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..."

FILTER: - DWM - Sarah Jane - Elisabeth Sladen

Doctor Who Magazine 450

Thursday, 26 July 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine - out today - has a "Patrick Troughton" flavour to it, with a number of features on the actor and his Doctor's adventures. To mark this, an exclusive brand new interview imagines what would happen if the current Doctor Matt Smith were to talk to him ...

MATT: Patrick has a very Doctory face. Everything about Patrick is Doctory! He is peculiar without ever asking you to find him peculiar. All the elements were right. I loved his costume.

PATRICK: Well, you go along to the costumiers and they produce various things, and you say, "Ahh, that would be good..."

Also in this issue:

Do You Want To Know A Secret? Head writer and executive producer Steven Moffat drops his guard and reveals what's happening with the next 14 episodes of Doctor Who, exclusively in Production Notes!
Dinosaurs on a Spaceship! DWM talks to writer Chris Chibnall and grills him about his forthcoming scripts in the new season of Doctor Who – Dinosaurs on a Spaceship and the "very different" Episode 4...
Remembering Carry: DWM pays tribute to the late Caroline John, the much-loved actress who played the Third Doctor’s assistant Liz Shaw and died in June – and looks back over her life and times.
Recollections of the Daleks: seasoned Dalek operators Nicholas Pegg and Barnaby Edwards give DWM readers on a unique, Dalek-eye view of the making of 2005’s Bad Wolf/The Parting Of The Ways – accompanied by photos from their private collections!
When Pat met Colin: stern Sontarans, ambitious Androgums and fantastic food! Yes, it’s time to uncover the fascinating details of what really happened when the Second and Sixth incarnations met, as The Fact of Fiction looks back at the 1985 adventure The Two Doctors
Doctor Who's Replacement? DWM investigates Starwatch, a sci-fi series that, had it been made in the 1990s, would have starred Jon Pertwee. With never-before-published images from the project, DWM talks to the people who tried to make it happen...
When Pat Met Jon... and Peter and Richard and Tom: Countdown to 50 takes a nostalgic look back at the story which celebrated Doctor Who’s 20th anniversary with some old friends – and some ever older enemies! – as it remembers The Five Doctors.
Treasures Beyond Imagining... The Doctor, Amy and Rory face up to a ruthless collection of alien criminals within a mysterious ziggurat stuffed with priceless treasures in The Cornucopia Caper, the latest DWM comic strip, written by Scott Gray with art by Dan McDaid!
Find the Doctor! The Time Team convenes to watch one of the most innovative and controversial Doctor Who stories of all time – 2006’s Love & Monsters. But what will Emma, Chris, Will and Michael make of it...?
The Bare Essentials: DWM strands Toby Hadoke and Johnny Candon on a desert island, with only eight Doctor Who stories each to keep them company. But which episodes will they choose? And whose selection do you agree with? Find out, in A Battle of Wits!
Wotcha: the mysterious Watcher marvels at the TARDIS’ food machine, challenges readers with his Six Faces of Delusion, and champions another Supporting Artist of the Month in Wotcha!

PLUS! All the usual features, latest official news, TV and merchandise reviews, previews, competitions, a prize-winning crossword - and a giant-sized, double-sided poster featuring the Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Doctors, and "every Dalek ever"!

FILTER: - Merchandise - Magazines - DWM

Doctor Who Magazine 449

Wednesday, 27 June 2012 - Reported by John Bowman

The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine - published tomorrow - looks at the growing pains of a TV legend in a major feature on the development of the programme at seven-year intervals, as it approaches 49 Up.

It examines the moments that defined the show, including the adolescence that brought major format changes, the teenage years with Doctor Who in rude health, its incredibly successful return to television in 2005 – and asks what the next seven years may hold in store . . .

Also in this issue:

Chibnall's Choice: Scriptwriter Chris Chibnall drops hints about his two new scripts for the next series of Doctor Who – and how writing for the show is unlike writing anything else – in Production Notes.
You're Hired! Long-serving Doctor Who casting director Andy Pryor talks exclusively to DWM about his hand in casting three different Doctors, the joy of working on every single episode of Doctor Who since 2005 – and whom he has cast for the next series . . .
Echoes of the Past: Doctor Who celebrated a landmark birthday but the monsters were conspicuous by their absence. Was that necessarily a bad thing? Find out as Countdown To 50 revisits 1983 and Series 20.
Honour Amongst Thieves: Amy's been hijacked by the best thief in town, while the Doctor and Rory have fallen in with the wrong crowd. But what is the secret of the Ziggurat hanging above Cornucopia? Find out in the second part of The Cornucopia Caper, the latest comic strip adventure written by Scott Gray with art by Dan McDaid.
Genesis of Dalek: The Ninth Doctor and Rose Tyler encounter a lone Dalek deep within a Utah bunker – but Skaro's finest very nearly didn't make the party. Dalek, 2005's triumphant return for the Doctor's deadliest enemy, is given The Fact of Fiction treatment, with detailed commentary on all 11 drafts of writer Robert Shearman's script and exclusive new revelations from the writer himself!
Details, Details: If you don't read the Production Subtitles on the Doctor Who DVDs then now is the time to start! Subtitles writer and TV Dalek Nicholas Pegg reveals the arcane secrets of compiling a treasure trove of Doctor Who facts and figures in Infomania.
Monster vs Monster: Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans, Silurians, and Macra – they've all returned to battle the Doctor since Doctor Who's comeback in 2005. But what classic creatures are we desperate to see next? Toby Hadoke wants a return for those green giants the Ice Warriors, while Johnny Candon goes Underground to shout out for the Great Intelligence's Yeti. Who will triumph in this monster Battle of Wits ?
Sympathy For The Devil? The Time Team – Chris, Emma, Michael, and Will – have a devil of a time while watching The Impossible Planet and The Satan Pit. But what will the Team make of this terrifying adventure for the Tenth Doctor and Rose?
And The Winners Are: The votes are in! See which books, audios, and DVDs are hits with the readers of DWM in the results of the latest Merchandise Poll, and discover how your favourites fared.
Suited And Booted! The Watcher takes another flick through the pages of the Stockbridge English Dictionary, stares down The Six Faces of Delusion, highlights another masterclass in the dramatic art from a Supporting Artist of the Month, and reaches number 20 in A History of Doctor Who in 100 Objects – the Doctor's Impact Suit. It might not be as implausible as it seems . . . as Wotcha explains!

Plus all the latest official news, TV and merchandise reviews, previews, competitions, and a prize-winning crossword.

FILTER: - Merchandise - Magazines - DWM

Doctor Who Magazine 448

Thursday, 31 May 2012 - Reported by Marcus

The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine features Sixties hero William Russell on its cover, while inside, the actor, who played science teacher Ian Chesterton in 78 episodes of Doctor Who, talks about his time on the series and his relationship with the actor who played the First Doctor.

William Hartnell never forgave me for leaving. He couldn't understand it, which was nice in a way. He said to me, 'What's the matter with you? You've got three kids, you've got a job, we're having a great time – what more do you want?!' 'I want to do a play, Bill.' He didn't understand that. Maybe he was right. But he never forgave me for jumping ship.

Also in this issue:

Doctor Who Magazine, in association with Big Finish Productions, presents an exclusive brand-new audio adventure starring William Russell. The Revenants, written by Ian Potter, features the First Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan and is available free to all readers this issue.
The votes have been counted and the winners of DWM's annual poll are announced. Which stories, actors, authors and directors came out on top in 2011?
Author Neil Gaiman, writer of the acclaimed 2011 episode The Doctor's Wife, talks about writing the story and reveals the secrets of the scenes you didn't see.
Doctor Who's commander-in-chief, Steven Moffat, writes for DWM in Production Notes and tells of the sad day on which Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill recorded their very last scene as departing companions Amy and Rory.
Glen McCoy, author of 1985's time-twisting Timelash, talks to DWM about writing the Sixth Doctor's infamous adventure and his early career in television.
It's 1982 and the Fifth Doctor takes the helm of a crowded TARDIS and navigates the series into a new era as our voyage through five decades of Doctor Who continues with 1982's Season 19 in Countdown to 50.
DWM goes behind the scenes of the making of a brand-new Doctor Who spin-off audio drama series from Big Finish Productions. Counter Measures features characters from 1988's Remembrance of the Daleks, and DWM talks to actors Pamela Salem, Simon Williams and Karen Gledhill, who reprise their roles after more than 20 years.
The Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory get involved in some very organised crime on an alien world as they embark on a brand-new adventure, The Cornucopia Caper, written by Scott Gary and drawn by Dan McDaid.
As the hunt for the Key to Time comes to a dramatic climax, the Fourth Doctor, Romana and K9 face the ultimate forces of darkness in The Armageddon Factor. The Fact of Fiction examines this six-part adventure from 1979 and uncovers some fascinating new facts . . .
As well as all broadcast episodes of Doctor Who, there are a multitude of scripts and story ideas that never made it to the screen. Some of these are now being produced as audio dramas, but would it have been better to let the stories rest in peace and make brand-new adventures for the Doctor instead? Toby Hadoke and Johnny Candon debate the pros and cons.
The Time Team slick their hair back and join the Doctor and Rose in post-war London where the alien Wire is riding the airwaves of the nation's TV broadcasts. Join Chris, Emma, Will and Michael as they bathe in the warm glow of 2006's The Idiot's Lantern.
The cunning Watcher challenges readers with The Six Faces of Delusion, outs another Supporting Artist of the Month and examines Doctor Who's use of the definite article in A History of Doctor Who in 100 Objects.

FILTER: - Steven Moffat - DWM

Doctor Who Magazine 447

Wednesday, 2 May 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine is published on Thursday, and Steven Moffat talks in depth about his version of Doctor Who in an exclusive eight-page interview.

Talking about Episode One of the new series, he said:

We’re going to have the most Daleks we’ve had on screen ever – but they will be from every era, quite deliberately. We’re calling them in from everywhere! All of them! Even the Special Weapons Dalek. They'll all be there...

Also this issue:

Conquer and Destroy! The Daleks are the most feared race of creatures in the entire universe and will stop at nothing to achieve their goal of total intergalactic domination. And they've concocted more than a few audacious schemes to achieve this aim – not all of which, it has to be said, have been entirely successful. Jonathan Morris unearths the Daleks' own assessment of their successes and failures.
I Am Not The Moff You Are Looking For! Doctor Who's commander-in-chief, Steven Moffat, writes exclusively for DWM in Production Notes! Find out what the Moff thinks of his nickname, how he's getting along (or not) with the script for the Christmas Special and what he had for lunch in New York!
Farewell to Philip: Philip Madoc, who played four notable roles in Doctor Who in the 60s and 70s – including the War Lord in The War Games and Doctor Mehendri Solon in The Brain of Morbius – passed away in March of this year, at the age of 77. Marcus Hearn takes a look back at the actor's distinguished career and at his contribution to Doctor Who.
End Of An Era: Countdown to 50 continues its season-by-season analysis of Doctor Who, and the mood is sombre as we reach 1980/81 with Series 18 and bid farewell to Romana, K9 and, of course, Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor as he takes his fateful fall from the Pharos Project radio telescope.
Lost in Translation: Shopping can be dangerous to your health as Amy and Rory have found out when the Monos menace strikes London. Meanwhile, as the capital's inhabitants succumb to Monos mania, the Doctor and his new friend Bill discover the source of the trouble. Monos! Monos! Monos! It's the second instalment of Sticks & Stones, written by Scott Gray with art by Martin Geraghty.
Chemical Reaction! The Third Doctor, Jo Grant and UNIT become involved in a green movement – in more ways than one – in a Welsh mining village. Giant maggots, toxic chemical waste, an insane super computer, a rather tasty fungus, and angry Welshmen – 1973's The Green Death takes its turn under the microscope in The Fact Of Fiction.
All By Myself? Johnny Candon and Toby Hadoke cross swords once again in their latest Battle Of Wits! This issue, the hot topic for debate has been inspired by the imminent departure of companions Amy and Rory: should the Doctor travel with a regular companion or is he better off alone?
A Silver Side-Step: The Time Team has been upgraded to four pages this month as Chris, Emma, Will and Michael sit down to watch the Tenth Doctor, Rose and Mickey's battle with the Cybermen on a parallel Earth in the two-part story Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel
Out Of Stock: A History of Doctor Who in 100 Objects reaches number 18 and finds The Watcher mourning the last use of film for a live action sequence in Doctor Who in The Serving Hatch of Rassilon. Plus the latest Top Ten Pop Acts, the challenge of The Six Faces of Delusion, the oh-so painful Stockbridge English Dictionary, the hapless Supporting Artist of the Month – all crammed onto one fabulous single page, it's Wotcha!

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

In celebration of the Daleks' return, this issue has a larger, folded cover featuring all of the Doctor's infamous enemies:

FILTER: - Merchandise - DWM

DWM Companion: The Eleventh Doctor (Vol 5)

Thursday, 19 April 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Details for the fifth Doctor Who Companion volume covering the adventures of the Eleventh Doctor have been released by Doctor Who Magazine. This edition features the final episodes of the 2011 series and the Christmas Special, The God Complex to The Doctor, The Widow and The Wardrobe, plus The Doctor Who Experience and Crash of the Elysium.

The magazine is published today, 19th April 2012.

The Doctor Who Companion
The Eleventh Doctor
Volume Five

Your complete guide to the award-winning BBC One series!
Written and researched by Andrew Pixley.

The 2011 season of Doctor Who began in the most dramatic way possible – by killing off the Doctor in the first episode! Unaware of his ultimate fate, the Doctor (Matt Smith) was reunited with his friends, newlyweds Amy (Karen Gillan) and Rory Pond (Arthur Darvill) and together they embarked on an incredible series of adventures in time and space. Their journey took them from a mysterious space prison to an alternative Earth where past, present and future were one, and saw encounters with River Song, Madame Kovarian, the Cybermen, the Silence, Winston Churchill... and even a Minotaur!

Now, DWM 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 photographs.

This collectors’ edition examines The God Complex, Closing Time, The Wedding of River Song and The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe, as well as the interactive attractions, The Doctor Who Experience and Crash of the Elysium.

This is your essential guide to the worlds of Doctor Who.
Get ready to discover a wealth of information – and remember, silence will fall...

FILTER: - Merchandise - Magazines - DWM

Doctor Who Magazine 446

Wednesday, 4 April 2012 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine is published on Thursday, and talks exclusively to the latest actress to enter the TARDIS, Jenna-Louise Coleman:

I know what my introduction is, and I have a general idea of where we're going to go. There's definitely a story arc. It sounds really interesting, really exciting. I don't think anything's been done like it before, but there are lots of secrets and intrigue, and I think it's going to throw and confuse a lot of people, and surprise a lot of people...

Also this issue:

Gonna Make You A Star - executive producer Steven Moffat gives DWM a peek behind the scenes at the auditioning process for the Doctor’s new companion – including his specially written Audition Script – in Production Notes!
First Lady - DWM catches up with executive producer Caroline Skinner in her first major interview, and discusses the plans for her first full season of Doctor Who, the casting of Jenna-Louise Coleman as the new companion, and working with the Daleks!
The Lost Boy - DWM interviews Mark Strickson, who played the Fifth Doctor’s not-entirely-trustworthy companion, Turlough, and looks back on his time in the TARDIS – and the extraordinary real-life adventures that he’s had since.
Double Trouble - the Sixth Doctor makes his début in an adventure that takes him from the desolate world of Titan III to the planet Jaconda which is in the slimy grip of the giant Gastropods. The Fact Of Fiction places 1984’s The Twin Dilemma under the microscope, pokes it with a stick and uncovers its secrets!
Funnily Enough - it was the season of Doctor Who which had Douglas Adams as its script editor – and it was one of the most controversial set of stories ever. Doctor Who heads reaches Series Seventeen as Countdown To 50 continues!
Somthing's Cooking - Amy prepares to impress the Doctor with her culinary skills, Rory has a strange encounter while late night shopping and the Doctor pursues an invisible graffiti artist. But who – or what is ‘Monos’? Find out in the first part of brand new comic strip adventure, Sticks & Stones, by Scott Gray and Martin Geraghty!
Less Is More? During Doctor Who’s original 26-year run, it would be the norm for stories to be told in episodic form over several weeks, but today the series usually presents a complete story in a single episode. But which format is best? Toby Hadoke and Johnny Candon lock horns once more over this thorny Doctor Who issue in A Battle Of Wits.
Tweet! Tweet! - Doctor Who celebs, both big and small, are all flocking to Twitter! DWM presents 30 More People Every Doctor Who Fan Should Follow on Twitter – including mini-interviews with author Tom MacRae, and companion actors Nicola Bryant and Arthur Darvill.
French Love Letters - love is in the air as Chris, Emma, Michael and Will steep themselves in French romance as The Time Team assemble to see the Tenth Doctor fall for Madame de Pompadour in the 2006 episode The Girl in the Fireplace – but what will the team make of this dangerous liaison?
A Proper Madame! DWM conducts an intimate interview with Madame de Pompadour herself, actress Sophia Myles, who reveals what it was like to wear Helen Mirren’s dress, snogging the stars and confronting clockwork robots in The Girl in the Fireplace!
Go Wild In The Country! The Watcher presents another five truths and a cheeky lie in The Six Faces of Delusion, but which is which? Another Supporting Artist of the Month is singled out, and A History of Doctor Who in 100 Objects takes a look at the many Doctor Who adventures that have all taken place within a few miles of each other in the English home counties. All this and more in Wotcha!

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

FILTER: - Magazines - DWM

Doctor Who Magazine 445

Wednesday, 7 March 2012 - Reported by John Bowman

The new Doctor Who Magazine (out Thursday) sees Sophie Aldred take a candid look back at her time on the show:

We never thought, at the time, how far-reaching our episodes would be – especially now, with this rebirth of the series, people discovering our episodes for the first time. It would be interesting to see what Amy Pond thought of Ace . . .

Also in this issue:

Doctor Down Under - Executive producer Caroline Skinner tells DWM about her recent trip Down Under for the Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular and her reaction on reading the script for Episode 1 of the new series, in her first Production Notes.
Keep It In The Family - DWM catches up with the scourge of the Silents, CIA agent Canton Everett Delaware III – aka actors Mark Sheppard and his father, Morgan Sheppard – and finds out about making it as an actor and whether Canton could return.
It's The Key Thing! - DWM celebrates 1978/9's Key To Time season: six linked adventures that introduced Time Lady Romana and featured Douglas Adams's first script for Doctor Who, as Countdown To 50 continues.
The Fall Of The Gods? - With the Doctor at the mercy of the mighty Zeus, and with Rory and Amy facing a titanic foe in ancient Athens, what can humble philosopher Socrates do to save the day? Find out in the final, world-changing episode of the latest comic strip, The Chains of Olympus, written by Scott Gray, with art by Mike Collins.
The Last Voord! - Get ready for adventures within adventures, as the First Doctor and his companions brave screaming jungles, snows of terror and seas of acid! Discover a wealth of fascinating new info as The Fact of Fiction scrutinises the 1964 story The Keys of Marinus.
Changing History For The Better . . . ? - Doctor Who fans are spoilt with the care and attention that is lavished on the DVD releases. But as well as being lovingly restored, should the stories be improved, correcting technical "errors" of the past? Sparring partners Toby Hadoke and Johnny Candon argue whether rewriting history is ever justified, in A Battle of Wits.
Chaos In The Classroom - The Time Team go back to school with the Tenth Doctor and Rose and are reacquainted with two dear old friends – Sarah Jane Smith and K-9. Join Chris, Emma, Will, and Michael on the sofa and see what they make of 2006's School Reunion.
Off The Record! - The Watcher challenges readers with The Six Faces of Delusion, celebrates another Supporting Artist of the Month, and continues A History of Doctor Who In 100 Objects with a look at the extraordinary 1985 single Doctor In Distress, in Wotcha!