I went to this show with a dyed-in-the-wool (scarf wool, of course) Doctor Who fan. Now, I like Doctor Who but I’m not hung up on the detail. How would one hour’s worth of material about this TV show come across to someone who just knows the basics - ie Daleks aren’t very nice?

Toby Hadoke starts with some gags about how he’s coming out of a closet that’s bigger on the inside than the outside to profess his love for the Doctor. But this is more than just a series of jokes about being a geek. His superfast, polished delivery allows him to reveal certain biographical details that give his routine a surprising depth. There is a genuinely moving resolution, unusual in a stand up show.

I won’t be buying a model K9 anytime soon, but if you’ve ever been a fan of anything at all, you’ll leave with insights about the reasons behind hero worship and why obsession can, in fact, sometimes be a force for good.

REALEdinburgh Rating: *****