diff --git a/src/towncrier/__init__.py b/src/towncrier/__init__.py
index 06c4057a..68a7b698 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/__init__.py
+++ b/src/towncrier/__init__.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ def __main(draft, directory, config_file, project_name, project_version, project
     to_err = draft
 
     click.echo("Loading template...", err=to_err)
-    if config["template"] is None:
+    if config.get("template") is None:
         template = pkg_resources.resource_string(
             __name__, "templates/template.rst"
         ).decode("utf8")
@@ -96,20 +96,11 @@ def __main(draft, directory, config_file, project_name, project_version, project
 
     click.echo("Rendering news fragments...", err=to_err)
     fragments = split_fragments(fragments, definitions)
-    rendered = render_fragments(
-        # The 0th underline is used for the top line
-        template,
-        config["issue_format"],
-        fragments,
-        definitions,
-        config["underlines"][1:],
-        config["wrap"],
-    )
 
     if project_version is None:
         project_version = get_version(
             os.path.join(directory, config["package_dir"]), config["package"]
-        )
+        ).strip()
 
     if project_name is None:
         package = config.get("package")
@@ -122,12 +113,27 @@ def __main(draft, directory, config_file, project_name, project_version, project
             project_name = ""
 
     if project_date is None:
-        project_date = _get_date()
+        project_date = _get_date().strip()
+
+    if config["title_format"]:
+        top_line = config["title_format"].format(
+            name=project_name, version=project_version, project_date=project_date
+        )
+        top_line += u"\n" + (config["underlines"][0] * len(top_line)) + u"\n"
+    else:
+        top_line = ""
 
-    top_line = config["title_format"].format(
-        name=project_name, version=project_version, project_date=project_date
+    rendered = render_fragments(
+        # The 0th underline is used for the top line
+        template,
+        config["issue_format"],
+        fragments,
+        definitions,
+        config["underlines"][1:],
+        config["wrap"],
+        {"name": project_name, "version": project_version, "date": project_date},
+        top_underline=config["underlines"][0],
     )
-    top_line += u"\n" + (config["underlines"][0] * len(top_line)) + u"\n"
 
     if draft:
         click.echo(
@@ -135,7 +141,10 @@ def __main(draft, directory, config_file, project_name, project_version, project
             "What is seen below is what would be written.\n",
             err=to_err,
         )
-        click.echo("%s\n%s" % (top_line, rendered))
+        if top_line:
+            click.echo("\n%s\n%s" % (top_line, rendered))
+        else:
+            click.echo(rendered)
     else:
         click.echo("Writing to newsfile...", err=to_err)
         start_line = config["start_line"]
diff --git a/src/towncrier/_builder.py b/src/towncrier/_builder.py
index 35a3832e..89950d0e 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/_builder.py
+++ b/src/towncrier/_builder.py
@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@ def indent(text, prefix):
     def prefixed_lines():
         for line in text.splitlines(True):
             yield (prefix + line if line.strip() else line)
+
     return u"".join(prefixed_lines())
 
 
@@ -170,7 +171,16 @@ def render_issue(issue_format, issue):
         return issue_format.format(issue=issue)
 
 
-def render_fragments(template, issue_format, fragments, definitions, underlines, wrap):
+def render_fragments(
+    template,
+    issue_format,
+    fragments,
+    definitions,
+    underlines,
+    wrap,
+    versiondata,
+    top_underline="=",
+):
     """
     Render the fragments into a news file.
     """
@@ -215,7 +225,11 @@ def render_fragments(template, issue_format, fragments, definitions, underlines,
     done = []
 
     res = jinja_template.render(
-        sections=data, definitions=definitions, underlines=underlines
+        sections=data,
+        definitions=definitions,
+        underlines=underlines,
+        versiondata=versiondata,
+        top_underline=top_underline,
     )
 
     for line in res.split(u"\n"):
diff --git a/src/towncrier/_project.py b/src/towncrier/_project.py
index bd21084e..7b337982 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/_project.py
+++ b/src/towncrier/_project.py
@@ -50,13 +50,13 @@ def get_version(package_dir, package):
         raise Exception("No __version__, I don't know how else to look")
 
     if isinstance(version, str):
-        return version
+        return version.strip()
 
     if isinstance(version, Version):
-        return version.base()
+        return version.base().strip()
 
     if isinstance(version, tuple):
-        return ".".join(map(str, version))
+        return ".".join(map(str, version)).strip()
 
     raise Exception(
         (
diff --git a/src/towncrier/_settings.py b/src/towncrier/_settings.py
index 9913134e..83d88b73 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/_settings.py
+++ b/src/towncrier/_settings.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 
 _start_string = u".. towncrier release notes start\n"
-_title_format = u"{name} {version} ({project_date})"
+_title_format = None
 _template_fname = None
 _default_types = OrderedDict(
     [
@@ -28,9 +28,10 @@ def load_config(directory):
 
 def load_config_from_file(from_file):
     if not os.path.exists(from_file):
-        return None
-    with open(from_file, "r") as conffile:
-        config = toml.load(conffile)
+        config = {"tool": {"towncrier": {}}}
+    else:
+        with open(from_file, "r") as conffile:
+            config = toml.load(conffile)
 
     return parse_toml(config)
 
diff --git a/src/towncrier/_writer.py b/src/towncrier/_writer.py
index a42e9fa4..d0da0317 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/_writer.py
+++ b/src/towncrier/_writer.py
@@ -23,14 +23,15 @@ def append_to_newsfile(directory, filename, start_line, top_line, content):
 
     existing_content = existing_content.split(start_line, 1)
 
-    if top_line in existing_content:
+    if top_line and top_line in existing_content:
         raise ValueError("It seems you've already produced newsfiles for this version?")
 
     with open(os.path.join(directory, filename), "wb") as f:
 
         if len(existing_content) > 1:
             f.write(existing_content.pop(0).rstrip().encode("utf8"))
-            f.write((u"\n\n" + start_line + u"\n").encode("utf8"))
+            if start_line:
+                f.write((u"\n\n" + start_line + u"\n").encode("utf8"))
 
         f.write(top_line.encode("utf8"))
         f.write(content.encode("utf8"))
diff --git a/src/towncrier/check.py b/src/towncrier/check.py
index f10e2721..bdb140fe 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/check.py
+++ b/src/towncrier/check.py
@@ -8,11 +8,7 @@
 
 import click
 
-from subprocess import (
-    CalledProcessError,
-    check_output,
-    STDOUT,
-)
+from subprocess import CalledProcessError, check_output, STDOUT
 
 from ._settings import load_config, load_config_from_file
 from ._builder import find_fragments
@@ -40,7 +36,9 @@ def __main(comparewith, directory, pyproject):
 
     try:
         files_changed = (
-            _run(["git", "diff", "--name-only", comparewith + "..."], cwd=base_directory)
+            _run(
+                ["git", "diff", "--name-only", comparewith + "..."], cwd=base_directory
+            )
             .decode(getattr(sys.stdout, "encoding", "utf8"))
             .strip()
         )
diff --git a/src/towncrier/newsfragments/147.feature b/src/towncrier/newsfragments/147.feature
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8655cab7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/towncrier/newsfragments/147.feature
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Towncrier's templating now allows configuration of the version header.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/towncrier/templates/template.rst b/src/towncrier/templates/template.rst
index d77e1c10..362d8e17 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/templates/template.rst
+++ b/src/towncrier/templates/template.rst
@@ -1,3 +1,10 @@
+{% if versiondata.name %}
+{{ versiondata.name }} {{ versiondata.version }} ({{ versiondata.date }})
+{{ top_underline * ((versiondata.name + versiondata.version + versiondata.date)|length + 4)}}
+{% else %}
+{{ versiondata.version }} ({{ versiondata.date }})
+{{ top_underline * ((versiondata.version + versiondata.date)|length + 3)}}
+{% endif %}
 {% for section, _ in sections.items() %}
 {% set underline = underlines[0] %}{% if section %}{{section}}
 {{ underline * section|length }}{% set underline = underlines[1] %}
diff --git a/src/towncrier/test/test_check.py b/src/towncrier/test/test_check.py
index d4d7c39d..6cf01d16 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/test/test_check.py
+++ b/src/towncrier/test/test_check.py
@@ -42,19 +42,12 @@ def test_git_fails(self):
             create_project("pyproject.toml")
 
             result = runner.invoke(_main, ["--compare-with", "hblaugh"])
-            self.assertIn(
-                "git produced output while failing",
-                result.output,
-            )
-            self.assertIn(
-                "hblaugh",
-                result.output,
-            )
+            self.assertIn("git produced output while failing", result.output)
+            self.assertIn("hblaugh", result.output)
 
     def test_no_changes_made(self):
         self._test_no_changes_made(
-            "pyproject.toml",
-            lambda runner, main, argv: runner.invoke(main, argv),
+            "pyproject.toml", lambda runner, main, argv: runner.invoke(main, argv)
         )
 
     def test_no_changes_made_pyproject_path(self):
@@ -62,8 +55,7 @@ def test_no_changes_made_pyproject_path(self):
         self._test_no_changes_made(
             pyproject,
             lambda runner, main, argv: runner.invoke(
-                main,
-                argv + ["--pyproject", pyproject],
+                main, argv + ["--pyproject", pyproject]
             ),
         )
 
@@ -108,11 +100,7 @@ def test_fragment_exists(self):
                 ),
                 result,
             )
-            self.assertEqual(
-                0,
-                result.exit_code,
-                result,
-            )
+            self.assertEqual(0, result.exit_code, result)
 
     def test_fragment_missing(self):
         runner = CliRunner()
diff --git a/src/towncrier/test/test_cli.py b/src/towncrier/test/test_cli.py
index 27971dc3..cfbee479 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/test/test_cli.py
+++ b/src/towncrier/test/test_cli.py
@@ -61,7 +61,6 @@ def test_happy_path(self):
                 Foo 1.2.3 (01-01-2001)
                 ======================
 
-
                 Features
                 --------
 
@@ -161,7 +160,7 @@ def run_order_scenario(sections, types):
             u"Loading template...\nFinding news fragments...\nRendering news "
             u"fragments...\nDraft only -- nothing has been written.\nWhat is "
             u"seen below is what would be written.\n\nFoo 1.2.3 (01-01-2001)"
-            u"\n======================\n"
+            u"\n======================"
             + dedent(
                 """
                   section-a
@@ -204,7 +203,7 @@ def run_order_scenario(sections, types):
             u"Loading template...\nFinding news fragments...\nRendering news "
             u"fragments...\nDraft only -- nothing has been written.\nWhat is "
             u"seen below is what would be written.\n\nFoo 1.2.3 (01-01-2001)"
-            u"\n======================\n"
+            u"\n======================"
             + dedent(
                 """
                   section-b
@@ -312,7 +311,6 @@ def test_projectless_changelog(self):
             FooBarBaz 7.8.9 (01-01-2001)
             ============================
 
-
             Features
             --------
 
@@ -335,10 +333,6 @@ def test_no_package_changelog(self):
         runner = CliRunner()
 
         with runner.isolated_filesystem():
-            with open("pyproject.toml", "w") as f:
-                f.write(
-                    "[tool.towncrier]\n" 'title_format = "{version} ({project_date})"\n'
-                )
             os.mkdir("newsfragments")
             with open("newsfragments/123.feature", "w") as f:
                 f.write("Adds levitation")
@@ -361,7 +355,6 @@ def test_no_package_changelog(self):
             7.8.9 (01-01-2001)
             ==================
 
-
             Features
             --------
 
diff --git a/src/towncrier/test/test_format.py b/src/towncrier/test/test_format.py
index 3b95f972..8d5ecc27 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/test/test_format.py
+++ b/src/towncrier/test/test_format.py
@@ -89,8 +89,9 @@ def test_basic(self):
             ]
         )
 
-        expected_output = (
-            u"""
+        expected_output = u"""MyProject 1.0 (never)
+=====================
+
 Features
 --------
 
@@ -119,7 +120,6 @@ def test_basic(self):
 
 - Web fixed. (#3)
 """
-        )
 
         template = pkg_resources.resource_string(
             "towncrier", "templates/template.rst"
@@ -127,13 +127,20 @@ def test_basic(self):
 
         fragments = split_fragments(fragments, definitions)
         output = render_fragments(
-            template, None, fragments, definitions, ["-", "~"], wrap=True
+            template,
+            None,
+            fragments,
+            definitions,
+            ["-", "~"],
+            wrap=True,
+            versiondata={"name": "MyProject", "version": "1.0", "date": "never"},
         )
         self.assertEqual(output, expected_output)
 
         # Check again with non-default underlines
-        expected_output_weird_underlines = (
-            u"""
+        expected_output_weird_underlines = u"""MyProject 1.0 (never)
+=====================
+
 Features
 ********
 
@@ -162,10 +169,15 @@ def test_basic(self):
 
 - Web fixed. (#3)
 """
-        )
 
         output = render_fragments(
-            template, None, fragments, definitions, ["*", "^"], wrap=True
+            template,
+            None,
+            fragments,
+            definitions,
+            ["*", "^"],
+            wrap=True,
+            versiondata={"name": "MyProject", "version": "1.0", "date": "never"},
         )
         self.assertEqual(output, expected_output_weird_underlines)
 
@@ -189,14 +201,14 @@ def test_issue_format(self):
 
         definitions = OrderedDict([("misc", {"name": "Misc", "showcontent": False})])
 
-        expected_output = (
-            u"""
+        expected_output = u"""MyProject 1.0 (never)
+=====================
+
 Misc
 ----
 
 - xxbar, xx1, xx9, xx142
 """
-        )
 
         template = pkg_resources.resource_string(
             "towncrier", "templates/template.rst"
@@ -204,7 +216,13 @@ def test_issue_format(self):
 
         fragments = split_fragments(fragments, definitions)
         output = render_fragments(
-            template, u"xx{issue}", fragments, definitions, ["-", "~"], wrap=True
+            template,
+            u"xx{issue}",
+            fragments,
+            definitions,
+            ["-", "~"],
+            wrap=True,
+            versiondata={"name": "MyProject", "version": "1.0", "date": "never"},
         )
         self.assertEqual(output, expected_output)
 
@@ -233,8 +251,9 @@ def test_line_wrapping(self):
             [("feature", {"name": "Features", "showcontent": True})]
         )
 
-        expected_output = (
-            u"""
+        expected_output = u"""MyProject 1.0 (never)
+=====================
+
 Features
 --------
 
@@ -248,7 +267,6 @@ def test_line_wrapping(self):
   a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a
   a a (#3)
 """
-        )
 
         template = pkg_resources.resource_string(
             "towncrier", "templates/template.rst"
@@ -256,7 +274,13 @@ def test_line_wrapping(self):
 
         fragments = split_fragments(fragments, definitions)
         output = render_fragments(
-            template, None, fragments, definitions, ["-", "~"], wrap=True
+            template,
+            None,
+            fragments,
+            definitions,
+            ["-", "~"],
+            wrap=True,
+            versiondata={"name": "MyProject", "version": "1.0", "date": "never"},
         )
         self.assertEqual(output, expected_output)
 
@@ -271,7 +295,7 @@ def test_line_wrapping_disabled(self):
                 (
                     "1",
                     "feature",
-                    0
+                    0,
                 ): u"""
                 asdf asdf asdf asdf looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong newsfragment.
                 """,  # NOQA
@@ -284,8 +308,9 @@ def test_line_wrapping_disabled(self):
             [("feature", {"name": "Features", "showcontent": True})]
         )
 
-        expected_output = (
-            u"""
+        expected_output = u"""MyProject 1.0 (never)
+=====================
+
 Features
 --------
 
@@ -293,7 +318,6 @@ def test_line_wrapping_disabled(self):
 - https://google.com/q=?---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (#2)
 - a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a (#3)
 """  # NOQA
-        )
 
         template = pkg_resources.resource_string(
             "towncrier", "templates/template.rst"
@@ -301,6 +325,12 @@ def test_line_wrapping_disabled(self):
 
         fragments = split_fragments(fragments, definitions)
         output = render_fragments(
-            template, None, fragments, definitions, ["-", "~"], wrap=False
+            template,
+            None,
+            fragments,
+            definitions,
+            ["-", "~"],
+            wrap=False,
+            versiondata={"name": "MyProject", "version": "1.0", "date": "never"},
         )
         self.assertEqual(output, expected_output)
diff --git a/src/towncrier/test/test_write.py b/src/towncrier/test/test_write.py
index 372bf0a1..cdad7423 100644
--- a/src/towncrier/test/test_write.py
+++ b/src/towncrier/test/test_write.py
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ def test_append_at_top(self):
             ]
         )
 
-        expected_output = """MyProject 1.0
-=============
+        expected_output = """MyProject 1.0 (never)
+=====================
 
 Features
 --------
@@ -94,9 +94,15 @@ def test_append_at_top(self):
             tempdir,
             "NEWS.rst",
             ".. towncrier release notes start\n",
-            "MyProject 1.0\n=============\n",
+            "",
             render_fragments(
-                template, None, fragments, definitions, ["-", "~"], wrap=True
+                template,
+                None,
+                fragments,
+                definitions,
+                ["-", "~"],
+                wrap=True,
+                versiondata={"name": "MyProject", "version": "1.0", "date": "never"},
             ),
         )
 
@@ -140,8 +146,8 @@ def test_append_at_top_with_hint(self):
 
 .. towncrier release notes start
 
-MyProject 1.0
-=============
+MyProject 1.0 (never)
+=====================
 
 Features
 --------
@@ -202,9 +208,15 @@ def test_append_at_top_with_hint(self):
             tempdir,
             "NEWS.rst",
             ".. towncrier release notes start\n",
-            "MyProject 1.0\n=============\n",
+            "",
             render_fragments(
-                template, None, fragments, definitions, ["-", "~"], wrap=True
+                template,
+                None,
+                fragments,
+                definitions,
+                ["-", "~"],
+                wrap=True,
+                versiondata={"name": "MyProject", "version": "1.0", "date": "never"},
             ),
         )