Richard Unwin enjoys a night out at the Gallifrey Cabaret with Doctor Who legend Katy Manning.

Reece Connolly and Katy Manning in the royal box at the Clapham Grand.

It’s the evening of 13 June 2024, and DWM has a date with Katy Manning. We’re off to see the Gallifrey Cabaret – an LGBTQI+ Doctor Who-themed variety show that’s been going from strength to strength for the past few years, and tonight is celebrating Pride Month with a special show in a new, bigger venue. We find the Jo Grant actress sitting on the floor of the entrance hall of London’s Clapham Grand, the contents of her handbag strewn all around, frantically searching for a misplaced phone. DWM offers to call it. “It doesn’t ring – it barks!” explains Katy.

Half an hour later we’re settled in our royal box, the missing phone having been returned by a bemused taxi driver. This is a big and impressive showbiz venue, and we’ve got a great view – not only of the stage, but also of the audience. Four hundred Doctor Who fans excitedly waiting for the latest show from the Gallifrey Cabaret is quite a sight to behold. Most of the crowd here is young and queer – this is very much the next generation of hardcore fandom, but everyone is welcome. There are plenty of cosplayers, including one person in a screen-accurate Rogue outfit, despite the episode having transmitted only mere days before. They don’t win the costume competition – that honour is given to someone wearing a ‘fashion’ interpretation of the Empty Child, complete with gas mask corset – but they do end up proposing to the Doctor on stage.