A Hamster With a Blunt Penknife - a Doctor Who Commentary podcast
By Joe Ford
Join Joe Ford as he waltzes all around the world (via whatever means the internet allows) and undertakes Doctor Who commentaries with a wide range of wonderful contributors. Fans, podcasters, online reviewers, writers, actors...the USP of this podcast is it's variety of guests and the fact that they all bring their own unique perspective to the podcast. The guest chooses the story, be it one they love, hate or are completely indifferent, and amongst the gossip is trivia, critique and personal experience.
A Hamster With a Blunt Penknife - a Doctor Who Commentary podcastSep 20, 2023
00:00
48:24
Talks to the gorgeous Craig Williams about his choice of The Mind of Evil (1/6)
Joe & Craig; ‘quite a dolly!’ Why does this story always get described as ‘gritty’? What is a Mackem? Why is Jo so competent? And can Joe sing the Keller machine music of Death?
Sep 20, 202348:24
Talks to Mark Donaldson about his choice of Kinda (4/4)
Joe & Mark; ‘you can’t mend people!’ It’s time for Kinda Delight! Is Saward good at his job? What is the joy of talking with other DW podcasters? And how do we just choose three things to recommend?
Sep 19, 202355:35
Talks to Mark Donaldson about his choice of Kinda (3/4)
Joe & Mark; ‘it’s the end of everything!’ The episode where we discuss acting styles, TV not ending in 1989, recommendations of what to watch and bold dream sequences!
Sep 17, 202329:39
Hamster Book Club - The Doomsday Weapon by Malcolm Hulke
This week Joe is joined by Jason Thompson, Ian Winterton & James Lark for a deep dive discussion about The Doomsday Weapon by Malcolm Hulke. What influences do we detect? Is this the most cynical view of the future? Who's book is this? And what do these fine gentlemen recommend?
Sep 15, 202301:46:14
Stephen Gallagher and Colin Brake Interview - BUGS
It was The Avengers of the 90s, BUGS. Stephen Gallagher (writer of the most popular episodes) and Colin Brake (writer and script editor) are here to talk about this wonderful show.
Sep 14, 202301:10:35
Talks to Mark Donaldson about his choice of Kinda (2/4)
We talk weird Doctor Who stories, Timotei commercials, how you play a guest character, children in the show, an advisory warning when not to watch Kinda and how you handle a character having a breakdown.
Sep 13, 202335:14
Talks to the delightful Mark Donaldson about his choice of Kinda (1/4)
Joe & Mark; talk on the (time) lash! We’re dreaming dark dreams, facing strict (but fancy) direction, not entirely sure about the era but loving the story.
Sep 11, 202345:19
Talks to Si Hart about his choice of Before the Flood
Joe & Si; and the butt clenching axe scrape of fear! What the hell is a bootstrap paradox? What is the Fisher King’s motive? Is the 12th Doctor having a mid life crisis?
Sep 10, 202301:00:43
Talks to Si Hart about his choice of Under the Lake
Joe & Si; ‘Doctor, the cards…’ It’s Si’s favourite from his least favourite series but will even the most passionate fan of Doctor Who lose faith watching this season back?
Sep 07, 202359:00
Talks to the riotous Luke Molloy & Dylan Rees about their choice of Spyfall Part 2
Joe, Luke & Dylan; ‘shut your fucking mouth!’ Timey wimey, history, cheats, villains (plural), Mom deaths, on the run, Gallifrey burnt and loads of Jodie. Nothing to argue about, surely?
Sep 05, 202301:19:18
Talks to the fanciable Dylan Rees & Luke Molloy about their choice of Spyfall Part 1
Joe, Dylan & Luke; ‘O!’ Two lovers, one hater, a Bond pastiche, set pieces and a huge reveal. Will we still be friends at the end of this conversation? Can people on Chibnall divide laugh about their differences?
Sep 03, 202301:22:49
Talks to Mark Rawlins about his choice of The Savages (4/4)
Joe & Mark; saying goodbye after all these years. A touching farewell, smashing the machine, a love story bears fruit and a new planet leader. Forgettable? Get out of town!
Sep 02, 202340:44
Talks to Mark Rawlins about his choice of The Savages (3/4)
Joe & Mark; and the plenitude of First Doctors! Who wore it best? Hartnell? Warwick? Noonan? Bradley? Hurndall?Purves? And why won’t John Cura hold his hand still?
Aug 31, 202336:14
Talks to Mark Rawlins about his choice of The Savages (2/4)
Billy love! We explore the wonder of William Hartnell in an episode where he gets to truly show his authority and moral indignation. Also highlighted is his upcoming departure and the events that could hand led to the regeneration.
Aug 29, 202331:47
Talks to Mark Rawlins about The Savages (1/4)
Joe & Mark; and the very first Doctor Who Confidential. If you think this is a forgettable Doctor Who story - think again! Dodo is given the spotlight, Hartnell is still on fine form and we’re watching the rich leeching off the poor!
Aug 27, 202336:34
Talks to John Bensahlia about his choice of Pyramids of Mars (4/4)
Joe & John; ‘you put your puny will against mine!’ A rousing conclusion or a damp squib? The Doctor is tortured, puppeteered and forced to game up. Doth technobabble make a satisfying climax?
Aug 26, 202337:11
Talks to John Bensahlia about his choice of Pyramids of Mars (3/4)
Joe & John; ‘all life is our enemy!’ Huge love for Gabriel Woolf this episode. Focus on Tom too, and just how alien his Doctor can be. Jagger & Bowie? What is the darkest thing Robert Holmes could do?
Aug 25, 202333:40
Hamster Book Club - The Burning
Join Joe, Mark & Chris as they head to Middleton to experience a murder count that would make Robert Holmes blush and meet a mysterious, brutal, incisive character who calls himself the Doctor...
Aug 24, 202301:10:42
Talks to John Bensahlia about his choice of Pyramids of Mars (2/4)
Joe & John; ‘why don’t we dial up 1980 and, well, leave?’ Barely speaking characters that impact, terrifying murder, astonishing location work, memorable music & a dramatic divergence from the plot. All discussed and applauded.
Aug 22, 202333:50
Talks to John Bensalhia about his choice of Pyramids of Mars (1/4)
Joe & John; ‘as long as Albert didn’t wear it.’ Is this the all conquering classic of repute? What is the magic about this story that brought that reputation forth? Are Tom & Lis unbeatable?
Aug 20, 202337:48
Talks to the resplendent David Maskell about his choice of Revelation of the Daleks (2/2)
Joe & David; ‘to earn his favour…I have to kill you!’ The perfect new series episode? Eric Saward’s redemption? The best deaths? The boldest themes? The sickest lines? Oh yes!
Aug 18, 202301:10:30
Hamster Book Club - Original Sin
Join Joe, David, Paul & James as we head to the future to meet Chris & Roz and kick start the last third of the New Adventures. An ambitious setting? A smooth read? Two villains? 15,000 words too long?
Aug 15, 202301:48:44
Talks to David Maskell about his choice of Revelation of the Daleks (1/2)
Joe & David; ‘you’re a very naughty man, Takis…’ David has a fabulous anecdote about every actor in this story. Who swore at a 10 year old? Who is sueing the BBC? Who is a fine Ambassador? Who has done other things apart from Doctor Who? Get the scoop!
Aug 13, 202301:00:56
Talks to the magnificent Toby Hadoke about his choice of Last of the Time Lords
Joe & Toby; ‘and with fifteen satellites!’ A commentary on religion, the Dobby Doctor, magnificent Martha, sexy Tom Ellis, post apocalyptic resets, and murderous Lucy Saxon. LOTS to discuss.
Aug 11, 202302:04:03
Talks to Toby Hadoke about his choice of The Sound of Drums
Joe & Toby; ‘we thought it good…’ Too many riches; a great villain, a culminating season, brilliant regulars, superb direction and music, an apocalypse, set pieces & a great cliffhanger. Oh how we gush!
Aug 09, 202301:27:42
Talks to Jim Allenby about his choice of Can You Hear Me?
Joe & Jim; confessing, confronting & confabulating. A hugely important episode dealing with huge issues and worthy of suitably weighty discussion. We really enjoyed this, but we have reservations. Huge Twitter input was very welcome.
Aug 06, 202301:56:25
Talks to the wonderful Jo Short about her choice of Sleep No More
The two Jo(e)’s; infected, infecting, and you’re coming down with us! Is this the nadir of the new series or an underrated winner? What gold can we sift out of this found footage experiment?
Aug 04, 202301:11:28
Talks to the very cheeky Matt Michael about his choice of Downtime
Joe & Matt; not for the faint hearted! Chris Barry is out of retirement, Lis Sladen is doing him a favour, Debbie Watling has knitted a few Yeti costumes, Miles Richardson has wandered into the set. Is it any good?
Aug 02, 202301:54:32
Talks to Martyn Havell about his choice of Thin Ice
Joe & Martin; ‘that’s not what I asked!’ Where we celebrate the death of a child, a racist being punch and a ruddy great fish that’s eating people being saved. What this doesn’t suggest is just how atmospheric, relaxed and engaging this episode is. One of Capaldi’s best.
Jul 31, 202301:19:36
Talks to James H about his choice of Arc of Infinity (4/4)
Joe & James; ‘I guess you’re stuck with me!’ A dashing finale, taking in all the sights of Amsterdam (plus green goo). Are the Time Lords disposable? Should Tegan have returned? And they do WHAT in Amsterdam?
Jul 30, 202344:28
Talks to James H about his choice of Arc of Infinity (3/4)
Joe & James; ‘Omega controls the Matrix!’ (what the fuck does that mean?). It’s technobabble central, orgasms in the Matrix & a traitor who can barely be arsed to be uncovered. It’s high drama all the way!
Jul 28, 202332:56
Talks to James H about his choice of Arc of Infinity (2/4)
Joe & James; ‘so much for your justice!’ What is Tegan’s dirty secret? Is she on the run from the police? Is the technobabble necessary? Who is the traitor?
Jul 26, 202335:07
Talks to the fittest geek of all (James H) about his choice of Arc of Infinity (1/4)
Joe & James; psycho-synthesized! Churchill shaped dildos, rubber chickens, porn openings, Amsterdam gossip, Time Lord designs and early Doctors! He’s a new member of the fam, but he’s already at home.
Jul 24, 202356:35
Talks to Dylan Rees & Luke Molloy about their choice of Day of the Moon (2/2)
Joe, Dylan & Luke; NSFW! We’re all around the Moffat era here; celebrating, criticising and flirting! Day of the Moon is declared the end of the golden period of Doctor Who by one of us…but who?
Jul 21, 202301:07:53
Talks to those naughty boys Luke Molloy & Dylan Rees about their choice of The Impossible Astronaut
Joe, Luke & Dylan; ‘I’m saving your life!’ Is series six an ambitious, modern, witty, brilliant take on Doctor Who? Or is it a smug, unsatisfying mess? It all starts here folks…and the trio are ready to hash it out!
Jul 19, 202301:07:20
Talks to the best; Si & Frazer about their choice of The Seeds of Death (6/6)
Joe, Si & Frazer; ‘OH MY WORD!’ This epic, rousing, laughter filled commentary comes to close with a huge moral debate. Is the Doctor morally dubious? Can you draw a line under the morality of the show? The trio investigates.
Jul 16, 202357:42
Talks to Frazer Gregory & Si Hart about their choice of The Seeds of Death (5/6)
Joe, Frazer & Si; and Seeds of Doom! There’s foam galore, cute as a button companions, terrifying monsters and a desperate Doctor. But all that is nought compared to the shock revelation about Si Hart!
Jul 15, 202332:37
Talks to the gorgeous Si Hart & Frazer Gregory about their choice of The Seeds of Death (4/6)
Joe, Si & Frazer; but Frazer is taking a week off to grow his sideburns! Can Doctor Who survive with the Doctor? Can Fewsham survive this nightmare? Can the trio go one episode without lauding Mr Ferguson?
Jul 13, 202337:14
Talks to Dylan Rees about his choice of The Vanquishers
Joe & Dylan; and guest star Jodie Whittaker (or rather quotes from interviews). How will this ambitious season climax? Will every plot be ticked off? Will the characters reach satisfying endings? One way to find out…
Jul 11, 202301:26:43
Si Hart & The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
I talk to Si Hart about his choice of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, a brilliant, bonkers and philosophical SF comedy from the pen of Douglas Adams. Can the BBC realise his ambitious concepts? Can Si explain the huge concepts? And which five episodes of the six will be choose to do commentaries on?
Jul 07, 202301:02:05
Hamster Book Club - Festival of Death by Jonathan Morris
Joe Ford, Nathan Bottomley, Simon Hart & Frazer Gregory head into the pages of 2000’s Festival of Death. The Doctor dies, Romana meets herself and K.9 turns very bad…prepare yourselves for The Beautiful Death!
Jul 06, 202301:32:33
Talks to gorgeous Si Hart & Frazer Gregory about their choice of The Seeds of Death (3/6)
Joe, Si & Frazer; ‘we want to live!’ There’s only two names on our lips this week; Terrance and Fewsham! Is Mr Dicks the ultimate repairman? Was Fewsham right to betray everybody? Bring on the debate!
Jul 04, 202333:05
Talks to Frazer Gregory & Simon Hart about their choice of The Seeds of Death (2/6)
Joe, Frazer & Si; go, mirilon, go! What does Frazer think is the best scene in this? Would it make a good soundtrack? Is Michael Ferguson one of the best directors?
Jul 01, 202333:51
Talks to his best buds Simon Hart & Frazer Gregory about The Seeds of Death (1/6)
Joe, Si & Frazer; the boys are back in town…on the moon! Frazer thinks this is average, Si thinks this is the second best of the year and Joe thinks this ranks fourth. Join the banter as they battle it out!
Jun 30, 202335:52
Talks to Jim Allenby about his choice of The Snowmen
Joe & Jim; that’s the way to do it! It’s back to Matt Smith and one of the finest Christmas specials; a poetic, fantasy romp with magical visuals and a real sense of tragedy. Welcome to the Jim Allenby Show!
Jun 28, 202301:45:11
Talks to the scrumptious Dylan Rees about his choice of Survivors of the Flux
Joe & Dylan; loving life with this season! Too much to talk about l, too little time. The most magnificent Yaz, the oily Grand Serpent, the fabulous Barbara Flynn, extraordinary production flair…
Jun 25, 202301:01:50
Talks to Dylan Rees about his choice of Village of the Angels
Joe & Dylan; in the nightmare village! Dylan has always loved this and was a little ambivalent this time, whereas Joe’s been a little on the fence and loved it this time. Who is right? Only one wag to find out…
Jun 23, 202301:06:44
Talks to Dylan Rees about his choice of Once, Upon Time
Joe & Dylan; exploring each others backstories. Experimental, unique, visually stunning and busy. Once, Upon Time a Doctor Who episode upset a lot of people…and these podcasters are here to explain why it wasn’t them.
Jun 20, 202301:02:13
Talks to Dylan Rees about his choice of War of the Sontarans
Joe & Dylan; we wanted to ride a horse. A funny, dominant, desperate, improvising thirteenth Doctor, glorious camp villains, brilliant Sontarans, superb visuals effects and a slice of altered history. One of Chibnall’s best?
Jun 18, 202301:11:22
Talks to the Fluxxing brilliant Dylan Rees about his choice of The Halloween Apocalypse
Joe & Dylan; facing the end of the universe! New characters, plots, revelations. Drama, laughs and performance pieces. Epic visuals, longform storytelling and a mattress in the TARDIS.
Jun 15, 202359:01