talons extras!

Monday, 20 January 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Though we emphasize that The Talons of Weng-Chiang is still unconfirmed for release on DVD in April (or May) by BBC Video -- even though retailers have received some notice -- the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has released details about this theoretical DVD's extras on its website, including the hour-long documentary "Whose Doctor Who" and an additional hour of other material. (This information does classify the release, like "Seeds of Death," as a two-disc set.)

DOCTOR WHO - THE TALONS OF WENG-CHIANG DVD EXTRAS 1

00:58:42:01 | WHOSE DOCTOR WHO
00:25:57:15 | BLUE PETER THEATRE
00:23:58:22 | BEHIND THE SCENES
00:11:28:08 | PHILIP HINCHCLIFFE INTERVIEW

DOCTOR WHO - THE TALONS OF WENG-CHIANG DVD EXTRAS 2

00:02:22:10 | TRAILS AND CONTINUITY
00:00:39:10 | EASTER EGG NO. 1

Meanwhile, there are rumors circulating that there will be only four Doctor Who DVDs released in 2004 in the UK. This is incorrect; it is based on information taken out of context in a post on the Outpost Gallifrey Forum from a member of the Restoration Team, but was merely speculative on the consequences of further drop-off of DVD sales. At no time has information been issued from the BBC or otherwise that a decision has been made to reduce Doctor Who DVD output.

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

cyril shaps

Sunday, 19 January 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Cyril Shaps, a frequent guest star on many BBC programs with a lengthy film career, died January 1 in the UK. Among his roles were Rasputin The Mad Monk (1966), To Sir, With Love (1966), The Odessa File (1974), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977), The Spaceman And King Arthur (1979), Erik The Viking (1989), The Madness Of King George (1994), The End Of The Affair (1999), The Importance Of Being Earnest (2002) and the new film The Pianist (2003). He was in over 50 TV series including Quatermass II, The Persuaders!, QB VII, Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em, The Young Ones and Lovejoy, and portrayed the voice Professor Popkiss and Masterspy in Gerry Anderson's Supercar. He also made four appearances in Doctor Who: as John Viner inTomb of the Cybermen, Lennox in The Ambassadors of Death, Professor Clegg inPlanet of the Spiders, and the Archimandrite in The Androids of Tara (pictured, above right). Shaps was best-known in the UK for his long-running regular role as Rabbi Levi in the ITV sitcom Never Mind The Quality, Feel The Width (from 1967 to 1971). Shaps was an actor for more than 50 years. He was 79. (Thanks to Daniel Hirsch, Lee Horton, plus Kenneth Parker for the detailed bio info)

FILTER: - Obituary - Classic Series

planet of giants & underworld

Sunday, 19 January 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

BBC Worldwide Americas has issued press releases for the forthcoming Planet of Giantsand Underworld VHS releases on May 6 in North America, including cover illustrations (click on the thumbnail for a larger version). Outpost Gallifrey previously confirmed these May releases last month. The details are as follows:

PLANET OF GIANTS
Warner Home Video #E1740

In an attempt to return Ian and Barbara to the twentieth century, the Doctor tries an unorthodox new technique. It causes the TARDIS doors to open in mid-flight, which sets alarms ringing inside the craft. The time travelers arrive on Earth only to discover that they have been drastically reduced in size. They are now tiny people in a world of giant objects. The TARDIS has materialized between the cracks in a garden patio. The garden is teeming with giant worms, ants and cats - all deadly hazards for the miniature time travelers. Worse still, the TARDIS crew learns that this garden is the testing site for a deadly insecticide, DN6. Developed to eliminate all insect life, the chemical may be equally effective against miniscule time travelers. Starring Jacqueline Hill, William Hartnell, William Russell, Carole Ann Ford. Street date: May 6.

UNDERWORLD
Warner Home Video #E1741

Hundreds of thousands of years ago, the Time Lords of Gallifrey began exploring space and time with their new TARDIS technology. The first alien race they encountered were the Minyans, who treated the Time Lords as gods. In return, the Time Lords gave medical and scientific aid. As the Minyans became more advanced, they renounced their former gods. The war that followed destroyed the planet Minyos and set the Time Lords on the path of non-interference with the affairs of the universe. Before Minyos was totally destroyed, a single ship - the P7E - escaped. It carried the future of the Minyan species, locked into its onboard race banks. But the P7E disappeared into deep space centuries ago. Now the last of the Minyans have embarked on a quest to recover their lost race banks. Their quest is destined to bring the Minyans once again into contact with the Time Lords - one Time Lord in particular. Starring Tom Baker, Louise Jameson. Street date: May 6.

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

two seeds are better than one

Friday, 10 January 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Steve Roberts of the BBC's Doctor Who Restoration Team confirmed today that the forthcoming release of The Seeds of Death - the first six-part story released on DVD in the UK - will be a two-disc set. We'd heard this before but were waiting for official confirmation. (Thanks to Steve Roberts

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

the space pirates

Thursday, 9 January 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Update 9 Jan 2200 GMT: The Tenth Planet store has sent us the final cover illustration for The Space Pirates, the February 2003 release from the BBC Radio Collection. "The Space Pirates" was the penultimate Patrick Troughton serial and is the last almost-entirely-missing story in the BBC's archives (only episode 2 exists out of 6.) The story is narrated by Frazer Hines (Jamie). Click on the thumbnail for a larger version of the cover by Max Ellis. Meanwhile, the Galaxy 4 store site sent us what appeared to be a 2003 release schedule for the rest of the year including "The Underwater Menace," "The Wheel in Space" and "Marco Polo"; however, we've since been informed that this an older release schedule and has been superseded, and is likely not the final version anymore. (Thanks to Tenth Planet and Galaxy 4)

FILTER: - Audio - Classic Series

dvd & video updates

Sunday, 8 December 2002 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

In the UK, the DVD release of The Three Doctors, originally moved from January 2003 to November 2003, is now currently scheduled for a July 2003 release according to the Restoration Team. Meanwhile, Resurrection Of The Daleks starring Peter Davison will be available on DVD in Australia on February 3, 2003. Finally, in the US, two new VHS releases have been confirmed from BBC Worldwide for release on May 13, 2003: Planet of Giants with William Hartnell, and Underworld with Tom Baker. There will also be a further video release in the US in September, with the two-month gaps filled in by DVD releases. (Thanks to Steve Roberts, Sean Brady, Rodney Hrvatin)

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

earthshock: 2003

Sunday, 29 September 2002 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

At the Tenth Planet signing in the UK on September 29, Janet Fielding (Tegan), in a rare Doctor Who-related appearance, confirmed that she would soon be in-studio recording the commentary for Earthshock, which she said would be released on DVD some time during 2003. Fielding also mentioned that, according to her information, the hopes were to have Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton and Matthew Waterhouse all present for the commentary. (Thanks to Jon Frame, Zygon Curry)

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

three doctors & seeds of death

Thursday, 26 September 2002 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

A late addition to the forthcoming DVD release of The Three Doctors is a recently located high-quality audio copy of the BBC News obituary of William Hartnell, the first Doctor, loaned to the Doctor Who Restoration Team by fan Ronald McDevitt. The RT is currently locating photo stills of Hartnell to be used alongside the extra, which will likely be featured as an easter egg on the disc. Meanwhile, the Restoration Team has also updated their site with a new article about the cleanup and restoration work done on the forthcoming DVD release of The Seeds of Death starring Patrick Troughton; visit the Restoration Team site, click "DVD Releases" and "The Seeds of Death". (Thanks to Steve Roberts & the Restoration Team)

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

dwight whylie

Tuesday, 17 September 2002 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Journalist Dwight Whylie passed away recently in Bermuda. He played a small part as a voice-over announcer in part four of the Doctor Who serial "The War Machines," a part for which he was selected from the BBC's announcers pool. Whylie's numerous journalistic accomplishments included a career as a radio newsreader at the CBC in Canada, major journalistic initiatives in Guyana, Jamaica and Bermuda, and as a member of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union's Hall of Fame. (Thanks to Eric Briggs)

FILTER: - Obituary - Classic Series

seeds of death commentary

Tuesday, 17 September 2002 - Reported by Shaun Lyon

Actors Wendy Padbury (Zoe) and Frazer Hines (Jamie), director Michael Ferguson and writer Terrance Dicks will be featured on the forthcoming DVD commentary track on the release of The Seeds of Death, the Patrick Troughton serial. Padbury, Hines and Ferguson will be doing the commentary on episodes 1 and 2; Hines, Padbury and Dicks on episode 3 (along with Ferguson briefly); Dicks and Ferguson on episode 4; and all four on episodes 5 and 6. The new issue of Doctor Who Magazine, on sale this week, broke the story on the commentaries. Outpost Gallifrey has also learned from the Doctor Who Restoration Team that the Seeds disc contains a 25 minute documentary called 'Ssssowing the Sssseedssss', in which Ice Warrior actors Sonny Caldinez and Alan Bennion and make-up designer Sylvia James talk about the process of bringing the Martians to life. (Thanks to DWM, Steve Roberts and the Restoration Team).

FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

Previous 6 Stories

talons extras!

cyril shaps

planet of giants & underworld

two seeds are better than one

the space pirates

dvd & video updates

earthshock: 2003

three doctors & seeds of death

dwight whylie

seeds of death commentary

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