Beano editor Alan Digby retires

[Little Squelchy Thing]

Sad news, I thought he was doing a great job.

http://www.thedrum.co.uk/news/2011/02/2 ... c-thomson/

And a bit by Lew Stringer, here:

http://lewstringer.blogspot.com/2011/02 ... tires.html

[Digifiend]

Probably some changes afoot then. Good luck for the future Alan. Did Michael Stirling, the new editor, have a lot of input in Dandy's revamp, I wonder? You'd expect so, as he is the deputy head of children's entertainment at DCT. Beano suffered a significant drop in the most recent ABC sales figures (it lost 6000 readers), so I wouldn't be surprised if some things were to change.

Also, looking at the related links on the Drum article, I see an interview with brand marketing head John Paul Murphy. He mentions that at least two new children's titles were to launch in 2011. One of those is Nickelodeon Magazine, whose first issue is out now. I wonder what the second one could be?

[Steve Henderson]

Theres a shame, he was a really nice man. I met him at an exhibit told him I was doing a masters on the effect of british comics humour on animation and he very kindly invited me up to the offices. When I was interviewing him (for my dissertation) he told me he wanted to be a sports reporter for DC Thomson and was a little disappointed that they didn't get back in touch with him, instead offering him a job on children's papers. rather embarrassingly my phone went off and he said 'Oh maybe thats them offering me the job now!'

Sports journalisms loss certainly was The Beezer and later The Beanos gain! Hope he enjoys his retirement, The Beano under his (as sub) and Euan Kerrs management really had an impact on my childhood. If your reading this enjoy your retirement!

[Lew Stringer]

Also, looking at the related links on the Drum article, I see an interview with brand marketing head John Paul Murphy. He mentions that at least two new children's titles were to launch in 2011. One of those is Nickelodeon Magazine, whose first issue is out now. I wonder what the second one could be?

Animal Planet I think. That's just been launched.

[diegotheterrible]

I see the cat's out of the bag...

Sad news indeed! Alan brought me over from Disney comics to The Beano and trusted me to draw his brainchild, Ivy, for which i'll be forever grateful

Best of luck to him from now on!

[steven]

Saw the new editor on The One Show tonight

[Digifiend]

Me too - and he was wearing a red and black striped top, just like Dennis!

[Jay]

That was the new editor!? He was rather young looking. I can't imagine any Beano editor without grey hair.

[Digifiend]

Euan Kerr wasn't grey haired when he started as editor, in 1984.

[NP]

Neither was Harold Crammond. Nor George Moonie. And they, as well as Euan, were young men in their 30s when they became editor.

[Classic Comics]

We are all fresh-faced and youthful here in the Beano office. It's part of the job description, honest...

[AndyB]

Harry Cramond was depicted with yellow hair right up until he retired - see the cover of the Beano Book 1983. Euan was different, for firstly having black hair, and secondly actually letting his face be seen.