Advertise on podcast: Rambling Through Eternity - Sarah and David's Doctor Who journey

Ice ice baby! The TARDIS lands at the Snowcap space tracking station in Antarctica in 1986 and shortly afterwards the Cybermen appear! A very serious Gerry Anderson-style space mission is interrupted by Earth’s twin planet Mondas showing up uninvited to the party. We’re excited by the global ambition and international cast, especially the cool spacemen and the important work of the (sort-of) UN, despite some hit-and-miss accents. We’re worried about the Very Angry General’s lack of curiosity - the gang show up in their loveliest winter coats and none of the soldiers seem to care. The wonderfully creepy Cybermen are Sarah’s highlight and she loves their fully-fledged backstory but gets confused by everyone's motivations by the end of the story.  Who wants to do what to which planet? And which Spice Girl would you call on in an emergency? And suddenly, that's it. The Hartnell era is over. Sarah and David sum it all up and discuss their favorite moments, the eps they've had to reevaluate and the ones they'll be glad never to watch again! Join us in September when we'll be back to continue the ramble through the Troughton years. Firsts: our first regeneration (only it doesn't have the name yet) and our first glimpse of Patrick Troughton, near-future base under siege, Cybermen!

The TARDIS arrives in 1966’s London and the Doctor investigates the new super computer housed in the ultra-modern Post Office Tower. The doctor slips past security and blags himself a scientific advisor role with WOTAN, a computer that can think and never makes mistakes. Uh-oh! They've only gone and invented a techbro AI bot with his army of boxy machines. But he's got to phone you to make you his slave. Hello? It's WOTAN. Is Dodo in? We both praise an incredibly modern, well-crafted and pacey first episode, and marvel at how the writers make us care even for the most minor characters. We agree that Dodo is done dirty but we are enamored with the new companions, especially the fabulous Polly.  And there’s another singing warning here Ramblers, because there's an irresistible song for the war machines. Less singing when we get to Troughton? We can’t make any promises! Firsts: proper contemporary Earth story, use of a real TV newsreader Kenneth Kendall,  first time we see the TARDIS in a proper street setting.

The gang land on a nameless idyllic plant. So that’s all good then? No! Civilized Elders maintain their advanced society by draining and transferring to themselves the life-force of the defenceless Savages and the Doctor is outraged. The Doctor is flattered seduced by his lovely hosts who think he’s the GOAT.  He gets a fancy robe and the companions get whatever the Elders have in stock. Definitely regifted. The Emerald City is a pretty s****y city and Dodo & co uncover the real story here. We love the Doctor’s very first overthrow of a corrupt regime - he won’t be getting cancelled by association and he refuse to become their rechargeable battery! We’re excited about outsider art and worried this whole city are on study drugs. And, as you’d expect, we’re very sensible about the mention of the Doctor’s reacting vibrator. Watch out for the thirsty aquarium and stay away from the lava lamps! Firsts: individual story to be commissioned by Innes Lloyd, the individual episode titles are no more, first entirely animated story (unless we get some more missing ones back!), lowest rating!

Howdy Ramblers. In the lead-up to the famous fight at the OK Corral our Doc gets his tooth pulled by Doc Holliday in Tombstone while Dodo and Steven sing for their lives. Consider yourself warned; there’s more singing in this podcast than ever before but I’d argue less wearing than The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon sung by Lynda Baron aka Nurse Gladys Emmanuel from Open All Hours - knowing this makes us like the song slightly more. We are thoroughly entertained by the costumes, the attempt at accents and the saloon sing-along, less so by the story. And we are in love with Holliday’s fabulous girlfriend Miss Kate, the incredible genre direction & camerawork and the Doctor having a miserable time in the dentist’s chair. Would you wear denim or silk in the Wild West? And if you look like Doc Holliday would you continue to do so for four full episodes? It’s time to choose! Firsts: deliberate parody of another genre, first musical framing device, new lowest audience index so far!

The TARDIS lands in the domain of the Toymaker, who forces the Doctor, Dodo and Steven to play a series of childish games, with deadly consequences if they lose. Do you want to play a game? No thanks! Please, pull up a chair! Absolutely no way buddy. Sarah gets excited about a classic camp baddie and wonders why The Toymaker, The Master and The Doctor can’t be pals. And apparently it’s ok to not turn up to your own ultimate showdown? Where is the verbal sparring and general bitchiness? David loves the companion’s outfits and, against his better nature, has nice things to say about the lovely animation details. But like Steven he’s run out of patience with Dodo. And we both love to hate Billy Bunter. It’s pantomime meets Strictly and we can’t wait for it to be over! First: appearance of the Toymaker, first use of flashbacks from previous episodes, first use of slurs, lowest audience index so far.

David briefly guides us through the gaps as we navigate missing episodes. Sarah is fine with missing The Massacre as it sounds terrifying. We catch up with the gang some ten million years into the future, on board a generation starship carrying the last of humanity away from an Earth that is about to fall into the Sun. Everything is fine other than Dodo’s caught a cold. Aichoo! Nothing to worry about! Let’s make some chicken soup in the security kitchen! We are hugely entertained by Monica the elephant, the outrageous outfits and interiors of the humans and the Monoids with their Beatles haircuts. It takes Sarah much longer than you’d think to work out why they’re called Monoids but spots Dodo’s accent immediately. David really enjoys the first two episodes, the less said about the last two the better! Firsts: we meet Dodo our first teenage companion from contemporary Earth, huge gap created by missing episodes, first time Doctor Who drops out of the week’s top 100 TV shows

In this bonus episode David provides a map to the many missing episodes we hit at this part of our ramble. The story lines aren't even the most dramatic part of this tale - the behind-the-scenes tension and personnel changes are remarkable. So if you've not heard it before, get ready for David to spill the tea. And if you know how it goes, enjoy the retelling and let us know if you have any further scandalous detail!

The crew arrive on an arid planet where they meet the beautiful Drahvins and the hideous Rills and we try to get animated for yet another dead planet.  David is confused by the title and learning to accept it’s ok to enjoy the colourised animations. He also delivers some Radio 4-worthy political satire.  Sarah is annoyed by the silly roombas but loves the Stepford soldiers and admits to mainly watching for the novelty of colour - ooh the opening credits have been Tangoed! Make America Great Again versus The Good Life? Don’t be so silly Jerry. Anyway, we’re off to Stockport for a curry. Byeeee! Firsts: majority animated story, first time iPayer is actively trying to confuse us

The gang arrive in Saxon Northumbria in 1066 on the eve of the Viking and Norman invasions. A mysterious monk is at work in the nearby monastery, intending that history takes a different course. Monk’s just want to have fun! Sarah is a bit confused as this baddie in a hoodie seems to be altruistic, wanting to make life easier for Europeans in the measly middle ages. The Doctor doesn’t want this - does that make him pro Brexit?? This funny monk makes a lovely breakfast for his prisoner, enjoys a good Gregorian chant and Sarah tries to ship him and the Doctor. Why can’t we be friends? And stowaway Steven gets an upgrade to companion, despite not believing a word the Doctor says. We talk about how the Doctor has infinite capacity for empathy when talking about whole races of people, but individuals seem to basically annoy him. And then we laugh about beating off the vikings and their very big helmets. It’s a show of two halves! Firsts: we see that history is changeable despite what the Doctor told Barbara, Steven Taylor is an official companion, we see another TARDIS, first appearance of the Meddling Monk, first visit to historic Britain

The Daleks are equipped with their own time machine, are on the trail of the Doctor with orders to exterminate him and the crew. They go planet-hopping in the TARDIS to escape them. It’s the Wacky Races in space!  Sarah was so excited for a Dalek story and is very disappointed. Ian and Barbara assume the role of parents again as the Doctor and Vicki run riot through a dead planet (classic), a jungle planet (another classic), 1960s New York, a terrifying ship, and a ridiculous Hammer Horror haunted house.  David tried to convince Sarah this grab bag of assorted nonsense is joyful and (sometimes) intentionally funny, but his even his boundless goodwill is stretched by the appearance of the mecho-Doctor. We’re sorry to see Barbara and Ian go, but let’s slide down this massive building and get the heck out of here! Firsts:  all the original line-up have changed, first on screen moment for new companion Steven Taylor,  first non-TARDIS time machine, and the first confirmation that the TARDIS is blue!

The TARDIS jumps a time track and the crew arrive on the planet Xeros. There they discover their own future selves displayed as exhibits in a museum and go up against the warlike Morok invaders to save themselves and the native Xerons. We’ve jumped a time track and we’re locked in The Space Museum by mistake! Join us in our very own lost episode as we gaze at the strange exhibits and learn absolutely nothing. In fact, this museum may actually make you stupider. And your knitwear will be trashed! Sarah appraises the TARDIS furniture, gets excited about a Dalek cameo, and grumbles about the passive nature of the complicated timey-wimey plot. David gets spooked by the sinister doppelgangers and funny eyebrows. We both cheer on Vicki and her rebellion. Boys will literally overthrow an evil empire just to impress a girl. Don’t look at the Trip Advisor reviews! Firsts: (weirdly) time travel as a plot line, first screen appearance of Jemery Bulloch who goes on to play a pivotal role in Star Wars.

The Doctor and his companions ally themselves with the Menoptra, the former inhabitants of Vortis, as they struggle to win back the planet from the Animus and her Zarbi ant slaves. We try and make some sense of a very WTF episode where we think an ambitious production bit off more than they could chew.  On a very alien plant the Doctor loses the TARDIS and Ian loses his pen and his tie. Sarah loses her mind over the annoying noises, irritating voices, strange dancing and so many other things, and is delighted when the Animus pipe turns up to translate.  We love Vicki’s sass and how brave she and the Doctor are in the face of many irritating giant insects. And General Barbara plans for war, again.   Oh bee-have!  Firsts: Tardis grabbed by an external force, entirely non-humanoid supporting cast, giant creepy-crawlies

Landing in Rome, A.D. 64, the travellers take a rare holiday. While Ian and Barbara are happy to relax, the Doctor and Vicki set off to pursue adventure. Carry On with us into Ancient Rome on our little holiday as we dance around with groovy lyres and sneaky liars.   The gang bond over their all-inclusive hotel (aka decadent squatting) but get into trouble in the marketplace and find themselves auditioning for Banged Up Abroad. Derek Francis brings us the queeniest most threatening emperor you’ve ever seen but the Doctor turns his charm and campery up well past 11 and outwits him at every turn. And the gang get a package tour of all the bad things that might doom an average Roman citizen, including being the object of Nero’s affections. Turns out Nero plays Yakety Sax while Rome burns.  Firsts: all-out full-on comedy, first ocean-going ship

The Doctor, Ian and Barbara arrive on the planet Dido. They find a crashed spaceship, the only two survivors of which are terrorised by the monster Koquillion. It's Vicki versus the man with the bejeweled spanner in a story that shares a bit of DNA with Con Air. The Doctor, in a twinkly mood, despite missing Susan, is looking to adopt an orphan in desperate need. The planet Dido can provide. But there's only space on the TARDIS for one more. No creatures with mandibles need apply.   We’re impressed by Barbara’s continuing ability to do everything and how much story you can cram into two episodes.   Content warning: Sarah does sing in this episode. But give her a break; she’s very emotional about Sandy’s untimely end. RIP.   Firsts: new companion, reference to the Doctor’s qualifications, first time in the top 10 most-watched shows of the week

First broadcast from 21 November to 26 December 1964  The best baddies are back! We're outside in the real world ready to welcome our pepper pot overlords.  The Doctor is in a chipper mood despite the destruction of humanity. He’s in stark contrast to all the slavery and death – hey keep it light, remember this is a kid’s teatime show!  Sarah is intimidated by a giant poster and is charmed by an unlikely Ursula Andress moment. David tries to explain unexplainable timelines and very complex Dalek lore. We worry about the toxicity of the Thames. And why would you veto an elephant? If you know, please get in touch @ramblingwhopod on Instagram   First: kiss, companion leaving, the Doctor saves the Earth, returning baddies, “exterminate!”, attempt to pilot a planet, quarry (verification needed)