Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition

Tuesday, 18 February 2014 - Reported by Marcus
The British Board of Film Classification has cleared a number of extras for a future DVD release entitled Doctor Who 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition

The special edition version of the anniversary special The Day of the Doctor will include the two introductions shown to cinema viewers, one lasting 3'14" and one lasting 3'57". Also listed is a deleted scene of 33 seconds duration.

Also cleared recently are the 50th Anniversary specials Doctor Who The Ultimate Guide, the two-hour documentary on the series which was first shown on BBC Three, and The Science of Doctor Who, where Professor Brian Cox takes an audience on a journey into the universe of the Doctor.




FILTER: - Blu-ray/DVD

People: DVD roundup (The Fifth Estate, Not Another Happy Ending)

Thursday, 13 February 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The Fifth Estate


The film The Fifth Estate is due out on Blu-ray and DVD next Monday (17th February); the story follows the events surrounding WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, as played by Sherlock's Benedict Cumberbatch, and also features new Doctor Peter Capaldi as Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger. Grapevine have kindly sent us some photos of Capaldi in his role:

Peter Capaldi in The Fifth Estate (Image: Grapevine) Peter Capaldi in The Fifth Estate (Image: Grapevine) Peter Capaldi in The Fifth Estate (Image: Grapevine)

The Fifth Estate (Cover) (Image: Grapevine)The Fifth Estate
Released 17th February 2014 (pre-order on DVD or Blu-ray)

Driven to expose corporate crimes and government secrets not matter what the cost, an activist (Benedict Cumberbatch - Star Trek Into Darkness) and computer hacker (Daniel Brühl - Rush) team up to become the underground watchdogs of the privileged and powerful. As their WikiLeaks organisation starts to gather support and influence across the globe so the stakes are raised; pitching them into conflict with US intelligence agencies and putting the lives of thousands in danger. Also starring Stanley Tucci (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire), Laura Linney (Hyde Park on Hudson) and Peter Capaldi (In the Loop), The Fifth Estate is based on the thrilling true story of the battle for the control of power and freedom in the 21st century.

The Fifth Estate (Image: Grapevine)The Fifth Estate (Image: Grapevine)The Fifth Estate (Image: Grapevine)

We have two copies of the film on DVD to give away, courtesy of Grapevine; to be in with a chance to win please answer the following question:
Which spoof television documentary saw Peter Capaldi researching the history of a "lost" film studio?
Send your answers to comp-fifthestate@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "Was Wikileaks an Omnishambles?", along with your name, address and where you read about the competition. Only one entry per postal address will be accepted. The competition is open to readers in the United Kingdom only, and the closing date is 28th February 2014.


Not Another Happy Ending


Former TARDIS traveller Karen Gillan's first film, Not Another Happy Ending, is out this week, and Organic have kindly provided us with a few video clips of the actress in action:


Recently in an interview with MSN, she revealed the romantic comedies that she watched to prep for her role:
I worked my way through all the great rom coms of our time, started off with His Girl Friday, ... then The Apartment, When Harry Met Sally, Annie Hall...I worked through quite a lot, just to kind of research.

Not Another Happy Ending - Cover (Credit: Organic)Not Another Happy Ending
Released 10th February 2014 (order on DVD)

Karen Gillan (Doctor Who, Guardians of the Galaxy) stars in the Glasgow-set romantic comedy Not Another Happy Ending. Written by David Solomons (Five Children and It), the film had its World Premiere at the Edinburgh International Film Festival before hitting the big screen in October.

Starring alongside Karen Gillan is Stanley Weber (Thérèse, Borgia), Iain de Caestecker (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, Filth), Freya Mavor (Sunshine on Leith, Skins), Kate Dickie (Game of Thrones, Prometheus), Gary Lewis (Gangs of New York, Billy Elliot), Amy Manson (Being Human) and Henry Ian Cusick (Lost).

With her debut novel, Happy Ending, Jane Lockhart (Karen Gillan) pulled off that rare double critical acclaim and mainstream success. But now, with just the last chapter of the follow-up novel to write, she encounters crippling writer's block. She has no idea how her story ends... This is not good news for her publisher, Tom Duval (Stanley Weber). His company is up against the wall financially and the only thing that will save him is a hit, in the form of Jane's next novel. When he discovers that his most important author is blocked, Tom knows he has to unblock her or he's finished.

Everyone knows you have to be miserable to write well, and Tom realises that the only way he s going to get her to finish the novel is to make her life a misery. With the help of his best friend and cynical, child-hating high school teacher, Roddy, he sets about trying to dismantle the things in Jane's life that make her happy. Meanwhile, Jane's block spirals out of control to the point where her fictional characters, twiddling their thumbs in the not-happening novel, intrude into her real life. Her heroine, Darsie, is terrified that Jane won't give her the ending she desires because Jane has given up on her own happy ending. Will Tom, or Darsie, manage to get Jane writing again, and create a happy ending for everyone?

Not Another Happy Ending. Image: OrganicNot Another Happy Ending. Image: OrganicNot Another Happy Ending. Image: OrganicNot Another Happy Ending. Image: OrganicNot Another Happy Ending. Image: OrganicNot Another Happy Ending. Image: Organic

We have two film posters signed by Karen Gillan to give away, courtesy of Organic; to be in with a chance to win please answer the following question:
Not Another Happy Ending marks Karen Gillan's big screen debut, but in which play did she make her on-stage debut?
Send your answers to comp-nahe@doctorwhonews.net with the subject line "Blink and you'll miss her", along with your name, address and where you read about the competition. Only one entry per postal address will be accepted. The competition is open to readers in the United Kingdom only, and the closing date is 28th February 2014.




FILTER: - People - UK - Karen Gillan - Peter Capaldi - Competitions - Miscellaneous - Blu-ray/DVD

Cinema outing for The Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear

Thursday, 13 February 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
The Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear at the Prince Charles (Credit: BBC Worldwide)BBC Worldwide have announced a cinematic outing for the two recently recovered stories The Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear.

The stories will be shown together at the Prince Charles Cinema in London on Saturday 22nd February from 11:15am, and will also include a 45-minute Q&A session, chaired by Toby Hadoke, with cast members from the stories and a member of the Troughton family.

Fiona Eastwood, Director of Consumer Products at BBC Worldwide, said:
The recovery of these missing stories was undoubtedly a high point for BBC Worldwide and Doctor Who fans around the world last year, and we hope there will be more to come. We’re delighted that we’ve been able to make both of these stories available and the marathon screening at the Prince Charles Cinema is a great moment for Doctor Who fans to come together and celebrate their recovery.

Paul Vickery, Head Programmer at the Prince Charles Cinema said:
I couldn't be more proud to be part of this one-off experience - as a cinema, it's a dream come true for us to finally have the Doctor fill our screen and delight audiences and fans of the show. As a HUGE fan of the series I'll be there too, front row-centre. I’m very excited about having the opportunity to revisit these incredible episodes in a truly unique way… on the big-screen. It's sure to be one of those events for the PCC history books and I for one can't wait.

Dick Fiddy, Missing Believed Wiped Co-ordinator at the BFI, added:
These finds are truly significant, offering a further opportunity to re-visit the Patrick Troughton era. The recovery of these episodes indicates the possibility that more episodes are out there somewhere awaiting re-discovery – a mouth-watering prospect for all Doctor Who fans and those interested generally in the recovery of missing UK television programmes.

Tickets go on sale from 9:00am on Friday 14th February via this link, priced at £14 (£11.50 members).

UPDATE - 8pm, 14th FEBRUARY: The event has now sold out.




FILTER: - Special Events - Second Doctor - Blu-ray/DVD

The Web of Fear: UK DVD Details

Thursday, 23 January 2014 - Reported by Chuck Foster
BBC Worldwide have released the details for the forthcoming DVD of The Web of Fear, which is due out in the United Kingdom from the 24th February 2014.

The Web of Fear
Release date: 24 February 2014 UK (available for pre-order)

The Web of Fear: R2 cover (Credit: BBC WorldwideStarring Patrick Troughton as Doctor Who, with Frazer Hines as Jamie, Deborah Watling as Victoria
Written by Mervyn Haisman and Henry Lincoln
Directed by Douglas Camfield

Broadcast: 3 Feb 1968 - 9 Mar 1968

Previously unseen in the UK for 45 years and re-mastered from newly discovered tapes located in Nigeria, the formerly missing Doctor Who classic - Web of Fear - will soon be available to own on DVD. Starring Patrick Troughton as the Doctor, alongside Frazer Hines (Jamie) and Deborah Watling (Victoria) as companions, this iconic story sees the TARDIS narrowly avoid becoming engulfed in a mysterious cobweb-like substance in space before arriving in the London Underground railway system.

The Doctor soon discovers that something strange is afoot as the tunnels are being overrun by the web, an army or robotic yetis and The Great Intelligence. Before the original broadcast in 1967, this story was deemed so scary that the Doctor delivered the following message to television audiences:

Thank goodness… Oh, it’s you… I thought for one moment it was… I’ll just sit down for a minute. I’m glad I met you as a matter of fact; there’s something I want to tell you. When we start out on our next adventure – Jamie, Victoria and I – we meet some old friends. Yes, and we also meet some old enemies. Very old enemies. The Yeti as a matter of fact. Only this time, they’re just a little bit more frightening than the last time. So I’ll warn you that if your Mummy or Daddy are scared, you just get them to hold your hand. *Gunfire* Here we go again. I’ve got to go. See you soon – I hope!

The Web of Fear is also famed for introducing one of Doctor Who folklore’s most beloved characters; Nicholas Courtney as Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart who later became the Brigadier. The Brigadier’s legacy lives on in contemporary Doctor Who, with Kate Lethbridge-Stewart (his daughter) starring in the show’s 50th anniversary episode The Day of the Doctor.

Features:
  • Episode Three reconstruction, presented using the original soundtrack alongside surviving images from the episode
  • Programme subtitles
  • Also Available: The Enemy of the World






FILTER: - Merchandise - Second Doctor - Blu-ray/DVD

Moonbase animation clip

Wednesday, 15 January 2014 - Reported by Josiah Rowe
BBC Worldwide's doctorwho.tv site has released an exclusive clip from the forthcoming DVD of the 1967 Patrick Troughton serial The Moonbase. Episodes two and four of this story remain in the BBC archives; episodes one and three have been animated to the original soundtrack for this DVD release. The clip, from the animated episode three, shows Cybermen marching across the surface of the Moon in preparation for their attack on the eponymous moonbase.


The Moonbase DVD will be released on January 20 in Region 2 (Europe, Japan, Middle East, South Africa), on January 22 in Region 4 (Australia, New Zealand, South and Central America) and February 11 in Region 1 (US and Canada).




FILTER: - Second Doctor - Animation - Blu-ray/DVD

The Best of the Doctor: R4 DVD details

Thursday, 2 January 2014 - Reported by Connor Johnston
The Best Of The Doctor Specials DVD (R4 Cover)BBC Worldwide has announced Doctor Who: The Best of The Doctor is to get a 3 Disc Region 4 Release Date Early January. The DVD consists of all the BBC America Documentaries "The Best of ...." and according to some sources will also include an episode to accompany each documentary, though this has not been confirmed. The specials in the series, and are expected to be included on the set, are:
Each of the Specials duration time is around 45 minutes. The official details are below:
Discover whole new worlds behind three of your favourite Doctors: Christopher Eccleston, David Tennant and Matt Smith.

Immerse yourself in a total celebration of all that is Doctor Who! These unique documentaries explore Doctor Who through the ideas and moments that make the series such an unforgettable experience. Be awed by the artistry and imagination of the series' most iconic monsters, take an in-depth look at the Time Lord's trusty companions Amy, Rory and River Song, gather a new perspective on the perplexing and confounding paradoxes of time travel; and venture beyond the known universe for extra surprises, facts and theories that could fill the TARDIS.

A must-have for every fan, this collection will expand your knowledge and increase your appreciation for the universe of Doctor Who.
The DVD can be pre-orded online from JB-HI-FI




FILTER: - Merchandise - BBC America - Blu-ray/DVD - New Zealand - Australia

The Time of the Doctor DVD/Blu-ray release details announced

Friday, 20 December 2013 - Reported by John Bowman
Details have been revealed for the DVD and Blu-ray releases of The Time of the Doctor - with Region 2 getting a two-disc set comprising all the Eleventh Doctor's Christmas specials as well as extra content from this year's offering, which sees Matt Smith bow out as the Doctor.

To be released on Monday 20th January as a box set and entitled The Time of the Doctor + Other Eleventh Doctor Christmas Specials, the Region 2 contents will be as follows:
The BBC Shop is also doing an exclusive T-shirt and DVD/Blu-ray offer for the release.

The one-disc Region 1 DVD/Blu-ray of The Time of the Doctor will be released on Tuesday 4th March, comprising this year's Christmas episode and the extras Behind the Scenes of The Time of the Doctor, Farewell to Matt Smith, and Tales from the TARDIS. None of the previous Christmas episodes will be included.




FILTER: - Merchandise - USA - UK - Time and the Doctor - Series Specials - Blu-ray/DVD

The Moonbase DVD Details

Wednesday, 18 December 2013 - Reported by Connor Johnston
BBC Worldwide have released the artwork, trailer and details for the forthcoming DVD of the second Doctor story The Moonbase, which is due for release in the United Kingdom early January next year.

The DVD was originally due to be released this October, with animated versions of episodes 1 and 3. However, this was later put on hold to allow further work on the animation to be completed.

Starring Patrick Troughton as the Doctor, Michael Craze as Ben, Anneke Wills as Polly, Frazer Hines as Jamie and guest-starring Patrick Barr, Andre Maranne and Michael Wolf, The Moonbase was originally screened in February and March 1967, and with episodes 1 and 3 animated it will become the earliest complete Troughton story available on DVD.
In 2070 the Doctor and his travelling companions Jamie (Frazer Hines), Polly (Anneke Wills) and Ben (Michael Craze) arrive on the Moon and set out to visit the Moonbase, a manned structure used to control the Earth's weather through a device known as the Gravitron. All is not well on the Moonbase, however, with many of its crew suffering from a mysterious virus.
Special features on the DVD include:
  • Fully remastered Episodes 2 and 4.
  • Newly animated Episodes 1 and 3, with original off-screen soundtrack recordings.
  • Commentary on Episodes 2 and 4: a traditional commentary with actors Anneke Wills, Frazer Hines and Edward Phillips and Special Sounds creator Brian Hodgson.
  • On Episodes 1 and 3, a series of interviews featuring writer Kit Pedler's daughters Lucy Pedler and Carol Topolski, archive interviews with producer Innes Lloyd, assistant floor manager Lovett Bickford, and Cyberman actors Barry Noble, Derek Chaffer and Reg Whitehead. Moderated and linked by Toby Hadoke.
  • Lunar Landing – Cast and crew look back on the making of the story. With actors Anneke Wills, Frazer Hines and Reg Whitehead, plus production assistant Desmond McCarthy.
  • Photo Gallery – Production, design and publicity photos from the story.
  • Coming Soon – A trailer for a forthcoming DVD release.
  • Radio Times listings.
  • Programme subtitles.
  • Subtitle production notes.

The DVD is available to order at amazon.co.uk and amazon.com.




FILTER: - Merchandise - Second Doctor - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD - Patrick Troughton

Early Canadian DVD release for The Enemy of the World and An Adventure in Space

Saturday, 7 December 2013 - Reported by Mike Doran
Canadian consumer electronics chains Future Shop and Best Buy Canada have announced an exclusive early release of The Enemy of the World and An Adventure in Space and Time exclusively in Canada on Tuesday, December 10th. For this early release both titles will only be available from these two retailers as well as from their websites. Retail price is $19.99 for each DVD.


Enemy of the World from Future Shop Canada
An Adventure in Space and Time from Future Shop Canada

Enemy of the World from Best Buy Canada
An Adventure in Space and Time from Best Buy Canada




FILTER: - Canada - Second Doctor - Blu-ray/DVD

Day of the Doctor DVD extra content revealed

Monday, 18 November 2013 - Reported by John Bowman
The extra content for the DVD and Blu-ray release of The Day of the Doctor was revealed today - including another mini-episode.

BBC Worldwide said the 50th-anniversary episode would be accompanied by the following:
  • The Night of the Doctor mini-episode
  • The Last Day - a second mini-episode
  • Doctor Who Explained
  • Behind The Lens
  • The Day of the Doctor TV trailer
  • 50 Years of Doctor Who trailer
The release will also contain English subtitles for the hard of hearing, audio description, and audio navigation. The main feature will have a 5.1 soundtrack.

It will be released for Region 2 (the UK, rest of Europe, and Ireland) on Monday 2nd December (pre-order DVD, Blu-ray), and for Region 1 (USA and Canada) on Tuesday 3rd December (pre-order DVD, Blu-ray/DVD combo - two discs). Please note that the Blu-ray release will play normally on both 3D and standard Blu-ray players but the 3D will only work on a Blu-ray 3D player. Release dates for other regions are unknown at the moment.




FILTER: - Merchandise - Day of the Doctor - BBC Worldwide - WHO50 - Blu-ray/DVD