February 1st, 2024
47 comments
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Doctor Who Magazine Issue 600
This celebratory issue also includes a 16-page supplement, an exclusive art card, a specially commissioned diorama featuring figures from the recent series and a four-hour long Sixth Doctor audio drama for every reader.
Inside the mag!
- Millie Gibson checks in with DWM following the debut of companion Ruby Sunday in The Church on Ruby Road.
- UNIT regulars Jemma Redgrave (Kate Lethbridge-Stewart), Alexander Devrient (Colonel Ibrahim) and Ruth Madeley (Shirley Anne Bingham) face questions from the TARDIS Tin.
- Production designer Phil Sims takes us on a guided tour of UNIT’s central London HQ!
- We talk to DWM writers about their experiences interviewing the stars of Doctor Who for early issues of the magazine.
- International Who! A special report on how the series has become a hit in Spain!
- Meet Christina Rotondo – the singer who gave voice to Janis Goblin!
- We pay tribute to Richard Franklin who died on Christmas day – and examine the impact he had as UNIT officer Captain Mike Yates.
- We talk to production runner Thani Subkhi about his vital work on the upcoming series.
- Letter from the Showrunner – Russell T Davies gives us an update on the progress being made on the next two series!
- Time-Space Visualiser – discover the secret recipe for sky-high ratings!
- The Fact of Fiction – we examine the opening episodes of 1973’s Planet of the Daleks.
- The adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor and Ruby Sunday continue in the comic strip!
PLUS!
- Gallifrey Guardian – all the latest official news.
- Reviews – covering books, audio dramas and games.
- Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.
- Win The Daleks in colour, Blu-ray box sets, books and audio dramas!
Doctor Who Magazine Issue 600 is on sale Thursday 1 February from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £10.99 (UK).
Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £9.99
Categorised under: Doctor Who Magazine, Magazine
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MJS
February 6th, 2024 - 7:49pmId been away when this arrived, and read the comments. When I got back it had arrived and I was concerned it might be as bad as everyone said.
The magazine is ok, but not so.much of a celebration. The supplement is woeful, sorry. It’s pointless, serves no purpose, and given the previous supplements like a complete reprint of Star Beast, it’s also a wasted opportunity. Subscribers got a cover “art card” so that’s nice.
Matt Y
February 6th, 2024 - 5:47pmAfter seeing the content details of this milestone issue and how little is focussed on that fact, and then the negative comments about it on here I have decided not to bother buying it.
Star Lord
February 6th, 2024 - 7:45pmIf I had a TARDIS I’d go back and do the same.
The Hidden Hand of Davros
February 6th, 2024 - 11:06amVery disappointed with the content, especially as its the 600th issue.
The only good thing about this issue was the cover, love the cover, but it wasn’t worth my £10.99
Anon
February 5th, 2024 - 9:31pmNo
PJH1971
February 5th, 2024 - 7:47pmUsually I buy the milestone ones but after looking at the contents on the reverse, its a hard pass – especially for £10.99
Mac
February 4th, 2024 - 12:42amHugely disappointed.
What the hell is that 16 page pull out for?
Bobby Davros
February 4th, 2024 - 11:07pmI’ll go for “lining the cat litter tray” for 500, Stephen.
Dave
February 3rd, 2024 - 4:58pmAlthough I generally like his work, I found the Marcus Hearn era a little dry with too much emphasis on long articles on tiny bits of Who history and not enough focus on the new episodes. I was hoping with the rest of the franchise being rejuvenated at the moment, that a new editor with closer links to RTD might bring the Magazine up-to-standard. What Hickman did with the mag when the new series started wasn’t to everyone’s taste (and I missed the classic series material), but it did make it a fitting magazine to support the cultural behemoth that Doctor Who became from 2005 onwards.
This current incarnation is baffling. As the show seems to be reaching for a younger crowd, we’re getting photo stories of middle aged men larking about on set (and being charged extra for it too). Previous anniverary issues have been self indulgent in the sense of a bit of (justifiable) navel gazing at the Magazine’s history, but this is a whole new level.
I think the team need to think from the perspective of “What would someone who has never seen Doctor Who but is excited to watch it because they love Ncuti Gatwa think if they picked up this issue as their first?”
Hopefully the new series will help put the Magazine on track, but it does feel like a bit of a death spiral. I’ve bought it out of loyalty, but it’s been inessential since the arse end of the Capaldi era and it doesn’t seem to be coming back.
GARY VERNON
February 3rd, 2024 - 2:02pmNot picked up my copy yet.The reviews don’t seem very positive but having bought the last 599 “Im not going to let you stop me now”.Regarding the free gifts I personally would have liked facsimiles of the original weekly newsagents widow poster and sticker or perhaps repros of the UNIT Club card also from the weekly days…but each to there own.
Harold Shand
February 3rd, 2024 - 8:50amNot bought the magazine for many many years.
The ego of editors and their agenda to ‘insert’ themselves into the magazine has snowballed over the years.
Gary Gillatt and Alan Barnes started the trend with the odd photo, and later Clayton Hickman tended to drop himself in whenever possible. Not sure about Tom Spilsbury as I stopped buying at this stage.
Possibly my memory has got this wrong, but between editors and the ‘Time Team’ it just turned me off the magazine.
Possibly these editors came along as social media was taking off and it became the norm to self promote oneself at every chance.
SV7
February 3rd, 2024 - 9:17amI too fell out of love with DWM. The last issue I bought was 508.
David
February 3rd, 2024 - 9:55amI stopped keeping them back in 2017 – the lst one I have is issue 522.
It got to the stage where I was reading less and less of the contents, so I’d buy it and then sell it for a few quid to one of my friends in the pub who would read it and then sell it to another!
If it wasn’t for the ‘pandemic’, we’d probably still be doing that, but being kept apart for months broke that cycle and when my subscription ran out in 2020 I didn’t bother renewing.
By that time all I was reading was the info on the blurays, the witty comment in the credits section and the occassional article on classic Who as I have absolutely zero interest in reading about New Who.
Apart from the monthly witty comment in the credits section, I find that 3 1/2 years on I don’t miss it.
On Monday I listed every issue from 2005 on Ebay. I’m never going to read them again and I have no nostaligic feelings for any of them (bar the Tom baker special that I bought 2 of and had one signed).
SV7
February 3rd, 2024 - 11:45amCouldn’t agree more David! The only issues I own that I do sometimes pick up and read though again are the three missing episodes specials from 2013, which are still all right up to date!
Selling them down the pub to mates? Top idea!
Anon
February 3rd, 2024 - 1:23pmStopped getting the mag 12 years ago. Rather spend the money on who books, toys, DVDs, bluray etc
Star Lord
February 2nd, 2024 - 7:45pmJust picked up mine. The ‘Find the 600’ supplement is a joke, 6 precious pages of this small mag dedicated to the new editor putting himself in a comic strip? I would question how that made it to print but guessing there was no one to stop him. Compare this with issue 500, which included a whole other full-length magazine exploring the previous 499 issues (I’m aware with inflation and rising costs this was not feasible, but my gripe here is with quality not quantity).
‘DWM is back!” his speech bubble exclaims on page 9. Nah mate, I’m pretty sure you just ran it into the ground.
As for the magazine itself, the abundance of almost full-page images in lieu of text really stand out and not in a good way. I’m not one for grumbling on here but this really has ticked me off. Certainly not the same magazine it was a year ago
atl
February 2nd, 2024 - 10:27pmi think the ‘Find the 600’ supplement is a bit of a filler the diorama is ok for the kids who get the magazine i did like the art card was nice it made a change from the posters which i never put up because i don’t have the room so its £3 extra for a art card
Bobby Davros
February 3rd, 2024 - 12:21amWell some of that £3 extra has no doubt gone to those multiple shots of the editor pulling his zoolander poses on glossy colour pages in the supplement.
ChrisP
February 4th, 2024 - 12:47amLoved issue 500 with its supplement covering the previous 499.
Issue 600 sounds really underwhelming in comparison.
Going to give this a miss – there is other more enticing DW product out there.
Matt
February 2nd, 2024 - 4:40pmVery disappointed with this issue. Indulgent and unfunny photo story. Magazine must do better than this. Was hoping for more.
Alzie Who 66
February 2nd, 2024 - 9:05pmI don’t buy the magazine much these days, but given it was a special I did. I wish I hadn’t.
Shaun
February 2nd, 2024 - 7:08amIt’s a shame there’s a typo in the supplement detailing ‘milestones’ in the magazine’s history, suggesting it was issue 3 which started a run of covers featuring drawn panels connecting with the comic strip, when it was issue 30.
Andy R
February 1st, 2024 - 7:15pmI shall chip in and say i liked the Doctor Who? Strip (more then the other strips present) and the Talk Talk article had some interesting parts. The tribute to Richard Franklin was more photos then actual words. Same as others, the photo story in the supplement did nothing for me (same as the minute by minute 60th anniversary story article in the yearbook). Sadly the diorama is on glossy paper instead of card as well. Used to really look forward to these issues.. ho hum
Lucinda
February 1st, 2024 - 4:19pmOrdered mine as well online should be getting it soon
daz
February 1st, 2024 - 3:10pmThey should have included the new Tardis Diorama with this one. Surprised they didn’t.
I only buy the ones that include them plus the yearbooks now.
Someone called out the ego of the editor on facebook and he responded.
JRT!
February 1st, 2024 - 4:19pmAnd what did he say? If you’re allowed to say here.
daz
February 1st, 2024 - 5:43pmJust said to that they are no longer on his Xmas card list.
Better than arguing I guess.
We might get less large photos of him in the mag going forward.
JRT!
February 1st, 2024 - 7:03pmThanks daz. Yeah,they’d be off any of my lists too,lol. Just go for the little pics,like the contributors this issue does. I like the mag and have nothing against anyone working there,seems like a fun job. Have a feeling it can be stressful too though. Keeping deadlines,make sure you have the right photos with the right article,etc. I’m guessing there’s a lot of things to keep track of as well. I think they’re doing a good job so far,and you can’t please everybody every issue. As long as there are at least three interviews/articles I’ll be reading I’m happy. That’s my criteria for all mags these days,lol.
Anon
February 2nd, 2024 - 11:39amIf I was the editor I’d deliberately make next issue a full page photo!
Johnny Bebido
February 3rd, 2024 - 9:07pmGood lord,
The vanity of the editor and his team to insert himself and themselves in everything. I’d rather have more about the show, cast and history than something about a person or persons that I have no desire to know anything about.
This appears to now be one big vanity project and ego trip from a team that will make it all about them.
I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than buy another issue after the instant trash that was issue 600.
Anon
February 1st, 2024 - 2:00pmMy subscription copy has just arrived. Extras are without doubt the worst items of total trash ever to be produced by the magazine. Diorama is so bad seriously doubt anyone will glue it together and as for “featuring figures from the recent series” I must have missed the episode with Daleks in.
Worst is the 16 page supplement – beyond belief of the arrogance and vanity of the editor. Won’t spoil it for anyone but you won’t miss anything if copy is late in shops!
time lord
February 1st, 2024 - 2:29pmbut apart from that you like it
Graham
February 1st, 2024 - 2:33pmSadly I have to agree, my subscribers copy arrived and was hugely disappointed with the contents of this 600th issue and so called extras and is already in my paper recycling bin
bryan
February 1st, 2024 - 4:01pmI wish the stupid Jackie magazine with photo love story ,had been nixed at first mention. More money towards a brand new 30 min cover disc or download story that not another One from yonks ago.
Oh they were the days. In cahoots with BF surely a Mr Rochester style giveaway could be done. The Diarama is dumb , Daleks? More of them than any other characters. Liked the Art print of the Cover and the postcard of millions and Ncuti is ok. An extra page of comic strip make a big splash comic strip back to bumper 8 pages. .
Moan over. The Magazine is lovely and has a nice piece on the cover shoot. So no need for Jackie mag.
Kevin225
February 1st, 2024 - 9:03pmSuch a shame. A real missed opportunity to do something memorable to mark such an amazing achievement . A lot of filler articles that shouldn’t be anywhere near such a milestone issue IMO.
I sincerely that hope that I am wrong, but wonder if it will be still around to mark issue 700.
anon
February 2nd, 2024 - 12:22amThat’s a pity! From my point of view I was going to buy a copy, but from what it sounds like I’ll give it a miss.
demdike@Cult Labs
February 1st, 2024 - 12:30pmSubscribers copy late yet again.
Wherebeit
February 1st, 2024 - 10:51amNone at WHS in north
Whofan44
February 1st, 2024 - 12:34pmWent to get mine and was told there has been a distribution problem. They said it would come tomorrow which ain’t much use to me as means I have to wait until Tues
Timelord1963
February 1st, 2024 - 1:09pmYeah I’ve just been to my local ASDA and no sign of it. Always a distribution problem in the North.
Wherebeit
February 1st, 2024 - 6:14pmYep more annoying is the huge van goes past where I live from the distributors. I presume some local warehouse can’t be bothered to deliver to shops once they have thar delivery.
Something must have changed in the north for the issues to return from time to time.
It cant be every time Freds on Holiday that there is issues can it
Loobop
February 1st, 2024 - 10:23amwell looking at the contents and what comes with the magazine i’ve totally changed my mind about buying it not a single thing interest me.So i’ll pass.
Anon
February 1st, 2024 - 1:00pmSame here. Next month there may be the season 15 collection contents at least.
Anita
February 1st, 2024 - 9:48amDoes anyone know what the Sixth Doctor audio is? Just wondering if it’s one of the Big Finish releases that I already have.
David
February 1st, 2024 - 10:13amGo to the DWM Facebook page, it tells you what Audio story it is.
Gordon
February 1st, 2024 - 11:28amThe worlds of doctor who
anon
February 6th, 2024 - 12:59amHow do you download the Audio from Big Finish? It’s my first time trying & I can’t seem to figure out what to actually do?