June 19th, 2025
19 comments
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Doctor Who Magazine Issue 618
Doctor Who Magazine Issue 618
- “OH, HELLO…” We take a look at the jaw-dropping revelations in this year’s season finale!
- Plus – RUSSELL T DAVIES looks back at how the Fifteenth Doctor’s two seasons developed.
- VARADA SETHU speaks to DWM about her time playing Belinda Chandra.
- ACCESS ALL AREAS! Join us on the set of Wish World and The Reality War – including contributions from director ALEX SANJIV PILLAI and Melanie Bush herself – BONNIE LANGFORD.
- JUNO DAWSON, co-writer of this year’s spectacular Interstellar Song Contest, talks about her Doctor Who journey.
- SCOTT HANDCOCK, UNA McCORMACK, JAMES GOSS and GARETH L POWELL discuss their new Target novelisations covering last year’s season finale and the first three episodes of Season 2…
- Ace! A preview of two books, curated by SOPHIE ALDRED, that tell the story of her character’s iconic jacket and collection of badges…
- JOHN LEVENE – aka UNIT’s Sergeant Benton – gets behind the wheel of Bessie at a special day at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu.
- Doctor Who lands in San Diego! A report from the new Worlds of Wonder exhibition in the US.
- Gary Gillatt argues that France is the Doctor’s spiritual home…
- Back to 1985… Alan Barnes recalls the final role of Doctor Who super villain VALENTINE DYALL.
- THE FACT OF FICTION travels back to 1965 to scrutinise life on the planet Vortis in The Web Planet.
In this issue
Regular features
- GALLIFREY GUARDIAN – our news round-up including a look ahead to spin-off series The War Between the Land and the Sea.
- Reviews – featuring the latest audio and book releases.
- Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe including the return of the Thirteenth Doctor!
- Prizes to be won – bag yourself copies of the new Target Books!
Doctor Who Magazine Issue 618 is on sale Thursday 19 June 2025 from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £7.99 (UK).
Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £6.99.
Categorised under: Doctor Who Magazine, Magazine
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Amypondfan
June 19th, 2025 - 9:48pmI’m wondering if we won’t get any sort of announcement until after the war between the land and sea has aired as those five episodes conclude the Disney+ deal (3 Tennant, 18 gatwa and 5 war making the 26 episodes the deal was for.)
Tom Smith
June 19th, 2025 - 9:07pmThere’s no comic strip in this issue – the editorial says the latest episode of the comic has been delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.
The Living Shadow
June 19th, 2025 - 8:44pmThey really couldn’t have gotten the person who is supposedly the new lead and face of the main show to wear Ncuti’s old outfit for a quick photoshoot in time for the reveal…
Yikes we are in bad hands.
Anomalous
June 19th, 2025 - 9:09pmBillie is wearing ncuti’s outfit on the cover… as for a new photoshoot for the magazine… what’s the point when there is no confirmation the show is coming back yet!
Tom Williams
June 19th, 2025 - 8:05pmI admit at heart since 2005 too present when it first aired and off course only being 6 lol its always never a big hope hunch on whats too happen next or especially matter for waiting a gape off a long wait till if it does airs again especially i know during this period its handy with all the merch that gets released too continue it going especially for the season blu rays (classics) and off course animations if it i admit wasn’t for them it would feel very down and out now days and doll especially when we lost toys rus and all the old days :/
Uncle Davros
June 19th, 2025 - 6:49pmThe show is dead and a hiatus is the only real viable option. The show needs to be missed again by the British public, like it was in the late 90’s/early 00’s (remember when Doctor Who topped a Radio Times poll in 2000 for the show most Brits wanted to return to their screens).
At least unlike the last hiatus, we now have Big Finish, classic series Blu-ray collections, animated lost 60s stories being released, and with the advance of AI, this will allow fans to create their own stories. Back in the early 90s, all we had was the New Adventures and DWM.
Bookcollector
June 19th, 2025 - 7:13pmUnlike last time I won’t be too bothered if this is the end of the show. I don’t buy big finish and I’ve cut back on books, but there are more than enough episodes of the show to watch and hundreds of books to read. Last time i was desperate for new material this time I’m happy to get target books and animations and that will do me fine with everything I already have.
The DR.
June 19th, 2025 - 2:17pmAs a Lifelong Who Fan, I don’t actually mind the Hiatus. Even if it’s the same length as the last one. I think Who needs a Big Rethink, in a Total different Direction to what RTD was taking it, maybe with Fresh Minds that have never been connected to Dr Who before. Hopefully we can have another Golden Period of Who again in the future.
Bookcollector
June 19th, 2025 - 4:28pmIf it’s another 16 year gap I’ll be long gone lol
Bookcollector
June 19th, 2025 - 4:33pmI do think it might be back within a short time period, 2027 is still a possibility as the BBC did say the Disney deal was not the end of who if it stopped and a 2027 series was something mooted by Russell a few weeks back. I do think if Russell stays a major rethink of the direction is in order. Personally I’d prefer him to relinquish the writing and creative role in favour of fresh blood.
The DR.
June 19th, 2025 - 5:42pmIm the Same Bookcollector. Im Approaching 60, so that kind of Hiatus like before and I’m not forced to be here Either. It’s fine, though I prefer it over anymore of the RTD Stuff.
The DR.
June 19th, 2025 - 5:54pmI heard the Disney deal is 100% Dead, as the Viewing figures were very poor and was not a Good return on the £100 Million that they put into the show. I also heard the News about what you mentioned about the Show Returning in 2027. The BBC is still hoping to get another Streaming partner onboard (I won’t mention the Name) rather than go it alone.
But this partner wants more Creative Control and to go in a Different Darker direction. Apparently RTD his dead against this as, in his own Words he wants the show to be even more camp and of course to have total control.
We will have to see what happens. If the BBC wants RTD at the Helm it looks like they’ll have to go it alone. But if they need a Streaming partner it might be on the understanding that RTD as to go?
Prof Horner
June 19th, 2025 - 6:00pmWell if it’s 16 years I will be nearly 80 ! Well 78 ,if I live that long! I hear the creator of Babylon 5 has moved to the Uk and wants to take over the series. Which would very exciting.
The DR.
June 19th, 2025 - 6:15pmYes I heard that news aswell Prof Horner. I think it would be a Great Idea as a lot of people thought he had done a Great job with the Babylon 5 show. Apparently he asked the BBC For the Dr Who job when They Gave it to RTD for the Second Time. He’s also put his hat in the ring again, saying it would be a dream come True to run Dr Who.
He’s also apparently an Anglofile.
This Guy as a Track record as a Show Runner and seems very passionate about the Job. Let him have it?
Amypondfan
June 19th, 2025 - 7:17pmI think the solo streaming partner is a daft idea anyway. I imagine many outside the UK probably refused to buy Disney+ just to be able to watch one show. That will apply to any giant streaming service. By having an exclusive streaming service they probably lost far more viewers than Disney gained. I certainly would not be buying a streaming service if a new who series ended up on one in the future instead of on the BBC.
Anonymous
June 19th, 2025 - 9:16pmI hope RTD gets to resolve all his threads before leaving (The Gods, Susan, The Boss, the fourth wall breaking, possible alternate universe clues…). It feels like we’ve only had half the story at this point. I’ve generally enjoyed RTD’s writing, with the occasional niggle, but the season finales just haven’t hit the mark each time. This was his problem first time around too, but it’s even worse now.
Demdike@CultLabs
June 19th, 2025 - 1:26pmRussell’s final production notes article in this. Pretty much confirms the shows hiatus once again..
bbb
June 19th, 2025 - 2:10pmas last episodes go survival was better then “Wish World/ “The Reality War”,, it would have been a better last scene if the regeneration just went in to the end titles
Bellal
June 19th, 2025 - 2:22pmYeah a clean break would be better even if it did continue (unlikely).
I also feel Billie’s appearance at the end sort of just takes the spotlight away from Ncuti, who deserved the end note on his brief tenure