Candy Jar Books, who fans will know for an array of Doctor Who-related titles, has been named Best Independent Publisher 2026 – Wales.
The publisher was officially named the Best Independent Book Publisher 2026 – Wales in the 13th annual Acquisition International Business Excellence Awards — a huge achievement, and as someone who works on a freelance basis for Candy Jar, I’m hugely proud of their achievements.
Head of Publishing Shaun Russell said:
“It is a pleasure to receive this award. As a Cardiff-based company, we are proud to contribute to the rich tradition of Welsh storytelling. We have always championed new authors and artists, and this award belongs to them as much as it does to us.”
Indeed, the Doctor Who Companion has a few links with Candy Jar: notably, today (30th July 2026) marks the official retail release of Just Sarah: More Than Fifty Years of a Doctor Who Companion, a book with chapters by a number of DWC writers like: Jonathan Appleton, Bar Nash-Williams, Peter Shaw, Graham Clements, Simon Danes, Thomas Spychalski, Colin Burden, Matt Badham, Jordan Shortman, Rick Lundeen, David Cromarty, Scott Varnham, Andrew Hsieh, Anthony Forth, Alex Skerratt, and Mike Ranahan! The book was previously available exclusively from the Candy Jar Books website, but will now also be available to order from shops like Amazon, Waterstones, and Forbidden Planet.
Other Doctor Who-related books include UNIT: A Legacy in Doctor Who, The Lucy Wilson Mysteries (featuring the granddaughter of the Brigadier), The Benton Files series, 100 Objects of Doctor Who, Timeslides: The Doctor Who Art of Colin Howard, the Lethbridge-Stewart and UNIT ranges, Benton and Hawthorne Investigate, Companions: More Than Sixty Years of Doctor Who Assistants, and the Doctor Who Christmas Specials.
Congratulations to Shaun, Keren, and Will at Candy Jar Books!
