Beginning a new job is always a bit daunting – especially if you’re stepping into the shoes of someone who’s been running the shop for years. On my first day as editor of Doctor Who Magazine I was reminded of the slightly uncertain interview Peter Davison gave to the Radio Times in 1981. Tom Baker had been the Doctor for the last seven years, so Peter sought his counsel over a drink in the BBC bar.
“But it was Top of the Pops that night,” Peter remembered, “and the noise was so furious all I heard was ‘good luck’!” Tom Spilsbury was the editor of DWM for considerably longer than seven years, but fortunately for me he’s shared rather more advice since handing over the keys to this particular TARDIS.
Even though your editor has regenerated, I’m glad to say the rest of the crew is sticking around – deputy editor Peter Ware, editorial assistant Emily Cook and comic-strip supremo Scott Gray are working alongside me, while former art editor Richard Atkinson will be juggling design duties with feature writing in the months to come. Mike Jones comes aboard as a designer and the brilliant Peri Godbold returns as the new art editor. Peri and I have been here before and we’re both delighted to be back. I can’t wait for you to see what we’ve got in store, but it would be remiss to close this editorial without mentioning the first female Doctor. So here’s some long-overdue recognition for Pauline Greaves, who played ‘Dr Who’ in a children’s revue called Merry and Bright at the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool, in the summer season of 1965. Although Pauline mimed to the voice of actor Henry Lytton, in every other respect this was an all-female production. Barbara, Vicki, the Daleks and even Ian were played by the girls of Joan Davis’ dance school.