The BBC Shop has the following details about the release of The Visitation on DVD in the UK on January 19, 2004:

The British Board of Film Classification website is listing the following extras for the forthcoming DVD release of The Visitation starring Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, Janet Fielding and Matthew Waterhouse, due out in January:


These items include the half-hour interview segment with director Peter Moffatt, a featurette about the scoring of the episode and other items. More when it's available.

Fans have noticed a slight issue on the new DVD release of The Three Doctors that crept into the pressing of the DVD after the masters were delivered by the Doctor Who Restoration Team. Says Steve Roberts, it's "at the end of episode two, at the last chapter point in the episode. The sound continues across the chapter point OK, but the video jumps back three seconds and then continues to play out. The result is a shot gets repeated (a brief repeat of the grounds of the UNIT HQ minus the house, followed by the zoom into the soldier) and from that point on the picures are three seconds out of sync with the sound. I have checked the masters and they are fine, so I'm afraid that it's an error that has crept in downstream of us. ie it's not our fault!" Although a three second mismatch between audio and picture sounds a lot, there is no dialogue involved - the fault occurs just as the end title music is about to begin. According to Steve, the US/Canada release version, coming soon, doesn't have the problem; however, the Australia/New Zealand version has been for several weeks, demonstrating that it's not that noticeable if you're not aware of it. BBCi also comments on a different issue, that the DVD isn't as widely available as speculated: "It should be noted that only a few thousand copies of The Three Doctors come complete with a Corgi model Bessie car, making it a more limited edition than was previously thought." (Thanks to the Restoration Team and BBCi)

Reeltime Pictures has released on DVD their independent video Mindgame, written by Terrance Dicks and starring Sophie Aldred (Ace) and Miles Richardson; the story isn't directly related to Doctor Who but features the Draconians and Sontarans, and Aldred plays "an 'Ace'-like character". The sequel story Mindgame Trilogy will be released separately. The "Mindgame" disc contains a new extended "making of" documentary and photo gallery. At right is a thumbnail of the cover of this DVD. (Thanks to Galaxy 4)

As Outpost Gallifrey announced only a week ago, the first two DVDs in release in North America in 2004 are The Seeds of Death starring Patrick Troughton and The Three Doctors starring Jon Pertwee, Patrick Troughton and William Hartnell; the only change to our announcement is the date: they're due on March 2, not in early February. The following are the official press blurbs from BBC Worldwide Americas, plus the cover illustrations for each (click for a larger version).

BBC Worldwide have announced the first of 2004's DVD releases in the UK: The Visitation. The Season 19 serial's release is scheduled for January 24 from BBC Video, and features commentary by its four stars -- Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, Janet Fielding and Matthew Waterhouse -- as well as director Peter Moffatt; "Directing Who: Peter Moffatt," a 26-minute featurette about the director from an interview conducted earlier this year; "Writing a Final Visitation," an 12-minute interview with author and script editor Eric Saward conducted in Black Park (site of the story's filming) in September; "Scoring the Visitation," a short interview with composer Paddy Kingsland excerpted from a longer one conducted by Mark Ayres (presumably to be released on later DVDs); Film Trims, including extended and deleted scenes; a music-only option; photo gallery, easter eggs and production notes. There are rumors that "Black Orchid" would also be attached to this on other sites, but the Restoration Team has confirmed that this is completely untrue. The RT has posted an article about the restoration process for this episode, as well. "The Visitation" was previously rumored on a list of 2004 releases that remained unconfirmed by the BBC, but now joins the pack as the first confirmation for the year.

Meanwhile, several bits of information were revealed this weekend to Panopticon attendees. Actor Michael Sheard announced that he, Elisabeth Sladen and producer Philip Hinchcliffe had recorded the commentary for the forthcomingPyramids of Mars DVD, due out later in the year (possibly March); the DVD would also feature both a location visit to Stargroves Estate that Sheard hosts, and (subject to licensing) a comedy sketch screened at the convention featuring Sutekh. Director Christopher Barry said he recorded a commentary for The Daemons, while Nick Courtney mentioned that he, Katy Manning and Barry Letts would provide commentaries for The Claws of Axos -- of course, neither of these discs have been announced by the BBC; other commentaries have been recorded in the past for future story releases, which still haven't happened! (Thanks to Colin John Francis, BBCi, the Restoration Team)

At last, we're getting details about North America's 2004 list of Doctor Who selections. Having now exhausted the VHS range, the current plans call for the distribution of two DVDs per quarter, released at the same time, likely in February, May, August and November. According to email from BBCAmericaShop, the first two DVDs for 2004 will be The Seeds of Death starring Patrick Troughton and, in a surprise move, The Three Doctors starring Jon Pertwee, Troughton and William Hartnell. ("Three Doctors" is only seeing release next month in the UK!) This is, of course, subject to change. We do know that at this time there are no plans for an additional North America-only boxed set (like "The Key to Time") and that only stories released first in the UK will be on this schedule. More details as we get them.

BBC Worldwide has released The Curse of Fenric on DVD in the UK. Among the highlights on this new disc are a new extended 'movie format' version of the story in addition to the original four-part episodic version, as well as commentaries by Sylvester McCoy, Sophie Aldred and Nicholas Parsons, an isolated music soundtrack, a cast & crew discussion at the 1990 Nebula convention, "Take Two" (a BBC1 children's programme), "Modeling the Dead" from BSB's Doctor Who weekend in 1990, "Claws and Effect" (a behind-the-scenes featurette), "Shattering the Chains" (an interview with author Ian Briggs), "Costume Design" (interview iwth costume designer Ken Trew), "Recutting the Runes" (interview with musician Mark Ayres), plus easter eggs and photo gallery. The disc is in wide release today all over Britain, though some stores have been selling it since last week.

BBC America and Warner Home Video have just released The Talons of Weng-Chiangand The Dalek Invasion of Earth on DVD. Both are two-disc sets and match their UK counterparts in features, except "Talons" includes more of the Howard DaSilva narrative introductions as an extra.
      Also just out: The End of the Universe Collection (seen at right). As Outpost Gallifrey previously reported, this eleven-story video collection is a set of the final VHS Doctor Who releases that will be issued in North America! Included in the package areThe Reign of Terror Collectors Edition (which includes "The Web of Fear" episode 1 and "The Faceless Ones" episodes 1 and 3), The Sensorites, The Time Meddler, The Gunfighters, The Ambassadors of Death, The Mutants, Invasion of the Dinosaurs, The Invisible Enemy, The Creature From the Pit, The Horns of Nimon and Meglos. This pricey set (but well worth it) will complete American and Canadian VHS video collections.

BBC Worldwide has issued full press releases for two forthcoming, previously announced, releases: the UK DVD release of The Three Doctors and the UK VHS release of The Reign of Terror Boxed Set. The press releases are below.