Host Toby Hadoke has strapped David Quantick - writer of Veep, Danger Mouse, Brass Eye, The Day Today and much more - to a table and threatened to torture his best friends unless he reveals his favourite things about Genesis of the Daleks. The biggest challenge here is narrowing down what to most celebrate about one of Doctor Who's first hours. And will you, the listener, enjoy the same things as these two? You will tell me! You will tell me! You will tell me!!!

'Allo 'Allo, what is going on here then? You'd have to be suffering from distronic toxaemia not to enjoy this episode of Doctor Who even though it's full of not very nice people doing not very nice things. Special guest David Quantick doesn't do anything nasty though, he casts his expert eye over proceedings to choose his favourite thing, but will host Toby Hadoke approve of his choice?

David Quantick's new quiz book comes out a few days after the release of this podcast, that is why this lauded comedy writer's contribution to Happy Times and Places has been released so close to him recording it. Will he and your host Toby Hadoke like the same things ...? And more to the point, what will they choose? What's not to love about one of Doctor Who's most highly regarded stories?

A last minute juggle of the release schedule as this edition's special guest - hugely respected comedy writer David Quantick - has something coming out that he wants to plug, a book that'll hit the shops in early November 2021. So to sing for his supper he is crooning a ditty of praise for one of Doctor Who's most highly lauded and repeated stories, Genesis of the Daleks. David saw it first time around, whereas host Toby Hadoke knows it so well in edited, audio form thanks to having it on cassette.So will their different perspectives happen upon the same favourite thing? Grab the Time Ring and see... Please support these podcasts on Patreon, where you will get advance releases, exclusive content (including a patron only podcast - Far Too Much information), regular AMAs and more. Tiers start form as little as £3 per month.  patreon.com/tobyhadoke   Or there is Ko-fi for the occasionally donation with no commitments: ko-fi.com/tobyhadoke   Follow Toby on Twitter @tobyhadoke And these podcasts @HadokePodcasts   www.tobyhadoke.com for news, blog, mailing list and more.   

We're not committing ourselves to this as a title - but you know what we mean. It's the cavemen episodes bereft of their history making opening instalment that have been chosen by monster maker Jim Sangster and he and your host Toby Hadoke find a lot of similarities about their favourite things presented by these oft neglected instalments. Orb be praised.

OK, so The Daleks started last time, but the Daleks start this time - and they had quite a lot of development, both vocally and physically, to get them to the shapes and sounds we know and love. And yet they arrived pretty much as we have them today. This is the last episode to be recorded before Doctor Who itself was aired and it was made in the immediate aftermath of a world shattering event. Oh it was quite a busy week - and The Survivors have quite a tale to tell...     Please support these podcasts on Patreon, where you will get advance releases, exclusive content (including a patron only podcast - Far Too Much information), regular AMAs and more. Tiers start form as little as £3 per month.  patreon.com/tobyhadoke   Or there is Ko-fi for the occasionally donation with no commitments: ko-fi.com/tobyhadoke   Follow Toby on Twitter @tobyhadoke And these podcasts @HadokePodcasts   www.tobyhadoke.com for news, blog, mailing list and more.   

Special guest Tom Salinsky and your host Toby Hadoke hide away from their families over the Christmas and new year period in order to watch Jon Pertwee stalking a potato headed alien whilst Dot Cotton lives in a castle with Boba Fett. It's also your host's birth story so holds a special place in his heart - but does that mean he and his guest will be on the same wavelength? Time (Warrior) will tell...  

The special guest this time around is that delightful writer and comedian Iszi Lawrence. She has chosen a rare (for this podcast) New Who episode: the headline grabbing Dalek. And with Russell T Davies love rightly in the air it's worth reminding ourselves of the show's heady first year back. Will it retain its power after all these years and crucially, will Toby and Iszi agree on the same things when it comes to their appreciation of this undoubted classic...  

A hurried release when put out as single instalments but for a good cause as guest Antoni Fletcher-Goldsmith has had a very serious health diagnosis which required a bit of support. And yet it hasn't diminished his glittery approach to life and what is more glittery than Time and the Rani? It's a tricky one for your host as it's not a favourite of his - the very opposite - but this podcast is all about celebrating Doctor Who even when it's not to your taste...

These Indefinable Magic podcasts just keep getting longer (unlike the credits on TV programmes, which are getting shorter and faster). Ah well. This one is about Toby Hadoke's hill, and it's one that he'll die on. Some fans care about this stuff, and some couldn't give two hoots but tough - here is Toby Hadoke Party Political Broadcast for the Readable Credits Party. From casts in order of appearance, to special guest star billing, here is everything you need to know about who goes where on that list of names that disappears ever quicker these days...

Your host TobY Hadoke was on such a roll with the first three parts that when he gets to part four, on a different day, his mojo seems to have got lost in the void. Maybe he needs to take drugs in order to enjoy EVERY episode of Doctor Who, or maybe he just needs to exercise a bit of self discipline... or maybe he just needs to "go away"... Fortunately, Star Trek fanfic writer Derek O'Brien is on hand to provide some positive analysis from a perspective honed across the Pond. So maybe this will end on a high!

Spaceships are fused and everyone on board is having a bad trip - some in more ways than one. But will there be enough positives aboard the Empress to make this a first class excursion for special guest Derek O'Brien, who brings the perspective of a visiting American discovering Doctor Who for the  first time? And do he and your host Toby Hadoke stand any chance of finding common ground in their likes for this story, or is a there a big gap of nothing between them...?

So we have the perspective of and American Who Fan in England - prolific Star Trek fanfic fella Derek O'Brien - so how differently will he receive the good and bad of one of Doctor Who's less celebrated stories? And will your host Toby Hadoke have the same kind of Nightmare...?

Here's one your host Toby Hadoke remembers watching as a kid and, of course, loving ... and then learning as a teen that it was from the "awful Season 17" and that everyone should hate it. Then Toby finally rediscovered it as a grown-up and quite liked it. So how much will he enjoy it this time around, especially with US chum and uber-Star Trek fanfic guy Derek O'Brien acting as its advocate. But more importantly, will he remember what it is actually called. 

And so the first Doctor Who story comes to a close - but will this be the first time that you r host, Tim y Hadoke, manages to guess more than half of his guest's favourite things? He's been doing pretty well so far. He wouldn't muck it up at this stage, having come so far ... would he? Well, we're not going to tell you, as we would rather end this on a cliffhanger - after all, that's what they did in the old days.   

This series has already provided a Too Much Information about The Forest of Fear and now it gets the Happy Times and Places treatment too. We've never been so verdant! But getting all excited about the early days of Doctor Who is easily done. But will special guest Jim Sangster and your host Toby Hadoke agree on the episode's high point, or will Jim try to murder Toby with a stone as he lies wounded...?

See how we neatly avoided giving a story title then? It's hard enough deciding what to call the first story (your host Toby Hadoke is an An Unearthly Child man himself, but he's no dictator) but what about if you strip it of its iconic opening instalment? Because that is what monster maker Jim Sangster, this edition's special guest, has done. He's chosen the first story, but the caveman episodes only - in order that the oft overlooked squabble about fire might ignite fresh passions in us all. But will he and your host be fanning the same flames or will they be left with a chill in the air?

Warning: when consumed all in one go this podcast contains more than the recommended level of piratical dialogue. Prolonged exposure to such dialogue will cause you to squint and yell "ahaaar" without warning. It's the little discussed Troughton historical that introduces Jamie and drag to the Doctor and provokes lots of jolly chat from guest Peter Ware. You will like a chat like that. Host Toby Hadoke tried to guess what cheerful Peter likes about this story (apart from, you know, everything - Peter is a very positive guy). 

Originally released episodically to celebrate the release of the Season 24 Blu-ray, we've now packed it all neatly up into a single bundle so that you can enjoy all that Iceworld has to offer in just one trip. But the special guest this time around provides added insight into the story, because not only does he have four favourite things to highlight, he was responsible for some of them because he's only the flipping script editor, Andrew Cartmel, who gives a little interview at the end of each instalment as well as telling your host, Toby Hadoke, what he likes best about the 150th Doctor who story. 

Its the second part of our trawl through the (other) beautiful game, looking at the cricketing Doctor's cricketing occasions as well as some real life connection between Doctor Who and the leather and willow - notably a batting Master, some villains announcing test matches and a Gallifreyan grandson hitting the international stage in his whites. 

There's very little guest Gary Russell hasn't done for the series, so it's great to have him choosing his favourite things about a bona fide Doctor Who classic. For this omnibus version the opening and closing credits have been chopped off and the whole thing has been stuck together into one feature length presentation. A bit like the VHS release then, except that we haven't redone the credits in crappy red writing with too many people on one page. 

Oh this is a good 'un. From its BBC one ident opening to its CGI werewolf and Sam Briggs as the Queen, there is much to discuss with this often overlooked episode of New Who. Film-maker Lisa Gledhill brings her historical expertise and Doctor Who trailer making to bear on this viewing - but will she and your host Toby Hadoke both identify the same things as worthy of celebrating about this horrifying instalment? Go on, have a listen, they won't bite...

No mention really of Kate Bush, nor any kinda/Kinda "kind of" jokes either, but instead a really interesting and literary take on one of Doctor Who's most fascinating scripts from top TV writer (The Bay) Daragh Carville. But, you know, it also has a big pink snake in it and Jack Meadows from The Bill going mad. So what will your host Toby Hadoke make of it all...? Careful though - you don't want to see the dark places of his inside. 

And so we come to Doctor Who's second first night. But as we will soon discover, there's no guarantee that what gets written or planned for ends up being seen bu the public, as shirts change, scripts are juggled and a writer who doesn't really want to spend too much time ends up producing what the team need - and at a speed they appreciate. Join host Toby Hadoke as he presents the What, When and Who of the first episode of the Doctor Who story that changed the face of the series forever. 

Relax, Hadoke has entered the fray - this was the first Doctor Who episode broadcast during your host's lifetime. Perhaps his mum had it on whilst rocking him to sleep? He wouldn't have nodded off during this though, as it is great fun, and special guest Tom Salinsky will have no trouble coming up with a host of favourite things this week: but will Toby - like Hal the Archer - hit the target?  

An episode with a first and a last. The first Doctor Who episode to mention Gallifrey and the last one to be broadcast in a Toby Hadoke free world. Your host was born midway between this and episode four, so if everyone looks slightly less irritated and isn't looking over their shoulder worried they're going to be ambushed by a baby with lots of inane questions about cast lists then now you know why. It's a fun episode, this, with one of the worst performances in the show's history, and a personal connection to Toby as he has worked with someone who was standing very close to that terrible acting.  It's doubtful that special guest Tom Salinsky, and Toby will be choosing the Sentry as their favourite thing but hey, you never know (cue unconvincing laughter).   

A new companion and a new monster, both of whom prove to be extremely popular in the long run, plus some medieval villainy and a geographical location rather close to your host, Toby Hadoke - yes , it's one of the few Northern Doctor Who stories. And look, it's a perfectly balanced and fun adventure, and special guest Tom Salinsky has really thrown himself into the task of celebrating this very jolly Doctor Who adventure, but will Toby be able to guess what he has chosen as his favourite ting about it? 

Just over half way through The Time Warrior your host,  Toby Hadoke, came forth, claiming this planet and all its moons and satellites for his greater glory. So rather appropriately the man who chose the story, renaissance man Tom Salinsky, sent his thoughts over at around that time of year, so it seemed appropriate to watch it during the period it originally went out. Prior warning - Toby is a huge fan of this story, so it's not the trickiest of prospects to find the joy in this... in fact, the hardest thing will be deciding what to chose. 

Slightly updated with a couple of "I Think You'll Find"s that weren't in the original episodic release, here is a chance to digest a whole three hours (nearly) of daft Dalek action with the delightful Darrell MacLaine in celebratory mode as he and your host Toby Hadoke try to identify Aridians, wonder why Columbo is on the Empire State Building, encounter some dubious baby based "comedy" on the Marie (Mary?) Celeste and eventually end up in London 1965. And Darrell knows a song about that. 

It actually is cricket - a meander through the connections between Doctor Who and a sport with a long, sprawling history, one that inspires devotion in some and bafflement in others, is associated with a certain British eccentricity, and has a symbiotic relationship with BBC broadcasting. What is less well known is that cricket itself was been killed off by Doctor Who in the same episode that first featured it, and that a Doctor who you would think might have a strong connection with the game doesn't so much as mention it at all!

Three episodes in one week? Makes you sound... well, very lucky. It's three episodes of Time and the Rani though, so can you learn to be like your host, Toby Hadoke, and vow to try to love this rather strange matter? He's accentuating the positive because since recording their contribution to this podcast, special guest Anthony Townsend has received some difficult news. And what better way to celebrate Anthony than getting out the tinsel and the colour and camping it about in a quarry? https://uk.gofundme.com/f/a-small-hand-for-antoni  

You get an extra episode this week because this story has been unceremoniously hurled into the schedule because our special guest, Anthony Townsend, has, since advocating so strongly for Time and the Rani, become quite poorly. The two things are not related, however. Host Toby Hadoke sees is he can accentuate the positive in his least favourite Doctor Who story - so prepare yourselves for either a Damascene conversion or a man lying about how much he enjoys watching magnificent divas yelling at giant brains. https://uk.gofundme.com/f/a-small-hand-for-antoni  

https://uk.gofundme.com/f/a-small-hand-for-antoni Excuse the continued pluggage but it is for a good cause. Special guest Anthony Townsend has had a life changing medical diagnosis and so your host, Toby Hadoke, has sat through the whole of this story of tinsel, big hair, even bigger vocabulary and painted rocks in order to bring attention to the fund set up to help someone who has done a lot for both fandom and the charity sector. But will the two of them agree on this story's strong points?

Yes, you have only just had a Season 24 story, Dragonfire, and it's all out on Blu-ray this month, but this rush release isn't overkill. It is because special guest Anthony Townsend has, since recording their admirably robust support for one of Doctor Who's less celebrated stories, received a life-changing medical diagnosis. So to draw attention to that and to help provide Anthony with a helping hand, we have bubble traps, high heels, impersonations and tinsel in a pipe. For decades now this has been pretty low on your host, Toby Hadoke's, list of things he likes. Can Anthony change his mind? To help Anthony at this difficult time please check out this Go Fund Me page.. https://uk.gofundme.com/f/a-small-hand-for-antoni  

Well, this one went well - your host Toby Hadoke didn't have to re-record the end of the episode to give it a different ending. So history didn't repeat itself. That said, nor did the historicals, (well not for a very long time) - but on the evidence of this jolly romp that's a shame. Peter Ware, Deputy Editor of DWM has chosen it, and needs to pick his favourite thing about the episode plus one bonus thing. Are Peter's things the same as your host's things? There's only one way to find out. 

All aboard The Annabelle as we set sail for the third instalment of this little-discussed Doctor Who story. Deputy Editor of Doctor Who Magazine Peter Ware thought it'd be fun to put hoist Toby Hadoke in chains and sail him into obscure waters to see if he can find anything positive to say about this episode - one which, Peter reveals, holds a unique place in Doctor Who history. Can you guess what it is? Will your host? One thing's for sure - this jolly episode is a lot of fun, and it certainly doesn't drag. 

It's international Podcast like a Pirate day, because Captain Trask is making his presence known as episode 2 of The Highlanders demands your attention, thanks to DWM Deputy Editor Peter Ware. He has chosen this for many reasons, but can host Toby Hadoke guess what his favourite thing about this instalment is? He'd better not think too hard though, it might give him a headache. 

One of the loveliest, cheeriest people from the Doctor Who universe has chosen the latest story to be scrutinised for Happy Times and Places. But behind that smile is a machiavellian mischief maker, as instead of choosing something straightforward he has picked one of the least talked about Doctor Who stories of all time. So join host Toby Hadoke and his guest, Deputy Editor of Doctor Who Magazine Peter Ware, as they escape the battle of Culloden for the last pure historical for many years... but will there be anything to talk about?

Well, if you enjoyed the trip to Ice World in which Toby and guest Andrew Cartmel discussed the 150th Doctor Who story Dragonfire (Happy Times and Places episodes 17.1 - 17.3), then you'll love this bit of bonus content. That fine actor Edward Peel chats about playing the story's villain Kane, and describes the highlights of his 55 year career as a busy actor in everything from RSC stage productions to cutting edge new theatre writing via TV favourites like Juliet Bravo and Cracker. Edward kindly gave his time for free so anyone who enjoys this can show their appreciation by donating to his chosen charity MacMillan Nurses.  Warning : there is one moment of strong language which is used to illustrate an occurrence of it occurring in real life which has been left unbleeped. 

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?

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...

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?

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.

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?

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. 

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. 

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.

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.