The PPA revealed the result of the Cover of the Century poll at a Gala Dinner to mark its centenary at the Park Lane Hotel on November 21, which was attended by key figures from the world of magazine publishing, including CEOs, Publishers and Editors.
A total of 36,262 votes were registered by the public over nine months. The winning “Vote Dalek” cover celebrated the Daleks’ return after two decades, and coincided with the 2005 general election. The cover recreated the infamous 1964 scene where Daleks crossed Westminster Bridge.
Tom Bureau, CEO at Immediate Media Co, said: “It’s a huge honour for the 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.”
The Beano was runner up with its “Dennis The Menace” cover, which celebrated the magazine’s 75th birthday. The February 1999 issue was a turning point for the publication as it was the first where Dennis appeared in non-comic-strip style.
Time Out’s November 1974 cover scooped third place. The issue aimed to highlight another side of Winston Churchill around the former Prime Minister’s 100th birthday by putting a different spin on his trademark V-sign.
Barry McIlheney, CEO of the 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.”
The search of the Cover of the Century began in February and a panel of industry experts chose a shortlist of ten covers which were then put to the public vote. The shortlist was made up of the following:
* 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
