Doctor Who: Toby Hadoke’s Time Travels

Happy Times and Places 15.3 - Kinda 3

Well, it's not the most straightforward of Doctor Who episodes, this. There's not really anything like much of this in the rest of Doctor Who's canon. So which part of it will be selected by special guest - and creator of The Bay, writer on Being Human - Daragh Carville. He is frankly spoilt for choice, but he had better choose quickly, because time is running out.... Wheel turns...

Happy Times and Places 15.4 - Kinda 4

This story is a strange old thing - and it's all about mental health in a funny short of way. So watching it is an odd experience as we are all locked away in our own boxes, prey to those pesky serpents that manifest themselves in the dark places of our insides. Or maybe it's just the one with the bad snake. Who knows? It's an odd old ramble this podcast, but then it's an odd story. Brilliant, but odd. So this commentary is a bit odd too, because host Toby Hadoke is in an odd mood. Daragh Carville, fresh from success with series two of The Bay, is our special guest, bringing great insight and appreciation to one of Doctor Who's most fascinating productions. 

Indefinable Magic 1.7 - Target Practice

All fans of a certain age will identify with this one, though of course, there are many fans these days who aren't of a certain age. Which is great. Unless you're a fan of a certain age, in which case it is terrifying. As the years fly by then, your host Toby Hadoke throws in a joke or two. But it's a personal and selective history of discovering Doctor Who through the written word - and the written word through Doctor Who of course. But don't worry if you are not a fan of a certain age - this is for anyone who has those colourful spines on the shelves, and enjoys the powerful memories that they evoke.

Happy Times and Places 16.1 - The Robots of Death 1

There's nothing Gary Russell hasn't done - he's acted (not in Doctor Who, bar Big Finish, but he was Dick in The Famous Five), written, directed, edited, script edited, novelised ... the lot. And now, lucky for us, he is a guest on Happy Times and Places, and he has chosen one of the most celebrated Doctor Who stories of all time. There's an embarrassment of riches, but can your host Toby Hadoke sift the Lucanol from the ... er ... breakfast cereal type stuff that the Doctor ends up covered with at the climax? It's going to be enjoyable, this one, but choosing just one good thing about it? That's going to be murder. 

Happy Times and Places 16.2 - The Robots of Death 2

Some of the wittiest banter ever - no, not between host Toby Hadoke and special guest, Renaissance man  Gary Russell (who has written, acted, scripted edited, novelised ... in fact there is nothing he hasn't done for Doctor Who). No, writer Chris Boucher makes the dialogue and characters sing but everyone is on form this week so it's a case of what, or who to choose... script, direction, acting, design? Which should be allowed into the special club of best bits?  Well, one thing that won't be is the murder mystery element of the story as it happens. Not with those trousers. 

Happy Times and Places 16.3 - The Robots of Death 3

You heard a cry... of delight. Well, sorry if you're not a fan of The Robots of Deaths because this is a bit of a love in. From Toos' hand injury to Taren Capel's inability to disguise himself from the viewer, there is much to talk about here, but guest Gary Russell (former Doctor Who script editor amongst much else) and host Toby Hadoke are Super Voc-al about the extent to which they enjoy pretty much everything about this Tom Baker classic. But, the main question we have gathered you all here to answer is ... will we agree on the episode's greatest asset?

Happy Times and Places 16.4 - The Robots of Death 4

Former Doctor Who script editor, former editor of Doctor Who Magazine, and ever present writer, director, actor, and novelist Gary Russell chooses his final two favourite aspects of The Robots of Death this time, bringing him to a Famous Five of Favourite Things. It's Murder on the Sandminer Express as this series high point comes to an end: there's no way this one will give you Robots-phobia.

Happy Times and Places 17.1 - Dragonfire 1

A special occasion for a story that is itself a special occasion. The 150th Doctor Who story, also out on Blu-Ray this month, is the occasion of our first ever guest who actually worked on the episodes being eulogised. Does being in the thick of the action on Ice World give our illustrious contributor a different perspective from our host, Toby Hadoke, or do their Happy Times and Places share the same decor?

Happy Times and Places 17.2 - Dragonfire 2

The first of these podcasts to feature a guest who worked on the episodes in question, set sail for Svartos as your host Toby Hadoke and Doctor Who script editor discuss the semiotic thickness of Dragonfire's text, and see if they can agree about the best things in the story. Hopefully this will whet your appetite for the Blu-ray release of Dragonfire, which is scheduled for today. So pop this on as you wait for the postman...

Happy Times and Places 17.3 - Dragonfire 3

Something to listen to while you browse the freezer section immediately after a deadly massacre - and it's informed commentary as special guest Andrew Cartmel was there at the time. He has recently visited Svartos again in preparation for the Season 24 Blu-ray set, released this week, and he enjoyed it very much. Will he and your host Toby Hadoke agree on the best things about the 150th Doctor Who story?