I've just flicked through various articles on the annuals (the introduction to Paul Magrs' book and a series of articles in DWM 211-215) and can't find any mention of fan involvement (though it's clear Magrs isn't terribly interested in the details of interaction between then BBC and Worldwide after about 1980).

It's plausible, though one suspects it may have had more to do with JNT's keener brand awareness than had been possessed by previous producers.