A Hamster With a Blunt Penknife - a Doctor Who Commentary podcast

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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.

Joe Ford


    • Aug 5, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 59m AVG DURATION
    • 986 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from A Hamster With a Blunt Penknife - a Doctor Who Commentary podcast

    Talks to the wonderful Joumana about her choice of Time Heist

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2025 115:39


    Welcome Joumana who joyfully skips into her first Hamster commentary to discuss her Doctor Who journey, her love of the 12th Doctor and why she likes this particular episodes. Plus, learn all about the Narvinettes!

    Strictly Come Hamster - Series B (featuring Elliot Mair, David G-P, Matt Michael & Paul Quinn)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2025 305:46


    The debatiest Hamster yet; with a warning that racism, incel culture, homophobia, genocide, and all manner of provocative subjects are discussed. Also, how camp as tits the Rani is. A divisive year, but one worth talking about.

    Hamster Book Club - Trading Futures by Lance Parkin (featuring Agent Michael Mills)

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2025 112:21


    The name's Mills. Michael Mills. Licence to critique. A full discussion on Bond and Doctor Who - how they are familiar and how they are so, so different. And how, if you're a clever man like Lance Parkin, you can write a story that is both great James Bond AND great Doctor Who.

    Talks to Si Hart & Frazer Gregory about their choice of Terror of the Vervoids (4/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2025 48:25


    Time for the murderer to be revealed, for the monsters go on a full on murder spree, to avoid the black hole, prevent a hijack and sing On With the Motley!

    Talks to Frazer Gregory & Si Hart about their choice of Terror of the Vervoids (3/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2025 34:44


    Black holes, vaginal monsters, fabulous broads, and Mel in a bin! Could this story get any more exciting?

    Talks to suspects Si Hart & Frazer Gregory about their choice of Terror of the Vervoids (2/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2025 32:31


    The trial for murder continues with the chief suspects with the two potentially guilty parties, Frazer Gregory and Si Hart, under the spotlight!

    Talks to Frazer Gregory & Si Hart about their choice of Terror of the Vervoids (1/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2025 40:10


    'We don't want you breaking your neck, at least not until...' has never had so many meanings! The ultimate relax with your friends and watch Doctor Who story...

    Hamster Book Club - The Plotters by Gareth Roberts (featuring Anthony Carroll)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2025 95:05


    Fie! A plot! Fireworks and burning Catholics! The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Victor - hoho! - I mean to say Vicki are caught up in the machinations and groin stirrings of King James!

    Target Book Club - Readings of the Day - Part Three: Stephen Gallagher, Steve Cole , Alex Hewitt, Joe Lidster, Gareth L. Powell & James Goss

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2025 60:20


    Stephen Gallagher reads from 'Warriors' Gate' Steve Cole 'The Wheel of Tara' Alex Hewitt 'Reading Games with Pip and Jane' Joe Lidster reads from 'Aliens of London'Gareth L. Powell reads from 'The Well'James Goss reads from 'Lux'

    Target Book Club - Recordings of the Day - Part Two: Robert Shearman, John Grindrod, Nev Fountain & Paul Quinn

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2025 47:28


    Robert Shearman reads from 'The Chimes of Midnight' John Grindrod 'Terror of the Blurboids' Nev Fountain 'The Policeman's Face Peeled Away...' Paul Quinn 'I see all the rumours about you are true...' - Trigger WarningPublished with kind permission of the contributors

    Target Book Club - Recordings from the Day - Part One: Gary Gillat, Simon Guerrier, Jenny T. Colgan & Mags L. Halliday

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2025 61:20


    Gary Gillat - 'Opening Lines' Simon Guerrier - 'The Unseen Terrance Dicks'Jenny Colgan - Reading from 'Time of Angels/Flesh and Stone'Mags L. Halliday - 'Romancing the Target' Published with kind permission of the contributor.

    Hamster Book Club - Bad Therapy by Matthew Jones (featuring Dan Pinn, Gareth Bowley & David Gillespie-Pratt)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2025 158:31


    A stunning latter day New Adventure that is written with mature prose, compelling characters and a surprising plot that defies all your expectations of the range.

    Strictly Come Hamster - Season 25 (with James Lark, Dylan Rees, Frazer Gregory, Ioan Morris)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2025 224:07


    Dalek box sets, shiny VHS', therapy, terrible impressions, faux intellectuals and two musicians - this has it all!

    Talks to Eddie and Jon Arnold about their choice of Attack of the Cybermen (2/2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 18, 2025 71:45


    Is this where the wheels start coming off as Joe (positive until now) starts to see the cracks, Jon has ammunition in his argument against the story...but Eddie remains steadfast that this is a banger.

    Talks to (father and son) Jon & Eddie Arnold about their choice of Attack of the Cybermen (1/2)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2025 65:03


    Father and son combination of Jon & Eddie Arnold - watching Doctor Who together and having a huge difference of opinion! Who loves this one? And who thinks it is dogshit?

    Hamster Book Club - Blood Heat by Jim Mortimore (featuring John Lane)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2025 72:52


    John returns to the bookclub to discuss the much celebrated Blood Heat only to find that the memory cheats and fatalism is a little out of fashion...

    Talks to James Lark about his choice of The Invasion (8/8)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 14, 2025 49:35


    Our epic commentary on The Invasion reaches its climax and our intimate study of James' diary does too. How will the Cybermen be defeated? And will James get the girl?

    Talks to James Lark about his choice of The Invasion (7/8)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2025 37:49


    This mammoth commentary reaches its penultimate episode. Will Tobias Vaughn succeed with his evil plans? And more importantly, with James get his happily ever after with Sally?

    Talks to James Lark about his choice of The Invasion (6/8)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2025 43:49


    Joe declares this one of the best episodes of Doctor Who of all time, and James cannot disagree. We start with Cybermen menacing our friends in the sewers and end with them invading London!

    Hamster Book Club - Lux by James Goss (featuring Michael Mills)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2025 84:56


    Armed with advance copies, Michael and I discuss Lux the episode and the Target novelisation. A bold, stylish and nuanced take on the story. SPOILERS!

    Talks to James Lark about his choice of The Invasion (5/8)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2025 48:15


    The Cybermen are here...but just enough to bring them out of the cocoon. Jamie & Zoe go on a foolhardy expedition with Isobel, and Vaughn's plan is coming to fruition...

    Hamster Patreon Update

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 8, 2025 3:59


    A thank you to the existing Patreons and information for anyone else who might be interested!

    Strictly Come Hamster - Flux (featuring Dylan Rees, Lee McMenemy & Frazer Gregory)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2025 187:22


    he longest Doctor Who story, a pandemic fought year, and an epic fight for reality against Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans, Swarm & Azure and the Doctor's past...

    Talks to Our Liam about his choice of Planet of the Dead

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 4, 2025 107:29


    Glorious Hamster debutant Liam talks about his love for late Tennant, wonderful stories about meeting the A-List cast and extols the virtues of this underrated gem.

    Talks to Dylan Rees about his choice of The Stranger: Eye of the Beholder

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2025 86:50


    Our Great Stranger journey comes to an end with this feature length 'epic.' Just how much fun can two tired and slightly hysterical fans have watching the climax of this saga?

    Talks to Dylan Rees about his choice of The Stranger: Breach of the Peace

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2025 52:47


    What happens when you take the SF out of The Stranger and turn it into an episode of The Bill featuring Caroline John & Nicholas Briggs? Will Colin have a happy ending with Miss Frump?

    Talks to Dylan Rees about his choice of Stranger: The Terror Game

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2025 55:12


    BBV is back on Hamster! And rounding off our six Stranger commentaries we start with The Terror Game! Saul & Egan are on the scene! Louise Jameson is running a nightclub! And is this The Stranger's true origin story?

    Hamster Book Club - The Adventures Before (featuring Michael Mills)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2025 122:06


    Joe & Michael embark on their first short story collection together - with a book that allegedly has a collection of stories that take place before Doctor Who televised adventures. We examine that and then some...

    Hamster Book Club - The English Way of Death by Gareth Roberts (featuring Kieran Pell)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2025 85:17


    Top ho! Off to season seventeen for Kieran and I! Upper crust bumbling fools, time portals, evil smells and possessed policemen! Plus a passionate conversation about the author, and the reaction against him.

    Talks to Frazer Gregory & Si Hart about their choice of Mindwarp (4/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2025 54:48


    Another joyous commentary comes to an end with a hugely dramatic, murderous climax. Peri is dead, the Time Lords are accused, Crozier sips his tea. Where do we go from here?

    Talks to Si Hart & Frazer Gregory about their choice of Mindwarp (3/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2025 39:48


    Things are hotting up in the caves between Peri and Ycarnos and a rebellion is waiting to be forged. This was a story that each of us have struggled with at some point...so why are we having so much fun with it?

    Hamster Book Club - James Goss Interview

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 20, 2025 70:57


    Joe & Michael speak to James Goss about his Doctor Who books past and present and in particular his upcoming Target novelisation of Lux. Due to the spoilers within, the Lux Book Club will come out on the publication date.

    Talks to Frazer Gregory & Si Hart about their choice of Mindwarp (2/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2025 40:06


    There are many horrific and shocking things about this story; mostly in this episode and how it treats the Doctor and Peri. But none of those are more terrifying than Frazer's opening…

    Talks to Si Hart & Frazer Gregory about their choice of Mindwarp (1/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2025 43:03


    Si used to hate it and now he really likes it, Joe yo-yos about with it but currently LOVES it, Frazer has always been on the fence...what treasure can they dig out of this controversial story...

    Strictly Come Hamster - Tenth Doctor Special

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2025 148:50


    The most popular Doctor Who of all time? Doctor Number Ten comes under the microscope and we determine the best (or at least our favourite) 10th Doctor story! Allonsy!

    Hamster Book Club - Dalek by Robert Shearman (featuring Anthony Carroll)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2025 106:39


    What happens when a Scot and an Englishman watch, listen and read to the same story? A grand time is had by both! The most unique Target novel? The darkest?

    Talks to James Lark about his choice of The Invasion (4/8)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2025 39:50


    The animation is back and somehow we're really happy about that! There is a brilliant action sequence that we can't see but the emergence of the Cybermen and Vaughn's plans are coming to fruition...no signs of this story running out of steam.

    Hamster Book Club - The Gallifrey Chronicles (Redux) by Lance Parkin (featuring Jon Arnold, Andrew Batty & Luke Sims-Jenkins)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2025 125:20


    It's the end...but the moment has been prepared for. The eighth Doctor range comes to a close with a book that looks backwards to celebrate, forwards to the future and has a beautiful examination of the Doctor within...

    Talks to James Lark about his choice of The Invasion (3/8)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2025 34:28


    The Cybermen haven't arrived yet but we couldn't care one jot when Kevin Stoney and Peter Halliday are there to make laugh and cry! Join James and I as we dive into Doctor Who Spy-Fi!

    Talks to Michael Mills about Joe's choice of Lucky Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2025 94:33


    Joe's favourite episode of the season and Michael has lots to say about the fascinating content within. How were we tricked? What is the deal with Conrad? And just how did they make those monsters work?

    Talks to James Lark about his choice of The Invasion (2/8)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2025 32:28


    Spy-Fi abounds! Will the Doctor and Jamie find Zoe & Isobel and save them from the clutches of Tobias Vaughn?

    doctors invasion tobias vaughn
    Hamster Book Club - Warmonger by Terrance Dicks (featuring Luke Sims-Jenkins, Andrew Batty & Jon Arnold)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2025 107:53


    Joe, Luke, Andrew & Jon face the most brutal fight in the Doctor's fight, a conflict so terrifying he has to form an alliance with Cybermen, Sontarans and Draconians and become a dictator! Issalon Kwai!

    Talks to James Lark about his choice of The Invasion (1/8)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 2, 2025 52:49


    In one of my favourite first episodes of a commentary ever, James reveals the true heartbreak and trauma of his fifteen year old romance and we head into Spy-Fi territory with the Doctor, Jamie and Zoe...

    Talks to Dylan Rees & Luke Molloy about their choice of The Power of Kroll (4/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2025 35:22


    Joe, Dylan & Luke come to the end of their boggy voyage with an action packed conclusion. Blood is flying, oil rigs are being sat on and Tom Baker is gagging at a giant squid!

    Hamster Patreon!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2025 3:43


    Want to join a fun and engaging community of Doctor Who fans? Early episodes? Exclusive content? Press play!

    Talks to Luke Molloy & Dylan Rees about their choice of The Power of Kroll (3/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2025 25:25


    The wibbly lines on the scanner are barely moving, but Kroll is extended his sloppy wet tentacles and munching on everyone he can! As Tom Baker says 'Ohhhhhh yes!'

    Hamster Book Club - The Harvest of Time by Alistair Reynolds (featuring John Lane)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 27, 2025 92:04


    In his podcast debut, John talks about an ambitious, action packed and nostalgic book by esteemed SF author Alistair Reynolds. We're shocked at how much it feels like the Pertwee era, and how much it innovates.

    Strictly Come Hamster Series A/1/15 (featuring Luke Molloy, Daniel Rawnsley & Michael Mills)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 25, 2025 261:45


    Joe, Luke, Daniel & Michael We face goblins, boogeymen, Maestro, Villenguard, loneliness, racism, shitty bird people & Sutekh! But who will reign supreme?

    Alien Bodies (Redux) by Lawrence Miles (featuring Paul Quinn)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 107:29


    One of the most important original Doctor Who books gets more consideration. How many influences and sources can superbrain Paul Quinn pull out of a hat? How Lynchian is Miles trying to be?

    Talks to Dylan Rees & Luke Molloy about their choice of The Power of Kroll (2/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2025 29:26


    Dylan is back to gossipmongering ways, scandalously! Luke is channelling his inner Tom Baker (oh yes!)! Joe is in a ratings tizzy! And there's nothing left but slags!

    Talks to Luke Molloy & Dylan Rees about their choice of The Power of Kroll (1/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2025 32:12


    Luke is obsessed with dragging us to the bog, Dylan is obsessed with the Doctor's coat and Joe is obsessed with throbbing wet tentacles! What could possibly go wrong?

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