'Tis the season to be jolly! And wow! We’ve got a lot to be jolly about this year. We’ve had two great new Doctor Who Specials in the last couple of weeks and now we’ve got The Giggle coming up, followed by a festive cracker and a brand-new Doctor, in the shape of this issue’s cover star, Ncuti Gatwa!
Before we start really celebrating though I’d like to say goodbye to the incredible Peter Ware who is leaving DWM this issue, after being with us for more years than he cares to remember. Things just won’t be the same without him, so please join with me in wishing him all the best for the future, even if I can’t quite understand why he would want to spend more time with his newborn granddaughter when he could be spending that time with me! Still, every cloud has a silver lining, and the silver lining in this case is the return to DWM Towers of the indefatigable Richard Atkinson. It’s been way too long, but the years have been kind to our very own Tricky Dicky and it’s almost like he’s never been away.
Now that we’ve swept the departures and arrivals of DWM staff under the carpet, let’s get down to what you’re all here for… Doctor Who… and figgy pudding! We won’t go until we’ve got some, we won’t go until we’ve got some, so bring it out here! I’ve always found that particular Christmas song a bit on the greedy side… greedy and demanding… but in this case, I fully sympathise. I can’t wait any longer. But, just like you, I’m going to have to, and all the waiting is only going to make it that much sweeter. So, let’s try to calm down, and enjoy the build up with this bumper festive hamper issue of DWM. I’m not going to waste space telling you what this issue is going to bring you, because I’m sure you’re all capable of having a quick browse and a flick through the pages. But of course, I can’t help but draw attention to our exclusive chat with the new Doctor himself. It’s just one of the things we’ve all been waiting for, and now here it is. Just one of many highlights for this year’s Holiday Season and when I say just one of the highlights, I mean it! This issue is bringing you soooo much great stuff. I can’t decide which is my favourite. Is it the Meep Diary? Is it our behind-the-scenes look at Wild Blue Yonder? Is it our new comic strip story featuring the Fourteenth Doctor and Donna? Guess what? It’s all of them, along with the other features I still haven’t mentioned, not out of disrespect for them, but because I’ve made my point… I think.