Toby Hadoke – Moths ate my Doctor Who Scarf
April 1, 2008 – 9:23 am | by Portia Nicholson
Toby Hadoke’s show ‘Moths ate my Doctor who scarf’ had me curious. Not knowing what to expect I had hoped as a science fiction fan, that it was either an all out geek fest with in-depth discussion of our beloved time lord or that the show was hilarious.
As Hadoke is a multi talented comedian, having previously acted on both stage and television and a frequent Broadcaster with the BBC, I had high expectations of him. The show had originally started as a critically acclaimed Edinburgh Fringe show and has also been transformed into a radio show by Hadoke.
Entering the stage wearing his hand made scarf identical to the one worn by Tom Baker in Doctor Who, Hadoke is the embodiment of geekery and given my fandom of films and sci fi, I could easily identify with his passion and his mania for the Doctor. During the show Hadoke talks us through his journey from boyhood to manhood whist harbouring a Doctor Who fetish.
Part stand up, part poignant memoir, the show is engaging and warm with much laugher coming from Hadoke’s somewhat irrational obsession with the TV show and his impressive albeit worrying ability to recall Dr who information in a rainman-like fashion. His story begins when his father leaves the family and the young Hadoke finds comfort in a Saturday night TV show.
Through his imaginative story telling, aided by extracts from his teenage diary, Hadoke details his 30-year obsession with the Doctor and describes how a low budget TV Show (don’t mention the wobbly sets under any circumstances) helped him through troubling times in his adolescent years. Despite people around him berating him for his obsession whilst he grew up, Hadoke defends his show to the end as he “has the good doctor”. Whilst non ‘Who’ fans might not understand all the in-jokes the show is an engaging and heart-rending comedy about a man and his obsession.
The show deals with wider issues, in unashamed honesty he describes his run-ins with school bullies, his inadequacy with the opposite sex and becoming a father. He also tells of his grief when the series was suspended in 1989, the anguish he describes is akin to how you might feel after a death in the family and your heart has to go out to the man and his despair.
However things aren’t quite over yet as he describes to the audience his overwhelming joy as the Doctor who series returns to BBC staring Christopher Eccleston and Bille Piper. The new series captures the public’s imagination and is instantly popular with old fans and attracts a new generation of viewers, with this renewed interest Hadoke can now finally burst out of the Tardis and proudly say “I told you so!” Hadoke also describes how given the popularity of the show with children, he can now bond with his young son as they watch the new series together and share their interest in the doctors adventures.
You can’t help but feel pleased that his years of fascination have finally paid off, as it’s now ‘cool’ to be a Doctor Who fan. After Hadoke’s devotion I’ll allow the slight air smugness he has, as he tells of the Doctor’s triumphant comeback, after all every geek has his day.
Check out where this show is playing around the country, and catch it when it comes to the capital from 9th April.
