The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine is published today.

In the issue

• CAROLE ANN FORD, the first person cast in Doctor Who – as the Doctor’s granddaughter Susan – speaks to DWM about First Doctor WILLIAM HARTNELL, how she would have like to have played Susan and returning to Doctor Who in 2025!

• We examine how the character of Susan Foreman came into being…

• …and delve into the paperwork to discover the other actors considered for the role.

• We take a look at a new book celebrating the artwork used in DWM’s own Time Team column – encompassing every story from An Unearthly Child to the TV Movie.

• Back to 1980! PETER DAVISON is cast as the Fifth Doctor, and the demise of the last standing Mark 2 Police Box… 

• Gary Gillatt explains what dogs can teach us about our relationship with the Doctor…

• It’s the last throw of the dice for humanity. We travel to the end of the universe in search of Utopia…

• As we celebrate 62 years of Doctor Who we look back at the 20th Anniversary Special The Five Doctors…

• The concluding part of our latest comic strip featuring the Fifteenth Doctor…

Regular features

• GALLIFREY GUARDIAN: Doctor Who returns to TV for Christmas 2026! Plus, we talk to Film Is Fabulous! about the hunt for missing episodes and bring you details of forthcoming audio releases.

• Reviews – featuring the latest audios and books.

• Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.

• Prizes to be won – including Blake’s 7 Season 2 on Blu-ray! 

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 623 is on sale Thursday 6 November 2025  from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £7.99 (UK). 

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £6.99.

The BBC has announced that the latest Doctor Who Spin-off, The War Between the Land and the Sea, is due to launch in the UK on BBC iPlayer and BBC One this December.

The five-part series will showcase how the world reacts when a fearsome and ancient species emerges from the ocean, dramatically revealing itself to humanity and triggering an international crisis.

Featuring a star-studded cast including Russell Tovey as Barclay, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Salt, Jemma Redgrave as Kate Lethbridge-Stewart, Ruth Madeley as Shirley Ann Bingham, Alexander Devrient as Colonel Ibrahim, and Colin McFarlane as General Austin Pierce.

Other previously announced cast members include Adrian Lukis, Patrick Baladi, Francesca Corney, Mei Mac, Vincent Franklin, Waleed Hammad, Iestyn Arwel, Hannah Donaldson, Manpreet Bachu, and Ann Akinjirin.

Russell T Davies, Showrunner, Writer and Executive Producer says:

The series is produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for the BBC and Disney Branded Television and will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One in the UK in December, and exclusively on Disney+ outside of the UK (where available) in 2026.

The series was created by Doctor Who Showrunner and Executive Producer Russell T Davies, who has written the series with Executive Producer Pete McTighe. In addition, Executive Producers for Bad Wolf are Joel Collins, Julie Gardner, and Jane Tranter.

The series is directed by Dylan Holmes Williams, with Lorne Balfe serving as the show’s composer.

The BBC has confirmed that Doctor Who will return to screens worldwide at Christmas 2026.

The series will continue with a special episode written by the current showrunner, Russell T Davies and produced by Bad Wolf with BBC Studios for the BBC.

The BBC has also confirmed that Disney+ has decided to end its partnership with the corporation and will not be involved in any future series of Doctor Who. The BBC has said they remain fully committed to the show and will announce plans for the next series in due course.

Lindsay Salt, BBC Director of Drama

The War Between the Land and the Sea, a spinoff from Doctor Who, is heading to BBC iPlayer and BBC One later this year, as well as a brand-new animation series for CBeebies, which is in development.

The actor and writer Nabil Shaban has died at the age of 72.

Nabil Shaban will be best remembered by Doctor Who fans for his delicious portrayal of Sil, the odious and unctuous character created by Philip Martin for the 1984 story Vengeance on Varos. So successful was the character that he returned in the following season in Mindwarp.

Shaban would later recreate the character in audio form for Big Finish.

Nicola Bryant, who played Peri alongside Shaban, said

Nabil Shaban was born in Amman, Jordan

As a child, he was diagnosed with brittle bone disease, osteogenesis imperfecta, resulting in him moving to England for medical care, where he grew up in a series of hospitals and residential homes.

After graduating from the University of Surrey, Shaban founded the Graeae Theatre Company, an organisation composed of disabled artists and theatre makers. He performed major roles in many Graeae productions, including: Hamlet, Godspell, The Emperor,  and Fleshfly.

Shaban’s film work includes parts in City of Joy, Wittgenstein and Born on Fire, whilst on television he has had numerous roles in Channel 4 and BBC productions

Nabil Shaban died on the 18th October 2025. He is survived by his wife Marcela Krystkova and their child.

Sil and the Governor Negotiate

The actor Tony Caunter has died at the age of 88.

Tony Caunter was a well-known British actor who appeared in numerous roles on British television throughout a career spanning over sixty years.

He appeared in ten episodes of Doctor Who. His debut in the series came in 1965 when he played Thatcher in two episodes of the First Doctor story The Crusade. He had a much more substantial role in 1971 in the Third Doctor story Colony in Space, where he played Morgan, the second-in-command on the IMC expedition.

In 1983, his third appearance was as Jackson in the fifth Doctor story, Enlightenment. 

Away from Doctor Who, Caunter was best known for playing the car dealer Roy Evans in the soap opera EastEnders, a role he portrayed for nine years. He often played policemen, including DCI Jim Logan in the first three series of Juliet Bravo. In the 1990's he was promoted to Deputy Chief Constable Arthur Quine in The Chief.

In 1978, he appeared in the Blake's 7 episode Deliverance. Other memroble roles include Titanic's chief officer Henry Wilde in S.O.S. Titanic and Jack Shepherd in the Yorkshire Television sitcom Queenie's Castle.

He also appeared in Crown Court, Z-Cars, The Avengers, Casualty, London's Burning, Home to Roost, The Saint, Special Branch, The Champions, Dixon of Dock Green, Catweazle, The Main Chance, The Professionals, The Sweeney, Minder, Pennies From Heaven, Westbeach, Howards' Way, Lovejoy, May to December, Boon, Heartbeat and The Scarlet Pimpernel

Tony Caunter married Frances Wallace in 1962, and the couple had four children.

He died in Eastbourne on 13 October 2025 a week after his wife's death

The latest edition of Doctor Who Magazine, issue 622,  includes a 32-page mini-mag and a double-sided BBC Audiobooks wallchart

In the magazine

• Composer MURRAY GOLD, writer JUNO DAWSON and designer DAN MAY on the Interstellar Song Contest hit Dugga Doo and the alien race behind it…

• ROBERT SHEARMAN discusses his new novels – Jubilee and The Chimes of Midnight – based on audio dramas he wrote for the Sixth and Eighth Doctors in the early 2000s.

• A tribute to Season 18 script editor and the writer of Logopolis, Castrovalva and Frontios, CHRISTOPHER H BIDMEAD who died in August.

• Previously unpublished extracts from an interview with Christopher H Bidmead conducted in 2017.

• SOPHIE ALDRED talks about returning to the early days of companion Ace in a new audio drama box set.

• KATY MANNING and CAROLE ANN FORD discuss short stories they have written for a new anthology that explores what happened to their characters, Jo and Susan, in the aftermath of TV episodes…

• A celebration of BBC Audiobooks’ Doctor Who releases – including their recently completed run of talking books based on the Target novelisations.

• The Black Archive Quiz – how sharp is your Doctor Who knowledge?

• The monster hospital – the Museum of Classic Sci-Fi’s NEIL COLE explains how he’s brought some of the series’ memorable creatures back to life!

• A deep dive into the world of the Eleventh Doctor episode Let’s Kill Hitler.

• Back to 1988! What did the critics make of Seventh Doctor story Remembrance of the Daleks?

• Will computers be to blame for our downfall? Gary Gillatt investigates…

• A new comic strip adventure for the Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda…

Regular features

• GALLIFREY GUARDIAN: our news round-up including details of Russell T Davies’ BAFTA win and the ‘Speakies’ nomination for First Doctor audiobook Agent of the Daleks.

• Reviews – featuring the latest audios, books, records and action figures.

• Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.

• Prizes to be won – including Season 13 on Blu-ray! 

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 622 is on sale Thursday 9 October 2025  from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £10.99 (UK). 

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £9.99.

Doctor Who:  The Prison Paradox is a new adventure for the Doctor from Titan Comics.

The story sees the Fourteenth Doctor meet The Slitheen, marking the twentieth anniversary since they first appeared in the series.

The Prison Paradox is written by Dan Watters and illustrated by new series artist Sami Kivelä  

Covers are by Jay Anacleto, Nipuni, Flops and others

Issue #1 is published on 5th November and is available to pre-order from your local comic shop and Forbidden Planet for UK & Europe.

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine celebrates the Thirteenth Doctor

In this issue

• In Thirteenth Doctor JODIE WHITTAKER’s most in-depth interview ever, she talks about joining the Fifteenth Doctor in his final episode, her love for Mandip Gill and the rest of the fam, and how she would love to return to Doctor Who with Billie Piper! 

• Director JOE CORNISH (perhaps best known for his collaborations with Adam Buxton) talks about casting Jodie in his 2011 movie Attack the Block – and how he thinks it might have worked as a Doctor Who movie.

• Writer JESSE ARMSTRONG (Peep Show, The Thick of It, Succession) on Jodie’s performance in anthology series Black Mirror’s first season finale.

• Writer JACK THORNE (His Dark Materials, Adolescence, The Hack) discusses Jodie’s central role in Netflix drama Toxic Town, plus his work with Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant.

• Former showrunner CHRIS CHIBNALL talks about Jodie in Broadchurch and reflects on the essential characteristics of the Thirteenth Doctor’s tenure…

• Back to 1974! David J Howe describes his attempts as a young fan to build his own Dalek!

• Concluding our scene-by-scene analysis of the Twelfth Doctor’s first season finale.

• Memories of the BSB weekend in 1990 – when the satellite broadcaster devoted an entire weekend to showing episodes of Doctor Who…

• Gary Gillatt considers the dread conjured up by the series’ doppelgangers.

• The final part of His Mad Pranks – our comic strip story featuring the Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda…

Regular features

• GALLIFREY GUARDIAN: our news round-up including details of YouTube series The Whoniverse Show, concept artist Peter McKinstry on his new book and the latest screening at Riverside Studios.

• Reviews – featuring the Season 13 Blu-ray set, the latest audios, books and action figures.

• Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.

• Prizes to be won – including Season 20 on Blu-ray! 

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 621 is on sale Thursday 11 September 2025  from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £7.99 (UK). 

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £6.99.

Doctor Who Magazine previews the forthcoming Blu-ray release of Season 13 in a special issue about the series’ Gothic horror episodes.

Every print copy includes a new and exclusive compilation CD from BBC Audiobooks!

 Doctor Who Magazine editor Marcus Hearn says

Highlights of the new issue include:

• Behind the scenes on the shoot that brought the Skarasen back to life.

• The restoration secrets of Terror of the Zygons and the other stories in The Collection: Season 13.

• An exclusive interview with Anna Ridley, the designer of 1977’s Image of the Fendahl.

• A look at the late-night TV schedules of the mid-1970s, with details of the horror-film screenings that inspired producer Philip Hinchcliffe and script editor Robert Holmes. 

• The surprising story behind The Brain of Morbius – revealed by recently discovered documents in the archive of director Christopher Barry. 

• Doctor Who’s most controversial episodes – were any of Mary Whitehouse’s complaints justified?

• Eye witnesses share their memories of the 1975 location shoot for The Android Invasion. 

• The unmade Robert Holmes stories that would have taken Doctor Who even further into the dark side.

• The life and career of Louis Marks, who wrote The Masque of Mandragora.

• A guide to the Fourth Doctor’s friends and foes during the Gothic horror years.

PLUS

    A new and exclusive short story by Louise Jameson, who played Leela.

    AND MUCH MORE!

Gothic Horror is on sale now, RRP £10.99 from panini.co.uk and good news retailers while stocks last. 

It’s also available digitally from pocketmags.com priced £9.99.

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 620 is out today.

In this issue

• ZYGONS! SUTEKH! KRAALS! KRYNOIDS! An in-depth exploration of THE COLLECTION – SEASON 13 Blu-ray box set. Including: details of a documentary on Ian Marter who played companion Harry Sullivan, producer Phillip Hinchcliffe visiting the locations from the series, and the creation of new monster effects!

• ENTER THE BLACK ARCHIVE! Join Doctor Who’s brand manager James Page in San Diego as he takes us behind the scenes at this year’s Doctor Who activation.

• Props art director MICHAEL VAN KESTEREN talks us through the creation of various gadgets for this year’s season, including: colour variants of the Doctor’s sonic, the “Polish! Polish!” robot Scoot, and the Rani’s time ring bracelet!

• THE SEVENTH DOCTOR IN UKRAINE! Dalek and Cyberman performer Mickey Lewis recounts how he joined Sylvester McCoy on a journey to entertain fans in war-torn Kyiv.

• A lost Seventh Doctor adventure! TV writer ROBIN MUKHERJEE talks to DWM about working on Doctor Who in the 1980s and how his story Alixion has finally been realised as an audio drama…

• A royal audience with MARY REYNOLDS who starred as our late Queen in the 25th anniversary serial Silver Nemesis.

• AFTER IMAGE: Simon Guerrier looks back at Lucky Day, The Story & the Engine, the Interstellar Song Contest and Wish World/The Reality War.

• Find out how students across the UK’s universities are testing their Who knowledge with a challenging quiz league!

• Back to 1975 (and 1963): Giving life to the Loch Ness Monster!

• The Randomiser: Gary Gillatt looks into the heroics of the first three Doctors during the Second World War.

• We examine the hidden depths of Dark Water, in the first part of our Fact of Fiction feature on the finale to the Twelfth Doctor’s first season.

• The Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda’s adventures continue in the comic strip.

Regular features

• GALLIFREY GUARDIAN: our news round-up including the announcement of a new range of adventures – across books, comics, audio and the web – that will reveal more about JO MARTIN’s Fugitive Doctor.

• Reviews – featuring the latest audio and book releases.

• Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.

• Prizes to be won – including the new Monster Makers Comic Collection from Panini! 

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 620 is on sale Thursday 14 August 2025  from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £7.99 (UK). 

Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £6.99.