In 1980, Doctor Who Weekly, published by Marvel Comics UK, included a new comic book strip by Pat Mills, John Wagner, and Dave Gibbons, edited by Dez Skinn, Star Beast. Pat Mills is best known as the founder of 2000AD and co-creator of Judge Dredd, Punisher 2099 and Marshall Law; John Wagner is his Dredd co-creator and the longest-serving creator on that character. Dave Gibbons is best known as the co-creator of Watchmen, Give Me Liberty, and Kingsman and the creator of The Originals. And Dez Skinn, former Marvel editor, publisher of Warrior, Captain Britain, Marvelman, V for Vendetta, Starburst, Comics International and much more. David Tennant is quoted as saying that the Doctor Who Weekly strips were “better than the telly at that time” and he read Star Beast as a kid.

And tonight that 43-year-old comic book story has been adapted into the 60th anniversary returning Doctor Who starring David Tennant and Catherine Tate, written by Russell T Davies, with Miriam Margoyles as Beep The Meep. Pat Mills will be telling us a lot more about what went down then, in his new book Pageturners: How To Create Iconic Stories From The Creator of 2000AD as an e-book tomorrow, on the 26th of November, after Doctor Who and the Star Beast has broadcast, with the paperback on sale at the same time. All paying subscribers to his Substack will also get a download link to the book tomorrow founding members will receive a signed paperback copy.