Doctor Who Magazine 481

Wednesday, 10 December 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Doctor Who Magazine Issue 481 (Credit: Doctor Who Magazine)
Doctor Who Magazine Issue 481 in bag (Credit: Doctor Who Magazine)
The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine previews the festive special, Last Christmas, with head writer Steven Moffat giving the magazine the lowdown on the Doctor's face-off with Santa ...

I think I’m being pretty open that it’s Santa meets Alien meets The Thing from Another World meets Miracle on 34th Street. It’s a weird mash up! There’s a base under siege, there are scary monsters. It’s one of the scariest Christmas Specials we’ve made, actually...

Also inside this issue:
  • DWM talks exclusively to Santa himself, Nick Frost, along with his elf helpers, The Wolf and Ian, played by Nathan McMullen and Dan Starkey. Meanwhile, Michael Troughton, who plays Professor Albert, talks about making his television Doctor Who début, and his close family connection to the series.
  • Rachel Talalay, director of this year's phenomenal two-part finale, Dark Water and Death in Heaven, talks to DWM about the challenges of bringing this masterful Cyber-story to our screens.
  • DWM comic strip artist Mike Collins goes back to the drawing board and reveals all about his new role as a storyboard artist for the latest television series of Doctor Who.
  • Former showrunner Russell T Davies reveals new facts about 2007's Voyage of the Damned in The Fact of Fiction!
  • This year gave us a new series and a fantastic new Doctor, and DWM looks over the past 12 months with the Review of 2014!
  • The first part of a brand-new comic strip for the Twelfth Doctor and Clara as they embark on a wartime desert adventure in The Instruments of War, written and illustrated by Mike Collins.
  • The intrepid Time Team passes comment on 2008’s festive Cyber-Special The Next Doctor.
  • It may be Christmas, but Steven Moffat still has time to answer readers’ questions in his exclusive column.
  • Jaqueline Rayner compiles her Christmas wish-list for Relative Dimensions.
  • The Watcher presents his annual Fiendishly Festive Christmas Quiz!
  • Have your say on Peter Capaldi’s first series as the Doctor in the DWM Season Survey.
  • Dark Water and Death in Heaven are put under the spotlight in The DWM Review.
  • The Watcher goes back to the early days of Doctor Who merchandise in Wotcha!.
  • The DWM Crossword, competitions, and much more!

The bumper-sized 100 page DWM Issue 481, which includes a giant double-sided poster, is out tomorrow.




FILTER: - DWM - Magazines

Doctor Who Magazine 480

Wednesday, 12 November 2014 - Reported by Harry Ward
Doctor Who Magazine 480 (Credit: BBC/Panini UK/Doctor Who Magazine) The next issue of Doctor Who Magazine is out in shops across the UK tomorrow and features a revelation from Michelle Gomez about Missy...

She told DWM:
Everything about making the Master the Mistress kind of ups the ante, it makes everything that little bit more dangerous. It blows open this Pandora's box.
Asked whether Missy will be returning next year, Gomez replied:
Yes. 'Yes' is my answer. I'll be back. Can I say that? Am I allowed? If not... well, I guess we'll have to see how she's received...

Also in this issue:
  • DWM interviews Douglas Mackinnon, the director of Listen, Time Heist and Flatline.
  • Steven Moffat answers readers’ questions in his exclusive column.
  • DWM investigates the question: 'Is the Doctor a good man?'
  • Toby Hadoke pays tribute to the late Lynda Bellingham, the actress who played the Inquistitor in 1986's The Trial of a Time Lord.
  • Siobhan Redmond, the new Rani, talks exclusively to DWM about her first audio story.
  • The Doctor and Clara’s comic strip adventures continue in The Eye of Torment written by Scott Gray, with art by Martin Geraghty.
  • The Fact of Fiction investigates the classic 2005 Ninth Doctor adventure The Empty Child/The Doctor Dances.
  • The Time Team comments on the blockbuster 2008 Tenth Doctor episode Journey's End.
  • Jacqueline Rayner has to stay up late for her Doctor's appointment in Relative Dimensions.
  • The DWM Review examines Flatline and In the Forest of the Night.
  • The Watcher looks at subtitle howlers in Wotcha!
  • The DWM crossword, prize-winning competitions and much more!
Doctor Who Magazine 480 is on sale from Thursday 13 November 2014, priced £4.99.





FILTER: - DWM

The Essential Doctor Who - Alien Worlds

Tuesday, 4 November 2014 - Reported by Harry Ward
The latest in Doctor Who Magazine's special bookazine releases, The Essential Doctor Who, is on sale now at WH Smiths and all good newsagents, priced at £9.99.
The Essential Doctor Who - Alien Worlds (Credit: Panini UK) Issue 3 of The Essential Doctor Who comprises 116 pages of all-new material devoted to the numerous planets we have seen the Doctor visit. This comprehensive guide begins at Alfava Metraxis and ends at Zolfa-Thura. In between are entries on such significant locations as Karn and obscurities such as Tigus.

As well as this exhaustive encyclopedia, Alien Worlds includes an introductory overview by Toby Hadoke, an article by the Public Astronomer Dr Marek Kukula, a feature by Mark Wright on the history of Doctor Who production design and an interview with the lead writer and editors of Doctor Who Magazine’s comic strip. Other highlights include maps of Marinus, Dulkis and Spiridon by illustrator Paul Smith.

“Alien Worlds is a departure from the style of earlier issues,” says editor Marcus Hearn. “The encyclopaedic format has enabled us to cover everything from 1963 to 2014, and to harmonise the sometimes complicated histories of worlds such as Skaro, Trenzalore and the Moon. We’ve packed in a huge amount of information, but designer Peri Godbold has ensured that each page looks beautiful.”




FILTER: - DWM - Magazines

Doctor Who Magazine 479

Wednesday, 15 October 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Doctor Who Magazine Issue 479 (Credit: DWM)The next issue of Doctor Who Magazine is due out in the shops on Thursday, 16th October, and sees lead writer Steven Moffat discuss the return of the Cybermen in this year's final adventure:

I really wanted to do a Cyberman story because they were always my favourites when I was a kid, and I was quite surprised that one way or another I'd never used them in any of my own scripts, except as supporting characters. So I wanted to do a proper scary one...

Also in this issue:





FILTER: - DWM - Magazines - Merchandise

Tim Quinn & Dicky Howett Doctor Who Art

Sunday, 21 September 2014 - Reported by Marcus
Miwk Publishing are publishing a complete collection of Tim Quinn/Dicky Howett Doctor Who work in a new book to be published next year.

For over a decade Tim Quinn and Dicky Howett provided a regular comic strip Doctor Who? for Marvel Comics' Doctor Who Magazine. For the first time all their strips will be collected here, together with strips from specials, annuals and yearbooks as well as their two previously published books It’s Bigger on the Inside and The Doctor Who Fun Book.

Where possible, the publishers are attempting to source original artwork to use to ensure the best material is used in the compilation. If you have a piece of Dicky Howett's Doctor Who artwork - much of which he sold or gave away - and are willing for it to be scanned for the book, please get in touch on info@miwkpublishing.com. Please do not email large scans to that address, just a contact email for now.

Each strip will be restored and come with commentary from Tim and Dicky.

The book will be available as a limited edition A4 hardback and standard A4 paperback.

Miwk Publishing will be donating £1 for every copy sold to Giggle Doctors – Theodora Children’s Trust.
With thanks to Tony Clark




FILTER: - Books - DWM

Doctor Who Magazine 478

Thursday, 18 September 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
Doctor Who Magazine Issue 478 (Credit: Doctor Who Magazine)The new edition of Doctor Who Magazine was published today, and features an exclusive interview with Mummy on the Orient Express guest star, comedian Frank Skinner, who discusses his role as Perkins in the episode:
I don’t know how I’ll feel when they say, ‘And that’s a wrap for Mr Skinner. I’m sure I’ll go through a mix of emotions. When footballers are in cup finals, the managers always say, ‘Savour every moment,’ and that’s what I’m doing. Every moment is ‘wowee’!

Also in this issue:

Doctor Who Magazine issue 478 is out now.




FILTER: - DWM - Magazines

Bumper 100-page issue for new Doctor Who Magazine

Tuesday, 19 August 2014 - Reported by John Bowman
The new edition of Doctor Who Magazine catches up on set with Peter Capaldi for what is billed as his most extensive and revealing interview to date.

In issue 477 – on sale this coming Thursday – the publication asked him how he had gone about making the part his own:

"Well," says Peter, "you begin with yourself. You begin with those elements of yourself that you feel would be at home in the role. There's an old actors' adage that you don't become the role, the role becomes you. It's trying to find those parts of you that will fit with the Doctor, and understand those bits that don't come so naturally to you, that you have to fabricate. I kept looking for people in my life who I thought had elements of the Doctor about them, and were inspirational in some ways. I composed a list of those . . . "

"Also, it's recognising what's been written," Peter continues. "My Doctor is written slightly differently from some of the other Doctors, and the Doctor changes quite dramatically from episode to episode. Some demand more of your comedy chops, graver or more serious episodes demand a more sombre creature. All these variations have to live in the same body, in the same face. Putting all that together is tricky . . ."
The new DWM, which is a bumper 100 pages this edition, includes a giant double-sided poster featuring Capaldi on one side and a Dalek on the other (pictured below) plus:
  • Read extensive previews of the first four episodes of the new series – Deep Breath, Into The Dalek, Robot of Sherwood and Listen – as DWM talks exclusively to writers Steven Moffat, Phil Ford and Mark Gatiss
  • Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat answers readers' questions and reveals more behind-the-scenes secrets in his exclusive column
  • DWM reunites former Doctor-and-companion team Tom Baker and Louise Jameson with their producer, Philip Hinchcliffe, to chat about the new Doctor Who adventures that they're working on and to reminisce about the 1970s adventures
  • Louise Jameson writes a very special letter to herself, exclusively for DWM
  • A new comic strip – The Eye of Torment – begins, written by Scott Gray and illustrated by Martin Geraghty
  • DWM examines the unique scrapbooks of Peter Hawkins, the man who was one of the first voices of the Daleks in the 1960s
  • The Fact of Fiction takes a detailed look at the 1964 First Doctor adventure The Reign of Terror
  • Legendary writer Terrance Dicks talks about his later work on Doctor Who – and what he thinks of the series today
  • The Time Team face an unknown horror as they watch the 2008 Tenth Doctor adventure Midnight
  • Jacqueline Rayner writes about the perils of watching Doctor Who on a dodgy TV in Relative Dimensions
  • The Watcher extols the virtues of not giving in to temptation in Wotcha!
  • Reviews and previews of the latest CDs and books
  • Official news, the DWM crossword, prize-winning competitions and more






FILTER: - DWM - Magazines

Episode Titles Released

Monday, 18 August 2014 - Reported by Marcus

Doctor Who Magazine has released the full list of episode titles for the 34th Season of Doctor Who.
The next edition of the Magazine is published on Thursday and will contain previews of the first four episodes in the series.




FILTER: - DWM - Series 8/34

Mixed fortunes for DWM and DWA as new circulation figures published

Friday, 15 August 2014 - Reported by John Bowman
The latest circulation figures for Doctor Who Magazine and Doctor Who Adventures show both publications suffering a drop in sales for the first half of this year, although DWM can take comfort from recording a year-on-year rise.

The new Audit Bureau of Circulations figures cover the January to June 2014 period, and during that time DWM saw its total average net circulation fall to 33,538 per issue - down by 2,613 and 7.2 per cent on the previous six months. On the plus side for the Panini publication, it was still a year-on-year rise of 5.8 per cent. The figure is for both print and digital copies.

DWA, however, has suffered particularly badly. The fortnightly mag from Immediate Media Co fell just below the 20,000 mark, posting a total average net circulation of 19,966 per issue for the first six months of this year, equating to a drop of 8,477 and a slump of 29.8 per cent. Year-on-year, this represented a fall of 18.5 per cent. The figure is for print copies only. Although the publication is also available as a download, zero digital sales have been recorded.

In a statement, DWM editor Tom Spilsbury said:
We're delighted with our new ABC figure. After the last period was boosted with the incredible sales of our 50th-anniversary edition, which sold over 50,000 copies alone, we were bracing ourselves for a fall. We thought that we might be down to under 30,000 for the first six months of 2014, which comparatively were always going to be a quiet period. However, for us to be up year-on-year is a stunning achievement, especially when you consider that during the January-June 2013 sales period we also had eight new TV episodes to help bolster sales of the magazine.

The magazine industry is continuing to find times very tough, with the overall market experiencing declines. However, we're pleased to see our digital sales on the increase, as well as subscription levels - so the future is looking very bright for DWM! I'm sure we'll be able to build on these figures for the next sales period, when we'll have the benefit of a brand-new Doctor getting his era under way!

Congratulations to all of DWM's hard-working contributors, and many thanks to all our loyal readers.

There has been no statement as yet from DWA.

For detailed breakdowns of the new figures, click on the relevant links in the table below.

 Jul-Dec 2009Jan-Jun 2010Jul-Dec 2010Jan-Jun 2011Jul-Dec 2011Jan-Jun 2012Jul-Dec 2012Jan-Jun 2013Jul-Dec 2013Jan-Jun 2014
Doctor Who Magazine29,00035,374 (+22%)33,554 (-5.1%)30,682 (-8.6%)30,614 (-0.2%)27,089 (-11.5%)28,743 (+6.1%)31,692 (+10.3%)36,151 (+14.1%)33,538 (-7.2%)
Doctor Who Adventures44,66453,559 (+20%)56,648 (+5.8%)50,013 (-11.7%)48,470 (-3.1%)31,903 (-34.2%)31,935 (+0.1%)24,497 (-23.3%)28,443 (+16.1%)19,966 (-29.8%)

(All figures are from the Audit Bureau of Circulations apart from the Jul-Dec 2009 figure for DWM, which is an estimate provided by DWM and included for comparison purposes. ABC figures for DWM only started being calculated in 2010. Percentages shown are the change on the previous six months.)

The circulation figures for July to December 2014 are due to be published in February 2015.

UPDATE - 18th AUGUST 2014: DWA today gave Doctor Who News the following statement regarding the latest circulation figure.

Consultant publisher Jaynie Bye said:
A sales dip during an extended period when the show is off air is no surprise for Doctor Who Adventures. We are really excited about the new series this month and have planned an amazing range of fantastic new content. We have some fantastic new ideas for the new-look magazine to ensure that Doctor Who Adventures remains THE destination for young fans keen to extend their interest in the series.
Meanwhile, editor Moray Laing said:
We've redecorated! It's an exciting time having a brand-new series and a brand-new Doctor – so we wanted a new look for the magazine too. I'm really pleased with how this all looks, and sure our readers will like it too.




FILTER: - DWM - Magazines

Doctor Who Magazine Special: The Year Of The Doctor

Friday, 15 August 2014 - Reported by Marcus
DWM Special, The Year of the DoctorDiscover the behind-the-scenes secrets of the most exciting year in Doctor Who's long history in the latest Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition. Doctor Who celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013, marking half a century of time-travel adventures. The Year of the Doctor is researched and compiled by Andrew Pixley, and has 100 pages packed with previously unpublished photos, day-to-day details of Doctor Who’s production and hundreds of fascinating new facts.

This essential guide contains in-depth articles on the Paul McGann mini-episode The Night of the Doctor; the 50th Anniversary Special The Day of the Doctor; Matt Smith's final story The Time of Doctor; the drama based on the origins of the series, An Adventure in Space and Time; the hilarious The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot; Doctor Who at the Proms 2013; the Brian Cox lecture The Science of Doctor Who; the documentaries Doctor Who: The Ultimate Guide and Me, You and Doctor Who; Doctor Who Live: The Afterparty; and much, much more!

The Year of the Doctor is in shops now, priced £5.99.




FILTER: - Day of the Doctor - DWM - Matt Smith - Time and the Doctor