Who’s Better Who’s Best? Special Tardis issue
Issue 1078
In this week’s Big Issue…
It’s the Christmas period. It really is. We kick off our run of five bumper editions with a Doctor Who special. As the anniversary of that show approaches, with a number of doctors together on screen and fan mania growing, we have a collection of fantastic features. These include an interview with Matt Smith detailing working on screen with David Tennant; a piece from Mark Gatiss, a Who-obsessive, screenwriter, man of letters; some pieces from Karen Gillan and Eddie Izzard, and a panel of experts explaining what deeply held psychological fear each Who monster plays to and why we can’t escape them. A salute to Laura Kelly and Adrian Lobb who worked tirelessly to put this stuff together.
There is also a big Doctor Who competition with prizes including a TARDIS teapot.
And more…
Our Letter To My Younger Self is with one of Britain’s great contemporary cultural icons, Suggs. The Madness frontman opens up about the death of his father, the influence of his mother and the early hopes and dreams that drove him. It’s a really touching, big hearted piece. A great one to carry.
John Bird’s column this week is also very reflective. He looks back the killing of JFK, why he was and remains a totemic and heroic figure. Also a piece with heart.
This is becoming a theme. Samira Ahmed looks back on an influential figure in her own life, her ‘aunt’ who died recently. Moving without being mawkish, it will pull you in.
How far can you swim? Not 900 miles, I’d hazard. Wonderful lunatic Sean Conway has just swum from Land’s End to John O’Groats to raise money for War Child. He details his days in My Week. Some pup!
Elsewhere, we have vendor Stevie from Stoke Newington. What a life – born of a military family in Alaska, he drove a yellow cab in New York, became a touring actor and lived a kind of Good Life existence in Berkshire until his wife died.
We also have Turner Prize judge Declan Long on what hosting that exhibition and award in Derry will do for that part of Northern Ireland; we celebrate the must-see TV of Googlebox, and have details of the vendor who gave away his earnings to help Children in Need.
There is much else. I’m told more people are completing the Suduko. Must make it harder again.
In the November 25 edition we have a brand new exclusive story from Irvine Welsh. What Begbie did next…