TV ACTION + Countdown - April 1972

Exactly forty years ago this month, TV Action in Countdown comic relaunched as  TV Action + Countdown, and finally promoted The Doctor to the cover strip.
This was on the strength of the first proper Dalek story to run in the comic, and it carried Doctor Who on the cover for several months, prior to its final relaunch.

Issue 59 contains a competition to win a Colour tv. To enter, readers were invited to draw a new enemy for The Doctor to battle. The winning design would then appear in a specially written strip, which ran from issue 79.

From issue 59 the comic was retitled TV Action + Countdown.
Notice too how the emphasis is slowly shifting from Countdown to TV Action, with the Countdown name now relegated to a byline.

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

Issue 59

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - The Planet Of The Daleks pt 5

art by Gerry Haylock

also Tightrope, Countdown, Hawaii Five-O, The Persuaders!, UFO, Stingray, Thunderbirds,  Autocat and Motormouse, Dastardly And Muttley

Issue 60

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - The Planet Of The Daleks pt 6

art by Gerry Haylock

also Tightrope, Countdown, Hawaii Five-O, The Persuaders!, UFO, Stingray, Thunderbirds, Autocat and Motormouse, Dastardly And Muttley

Issue 61

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - The Planet Of The Daleks pt 7

art by Gerry Haylock

also Tightrope, Countdown, Hawaii Five-O, The Persuaders!, Stingray, Autocat and Motormouse, UFO

Issue 62

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - The Planet Of The Daleks pt 8

art by Gerry Haylock

also Tightrope, The Persuaders!, Hawaii Five-O, Countdown, UFO, Stingray, Autocat and Motormouse

Issue 63

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - A Stitch In Time pt 1

art by Gerry Haylock

also Tightrope, The Persuaders!, Hawaii Five-O, Captain Scarlet, UFO, Countdown, Stingray, Autocat and Motormouse

Nestle milk chocolate bars - picture 15

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

In the dramatic conclusion the beast, reacting to The Doctor’s interference, touches an electrode, killing the monster.
Realising the game is up, The Master flees - just as Jo arrives with reinforcements, placing the staff of the base under arrest.

Though the story was over, this wasn’t the end of the connection between Nestlé and Doctor Who.
A second set of milk chocolate bars were released in 1975 after Tom Baker had taken over the role.

COUNTDOWN for TV Action! -March 1972

Exactly forty years ago this month, Countdown for TV Action comic launched a new Doctor Who strip entitled The Planet Of The Daleks, the first time their name was headlined.

From issue 57 the comic was retitled TV Action in Countdown.

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

Issue 55

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - The Planet Of The Daleks pt 1
art by Gerry Haylock

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

Issue 56

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - The Planet Of The Daleks pt 2
art by Gerry Haylock

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

Issue 57

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - The Planet Of The Daleks pt 3
art by Gerry Haylock

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

Issue 58

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - The Planet Of The Daleks pt 4
art by Gerry Haylock

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

Nestle milk chocolate bars - picture 14

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

While The Master is making plans to take over the world, The Doctor has ambushed one of his scouts, and dressed in his clothes he manages to gain access to the secret base.
He deduces the monster is controlled by a sonic device, which he tests by blowing a high pitched whistle. The beast reacts....

COUNTDOWN for TV Action! -February 1972

Exactly forty years ago this month, Countdown comic had The Doctor concluding *Sub Zero, discovering The Daleks to be behind the mysterious goings-on!

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

Issue 51

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - *Sub Zero pt 4
art by Gerry Haylock

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

Issue 52

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - *Sub Zero pt 5
art by Gerry Haylock

also The Persuaders!, Thunderbirds, UFO, Stingray, Countdown

Issue 53

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - *Sub Zero pt 6
art by Gerry Haylock

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

Issue 54

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - *Sub Zero pt 7
art by Gerry Haylock

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

Nestle milk chocolate bars - picture 13

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

With Masterplan Q in full swing, the monster materialises in the middle of Trafalgar Square, terrorising the population.
As soon as it appeared, it disappears and the voice of The Master makes a chilling ultimatum....

The chocolate bars were promoted in comics with the chance to win a space-age television. Here is the advert.

COUNTDOWN for TV Action! - January 1972

Exactly forty years ago this month, Countdown comic had The Doctor concluding The Eternal Present, before starting a new adventure, *Sub Zero.

From issue 46 the comic was retitled Countdown for TV Action!

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

Issue 46

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who -
The Eternal Present pt 7
art by Gerry Haylock

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

Issue 47

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who -
The Eternal Present pt 8
art by Gerry Haylock

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

Issue 48

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - *Sub Zero pt 1

art by Gerry Haylock

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

Issue 49

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - *Sub Zero pt 2

art by Gerry Haylock

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

Issue 50

Contains comic strips of
Doctor Who - *Sub Zero pt 3
art by Gerry Haylock

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

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