As we approach the 60th Anniversary of Doctor Who, revisit the story of Doctor Who, the occasional series written for the 50th Anniversary, explaining the origins of the programme.
Episode 31 - An Unearthly Series - The Origins of a TV Legend: First published 23 Nov 2013
The BBC has confirmed that the part-missing first Doctor story The Celestial Toymaker will be the next animation to be released on Blu-ray.
The story, first shown in 1966 stars William Hartnell as the Doctor with Jackie Lane as Dodo and Peter Purves as Steven. Michael Gough plays the mysterious Toymaker, a character returning to the series this Saturday.
Only Episode Four of the four-part story exists in the BBC archives.
The two-disc set features all four episodes animated in colour using off-air audio recordings of the missing three episodes.
Special features include:
Disc One
Disc Two
The disc is available to preorder on DVD, Blu-ray and as a Steelbook.
The Celestial Toymaker: Animated Teaser The first game between the Doctor and the Toymaker - now fully animated! 🎲
Doctor Who fans will be able to add the 60th-anniversary specials to their home entertainment collection from December on Steelbook, DVD and Blu-ray.
Following the Fourteenth Doctor’s TV specials to celebrate Doctor Who’s 60th Anniversary, all three episodes will be available for Doctor Who fans to add to their home entertainment collection in December 2023.
The three-disc release, which includes exclusive additional content, will be available for fans to own on Steelbook, Blu-ray and DVD from 11th December with pre-orders available today.
As well as David Tennant starring as the Fourteenth Doctor and companion Catherine Tate returning as fan-favourite Donna Noble, other guest stars include Neil Patrick Harris, Yasmin Finney, Miriam Margolyes, Jemma Redgrave and many more.
The release will feature all three-anniversary special episodes: The Star Beast, Wild Blue Yonder and The Giggle.
Additional content (Exclusive to the 60th Anniversary specials release)
Special Features:
The limited edition box set of Season 20 is to be released on the 18th of September 2023.
The latest release in the Doctor Who Collection series was announced in July but the release date has only just been confirmed. It features the six stories from the Fifth Doctor's second season as well as the twentieth Anniversary story The Five Doctors.
The box set is available for pre-order on Amazon
Doctor Who: The Underwater Menace animated on DVD and Blu-Ray
BBC Studios has announced that the second Doctor story, The Underwater Menace will be released this autumn on DVD and Blu-Ray.
The two-disc box set contains the fourth season story, first broadcast in 1967, as well as special features.
This classic series stars the second Doctor Patrick Troughton and co-stars Anneke Wills as Polly, Michael Craze as Ben and Frazer Hines as Jamie McCrimmon.
The original 1967 master recordings of The Underwater Menace were wiped soon after the programme's original transmission. Film recordings of Episodes Two and Three survive as well as audio-only recordings of episodes One and Four. These recordings have been used to create a brand-new fully animated presentation of this lost story.
This story sees these characters navigate through their adventures in the underwater city of Atlantis where they meet with Professor Zaroff, who plots to destroy the Earth by draining the oceans. All episodes have been animated in colour and black and white whilst including original film elements.
DISC ONE (Main Feature)
DISC TWO (Special Features)
Doctor Who: The Underwater Menace will be available for fans to buy from November 2023. It is available for pre-order on Amazon
The BBC has confirmed that Season 20 of Doctor Who will be the next season released as a box set on Blu-ray.
The season, starring Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, was originally broadcast in 1983. It will be released as a limited edition 9-disc box set, containing each story from season 20 as well as the 20th Anniversary story The Five Doctors.
Doctor Who – The Collection: Season 20
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the programme, these stories feature the return of old friends, enemies, and even past Doctors! Over seven stories, the Fifth Doctor, Nyssa (Sarah Sutton), Tegan (Janet Fielding) and Turlough (Mark Strickson) face off against the Black Guardian, Omega, the Mara, the Master, Cybermen and the Time Lords themselves!
All episodes have been newly remastered from the best available sources including original film elements for The Five Doctors – these classic adventures have never looked or sounded so good on home media.
The Collection: Season 20 Blu-ray box set also includes extensive Special Features including:
THE FIVE DOCTORS – 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
A brand new version of the 90-minute anniversary special, with updated special effects, Dolby Atmos & surround sound, plus an exclusive new commentary with Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Mark Strickson.
UPDATED 2023 SPECIAL EFFECTS
Exclusive to Blu-ray, on Snakedance and Enlightenment.
BEHIND THE SOFA
Seven new episodes with Peter Davison, Colin Baker (The Doctor), Sylvester McCoy (The Doctor), Sarah Sutton, Janet Fielding, Mark Strickson, Katy Maning (Jo) and Sophie Aldred (Ace).
BLU-RAY TRAILER
A brand new episode of classic Doctor Who.
IN CONVERSATION
Interviewer Matthew Sweet chats to Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton.
LET’S GO DUTCH!
The TARDIS crew travel to Amsterdam to revisit locations and reminisce about Season 20 and their time on the programme.
LOOK WHO’S DRIVING
Join Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton on an hilarious European Road Trip.
WHEN JANET MET MARTIN
Janet Fielding chats to Martin Clunes, 40 years on from his appearance in Snakedance.
MAKING THE KING’S DEMONS
The regular cast return to the castle location and reminisce.
MAKING THE SEASON 20 TRAILER
A look behind the scenes
LONGLEAT CELEBRATION FOOTAGE
A previously-unreleased look at the iconic 1983 convention, plus panels featuring Peter Davison, Tom Baker, Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee and many more.
STUDIO FOOTAGE
Hours of material going behind-the-scenes on production of Arc Of Infinity, Snakedance and The Five Doctors.
LOCATION FILM RUSHES
From The Five Doctors.
RARE CONVENTION FOOTAGE
Including Australian interviews with Peter Davison and Janet Fielding shot during production of this season.
ONCE UPON A TIME LORD
A rare US documentary from the 1980s.
NEW 5.1 SURROUND SOUND MIXES
On Snakedance and The Five Doctors. Plus Dolby Atmos mixes on The Five Doctors.
ARCHIVE TREATS
Hours of rare and previously unreleased material from the BBC Archives.
HD PHOTO GALLERIES
Including many previously unseen images.
INFO TEXT
Behind-the-scenes information and trivia on every episode.
PDF ARCHIVE
including scripts, exclusive unseen BBC production files, the Radio Times 20th Anniversary Special and other rarities.
This nine-disc box set also includes hours of special features previously released on DVD including Documentaries, Featurettes, Audio Commentaries, The Five Doctors Special Edition and more.
The box-set is available for pre-order on Amazon
Tegan's Surprise Reunion! | The Collection: Season 20 Announcement Trailer
Tegan Jovanka's adventures continue... but not in the way she expected!
The BBC has announced that Season 9, the third season starring Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor is the next release to come to Blu-ray.
The set will be released in the UK and the USA on 20th March 2023.
All episodes have been newly remastered from the best available sources.
The Collection: Season 9 Blu-ray box set also includes extensive special features including:
Doctor Who: The Collection – Season 9 includes the following stories from 1972:
This eight-disc box set also includes hours of special features previously released on DVD including Documentaries, Featurettes, Audio Commentaries, Day Of The Daleks Special Edition and more.
A specially shot announcement trailer has debuted on the Doctor Who YouTube channel, written by new series contributor Pete McTighe (KERBLAM! and PRAXEUS) and featuring Katy Manning back as Jo.
Defenders of Earth! | The Collection: Season 9 Announcement Trailer
Jo Jones - defender of ALL life on Earth! 🌍 #DoctorWho: The Collection returns with the Third Doctor's third season as the next instalment
The Thirteen Doctor’s final battles to be marked with a special home entertainment releases
Jodie Whittaker’s final three episodes as The Doctor will be available for fans to add to their collections this November.
Fans have two options to commemorate the Thirteenth Doctor’s final battles. A standalone release of the regeneration episode, The Power of the Doctor will be available on DVD and Blu-ray, or alternatively a limited-edition Blu-ray Steelbook made up of the three Series 13 specials, Eve of the Daleks, Legend of the Sea Devils and The Power of the Doctor.
The Power of the Doctor (DVD & Blu-ray), to be transmitted later this month, sees the Thirteenth Doctor take on her deadliest enemies in her final battle. The DVD and Blu-ray includes bonus materials:
Doctor Who The Series 13 Specials (Blu-ray Steelbook) consists of the three specials that have aired on TV in 2022. The Steelbook includes bespoke never seen before artwork of the Thirteenth Doctor’s final adventures.
Bonus Material includes:
Both releases will be available for fans to buy from 14th November and is available for pre order on Amazon
BBC Studios have revealed that the next Blu-ray Doctor Who: The Collection will feature Season 2, the second season starring William Hartnell as the First Doctor.
Debuting later this year this collection is the biggest release yet and features a limited edition nine-disc box.
Across a season of 37 episodes originally shown in 1964 and 1965,, the Doctor is joined by companions Susan (Carole Ann Ford), Ian (William Russell), Barbara (Jacqueline Hill), Vicki (Maureen O’Brien) and Steven (Peter Purves).
Together they face off against the dreaded Daleks, the marauding Mechonoids, the ant-like Zarbi and the meddling Monk, while visiting fantastic alien worlds and turbulent times in the Earth’s history.
The missing two episodes of The Crusade have been reconstructed using off-air photographs and the original broadcast soundtrack, while the remaining episodes have been newly remastered from the best available sources.
This nine-disc box set also includes hours of special features previously released on DVD including Documentaries, Featurettes, Audio Commentaries, Overseas Soundtracks and more.
THREE BRAND NEW DOCUMENTARIES
Including an overview of Season 2, Flight Through Eternity
a look at 1960s collectibles in Doctor Who and The Collectors,
and a deep dive into the life and career of story editor David Whitaker in Looking For David.
IN CONVERSATION
Two exclusive insightful feature-length interviews, with William Russell and Maureen O’Brien.
BEHIND THE SOFA
Six new episodes with companions Maureen O’Brien, Peter Purves, Carole Ann Ford,Janet Fielding (Tegan), Wendy Padbury (Zoe), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa),Bonnie Langford (Melanie) and Sophie Aldred (Ace).
EXCLUSIVE AUDIO COMMENTARY
Learn about the recovery of The Lion, a missing episode that was returned in 1999, with three of the heroes responsible for its return.
CONVENTION FOOTAGE
A rare chance to hear from actors Jacqueline Hill and Adrienne Hill (Katarina) alongside Michael Craze (Ben) and Carole Ann Ford.
EXCLUSIVE ENHANCED SOUNDTRACK
Watch The Dalek Invasion of Earth with an optional enhanced soundtrack.
HD PHOTO GALLERIES
Including many previously unseen images.
INFO TEXT
Behind-the-scenes information and trivia on every episode.
PDF ARCHIVE
Including scripts, exclusive unseen BBC production files and other rarities
The Boxset is available for pre-order on Amazon
The Storyteller | The Collection: Season 2 Announcement Trailer | Doctor Who
STUDIOCANAL has announced a brand new 4K restorations of the two classic Dr. Who feature-length films starring award-winning actor Peter Cushing – DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS and DALEKS’ INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D.
Released initially in 1965 and 1966 respectively and directed by Gordon Flemyng, these two films, shot in glorious Technicolor, have been regenerated in 4K and are the perfect collector’s item for Doctor Who and sci-fi fans.
The films, which are to date the only big-screen outings for the Doctor, also boast a supporting cast including Bernard Cribbins, Roberta Tovey, Roy Castle and Jennie Linden.
STUDIOCANAL will release DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS and DALEKS’ INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D. theatrically in the UK from 10th July 2022 following a special double-bill preview at the BFI in London on June 19th.
Both films will be released on 4K UHD Collector’s Editions, steelbooks and digital platforms on 20th June (DR. WHO AND THE DALEKS) and 18th July (DALEKS’ INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D.)
DR. WHO & THE DALEKS (1965) was the first big-screen film adaptation of British TV’s most iconic sci-fi hero, and the first time Doctor Who was ever seen in colour. Having invented the TARDIS, the strange machine capable of travelling into other dimensions, the Doctor and his three young accomplices set forth on a quest through time and space.
Their journey takes them into the dark, undiscovered depths of the universe and to the planet of Skaro, a primitive world devastated by nuclear war and populated by two warring species, a peaceful tribe known as Thals and a life form heavily mutated by radiation, encased in protective machines, a merciless force of destruction known as The Daleks!
The second film, DALEKS’ INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D sees Cushing return to the big screen – the future of Planet Earth now belongs to The Daleks, but deep within the London Underground a group of resistance freedom fighters is planning an attack. Can The Doctor help them succeed in destroying their extra-terrestrial enemies and take back control of Earth?
The stunning 4K UHD Collector’s Edition for each film will include:
Plus, an impressive array of extra features:
DR. WHO & THE DALEKS
DALEKS’ INVASION EARTH 2150 A.D.
The Q&A will take place after 'Dr. Who and the Daleks' has screened and will cover both films. Tickets will be available to BFI Members from 3 May and to the general public from 5 May at www.bfi.org.uk/whatson
The BBC has announced that Season 22 of Doctor Who will be available on Blu-ray as the next box-set release.
Season 22 was the first full series starring the Sixth Doctor Colin Baker and companion Peri played by Nicola Bryant
The season saw them face off against a host of classic monsters and villains, including Daleks, Cybermen, Sontarans, Davros (Terry Molloy) and The Master (Anthony Ainley) – as well as introducing a new female nemesis The Rani (Kate O’Mara) and the villainous slug-like Sil (Nabil Shaban).
The season also featured the return of Patrick Troughton as the Second Doctor, and his companion Jamie played by Frazer Hines.
With all episodes newly remastered from the best available sources, this Blu-ray box set also contains extensive and exclusive Special Features including:
Brand New Documentaries: Including a Making-Of documentary for The Two Doctors, and a nostalgic trip back for Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant to Season 22’s filming locations.
In Conversation: Not one but THREE insightful feature-length interviews, with Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant and a surprise guest.
Behind The Sofa: New episodes with actors Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Terry Molloy, Peter Davison, Janet Fielding, Sarah Sutton, Sylvester McCoy and Wendy Padbury.
Extended Episodes: Including Vengeance On Varos, The Two Doctors (Part One) and Revelation Of The Daleks (Part One).
A Fix With Sontarans: The Doctor and Tegan battle the Sontarans in this special mini-episode.
Updated Special Effects: View Timelash with optional new effects
Exclusive New Audio Commentaries: With Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Alexei Sayle & Terry Molloy on Revelation Of The Daleks and Colin Baker, Janet Fielding & Gareth Jenkins on A Fix With Sontarans.
Immersive 5.1 Surround Sound: On Attack Of The Cybermen, Vengeance On Varos and Revelation Of The Daleks.
The Eternal Mystery: A brand new mini-episode of classic Doctor Who.
Studio Footage: Rare behind-the-scenes material from Vengeance On Varos, The Two Doctors, Timelash and Revelation Of The Daleks.
Convention Footage: Featuring actors Colin Baker and Jacqueline Pearce alongside producer John Nathan-Turner.
Rare Gems From The Archives: BBC archive material including The Colin Baker Years, plus content covering the promotion of the season and the controversial hiatus.
Radio Serial: Slipback, a six-part radio adventure.
HD Photo Galleries: Including many previously unseen images.
Info Text: Behind-the-scenes information and trivia on every episode.
Scripts, Costume Designs, Rare BBC Production Files and other rarities from the PDF Archive
The eight-disc box set also includes hours of special features previously released on DVD.
A specially shot announcement trailer has debuted on the Doctor Who YouTube channel, written by new series contributor Pete McTighe (Kerblam! and Praxeus) and featuring Nicola Bryant back as Peri.
The Eternal Mystery | The Collection: Season 22 Announcement Trailer
The box-set can be pre-ordered on Amazon
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