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Doctor Who Magazine - Issue #466

Doctor Who Magazine have sent DWO the cover and details for Issue 466 of DWM.

DWM talks exclusively to the man who found nine missing episodes of Doctor Who: Philip Morris

“It’s my job to put a smile on Doctor Who fans’ faces,” says PHILIP MORRIS, who recently discovered the film copies of The Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear, “in complete co-operation with BBC Worldwide. Doctor Who fans need to know that we are actively searching for material. So don’t lose hope!”

Plus: Missing episodes experts PAUL VANEZIS and PETER CROCKER explain their role in restoring these decades-old films to their former glory! 

Also this issue:

BACK TO THE BEGINNING...
An exclusive preview of the new BBC Two drama, AN ADVENTURE IN SPACE AND TIME, which tells the story of the origins of Doctor Who and featuring an interview with DAVID BRADLEY, who plays William Hartnell, the actor who created the role of the Doctor. 

FIRST DIRECTION
WARIS HUSSEIN, who directed the very first Doctor Who serial in 1963 talks exclusively to DWM, and reveals how he and the cast were able to overcome the limitations of the show’s tiny budget and create something that has lasted for 50 years. 

THE GODFATHER
With excerpts from a previously unpublished archive interview, DWM presents a profile of SYDNEY NEWMAN, the man responsible for the birth of Doctor Who and for revolutionising TV drama production in the UK in the late 1950s and early 1960s. 

GOODBYE AND WELCOME…
Doctor Who showrunner and head writer  STEVEN MOFFAT writes exclusively for DWM and tells of the momentous day when outgoing Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith handed over the key to the TARDIS to incoming Twelfth Doctor – Peter Capaldi.

DO I HAVE THE RIGHT…?
The Fourth Doctor is taken on a detour to the planet Skaro by the Time Lords and given the task of preventing the creation of his deadliest enemies, the Daleks. THE FACT OF FICTION takes a look at one of Doctor Who’s undisputed classics, GENESIS OF THE DALEKS, and unearths some new and fascinating facts about the 1975 six-part serial and its origins. 

TOP OF THE POPS
The votes are in for the 2013 DWM readers’ Season Survey and the winners are revealed, including your favourite story, best guest stars, best writer, and favourite musical score!

NEVER ENDING STORY…
DWM’s journey through Doctor Who’s long history reaches its end with this year’s thirty-third series, in COUNTDOWN TO 50. We join the Doctor on his quest to solve the mystery of the impossible girl – his new companion, Clara, who he has already seen die twice. When the Doctor’s very existence is threatened by the Great Intelligence, Clara travels into the Doctor’s past to save his future…

A HAPPY ENDING?
The Doctor and Clara uncover the dark truth behind the cartoon capers in the second and final part of the comic-strip adventure, WELCOME TO TICKLE TOWN, written by SCOTT GRAY with art by ADRIAN SALMON.

VOTE SAXON!
Chris, Emma, Michael and Will are gobsmacked to find that the Master is the new Prime Minister of Great Britain and has a rather unusual approach to foreign affairs! The TIME TEAM take their seats for 2007’s THE SOUND OF DRUMS. Will it get their vote?

JUMP START
Mother of twins and devoted fan JACQUELINE RAYNER ponders on the importance of the first episode of a Doctor Who story, cherishing that slow build to the inevitable appearance of the monster in the closing seconds. Her son, however, prefers to skip straight to Episode Two!

DOCTOR BLUE?
The Watcher takes sound effects as his cue in this issue’s A History of Doctor Who in 100 Objects and champions the essential role they have played over the series’ 50 years. Plus another hapless extra gets his moment in the spotlight as Supporting Artist of the Month; we get a rundown of the Top Ten Boybands, all with a suitable Doctor Who twist; and The Six Faces of Delusion invites you to spot the sound effect themed fact that hits the wrong note. All in this issue’s fun-packed Wotcha!

PLUS! All the latest official news, TV and merchandise reviews, previews, ratings analysis, competitions, a prize-winning crossword and much, much more!

+  Doctor Who Magazine Issue #466 is Out Tomorrow, priced £4.75.

+  Subscribe Worldwide to DWM for just £85.00 via CompareTheDalek!

+  Check Out The DWO Guide to Doctor Who Magazine!

[Source: Doctor Who Magazine]

Review: The Companion Chronicles - [7.12] Council Of War - CD

Manufacturer: Big Finish Productions

Written By: Simon Barnard & Paul Morris

RRP: £8.99 (CD) / £7.99 (Download)

Release Date: June 2013

Reviewed by: Matthew Davis for Doctor Who Online

Review Posted: 13th July 2013

At the Doctor's request, Sergeant Benton is investigating ghosts and missing people in Kettering, while undercover as a local councillor

And that's how he comes to meet Margery Phipps.

An alien incursion in the town hall leads them on a journey to a terrible future – where Margery discovers how she changed a world, and the life of a whole civilisation hangs in the balance…

* * *

As The Companion Chronicles begins the journey towards its final season, this current one concludes with the debut of John Levene returning to reprise his role as UNIT member Sergeant Benton. Quite why it has taken so long to get a Benton story for the Chronicles is baffling as he is one of the most memorable characters from the UNIT years of the show.

Making their debut for Big Finish too are writers Simon Barnard and Paul Morris who are better known for supernatural comedy adventure series The Scarifyers. Based on their credentials it is no surprise that Council of War has some very funny moments with some very clever in-jokes.

The structure of the story is told seamlessly well between both Benton’s perspective and the character of Margery Phipps played exceptionally well by Sinead Keenan. Keenan’s performance is one of the best things about Council of War and her portrayal of Margery is utterly charming.

What about John Levene? Even though he sounds nothing like he did all those years ago, Levene still puts in a very good performance. Full of energy and character, he makes a nice addition to the range and I do hope that before The Companion Chronicles comes to an end we will get to see more of him.

The story feels a little like a Third Doctor adventure to begin with but this very much becomes Benton’s show. 

Barnard and Morris cast him as a James Bond like character, but one very unsure of himself out of uniform. It gives Benton an interesting vulnerability as he thinks the undercover work is more suited to Mike Yates rather than himself. He is just a soldier and the story does give Benton a chance to be just that towards its conclusion.

Margery Phipps is an interesting character, cast as a women’s rights campaigner stuck like a fish out of water in a council of seasoned male politicians. She is an idealist and both she and Benton make an odd but well fitted pairing. 

The story has a rather barmy premise, but it is great fun and the cast has a jolly good time playing up to all of the madness going about. Its conclusion does suggest that we might see more of these characters in a further adventure and with the final season of The Companion Chronicles just a month away, let us hope that this is the case.

Council of War is an entertaining if not perfect Companion Chronicle but a great debut at Big Finish for John Levene and a new writing team.