The cover of the new issue of Doctor Who Magazine (on sale from 31st May, from all good newsagents) features William Russell. Inside, I interview the legendary actor about played the First Doctor’s companion Ian Chesterton in 78 episodes:
“William Hartnell never forgave me for leaving. He couldn’t understand it, which was nice in a way. He said to me, ‘What’s the matter with you? You’ve got three kids, you’ve got a job, we’re having a great time – what more do you want?!’ ‘I want to do a play, Bill.’ ‘Oh Christ –!’ He didn’t understand that. Maybe he was right.”
Elsewhere in DWM 448, Neil Gaiman tells me how writing The Doctor’s Wife helped him deal with the death of his father (“Sometimes things get a little frustrating being me,” he says); the votes have been counted and the winners of DWM’s annual readers’ poll are announced; showrunner Steven Moffat tells of the sad day that Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill recorded their final scenes as companions Amy and Rory; Mark Coupeabout interviews Glen McCoy, writer of much-maligned 1985 serial Timelash; Cavan Scott talks to the stars of 1988′s Remembrance of the Daleks – Pamela Salem, Karen Gledhill, and Simon Williams – about Big Finish’s new spin-off audio drama series Counter Measures; The Fact of Fiction considers 1979 adventure The Armageddon Factor; the Time Team joins the Doctor and Rose in post-war London for 2006 episode The Idiot’s Lantern; the Eleventh Doctor, Amy and Rory get involved in some very organised crime in brand new comic strip adventure The Cornucopia Caper… and all the latest news, reviews, previews, and competitions.
EDIT (15:45, 04/06): Kind words. RT @neilhimself: @dwmtweets For the record, that interview in DWM was one of the best interviews with me EVER. (04/06/2012 15:39) And RT @neilhimself: Just read an interview with me about The Doctor’s Wife in Dr Who Magazine. Best article with me in it I’ve read in ages. Nice job @dwmtweets. (04/06/2012 15:41)
