This is so much fun, because host Toby has always been a bit hard on the Pertwee era, perhaps the one that looked most disappointing compared to the images conjured by those Target novels, and only recently has he learned to start loving it for what it is, and not be disappointed with it for what it isn't. But Planet of the Spiders has always been a tricky one. Not so much the fir...

Well this is a first! The only Jodie Whittaker/Chris Chibnall adventure to thus far be given the Happy Times... treatment, and it's one set in a haunted house at the birth of a literary classic. Host Toby Hadoke is nervous about this: not as familiar with the newer stuff as he is with the old, and not always the most comfortable traveller on the Chibnall express. But guest Steven Schapansky (conte...

A genuine Doctor Who writer is the special guest for this omnibus edition, and it's off to Peladon for a story that you host Toby Hadoke first saw in a sort of omnibus form : merged into two 50 minute episodes as part of the Doctor Who and the Monsters season back in the day. This has it all: monsters, sword fights, romance, gloomy tunnels. But which bits will Paul Cornell, the genius behind Fathe...

Monologues about Doctor Who: not too serious or heavy, but something to be entertained by (hopefully) and to muse on (hopefully)... This episode is examination of disability representation in Doctor Who, hopefully done with some insight and a lightness of touch. Not a lecture by any means - part history lesson, part anecdote, part observation, it hopefully sheds some light on a subject often overl...

The second part of this epic trek was originally released back in July/August 2022 which was when its guest contributor, Ian McLachlan, sadly passed away aged 68. He is such a valuable contributor and really helped to make the difficult task of commentating over 12 episodes of often lost Doctor Who go so much easier. And the story itself is pretty bloody good too! Will Ian and your host Toby Hadok...

A new character enters proceedings, played by an actor we knew nothing about ... until now. But Ling Tau, the eponymous emissary from Kublai Khan, isn't the only person with a story to tell. William Russell's agent needs reassuring and a scene needs to be reshot, but it's a Reithian episode and series creator Sydney Newman is very happy. So saddle up for another episode of this lost classic from 1...

This was a daunting task but turned out to be one of the most rewarding to do and - if your feedback is anything to go by - one of the most enjoyable listens as well. Its assets are in no small part to the special guest, Ian K McLachlan, who was there watching at the time of its only UK transmission and kindly revisited this largely lost classic so many years later. Sadly, since this was released,...

It's very much a game of two halves this story - cashing in gritty urban film work in order to collect chilly tombs and finger twiddling moustache ladies from space. Fortunately, academic and writer Robin Bunce is on hand to celebrate and contextualise in order to ensure that this commentary is not torture - even if what's going on on screen sometimes is, literally.   Please support these podcasts...

"There is no such thing as The Macra Terror Omnibus..." etc. Michael Dennis is an excellent guest on this attempt to capture The Macra Terror's best attributes in some sort of pincer movement using him and hoist Toby Hadoke.

Robin Bunce, academic and Doctor Who scholar, whose father Roger was also a cameraman who worked with most of the classic Doctors, chooses a rare Colin Baker entry into this series. Fancy some time travel in an organ with some gritty Euston film, a camouflaged Cyberman and a Northern star? Then you've come to the right place. Even if it is a bit smelly.    Please support these podcasts on Patreon,...

They made it! 7 episodes, no moving pictures, no monsters, and not a lot of pre-knowledge. But an expert guide, some fabulous insight, and much to enjoy means that this epic lost classic has been a most rewarding experience. The chances are guest Jeremy Bentham won't be choosing the same favourite things as your host but that's OK. It's all about the journey...    Please support these podcasts on...

The travellers meet Mighty Kublai Khan and so there are scenes of two very old men bonding over shared interests. In unrelated news, Toby Hadoke and J Jeremy Bentham pour over the treasures to be played for in this episode of Doctor Who, which are probably enough to sustain the population of Burma for a whole year...!   Please support these podcasts on Patreon, where you will get advance releases,...

So, the Doctor Who Crossword Book, a mystery actor and the nature of studio bound fights all get attention in this instalment which finds a new character entering the fray in Marco Polo, and bringing with him plenty of educational content. Lord Reith would be happy, but would he be as happy as your host and our guest, Jeremy Bentham - and are they the same kind of happy? Times and places will tell...

A new director (for one week only), lots of fun with metaphors and a cave wall with rolling eyes give your host Toby Hadoke and guest Jeremy Bentham much to mull over as they reach the halfway point of this missing but much admired adventure.   Please support these podcasts on Patreon, where you will get advance releases, exclusive content (including a patron only podcast - Far Too Much informatio...

Well, it's been pretty painless so far despite being the show's first entirely missing story. There's plenty to talk about - a war hero cast member, another who went onto to great things on the classical stage and another who does your host's standout part of the episode. But will guest Jeremy Bentham choose the same moment, or will the eyes have it?    Please support these podcasts on Patreon, wh...

Amidst a bit of middle class angst there is *some* stuff about Doctor Who this week, which, considering the main character isn't in the episode that much, is a sort of bonus. An oasis in the desert if you like. Thank goodness for the mighty Jeremy Bentham who is a top drawer guest to guide us through the storm of stuttering provided by your host.   Please support these podcasts on Patreon, where y...

Gosh, Time Travellers of the Toby Hadoke Kind will have a Polo overload right now, as it's currently the subject of both HappY times and Places and Too Much Information. That's a pure coincidence, but frankly, you can't have too much of this epic tale. Actually, it would be nice to have some of it, any of it, to see, because ... 7 episodes. All missing. Yikes. Fortunately, the special guest is a v...

A temporary director, a World War II hero and a future star of the Biritish classical stage all pop in this week, but one of the regulars is far from happy nd fires of a letter filled with grievances. And that's just offscreen - as far as the viewers are concerned it's all hunky-dory: except for today's viewers of course, because this is the first instalment without telesnaps or moving footage, so...

Having sowed The Seeds of Doom with Chris Chapman, how about we enjoy some more fruits from this nourishing tale? Veteran actor Michael McStay, fresh from celebrating his 90th birthday, talks to Toby about his long career, and how his Doctor Who beard ensured he kept the job even after a disaster. Michael has just released a memoir, "Inconsequential and Irrelevant : A Worm's Eye View of Acting", w...

Well, you host Toby Hadoke has thoroughly enjoyed revisiting this story : always a favourite and age has not withered it. The difficulty here is restricting the favourite things to one per episode, and even with the bonus this week some key contributors still miss out. If this is your first time experiencing this story, then both Toby and special guest Chris Chapman (Blu-ray documentary director)...

It's time for the vegetables to start eyeing up the meat, which they might like to wash down with a lovely Molotov cocktail. The Krynoid gets chatty, the Doctor gets ratty and Chase goes batty as the plants get a life of their own in this atmospheric and tense instalment. But will DVD documentarist Chris Chapman be on the same page as your host? Let's see eh? Please support these podcasts on Patre...

What a wonderful episode, it's so violent. The Krynoid has touched human flesh which is bad news for Keeler, but it is great news for your host Toby Hadoke and his guest Chris Chapman (the man behind some of the best DVD and Blu-ray extras) who are spoilt for choice. Oh, and apropos of nothing - "Scooby - get Dunbar!". 

One of the patron viewers, many of whom started to watch along with this commentary so buoyed were they by its enthusiasm, described the Seeds of Doom as "The Sweeney has a love child with The Avengers". Oh yes, that sounds about right. But will host Toby Hadoke and guest Chris Chapman enjoy the Avengers stuff best, or the Sweeney vibe? Get yer trousers on, y'er in a Doctor Who story! Please suppo...