DVD development update

Tuesday, 23 August 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Some news on possible future DVD releases emerged at the Fantom Films conventions held over the weekend:

Back in 1964, the story Planet of Giants had originally been filmed as a four-part story, but had the latter two episodes combined into one in order to tighten the plot for a better paced series opener. Though the original recording no longer exists, actress Carole Ann Ford, who played the Doctor's grand-daughter Susan, mentioned at the Dalek Invasion Earth convention that she had recently recorded an audio version of the original script for that fourth episode, The Urge to Live, which she believed is to be for a DVD release of the story.

Further 'lost' material also seems likely to see the light of day. Back in 1979 the final story of Season 17, Shada, had to be abandoned due to BBC strikes with only parts of the studio sessions completed; appearing at the Timelord Tales convention, both Victoria Burgoyne (Clare) and Daniel Hill (Chris) reported that they'd been involved in a new audio recording of the script for the unfilmed material, in which other original cast members participated including Lalla Ward (Romana). They also discussed the missing scenes being recreated in animation, and believed this could form part of a DVD release of the story in the future. (Producer Ian Levine has confirmed that the actors were talking about his production, but that the cast hope for an 'official' release.)

A recent fire at the Sony warehouse facilities in Enfield led to loss of much of the DVD and CD stock held there, including Doctor Who DVDs due to be distributed by 2|Entertain. However, the company has reported that this will not affect the release of Day of the Daleks, due out on the 12th September (available to pre-order).

The Restoration Team have recently revived their website that delves into the technical issues involved in restoring the classic Doctor Who stories for DVD release - the site had been in mothballs since The Space Museum/The Chase back in January 2010. The site is in the process of being brought up to date, and new articles have now been added for the first Revisitations boxed set and for Mannequin Mania.

Further snippets for DVD production have been tweeted by the Restoration Team; this includes an appeal by Chris Chapman for anybody who could provide contact details for Peter Walker (the young boy in The Reign of Terror) - if you can help please let him know.

10 Aug ClassicDW:  Something on COLONY DVD betrays original release date.

       On release, see whether you can spot it!!!

10 Aug ClassicDW: Some hiccups solved - REVISITATIONS 3 takes one step closer to its 2012 release!

12 Aug Ed Stradling: Hoping to have the extra material for the Happiness/Dragonfire DVD set

       finished by the end of today.

12 Aug RTnewsfeed: Busy times continue for Mark Ayres with a third new 5.1 surround mix

       just commissioned.

13 Aug RTnewsdfeed: Can't move for Martians in Grading Suite 2 at TV Centre this afternoon!

14 Aug Ed Stradling: now off to TV Centre to deliver #doctorwho DVD feature i've done

       with Nicholas Pegg

14 Aug Ed Stradling: have just finished grading the last complete Doctor Who episodes for DVD

14 Aug Ed Stradling: (although there may be some additional work in some cases)

15 Aug ClassicDW: Lovely piece about our talented team working on REIGN OF TERROR: http://t.co/NNlCGFc

17 Aug Peter Crocker: 6 part Hartnell story finally delivered. Deleting 2.5TB data highly satisfying.

18 Aug Peter Crocker: I'd forgotten how much fun out-of-phase polygon telecine inserts of

       scratched, dirty film can be.

19 Aug Ed Stradling: Soon interviewing Ronnie Marsh, ex BBC drama exec and de facto exec producer

       of DW and many other shows. Tweet me your questions for him!

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

UK DVD release update

Monday, 8 August 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

2|Entertain have released cover art and content details for the forthcoming UK DVDs of Third Doctor adventures Day of the Daleks (due 9th September) and Colony in Space (Amazon reports 3rd October, DWM reports 24th October).

Day of the Daleks
Release Date: 9th September 2011 (available for pre-order)

Starring Jon Pertwee as Doctor Who, with Katy Manning as Jo Grant
Written by Louis Marks
Directed by Paul Bernard

Broadcast: 1st January - 22 January 1972

World peace hangs in the balance and Sir Reginald Styles, a high-ranking diplomat, is the only person that stands between mankind and a third and final World War. But a mysterious and savage guerrilla force from the 22nd Century believe Styles is the agent that shaped their terrifying future and therefore must die...

The Doctor and Jo find themselves flung into the guerrillas’ world; a brutal dictatorship policed by the merciless and ape-like Ogrons. The Daleks have invaded Earth, enslaved the population and face certain triumph unless the Doctor betrays all he believes in and condones the cold-blooded murder of Styles in an attempt to change the course of history... forever.

Special Features

Disk 1

4 x 25 mins approx colour episodes with mono audio (Original Version).
Commentary - stereo. With actors Anna Barry and Jim Winston, producer Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks and vision mixer Mike Catherwood.
Blasting the Past (dur. 30’ 30”) – cast and crew look back on the making of this story. With actors Katy Manning, Jimmy Winston and Anna Barry, producer Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks, monster maker John Friedlander, Dalek operator Ricky Newby, Dalek voice artiste Nicholas Briggs, classic series writer Ben Aaronovitch, new series writer Paul Cornell and Doctor Who Magazine writer Dave Owen.
A View from the Gallery – producer Barry Letts and vision mixer Mike Catherwood talk about the art of vision mixing on a multi-camera studio show like Doctor Who.
Nationwide – a report from a primary school on the day they took delivery of a Dalek, first prize in a Radio Times competition.
Blue Peter – presenter Peter Purves remembers his time as a companion to William Hartnell’s Doctor and is joined in the studio by a trio of Daleks.
Photo Gallery - production, design and publicity photos from the story.

Disk 2

4 x 25 mins approx colour episodes with mono audio (Special Edition).
The Making of Day of the Daleks – Special Edition – producer Steve Broster guides us through the creation of his Special Edition of this story. With voice artiste Nicholas Briggs, audio engineer Mark Ayres, cameraman John Kelly, Dalek builder Toby Chamberlain, UNIT soldier Kevan Looseley and Ogron Nick Nicholson.
Now and Then – the latest instalment of our long-running series revisits the locations used in Day of the Daleks to see how much or little they have changed over the years. Narrated by Toby Hadoke.
The UNIT Family – Part Two – the second instalment of our series looking at the Doctor’s years on Earth as scientific advisor to the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce and the strong family bonds created during that time. With Katy Manning, Barry Letts, Terrance Dicks, actors Nicholas Courtney, John Levene, Richard Franklin and Fernanda Marlowe, stuntman Derek Ware.
The UNIT Dating Conundrum – over the years, many fans have tried to rationalise the chronological setting of the UNIT stories from clues within the narrative, despite the obstacles seemingly put in their way by the production team. Narrator Toby Hadoke explains why dating the stories is so difficult, assisted by Terrance Dicks, Dave Owen, Nicholas Briggs and Ben Aaronovitch.
The Cheating Memory – Special Edition producer Steve Broster tries to discover why the reality of Day of the Daleks doesn’t quite live up to the memory he has of first seeing it, aged six. With psychologist Dr. Sarita Robinson, Nicholas Briggs and Ben Aaronovitch.

Colony in Space
Release Date: 3rd or 24th October 2011 (available for pre-order)

Starring Jon Pertwee as Doctor Who, with Katy Manning as Jo Grant
Written by Malcolm Hulke
Directed by Michael Briant

Broadcast: 10th April - 15 May 1971

The Time Lords discover that the Master has stolen their secret file on the Doomsday Weapon and decide to send the Doctor to retrieve it for them.

The TARDIS takes the Doctor and Jo to the desolate planet Uxarieus in the year 2472. There they become involved in a dispute between some beleaguered colonists and the crew of an Interplanetary Mining Corporation (IMC) spaceship over the ownership rights to the planet. The Doctor learns that the indigenous Primitives and their High Priests worship a large machine tended by a creature called the Guardian.

The single disc release features remastered versions of all six episodes, and includes the restoration of four seconds of material missing from the original VHS release of the story.

Special Features

Commentary - cast members Katy Manning (Jo Grant), Bernard Kay (Caldwell), Morris Perry (Dent), plus Michael Briant (director), Terrance Dicks (script editor), and Graeme Harper (assistant floor manager); moderated by Toby Hadoke
IMC Needs You! - documentary on the making of the story, featuring Katy Manning, Bernard Kay, Michael Briant, Graeme Harper, plus producer Barry Letts.
From the Cutting Room Floor - trims from the location and model filming, including annotations
Coming Soon - a trailer for a forthcoming DVD release
Programme subtitles
Subtitle Production Notes
Photo Gallery - production, design and publicity photos from the story
Radio Times Listings in Adobe PDF format

The BBFC have passed a trailer for a 2012 boxed set, The UNIT Box; no other details are known about this at present.

The remaining stories involving the Doctor's "earth-based family" that have yet to be announced include The Ambassadors of Death, The Mind of Evil, The Daemons, Invasion of the Dinosaurs, Terror of the Zygons and The Android Invasion.

Meanwhile, the Classic Doctor Who team have continued to keep readers appraised with the developments on future releases over Twitter (summary over the last month detailed below). This includes a new feed dedicated to the Restoration Team, which can be followed on Twitter via @RTnewsfeed.

11 Jul Ed Stradling: Article on March's filming of the #doctorwho Android Invasion DVD here

http://t.co/5zaHIXR

11 Jul ClassicDW: Lee Binding provides first drafts of R1 and R2 COLONY IN SPACE sleeves.

12 Jul ClassicDW: A lot of Qs coming in re REVISITATIONS 4. No current plans for this.

Are there other early releases buyers would like to see revisited?

13 Jul Ed Stradling: starting prep work today on an obituary #doctorwho DVD feature for Barry Letts

14 Jul ClassicDW: Signed off enjoyable doc about DEATH TO THE DALEKS from Chris Chapman

14 Jul Chris Chapman: Have just been commissioned to put together a VERY exciting making-of!

14 Jul Chris Chapman: Anyone ever hear what became of the small boy in Reign of Terror -

Peter Walker? He'd be nearly 60 now and we're trying to track him down!

15 Jul RTnewsfeed: Gearing up for heavy workload next week, delivering VAM packages for

four Doctor Who releases. Two full days in grading at TV Centre!

17 Jul RTnewsfeed: Busy times ahead for the Restoration Team's Mark Ayres with two

new 5.1 surround mixes commissioned.

18 Jul RTnewsfeed: The RT's Steve Roberts sitting down to edit Hon Sarah Ward's meeting

with Michael Aspel for a future release.

20 Jul ClassicDW: Finished stock for the SUN MAKERS has just arrived! That was early!!

20 Jul RTnewsfeed: The RT's Steve Roberts is sitting in a grading suite at TV Centre with

colourist Paul Warren, grading VAM for Nightmare of Eden.

21 Jul Mark Ayres: Commentaries for #drwho #doctorwho The Sensorites DVD uploaded to

ClassicDW for checking. Hopefully he'll just tick the box!

21 Jul ClassicDW: Rough of SENSORITES commentary in from Mark Ayres. That's much of

Thursday all used up!! Lovely to hear W.Russell &amp; C.A.Ford together.

21 Jul Chris Chapman: DVD of Colony in Space due out in October - featuring my next

Who documentary 'IMC Needs You!' lots of lovely quarry anecdotes!

22 Jul Ed Stradling: A RTnewsfeed ClassicDW grading day at BBC TV Centre - various extras

for #drwho Dragonfire, H Patrol &amp; Face of Evil. http://t.co/UxLMJBl

22 Jul RTnewsfeed: The Sensorites DVD commentaries signed off. Audio files

ftp'd from Mark Ayres to Peter Crocker for layback to video masters.

25 Jul Ed Stradling: Watched good DVD feature by Thomas Guerrier on Sun Makers

DVD. Excellent use of clips.

26 Jul Chris Chapman: The mystery of Peter R Newman, eh? Hey... that might make a

good subject for a DVD documentary...

28 Jul Mark Ayres: DVD commentary for #drwho #doctorwho The Face of Evil submitted to

ClassicDW for review. It contains the word "fettling"

28 Jul ClassicDW: Rough version of THE FACE OF EVIL comm in from Mark Ayres. Sounds like

a tremendous full studio: "I'm out to kill Leela!"

28 Jul Mark Ayres: "Fettling" passed muster; Face of Evil DVD masters uploaded

to ftp. I will now attempt to take a couple of weeks off #drwho

28 Jul ClassicDW: What a troupe! @Tobyhadoke and team at the comm recording for

COLONY IN SPACE. #DoctorWho http://t.co/uHgrUv3

28 Jul ClassicDW: Oh, DAY OF THE DALEKS Disc 2 is WONDERFUL!!!

1 Aug Steve Roberts: A day of ClassicDW paperwork awaits. Writing up asset notes for

four titles delivering very soon!

1 Aug Steve Roberts: Paperwork just about done, pending Ed getting his ass into gear

and delivering his clearance forms. ;)

2 Aug Chris Chapman: Ok, fingers crossed that August 31st works for all my interviewees-

if so, that'll be my filming day for Greatest Show and Reign.

2 Aug Chris Chapman: Am wondering if I can squeeze 10 interviews into a day...

normally do nine... my brain may bubble out by the end... aw, go on!

5 Aug Ed Stradling: Some more graphics &amp; editing today on that political #doctorwho

feature for happiness patrol dvd

8 Aug Ed Stradling: Looking through long interview with Nick Courtney and Tom Baker

which Michael McManus did last year. So many funny but un-usable gags from Tom!

FILTER: - UK - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Series Six: Part 1 - International DVD/Blu-ray release

Friday, 22 July 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

This week saw BBC/Warner Home Video release of the first half of Series Six on DVD(R1) and Blu-ray(A) in North America; as with the UK release the two-disc set features the seven episodes broadcast from April, and includes the two Monster Files covering The Gangers and The Silence.

More details on the release can be found at the BBC America Shop, and WHV have also provided links to three preview clips from Doctor Who Insider presenting Inside Look At The Enemies Point Of View, an Inside Look With Steven Moffat, and an Inside Look At Rory.

The DVD(R2) and Blu-ray(B) versions were released in the UK last week, and are available to buy via our Amazon store.
(with thanks to Bridget Murphy Groller/BBC/WHV)

The Australian versions (R4/B) will be released on 4th August and will be available in New Zealand on 17th August.

FILTER: - USA - Series 6/32 - Blu-ray/DVD

Colony in Space DVD release for October

Thursday, 21 July 2011 - Reported by Marcus

The 1971 Jon Pertwee story Colony in Space, has been scheduled for release on DVD in the UK on 3rd October this year.

The story by Malcolm Hulke, sees the third Doctor, along with companion Jo Grant, sent to the planet Uxarieus by the Time Lords, where they discover a struggling colony being terrorised by giant reptiles.

The six part story was originally shown between 10th April and 15th May 1971. Katy Manning plays Jo Grant and Roger Delgado appears as the Master.

Other members of the cast include John Ringham in his third role in the series, Helen Worth, who went on to play Gail McIntyre on the soap opera Coronation Street, Bernard Kay and Tony Caunter.

The single disc release will contain 4 seconds which were missing from VHS & US masters of the story and which restores 2 lines of dialogue.

FILTER: - Jon Pertwee - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Torchwood: Miracle Day - UK DVD and Blu-ray releases

Wednesday, 6 July 2011 - Reported by Harry Ward

Torchwood: Miracle Day is now available to pre-order from online shops. Amazon UK has given a UK release date for Series 4 as 14 November 2011.

DVD Description
One day, nobody dies. All across the world, nobody dies. And then the next day, and the next, and the next, people keep ageing - they get hurt and sick - but they never die. The result: a population boom, overnight.

With all the extra people, resources are finite. It’s said that in four month's time, the human race will cease to be viable. But this can’t be a natural event – someone’s got to be behind it. It’s a race against time as C.I.A. agent Rex Matheson investigates a global conspiracy. The answers lie within an old, secret British institute. As Rex keeps asking “What is Torchwood?" he’s drawn into a world of adventure, and a threat to change what it means to be human, forever.

Special Features
Magical FX on Miracle Day Special
Behind the Scenes
Motion Comic
Art Dept Tour
Audio Nav & Description

Torchwood: Miracle Day is available to pre-order now in both DVD (Region 2) and Blu-ray formats.

FILTER: - Torchwood - UK - Miracle Day (Series 4) - Blu-ray/DVD

Day of the Daleks: Special Edition preview event

Wednesday, 22 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

The Doctor Who Appreciation Society are organising a special launch day to tie in with the release on DVD of Pertwee tale Day of the Daleks.

Taking place at Riverside Studios on the 4th September, the event will see the new, CGI-enhanced version shown on the big screen, plus guest panels with both members of the original cast and those working on this new version of the story. There is also the chance to buy the DVD and have its sleeve signed by those present during autograph sessions.

This event is being presented by permission of 2|Entertain, and tickets are free to anybody wishing to apply - full details on how to get tickets and more information about the afternoon may be found via the DWAS website. Please note that guests will be announced nearer the event.

The Day of the Daleks special edition was originally announced by 2|Entertain at last year's DWAS event, Time and Space.

Update 27th June: the event is now full - all applications received up to today are being processed, but no others can be accepted.

FILTER: - Special Events - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

The Reign of Terror - animation update

Tuesday, 21 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Theta-Sigma, animation partners with Big Finish for the recreation of missing episodes in 2|Entertain's The Reign of Terror DVD release, have provided an update on how the project is progressing:

We are now two days into production. After a fantastic preproduction period, images are pouring out of the studio. Meticulous research has been done, even involving the help of Paris University's Archaeology Department to get some of the period features, which do not appear in the extant episodes, correct. 3D models of every set used have been built as guides for our artists. Model sheets of the main characters and key backgrounds are now being painted. There's a fantastic buzz surrounding the project. Every member of the team is focused on getting detail and accuracy to the highest possible level.

The company have also sent a copy of a promotional poster created for 2|Entertain's ClassicDW Twitter account.

(with thanks to Austen Atkinson, Theta-Sigma)

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

The Reign Of Terror episodes to be animated

Thursday, 2 June 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

Early character study from REIGN OF TERROR based on available promotional still (2|Entertain, via yfrog)

2|Entertain have announced that the missing episodes four and five of the William Hartnell adventure The Reign of Terror are to be animated as part of the forthcoming DVD, which the company previously reported would provisionally be released late 2012.

The animators for the project have been named as Big Finish - long-term Doctor Who audio producers, and whose Real Time and Shada adventures were animated for the BBC Doctor Who website - and animation company Theta Sigma, whose Thetamation is described as "a totally new style of animation, a hybrid of the classic anime styles of the 80s and high-technology".

The release of this story's surviving episodes on DVD leaves only those of the incomplete The Tenth Planet and The Ice Warriors still to be scheduled. Prior to this, The Invasion received a similar treatment in 2006 when its missing episodes one and four were re-created by award-winning animators Cosgrove Hall.

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Torchwood: The Complete Original UK Series (USA)

Thursday, 19 May 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

BBC/Warner Home Video have announced that the first three series of Torchwood will be released as one complete boxed set in both Blu-Ray and DVD formats in the United States:

The BBC’s Torchwood is such a hit on U.S. television, breaking ratings records for BBC America and acclaimed by critics as “sci-fi with attitude” (Chicago Tribune) and “one of TV’s most entertainment of sci-fi romps” (USA Today), that it is being remade for U.S. cable network Starz. Timed to coincide with the premiere of the new series on Starz, BBC will bring together the complete, original UK series in this comprehensive box set.

Separate from the government, outside the police, beyond the United Nations, Torchwood sets its own rules. Led by the enigmatic, ever watchful Captain Jack Harkness (John Barrowman, Doctor Who, Central Park West), the Torchwood team delves into the unknown and fights the impossible. Everyone who works for Torchwood is young. Some say that’s because it’s a new science. Others say it’s because they die young.

The series have previously been available individually in both formats, and though not specified it is believed the new boxed set repackages the original material from the earlier releases.

Torchwood: The Complete Original UK Series is due out in the United States on 19th July.

Torchwood: The Collection (Series 1-3) is still available to purchase in the United Kingdom in both DVD and Bluray formats.

FILTER: - Torchwood - USA - Blu-ray/DVD

Earth Story: DVD Cover Art

Monday, 16 May 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

United Kingdom

2|Entertain have released the cover art for the upcoming DVD boxed set Earth Story; featuring the William Hartnell story The Gunfighters and Peter Davison story The Awakening, it is due out in the United Kingdom on the 20th June:

Full details for Earth Story can be found in our April article on the DVD schedule.

United States/Canada

BBC/Warner have released the cover art for The Gunfighters and The Awakening, which are due out individually in the United States and Canada on 12th July: