It’s been two and a half years since we last produced a special devoted to Doctor Who – good grief, has it really been that long? – so we figured it was high time that we did another. Doctor Who: A Celebration is the end result. 100% unofficial and independent, it’s an 132-page magazine which comes with three free gifts: a genuine bow tie (not a naff plastic novelty – a proper fabric one!), and two slogan badges (and they’re big ‘uns too – each five centimetres in diameter), all tucked inside a card wallet.
This Special Issue Features:
EXCLUSIVE CAST INTERVIEWSPhew! The SFX Doctor Who Special Collection Issue is out now in good Newsagents and other stores priced £7.99.
We speak to Matt Smith, Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill about series five, the Christmas special, and how their characters have developed.
100 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT WHO
A bumper-sized feature which runs down just a few of the gazillion reasons why we adore this series with a passion bordering on insanity. And if you’re thinking this’ll be some dreary roll call of the bleedin’ obvious, think again…
MY LIFE AS A DALEK
Voice of the Daleks Nick Briggs and Dalek operator Barnaby Edwards spill the beans on what it’s like bringing the series’ greatest monsters to life.
RTD VS MOFFAT
Who’s the best producer – Russell T Davies or Steven Moffat? That’s the big question when it comes to the modern-day series. There’s only way to decide, of course… fiiiiiiiiight! Oh alright, a reasoned debate on the matter…
COSTUME DESIGNS
Series five costume designer Ray Holman talks us through some of his work, with drawings for the likes of the Eleventh Doctor and a Silurian warrior, and a smattering of behind-the-scenes photos.
AUTHORS ON WHO
A trio of opinion pieces penned by a triumvirate of SF & fantasy titans. Discworld overlord Sir Terry Pratchett, Elric creator Michael Moorcock and hard SF boffin Stephen Baxter share their memories of Who, and try to put their finger on the series’ ineffable magic.
KATY MANNING
As Jo Grant, who travelled alongside the Third Doctor, she was one of the series’ best-loved companions; now she’s earned a legion of new fans thanks to her appearance on The Sarah Jane Adventures. Katy Manning talks to us about Jon Pertwee, Matt Smith and those naughty photos of her and a Dalek…
THE FIENDISHLY DIFFICULT DOCTOR WHO PICTURE PUZZLE
A double-page brainteaser within which are hidden – in cryptic pictorial form – the titles of a whopping 65 Doctor Who stories – both from the old series and the noughties revival. So, that dragon breathing fire (see left) is “Dragonfire”, to give you just one example! Guaranteed to delight/infuriate you for hours!
SPECIAL EFFECTS
Visual effects experts Mat Irvine and Mike Tucker are in a unique position to discuss Who’s effects, having worked on both the classic series and the new show. Their candid discussion of the challenges they faced is accompanied by lashings of behind-the-scenes images (including some fascinating sketches for the original Davros).
THE LEADWORTH CHRONICLE
All the news that’s fit to print (and some that isn’t…) from Amy and Rory’s local rag!
THE MISSING EPISODES
Sadly, 108 instalments of the classic series are missing, presumed lost forever, thanks to BBC’s junking policy of the ’60s and ’70s. Richard Molesworth, author of new book Wiped! Doctor Who’s Missing Episodes, tells the full story of how so many episodes came to be destroyed – and how many were later recovered.
THE MINUTES OF THE PANDORICA ALLIANCE
Even evil alien alliances have to have the occasional planning meeting. This transcript of one such session, found crumpled up in a bin in an office in Didcot, provides a fascinating insight into how their over-complicated scheme came about…
WHO’S 25 SILLIEST MOMENTS
From the “robot double” that looks nothing like William Hartnell to that burping Auton wheelie bin, via Ingrid Pitt kung-fu kicking a reptilian pantomime horse… a complete rundown of the series’ daftest bits.
WHO CRAFTING
Showcasing the creativity of some of the people who make their own Doctor Who dolls, toys and costumes.
ARTHUR “DIES DAILY” DARVILL VS MURDEROUS MOFFAT
In this old-school cartoon (which somehow dropped back in time to a ’70s comic), the showrunner thinks up ever-more diabolical ways in which to bump off the actor who plays Rory.
MARATHON FAN
Writer and comedian Toby Hadoke (creator of the brilliant Moths Ate My Doctor Who Scarf) recently rewatched (or listened to) every episode of the series, in a year-long marathon. He shares what he learnt from the experience.
THE ELEVENTH DOCTOR COMIC
American comic publishers IDW kick off a new Eleventh Doctor range in January. We talk to writer Tony Lee about his plans, and exclusively reveal character designs for the series.
WHO SNOGLINES
Who’s kissed who in the Whoniverse? Back in the day, you could answer that with one word. Nowadays, the answer is rather more complicated…
IN-DEPTH REVIEWS
Back by popular demand: our mindboggingly geeky 26-page episode guide sees us analyse every episode of series five in forensic detail – minute by minute, second by second. It’s the next best thing to having an SFX commentary track on the DVDs!
20 USEFUL THINGS WE LEARNED…
What life lessons can be gleaned from the Eleventh Doctor’s first run of adventures? Quite a few, it turns out…
SERIES SIX PICS
A selection of snazzy paparazzi shots from the filming of the latest series.
