Toby Hadoke
@tobyhadoke
Actor, Comedian, Writer, Voice Guy, Professional Anorak. Arcana is my armour. And my amour.
Vladimir McTavish : Scottish comedy legend. Hilarious and unique. Paul Sneddon, the man behind the legend: absolutely lovely bloke. A warm hearted, totally decent fellow. We hadn’t worked together in a while and to think we never will again makes me sad. RIP to a top bloke gone too soon.
Kay Patrick was a lovely, kind, intelligent woman who managed to act in two Doctor Whos, direct nearly 300 Coronation Streets and write a book! She also generously gave me a couple of otherwise lost photos from The Savages we can now all enjoy thanks to her. So sad that she has died: RIP Kay ❤️
Laurie Webb, aka Mr Ollis from Doctor Who’s The Three Doctors, was one of my favourite Who people. He also delivered one of its best lines (“You’d never believe me woman: supper ready?”). Laurie died, peacefully, on Sunday, just five weeks short of his 102nd birthday. What a life: he was adorable.
It’s Testing, Testing at 53Two tonight with Gary Delaney, Alun Cochrane, Josh Jones, Hannah Platt and Tabish Akbar. Stonking line-up for ridiculously little money. Do pop in:
Sad to learn yesterday that Susan Vale, an unassuming, daft, extremely likeable comedian, equally at home doing a surprise end-of-set tap dance or a killer pun, died yesterday. I’d not seen her for a while but she played @xsmalarkey.com regularly back in the day. She was a very nice, kind woman.
Sad news: Gregory de Polnay, Dixon of Dock Green regular and the incomparable D84 in Doctor Who’s Robots of Death has died aged 82. He was a lovely man and an excellent actor and renowned drama teacher.
Please listen to Absent Friends on BBC Radio 4 Extra today. Part One is 4.45pm (repeated at 0045) and Part Two is the same time tomorrow. It’s my acknowledgment of various folk from UK sci-fi, horror and fantasy who died this year. 4 Extra doesn’t do many home made productions, so do tune in!
We gone ridiculously over budget at tonight’s @xsmalarkey.com just to end the year’s normal gigs on a high. (Quiz next week, then a break until New Year’s Eve). So don’t miss out on our THREE Headliners:
7 Years Sober today. Self Indulgent Video Disguised As Inspiration Alert!!! (I wrote a blog two years ago about my fifth year of sobriety that some people said had been helpful. It’s on my website and easy to find if you want to see or share it).
Happy Birthday XS Malarkey. 28 years of Tuesday night comedy. Last night’s line-up (@jainedwards.bsky.social @nottomburgess.bsky.social Josh Glanc & Chloe Petts) was a testament to the night’s ability to allow all sorts of brilliant comedians to thrive! Thanks to our gang, our venue & our audience.
If your faith in humanity is being tested right now: my MacBook and satchel (and entire contents) were waiting for me safe and sound at Waterloo Lost Property. I genuinely thought them lost forever.
A lot of people saw this guy perform on stage for £3 last night. James Acaster and I were also on the bill. You really need to make @xsmalarkey.com part of your routine : I think we do a pretty damned good job of this comedy lark.
Beautiful show at Testing Testing at 53Two tonight : Gary Delaney, Charlotte Cropper, Sean Moran, Hayley Ellis and Hannah Platt: all trying out new material for a bargain price. Last Sunday of every month : remember to join us coz it’s a cracker!
Christopher H Bidmead : a warm, engaging and hugely intelligent man who enjoyed putting the cat among the pigeons on interviews. In real life though, he was approachable and kind: and made the nicest coffee I’ve ever had. Here is is at home in Dec 2013 when he kindly asked me round. RIP Chris x
Aw! How lovely to be nestled next to Robin. Here’s the human equivalent just last month :)
I’m in a play! Cock - by Mike Bartlett - is on at Hope Mill Theatre next week and the Cockpit Theatre and Shakespeare North Playhouse so do please come and see it if you can!!
They’ve got a copy: have you? Quatermass book launch yesterday. I’m so touched she thrilled by it all…
Before and after today’s #greatmanchesterrun : not the best time in the world but I didn’t really prepare and it was hot and I’m 51 and not a sportsman - so I’ll take just crossing the finish line.
A day I’m not sure I ever thought would happen #quatermass #nigelkneale
BFI Quatermass book launch. May 19th! On sale for members today and non members on Thursday. Be quick! Strictly limited!