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 Worldwide

Starring 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 March of the Cybermen: The 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:

Doctor Who: The Best of the Doctor
Doctor Who: The Best of the Monsters
Doctor Who: The Best of the Companions
Doctor Who: The Best of the Christmas Specials
Doctor Who: The Science of Doctor Who
Doctor Who: The Women of Doctor Who
Doctor Who: The Timey Wimey of Doctor Who
Doctor Who: The Destinations of Doctor Who
Doctor Who: Doctor Who in America

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 Time of the Doctor
The Snowmen (The 2012 Christmas special)
The Doctor, The Widow and the Wardrobe (The 2011 Christmas special)
A Christmas Carol (The 2010 Christmas special)
Behind the Scenes of The Time of the Doctor - We take a peek behind the lens on this cracker of a Christmas special. With Matt Smith, Orla Brady, Jenna Coleman, Steven Moffat, Danny Hargreaves, Jack Hollington, Sheila Reid, James Buller, and Elizabeth Rider.
Farewell to Matt Smith - Narrated by Alex Kingston, this compelling special looks back at Matt's extraordinary tenure as the Eleventh Doctor, featuring highlights from the show and copious interview footage with Matt, his cast mates, writers, producers, guest stars, and celebrity Doctor Who fans.
Tales from the TARDIS - A look back at the full, 50-year history of Doctor Who. Eleventh Doctor Matt Smith and past Doctors David Tennant, Sylvester McCoy, Colin Baker, Peter Davison, and Tom Baker tell what it was like to be the Doctor, how they got the job, and how it changed their lives. With companion actors Jenna Coleman, Karen Gillan, Arthur Darvill and more, this special offers a unique insight into the world's longest-running sci-fi series.

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.

Doctor Who: Moonbase DVD Trailer (YouTube)

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

An Adventure In Space And Time R2 DVD details announced

Friday, 8 November 2013 - Reported by John Bowman

Details have been announced of the Region 2 DVD release of An Adventure In Space And Time - the forthcoming drama looking at the genesis of Doctor Who.

The BBC Two production, written by Mark Gatiss and starring David Bradley as William Hartnell and Jessica Raine as Verity Lambert, is due to be shown on BBC Two on Thursday 21st November at 9pm, following its sell-out première at the BFI on next Tuesday, and now BBC Worldwide has revealed that the PG-rated drama will be given an R2 release on Monday 2nd December, with what looks to be a reversible cover plus the following extras:

Leaflet featuring programme images and an exclusive foreword by writer and executive producer Mark Gatiss
William Hartnell: The Original
The Making of An Adventure - narrated by Carole Ann Ford
Reconstructions:
- Scenes from An Unearthly Child and the pilot episode
- Regenerations
- Farewell to Susan (from The Dalek Invasion of Earth)
- Festive Greeting (from The Daleks' Master Plan)
The Title Sequences
Deleted Scenes:
- The Radiophonic Workshop
- Verity's Leaving Party
English subtitles for the hard of hearing, audio description and audio navigation.
5.1 soundtrack

Synopsis
Actor William Hartnell felt trapped by a succession of hard-man roles. Wannabe producer Verity Lambert was frustrated by the TV industry's glass ceiling. Both of them were to find unlikely hope and unexpected challenges in the form of a Saturday teatime drama, time travel and monsters! Allied with a team of brilliant people, they went on to create the longest-running science fiction series ever, now celebrating its 50th anniversary

As previously reported, the drama was originally to have formed part of an anniversary release that also included The Day of The Doctor. Both will now come out separately on the same day.

UPDATE - 11th November: The DVD is now available to pre-order.

FILTER: - Merchandise - WHO50 - Blu-ray/DVD

The Enemy of the World: UK DVD details

Wednesday, 6 November 2013 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC Worldwide have released the details for the forthcoming DVD of The Enemy of the World, which is due out in the United Kingdom from the 25th November 2013 (plus an exclusive BBC Shop release on the 22nd November).

The Enemy of the World
Release date: 25 November 2013 UK (available for pre-order)

The Enemy of the World - R2 DVD Cover (Credit: BBC Worldwide)

Starring Patrick Troughton as Doctor Who, with Frazer Hines as Jamie and Deborah Watling as Victoria
Written by David Whitaker
Directed by Barry Letts

Broadcast: 23 Dec 1967 - 27 Jan 1968

The TARDIS lands on an Australian beach in the 21st Century, but this is no seaside holiday. Within minutes, the Doctor, Jamie and Victoria are under attack.

They soon discover that the Doctor bears a startling resemblance to leader Salamander, a would-be dictator intent on world domination. Before long, the Doctor and his companions are plunged into a dangerous game of espionage, intrigue and deceit as they face off against the enemy of the world.

The Enemy of the World is the first of two classic Doctor Who stories recovered by BBC Worldwide in 2013. The story had not been viewed in the UK since it was first broadcast over 45 years ago. The second missing story, The Web of Fear, will be released on DVD in early 2014.

Features: