Radio Times Vote Dalek named by PPA as most iconic magazine cover of the past century

A Radio Times edition featuring a Dalek from 2005 has been voted the greatest magazine front cover of the past century.

The award was part of the Professional Publishers Association 100 year anniversary celebrations held at the Park Lane Hotel last night.

The cover featured the iconic Doctor Who baddie under the headline Vote Dalek. The edition was released the same time as the 2005 general election.

Tom Bureau, CEO at Immediate Media Co which publishes the Radio Times, said: “It’s a huge honour for Radio Times to have been voted Cover of the Century by the great British public. We were up against some very famous front covers from an incredible group of magazine brands, so we are over the moon. Radio Times and Dr Who are both iconic media brands that continue to go from strength to strength with regeneration at the heart of their success. This award exemplifies what the Radio Times brand does best – creating national conversations around the key moments in broadcasting history.”

Barry McIlheney, CEO, PPA, said: “We’re delighted that the great British public came out and voted in their thousands to choose their Cover of the Century. And it’s apt that such an iconic brand – and one nearly as old as the PPA itself – has been crowned the winner. It’s been great to immerse ourselves in the 100 year history of the magazine industry, but we now look forward to our next century of progress, helping publishers, agencies and advertisers adapt to the seismic changes ahead.”

A group of experts determined a shortlist of ten magazine front covers that went to a public vote.

The shortlist was made up of:

Woman’s Weekly – July 1916, Wartime Women

Harper’s Bazaar – November 1941, Fashion Blitz

Cosmopolitan – March 1972, Launch Issue

Time Out – November 1974, Churchill V-Sign

New Scientist – April 1987, Chernobyl

The Beano – February 1999, Dennis The Menace

Vogue – December 2001, A Royal Salute

Radio Times – April 2005, Vote Dalek!

Empire – June 2005, Breathing Vader

MacUser – February 2012, How Evil is Apple?