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.

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

 * 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.

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
 * Doctor Who Adventures is 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