2005 DVD Rumors?

Tuesday, 3 August 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
While a report today on the Sci Fi Online site says that the first UK DVD release of 2005 will be the Patrick Troughton story The Mind Robber, it's been denied by the Restoration Team, who say that the first 2005 release is "definitely in colour"! Nor will it be either Attack of the Cybermen or The Claws of Axos, both of which we reported months ago were on the tentative 2005 list (and which, we still believe, will be part of the 2005 collection.) In fact, the first release is "something much more interesting than any of those," we're told. All these are, of course, just rumors until confirmed by BBC Worldwide.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Ghost Light DVD cover

Friday, 30 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
At right is the stunning cover for the UK DVD release of Ghost Light starring Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred, as created by Clayton Hickman, sent to us by the folks at the Tenth Planet store. Click on the thumbnail for the full wrap-around version. (Thanks to Paul at Tenth Planet for the image!)




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Ghost Light in Australia

Sunday, 25 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Roadshow has confirmed that the next UK DVD release Ghost Light will make its way down to Australia in February 2005 (and likely New Zealand very shortly thereafter). While the 'Lost in Time' collection has been announced in the UK and US, it is yet to be confirmed in Australia; they expect a confirmation very soon. (And note the 4 month gap between Leisure Hive & Ghost Light!) (Thanks to Dwayne Bunney)




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Lost in Time: UK

Sunday, 25 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Galaxy 4 have sent us a thumbnail of the cover of the UK edition of the DVD release of The Lost in Time Collection; click on it for a slightly larger version. We hope to bring you the final cover illustration shortly. (Thanks to Galaxy 4)




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Lost in Time Comparisons

Tuesday, 20 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
The Restoration Team has posted an article about the forthcoming Lost in Time DVD collection. Also at the site is a page with photo comparisons between the original VHS format of these "orphan" episodes and the restored versions; click here to see that page.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Lost In Time Update

Thursday, 15 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
On the Restoration Team Forum today, details for the "Lost In Time" DVD set have been released (BBC Worldwide apparently confirming it and allowing the topic to be discussed there.) The full feature list is as follows, confirming some of the details but discounting others (notably, despite reports on OG and elsewhere, telesnap photo sessions and the "Making of Fury From the Deep" documentary are not included.) According to Steve Roberts of the RT, "With the exception of 'The Lion' [episode 1 of 'The Crusade'], which is the original 1999 transfer, albeit with some additional cleanup, all the remaining episodes are new Spirit transfers from the best surviving materials, cleaned up and VidFIREd to our usual standard" while, according to Mark Ayres, "All episodes have been newly-remastered - pictures and sound. (With the honourable exception of some we'd done relatively recently - Web 1, and the Faceless eps)." As for the updated "Missing Years" documentary, says Paul Vanezis, "The Missing Years is being kept intact as was, not changes have been made to the body of the programme. The additional material consists of a short feature in the style of 'Since this programme was made...'." It also appears that it may be released simultaneously in the UK and North America. The list of features is below (with thanks to the Restoration Team).
LOST IN TIME COLLECTION

Disc 1 (Hartnell Years disc in North America)
Episodes: "The Crusade" 1; "The Crusade" 3 (with commentary by Julian Glover, Gary Russell); "The DaleksÆ Master Plan" 2 (commentary by Peter Purves, Kevin Stoney, Ray Cusick); "The DaleksÆ Master Plan" 5 & 10; "The Celestial Toymaker" 4
Audio Only: "The Crusade" 2, 4
Special Features: Surviving clips from "The Daleks' Master Plan," "The Smugglers," "The Tenth Planet"; location film from "The Smugglers"; introductions to episodes 1, 3 of "The Crusade" plus afterword; 8mm off-screen footage from the Hartnell Era - various clips; Easter Egg no.1.

Disc 2 (Troughton Years #1 disc in North America)
Episodes: "The Underwater Menace" 3; "The Moonbase" 2, 4; "The Faceless Ones" 1, 3; "The Evil of the Daleks" 2 (with commentary by Deborah Watling, Gary Russell)
Audio Only: "The Moonbase" 1, 3
Special Features: "The Power of the Daleks" BBC1 trail; surviving clips from "The Power of the Daleks," "The Highlanders," "The Underwater Menace," "The Macra Terror"; 8mm film of "The Evil of the Daleks" in studio, with commentary (as "The Last Dalek"); 8mm off-screen footage from the Troughton era - various clips; Easter Egg no.2.

Disc 3 (Troughton Years #2 disc in North America)
Episodes: "The Abominable Snowmen" 2 (with commentary by Deborah Watling, Gary Russell); "The Enemy of the World" 3; "The Web of Fear" 1 (with commentary by Deborah Watling, Derrick Sherwin, Gary Russell); "The Wheel in Space" 3; "The Wheel in Space" 6 (with commentary by Derrick Sherwin, Tristan deVere Cole); "The Space Pirates" 2.
Special Features: Location film from "The Abominable Snowmen"; surviving clips from "The Abominable Snowmen," "The Web of Fear," "Fury From the Deep," "The Wheel in Space"; film inserts from "The Space Pirates"; 8mm colour film shot in the studio from "Fury From the Deep"; raw film trims from "Fury From the Deep" battle in episode 6; "The Missing Years" updated version of the 1998 BBC Video documentary.

Note: The North American discs also include a "Who's Who" biography option like all others in the series.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

The Lost in Time Collection

Wednesday, 14 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
Though BBC Worldwide for some reason won't officially confirm any sort of UK release for the forthcoming Lost in Time Collection, the collection of orphan Doctor Who episodes coming out this November (despite the fact that retailers already have an early November date for sale), BBC Worldwide America not only has confirmed it but has released cover illustrations for the North American release, also due in November, and details about the individual sets. Below are the cover illustrations for the complete North American edition, which is two DVD sets packaged together, as well as the individual versions on sale here, one with each Doctor. (We don't know if they're being offered separately in the UK, but apparently the North American edition is done so.)
Lost in Time: The William Hartnell Years
Never broadcast in the US, these episodes offer an enticing glimpse into 'lost' stories that have achieved legendary status. Fans can relish rare appearances of the Daleks as well as guest star turns by Julian Glover (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade), Michael Gough (Batman) and Jean Marsh (Upstairs, Downstairs). New to video is Episode 2 of "The Daleks' Master Plan," the story that marked the series debut of Nicholas Courtney, who later returned time and again as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart. Includes episodes 1 and 3 of "The Crusade"; episodes 2, 5 and 10 of "The Daleks' Master Plan" and episode 4 of "The Celestial Toymaker". Featuring audio commentary by actors Julian Glover, Peter Purves, Kevin Stoney, designer Raymond P. Cusick and moderator Gary Russell; clips from episodes 1, 3 and 4 of "The Daleks' Master Plan"; a reel of 8mm off-screen clips; Who's Who actor biographies; narrative links; and photo gallery. Single CD; WHV Catalog #E2081.

Lost in Time: The Patrick Troughton Years
Never broadcast in the US, these episodes offer an enticing glimpse into 'lost' stories that have achieved legendary status. Fans can relish rare appearances of the Daleks, Cybermen and Yeti, as well as an episode from the second Doctor Who story by Robert Holmes, the series' most influential writer. Includes episode 3 of "The Underwater Menace"; episodes 2 and 4 of "The Moonbase"; episodes 1 and 3 of "The Faceless Ones"; episode 2 of "The Evil of the Daleks"; episode 2 of "The Abominable Snowmen"; episode 3 of "The Enemy of the World"; episode 1 of "The Web of Fear"; episodes 3 and 6 of "The Wheel In Space" and episode 2 of "The Space Pirates". Featuring audio commentary by actor Deborah Watling, director Tristan de Vere Cole, story editor Derrick Sherwin and moderator Gary Russell; deleted scenes from "Power of the Daleks" and "The Abominable Snowmen"; Australia and New Zealand censor clips; the fan-produced documentary special "The Making of Fury From the Deep"; audio versions of episodes 1 and 3 of "The Moonbase"; a 50-minute featurette on missing episodes; Who's Who actor biographies; and photo gallery. Double CD; WHV Catalog #E2082.

Lost in Time: The Complete Collection
Contains "Lost In Time: The William Hartnell Years" and "Lost in Time: The Patrick Troughton Years". WHV Catalog #E2083.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Leisure Hive Australia

Monday, 5 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
According to the ABC Shop website, October 2004 is the tentative release date for The Leisure Hive on DVD in Australia. It's likely that a New Zealand release will follow within a few weeks as usual. It appears from recent releases that the Australia DVDs are following on about 3 months after the UK versions, in a one-every-two-month pattern. (Thanks to David Dungey)




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

DVDs Lost in Time

Sunday, 4 July 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
The late-year release of the "orphan" Doctor Who episodes on DVD now has a name: the Lost in Time Collection, according to Galaxy 4; it's due in November. The boxed set will include all 18 'orphaned' episodes including the recent "Daleks Master Plan" episode 2.




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Ghost Light Extras

Saturday, 19 June 2004 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
According to the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification), the following is the list of running times for the extras being included on the forthcoming DVD release of Ghost Light in the UK, which we've previously reported on.

00:38:47:01 | LIGHT IN DARK PLACES - ILLUMINATING GHOST LIGHT
00:18:00:10 | EXTENDED & DELETED SCENES
00:19:06:02 | SHOOTING GHOSTS
00:12:08:06 | WRITER'S QUESTION TIME
00:01:01:07 | EASTER EGG NO. 1
00:03:31:20 | EASTER EGG NO. 2
00:05:27:21 | GHOST LIGHT - THE GALLERY

There are further details in the article on the Restoration Team site about these items, including details on the DVD transfer. (Thanks to Steve Tribe)




FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD