Happy Christmas to all my readers!

Wow - another year has flown past - and what a year it’s been!

Photo by Scott Sebring

It started back in January with a once in a lifetime opportunity when I made the Ultimate Tennant Suit. To have the chance to put into practice the actual way the suit was made was an amazing experience. The timing was perfect, as I had a couple of months before started learning traditional hand-tailoring techniques, which I put to great use in making the suit.

Photo by Scott Sebring

I had to follow the suit, and with three days notice ended up going to Gallifrey One in LA!
There I met up with a number of my online friends and many of my readers who had no idea I was going. I also had the privilege of arranging a group photograph with four of my Tennant Coat clients, which was the highlight of the trip.

By the end of April news broke that THE Series Six Shetland Tweed fabric had been found, as well as the Series Five Donegal.

It was like the Tennant Suit all over again: making an iconic jacket in the exact fabric. I was lucky to find the correct buttons and elbow patches to finish it off.

In August the culmination of many month work came to fruition when I took delivery of  my rewoven Tennant Coat lining. I had been searching for years to find a suitable alternative, but finally took the plunge and commissioned my own recreation of it.

The past few months of the year have been taken up with making a popular new garment in my repertoire - the Green Greatcoat.

I spent a while carefully researching the pattern, fabric and construction until I got it just right.

Then in late November I attended Chicago TARDIS, where I entered the masquerade competition wearing a test version of the Colin Baker Six Frock Coat. I won Best In Show: Workmanship for my tailoring – for which I am very proud.

This was one of three coats I had made, the other two were for the wedding of some close friends which is due to take place just before Christmas.

Looking back it has been an exciting year, with more projects than I could have thought to have taken on.

And as the year comes to a close, an even more exciting development is breaking.

More on that in the New Year, but trust me, it’s gonna be worth the wait . . .

Nestle milk chocolate bars - picture 12

Today it’s picture twelve of Doctor Who Fights Masterplan “Q” - the 15-part adventure on the backs of the Nestlé Doctor Who Milk Chocolate bars.

While The Doctor and Jo are seeking help, The Master is progressing his evil plan alongside The Major, who is under his influence.They prepare to transport the beast and put his plan into action.

As well as issues over the use of the WHO 1 number plate on Bessie, Nestlé also had problems with Siva Engineering, the makers of the car.

The BBC had given them reference material for all the characters, and Bessie was included.
Since clearance had not been sought, the BBC offered Siva Engineering 7½% of the royalties received from Nestlé in settlement.

Here is another side view of the promotional box, again with the Doctor Who logo stacked horizontally.

COUNTDOWN The Space-age comic! -December 1971

Exactly forty years ago this month, The Doctor continued to do battle in The Eternal Present, the comic strip in Countdown!

Click the issue title to view
the complete comic in PDF format.

Issue 42

Contains comic strips of

Doctor Who -
The Eternal Present pt 3

art by Gerry Haylock

also The Persuaders!, Fireball XL5, UFO, Dastardly And Muttley, Stingray, Countdown

Issue 43

Contains comic strips of

Doctor Who -
The Eternal Present pt 4

art by Gerry Haylock

also The Persuaders!, Fireball XL5, UFO, Dastardly And Muttley, Stingray, Countdown

Issue 44

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who -
The Eternal Present pt 5
art by Gerry Haylock

also The Persuaders!, Stingray, Dastardly And Muttley, UFO, Countdown

Issue 45

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who -
The Eternal Present pt 6
art by Gerry Haylock

also The Persuaders!, Stingray, UFO, Dastardly And Muttley, Countdown, Thunderbirds

Tee for two

Forbidden Planet’s release of Doctor costume t-shirts nears its completion with the latest wave of shirts.

So far One, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Ten and Eleven have been released.

Now the gaps are starting to be filled with the Second Doctor.

I’m not over convinced by this shirt – the lapels are too light and the breast pocket too visible.
maybe it will look better on a printed shirt.

Also released is the Eight Doctor.

This is clearly based on the costume on display at The Doctor Who Experience as the positioning of the buttons matches this rather than the screen used coat.
The waistcoat fabric also is the same as the display.

With the Cyberman shirt, and ten of the eleven Doctors available, it’s almost two weeks of wear without any washing!!

Nestle milk chocolate bars - picture 11

Today it’s picture eleven of Doctor Who Fights Masterplan “Q” - the 15-part adventure on the backs of the Nestlé Doctor Who Milk Chocolate bars.

En route to find authorities to help them, The Doctor and Jo realise they are being pursued by a lumbering beast.
Reaching to a button on Bessie’s dashboard, The Doctor has a plan.

As well as complaints from Jon Pertwee about how he was depicted on the packaging, there were also objections over the depiction of Bessie on the counter display box. Bessie’s number plate is well known as WHO 1. But at the time it was owned by a member of the public, so Bessie's real
number plate, MTR 5 would be switched to WHO 1 when filming. The owner didn’t like his number plate appearing on the packaging, but the BBC said nothing could be done to change it.

Here is a slightly different version of the box side, with the Doctor Who logo stacked horizontally.

COUNTDOWN The Space-age comic! -November 1971

Exactly forty years ago this month, Countdown comic had The Doctor concluding Backtime, before starting a new adventure, The Eternal Present!

Click the issue title to view
the complete comic in PDF format.

Issue 38

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - Backtime pt 6
art by Frank Langford

also The Persuaders!, Fireball XL5, Stingray, UFO, Countdown, Dastardly And Muttley

Issue 39

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - Backtime pt 7
art by Frank Langford

also The Persuaders!, Dastardly And Muttley, Stingray, UFO, Countdown, Fireball XL5

Issue 40

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who -
The Eternal Present pt 1
art by Harry Lindfield

also The Persuaders!, Stingray, Dastardly And Muttley, UFO, Countdown, Fireball XL5

Issue 41

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who -
The Eternal Present pt 2
art by Harry Lindfield

also The Persuaders!, Fireball XL5, Dastardly And Muttley, UFO, Countdown, Stingray

EXCELLENT!

Over the past months Forbidden Planet have been progressively releasing t-shirts of The Doctor’s iconic costumes.

So far Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven and Ten have been released.

This month not only sees the First Doctor join the gang, but the first to depict an enemy of The Doctor - the Cybermen!

The t-shirt shows the version seen during their triumphal return in Earthshock after an absence of many years.

EXCELLENT!

Nestle milk chocolate bars - picture 10

Today it’s picture ten of Doctor Who Fights Masterplan “Q” - the 15-part adventure on the backs of the Nestlé Doctor Who Milk Chocolate bars.

Unable to gain access to the secret government establishment, The Doctor and Jo Grant face a new peril....

Here is another version of the sweet shop display box backing card, again using a much better likeness of Jon Pertwee.

COUNTDOWN The Space-age comic! -October 1971

Exactly forty years ago this month, Countdown comic had The Doctor starting a new adventure, Backtime, drawn by the legendary Frank Langford.

Click the issue title to view
the complete comic in PDF format.

Issue 33

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - Backtime pt 1
art by Frank Langford

also UFO, Dangerous Drive, Countdown, Dastardly And Muttley, Stingray, Fireball XL5

Issue 34

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - Backtime pt 2

art by Frank Langford

also UFO, Dastardly And Muttley, Fireball XL 5, Countdown, The Wrong Bullet, Stingray

Issue 35

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - Backtime pt 3

art by Frank Langford

also The Persuaders!, Dastardly And Muttley, Funnel Of Flame, UFO, Stingray, Fireball XL5, Countdown

Issue 36

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - Backtime pt 4

art by Frank Langford

also The Persuaders!, Murder On Ice, UFO, Stingray, Fireball XL5, Countdown

Issue 37

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - Backtime pt 5
art by Harry Lindfield

also The Persuaders!, Dastardly And Muttley, Stingray, UFO, A Matter Of Contact, Countdown, Fireball XL5

Nestle Milk Chocolate Bars - picture 9

Today it’s picture nine of Doctor Who Fights Masterplan “Q” - the 15-part adventure on the backs of the Nestlé Doctor Who Milk Chocolate bars.

Hot on the heals of The Master, The Doctor and Jo Grant head north in Bessie towards Darisdale, the site of Britain’s first transporter beam...

Here is the backing card to the sweet shop display box - using the much improved likeness of Jon Pertwee!

COUNTDOWN The Space-age comic! -September 1971

Exactly forty years ago this month, Countdown comic had The Doctor concluding the epic adventure The Celluloid Midas.
At ten weeks, it was the longest running story to date.

Click the issue title to view
the complete comic in PDF format.

Issue 29

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who -
The Celluloid Midas pt 7
art by Harry Lindfield

also Countdown, Fireball XL5, The Giant Wakes, Stingray, UFO, Thunderbirds, Dastardly And Muttley

Issue 30

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who -
The Celluloid Midas pt 8
art by Harry Lindfield

also UFO, Operation Disintegration, Fireball XL5, Countdown, Stingray, Thunderbirds, Dastardly And Muttley

Issue 31

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who -
The Celluloid Midas pt 9
art by Harry Lindfield

also UFO, Fireball XL5, Countdown, The Kyuman Invasion, Dastardly And Muttley, Stingray

Issue 32

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who -
The Celluloid Midas pt 10
art by Harry Lindfield

also UFO, Stingray, Return Of The Rock Snakes, Dastardly And Muttley, Fireball XL5 , Countdown

Nestle Milk Chocolate Bars - picture 8

Today it’s picture eight of Doctor Who Fights Masterplan “Q” - the 15-part adventure on the backs of the Nestlé Doctor Who Milk Chocolate bars.

With The Master running riot, The Doctor and Jo Grant are finally closing in on him.

Here is another caparison between the original sweet shop display box, and the revamped version after Jon Pertwee complained!

COUNTDOWN The Space-age comic! -August 1971

Exactly forty years ago this month, The Doctor continued to do battle in The Celluloid Midas, the comic strip in Countdown!

Click the issue title to view
the complete comic in PDF format.

Issue 25

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - 
The Celluloid Midas pt 3
art by Harry Lindfield

also UFO, Fireball XL5, Thunderbirds, Countdown, Stingray, Dastardly And Muttley, Space Tug

Issue 26

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - 
The Celluloid Midas pt 4
art by Harry Lindfield

also Countdown, The Asteroid Affair, Fireball XL5, Thunderbirds, Dastardly And Muttley, UFO, Stingray

Issue 27

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - 
The Celluloid Midas pt 5
art by Harry Lindfield

also Fireball XL5, Thunderbirds, Countdown, Stingray, Dastardly And Muttley, UFO, Zero X

Issue 28

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - 
The Celluloid Midas pt 6
art by Harry Lindfield

also UFO, The Minute Millennium, Fireball XL5, Countdown, Stingray, Thunderbirds, Dastardly And Muttley