There’s always a bit of Doctor Who drifting around the back of my head. So what better time - with Doctor Who returning to television on Saturday - to mention Toby Hadoke and his MOTHS ATE MY DOCTOR WHO SCARF show, in which he looks at fatherhood, class and of course a lifetime of loving the Doctor.

He’s playing Southend this Thursday (one night before Jimmy Carr), so if you’re someone who enjoys standup comedy and Doctor Who, or heard Hadoke’s radio miniseries and wants to see him live, then this is a good opportunity.

You know, looking at life always brings some humour from which to work a routine from, and frankly there are few better fictional texts to dive into for some nonsense than the Doctor Who universe. Although Hadoke’s presentation isn’t to everyone’s tastes (my own included) his material is solid.

Incidentally Hadoke is scheduled to host a Doctor Who event at the Cavern in Liverpool on May 4^th; if you’re there, you might well see me, too.

Toby Hadoke’s website is here.

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I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue is on tour, this week kicking off at Hammermith Apollo. 

And when I say “on tour”, I mean “on tour”. 

Humphrey Lyttelton, Barry Cryer, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Jeremy Hardy and the pianist Colin Sell are appearing in the second phase of the tour that began in 2007, and comprising of favourite rounds from the shows 35 years. 

The tour is not being recorded for Radio 4, although there’s no reason why it shouldn’t end up on a special audio release.

I you haven’t come across I’m Sorry I Haven’t A Clue, then that is something you need to resolve quickly.  It is Quintessential Comedy, and can easily be purchased via download or on CD from varying outfits, including Amazon.

The series own description is “”the antidote to panel games”, and the four panel members of comedians are split into two teams and “given silly things to do” by the chairman, Humphrey Lyttleton. 

Now if that isn’t a recipe for success, I don’t know what is.

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They say there’s no curse, but Galton and Simpson are apparently fans of the current BBC Four series The Curse of Comedy.

Writing in The Times, they describe how Hancock wasn’t always on the bottle, how Frankie Howerd was always happy (as long as he was centre of attention) and how Steptoe and Son’s Harry H Corbett and Wilfred Brambell kept any strain strictly between themselves.

What is interesting about this is how we have been told certain things over the years about all of these individuals, but when it comes down to it, they are people, like you and I, and for the most normal people with families and loved ones.

Take Hancock, for example.  Galton and Simpson relate how he always had difficulty learning lines – being in a car collision lead to him recording an episode utilising autocue, and he never felt the need to learn another script, instead wasting his evenings drinking.

If you’re a fan of The Curse of Comedy, have a read of the article – it certainly paints the lives of these stars in a different light.

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It took me years to appreciate the subtle genius of John Shuttleworth – otherwise known as Graham Fellows – but catching some of his work a few months ago (500 Bus Stops) it became obvious what a distinct influence he has had on British Comedy over the last 30 odd years.

So it’s good to see him back on the air this week, with a BBC 7 rerun of John Shuttleworth’s Open Mind. 

So get tuned in an appreciate the work of a man who brought us Jilted John and the kind of single-minded determination and belief that makes up the entertaining audition stages of The X Factor.

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