Doctor Who Magazine 456

Thursday, 10 January 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine - in the shops from today - takes readers on an exclusive tour of the new TARDIS interior, and speaks to production designer Michael Pickwoad about his inspiration for the Doctor's home's makeover ...

There was a lot of going forward, and a lot of harking back. You want to take the best of everything that’s ever happened...

Also in this issue:

Questions that must never be answered...? Doctor Who's showrunner and head writer Steven Moffat provides cool answers to burning questions from DWM readers in his new regular column.
Direct Action: he's directed dinosaurs on a spaceship, cyborgs in the Wild West and snowmen in Victorian London! DWM interviews Saul Metzstein about his work, and discovers behind-the-scenes secrets from Doctor Who...
The Year of The Doctor: 2013 marks the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who – and there will be plenty of ways to celebrate! DWM reveals what's planned in the worlds of Doctor Who books, audios, screenings and much, much more...
Revolutionary Animation: the First Doctor adventure The Reign of Terror is released on DVD this month, with brand new animation to bridge the gap left by its two missing episodes. DWM investigates how this remarkable reconstruction was achieved, with exclusive notes and images from the team that created it.
The Holiday from Hell: DWM turns the clock back to 1980, and looks at a Fourth Doctor story which featured reptilian criminals, cutting-edge science and a brand new look for Doctor Who. Prepare to be amazed as The Fact of Fiction enters The Leisure Hive
An Ace Year: it was the year that saw Haemovores and Husks, the Brigadier and the Master and the Doctor become Merlin... and it would be the last regular series of Doctor Who for nearly 16 years! DWM takes a nostalgic look at the Seventh Doctor's final TV adventures as Countdown to 50 continues with a look at 1989.
Sarah Jane Investigates: The Time Team takes a sideways step to look at The Sarah Jane Adventures, the popular CBBC spin-off from Doctor Who starring Elisabeth Sladen as the investigative journalist on the look out for extra-terrestrials.
Comic Strip: The Doctor is on the trail of stolen goods – and gets the shock of his life! – in Hunters of the Burning Stone, the brand new comic strip by Scott Gray, and illustrated by Martin Geraghty.
Relative Dimensions: Doctor Who is now being enjoyed by a whole new generation. But how will their experience as fans differ from their parents? Doctor Who author and dedicated mother of two Jacqueline Rayner finds out...
Wotcha! The enigmatic Watcher recalls the golden years of Radio Times listings, challenges readers with The Six Faces of Delusion and champions another Supporting Artist of the Month in Wotcha!

PLUS! All the latest official news, the latest DVDs, books and CDs reviewed, a prize-winning crossword and competitions and much, much more!

FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

DWM Companion: The Eleventh Doctor (Vol 6)

Friday, 7 December 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The sixth volume chronicling the adventures of the Eleventh Doctor from Doctor Who Magazine will be published on Thursday 20th December, and covers the five adventures broadcast during September this year, plus associated mini-episodes and last year's Children in Need auction escapade.

The Doctor Who Companion
The Eleventh Doctor
Volume Six

The 2012 series of Doctor Who saw married couple Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory (Arthur Darvill) joining the Doctor (Matt Smith) for their final adventures together in the TARDIS. Their travels in time and space took them from the terrifying Asylum of the Daleks, to the American Wild West, and came to an abrupt and sad conclusion in New York. They encountered insane Daleks, a cyborg assassin, River Song, an invasion of mysterious black cubes, the Weeping Angels... and dinosaurs on a spaceship!

Now, Doctor Who Magazine takes you behind the scenes of these astonishing episodes with an in-depth episode guide – including original storylines, deleted scenes, media appearances, ratings information and hundreds of facts about the day-to-day life of the making of Doctor Who – all illustrated with gorgeous, never-before-seen photos.

This collectors’ edition examines all five episodes of the latest series – Asylum of the Daleks, Dinosaurs on a Spaceship, A Town called Mercy, The Power of Three and The Angels Take Manhattan – as well as the five-part mini-adventure Pond Life, the DVD extra Night and the Doctor and the two Script to Screen winning entries Death is the only Answer and Good as Gold, plus the Doctor offering his clothes for auction for Children in Need in 2011.

Written and researched by Andrew Pixley, this is your essential 100-page guide to Series Pond!

FILTER: - Merchandise - Magazines - DWM

Doctor Who Magazine 455

Friday, 7 December 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Doctor Who Magazine Issue 455 - inside bag

The next edition of Doctor Who Magazine is a bumper-sized 100 page issue, hitting the shops on Thursday 13th December.

The latest Christmas Special, The Snowmen, is extensively previewed, featuring new photos from the adventure, and revealing hints from writer Steven Moffat and producer Marcus Wilson. Plus, new sidekick Jenna-Louise Coleman tells the magazine of her role:

She's this mysterious girl, and the Doctor can't quite put his finger on what it is about her. It's the same for her, because he's this mystery man who's landed in a blue box...

Also in this issue:

The Doctor's Gang! DWM interviews The Snowmen's stars, Neve McIntosh (Silurian warrior Madame Vastra), Catrin Stewart (Jenny, Vastra's companion) and Dan Starkey (Strax the Sontaran) and discovers what it's like to be part of the Doctor's Victorian 'Scooby Gang'!
Look to the Future, Now! Doctor Who's head writer and executive producer Steven Moffat takes DWM readers on an episode-by-episode guide to the next series of eight adventures, set for broadcast in 2013 – only in Production Notes!
That was the Year that Was! 2012 brought thrills as well as sadness – and some brilliant new episodes of Doctor Who. DWM turns back the clock to the start of the year to relive the highlights of the last 12 months in The DWM Review of 2012.
The Eight Legs of Christmas! The Time Team get into the festive mood, travel back to Christmas 2006, and watch the Tenth Doctor have an adventure with Donna Noble for the very first time. What will Chris, Emma, Michael and Will make of The Runaway Bride... ?
Twisted Imagination! School friends Amelia Pond and Rory Williams encounter a scary Santa and his evil elves – can their young chum Mels save them? Find out in Imaginary Enemies, written by Scott Gray with art by Mike Collins.
Oh Yes It Is! Christmas is the panto season – and to celebrate this beloved British tradition, the Watcher explores how pantomime's influence can be found throughout Doctor Who's history. Oh yes it can!
Happy Anniversary! DWM takes a nostalgic look back to Doctor Who's silver anniversary in 1988, and a season that featured Daleks, Cybermen, creepy clowns and the Kandy Man, in Countdown to 50!
The Best Year Ever! Next year will be the most exciting time to be a fan ever! But which year has been the best so far? 1983 or 2005? Johnny Candon and Toby Hadoke argue it out in A Battle of Wits.
Two Doctors For Christmas! David Morrissey is The Next Doctor! The Fact of Fiction looks back on Christmas 2008's memorable Tenth Doctor adventure, and talks to writer Russell T Davies, who reveals hitherto unknown secrets about the seasonal show.
Quizzes and Puzzles! Try your luck in DWM's competitions and crosswords, to win amazing prizes from the latest Blu-ray release to deluxe CD box sets! And then engage your brain, and prepare to have your knowledge tested to the limit, in The Watcher's Fiendishly Festive Christmas Quiz!
Between The Lines! The Watcher investigates the curious case of the scenes we never see, champions another supporting artist of the month, and challenges readers with the Six Faces of Delusion in Wotcha!

PLUS! Three free collectable art cards featuring the Doctor, Clara, and Vastra/Strax, all the latest official news, the latest DVDs, books and CDs reviewed, sneak previews of forthcoming merchandise, a cryptic preview of the new-look TARDIS interior, and much, much more!

FILTER: - DWM

Doctor Who Magazine 454

Wednesday, 14 November 2012 - Reported by John Bowman

Paul McGann is the cover star of the new edition of Doctor Who Magazine, and with the return of the Eighth Doctor next month in the new audio adventure Dark Eyes he talks about how his incarnation has changed:

There's a sombreness and self-doubt and guilt . . . I'm not sure it's guilt, but he's lost hope. He needs a shot in the arm . . . But of course, you don't want him too heavy either. We want the hope. We talk about hope a lot in the story; it's all about hope . . .

Also in this issue:

The Final End: Arthur Darvill speaks exclusively about playing Rory Williams, his work on stage and screen, and recording his last scenes for Doctor Who.
Fantastic Journey: Writer Stephen Thompson reveals his inner fan, endures a grilling from a tough crowd, and drops hints about his next script for the TV series, Journey To The Centre Of The TARDIS, in Production Notes.
Monsters Direct: He's directed Sontarans and Shakri and he's back to oversee one of the episodes in the anniversary year. DWM interviews Douglas Mackinnon and discovers the secrets of successfully directing a Doctor Who monster.
Golden Wonder: DWM takes a close look at one of the most memorable monsters ever to appear in Doctor Who, and interviews the actor who played their spokesman, Bernard Holley, in The Watcher's Guide To Axos.
There's Gonna Be A Lynchin'! The Fact of Fiction looks back to the first time the TARDIS took the Doctor and his companions to the wild, wild West, as DWM unearths new facts and rare photographs from 1966's The Gunfighters.
Seven-Up! The spotlight falls on the season that featured the début of the Seventh Doctor, a cornucopia of crazy characters, and a bold new direction for the TV series, as Countdown To 50 continues.
Turn To Stone: The Doctor uncovers the incredible truth about the Golem of Prague and encounters the Queen of the Mavora, as the comic strip The Broken Man - written by Scott Gray and illustrated by Martin Geraghty - concludes.
That Loo In Tooting Bec . . . Is Doctor Who more exciting when the monsters come to Earth or is it more thrilling when the adventure is in outer space? Toby Hadoke and Johnny Candon discuss the pros and cons in another heated Battle Of Wits.
Everything Changes: For one issue only, The Time Team takes a sideways step to look at Captain Jack's adventures in the Doctor Who spin-off Torchwood. What will Emma, Chris, Michael, and Will make of this very different series?
Nice Weather For It: The mysterious Watcher examines the curious phenomenon of 'Wrong-Time-Of-Year' syndrome, challenges readers with The Six Faces of Delusion, and champions another Supporting Artist of the Month, in Wotcha!

In addition, issue 454 - out tomorrow - has all the latest official news, latest episodes, DVDs, books, and CDs reviewed, sneak previews of forthcoming merchandise, a prize-winning crossword, and five competitions.

FILTER: - Merchandise - Arthur Darvill - Magazines - DWM - Paul McGann

Doctor Who Magazine: The Child of Time

Tuesday, 6 November 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Doctor Who Magazine have announced the latest in their collected comics series, with The Child of Time encompassing adventures for the Eleventh Doctor and Amy.

The Child of Time

Join the Doctor and Amy Pond on their amazing adventures in space and time, in these exceptional collected comics from the pages of Doctor Who Magazine!

Featuring nine amazing stories over 244 packed pages: Supernature, Planet Bollywood!, The Golden Ones, The Professor, The Queen and the Bookshop, The Screams of Death, Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, Forever Dreaming, Apotheosis and The Child of Time!

The Doctor has a new companion – Amy Pond – and together the two of them embark on a thrilling journey through time and space. Along the way, the two friends arrive on a planet with some extraordinary plant life, encounter a society that keeps bursting into song, and enter a surreal dream world where they meet the mysterious Dark. The Doctor also faces his old enemies, the Axons, in Tokyo, and a new mystery begins: just who is the strange little girl, Chiyoko, the enigmatic ‘Child of Time’...?

PLUS! A bumper commentary section where the writers, artists and editors reveal the stories behind the strips, featuring never-before-published artwork, original story outlines and much more!

Doctor Who - The Child of Time, written by Jonathan Morris, with artwork from Martin Geraghty, Dan McDaid, Mike Collins, David A Roach, Roger Langridge, Rob Davis, James Offredi and Adrian Salmon, is published by Panini Comics and is available from book shops, comic shops and online.

FILTER: - Comics - DWM

Doctor Who Magazine 453

Wednesday, 17 October 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine (out tomorrow) speaks to Karen Gillan about leaving Doctor Who after three years as the Doctor's companion:

I am so, so sad. I'm not going to lie. Leaving that show has to be one of the saddest experiences I've ever had. It was my life for, like, three years. That's going to take a while to go away. But also it's really exciting, because I get to go and do other things...

Also in this issue:

The First Lady of Time: DWM looks at the life and times of Mary Tamm, the actress who played the Fourth Doctor’s companion Romana, with never-before-seen photos and tributes from her friends and colleagues including Louise Jameson, John Leeson, and Anthony Read.
Matt's Missing Scene! Just how old is the Doctor nowadays? The clue’s in his hair, as showrunner Steven Moffat reveals, as he presents a missing scene from The Angels Take Manhattan – exclusively in Production Notes.
The Fear Factor: There have been some truly terrifying moments in Doctor Who's 49-year history... and, just in time for Halloween, DWM 453 celebrates the very best of them! Fear-merchants Philip Hinchcliffe and Terrance Dicks are on hand to give their expert opinion, so prepare to have your blood chilled and your spine tingled, with The A-Z Of Dread...
Rough Justice? DWM look back at the season that gave us the longest story ever, an evil future Doctor and Bonnie Langford, as The Trial of a Time Lord is put under the spotlight in Countdown To 50!
Daleks vs Cybermen! Witness the greatest battle in history as the Daleks and Cybermen come face to face with the Tenth Doctor and Rose in Torchwood HQ. It's Doomsday – and what will The Time Team make of it all...?
A Matter of Life and Death: It's one of the most controversial issues currently challenging fandom – the Doctor’s morality. Are there circumstances where it's acceptable for him to kill his enemies, or should this be avoided at all costs? Toby Hadoke and Johnny Candon argue the pros and cons in A Battle of Wits
Death in Prague: The Doctor, Amy and Rory encounter a legendary monster and terrifying creatures from another dimension in The Broken Man, the brand new comic strip written by Scott Gray and illustrated by Martin Geraghty.
The Secret Companion: Celebrate 20 years of Bernice Summerfield, as DWM talks to Paul Cornell, Lisa Bowerman, Jac Rayner, Gary Russell and Scott Handcock about one of the most enduring Doctor Who characters of all time.
Zap! The mysterious Watcher examines the Doctor’s little-known use of weaponry (including his ray-gun), challenges readers with The Six Faces of Delusion and champions another Supporting Artist of the Month, in Wotcha!

In addition, DWM catches up with former Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies and chats exclusively with him about his brand new show – Wizards vs Aliens – and just why Doctor Who fans will want to watch...

PLUS! All the latest official news, the latest episodes, DVDs, books and CDs reviewed, sneak previews of forthcoming merchandise, a prize-winning crossword, FIVE fantastic competitions and much, much more!

FILTER: - Merchandise - Magazines - DWM

Doctor Who Magazine 452

Tuesday, 18 September 2012 - Reported by John Bowman

The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine bids farewell to Amy and Rory as it previews their final TV adventures with exclusive new photos from The Power of Three and The Angels Take Manhattan.

It talks candidly on set to the cast and crew - including Matt Smith, Karen Gillan, and Arthur Darvill - about the last days of the Ponds, and despite the impending departure of his colleagues Smith finds plenty about The Angels Take Manhattan to enthuse over:

It's New York! One of my favourite cities in the world. And I love this script, and the Weeping Angels are my favourite monster, so it's all sort of come together for me on this one.

Also in this issue:

"Remember Me" – DWM catches up with new Doctor Who regular Jenna-Louise Coleman and chats to her about playing Oswin Oswald and the adventures she'll be starring in next year.
Surprise Surprise! - Showrunner Steven Moffat reveals all about Jenna-Louise Coleman's surprise appearance in Asylum of the Daleks and just why and how the secret was kept.
The Memory Cheats? - DWM concludes The Trial of John-Nathan Turner, as expert witnesses Steven Moffat, Phil Collinson, Nicola Bryant, Andrew Cartmel, Paul Cornell, brand manager Edward Russell, and Big Finish producer David Richardson give their final verdict on the most controversial producer in Doctor Who's history.
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Doctor - The Doctor, Amy, and Rory become embroiled in the shady world of international espionage and encounter an extra-dimensional horror in the second part of comic-strip adventure The Broken Man, written by Scott Gray and illustrated by Martin Geraghty.
Daleks, Cybermen, and Sontarans! - It was the series that had it all: the 1985 run, starring Colin Baker as the Sixth Doctor and Nicola Bryant as Peri, which featured the Doctor's greatest adversaries! DWM takes a nostalgic look at Season 22 as Countdown To 50 continues.
Hothouse of Horrors! – The Fact of Fiction scrutinises the 1976 Fourth Doctor and Sarah adventure The Seeds of Doom and discovers that there's far more to the terrifying tale of horrible horticulture than meets the eye.
Team Spirit – The past comes back to haunt The Time Team as they watch the Tenth Doctor and Rose meet Torchwood and confront the deadly Cybermen posing as an Army of Ghosts. And what will Chris, Emma, Will, and Michael make of the episode's dramatic cliffhanger?
Science and Scares – Is Doctor Who at its best when it concentrates on telling horror stories? Or are its science-fiction tales better? It's monsters versus spaceships as Toby Hadoke and Johnny Candon go head to head to argue the pros and cons in A Battle of Wits.
That's An Oeuf! – The enigmatic Watcher champions another supporting artist, challenges readers with his Six Faces of Delusion, and celebrates Oswin's eggs. Prepare to have your brains scrambled by Wotcha!

In addition, the magazine - out on Thursday 20th September - talks to Craig Charles, Chris Barrie, and Robert Llewellyn about the return of cult sci-fi comedy Red Dwarf to UK TV screens in October.

Issue 452, which has two covers to choose from, also has the usual Doctor Who features, latest official news, TV and merchandise reviews, previews, competitions, and prize-winning crossword.

FILTER: - DWM

Doctor Who Magazine 451

Tuesday, 28 August 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine is out on Thursday, and features previews of the first three stories of the new series - and has three different covers to choose from!

Asylum of the Daleks – DWM takes over the Asylum for Doctor Who's most ambitious episode yet. Matt Smith shares his thoughts on the Doctor’s arch enemies, Steven Moffat on the challenges of keeping the Daleks fresh and how Arthur Darvill and Karen Gillan feel about the beginning of the end for Rory and Amy.
Dinosaurs on a Spaceship – it’s an episode of Doctor Who packed to the rafters with dinosaurs. On a spaceship! Writer Chris Chibnall reveals how his script lived up to that title, and what challenges did the FX team face on bringing so many dinosaurs to life?
A Town Called Mercy – guest stars Adrian Scarborough and Ben Browder on how thrilled they were to join Doctor Who for an adventure into the Wild West, how the crew enjoyed their time on location in sunny Spain, and what writer Toby Whithouse thought of being out of his comfort zone.

The show's executive producer, Steven Moffat, also teases the ultimate fate of the Ponds:

As you’ll be able to tell from the end of Episode 5, I’ve had the very last moment of Amy Pond in my head for quite some time...

Also in this issue:

The Usual Suspects – the writers of the new series are given the once over by Doctor Who’s executive producer, Steven Moffat (including himself!) in a curtain-raising Production Notes.
Gulity as Charged? John Nathan-Turner was Doctor Who’s most colourful and controversial producer, guiding the show to dizzying heights, but perhaps a few lows too. Luminaries and experts from Doctor Who past and present assemble for the first in a two-part feature to assess the work of the series’ longest-serving producer in The Trial of John Nathan-Turner.
Cold Front - the Doctor, Amy and Rory arrive in Prague in the dying days of the Cold War. Revolution is on the horizon, but the Doctor senses something unreal in the air. What is the significance of the book The Sorrows of Prague, and why will Yuri Azarov and his terrifying companion stop at nothing to retrieve it? Part One of The Broken Man, the latest comic strip written by Scott Gray with art from Martin Geraghty.
Is This Death? companions come and go, but should they ever die? Johnny Candon and Toby Hadoke weigh up the pros and cons of crash-landing to Earth in an out-of-control freighter, or heading off into the sunset to marry Brian Blessed in A Battle of Wits.
Take Art - DWM’s intrepid Time Team – Chris, Emma, Michael and Will – go for gold as the Doctor and Rose land in an ordinary housing estate where extraordinary things are happening as children are going missing, trapped in the drawings of Chloe Webber. Will the Doctor make it to the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympics as The Time Team views Fear Her.
Coming of Age – Doctor Who’s 21st year saw a season packed with exciting cliff-hangers, companion departures, a tour de force performance from the leading man, andarguably the finest Doctor Who story ever made. Countdown to 50 reaches 1984 and Series 21.
All in the Mind – mind-sucking alien parasites, prison riots, a nerve-gas missile and the Master at his most scheming – find out how the Third Doctor, Jo and UNIT fought The Mind of Evil in this month’s Fact of Fiction.
Light my Fire – the Watcher warns of the pitfalls of predicting the near future as A History of Doctor Who in 100 Objects reaches number 22 – the Olympic Torch. Was the 2012 of Fear Her remotely like the real thing? Also stare into the eyes of The Six Faces of Delusion, flick through The Stockbridge English Dictionary and marvel at the Supporting Artist of the Month in Wotcha!

PLUS! All the usual features, latest official news, TV and merchandise reviews, previews, competitions, and prize-winning crossword.

FILTER: - DWM

Official Magazine Statistics

Friday, 17 August 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The Audit Bureau of Circulations have now released statistics relating to the distribution figures of magazines for the first half of 2012, which includes details relating to both official publications, Doctor Who Magazine (Panini) and Doctor Who Adventures (BBC).

When compared to previous periods, the data reveals how the average circulation trends have fared:

	Jul-Dec 2009	Jan-Jun 2010	Jul-Dec 2010	Jan-Jun 2011	Jul-Dec 2011	Jan-Jun 2012
Doctor Who Magazine	29,000	35,374 (+22%)	33,554 (-5.1%)	30,682 (-8.6%)	30,614 (-0.2%)	27,089 (-11.5%)
Doctor Who Adventures	44,664	53,559 (+20%)	56,648 (+5.8%)	50,013 (-11.7%)	48,470 (-3.1%)	31,903 (-34.2%)

Figures: Audit Bureau of Circulations

Whilst figures indicate a regular decline in readership since the boost thanks to Matt Smith's arrival in 2010, the last six months have shown a significant reduction with both magazines dipping to below their circulation prior to Smith's debut year. This trend might well indicate the impact of not having a regular series to tune into - in particular, Doctor Who Adventures, aimed for a younger readership, showed a loss of over a third of its readers! However, the imminent return of Doctor Who to our screens might well improve circulation for the latter half of the year, with those figures due out in February.

Select either magazine line above for a detailed breakdown of their distribution for this period.

FILTER: - Magazines - DWM - Circulation - DWA

The Sarah Jane Companion: Volume Three

Wednesday, 15 August 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

This week sees the release of the latest Doctor Who Magazine Special Edition, which looks in depth at Series Five of The Sarah Jane Adventures.

Written and researched by Andrew Pixley, the special explores the making of the final three stories to be broadcast, Sky, The Curse of Clyde Langer, and The Man Who Never Was, plus details on the three stories that would have made up the second half of the series, Meet Mr Smith, The Thirteenth Floor and The Battle for Bannerman Road. In The Untold Tales, Russell T Davies and Phil Ford discuss how the series might have progressed into its sixth season, whilst The Stories That Never Were delves into the outlines and scripts that ultimately were never made. Plus, a previously unpublished interview with Elisabeth Sladen which was conducted back in 1993 for Thirty Years in the TARDIS.

The Sarah Jane Companion
Volume Three

The ultimate guide to the exploits of the Doctor's most enduring companion in her own spin-off series - The Sarah Jane Adventures!

Full production guides for the three Series Five SJA stories
Details of the storylines for the unmade Series Five adventures
Further plots and ideas for the stories that never were
The full transcript of a 1993 interview with Elisabeth Sladen

Discover a whole universe of adventure - right here on your doorstep!

Editor Tom Spilsbury also provided a sneak peek into the magazine: "Here's a glimpse inside the new DWM SJA Special - and what would have been the Series Five finale..."