1992: DWB CELEBRATES 100 ISSUES

From April 1992: long-running DOCTOR WHO (and, latterly, telefantasy in general) fanzine DWB celebrates 100 issues with this fancy bit of cover photoshopping.

1994: DWB INTERVIEW FILE

From 1994: the softcover DWB INTERVIEW FILE, a collection of the best interviews (with a predictable bias to all things WHO) from the first 100 issues of DWB/ DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN.

This was published alongside the black-covered Compendium (see previous post) and - between them - make for a great overview of the bulk of the fanzine's run (it continued for a bit longer but then rebooted into DREAMWATCH... and began to loose its edge somewhat).

1993: THE DWB COMPENDIUM

From 1993:THE DWB COMPENDIUM - THE BEST OF DWB, a softcover book collecting many of the best articles and features (some updated or - at the very least - with new formatting and layouts to compensate for the mag's sometimes primitive production values) from the fanzine/ magazine's first 100 issues in print.

This - and the companion compilation of the best interviews - were offered for sale through the magazine and (I think) through shops as well. I have an idea that I picked up my copies several years later as remaindered stock. DWB itself was still trying to shift unsold copies way into the DREAMWATCH era. Copies seldom seem to surface now (although I don't attend any WHO conventions... which may be awash with copies for all I know) which suggests that limited initial interest has translated as scarcity in the secondary market.

Both are well worth grabbing if you find copies. The emphasis is on WHO (of course) bua t there is enough other telefantasy in both to generate a bit of diversity.

1988: DWB (DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN) ISSUE 59

From October 1988: DWB (formally DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN and predecessor to DREAMWATCH issue59.

1988: DWB ISSUE 58

From September 1988: DWB issue 58 announces the new D0CTOR WHO Producer is none other than the guy who already had the job.

This no doubt came as a blow to both the vehemently anti JN-T DWB but also to many of its readers. What they didn't realise was that JN-T was pretty much the show's only cheerleader within the BBC and - had he have walked away (or been able to walk away... a one show CV and the closure of staff producer jobs was limiting his options) then the sixth floor would almost certainly have called time.

At least he - and the show - went out on a high with two seasons of (for the most part) decent adventures.

1988: DWB ISSUE 57

From August 1988: DWB issue 57, celebrating five years in print.

2007: DREAMWATCH 150: THE FINAL ISSUE

From March 2007: DREAMWATCH ISSUE 150, the last issue of the magazine and the end of a long publishing run that dates all the way back to the launch of DWB as a photocopied DOCTOR WHO newsletter in the early 1980s.

Technically this is so far outside the pre-millennial Star Age that it is virtually last week's issue. But I thought it was important to include it because it does mark the end of such a significant run.

The mag was supposed to have a bold future as an online site but - as is often the case - success in one medium doesn't ensure longevity in another and Titan Magazines (true to form) soon lost interest in that as well.

2003: DREAMWATCH ISSUE 100 (TITAN MAGAZINES)

From January 2003: DREAMWATCH MAGAZINE celebrates its 100 issue (and an awful lot more if you count DWB as well).

Technically this falls outside the Star Age and therefore outside the remit of STARLOGGED. But it's an anniversary of a mainstay (which managed another fifty issues before succumbing) so well worth a post.

1988: DWB ISSUE 56

From July 1988: DWB issue 56 with a front page article that doesn't seem to have generated much traction in DOCTIR WHO history and lore.

It's interesting that even DWB were forced to pay JNT a backhanded compliment by acknowledging all the other aspects of his role on top of actually producing the show. Today, there would be an army of professionale to cover those ancillary functions.

Its also interesting that DWB didn't go inorganic mode at the prospect, however slim, of s producer from the Children's department taking on the show (which, of course, sat within the BBC's Drama empire).

As it turned out, JNT would indeed stick around for another season.

1988: DWB ISSUE 55

From June 1988: the next issue of DWB in my stack... issue 55.

The Timelords came... and went. Gary Glitter went to PC World... Prison... and the Far East. And THAT movie still hasn't happened (although I saw the 50th anniversary special in the cinema opposite TVC... so that kinda counts).

1988: DWB ISSUE 53

From April 1988: DWB (formally DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN) issue 53.

1988: DWB (DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN) ISSUE 52

From March 1988: The JN-T hateathon continues on the cover of the next DWB (DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN) in the STARLOGGED archive.

Issue 52 reports that the WHO producer would be bowing out after the anniversary season.

He didn't.

1987: DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN/ DWB ISSUE 50

From December 1987: DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN (now definitely DWB) celebrate the big fifty, and the end of the year, with a new look, a new masthead, another colour cover and a double issue packed full of goodies. But.. not The Goodies.

1987: DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN ISSUE 49

From November 1987: The headline that must have brightened John Nathan-Turner's day: the ever crusading DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN and one-time grind of the show Ian Levine (both for somewhat ulterior motives) decide that Doctor Who's Producer must be chopped in order to save the show.

Another nail in the coffin...

1987: DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN ISSUE 48

From October 1987: DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN (aka DWB) gets the knives out again. This time, in issue 48, to complain about BBC ONE's daytime daily talkabout telly show OPEN AIR.

1987: DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN ISSUE 47

From September 1987: DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN (latterly DWB and then DREAMWATCH) reports a rare bit of good news by announcing BBC planners had allocated resources to the show's 25th season. Hurrah. 

1987: DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN ISSUE 44

From June 1987: the Daleks invade (courtesy of a rare behind-the-scenes production still from the Sixties) issue 44 of DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN (latterly DWB and - eventually - Dreamwatch).

1987: DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN ISSUE 43

From May 1987: another issue (number 43) of DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN (aka DWB).

Unfortunately the run I acquired skipped a couple of issues but it looks like the mag took a brief hiatus and then returned with this restyled (and much neater) cover layout. 

Who could resist a centre spread tease like that? 

1986: DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN ISSUE 40

From November 1986: a rare bit of good news during a bleak period in the history of WHO. DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN 40 reports that, despite soft ratings (see previous posts), the show was being renewed for a 24th season.

Of course, what fandom didn't know yet is that there would be a price to pay...

1986: DOCTOR WHO BULLETIN ISSUE 39

From October 1986: How times change... 5 million punters might have been a disaster for the new season debut back in 1986 but, in our new fangled modern world, most UK broadcasters would be quite chuffed with a similar audience. 

To be honest, I remember seeing the opening installments of the TRIAL OF A TIMELORD season and being distinctly underwhelmed. Not only was the whole idea of a sprawling 14 episode story arc flawed (and poorly executed) but JN-T's legendary showmanship seemed to have abandoned him. With the exception of the impressive motion-controlled miniature to open the story, there was little in the way of spectacle. Had he had served up a REMEMBERANCE OF THE DALEKS, he could have generated some buzz around the show again.  

The slump also, of course, played into DWB's narrative that the current production team (read: the producer) needed the boot in order to inject fresh blood. What only became clear later was that JN-T was one of the few people inside the Corporation really to trying to keep the show in business at all.  

And just look at some of the stellar ratings that some other regular shows were getting: over 17 million for EASTENDERS (although that almost certainly consolidated the Sunday afternoon omnibus repeat as well... and these were the days before Sunday opening gave millions the opportunity to dodge it), 10 million for DW's arch Saturday evening rivals THE A-TEAM. And even 4 million plus slumping down after school (or work if you'd bunked off exceptionally early) to see BLUE PETER.