Doctor Who Magazine - Issue 463

The cover and details of the next edition of Doctor Who magazine:

The next instalment of Doctor Forever (found on The Green Death) explains how Russell T Davies was approached by the BBC and eventually got to work on Doctor Who in 2003 - but it wasn’t long before the bogeyman Michael Grade began to prepare his knives. Doctor Who magazine issue 463 looks deeper into the story…

In the first part of a look back at how and why Doctor Who was recommissioned back in 2003, DWM talks to the people who ensured its successful comeback, including the then BBC controller of drama commissioning Jane Tranter, BBC Wales' head of drama Julie Gardner, and writer Russell T Davies.

“When Michael Grade arrived back at the BBC as Chairman, Mark Thompson was back as director general,” Jane tells DWM. “Michael Grade [who had been BBC1 controller in the 1980s, and tried to cancel the show] didn't like Doctor Who at all. Mark Thompson actually asked me if we could stop. I said, no, we couldn't!"

NEXT PLEASE!

Doctor Who’s showrunner and head writer Steven Moffat presents the three pieces that he wrote for the -actors that have auditioned for the role of the Twelfth Doctor - and presents them exclusively for DWM readers!

TALKING TO A MAN ABOUT A DOG!

Prolific Doctor Who author Bob Baker looks back on his career in an exclusive interview with DWM and speaks proudly of his most famous contribution to the Doctor Who universe: K.9, the Doctor’s robotic dog.

WHO’S SHE?

As we await the announcement of the new star of Doctor Who, journalist Claire Budd and novelist Una McCormack go head-to-head to debate the burning question: Is it time for the Doctor to become a woman?

AFTER THE FLOOD!

Arriving in the far future, the Fourth Doctor, Harry and Sarah discover that the last survivors of mankind are about to face the deadly, parasitic Wirrn! The Fact of Fiction looks back to one of Doctor Who’s all-time great adventures - The Ark in Space - and reveals some surprising new facts.

EVERYTHING IS NEW AGAIN!

It’s 2010, and the dawn of a new era as Matt Smith makes his début as the Eleventh Doctor. The show may have a new leading man and a new style, but it’s still Doctor Who in the latest instalment of DWM’s ongoing cruise through Doctor Who history in Countdown to 50!

ANOTHER LIFE!

The Time Team take a trip to pre-war England as Chris, Emma, Michael and Will settle down to watch the two-part Tenth Doctor story Human Nature/ The Family of Blood and find that the formidable Family of Blood and their sinister Scarecrow servants are following the Doctor’s trail. What will the team make of it all?

SAND STORM!

Clara’s lunch date with the legendary pilot, Amy Johnson has been rudely interrupted by two identical copies of themselves… made from sand! Meanwhile, the Doctor is having trouble with his own doppelganger, and the real enemy is about to make its entrance. The latest astonishing comic strip adventure A Wing in a Prayer - written by Scott Gray with art by Mike Collins - continues…

NOTHING STAYS THE SAME…

Change is an essential part of Doctor Who and has allowed the series to constantly reinvent and reinvigorate itself for 50 years. And, as Jacquline Rayner tells us in this issue’s Relative Dimensions, this means that the series can be a useful tool when teaching children that nothing lasts forever…

AUTONS IN HIGH DEFINITION!

Jon Pertwee IS the Doctor, as former Doctor Who script editor Andrew Cartmel reviews the new Blu-ray release of the Third Doctor’s classic 1970 début adventure Spearhead from Space.

COLOURFUL ENCOUNTERS!

The Watcher takes a look at Doctor Who episode titles in A History of Doctor Who in 100 Objects, and discovers that the names of colours have become a recent trend; he runs down the charts with Doctor Who themed titles in Top Ten Reality TV; the long suffering Professor Rubeish presents another joke of dubious quality; The Six Faces of Delusion has Jim Henson’s movie Labyrinth as a theme and asks you to spot the odd one out; and there is distinct Gallic flavour to this issue’s ousted Supporting Artist of the Month… All in this issue’s Wotcha!

PLUS! 

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

Issue 463 of Doctor Who magazine is on sale from tomorrow at all good newsagents until 21st August priced £4.75 per copy.