Vote Dalek image voted best magazine cover of all time

A striking image of a Dalek in front of the Houses of Parliament has been voted the best British magazine front cover of all time.

By Nicole Martin, Digital and Media Correspondent 29 September 2008 • 2:04pm

Vote Dalek magazine cover — "Vote Dalek!" the Radio Times edition was published in the week of the 2005 general election Credit: Photo: Picture: BBC Magazines / Radio Times

The "Vote Dalek!" Radio Times edition, which was published in the week of the 2005 general election, fought off competition from more than 40 other contenders spanning more than 100 years.

They included the iconic photograph of Diana, Princess of Wales, which featured on the front of Vogue shortly after her death in 1997, and a picture of the fashion designer Vivienne Westwood dressed as Margaret Thatcher on the cover of Tatler.

Adam Pasco, the editor of Gardener's World who nominated the Radio Times cover, said the image of Doctor Who's arch enemy captured "the essence of the mood of the nation in a brilliant and original way".

"It's May 2005, the general election is looming, and the public is wondering who to vote for: Labour? the Tories? No – vote Dalek!" he said. "The cover is totally unexpected and brings a contemporary twist to the iconic image of a Dalek to grab readers of all ages in the newsstand."

Gill Hudson, the editor of the Radio Times, said: "It was a very complex cover to put together; simply getting Daleks onto Westminster Bridge at night was very challenging."

More than 10,000 people voted in the poll, which was organised by the Periodical Publishers Association.