DESIGN COSPLAYERS: Radio Times

Since 2006, the penultimate issue of the Radio Times before Christmas has had a Doctor Who themed cover, and this year is no exception.

In previous years it has been robot Santas (see below, far left), as well as Kylie (see below, left) and David Morrissey (see below, right), before David Tennant bowed out with a solo portrait last year (see below, far right).

This year’s cover show matt Smith in his revamped costume, with Michael Gambon and Katherine Jenkins sharing a ride in his shark-drawn (!!!!) sleigh.

What interests me the most about this cover is a gallery of images on the Radio Times Website.
It give a little insight into the fantastic work that goes into covers such as this.

Firstly there are some out-takes of Matt (sans Santa hat) mastering the hansom cab (see below).

There are then a couple very close to the shots used, showing how his passengers were photographed separately (see below).

Also in the gallery are some out-takes from the photo that appeared a couple of weeks back, some with and without the Santa hat (see below).

There are also some nice full length shots, showing Matt’s new costume, though the images are quite flooded so it’s hard to make out any useful detail (see below).

Finally, there are some nice portrait shots of Katherine Jenkins in character (see below).

All the images above are © Radio Times.
No copyright infringement intended.
Thanks for sharing them with us, Radio Times!!

Today a new copy of the Radio Times dropped through my letterbox (see left).

With Christmas coming soon, this was not actually next weeks issue (that arrived on Tuesday), but the one after, covering the 4th to 10th December.

Right at the very back is a preview of the following issue, being the week before Christmas itself (see right).

Part of the features in that will be inevitable coverage of the Doctor Who Christmas Special, and it’s accompanied by a nice festive portrait of Matt in costume.

As far as I am aware, this is one of the clearest photos I have seen to date, showing the refreshed costume (the paparazzi photo taken during filming were distant and blurred, and official stills to date have been equally unclear).

Anyway, no sooner had this great pic been published, a rival magazine, TV & Satellite Week, put Matt Smith on their front cover, showing the fabric detail of the jacket and shirt even better! (see left)

You can download a high res version of the cover here:
TV & Satellite Week

And while we are about it, being a steadfast Radio Times reader I have never given TV & Satellite Week a second glance, but they have run some cracking Doctor Who covers for the new series (see below).

26th June - 2nd July 2010

All the covers for these issues are using top resolution images, which have been somewhat enhanced with sharpness and contrast.

Some, like this one, look to have been un-nesecarily messed around with.

Notice matt is wearing the blue Paul Smith shirt, with the burgundy bow tie!

But if you look closer, it has the texture of the blue one – it has been retouched to burgundy – for no good reason whatsoever!

24th - 30th April 2010

Though this is quite a nice shot of Matt in costume, it is not the correct image for this episode! (Time Of Angels, Flesh & Stone)

He is wearing the Donegal version, not the Mackenzie two-by-two dogstooth as actually seen.

Oops!

3rd - 9th April 2010

Another nice, if again somewhat over enhanced image.

This time he is wearing the Mackenzie two-by-two dogstooth jacket – but alas it is again not for this week’s episode (The Eleventh Hour).

19th Dec 2009 - 1st Jan 2010

A nice shot of David Tennant – annoying that the text covers the tie otherwise we would have a really good detail shot of the pattern!

Never mind :(

28th Nov - 4th Dec 2009

This is a good example of excessive post shoot manipulation.

The pinstripes on the suit have been played around with too much and are now a bit removed from their correct colour. The 19th December issue (see above) is a more accurate representation of their true hue.

14th - 20th Nov 2009

Again, pity (for us) about the placement of the text, otherwise we’d have another good reference picture for the tie!

4th - 10th July 2009

Thought I would put these two Torchwood covers in as well, partly to share the nice detail of the buttons on Jack’s coat – but also to show the work John Barrowman has had done on his face!

No-one looks like that in real life!