Yours Magazine Celebrates Milestone Issue

Table of Contents

• Dame Judi Dench Marks the 500th Issue
• The Anatomy of a Bumper Edition
• The Business of Belonging
• Tipping Point
• Secret To...

Key Takeaways

• Yours magazine released its 500th issue on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
• Dame Judi Dench appears on the cover at 91 years old.
• The publication maintains a base of 31,000 subscribers.
• The bumper edition includes 116 pages and £6,000 in prizes.

Dame Judi Dench Marks the 500th Issue

I looked at the newsstand this morning and saw a face that has defined British cinema for decades. Dame Judi Dench is staring back from the cover of Yours magazine. She is 91. The magazine is celebrating its 500th issue. This isn't just a birthday party for a publication. It is a massive production by Bauer Media. I noticed the weight of the thing immediately. It is a 116-page monster. Dench talks about her life in York. She mentions her old dreams of being a clothes designer. She speaks about her colleagues in the film industry. But the real story is the staying power of the printed page.

The magazine hit the shops on Tuesday. It costs the usual price but carries more weight. People call her a national treasure. I think she is a powerhouse. She still wants to work. She still wants to create. The interview focuses on how she lives her life now. It avoids the usual talk about retirement. Retirement isn't in her vocabulary. She prefers to discuss the future. And the readers seem to love it.

The Anatomy of a Bumper Edition

Georgina Ventre runs the editorial desk. She says the 500th issue is a gift to the readers. I saw the prize list. It totals £6,000. There is a separate magazine for puzzles. It comes at no extra cost. This is how you keep 31,000 subscribers happy. You give them more than they expect. The pages include expert health advice. They feature real-life stories. They provide a place for women over 50 to see themselves reflected accurately. It feels like a conversation over tea. But it is a business. A very successful one.

The Business of Belonging

Tammi Townley is the publisher. She knows the numbers. The magazine started in 1974. It just passed its 50th anniversary last year. The subscriber list is the engine of the operation. These 31,000 people don't just read the articles. They feel like part of a club. But the club is made of paper and ink. I noticed how the magazine handles the past. It looks at history through the lens of the present. It doesn't get stuck in nostalgia. It uses tradition to build a bridge to today. That is how you survive five decades of digital disruption.

Tipping Point

The magazine reached its tipping point in March 2024. That was the 50th anniversary. The staff realized their audience wasn't shrinking. It was solidifying. While other titles folded, this one grew its subscriber base. The decision to double down on print quality changed everything. They stopped trying to be a website. They started being a physical companion. The 500th issue is the proof of that strategy.

Secret To...

The secret to the longevity of Yours is the rejection of the internet's pace. It comes out every fortnight. It rewards patience. Readers get a physical object they can hold and keep. They get a sense of community that doesn't require a login or a password. The secret is simple. Treat your audience like neighbors. They will stay with you for 500 issues. And they will bring their friends.