Saturday Repeats for Classic Series

Saturday, 4 October 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
BBC-1 Controller Lorraine Heggessey earlier this week confirmed to various UK listings magazines that when Doctor Who returns to television, it'll be running in the traditional Saturday evening time slot. But, more interestingly, before the new series kicks-off, Heggessey is proposing to run polls in the UK TV listings magazines to find out which Doctor Who stories are the public's favourite (on a Doctor, by Doctor basis). The BBC will then run a repeat of each of the favourites in that Saturday night slot to drum up publicity for the new series. (Thanks to our friends at tv.cream.org)




FILTER: - Classic Series - Broadcasting

BBC November Press Releases

Saturday, 4 October 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
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.

Doctor Who 40th Anniversary DVD & VHS Releases

Sunday 23rd November 2003 will be the 40th Anniversary of Doctor Who, the longest running science fiction series in the world. To mark this milestone, BBC Worldwide are releasing a very special video box set and DVD on Monday 24th November...

Doctor Who: The Three Doctors DVD
Written to celebrate Doctor Who's 10th anniversary, this four-part story starring the first three Doctors (William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton and Jon Pertwee) is the perfect story to release in the week of the 40th anniversary. Omega, the creator of time travel technology is trapped in a black hole. He wants to escape and destroy the universe. Even with his two earlier selves helping him, can the Doctor defeat this powerful enemy? Special Edition added value packaging will also feature a CORGI model of the Doctors car 'Bessie'. Special Features include:
  • Commentary by Katy Manning, Barry Letts and Nicholas Courtney


  • Pebble Mill at One - Interviews with Patrick Troughton and Robert Wilkie from Christmas 1972


  • Blue Peter - Jon Pertwee and the Whomobile in studio, plus a look back at the first ten years of Doctor Who


  • BSB Highlights - Excerpts from the BSB '31Who' weekend, including the trail for The Three Doctors, interviews with Jon Pertwee, Nicholas Courtney, script editor Terrance Dicks and writers Bob Baker and Dave Martin


  • TARDIS-cam no.5 - The fifth of BBCi's new TARDIS features. This is a CGI sequence featuring the TARDIS traversing a pod of space whales


  • 'Five Faces of Doctor Who' trailer - BBC2 trailer for the 1981 repeat season, in which The Three Doctors was repeated


  • BBC1 Trailer - An off-air audio recording of the original 1972 BBC1 trailer combined with re-mastered pictures


  • PanoptiCon '93 - Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning and Nicholas Courtney on stage at the 30th anniversary PanoptiCon convention in 1993

    Doctor Who: The Reign of Terror Boxed Set
    This limited edition two-video box set includes the final episodes from the original television series to be released on VHS. Each box also includes an exclusive Doctor Who 40th Anniversary metal pin badge. There are three stories, each one being incomplete due to the original tapes being lost or disposed of. Due for release the day after the 40th Anniversary and limited to only 8000 copies, this set is a must-have for every fan to complete their collection. The stories included in this collector's box set are:
    * Tape One - starring William Hartnell as the First Doctor
    THE REIGN OF TERROR (Four surviving episodes: 1, 2, 3 and 6)
    The TARDIS materialises not far from Paris in 1794 - one of the bloodiest years following the French revolution of 1789. Rescued from prison after being sentenced to death by guillotine, the travellers and other freed prisoners get involved with the mysterious English undercover spy, James Stirling. But as treachery and double-dealing abound, who can be trustedà?
    * Tape Two - starring Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor
    THE FACELESS ONES (Two surviving episodes: 1 and 3)
    The TARDIS lands at Gatwick airport in 1966, and the Doctor and Jamie are separated from Ben and Polly. Polly sees a man murdered, but she goes missing soon after. What is the mystery behind Chameleon Tours?
    THE WEB OF FEAR (One surviving episode: episode 1)
    Many years after he returned from Tibet with a robot Yeti, Professor Travers is concerned that the Great Intelligence may strike again. London falls to a mysterious web that invades the streets - and the Underground tube systemà

    DOCTOR WHO: THE THREE DOCTORS DVD
    RELEASE DATE: 24 NOVEMBER 2003
    CAT NO: BBCDVD1144
    RRP: ú19.99
    DURATION: 100 MINUTES APPROX
    GENRE: SCI FI
    CERTIFICATE: PG

    DOCTOR WHO: THE REIGN OF TERROR VIDEO BOX SET
    RELEASE DATE: 24 NOVEMBER 2003
    CAT NO: BBCV7335
    RRP: ú19.99
    DURATION: 174 MINUTES APPROX
    GENRE: SCI FI
    CERTIFICATE: PG






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

    DVD 2004?

    Wednesday, 1 October 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
    While no official word has been released as to the content of 2004's list of DVD releases in the UK, except for the confirmation that Pyramids of Mars (the winner of the DWM poll) will be released at some point that year, a reporton the Sci-Fi Online page purports to reveal some titles under consideration, including "The Green Death" (for which Katy Manning recorded a commentary in 2002 since she was in the UK at the time) and "Ghost Light". The report also mentions a box set called "The Beginning" featuring the first three stories, "An Unearthly Child," "The Daleks" and "The Edge of Destruction" -- a report that curiously sounds like the aborted 2001 VHS release boxed set. The site also suggests that 2004 will see no Patrick Troughton story releases. We emphasize that this is ONLY a page of rumor and speculation and no confirmation of any of these titles (except "Pyramids") has been released. (Thansk to Carl Simpson)




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

    Ben Aris

    Tuesday, 16 September 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
    Ben Aris, who played Lieutenant Shears in part 1 of "Invasion of the Dinosaurs," the Jon Pertwee serial, passed away on September 4; he was 66. Aris found his greatest fame in the classic BBC sitcom Hi-De-Hi! as camp ballroom dancer Julian Dalrimple-Sykes. (Thanks to Steve Stratford and the Death Comes in Time site)




    FILTER: - Obituary - Classic Series

    Curse of Fenric Extras

    Thursday, 4 September 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
    BBC Worldwide confirmed details of the extras for the forthcoming DVD release of The Curse of Fenric, previously reported here from the list of released extras originally confirmed by the BBFC. They include commentary 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 two-disc set will also, as previously announced, feature a special edition version of the story with additional footage not seen before, recut as a "movie format" story. (Thanks to BBCi)




    FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

    BBC Opens Up Archives

    Sunday, 24 August 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
    BBC Director General Greg Dyke announced today that the BBC will be opening up its archives of radio and television programs to be downloaded from the Internet. The new service, called the BBC Creative Archive, will be free and available to anyone not seeking to use the material for commercial purposes. "The BBC probably has the best television library in the world," said Dyke. "Up until now this huge resource has remained locked up, inaccessible to the public because there hasn't been an effective mechanism for distribution. But the digital revolution and broadband are changing all that. For the first time there is an easy and affordable way of making this treasure trove of BBC content available to all." There is no word about exactly what will be included in this Creative Archive, nor whether or not Doctor Who (which is a viable commercial property for the BBC) would be made available in any form on it, but it is certainly a change in philosophy for the originators of the show we celebrate here. (Thanks to Michael Zecca and Jonathan Baldwin for letting us know!)




    FILTER: - Online - Classic Series

    The Curse of Fenric

    Wednesday, 6 August 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
    The British Board of Film Certification (BBFC) website recently announced the extras package for the forthcoming DVD release of The Curse of Fenric starring Sylvester McCoy and Sophie Aldred. They are as follows:

    00:04:30:02 | TAKE TWO ITEM
    00:02:12:01 | CLEAN TITLES
    00:24:50:06 | SHATTERING THE CHAINS
    00:20:45:04 | NEBULA 90
    00:17:04:08 | COSTUME DESIGN - KEN TREW
    00:05:10:16 | MODELLING THE DEAD
    00:17:38:15 | CLAWS & EFFECT
    00:05:43:01 | PHOTO GALLERY
    00:01:48:07 | EASTER EGG

    The DVD will also feature the usual production notes and other surprises; there is no further detail at this time on what many of these extras actually pertain to, though the "Nebula 90" segment is thought to be footage from a convention featuring "Fenric" actors (regulars and guests), and "Modelling the Dead" is likely a featurette on the making of the Haemovore costumes and masks.
    Australia Release Update
    August 6, 2003  •  Posted By Shaun Lyon
    The DVD release in Australia of The Dalek Invasion of Earth, previously announced for August 4, will instead now be on Wednesday, August 13 according to ezydvd.com.au. Meanwhile, we've received a report that the old cassette versions of "The Evil of the Daleks" and "The Power of the Daleks" have been re-released in Australia as well, though we've been unable to confirm this. (Thanks to Matthew Yarnold, David Dungey)




    FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD

    The Two Doctors

    Wednesday, 6 August 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
    BBC Worldwide has issued a press release for the forthcoming release of The Two Doctors, starring Colin Baker, Patrick Troughton, Nicola Bryant, Frazer Hines and Jacqueline Pearce. The press release is as follows:

    Doctor Who: The Two Doctors DVD

    Colin Baker's incarnation of the Doctor faces old enemies the Sontarans in this September 8th release. An alien scientist allied with the warlike Sontarans kidnaps the second Doctor (played by Patrick Troughton) in order to obtain the secret of time travel, which is found in a Time Lord's genes. This two disc set was originally transmitted in February 1985.

    Special Features include:

    Disc 1: 3 x 45 minute episodes
  • Commentary by stars Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Frazer Hines, Jacqueline Pearce and director Peter Moffatt


  • Isolated music soundtrack


  • Production Notes
    "A Fix with Sontarans" - a short mini-episode from 'Jim'll Fix It'. (approx 10 mins)
    Easter Egg

    Disc 2 includes:


  • Behind the Sofa - Robert Holmes & Doctor Who - a featurette about the work of the acclaimed Doctor Who writer and script editor. (approx 45 mins)


  • Beneath the Lights - in studio during recording of part of episode one. (approx 25 mins)


  • Beneath the Sun - VHS-sourced raw takes from the location filming in Spain. (Approx 35 mins.)


  • Adventures in Time and Spain - Production Manager Gary Downie talks about the trials and tribulations of working in a foreign location. (Approx 30 mins)


  • Wavelength - a radio production from 1984 following the cast and crew as they record the story. (Approx 29 mins).


  • Photo Gallery (approx 8 mins)

    Catalogue number: BBCDVD1213. RRP : ú12.99. Running time : 150 mins approx. Cert: PG






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

    Doctor Who in Australia

    Wednesday, 6 August 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
    Word from the Doctor Who Club of Australia: Doctor Who returns to the airwaves this September! ABC-TV (Channel 2) will be screening the series in Australia four nights a week (Monday through Thursday) starting September 15, 2003 at 6:00pm. Says the press release: "The most famous time traveller of all time Dr Who returns to ABC TV in September. ABC TV will screen the entire Dr Who series from episode one every Monday to Thursday at 6pm from September 15th. The first episode æAn Unearthly ChildÆ stars the original Gallifreyan Time Lord William Hartnell. Head of ABC TV Programming, Ms Marena Manzoufas, said re-screening the original Dr Who episodes coincided with the programÆs 40th Anniversary. 'Dr Who made its debut in November 1963 and ABC TV last screened it in March 1994,' she said. 'Since then we have received an endless number of requests from Dr Who fans. Dr Who was the longest running science fiction series ever made and everyone has a favourite episode, Doctor or evil foe such as the Daleks and Cybermen. There are many fans addicted to the program who want to re-live the whole Dr Who experience from the start.' And ABC TV also decided to re-screen the entire series from episode one for those who missed them or where too young to see how the adventure began." (Thanks to Jason Fraser and the DWCA)




    FILTER: - Classic Series - Australia

    Earthshock DVD: To Delay Or Not...

    Wednesday, 30 July 2003 - Reported by Shaun Lyon
    This story has been updated all day long... the following is correct as of 0500 GMT July 31

    On July 30 we were contacted by several sources -- notably the Galaxy 4 shop and readers of the ChoicesDirect website -- that the UK DVD release of Earthshock had been pushed back two weeks, to August 18 (instead of August 4). Almost immediately, the BBC websiteBBCi posted a news item stating that BBC Worldwide was denying the report, and that it would be out on schedule, as planned. That was followed in sequence by a note that at least one retailer had received the DVD stock but had been given a note that the DVDs were being recalled; and then information direct from the BBC's own sales website BBC Shop which changed their release date to the delay date of August 18!

    Outpost Gallifrey has learned that the situation is, in fact, the initial shipment is missing the enclosed DVD booklet - at least some, possibly all. Retailers that have already received it have been asked to send them back (no obligation but service to customers), and meanwhile BBC Worldwide is now apparently informing retailers that a new batch which includes the booklets will be ready for August 18. We'll keep you updated on further developments. (Thanks to Ben Keywood of Galaxy 4, Tenth Planet UK, Tim Harrison, John Batty, Nathan Baron and everyone else who's written in on this all day!)
    Earthshock Update
    July 31, 2003 • Posted By Shaun Lyon
    BBC Worldwide, contrary to their report which was published yesterday on the BBCi site, is now confirming the delay of the DVD release of Earthshock that Outpost Gallifrey reported yesterday. Worldwide confirms our report yesterday that the discs were missing the interior booklet and that they have been recalled, and that August 18 is the new release date.




    FILTER: - Classic Series - Blu-ray/DVD