The Beano Summer Special 1981



The Beano Summer Special 1981 was a comic book that the Doctor hid behind while learning about the childhood of Clara Oswald. It featured Dennis the Menace and a black dog, among other characters, at Dolphinarium. (TV: The Rings of Akhaten)

Behind the scenes
Following the television broadcast of the scene where the Doctor is seen hiding behind The Beano Summer Special 1981, The Beano (issue dated 18 May 2013) included a reprinted edition of the 32-page The Beano Summer Special.

The cover proclaimed "Free Inside! The Dr Who Beano Special! As seen on TV! Time travel to 1981 with the complete Beano Summer Special!" On the cover, a yellow Eternal Dalek was seen being catapulted over a fence towards an unsuspecting Sergeant Slipper by Dennis the Menace using a plank and wooden crate (Dennis declaring "I'm the biggest menace in the Universe!", while his dog Gnasher sniggers "Gnexterminate!"), while a comic Eleventh Doctor had his head through the "O" in BEANO.

Inside was the proof: on page 3, which was headed "TRAVEL BACK IN TIME WITH... THE BEANO" appeared a picture of the Doctor hiding behind the issue, along with an introduction from Dennis which read as follows: "Hi Menaces! A few weeks ago, some sharp-eyed Beano readers spotted Doctor Who reading The Beano Summer Special from 1981. They asked us what The Beano was like more than thirty years ago so we decided to send you all back in time so you could find out! When you get back from the past, tell us what you think of it, and send us your ideas for the future Beano!"