BBC Radio 4 Extra, 18/19 November 2023

Toby Hadoke’s eclectic and personal guide to a certain Time Lord – and their followers…

There’s been a lot of promotion for some of the material that’s appearing in the hinterland of Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, but other programmes almost seem to be relying on word of mouth amongst fans – and this is one that you definitely should be listening to. Toby Hadoke’s enthusiasm and knowledge are completely infectious, and you find yourself wishing at the end of this all-too-brief series that he’d been given half an hour for each letter of the alphabet, illustrating them with juicy clips, apposite comments and quips that the Not-We just wouldn’t understand, no matter how much they might try.

The programme divides the alphabet in two (and the BBC Sounds version of part 1 now no longer leaves you quivering with antici…pation for the end of the episode) with some of the obvious choices of letters avoided (no, the D isn’t either of what you might expect). Part of the fun is in guessing where Hadoke is going next with it – the blurb spoils a couple of them unfortunately – but I defy any fan not to have a smile on their face at a good proportion of the entries. There’s some gentle teasing of the fans as well (did you know that the series began a day after Kennedy’s assassination? Make sure all your friends, family and enemies know that this week!) as well as a few more serious moments, reminding us that while it’s sometimes just a TV show that we’re a little too invested in, it’s also been a lifeline for many, particularly in recent years.

Verdict: A thoroughly enjoyable bask in the pleasures of being a fan. Nothing in the world can stop him now! 10/10

Paul Simpson