DWM 553

Doctor Who Magazine  was the issue of the magazine cover-dated August 2020.

It is notable for being the fourth issue of the magazine to not have a non-gag comic story. It succeeded DWM 163, 261, and 354.

Interviews

 * Director's Commentary
 * Joe Ahearne interviewed by Nick Setchfield
 * Graeme Harper interviewed by Paul Kirkley
 * Richard Clark interviewed by Emily Cook
 * Saul Metzstein interviewed by Paul Kirkley
 * Douglas Mackinnon interviewed by Emily Cook
 * Rachel Talalay interviewed by Emily Cook
 * Jamie Magnus Stone interviewed by Emily Cook


 * When Susan Met Ace
 * Carole Ann Ford and Sophie Aldred interviewed by Graham Kibble-White

Articles
The Doctor Who Directing Masterclass. Three Doctor Who fans (one of them being Peter Capaldi) meeting their Doctor Who idols back in the 1970s. Doctor Who fan John Hudson's recordings of his chat with Jon Pertwee, Terry Walsh, Elisabeth Sladen and George Cormack during production of Season 11. The making of the special edition version of The Power of the Daleks animated recreation DVD and Blu-release, which was due for release in July 2020. Results of fans' favourite moments from the 2020 series of Doctor Who, as well as their favourite merchandise from 2019.
 * Shoot on Sight
 * Whatever Happened to The Likely Lads?
 * The Hudson Tapes
 * Volcanology
 * The DWM Season Results

Lockdown Viewing
Lockdown Doctor Who viewing recommended by Jacqueline Rayner, based on the theme of A Holiday for the Doctor.
 * The Romans
 * The Gunfighters
 * The Enemy of the World
 * The Time Monster
 * The Seeds of Doom
 * The Masque of Mandragora
 * Arc on Infinity
 * Planet of Fire
 * The Two Doctors
 * Dalek
 * The Girl in the Fireplace
 * The Fires of Pompeii
 * Vincent and the Doctor
 * The Girl Who Died
 * Demons of the Punjab

Comics

 * none this issue

The Fact of Fiction

 * Cold War

Apocrypha

 * The Night Walkers

Reviews

 * Audio: Stranded 1, Shadow of the Sun
 * Soundtrack: The Underwater Menace

Competitions

 * Win Missy: Series Two Audio Drama
 * Win Time Apart Audio Drama
 * Win The Robots: Volume Two Audio Drama
 * Win Myth Makers: Geoffrey Beevers Reeltime Pictures DVD
 * Win The Tardis Chronicles: Volume 1 Book

Coming Soon...

 * Audio: Out of Time 1, Time Apart

The Blogs of Doom

 * Larry Nightingale

Credits

 * Editor: Marcus Hearn
 * Deputy Editor: Peter Ware
 * Art Editor/Designer: Peri Godbold
 * Designer: Mike Jones
 * Editorial Assistant: Emily Cook
 * Panini UK Ltd


 * Managing Director: Mike Riddell
 * Managing Editor: Alan O'Keefe
 * Head of Production: Mark Irvine
 * Circulation & Trade Marketing Controller: Rebecca Smith
 * Head of Marketing: Jess Tadmor
 * Marketing Executive: Jess Bell
 * BBC Studios, UK Publishing


 * Chair, Editorial Review Boards: Nicholas Brett
 * Managing Director, Consumer Products and Licensing: Stephen Davies
 * Head of Publishing: Mandy Thwaites
 * Compliance Manager: Cameron K McEwan
 * UK Publishing Co-ordinator: Eva Abramik

Additional details

 * This was the third issue to be worked on remotely, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 * This was the first issue since DWM 354 to lack a comic story. As announced in the previous issue, the comic strips took a 3-issue break as a result of the aforementioned pandemic.