New TARDIS zine materialises soon, in aid of Doctor Who actress Carole Ann Ford’s favoured charity

By John Freeman on May 12, 2023

The next issue of long-running Doctor Who zine TARDIS (Volume 17, Issue 5) materialises soon, featuring a striking First Doctor-inspired cover by SoundsMythProd.

TARDIS Volume 17, Issue 5 - Once Upon a Time - Cover

This issue of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society-published zine is in aid of the Hopefield Animal Sanctuary, based in Brentwood, chosen by actress Carole Ann Ford, who played the Doctor’s grand daughter, Susan, in the long-running TV series.

“Such an amazing place,” Carole has previously said of the Sanctuary. “Please support them if you can.”

Doctor Who is fast approaching its 60th anniversary, and it’s been decades since Carole’s character, Susan Foreman was unceremoniously locked out of the TARDIS at the end of The Dalek Invasion of Earth.

Back in February, the Radio Times reported that Carole has no shortage of ideas about how she could return to the show, speaking after readers voted her as the classic companion they most want to see back in action. The star said she was well and truly on board for a return, telling the magazine her story pitch, which relies on the Doctor and Susan’s telepathic connection.

Full details about this special issue of TARDIS will be published soon, but in the meantime, back issues of the current volume of the zine are available from the Doctor Who Appreciation web shop or their eBay store.

The current issue celebrates the Second Doctor, Patrick Troughton, and 55 years of the Yeti, published in aid of The Multiple Sclerosis Society.

• The Doctor Who Appreciation Society is online at dwasonline.co.uk

• Follow @soundsmythprod on Twitter

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.