27 September - 3 October 2003 (Vol. 318, No. 4150)

In this issue the Radio Times celebrated it's first 80 years with a series of articles and features, the most high-profile of which was a readers poll titled TODAYS TV: YOUR VERDICT. According to the magazine 12 000 readers responded to the poll.

The poll covered a large number of topics, programmes and issues but the section of direct interest to us was titled Time to return? This asked which TV series readers would most like to see return - the answer was Doctor Who!

• » Page 10 - TODAYS TV: YOUR VERDICT - Time to return? (Doctor Who is voted Radio Times readers favourite to return to TV - this cutting features a short introduction, a list of the top five and a spoof listing for a new series of Doctor Who starring Laurence Llewelyn Bowen as the Doctor!). [view]

Footnote - by sheer coincidence on Friday the 26th of September, the day before this issues listings begin, news broke that the BBC are to make a new series of Doctor Who, commencing in 2005. According to all concerned, including Radio Times editor Gill Hudson, news of the new series was unknown to staff at the Radio Times so there was no deliberate planning, just sheer coincidence, in the timing of the above feature.

We'd like to add that to our knowledge all the evidence supports the above and we have absolutely no reason to believe that this coincidence was anything but a happy accident.

22-28 November 2003 (Vol. 319, No. 4158)

This issue celebrated the 40th anniversary of Doctor Who with a set of four collectible covers (see below), feature articles and a special 16 page 40th Anniversary pullout section. All this being despite the fact that no BBC TV station had any programming to celebrate the anniversary in that week (see cuttings from the 20 Dec. 2003 - 2 Jan. 2004 issue below for details of the BBC's celebration programme).

For viewers with access to satellite/cable station UK Gold this was made up for with an entire weekend of special programming and stories, some of which the Cuttings Archive contributed to (see our Doctor Who @ 40 section for more).

See below for a full set of covers, articles and listings from this very special celebratory issue of the Radio Times.

Internal articles, listings and adverts

• » Page 3 - Don't miss... the best of TV and radio this week and Contents. (includes teaser for the Doctor Who @ 40 Weekend on UK Gold and, under Contents, brief details of the "out-of-this-world Doctor Who 40th-anniversary special pullout!") [view]
• » Page 7 - Letters page with editorial, titled Who's a birthday boy... This is followed by DOCTOR WHO - HOW THE COVER WAS DONE, with details about, and photos of, the special cover photo shoot (with Colin Baker). [view]
• » Page 14 - The Whos' Who's Who. A small article speculating on who will be the next Doctor - accompanied by a photograph of Dawn French (Colin Baker's suggestion) and a Dalek! [view]
• » Page 14 - THIS WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS, The week on television - in years gone by. Mentions the 23rd November 1963, including the assassination of US President Kennedy and the first episode of a new series called Doctor Who [view]
• » Page 23 - Extract mentioning Doctor Who taken from a larger article on the assassination of US President Kennedy titled: THE BIRTH of an icon [view]
• » Advert (Page 41) - full page advert for the UK Gold Dr Who @ 40 Weekend titled: FREE SOFA [view]
• » Advert (Page 53) - Corgi Doctor Who collectibles [view]
• » Advert (Page 56) - The Who Shop [view]
• » Page 62 - TODAY'S CHOICES page (Saturday 22 November) preview article for the @ 40 Weekend, includes large photograph of (60's) Daleks and the TARDIS [view]
• » Page 67 - UK Gold Listings for Saturday 22 November including @ 40 Weekend details [view]
• » Page 67 - Full page (small size) for 22 November with @ 40 Weekend advert at bottom of page (see below for larger close-up of advert). [view]
• » Advert (Page 67) - Close-up of @ 40 Weekend advert from bottom of page [view]
• » Page 74 - BBC 4 Listings for Sunday 23 November with listing for the Alchemists of Sound documentary on the BBC Radiophonic Workshop (includes mention of Doctor Who) [view]
• » Page 75 - UK Gold Listings for Sunday 23 November including @ 40 Weekend details [view]

Radio Times Doctor Who 40th Anniversary Special (pullout section)

16 page special supplement included with Radio Times issue dated Cover dated 22-28 November 2003.

Main features:

All new Who - Interview with new 2005 series producer Russell T Davies.

Tom Baker On - Interview with Tom Baker and photographs of Tom in new June Hudson designed costume.

My favourite Doctor - Reader poll.

WHO do you do? - Jon Culshaw on impersonating the Doctor.

Captured in Time - Archive photographs (some never before seen).

Taking the plunger - Dalek building.

WIN a Dalek - Competition.

Doctor Who offers - Radio Times shop offers.

Also: THE RT FILES (history of Doctor Who in the Radio Times), Can't wait for the TV series (Shalka and other non-TV Who), Lost tapes turn up (lost episodes), Docs on the box (roundup of anniversary programmes).

View the special:

[cover | page 2 | page 3 | page 4 | page 5 | page 6 | page 7 | page 8 | page 9 |
page 10 | page 11 | page 12 | page 13 | page 14 | page 15 | page 16]

20 December 2003 - 2 January 2004 (Vol. 319, No. 4162)

The BBC chose to not to show anything around the actual 40th anniversary in November 3003 - instead they showed a new hour long retrospective, The Doctor Who Story, on December the 30th.

This was trailed in the Radio times with a small article, accompanied by an excellent festive picture of a Dalek 'family' sitting down to a turkey dinner, a Today's Choices page preview and photos accompanying the listings themselves.

• » Pages 16 & 17 - Best of Xmas TV and Radio photo and preview text titled ...I'm dreaming of a white Christmas... (with Dalek family!) [view]
• » Page 168 - Today's Choices Page for Tuesday 30 December 2003 (full page - large file) [view]
• » Page 168 - Today's Choices (as above but cropped to show only Who related sections - smaller file) [view]
• » Page 170 - Listing (with photo) for The Story of Doctor Who retrospective. Tuesday 30 December 2003 [view]