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


    • Jan 29, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 1h AVG DURATION
    • 1,096 EPISODES


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

    Talks to Robert Valentine about his choice of The Daemons (1/5)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2026 41:38


    'Lots of lovely hush!' Rob and I are in total agreement on the fact that this is one of the very best first episodes of Doctor Who; thrills, suspense, jokes, character moments, a great cliffhanger and...Miss Hawthorne!

    Sarah Jane Adventures - Invasion of the Bane (with Daniel Rawnsley)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2026 93:08


    In a brand new thread for Hamster, Joe & Daniel will be watching and celebrating The Sarah Jane Adventures. How smart, funny, silly, intelligent and mature this series can be.

    Talks to Paul Arthur about his choice of Destiny of the Daleks (4/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2026 51:50


    It's shoddy and boring and pantomimic and gets the Daleks wrong. Screw that! Daleks blowing up, gun battles, mucky punch ups, 'BYE BYE!' Just fabulous!

    Talks to Paul Arthur about his choice of Destiny of the Daleks (3/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2026 31:09


    More great direction, lots of Davros discussion, how ableist is Doctor Who, plus Joe heads down a very strange rabbit hole where he is heading off with Paul (and wife) to a new life!

    Talks to Paul Arthur about his choice of Destiny of the Daleks (2/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 21, 2026 34:57


    Just what sinister purpose do the Daleks have for drilling down into the depths of Skaro? Why don't the Movellans die? And is Romana really dead?

    Talks to the delightful Paul Arthur about his choice of Destiny of the Daleks

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2026 39:50


    It's a Terry Nation part one with Douglas Adams jokes...this is a hybrid that shouldn't work at all. So why are we having such a good time?

    Talks to Paul Dunn & Peter Ould about their choice of State of Decay (4/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2026 45:09


    This vampiric tale comes to an epic conclusion with mythological beasts from the history of the Time Lords coming to life, Adric defecting to the enemy and Romana on the sacrificial stone! Huge thanks to Peter & Paul for making this such an enjoyable conversation!

    Talks to Peter Ould & Paul Dunn about their choice of State of Decay (3/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 16, 2026 31:09


    The blood of the dead is stale and flat...we must feed on the living! We're into exposition territory now as we learn all about the Great War between the Time Lords and the Vampires...but delivered by Tom & Lalla in love.

    Talks to Paul Dunn & Peter Ould about their choice of State of Decay (2/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 14, 2026 28:36


    What on earth word the names Joe Ford, Paul Dunn and Peter Ould become over the years? Is Aukon horny for Adric? Is Camilla horny for Romana?

    Talks to Peter Ould & Paul Dunn about their choice of State of Decay (1/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2026 48:08


    Peter dazzles with his first Hamster recording, Paul is in the hot seat asking the questions, but and we head into E-Space for a chilling tale of vampires and crashed spaceships!

    Talks to Jack Coyer about his choice of The Witchfinders

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2026 143:11


    Jack isn't the biggest fan of the 13th Doctor's era, but he does really enjoy this episode and we thought we would have some fun picking both of those stances apart. Before the axe falls down on Frazer Gregory.

    Talks to Joe M about his choice of The Fires of Pompeii

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2026 82:05


    An ambitious production, a poignant emotional core, fierce regulars, a stunning guests cast and a complex dilemma...is this the best historical of the new series?

    Talks to Joe M about his choice of Partners in Crime

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2026 91:44


    ‘I'm waving at fat!' Joe joins me for 90 minutes of silliness and flirting as we navigate the weight loss business via Loony Tunes...let the madness begin.

    Talks to Martin Parsons about his choice of The Ribos Operation (4/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 31, 2025 47:17


    All but one doomed to die...thus written in this podcast. How did Martin manage to wrangle A Hamster with a Blunt Penknife out of Joe's hands? Sleight of hands! He switched it back again! Oh audience, is there nobody you can trust these days?

    Talks to Martin Parsons about his choice of The Ribos Operation (3/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2025 35:54


    'They are not ice crystals!' Joe & Martin hit their favourite episode of the serial and are deeply moved by the introduction of Binro, and laughing their heads off at Garron's absurdly operatic criminal past.

    Talks to Martin Parsons about his choice of The Ribos Operation (2/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2025 37:56


    If you hang that little beauty around your neck you'll never suffer from the scringes, no matter how cold it be! Joe & Martin discover that no one makes a fool of the Graff Vynda K and lives...

    Talks to Martin Parsons about his choice of The Ribos Operation (1/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2025 35:42


    All but one doomed to die...thus written! Joe & Martin are up to their old tricks again, selling planets, pulling the wool over evil despots and coming from the North!

    The Paradise of Death by Barry Letts (featuring Gareth Bowley, David Gillespie-Pratt & Dan Pinn)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2025 143:14


    Worthy of the bile that has been tossed its way...or an unpretentious fun adventure that is unfairly maligned? You mean to say you've been INTERVIEWING me?

    Talks to Dylan Rees & Luke Molloy about their choice of The Star Beast

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2025 80:04


    Be scared - the contentious trio come together. Once, Dylan declared this the worst Doctor Who story of all time! Luke LOVES it! And now Joe can see some cracks. Bring on the debate!

    Talks to Paul Arthur about his choice of Carnival of Monsters (4/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2025 46:07


    'Will you kind stop addressing me as the creature, sir, or I may get exceedingly hostile!' It's our last episode of this absolute classic; Drashig-led political progress, Clare almost remembers and Vorg for President!

    Talks to Paul Arthur about his choice of Carnival of Monsters (3/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2025 32:13


    ‘And here Joe and Paul watch the Drashigs with keen interest…waiting for the cranial egg sacs to ovulate and they prepare their ascent to give birth to the newborns…'

    Talks to Paul Arthur about his choice of Carnival of Monsters (2/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2025 37:14


    This delightful romp continues...but nothing serious, nothing political! We just put on a show!

    Talks to Paul Arthur about his choice of Carnival of Monsters (1/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2025 36:20


    ‘Pooh!' Are we on Metebelies Three or Inter Minor or on the Indian Ocean? What happened to the SS Bernice? Watch out, Paul, an enormous hand coming to pick us up!

    Hamster Book Club - The Chimes of Midnight (featuring James Lark & Michael Mills)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2025 101:41


    Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without a Hamster Book Club Christmas Special! And this time we are seasonally themed with the superlative Christmas chiller, The Chimes of Midnight!

    Talks to Robert Valentine about his choice of The Brain of Morbius (4/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2025 43:12


    A great lumbering monster that looks like it is made of butchers leftovers is on the move with the brain of the fearsome war criminal - Morbius - in his head! How will he be stopped?

    Talks to Robert Valentine about his choice of The Brain of Morbius (3/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 9, 2025 31:25


    The brain matter has slapped on the floor! Condo has been shot in the stomach! Sarah can see again and he's behind you! And the Doctor does a little British Gas engineering...

    Talks to Robert Valentine about his choice of The Brain of Morbius (2/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2025 32:42


    There's something screaming murder in the cellar, the manservant is looking for his arm, the surgeon is slicing and dicing and the butchers shop has lost its leftovers!

    Talks to Robert Valentine about his choice of The Brain of Morbius (1/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 4, 2025 37:18


    There's a Sargasso Sea of spaceships, something is stirring in the laboratory, the Sisters are weaving their magic and a storm is brewing. Hold my hand, please Rob.

    Hamster Book Club - The Adventuress of Henrietta Street by Lawrence Miles (featuring Elemental Mark Donaldson)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2025 108:01


    A rich, heady brew of sex, political detail, history, unknowable slathering horror, Gothic atmosphere and the absence left in the universe by the destruction of Gallifrey...but what will Joe & Mark Donaldson make of it?

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

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2025 53:01


    How will James cope with the numerous technical difficulties at the start of this episode - by trying out improvisational comedy!

    Talks to James Lark about his choice of The Ark (3/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2025 31:53


    Where are Melium and Baku? Why are the Monoids suddenly so stupid? Are there invisible people on Refusis II?

    baku monoids
    Hamster Book Club - ‘Trix' - original short story

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2025 13:55


    For Andrew, who has long been frustrated at a lack of backstory and explanation for Patricia ‘Trix' MacMillan. So I thought I would write my own. Go wild.

    Happy Anniversary! The Day of the Doctor Commentary (with Dylan Rees & Iain Martin)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2025 89:46


    In a crossover with Too Hot for TV & We're All Stories in the End, Dylan, Iain and I have assembled to talk about the 50th anniversary special - The Day of the Doctor!

    Talks to James Lark about his choice of The Ark (2/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2025 31:54


    The virus is spreading, the human race is falling, the Earth is burning and the Doctor's time is running out... Also one of the best cliffhangers of all time !

    Talks to James Lark about his choice of The Ark (1/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2025 50:24


    Joe & James - in person! The intrepid explorers head to the Ark which itself heads away from a decaying planet Earth and Refusis II...

    Hamster Book Club - Party Like Its 1998! (featuring Andrew Batty, Luke Sims-Jenkins & Jon Arnold)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 19, 2025 159:13


    The greatest gift we can think of - an anthology of short stories celebrating the eighth Doctor range. Sam Jones, Fitz Kreiner, Compassion, Anji Kapoor, Iris! Just a delight to talk about.

    Talks to Martin Parsons about his choice of Image of the Fendhal (4/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2025 50:09


    This mammoth commentary comes to an end with a plethora of reasons to love this creepy, smart and funny tale. We're tossing salt (ahem), sucking in (ahem) explosions and realising we're too old for this sort of thing...

    Talks to Martin Parsons about his choice of Image of the Fendhal (3/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2025 29:32


    'I will be a God!' Every horror trope imaginable descends on Fetch Priory; cults, eldrich horrors, slavering monsters, ghosts...and Martin and I are raring to face them all!

    Talks to Martin Parsons about his choice of Image of the Fendhal (2/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2025 35:00


    The menace is afoot with clicky technology summoning an ancient evil, Ma Tyler is on the move, and who the hell did let the Doctor go?

    Talks to Martin Parsons about his choice of Image of the Fendhal (1/4)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 11, 2025 52:17


    We welcome Martin into the Hamster family, discover his Doctor Who journey and find out precisely what happened last night at Fetch Priory. 'A dead one what other sort is there?'

    Hamster Book Club - Rob Shearman Interview

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 10, 2025 177:37


    Joe & James talk to one of their favourite authors about writing The Chimes of Midnight and Jubilee, coming to terms with your own work, and the creating unique short story collections. A real insight into the writing process from one of the masters.

    Hamster Book Club - Ghost Light by Marc Platt (featuring Anthony Carroll)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2025 101:48


    Quintessence of wickedness! Corruption incarnate! Until all the Atlas is pink! The Cream of Scotland Yard! Will Anthony and I finally get the answers we seek from the Ghost Light novelisation...

    Talks to Toby Hadoke about his choice of The Web of Fear (6/6)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2025 72:40


    A brilliant ending to this six part classic...or a damp squib? And will Toby have the audacity to rewrite what is on TV to suit his reading of the story?

    Talks to Toby Hadoke about his choice of The Web of Fear (5/6)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2025 51:30


    We're still mightily impressed with the production value, the thick atmosphere and the performances in this underground chiller...

    Talks to Toby Hadoke about his choice of The Web of Fear (4/6)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2025 44:17


    Joe Ford & Toby Hadoke are very different people. One crude & coarse, the other erudite & charming. One selling a podcast on gossip & scandal, the other on trivia and critique. But one thing unites us: we both think this is one of the best episodes of all time.

    Talks to Toby Hadoke about his choice of The Web of Fear (3/6)

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2025 42:49


    Otherwise known as the one with the balloon people…although one of us was surprised by the reaction to the animation.

    Talks to Toby Hadoke about his choice of The Web of Fear (2/6)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2025 42:52


    Troughton is taking a week off but we are ably supporting by a host of fascinating guest characters...and more importantly we can watch this episode!

    Talks to Toby Hadoke about his choice of The Web of Fear (1/6)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2025 56:54


    Where we explore dark undergound passages, homicidal mythological creatures, sticky web and the joy of returned missing episodes...

    Hamster Book Club Halloween Special - White Darkness by David A. McIntee (featuring James Lark & Michael Mills)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2025 124:44


    Real life historical atrocities rub shoulders with mythological and cosmic horror rub shoulders with James Bond spy thriller! There is much to discuss in this neglected and surprisingly contentious book...

    The (X) Hamster Files - Ghost in the Machine (featuring Agent Ioan Morris)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2025 50:32


    Evil sentient technology…a portent of the future? How does The X-Files tackle HAL? Agent Morris is with me to do all the hard work and let me take all the credit!

    Hamster Book Club - Vanderdekens Children by Christopher Bulis (featuring Luke Sims-Jenkins, Jon Arnold & Andrew Batty)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2025 120:59


    War in the Hamster Book Club! As we explore Christopher Bulis' gaping orifice, there is a huge spread of opinions. Is this the Middest of all Doctor Who writers...or are there some surprises?

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