DDWF’s Introduction

Introduction from DaDoctorWhoFan

Welcome to this very special issue of the WIDWWA Newsletter. You may notice that both outside and inside we look different this month, and that is because we’re celebrating the Sixth Anniversary of WIDWWA, and we’re doing it in style. This issue is styled to replicate the look and feel of an early-1990s Doctor Who Magazine, so don’t be alarmed at some of the more dated design... it’s supposed to look like that! No, don’t adjust your monitor, the front cover is supposed to look dirty and dusty, it’s not something to do with your screen!

So, in this edition, I’ve packed it with lots and lots of things that reflect on the past of WIDWWA, but especially the 1990s, as that’s not only where it started, but that’s what the first WIDWWA book will be focusing on. Why am I bringing up the WIDWWA book? Well, because it’s coming out soon. I can’t give you an exact date, but I’m aiming for the end of the summer, so keep an eye out, because it’s going to be a very interesting read! The only other update I can give you on the book is the front cover, which I have revealed in this issue. Go flick forward a few pages, it’s there, I promise! What do you think? As I’ve said before, there will be two covers: this one, which will be the primary one for the mass market, and then a special fan one, which will use the main artwork on the front of this Newsletter, but all the graphics obviously be different, more closely resembling a 1990s Virgin New Adventure cover. This cover will also fit in line with the Elysium book, for those who want some consistency. I will reveal the exact look of it, later down the line, but for now, you can enjoy the mass market cover.

We’ve got some fantastic features this issue, focusing on the history of WIDWWA. Jack Murray-Bell, who contributed his Fan Fiction last issue, returns to take a look back at the first Doctor Who movie, from 2003; Toffa completes his series of End Board features, while also giving us the lowdown on the viewing figures from Season 56, so far. Additionally, I’ve bagged an interview with Moment Mission Studios (remember him?) to talk about his history with Doctor Who, WIDWWA and at the end I announce something very exciting! I’ve also republished the original Retcon-athon commentary, later in the issue, as not only is it extremely relevant, considering what this issue is about, but also two-and-a-half years on, I’m still getting questions about the retcon-athon, constantly, as many people aren’t fully aware of it. So, I’ve gone and republished the whole thing, so it can be enjoyed, debated and argued over, once again.

As usual, Tadeusz Cisłak’s reviews feature in the back pages of this issue, where he gives his thoughts on the final few episodes of Dokter Wie, and the first four episodes of the Daleks’ Master Plan. Speaking of the Daleks’ Master Plan, the previews for the final two episodes are a bit different to usual, as due to the fact we’re celebrating an anniversary, I thought I’d be nice and give you all an extended preview of the episodes, giving us a full double-page spread! However, before all that, following this, we have the WIDWWA News page, which, this month, I’ve kept entirely secret until publication. None of this news has been announced on Discord or Twitter yet, it’s all entirely exclusive to this issue. So enjoy! There’s some very exciting news there! The final feature, I’ve not mentioned, is a one-off special called Collectors’ Corner, which I’ve included, again, to celebrate the anniversary and the 1990s. In the feature, I focus on 6 different pieces of Doctor Who merchandise from the 1990s and I give you some details on it. For some fans, many of whom have been asking for something like this for several years, you’re going to really enjoy it.

In other news, I’ve decided that following the release of the Daleks’ Master Plan, in two weeks, I will be taking a break from all social media, for personal reasons. This break will last through the summer, but I will likely be back, if all goes well, in the Autumn. For the length of this break, WIDWWA will be paused, in June 2022. I will be leaving the Discord server, and I will be signing out of my Twitter account, as well as other social media accounts. Upon my return, which will likely be sometime after the book’s release, we will resume WIDWWA from June 2022, and will move to get back up to the present, as soon as possible.

This means that the Newsletter will also be suspended for those months, simply for the fact, there won’t actually be any news, as there won’t be any WIDWWA. I would be prepared to continue making the Newsletter, despite having left social media, and just email it out, but there won’t be anything to put in it, so this will be the final issue until the Autumn. Consider this as not only a special Sixth Anniversary Edition but also a big Summer issue!

WIDWWA has taken up a lot of my life for the past six years, and while this break isn’t entirely due to WIDWWA, a rest from it, is certainly something that I am happy to have. I think back to last September, when WIDWWA was coming to its end, apparently, and some people on the Discord server were freaking out (you know who you are), but instead what’s happened is it seems we have more WIDWWA, more frequently than we had before we reached the present day. Ironic.

I have really enjoyed this time, though, since last September, when we began Season 55, and we started doing everything in real time, discussing announcements and leaks and new episodes pretty much every week (yeahhh check out that Paramount+ money). Also, with the launch of this Newsletter, eight months ago, it has really brought the community together in a way I haven’t seen since the wiki was first launched in 2018. Although, I won’t be here, and although this Newsletter won’t be published for a few months, I really hope that the community does stay together and that you continue to be bound by your joint interest in the fundamental question of “What if Doctor Who Wasn’t Axed in 1989?”...

As for the Discord Server, please keep on using it for discussion about WIDWWA, it’s just I won’t be there and there won’t be any new releases. I am in the process of appointing one of my executive supervisors to become the Admin, while I’m gone, but no decision has been made. If you’re not an executive supervisor, but you are interested in the role, please contact me, because I am open to the idea. Also, when it comes to the server, recent events, in the past week or so, have brought to light that there are issues there, and change needs to happen. If anyone has felt like the server is not a safe or comfortable place, you have my word things will change. Perhaps a new admin is just what the server needs.

The wiki has been managed by Robert Morrison for the past few months, and this will continue during my absence. I will be checking in on the wiki, now and again, to make sure everything’s going smoothly, but that’s likely to be the extent of my interaction with WIDWWA (bar writing the book) during my break.

We’ve got so much good stuff to come, when I return, that you can look forward to! We’ve got more Doctor Who: Adventures, we’ve got Mike Flanagan’s take on The New Renegade, we’ve got the Centenary Special, and we’ve got that BBC Three show, you keep hearing bits of information about... I wonder what’s up with that? Maybe you could turn the page? Wouldn’t that be nice? Well, turn the page and you’ll see just why the BBC Three show is something to look forward to! But, yes, we have so much to look forward to, and this is definitely not the end of WIDWWA, but rather a brief hiatus. I don’t know exactly when I’ll be back, but please, don’t go making any awful charity records, and don’t send Daleks around to my house!

In all seriousness, have a great summer everyone, and enjoy these final two Doctor Who episodes. I hope everyone enjoys them (but I might be wishing too hard there)!

I hope you all understand why this is happening, and I hope you’ll all still be here in the Autumn, upon my return. Please enjoy this jam-packed issue of WIDWWA goodness, and until the next time, whenever that may be, goodbye.