Cosmic Masque issue XVIII

Thursday, 20 July 2023 - Reported by Marcus

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society has published Cosmic Masque issue XVIII as a free download.

The magazine, edited by Nick Smith and Steve Hatcher is about 'being a fan' and contains items on gaming, events, and merchandise as well as five new pieces of fiction.

CM XVIII runs to over 110 pages and is available in two formats - single page for tablets and two-page spreads for computer monitors.

The cover image is by Cole Thompson

You can download the magazine (and previous editions too) by visiting the DWAS website at dwasonline.co.uk and clicking the Cosmic Masque image.

FILTER: - dwas

Patrick Troughton Blue Plaque Unveiling

Monday, 17 July 2023 - Reported by Marcus

Joanna and Michael Troughton (Credit: DWAS)

A blue heritage plaque dedicated to the second Doctor Who, Patrick Troughton, has been unveiled at a ceremony at Mill Hill School in North London.

The plaque was organised by the Doctor Who Appreciation Society and placed in the theatre named after the actor, who was a pupil at the school from 1931.

The plaque was unveiled last Sunday by two of Troughton's children, Michael and Joanna, at a star-studded ceremony attended by many of Troughton's friends, colleagues and admirers including Sylvester McCoy, Frazer Hines, Carole Ann Ford, Sophie Aldred, Michael Jayston, Hugh Fraser, Madeline Smith, and Renny Rye.

A limited number of reproduction Patrick Troughton mini plaques will be available for purchase soon from the Doctor Who Appreciation Society.

FILTER: - Patrick Troughton - DWAS

TARDIS Volume 17 - Issue 5

Saturday, 27 May 2023 - Reported by Marcus

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society, DWAS, has published the 5th issue in the current run of TARDIS magazine.

TARDIS was one of the original Doctor fanzines, having been first published in 1975. A year later it became the primary journal of the newly formed Doctor Who Appreciation Society and continued as a fan favourite for many years.

This issue will support Hopefield Animal Sanctuary in Brentwood, a charity chosen by former Doctor Who companion Carole Ann Ford.

The magazine was relaunched by DWAS under its current editor, Robbie Dunlop in 2021. The latest issue runs to 64 colour A4 pages and its contents include:

Interviews with Carole Ann Ford and John Gorrie
The story of The Mind Robber’s Unicorn – specifically the horse!
Peter Purves on his personal favourite story ‘The Massacre’
Family members recall William Hartnell and Charles Parnall
Martin Gower recalls the Timelash
David J Howe unearths correspondence from John Lucarotti to Target Books
Egyptologist John J Johnston on Pyramids of Mars
Alex Moore on the career of director Frank Cox
Laura Venegas charts Doctor Who broadcasts in Mexico
Connections between Doctor Who and James Bond and Gary Russell on his starring role in ‘Octopussy’
Christopher Hill examines merchandise from the 1960s
A look at Terrance Dicks: A Celebration
Gavin French charts the ins and outs of that Doctor Who fan institution – The Tavern
Archive interviews with Michael Craze, William Emms and John Lucarotti
Our new adventurers take on Paul Cornell’s Timewrym: Revelation
Neil Cole takes us to the Museum of Classic Sci-Fi
Ian Bresman remembers editing Celestial Toyroom
Jez Strickley on seasonal exits and arrivals
Mark Campbell takes a look at Philip Hinchcliffe’s novelisation of ‘The Keys of Marinus’
Colin Howard discusses his new book ‘Timeslides’
Nigel Robinson takes us with his latest Doctor Who quiz.

The magazine costs £9.99 inc UK delivery at the DWAS website and £10.49 at the DWAS eBay store.

FILTER: - DWAS

Celestial Toyroom Annual 2023

Monday, 2 January 2023 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society have released a new annual available to download for free:

This year, the seventh annual in our series, covers the Sixth Doctor's era. Every televised story from The Twin Dilemma to The Ultimate Foe is covered along with features on the play, the audios and some of the un-made scripts.

The book features articles from 17 different contributors, including Colin Baker himself, along with cover illustrations produced especially for the book by Alister Pearson and Graeme Wey.

The annual can be downloaded from the DWAS website in both single or double page views; the previous annuals are also avaiable to read from the site.

A limited hardcover copy will be published later in January.

FILTER: - Publications - DWAS - Colin Baker

Cosmic Masque XVI

Sunday, 16 October 2022 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society has released issue 16 of Cosmic Masque, it’s free-to-download e-magazine.

Each issue takes a look at merchandise, reviews, interviews and fiction: this edition takes a look at the world of podcasts, reviews of Doctor Who games, the most recently broadcast Legend of the Sea Devils and Redacted and other audio releases, plus much more!

The latest edition runs to over 80 pages and is available to download via the DWAS website - previous editions are also available to download at the same location.

FILTER: - Magazines - DWAS

Pets in Time - Animal Tales from the Cast and Crew of Doctor Who

Monday, 6 June 2022 - Reported by Marcus

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society has published a new, book, Pets in Times in support of the animal charity the RSPCA.

The animal welfare sector has faced serious challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic.

In the book, you can join actors, writers and production crew from the world of Doctor Who as they relate moving and hilarious stories about their own very special pets.

Including contributions from:

Colin Baker, Wendy Padbury, Robin Squire, Derek Martin, Katy Manning, Bob Baker, Mat Irvine, John Leeson, Louise Jameson, Janet Ellis, Stephen Gallagher, Janet Fielding, Sarah Sutton, Mark Strickson, Nicola Bryant, Mike Tucker, Andrew Cartmel, Eric Potts, Edward Russell, Linda Clark, Paul M Tams, Tim Quinn, John Freeman, Stephen Cranford, Colin Howard, Karen Davies, Mark Wright, Toby Hadoke, Kenny Smith, Mark Barton Hill, Raine Szramski, Andrew Ireland, Paul Magrs, Will Hadcroft and Rik Moran.

Artwork by Colin Howard, Nick Miller, Jey Parks and Raine Szramski.

Pets in Time is edited by Ian Wheeler. Cover illustration by Basil Waite.

This A5, 140-page book is in full colour and costs £10 including delivery.

To order Pets in Time, visit the online store via the website dwasonline.co.uk

FILTER: - DWAS - Charities

Verity Lambert Blue Plaque Unveiling

Wednesday, 1 June 2022 - Reported by Marcus

The blue heritage plaque dedicated to Doctor Who's first producer Verity Lambert has been rededicated at a ceremony at London's Riverside Studios.

The plaque was jointly unveiled by former Doctor Who showrunner Steven Moffat and the programme's first director Waris Hussein at a star-studded ceremony last Sunday 29th May.

At the ceremony, organised by the Doctor Who Appreciation Society, many of Lambert’s friends, colleagues and admirers were present including Carole Ann Ford, Caroline Quentin, Linda La Plante, Larry Lamb and even the man who once tried to cancel Doctor Who, Michael Grade.

Later, Sian Phillips and Patricia Quinn joined Waris and Carole at a special screening and Q & A of lambert's acclaimed 1974 drama about the Suffragette movement ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’.

The plaque was first unveiled in 2014 but was put into storage while the studio complex was completely redeveloped.

Riverside studios were used by the BBC in the 1950s and 1960s with many episodes of Doctor Who recorded at the studio complex.

A limited number of reproduction Verity Lambert mini plaques will be available for purchase soon from the Doctor Who Appreciation Society.

FILTER: - DWAS

Verity Lambert Heritage Plaque - Rededication

Monday, 2 May 2022 - Reported by Marcus

Waris Hussein unveils Verity Lambert Plaque (Credit: DWAS)

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society is rededicating its plaque in honour of Doctor Who's first producer Verity Lambert at a special event in London.

The plaque was originally unveiled in 2014, by Doctor Who's first Director, Waris Hussein. It is housed at Riverside Studios in Hammersmith, where many early episodes of Doctor Who were made.

The plaque has been in storage while the Riverside complex was being redeveloped, but will be rededicated at a special event on May 29th.

In collaboration with Riverside Studios, the society will unveil the plaque in its new permanent location at the studios. In addition, Riverside and the Society have, by special arrangement with the BBC, arranged a screening of Episode 1 of Lambert's BAFTA-nominated 1974 drama about the Suffragette movement ‘Shoulder to Shoulder’.

This rare screening will take place in Riverside's brand new cinema on the afternoon of 29 May 2022 at 2.00 pm. This will be followed by a Q and A session with two stars from the production, Dame Siân Phillips and Patricia Quinn, plus Waris Hussein (director of Shoulder to Shoulder & Doctor Who) and Carole Ann Ford (Doctor Who).

Attendees will also have the opportunity to view the free 'Time Lords To Top Of The Pops' photographic exhibition running at the venue as well as seeing the newly rededicated blue plaque.

Tickets for the screening are £10 each (plus booking fee) and can be ordered at the Society’s Eventbrite site.

FILTER: - DWAS

TARDIS Magazine

Thursday, 14 April 2022 - Reported by Marcus

Vol 17 Issue 4 of TARDIS Magazine has been published by the Doctor Who Appreciation Society, raising funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

In this issue, we celebrate the Second Doctor, Patrick Troughton, and 55 years of the Yeti. Frazer Hines (Jamie) looks back at his Abominable Snowmen cine film and recalls his experiences of filming with Yeti in Snowdonia! Marc Platt discusses his classic Doctor Who story Ghost Light, the spin-off drama Downtime, and Big Finish audio drama Spare Parts in an exclusive interview!

In Missing in Action, Robbie Dunlop and Si Hunt take an in-depth look at The Abominable Snowmen, with many details previously unexplored. This 23,000-word feature includes studies of the camera scripts and original production documentation, memories from Frazer Hines and viewers, a biography of director Gerald Blake with input from his daughter, and reviews by John J Johnston and Marc Platt!

Nicholas Courtney (The Brigadier) is remembered by his friend and biographer Michael McManus!We go behind the scenes of the Missing Story animations with director Gary Russell (who previews The Abominable Snowmen) and artist Colin Howard!

Allysha Lavino explores the Mystery of French village Rennes-le-Château, made infamous by her friend and associate, the late Yeti co-creator Henry Lincoln!

K9 the series producer and writer Paul M. Tams discusses the loveable robot dog, the charity single “Doctor in Distress”, and more in an in-depth interview which also features the late Bob Baker!

Artist Ian Fraser relates the story behind his cover art for the most elusive of Target Books, The Wheel in Space! Organisers and attendees of PanoptiCon VI tell the story of Patrick Troughton’s one and only UK convention appearance! Dalek Life: The Power of the Patrick Troughton Dalek stories is recalled in essays by Viv Corbett, David J Howe and Tony Jordan – including first-hand memories of the Doctor’s regeneration and the Dalek War on Skaro!

Our four New Adventurers (Daniel, Kevin, Mat and Sarah) take on the third New Adventure novel, Nigel Robinson’s Timewrym: Apocalypse – is it a hit or a miss for the team? Christopher J Hill’s Space Museum examines merchandise collected by fans during Patrick Troughton’s time as the Doctor! Downtime producer Keith Barnfather recalls the trials and tribulations of making the biggest independent Doctor Who spin-off to date!

Paul Magrs celebrates 25 years of Doctor Who stories in his column! In this issue’s Cover Story, Colin Howard discusses his VHS art for The Two Doctors! Mark Campbell scrutinises Terrance Dicks’ The Abominable Snowmen and The Web of Fear in Target Audience! Nigel Robinson poses another 50 taxing questions in his Doctor Who Quiz!

Plus – Patrick Troughton’s original hand-written recipe for Vegetable Soup with Dalek Krotons, from the 1985 Doctor Who Cookbook!

Tardis is edited by Robbie Dunlop. The cover is by Caroline Tankersley, and the back cover by Ian Fraser. Interviews by Gavin Bailey, David J Howe, Si Hunt, Alex Moore and Phil Newman.

It can be bought directly from the society's online store at dwas-store.sumup.link or at their eBay site: ebay.co.uk/usr/dwas_auction

FILTER: - DWAS

The Terrance Dicks Award For Writers

Tuesday, 15 March 2022 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society has announced a new award for writers, in memory of the much loved, and highly influential, writer Terrance Dicks, who passed away in 2019.

Terrance captured the imagination of a generation of children and young adults, many of whom are at the forefront of modern television. Mark Gatiss said:

Very hard to express what Terrance Dicks meant to a whole generation. A brilliant TV professional, a funny and generous soul. Most of all, though, an inspirational writer who took so many of us on unforgettable journeys into space and time.

The award will recognise those whose writing across screen, audio, book and magazine have contributed to, and enhanced, the worlds of Doctor Who.

The inaugural award, which is in the bequest of the Society Executive, will be presented by Elsa Dicks, Terrance's wife, at the sold out Capitol convention being staged at the Crowne Plaza, London-Gatwick across the weekend of 2nd/3rd April. Tony Jordan, organiser of the event, said:

Terrance was adored by fans across the world as well as being a great friend of the Society. In 2010 he received the Society's 'Outstanding Contribution to Doctor Who' Award, and it's lovely to now have an Award in his venerable name. Never was anyone more deserving.

Elsa added:

The hallmark of Terrance's writing was his simple dramatic story-telling. No sentences full of long words, adjectives and flourishes. He was his own critic, re-reading what he had written and paring it back if needed. He would say if you want to be a writer, be a reader first, The books you enjoy will colour your writing.

The Terrance Dicks Award For Writers takes the form of a statue of The Master, as portrayed by Roger Delgado, crafted by Gary Glover of Mooncrest Models. The character is Terrance's most famous creation, and continues to feature in Doctor Who half a century after his first appearance in the Jon Pertwee story Terror of the Autons.

FILTER: - Awards/Nominations - Conventions - DWAS

Previous 10 Stories

Cosmic Masque issue XVIII

Patrick Troughton Blue Plaque Unveiling

TARDIS Volume 17 - Issue 5

Celestial Toyroom Annual 2023

Cosmic Masque XVI

Pets in Time - Animal Tales from the Cast and Crew of Doctor Who

Verity Lambert Blue Plaque Unveiling

Verity Lambert Heritage Plaque - Rededication

TARDIS Magazine

The Terrance Dicks Award For Writers

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