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:

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

DVD Schedule Update

Tuesday, 3 May 2011 - Reported by Marcus

Doctor Who Magazine has issued a provisional schedule for the remaining stories to be released in the classic Doctor Who DVD range.

There are 24 stories that still exist and have yet to be released on DVD, all of which are expected to be available by the show's 50th anniversary in 2013.

2011

2012

The Sensorites
Planet of the Giants
The Reign of Terror (4/6 episodes still exist)
The Krotons
Death to the Daleks
Terror of the Zygons
The Android Invasion
The Face of Evil
Nightmare of Eden
Dragonfire
The Happiness Patrol
The Greatest Show in the Galaxy

Unplaced

The Tenth Planet (3/4 episodes exist)
The Ice Warriors (4/6 episodes exist)
The Ambassadors of Death (requires extensive restoration)
The Mind of Evil (currently exists in black and white only)
Colony in Space
The Daemons
Invasion of the Dinosaurs (part one exists in black and white only)

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

The Final Curtain - Farewell to the Third Doctor

Friday, 15 April 2011 - Reported by Marcus

2|Entertain's Classic Doctor Who have released a "First Look" video on their YouTube channel to promote the forthcoming release of the third Doctor's final story, Planet of the Spiders.

Planet of the Spiders is released in the UK next Monday 18th April, in North America on 10 May and in Australia on 2nd June

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

DVD Fan Commentary Competition

Friday, 15 April 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

2|Entertain have announced a competition via Twitter for fans to contribute on commentaries for the final Seventh Doctor adventures to be released on DVD, Dragonfire, The Happiness Patrol and The Greatest Show in the Galaxy.

In order to enter, fans should record and submit a question to the Classic Doctor Who Soundcloud group, and the favourites chosen will be featured as recorded on the related commentary.

Full entry details are on our competitions page.

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

2|Entertain: DVD Commentary Competition

Friday, 15 April 2011 - Reported by Marcus

We are running an exciting opportunity for fans to feature on upcoming DVD commentaries! Simply record your question along with your name and where you're from (city / town only - no addresses!). And upload it to our group on Soundcloud.

We'll pick our favourites and feature them in upcoming commentary recordings. The ACTUAL RECORDINGS! Hear your voice on a DVD. :-)

Entrants must by over 18. Please ensure you speak slowly and clearly.

The stories we're asking for your questions on are HAPPINESS PATROL, GREATEST SHOW IN THE GALAXY and DRAGONFIRE. Get thinking!

Submissions close 22 April 2011. Good luck!

FILTER: - Competitions - Blu-ray/DVD

UK DVD Release Update

Friday, 8 April 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

2|Entertain have announced release dates for DVDs coming up in the next few months. As well as other recently listed stories, the schedule indicates Earthstory - the boxed set featuring The Awakening and The Gunfighters - for 20th June, followed by Paradise Towers on 18th July, The Sun Makers on 1st August, and Day of the Daleks on 12th September.

The company has also released details on the DVD features for Earthstory (detailed below). The box itself has an air of finality about it: The Awakening brings an end the adventures of the Fifth Doctor, being the final story of this era to be released on DVD; The Gunfighters is the last complete story before William Hartnell departed the role (The Tenth Planet has yet to appear on DVD, but is missing its final episode).

Earthstory
Release Date: 20th June 2011 (available for pre-order)

The Gunfighters

Starring William Hartnell as Doctor Who, with Jackie Lane as Dodo and Peter Purves as Stephen.
Written by Donald Cotton
Directed by Rex Tucker

Broadcast: 30th April - 21st May 1966

Take a trip to the Wild West in The Gunfighters, when the TARDIS arrives in Tombstone, Arizona in 1881. The Doctor, suffering from toothache, seeks out the local dentist - the notorious Doc Holliday. Tensions are running high between the feuding Clanton family and Doc Holliday, whilst the local lawman, Wyatt Earp, struggles to keep the peace. When legendary gunman Johnny Ringo comes to town, events start to escalate. Can the Doctor, Steven and Dodo do anything to stop the situation getting any worse? Or will there be a gunfight at the OK Corral?

Special Features

Commentary - with actors Peter Purves, Shane Rimmer, David Graham and Richard Beale, production assistant Tristan de Vere Cole and moderator Toby Hadoke.
The End of the Line – after two years on the screen, Doctor Who had become a television phenomenon, regularly reaching an audience of ten million viewers. But with a change of producer and script editor and the looming prospect of losing the lead actor, the programme’s third year was the one that would make or break it… With actors Maureen O’Brien, Anneke Wills and Peter Purves, script editor Donald Tosh, new series writer Gareth Roberts and long time Doctor Who viewer Ian Levine.
Tomorrow’s Times – The First Doctor – looking at the newspaper coverage of Doctor Who during the programme’s opening years. Presented by Mary Tamm.
Photo Gallery - production, design and publicity photos from the story, set to the entirety of The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon.
Coming Soon - a trailer for a forthcoming DVD release.
Radio Times Listings in Adobe PDF format.
Programme subtitles.
Subtitle Production Notes.

The Awakening

Starring Peter Davison as The Doctor, with Janet Fielding as Tegan Jovanka and Mark Strickson as Turlough
Written by Eric Pringle
Directed by Michael Owen Morris

Broadcast: 19th-20th January 1984

The TARDIS has brought the Doctor, Tegan and Turlough to the picture postcard English village of Little Hodcome. Tegan has come to visit her grandfather - well known local historian Andrew Verny - but he seems to be missing. The residents of Little Hodcombe, led by the obsessive Sir George Hutchinson, are playing a vicious war game - an exact recreation of a battle of the English Civil War fought there in 1643.

As each of the TARDIS crew witnesses a terrifying apparition from the past, the Doctor realises that he faces a far greater menace than the unstable Hutchinson. An ancient and alien force for evil is at work - one which will glory in the slaughter of them all...

Special Features

Commentary - with actor Michael Owen Morris and script editor Eric Saward, moderated by Toby Hadoke.
Return to Little Hodcombe – director Michael Owen, actors Janet Fielding and Keith Jayne and script editor Eric Saward return to the three villages that played host to the locations for The Awakening, and along with locals they reminisce about a memorable shoot…
Making the Malus – visual effects designer Tony Harding and modelmaker Richard Gregory are reunited with the Malus prop they built for the story. Current owner Paul Burrows is on hand to describe the reality of living with a giant stone monster on the lounge wall…
Now & Then – the latest in the ongoing series visits the villages of Martin, Shapwick and Tarrant Monkton to compare the locations used in the story with how they appear today.
From the Cutting Room Floor – extended and deleted scenes from a timecoded VHS of the original edit and unedited film sequences, plus location action from the film rushes.
The Golden Egg Awards – the inadvertent destruction of a prop lychgate by a horse was the winner of The Late Late Breakfast Show’s Golden Egg Award. Peter Davison is on hand to collect the trophy from host Noel Edmonds.
Photo Gallery - production, design and publicity photos from the story.
Isolated Music – option to view the story with the isolated music score.
Coming Soon - a trailer for a forthcoming DVD release.
Radio Times Listings in Adobe PDF format.
Programme subtitles.
Subtitle Production Notes.

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Revisitations 2 distribution issue

Wednesday, 6 April 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

2|Entertain have issued a statement via their Twitter account regarding the availability of the Revisitations 2 boxed set in the United Kingdom, which was released last week:

2|Entertain is sorry to hear that fans have encountered problems purchasing the latest classic Doctor Who release Revisitations 2. Although available through online retailers and HMV the release was not stocked by any supermarkets.

2|Entertain continues to seek the broadest distribution possible for releases and will be ensuring that sufficient stock is available instore and online to meet demand in the future.

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Upcoming UK DVD Cover Art

Monday, 4 April 2011 - Reported by Chuck Foster

2|Entertain have released the cover art for upcoming DVD releases in the United Kingdom: Mannequin Mania is due on the 9th May, with Frontios following on the 30th May; meanwhile, the first seven episodes that comprise the Spring season of Series Six are expected for 11th July on both DVD and Bluray formats.

Details for the features that accompany Mannequin Mania and Frontios were reported back in March; information on Series Six - Part One were released at the weekend.

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

Series 6: Part 1 - UK DVD release

Saturday, 2 April 2011 - Reported by Harry Ward

Though it has yet to be televised, the spring series of Doctor Who has already been made available for pre-order. The two-disc set (to be released in both DVD and Bluray formats) is due out on 11th July 2011.

The synopsis for the set is included, which reveals a little of what we might expect in the coming weeks, plus a version of the cover art. However, no special features have been listed at present, and existing details are subject to change as the release/content is finalised.

Series 6: Part 1
Release Date: 11th July 2011
RRP: £24.99

Starring Matt Smith as the Doctor, with Karen Gillan as Amy Pond and Arthur Darvill as Rory Williams
Written by Steven Moffat (episodes 1,2 & 7), Steve Thompson (3), Neil Gaiman (4) and Matthew Graham (5 & 6)
Directed by Toby Haynes (episodes 1 & 2), Jeremy Webb (3), Richard Clark (4), Julian Simpson (5 & 6) and Peter Hoar (7)

The Doctor returns, alongside newly weds Amy and Rory, to face monsters and mysteries and adventures all across time and space, in a thrilling new series of Doctor Who. Together they'll find themselves in sixties America, battling the invasion the world forgot, then journey on the high seas of 1696 aboard a pirate ship, to solve the mystery of the Siren.

In a bubble universe at the very edge of reality, the Doctor will meet an old friend with a new face, and in a monastery on a remote island in the near future, an industrial accident will take on a terrible human shape. And waiting for them, at the end of all this, is the battle of Demon's Run, and the Doctor's darkest hour. Can even the truth about River Song save the Time Lord's soul?

Only two things are certain. Silence will fall. And a good man is going to die...

Part One of Series Six is available to pre-order now in DVD and Blu-ray formats in our Amazon Shop.

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

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