The Basics - Issue 111, April 1986. The front cover features one third of a poster of all six Doctors by Alister Pearson free inside - the first two Doctors make the front cover. The back cover is a pin up of Susan and a Dalek from one of the Dalek films.

News And Views - 21 year old Bonnie Langford will replace Nicola Bryant as new companion Melanie after 8 of the 14 episodes of Season 23. BBC1 controller Michael Grade will be watching the new season carefully as he was not happy with the previous season. With a 4-4-6 episode structure, it is now expected that Robert Holmes will provide a 4 parter. A rematch with Sil is in the pipeline, and an umbrella theme for the season is being considered.

Other Regulars - A new three part comic strip, Nature of the Beast!, begins.

Reviews - Off The Shelf reviews The Savages - "a somewhat sparse, but enjoyable book."

Boxpops - Top of the pop charts in April 86 are the continuing Living Doll and George Michael's A Different Corner.

Skaro Says - Craig Rollins remembers being filled with dread at the news that Bonnie Langford was joining DW, and almost gave up on the show at this period. He wasn't too bothered about the umbrella theme, though, as he had fond memories of the Key To Time, and hoped that the reduction in episodes would improve the show's quality. Andrew Curnow remembers reading about Langford in the newspaper, and feeling that it would be either a good or bad move for the show. As it turned out, he felt she was OK in the Trial and perfectly fine in Season 24. For him, The Savages was a thinly written book, rather like one of Terrance Dicks' lesser efforts. Jonno was horrified at the news of Langford's appointment (again from a newspaper), and feels she was a dreadful companion with no proper entrance and a cringe-inducing farewell. He loved the cover and the poster, which must have been the first he'd seen of Alister Pearson, who would go on to become his favourite DW artist. Si Hart agrees that it was a great poster, although his copy of the issue didn't have the poster included. His Mum had to write to Marvel to get a copy sent to them! This was a notable issue for Jon Masters, being the first one he bought from his local newsagent. At this time, he was preparing for his A Levels and going away to university, and had all but given up on the show, not watching Season 23 at all on original transmission.