Hello.
My name is Toby. I am an actor, writer and comedian.
I was going to write this in the third person in order to give the impression that I have “people”. But I don’t. So, hello!
Here’s my latest news (June 2021):
I mean, there’s a pandemic on but sure, I’m still keeping pretty busy.
I have once again had the poignant pleasure of writing newspaper obituaries for a couple of extraordinary members of the entertainment profession – Roy Scammell was a brilliant stuntman, the go-to high fall man for most films and TV during the 60s-80s and the fella who taught me to fall off a high tower for the documentary Hadoke Vs Havoc. Damaris Hayman was fabulous comedy character actress who worked with all the great and was herself a marvellous eccentric. RIP to them both.
Roy Scammell (far left) and I (far right) – Dereks Ware and Martin are in the middle – prepare for some stuntwork on the documentary Hadoke Vs Havoc.
My podcasts are all up and away. They just clocked up 75, 000 downloads which I am told is very good (we only launched 6 months ago)! They are all about Doctor Who : there’s Too Much Information (a fact-filled, episode-by-episode breakdown), Indefinable Magic (whimsical vocal essays inspired by some random aspect of the the show), and Happy Times and Places (commentaries with the aim of positivity). They are released under the blanket title of Toby Hadoke’s Time Travels. My Podbean podcast page is here. My Patreon Page is here.
I am back in The 7th Dimension chair on Saturdays and Sundays in late July, introducing horror and sci-fi and loads of terrific fantastical stuff on BBC Radio 4 Extra at 6pm and midnight.
I have written a piece for the latest Take Back theatre project: this is a great movement (new writing given a platform and a remit to examine the issues of the day) orchestrated by the fabulous Julie Hesmondhalgh, Becx Harrison and Grant Archer, and it’s always flattering to be asked to contribute. Mine’s about men’s mental health but don’t worry, it’s funny, and there’ll be other pieces written by more illustrious folk than I plus a Q and A with Julie afterwards – it’s at Home on 28th June: more info here. I was going to be in it too but alas I can’t be as I am filming …. something. And if I told you what it was I’d have to kill you. Let’s just say I’m filming and it’s very exciting and maybe I can tell you about it next month….
Take Back Comes (to) Home…
I have directed, and am in, a new comedy pilot by Jonathan Morris – it’s a Dan Dare/Buck Rogers type spoof called Dick Dixon in the 21st Century and is very funny. It has a great soundscape and a terrific cast including Kieran Hodgson, Dan Starkey, Terry Molloy and Sooz Kempner. Jonny has packed it with jokes and characters who will definitely strike a chord with anyone who likes what I like. The pilot episode here. and I am very pleased to say that we will be recording more episodes soon: watch h this space.
My comedy club XS Malarkey (which I have MC’d every Tuesday for nearly 24 years) has continued as an online presence throughout lockdown – giving you the best of the live circuit despite the pesky pestilence and the near paralysis of our industry. We have just become even more creative and have won awards and acclaim for being so – and crucially, we are providing comedians with an income and a locked down audience with access to funny people for a minimal financial outlay (in fact for free – the financial outlay is discretionary). So far Marcus Brigstocke, Robin Ince, Josie Long, James Acaster, Nish Kumar, Nathan Caton, Sooz Kempner, Bethany Black, Athena Kugblenu, Colin Hoult, Mark Watson, Tom Allen, Jordan Brookes, Randy, Rob Rouse, Eddie Pepitone, Judah Friedlander, Hal Cruttenden, Zoe Lyons, Ed Gamble, Felicity Ward, Sara Barron and many more came and gigged for us, and all really rose to the occasion. Find our channel here. The shows remain available for 14 days after broadcast but there are a load of clips and highlights there for you to access too. The live XS Malarkey shows will be returning to The Bread Shed on July 13th – hope to see you there.
It’s a gig, but not as we know it – XS Malarkey has been adapting to the brave new world we find ourselves in…
And here’s the general stuff about me if you’re interested (which I’m guessing you might be as you are here, so thanks!):
My one man show Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf sold out at the Edinburgh Fringe before embarking on a national tour, international dates and a West End run. The radio version was released on CD by the BBC and was nominated for a Sony Award. The follow up – My Stepson Stole My Sonic Screwdriver – joined its predecessor for a double bill at the Garrick Theatre in 2013. My radio work includes afternoon plays, a Fright Night presentation and topical comedy and has been nominated for a BBC Audio Drama Award.
I am a regular performer at the Comedy Store, Manchester (New Stuff every second and last Sunday of the month), the 99 Club Leicester Square, and have been resident compere at the award winning XS Malarkey comedy club for 23 years.
I also like old TV and can spot a character actor in a crowd from space. I have written about such passions for national newspapers and magazines, and spoken about them on documentaries and TV news programmes. My podcast, Toby Hadoke’s Who’s Round, has run to over 250 episodes, and my new lot, Toby Hadoke’s Time Travels, have hit 50, 000 downloads.
But I’m an actor really. I have appeared in Holby City, An Adventure in Space and Time, Phoenix Nights, The Forsyte Saga, Emmerdale, Coronation Street and Casualty 1907, the forthcoming feature film Six Minutes to Midnight (2020) and dozens of radio plays. I also present the weekend science fiction hour, The 7th Dimension, on BBC Radio 4 Extra.
