May 22nd, 2025
29 comments
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Doctor Who Magazine Issue 617
TARGET BOOKS PAPERBACK INCLUDED WITH THIS ISSUE – AN EXCLUSIVE NEW EDITION OF THE WHEEL IN SPACE BY LEGENDARY DOCTOR WHO AUTHOR TERRANCE DICKS
In the magazine:
- THIS YEAR’S SEASON FINALE PREVIEWED! RUSSELL T DAVIES on what to expect in the much-anticipated concluding episodes Wish World and The Reality War…
- ACCESS ALL AREAS – Join DWM at UNIT HQ for the climactic scenes of Lucky Day – including contributions from writer PETE McTIGHE and guest star JONAH HAUER-KING.
- Barber Shop Quartet – actors SULE RIMI, SANYA ADEGBOLA, MICHAEL BALOGUN and JORDAN ADENE talk about their roles as the Barber’s captives in The Story & the Engine.
- Fugitive Doctor JO MARTIN on her surprise return to the TV series…
- VIP backstage access to the Interstellar Song Contest! Writer JUNO DAWSON, director BEN A WILLIAMS and your host RYLAN are among those on hand to reveal the secrets of this entertainment spectacular!
- Mrs Flood unmasked! ANITA DOBSON chats about the latest revelations…
- The Rani reborn! ARCHIE PANJABI on taking on the mantle of the cold-hearted Time Lady!
- A guided tour to an impressive new exhibition opening in Peterborough.
- Target Books’ STEVE COLE remembers TERRANCE DICKS and discusses the special new edition of The Wheel in Space included with this issue.
- Gary Gillatt assesses the merits of alien art from across the universe…
- Back to 1973… We take a look at contemporary reactions to the environmental message of Third Doctor classic The Green Death.
- FACT OF FICTION – unravelling the mysteries of the Evolution of the Daleks.
- The adventures of the Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda continue in the comic strip.
Regular features
- Gallifrey Guardian – our news round-up including details of the cinema screenings of the season finale.
- Reviews – featuring the latest Blu-ray/DVD, book and audio releases.
- Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.
- Prizes to be won – including new adventures for the Fifteenth Doctor in print!
Doctor Who Magazine Issue 617 is on sale Thursday 22 May 2025 from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £10.99 (UK).
Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £6.99.
Categorised under: Doctor Who Magazine, Magazine
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michaelparsons
June 10th, 2025 - 5:25pmam I the only one that hates these magazines coming in these paper outer packaging trying to open these with out damaging the outer packaging is impossible
James
June 10th, 2025 - 6:28pmAgreed. Should just be the magazine on its own. If there are gifts they should put a coupon in it yo send off for them. Then it could stick to a decent regular price ( say £4.99)
Missyrules
June 10th, 2025 - 7:00pmPrinting costs mean the magazine will remain at at least £7..99. As for sending off for free gifts… the only reason I buy the magazine now is if there is s free book. I’ve bought two magazines in two years. If i had to send away for a free gift i just wouldn’t bother.
Tom Williams
June 10th, 2025 - 7:46pmI admit i never buy these only for the book but since last time i ever brought one i agree the outer packing is pointless in lots off ways even they should in my opinion just do a sensible idea in w h smiths etc and have the book copy’s over the counter if u buy the mag it is included or in supermarkets in the book section and pick one up if included with the mag it comes free so it gives people a change too even buy separately but obvs pay more
James
June 10th, 2025 - 9:22pmMissy
Nothings free thr price increases. Like the lego mags come with an extra lego set “free”, but prices goes up £2 for that “free” extra lego.
Gathet about printing costs but around the £5 would a. Keep a regualr price instead of fluxuating every month and b. Maybe claw back regular buyers.
I buy for the content not for the diaramas, posters, booklets. If you want the extras the £3/£4 difference it usually is would be fair enough for you to get posted to you if you want it.
Sfx use to have books each month. Buy yhr mag then use the coupon in thr magazine to get half price.
Missyrules
June 11th, 2025 - 9:33amYes I know nothing is free but the regular price of the magazine won’t go down if they stop doing “free” gifts. If you want a cheaper magazine then it will have to be at the cost of quality. Cheaper paper, less pages and greatly reduced colour photos.
James
June 11th, 2025 - 12:16pmWhat regular price lol. Seems every other issue there’s a gift. When the series came back and I started buying them way back 2005 (still have evry issue), it was just the magazine with maybe a cd stuck to the front once or twice a year. Maybe if doing books do them as suggested by Tom, do an offer where by you get the book cheaper when brought with the magazine or have a coupon inside to redeem at a cheaper price.
Posters/diafragmas or extra mags could be sent off for via a code in the magazine to buy online from the panini website. Would keep at a steady £5/6 price, reduce the paper for packaging or plastic, plus easier for newsagents to display.
Also make subscriptions doable in shops. Sign up for the year and receive vouchers to use each month to redeem in stores like newspapers do. Then guaranteed more subscribers as set for 12 months etc and help the high streets.
The Flying Shark
June 11th, 2025 - 3:58pmThe magazine is £8 a month now even without free gifts, even less niche magazines are struggling to keep within £5-6, Radio Times is £5 a week now, we’ll probably never get £5-6 DWM back unless DW suddenly gets unbelievably popular
F D R
June 4th, 2025 - 3:17pmis 15 still going to be in the comic ?
Rory
June 4th, 2025 - 4:53pmGood question. I’d guess that they’ll keep 15 and just do stories before the regeneration, or maybe include some more past Doctor stories.
PETER BOWEN
May 26th, 2025 - 10:34pmCan they bring shada out in the target range?
Bookcollector
May 27th, 2025 - 9:42amUnfortunately Gareth roberts made some comments that make it difficult for the BBC or any company to publish any version of shada. It could lead to bad publicity so it’s unlikely to happen. Our best hope is a brand new version by a different author. I have the Paul scoones new Zealand fan club target adaptation in the original release style and as a facsimile 1970’s target novel so I’m lucky enough to have the gap filled but I’d still love an official release version of it. I think James Goss would do a good version.
James
May 24th, 2025 - 1:17pmLast time the next issue will be advertised as available from WHS. the company who brought the high street stores will be rebranding as TGJones as of mid July.
Guessing will either say newsagents only or WHSmith travel stores and newsagents.
My local closes 4th July. Only way if I decided to carry on after 20 years will be bigger supermarkets out of town.
Big bear is the fluxuating price each month and the paper bags. Rather just came as a magazine and if they have extras send off for them with a coupon from the magazine, then stick to a regular price.
bbb
May 24th, 2025 - 5:38pmthere has not been any shop around me that has carried the magazine since last year i got to keep going online to get it
Tom Williams
May 24th, 2025 - 8:59pmDon’t know if im reading this right lol but i know my local tesco had the doctor who magazine which is worth trying with always
James
May 24th, 2025 - 9:50pmBbb not have a local independent newsagent? They can order specially
Golden Pineapple
May 22nd, 2025 - 5:41pmAny subscribers not recieved the new issue yet?
Amelia
May 22nd, 2025 - 9:12pmI did! I got mine yesterday! A day early. I have been subscribed since March and not a single day late. Always been early by at least one day and I love all the covers at the moment. Especially this one!!
Radburn
May 22nd, 2025 - 5:10pmAny reasoning behind them releasing these Target books through DWM?
Amelia
May 22nd, 2025 - 9:18pmNo but they’re a lovely little extra. A bit different than the same old little art prints we usually get which are nice but come on a free book? It’s also from the recent line of books from both classic and new who stories which is amazing. We need more of the same.
Lost in time and space
May 22nd, 2025 - 3:33pmAt WHsmiths today went through as £7.99 instead of £10.99 a little treat
Chris
May 22nd, 2025 - 4:16pmYeah, same! This and #615 two issues ago both through at £7.99!
Master
May 22nd, 2025 - 9:29pmSame at Morrissons today. It was £7.99 price when evil of the daleks paperback was included.
TheMaster
May 22nd, 2025 - 3:20pmIf you go to WH Smiths it scans at £7.99 so if you want to save some money on the latest issue, support WH Smiths by buying it there.
Dunc
May 22nd, 2025 - 3:06pmCancelled my subscription after nearly 20 years. Price has gone up.but the standard has gone down.
Fred
May 23rd, 2025 - 2:01pmDon’t blame you really. I still buy it usually for the crossword, but certainly for the new episode previews. When there isn’t a current series on though it does struggle to justify not only its cost but its existence at all. Sometimes there’s a feature that blows you away, but more often there isn’t.
Nick D
May 24th, 2025 - 6:20amIt has really gone downhill in the last 7 or 8 years sadly and especially since around 2018-19.
MIKK89
May 24th, 2025 - 9:38amI usually only buy the Collected Comics Range and the occasional Issue if there is a free Big Finish Audio
SV7
May 22nd, 2025 - 10:46amGot mine this morning. The new edition of Wheel is really nice!