Radio Times

Radio Times is a weekly BBC magazine that publishes television and radio program listings. It has also published original Doctor Who fiction. In 1973 it published the short story We are the Daleks!, and in 1983 it published the short story Birth of a Renegade. In the 1990s it published an Eighth Doctor comic strip. =Significant Notes=
 * Besides giving cast and broadcast details for broadcast material on both TV and radio the Radio Times is also significant in terms of Doctor Who for including related articles and features. The number of cover issues reflects its popularity and standing with the BBC and has never been stronger since the new Who launch in 2005.
 * No other television series have had more covers than Doctor Who.
 * Doctor Who covers are the most collectable Radio Times covers.
 * Each of Jon Pertwee's seasons as the Third Doctor were heralded by a Radio Times cover.
 * Tom Baker never had a Radio Times cover in all his years. At the time this was seen as a sign of the series success so as not to require a cover promotion . In these days of multi-channel viewing, covers are stil much sought after, but now reflecting a series' popularity


 * Omitted from below are the weekly issue details, TV choice and pick of the day columns. These have recently been issued on DVD's as extra PDF files.
 * Significant articles only are listed below.

=Radio Times Cover Gallery and Feature Guide= Radio Times holds its own annual Radio Times Covers Party, a prestigous event where cover stars are awarded framed covers, since the 2005 relaunch the Doctor Who team have been the recipients of more covers than any other series on TV.
 * Andrew Skilleter collected a framed cover of his 20th Anniversary piece for The Five Doctors in 1983, one of the illustrators to do so.

1963

 * Radio Times (23rd - 30th November 1963)
 * COVER TAG:"DR WHO - a new Saturday-afternoon television series of adventures in time and space"

1964

 * Radio Times (21st - 28th November 1964)
 * COVER TAG: DR. WHO and the Daleks Saturday TV
 * A feature depicts the invader trundling across Westminster Bridge but mistakenly refers to them as 'robots' throughout.

Radio Times (Christmas 1964)
 * contains an 8-page Lewis Carroll spoof entitled "Barbara in Wonderland", which finds a young girl getting lost in the BBC's studios, before taking tea with the Doctor and two friendly Daleks, on eof whom has indigestion. The other says politely, "Please-sit-down. And-do-not-eat-all-the-cakes."

1966

 * Radio Times (15th - 21st December 1966)
 * Patrick Troughton is interviewed as The Highlanders airs. "I'm ready to play anything" "I like dressing up."

1967

 * Radio Times (2nd - 9th September 1967)
 * COVER TAG: "DR. WHO and his companions face their old enemies, the [[Cybermen)Saturday BBC 1 see page 3")
 * "My instincts tell me that terrible danger awaits us," the Doctor writes in his diary for the story preview.

1968

 * Radio Times (20th - 27th January 1968)
 * COVER TAG:
 * Monstrous world of Doctor Who RT talks to the BBC wardrobe and effects people.

1969

 * '''Radio Times (19th - 25th April 1969)
 * [[Patrick Troughton is interviewed for his final story. "It's been great fun," he says.

1970

 * Jon Pertwee is interviewed, revealing the family holidays in Ibizza, where his children "run around like a lot of wild little nuddists, babbling in three languages."

1971

 * Radio Times (2nd-9th January 1971)
 * introducing the Master, actor Roger Delgado rebuffs the suggestion that his charcter might become too-light hearted: "I don't think that'll happen. I remember starting 16 years ago in midday matinees. Once I was faced with the unbelievable line, 'Come in and put your feet up on the Algerian poof.' If you can handle that you can handle anything."

1973

 * Barry Letts replies to a reader (Brenda Hoyle), who says that her son is pettrified by the Doctor Who theme tune by saying, "To produce programmes which upset or offend nobody at all is the surest way of killing all the excitement of television."


 * Radio Times (15th - 22nd December 1973)
 * With actor Jon Pertwee appearing on Michael Parkinson's Saturday night chat show, a Radio Times feature looks at the Doctor's popular appeal.

1983

 * Celebratory cover promoting the 20th Anniversary adventure The Five Doctors.
 * With a cover illustration by Andrew Skilleter, this is only the second Doctor Who illustrated cover for Radio Times, the first being the cover by Frank Bellamy in 1972.
 * This particular issue was hit by a printers strike that meant a reduced number of copies were available and indeed some regions received no issue. The quality of the reproductions (including the internal line drawings), suffered as well.
 * For his cover work, Andrew Skilleter was invited to the Radio Times Cover Party this year where he received a framed cover.
 * The cover illustration was later reworked (the Richard Hurndall likeness was improved), and used again for the first video release to not feature a photographic montage.

1993

 * The 30th Anniversary of Doctor Who was marked by Dimensions in Time, a 3D television event, in association with the BBC's annual Children in Need appeal. The special glasses sold in aid of the charity enhanced viewing of several programmes broadcast throughout the week.

1996

 * A readers' offer included a full set of high quality postcards each depicting a Radio Times Doctor Who cover.
 * A further offer was made to readers for an exclusive Eigth Doctor poster
 * This issue, in anticipation of a new relaunch for Doctor Who following the movie release, began a regular page sci-fi feature that included ongoing comic strip adventures for the Eigth Doctor. The page was later abandoned and the comic strip had its run ended early.

1999

 * Keeping Doctor Who fresh in the publics eye this cover marked an evening of Doctor Who viewing on UK television (Doctor Who Night).
 * This specially commisioned Dalek portrait, shot by Lord Snowdon, was originally used as a stamp design.

2001

 * Radio Times released a Doctor Who Calender this year.

2003
Radio Times (22nd - 28th November 2003)
 * COVER TAG: Exclusive 40th Birthday Special Doctor Who Including: Win-a-Dalek competition…never-seen-before- photos … and your choice for the next Doctor! Also Collect all four commemorative covers and line them up to create a special Radio Times tribute to Doctor Who.


 * A set of four covers was released to celebrate the series 40th Anniversary. The panoramic spread was reminiscent of the Radio Times Tenth Doctor Who Anniversary Special which was revised and once again made available to readers.
 * Radio Times Doctor Who 40th Anniversary Special (16 Page centre pull-out):
 *  All new Who (Our 16-page special marks Doctor Who’s 40th birthday, and there’s really something to celebrate: a new series by Russell T Davies. He gives us a taster of what’s to come)
 * Fit for a Lord  Costume designer June Hudson revisits and redesigns Tom Baker’s costume for a special photograph
 * Tom Baker on … (The new Doctor Who, the future, larking about, the fans, and Doctor Who-The Musical)
 * The RT Files a look at Radio Times coverage of the series
 * My Favourite Doctor (We asked for your Doctor Who favourites in our online poll, you voted in your thousands. Our survey said …)
 * WHO do you do?  (And how do you do Who? Ace mimic Jon Culshaw explains …)
 * Can’t wait for the TV series! A look at Scream of the Shalka, and other non-TV adventures.
 * Lost tapes turn up  Missing Doctor Who by William Gallagher
 *  Captured in time (Let the Tardis take you on a journey into the past to witness some magic moments in the making of a TV phenomenon, including previously unpublished photos from RT’s archive …)
 * Docs on the box (A roundup of the programmes for the 40th anniversary)
 * Win a Dalek Competition to win a brand-new fully reconstructed Dalek from Genesis of the Daleks (1975), original illustration artwork by Mark Thomas from the 20th-anniversary RT special, Zagreus audio CD’s and DVD/audio sets.
 * Includes limited edition RT Tenth Anniversary Special Reprint for £7.99 (UK)
 * RT Shop: Doctor Who Offers
 * CREDITS: Supplement cover: Mark Thomas,Design and art director: Paul Smith, Commissioning editor: Anne Jowett, Writers: Mark Braxton, Guy Clapperton. Geoff Ellis, William Gallagher, Nick Griffiths With thanks to: Andrew Beech, David Gibbs, Ralph Montagu, Don Smith


 * Also: Don’t Miss: “Doctor Who @ 40 Weekend” on UK Gold, “Who’s a birthday boy…” editor Gill Hudson, and how the cover was done, News: “The Who’s Who’s who” (previous Doctors choice for a new Doctor; Tom Baker chose Eddie Izzard, Peter Davison choose David Warner, Colin Baker choose Richard E Grant, and Sylvestor McCoy chose Dawn French).
 * In a 2 page feature on John F Kennedy’s assassination 40 years ago and the documentary “Days that Shook the World” it states that “…In the confusion that followed, a new BBC drama starting the next day drew disappointing ratings and had to be repeated a week later – it was called Doctor Who.”
 * This issue also contains a full page Corgi Classic Doctor Who Collection advertisement – 7 models and a specially designed presentation film canister, and a full page advert for merchandise from The Who Shop International

2005
Radio Times (17th December – 30th December 2005)
 * COVER TAG: “Win a real Dalek in our ten-page Doctor Who Christmas special!”
 * Doctor Who's first Christmas cover marked the series' winning ratings and a focal point for Christmas Day viewing as The Christmas Invasion is about to air.
 * The Christmas Invasion (10 Pages):     (
 * I’m dreaming of a fright Christmas (Beware Santas bearing gifts! Russell T Davies, the writer who magically regenerated Doctor Who, sets the scene for the Christmas Day spectacular …)
 * Is there a Doctor in the house? (New Doctor David Tennant and the regular cast let us in on a few secrets from the set)
 *  Radio Times Exclusive (Double page picture, The Doctor crosses swords with the Sycorax Leader in The Christmas Invasion. Interestingly Mickey Smith is seen supporting Rose aboard the Sycorax ship!
 * Hidden depths (Creating an alien environment from nothing has always been a challenge on Doctor Who. Nick Griffiths digs deep to find out just how resourceful the show is)
 * Win a real Dalek Costing £10,000 to make and having featured in the series finale, one lucky winner could win a Dalek. “WARNING: this is not a toy, but a full-scale Dalek as used in the series”.

Radio Times (1st April – 7th April 2006)
 * COVER TAG: “Doctor Who The countdown starts here!”
 * Who Watch Article (1 Page): It’s not long now … (…to the return of Doctor Who, but how do you follow the runaway success of last year? With more of the storming same, according to producer Phil Collinson …)

Radio Times (8th April - 14th April 2006)
 * COVER TAG: “Doctor Who: The countdown continues!”
 * Who Watch Article (1 Page): It’s nearly Time … (If you thrilled last year to the time-travelling exploits of the Doctor and Rose – and millions of us did – the waiting for the return is almost over. BBC3 gets us in the mood)
 * David Tennant appears on Ready Steady Cook Wednesday 12th April
 * Totally Doctor Who 5.00pm Thursday 13th April begins
 * Includes an advert for Doctor Who Adventures, launched on 5th April, a new fortnightly magazine for children who love Doctor Who.

2006
Also advertised is the first of 2 Doctor Who free audio CD’s (The Feast of the Drowned) being given away inside the next two issues.
 * Christmas Preview (2 Pages on Who): Doctor Who leads the Christmas 2006 TV previews with a photo of Katherine Tate in a wedding dress with the Doctor promoting The Runaway Bride.

23 December-5 January 2007


 * Who Watch Article (3 Pages): The Claus of doom (Psycho Santas, a bovvered bride and one humongous spider? Happy Christmas, Doc!) Also features exclusive Radio Times promotional photo and Racnoss Marquette.
 * Billie Piper’s new The Ruby in the Smoke series is also previewed.
 * This issue also includes the first of two free CDs featuring the audio book adaptation of NSA: The Feast of the Drowned attached to a two page advertisement announcing a further two CDs to follow of the audio version of NSA: The Stone Rose.

2007
6-12 January
 * This issue includes the second of two free CDs featuring the audio book of NSA: The Feast of the Drowned attached to an advertisement announcing a further two CDs to follow of NSA: The Stone Rose.

13-19 January
 * This issue includes the first of two free CDs of the audio version of NSA: The Stone Rose.

20-26 January
 * This issue includes the second of two free CDs of the audio version of NSA: The Stone Rose.


 * Who Watch Article (3 pages): Disaster Whovie (It's got Kylie, it's got the Doctor, it's got the Titanic, it's got a creepy new alien ... what's not to get excited about in the Doctor Who Christmas special Voyage of the Damned? Find out more as David Tennant gives us a taste of what to expect.)

22 December-4 January


 * Who Watch Article (3 pages); Who's on board? (Two icons colide - pop diva Kylie Minogue and David Tennant's Doctor. They reveal all to RT about a match made in the heavens.)
 * Who Watch Article (1 pages); Companion Pieces (Doctor Who companions Billie Piper and Catherine Tate may not be time-travelling this Christmas, but they're still keeping busy.)

2008

 * This issues cover was a fold-out, revealing Miss Hartigan flanked by the Cybermen in the cemetery.
 * Who Watch Article (4 Pages): Who's Who (No you don't have double vision. There are two Doctors in this year's Doctor Who Christmas Special - just a few weeks away now. RT went on set to investigate...).
 * Competition: to win an exclusive piece of Doctor Who art from Department Six.
 * Behind-the-Scenes Article The Sarah Jane Adventures : Friends reUNITed (Look who's back with Sarah Jane in her series finale. Not just that bad-tempered Sontaran, but her old ally from Doctor Who, the Brigadier himself!).
 * Doctor Who is also featured in this issue's review of the year 2008.

20 December-2 January 2009


 * Who Watch article (3 pages); Doctor Doctor (What can we expect in this year's Doctor Who Special - and beyond? Series supremo Russell T Davies writes exclusively for RT.)
 * Poster offer: Save two coupons and £2.99 (UK) for a double sided The Next Doctor A1 sized poster featuring on one side the Cybermen and on the other the Cybermen, the two doctors and Miss Hartigan.

2009

 * COVER TAG: "The Scariest Who? David Tennant is back"
 * David Tennant features on the cover in this years Children in Need weeks issue.
 * The first of the Tenth Doctor's last three specials features 'From the Editor', Drama of the Week, a BBC4 tie-in 'Mars Night' - looking at the Red Planet and was Choice of the Day.


 * Doctor Who was scheduled for Sunday night so as not to interupt the successful Saturday schedule that included Merlin and Strictly Come Dancing.
 * 'Too scary for kids' (3 pages)(It thrilled David Tennant, and Russell T Davies says the Doctor Who special will give the nation's children what they crave - a dose of old-fashioned fear...)


 * As part of the Children in Need event a special preview was shown on the night and the webcast adventure was launced online during the day.

=Radio Times Posters=


 * Tenth Doctor (uncredited)

2006
Radio Times has produced an exclusive double-sided poster recreating the terrifying moment when the Cybermen marched by St Paul’s cathedral. (Nowadays, the area is at one end of the Millennium Bridge), on one side and a black Dalek on the reverse. The poster measures 59x84cm and required two tokens and postage of £2.95 (UK)
 * Cybermen at St Paul's Cathedral
 * Photograph: Matt Holyoak / Ian McKinnell
 * Image Manipulation: Ian McKinnell
 * Art Director: Paul Smith
 * Picture Editor: Patricia Taylor


 * Black Dalek
 * Photograph: Matt Holyoak
 * Art Director: Paul Smith
 * Picture Editor: Patricia Taylor


 * TARDIS
 * Photograph: Mike Hogan
 * Image Manipulation: Ian McKinnell
 * Design and Art Direction: Paul Smith


 * Monsters
 * Photo: Mark Harrison
 * Design and Art: Paul Smith


 * Double sided 2008
 * Photograph: Matt Holyoak
 * Image Manipulation: Ian McKinnell
 * Art Directon: Paul Smith

External Link
The BBC's official Radio Times website with an increasing amount of Doctor Who content including archive material