August 14th, 2025
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Doctor Who Magazine Issue 620
In this issue
- ZYGONS! SUTEKH! KRAALS! KRYNOIDS! An in-depth exploration of THE COLLECTION – SEASON 13 Blu-ray box set. Including: details of a documentary on Ian Marter who played companion Harry Sullivan, producer Phillip Hinchcliffe visiting the locations from the series, and the creation of new monster effects!
- ENTER THE BLACK ARCHIVE! Join Doctor Who’s brand manager James Page in San Diego as he takes us behind the scenes at this year’s Doctor Who activation.
- Props art director MICHAEL VAN KESTEREN talks us through the creation of various gadgets for this year’s season, including: colour variants of the Doctor’s sonic, the “Polish! Polish!” robot Scoot, and the Rani’s time ring bracelet!
- THE SEVENTH DOCTOR IN UKRAINE! Dalek and Cyberman performer Mickey Lewis recounts how he joined Sylvester McCoy on a journey to entertain fans in war-torn Kyiv.
- A lost Seventh Doctor adventure! TV writer ROBIN MUKHERJEE talks to DWM about working on Doctor Who in the 1980s and how his story Alixion has finally been realised as an audio drama…
- A royal audience with MARY REYNOLDS who starred as our late Queen in the 25th anniversary serial Silver Nemesis.
- AFTER IMAGE: Simon Guerrier looks back at Lucky Day, The Story & the Engine, the Interstellar Song Contest and Wish World/The Reality War.
- Find out how students across the UK’s universities are testing their Who knowledge with a challenging quiz league!
- Back to 1975 (and 1963): Giving life to the Loch Ness Monster!
- The Randomiser: Gary Gillatt looks into the heroics of the first three Doctors during the Second World War.
- We examine the hidden depths of Dark Water, in the first part of our Fact of Fiction feature on the finale to the Twelfth Doctor’s first season.
- The Fifteenth Doctor and Belinda’s adventures continue in the comic strip.
Regular features
- GALLIFREY GUARDIAN: our news round-up including the announcement of a new range of adventures – across books, comics, audio and the web – that will reveal more about JO MARTIN’s Fugitive Doctor.
- Reviews – featuring the latest audio and book releases.
- Other Worlds – the essential guide to new stories in Doctor Who’s expanded universe.
- Prizes to be won – including the new Monster Makers Comic Collection from Panini!
Doctor Who Magazine Issue 620 is on sale Thursday 14 August 2025 from panini.co.uk and WH Smith priced £7.99 (UK).
Also available as a digital edition from pocketmags.com priced £6.99.
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The DR.
August 16th, 2025 - 3:25pmJust seen something really Bizarre on YouTube. Tharries, a Big Dr Who Fan Channel. (I believe hes a Disabled Young Man, he also appeared in The Last Episodes of Season 2 of Dr Who). He’s just posted a Video about A Interview he’s seen in a Magazine (Not Sure Where)? That RTD as admitted that RTD2 is Officially Not Cannon and was never meant to be and is just an Alternate timeline of Dr Who which will Weave back into the Proper Dr Who Timeline. Make of that what you Will?
Its one way I suppose of getting himself out of the Mess he has got himself into I suppose.
I’ve Just Seen the Headlines, Im Busy at the Moment and having to go out but I’ll have a look at The Full Video when I get home.
Missyrules
August 16th, 2025 - 4:12pmI’d take it with a pinch of salt dr. Although I have to say I was half expecting for the regeneration to end with a new doctor on the cliffs at the end of power of the doctor. If it’s true then it makes it all ridiculous. What was the point of it! Doctor who’s Dallas moment…
Amypondfan
August 16th, 2025 - 4:53pmIt’s from this issue of the magazine and it’s not an interview with Davies, he hasn’t said anything about it. It’s from an article at the back about the fourth doctor sutekh audio. Its essentially someone onnthe magazine saying that it’s an alternative timeline but it’s nothing official.
The DR.
August 16th, 2025 - 5:17pmAmypondfan. Let me get this right? It’s on a Article about the Fourth Doctors Audio, but it is Pertaining to the New RTD Era and Not the Tom Baker Era?
I haven’t bought the magazine for a Few months.
Amypondfan
August 16th, 2025 - 5:45pmIt’s someone asking how the fourth doctor can meet sutekh in an audio adventure if sutekh is supposed to be hanging onto the outside of the tardis. The simple answer is the audio was written before the empire of death. But the answer given by the magazine says that the events take place in an alternative timeline where mavity (sick of that joke) is a thing. So essentially the rtd2 era is indicated as being an alternative timeline. But it’s not an official thing from Russell.
The DR.
August 16th, 2025 - 6:16pmAh, I thought RTD had Officially said the Last Two Seasons weren’t Cannon. Sort of Washing his hands of the Show. (Can’t blame him really).
Missyrules
August 16th, 2025 - 8:26pmI think I might just do a personal head canon. Jodie regenerates and somehow an alternative universe doctor slips into place, jump forward a few doctors and I imagine we see her regeneration again with a new doctor in Tennant’s place as the fourteenth doctor!
Gareth Pugh
August 17th, 2025 - 7:34amI’m also pretty certain that the paragraph in question is tongue-in-cheek and that the DWM is ‘dead-panning’ – kind of a writing equivalent of a ‘wink to camera’, like ‘erm, how does this (old) Fourth Doctor audio work if Sutekh was clinging to the Tardis ever since the events of Pyramids of Mars up to The Legend of Ruby Sunday [which is literally the context in which the comment is set, in the magazine, it’s a sort-of speculative Q&A]… er … well… complicated… yikes… better make something up… how about, um, this for an idea?!?’ I really don’t think it’s seriously meant, even by the writer, it’s just a bit of a subtle gag I believe?
Andy R
August 15th, 2025 - 3:09pmQuick question, anyone actually picked up the magazine? Is it a decent issue?
Gareth Pugh
August 16th, 2025 - 10:49amI’d say so. It’s a particularly strong one if you’re excited for the upcoming Season 13 Blu Ray box set. 24 pages previewing the content!
Alex
August 16th, 2025 - 8:38pmThe season 13 blu ray is the only thing of interest
atl
August 14th, 2025 - 6:30pmonly *a select few* have loved doctor who over the last few years that is why its not being made at the moment
Amypondfan
August 14th, 2025 - 6:45pmThe select few I’m referring to are those fans who only want to see what they want. Be it toys, books or magazines aimed only at them and not the wider range of fans. Booboo pointed this out on the 15th doctor’s tardis discussion. The fact is the magazine is for all fans and that means those who love what you don’t alt. They are allowed to you know…
atl
August 14th, 2025 - 7:11pmdoctor who should have a broad appeal for all of us not just viewing figures though they are important but how many of the action figures ,sonic screwdrivers etc have sold that is where the money is if all of that was ok then there would be no problem with the bbc and Disney a new series would be in production now and more important then that some people in wales may not be so worried about there jobs , this debate has been going on for years and the people who could see what was coming have been proven right
Amypondfan
August 14th, 2025 - 7:31pmCongratulations then alt, you must be very happy to be right. There is no point trying to continue to argue for other points of view… so lets leave this here.
PJ
August 14th, 2025 - 8:13pmWhy am I being mentioned? I’m allowed to have an opinion like everyone else and I don’t like the RTD2 Era simple as that
atl
August 14th, 2025 - 8:31pmAmypondfan yes lets do that
Amypondfan
August 14th, 2025 - 9:26pmDidn’t mention you pj, and you are entitled to an opinion (I agree in many ways with you about rtd2 I can’t say I enjoyed this season much) not saying we can’t have opinions just that the magazine has to cater for all fans and that means new fans for whom ncuti is their doctor. Personally I have no interest in war between, written by rtd and the trailer left me cold but I’m sure many will love it.
Missyrules
August 14th, 2025 - 2:51pmA recent story in the press (so how accurate it is is up for debate) quotes the magazine (editor I think it said) as stating its likely there will be no new who series for the rest of this decade. So instead of pausing the magazine it needs to keep awareness of the show going as it did in the 90’s/00’S
Missyrules
August 14th, 2025 - 2:52pmThis was meant as a reply, sorry.
The DR.
August 14th, 2025 - 3:04pmDon’t Shoot the Messenger. But Since Sylvester’s on the Cover again I was thinking Dr who Was Cancelled the last time in part due to Poor Viewing figures, which I admit had Been steadily dwindling since the Tom Baker Era. I’ve heard this time the Viewing Figures for the Last Two Seasons are far worse than the Last Time Dr Who was Cancelled.
So what do I you Guys think?
Bookcollector
August 14th, 2025 - 4:12pmDr I’m pretty sure it is looking like a cancellation now. No news at all and none likely until after war between airs which I think November has been mentioned for. Even if they confirm a new series it will be at least 2027 but I’m not convinced we will get a new series. I have enjoyed new who but have to say Russell’s return has been hard for me to defend. I enjoyed the 60th anniversary stories although I still maintain they weren’t really anniversary worthy with an adaptation of a 40 year old comic strip and the return of a villain that appeared once 58 years before in a fairly mediocre story. Ncuti’s first season started badly for me but I warmed to it. Unfortunately his second I thought was generally badly written and the finale was very badly written. I read an article (how accurate I don’t know as it was a press article) were it certainly seemed as if Russell was distancing himself from who somewhat. So yes, I think it may be a cancellation again. But we had twenty years and that in modern television for a drama is nothing short of amazing. I hope it’s only a short break but at my age a long break means I’ll probably not get involved with a return in 10-15 years time say.
David
August 14th, 2025 - 4:24pmI believe that the show will continue, in the next couple of years.
MCR Cyberman
August 14th, 2025 - 4:43pmNot a real quote – nothing to see here
Missyrules
August 14th, 2025 - 5:16pmI take all quotes in the news sites with a pinch of salt these days ut I’m just saying what I read, I did say it might be inaccurate
PJ
August 14th, 2025 - 8:28pmThe early Tom Baker years were the best the awful writing by RTD and him ruining big characters like Omega and Sutekh and the bad direction of the show it needs to be cancelled and it looks that way
The DR.
August 14th, 2025 - 9:44pmThe One good thing that will come out of a long break for Dr who is RTD will have nothing to do with a reboot. I can’t see him waiting 10 to 15 Years hoping for a return so he can be a Showrunner again?
NickD
August 14th, 2025 - 11:05pmDarn, but if new Who performs as poorly as it has it’ll really kill off interest.
Gareth Pugh
August 15th, 2025 - 9:06amReplying to the DR here – Doctor Who’s viewing figures are a bit worse than when the show got ‘soft-cancelled’ (really) in 1989 – in absolute numbers – unlike in 1985 there was no firm announcement made by the BBC (they’d learned their PR lesson from that). I think when season 26 ended it was pulling just about 4m an episode. The figures for this year are in DWM this issue and they average a bit over 3.6m. But the big difference is in 1989 other TV dramas – the likes of Casualty and the Soaps – were typically pulling 9-11m per week – Doctor Who was very diminished compared to the rest of the TV drama landscape of the time. Today the likes of Casualty, Eastenders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale are getting about 3-4m too. Today Doctor Who hasn’t really fallen any further, faster or worse than loads of other dramas. All the juggernauts have plummeted. One major difference I sense this time versus 1989 is there was no real effort or desire to get round the table and work out a way to get in continuing – the powers at the BBC at the time thought it was an embarrassment and were happy for it to die. Today, Doctor Who is very much valued as a power-brand by the BBC and they won’t want it out of production for any longer than can be helped. If after ‘War’ Disney+ do walk away (the signs now seem to be they have not made a decision even now) it’s a pretty safe bet the BBC will on the phone to Amazon Prime or Netflix the next day – and, with some obvious conditions attached – I’m confident either of those would be very up for it.
Bookcollector
August 15th, 2025 - 11:11amGareth, the number of times I’ve tried to talk about the ratings and how doctor who is still comparatively successful with most TV drama in any given year just gets shot down by people who only see the number and not the wider picture. Yes, who’s figures are down but it’s not the slide fans and press crow about. As you pointed out and as I’ve tried to say before ALL dramas including flag ship soaps and big dramas have significantly lower ratings now (2025) compared to the ratings they received in (where applicable) 1989, 2005, 2010, 2017, 2022 etc. It’s not just drama that is suffering from sliding ratings but all programmes and it’s not down to quality but quantity. People now have a huge number of channels to watch, they have a huge number of ways to watch and that has effected the ratings but frankly the ratings system is outmoded these days. But still fans insist that the number is the most important thing. Context is the most important thing. Yes the viewing figures are down. But not as much as some fans and press would like you to think. Now I wasn’t massively impressed by series 2 but I have it on order and I’ll watch it again. Hopefully I’ll enjoy it more. I will admit I don’t think the writing was good but I hope it will return, I’m not sure it will. But if it does return Russell needs to seriously rethink his current approach.
The DR.
August 15th, 2025 - 12:00pmI Do Truly Seen your point Gareth about Dr Who Viewer Ratings are at an All time low but so are other Flagship shows so it’s just a General Trend in Viewing habits.
But if that’s the case please answer me this, When David Tennant and Catherine Tate came back for the Three Specials the Long Term Ratings were Averaging 7 or 8 Million (I Can’t remember Exactly off the Top of my head) Then literally just Months Later when people had a Chance to see What the New Doctor and Show was like, the Long Term Viewing
Figures were as you say Averaging 3.5 Million.
In such a Short space of time, What Happened? Can you explain this with your Theory?
The DR.
August 15th, 2025 - 12:17pmLiterally What Happened to 4 Million Views after they had seen what the New Doctor and Show was like?
The DR.
August 15th, 2025 - 12:20pmShould Read Viewers. (Sorry).
Missyrules
August 15th, 2025 - 12:24pmSimple, they were advertised as 60th anniversary specials. Day of the doctor and time of the doctor had 10.6 and 11.1 respectively. Deep breath (the start of the next season) had 6.8. Specials always to better. And considering Russell was in charge of the anniversary specials the drop in viewing figures for ncuti is by your argument down to him. Meaning that the extra people who watched the specials didn’t like them! See, the numbers can used to fit any narrative you like.
The DR.
August 15th, 2025 - 12:44pmThe Tone of the Show for the Three Specials was Totally Different than the Tone of the Show for the 15th Doctor. I actually liked the Three Specials even when Ncuti popped up in the Bi-Generation Scene Towards the End of the Giggle. I thought it all looked rather Promising.
Yes I know RTD was the Showrunner then. (I Enjoyed them).
But I think because he had Wrote for David in the Past he basically Knew how he wanted to portray this Doctor. (Very similar to what came before).
Then he had to Start writing for a Totally New Doctor, how he wanted him to act, What kind of person he was, what his Views were etc, etc.
And I Realise it might only be me but the Specials and the Following two Seasons had Totally different Tones to me?
Missyrules
August 15th, 2025 - 1:15pmDr for those viewers to not like the new show they would have had to watch the show. So ncuti would have needed the same numbers for his episodes who would then have stopped watching leading to a drop in viewers. Here are the figures for the 7 days.
Star beast 7.61m
Wild blue yonder 7.14m
The giggle 6.85m
Church on ruby road 7.49m
As you can see the specials lost viewers over the run, it regained viewers for the Christmas special then dropped to according to the BBC around 6m for space babies. And yes, the figures have dropped since then. As has other programmes. Look at Eastenders.
1986 saw 30.5m tune in to the eastenders Christmas special.
In 1995 it was an average of 17m.
In 2005 it was 14m.
In 2015 it was 10m
In 2025 it it 5m
The DR.
August 15th, 2025 - 2:27pmYou’ve just gone over the Point again that I already agreed with, with Gareth.
I said I know Flagship Shows (Such as EastEnders) have also lost Millions of Viewers over the years.
The only thing I wanted to Know is why has Ncuti lost 4 Million Viewers in such a Short space of time?
The DR.
August 15th, 2025 - 2:35pmIf you keep Denying there’s a Problem and saying all Shows have low Viewing figures and say Everything is fine. The Viewing Figures are the Best they’ve ever been and Dr Who Merchandise is at an all time high. Character Options and M/R. are pumping out Figures non stop to the General Public. Then how are we ever Going to see improvements?
Missyrules
August 15th, 2025 - 3:08pmI’m not saying that at all. Personally I thought the whole refurn of Davies was awful. Frankly I would prefer him to be replaced but I can’t see it happening. My argument is that viewing figures are not reliable. As for merchandise the simple fact is the show has been back 20 years and it seems to be coming to a natural end. Look at star trek they have virtually no merchandise compared to who. Who is an exception not the norm. The merchandise is only relevant if people want it. The figures are a good example. For those who love them they want more and more and can’t understand why we don’t get new figures every month. But for most fans figures aren’t attractive anymore. They haven’t been for 7 or 8 years. The market naturally died as young fans grew up. And those young fans supported the release of classic figures by buying new who figures. It’s no one’s fault who is potentially being cancelled as much as fans like to blame someone, I could blame Davies but what’s the point? If you equate success with merchandise does that mean classic who was a failure? There were target books, a few toys but nothing major. The fact is in the 70’s there wasn’t a demand for who toys.
Look, you can look for reason why till you are blue in the face. But the simple fact is doctor who may have just run its course.
The DR.
August 15th, 2025 - 3:24pmLOL, It turns out you were on the Same side as me all along, Thinking Davies was Awful and Needs replacing.
What are we arguing for.
LOL Again.
Missyrules
August 15th, 2025 - 4:08pmLol. I agree with Peter Davison’s assessment in many ways. Lots of money and sleek effects do not a good story make! Seriously though I found the whole new Davies era hard to watch and I previously loved new who. The whole gods thing just annoyed me. Oh look, an unstoppable God, wait we have five minutes of the episode left? Okay. God stopped easily. Not good writing. And to be honest I’ve never been a huge fan of rtd anyway. The best episodes of his original run were those written by other authors.
The DR.
August 15th, 2025 - 5:35pmI liked RTDs First run if I’m Honest, so I didn’t have a Problem with him coming back. As I Mentioned Earlier I even like the Three David Tennant Specials on RTDs Return. Church on Ruby Road was even Enjoyable for me, but then it went Downhill really Fast. As shown by the Viewing Figures I think alot of people Agreed.
In hindsight I wish he had never come back has his return as turned into an Absolute Disaster.
But isnt hindsight a Wonderful thing?
The DR.
August 15th, 2025 - 5:59pmI know what you mean Missyrules about undefeatable God’s easily defeated. (Very frustrating).
I Actually Enjoyed Lux aswell, I thought Mr Ring-a-Ding was a Great Character. (Lovely Design). I bought the Who Shop Pin Badge of him when it came out and I hope there’s Some Figures/Figurines of him in future. (Maybe a Eaglemoss M/R Figurine). hint, hint.
The only part of the Episode I had a Gripe with was how Easy this Super God was Defeated.
They Set Fire to the Film in the Cans which Exploded blowing a hole in the Wall, which Revealed Daylight. Once the light hit Mr-Ring-a-Ding, he just Grew and Grew and disappeared into the Sky.
And like you said there was Literally Five Minutes left of the Show to Defeat Him.
WHAT?
Missyrules
August 15th, 2025 - 6:37pmThe undefeatable God of games… defeated playing catch.
The undefeatable God of music… defeated by two liverpudlian musicians.
The undefeatable God of death… defeated by well actually I’m still not sure… defeated by a random woman who is invisible to everyone for no discernible reason whatsoever…
The undefeatable God of light… defeated by light.
The undefeatable God of time was it?… defeated by a handy mcguffin that happened to be in the room and could be used as a weapon even though it was a device for triangulation. (Only seen this one once so if I’m wrong apologies)
Undefeatable gods… the next time the doctor says that remember what river song used to say… the doctor lies… lol
Gareth Pugh
August 17th, 2025 - 3:03pmReplying to The DR again. I totally thought the same thing about the Fourteenth Doctor episodes’ tone and those of the Fifteenth feeling very different in tone. I remember watching the Star Beast and thinking, okay, fair enough, Murray Gold is clearly back in the room and this fella like RTD1 again, fair enough. But then a lot of season 1 of Fifteen felt much more ‘conceptual/experimental’ – stuff like 73 Yards and Dot and Bubble, or The Story and the Engine and arguably Lucky Day in season 2 – all episodes I loved for their creative bravery and inventiveness – but I do wonder if that was the right kind of ‘Who’ for the times with the Disney deal being (it now seems) a bit fragile and some fans seemingly wanting something a bit more traditional instead. Where the Gatwa era finally went felt very different from the feel of the 60th specials, I’d agree. Where I’m not so sure, though, is that Ncuti somehow lost 4 million viewers – I think a lot of that was a jump up from the end of the Whittaker era (which I really liked btw) which was getting around 4-5 million. And I think a good chunk of that was non-fans seeing ‘oh, they’ve David Tennant back, we used to watch it then with our kids when they were young, might as well look in on it’ – but I’m not sure they had any firm plans to stay on beyond that nostalgia hit. In other words a, I’m not sure Ncuti ‘lost’ them – I’m not sure (beyond a captive Christmas Day audience) he technically really had them…
The DR.
August 17th, 2025 - 4:38pmAll I was Meaning was According to the BBCs Own Long term Viewing figure Averages for The David Tennant and the Catherine Tate Shows were 7.5 Million and for the Ncuti shows the Average Viewing Figures were 3.5 Million. It’s not My personal Opinion, it’s just Facts.
Gareth Pugh
August 17th, 2025 - 6:21pmThe DR, ah no , I don’t the figures you give, I’m sure the Tennant specials did get what you say (and that Ncuti season 2 got what you say too). But some of the 7.5m was, I think, a blip of non-fans coming back for a bit of a nostalgia hit, but not looking to re-engage with the show permanently. That number hadn’t been the going average for the show for quite some time by that point. I suspect, in reality, the regular RTD2/Fifteen era really inherited the Chibnall/Whittaker size of audience in terms of ongoing commitment to watch, and it went from there.
The DR.
August 18th, 2025 - 1:20pmI Read the Official Viewing Figures for Ncutis Run were Lower than Peter Capaldis Era and Even a Big Drop from the Jodie Whittaker Era. The Lowest in the Shows History. As I said before dont Shoot the Messenger, I’m just Quoting facts.
Loobop
August 14th, 2025 - 2:30pmIsn’t it about time this magazine took a year or more off now,the new series is long finished,there’s nothing new to report and no one even knows when or if it’ll actually get another series,as it’s currently all sadly seems locked in limbo.
Amypondfan
August 14th, 2025 - 2:47pmIf they pause the magazine it’s highly unlikely it will return. From 1990-1996 we had nothing but the mag kept going and from 1997-2005 we had no series either just merchandise. If you don’t want to buy it just don’t buy it.
atl
August 14th, 2025 - 4:44pmsome of the best years for DWM was in the wilderness years even if doctor who is not on tv the magazine has a lot of years to cover and most people are interested in it well up to 2017 anyway
Amypondfan
August 14th, 2025 - 6:22pmLoved Jodie’s era and others will be fans up to 2025. The magazine is for everyone… not just a select few
atl
August 14th, 2025 - 6:29pmonly *a select few* have loved doctor who over the last few years that is why its not being at the moment
atl
August 14th, 2025 - 6:43pmbeing made that is
The DR.
August 14th, 2025 - 7:56pmWhether its TV or Film, (Not Nessesarily Dr Who Related) If you purposefully Gear it Towards a Tiny Minority, Dont be Surprised if just a Small Percentage of the Population tune in to watch it or go to the Cinema. Just Common Sense really.
F D R
August 14th, 2025 - 8:36pmatl its not all bad wild blue yonder had one of the most creepiest monsters ever and the power of the doctor had good bits in it ,,,,Ra Ra Rasputin