With thanks to BBC DVD.

The Press Review copies of DOCTOR WHO - UNIT FILES three-disc DVD boxset have arrived at eyeofhorus.org.uk and will be reviewed shortly, but in the meantime here's a few screengrabs.

The DVD is released on 9 January 2012 RRP £30.63 (pre-order price from AMAZON.CO.UK £22.49 until the end of the year).

The cover for DOCTOR WHO - FACE OF EVIL (5 March 2012) , DOCTOR WHO - THE DÆMONS (26 March 2012) and DOCTOR WHO - THE SENSORITES (23 January 2012) have been released.

The five-disc "updated re-release" boxset, DOCTOR WHO - REVISITATIONS 3 (13 February 2012) contains THE TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN, THE THREE DOCTORS and ROBOTS OF DEATH.

DOCTOR WHO - FACE OF EVIL

When the Tardis arrives on a jungle planet, the Doctor encounters two warring tribes, the Sevateem and the Tesh. The Sevateem worship a god called Xoanon and the Tesh are supposedly keeping Xoanon prisoner… But why do the Sevateem call the Doctor the Evil One? And what are the invisible creatures in the jungle? The Time Lord, with the help of a girl called Leela, is about to find out.

• Commentary
• Into the Wild Cast and crew talk about the making of The Face of Evil.
• From the Cutting Room Floor Film trims provide a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the film shoot.
• Tomorrow’s Times – The Fourth Doctor A look at press coverage of Doctor Who during the Tom Baker era.
• Doctor Who Stories: Louise Jameson talks about her role on the programme in this interview shot for 2003's The Story of Doctor Who.
• Swap Shop An extract from Louise Jameson’s appearance on The Multi-Coloured Swap Shop, interviewed by Noel Edmonds.
• Denys Fisher Toys Advert +1976 Typhoo Tea Doctor Who Promotion
• Radio Times listings + Programme subtitles + Production information subtitles
  + Photo gallery + Coming soon trailer + Digitally remastered picture and sound quality.

DOCTOR WHO - THE DÆMONS

In the peaceful village of Devil’s End something very strange is happening. A professor is preparing to open a nearby burial mound and a local white has foresees death and disaster. Meanwhile, the new vicar looks suspiciously like the Master and he is using black magic to conjure up an ancient Dæmon. Can the Doctor, Jo and UNIT stop their old enemy before he succeeds?

• Commentary
• The Devil Rides Out Cast and crew talk about the making of the story.
• Remembering Barry Letts A look at the life and work of Barry Letts.
• Location Film A mute amateur 8mm film shot in the village of Aldbourne during the location filming.
• Colourisation Test The original colourisation test version of episode one from 1992.
• Tomorrow’s World An article on the technology used in the restoration.
• Radio Times listings + Programme subtitles + Production information subtitles + Photo gallery + Coming soon trailer + Digitally remastered picture and sound quality.

DOCTOR WHO - THE SENSORITES

The Doctor and his companions land on a spaceship orbiting a distant and mysterious world, where a human crew lie frozen somewhere between life and death.

The planet is the Sense-Sphere, home of the Sensorites, beings of immense intelligence and power. Unable to leave, the Doctor and his companions must deduce the Sensorites’ intentions: are they friendly, hostile, or frightened? And what is the deadly secret at the heart of the Sense-Sphere?

• Commentary
• Looking for Peter – Toby Hadoke goes in search of the enigmatic Peter R Newman.
• Vision On – What exactly does a Vision Mixer do?
• Secret Voices of the Sense-Sphere – Clive Doig reveals the origins of the eerie Sensorite voices.
• Photo Gallery + Coming Soon Trailer + Radio Times Listings + Production Subtitles + Programme Subtitles + Digitally Remastered Picture and Sound Quality

With thanks to BBC WORLDWIDE.

The Region 1 cover for the February 2012 CLASSIC SERIES release, DOCTOR WHO - THE SENSORITES has been published.

The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan land on a spaceship orbiting a distant and mysterious world, where a human crew lies frozen somewhere between life and death.

The TARDIS arrives on board a spaceship in orbit around a planet called the Sense-Sphere.

The alien Sensorites have trapped the ship’s human crew, Captain Maitland, Carol and John, in a state of semi-permanent paralysis. When the Doctor investigates, the aliens steal the lock mechanism from the TARDIS, thus trapping him and his companions.

The Sensorites allow all but Maitland and Barbara down to the planet, where Ian falls ill from a sickness that has been wiping out the Sensorites. The Doctor finds a cure. His investigations into the cause of the sickness are hampered by the subversive activities of the City Administrator, but eventually he uncovers three deranged human survivors from a past expedition who have been adding deadly nightshade to the water supply.

This story was broadcast on BBC1 between 20 June-1 August 1964.

• Studio Commentary
• Looking for Peter - Who is Peter R Newman?
• Vision On
• Secret Voices of the Sense Sphere
• Photo Gallery + PDF materials: Radio Times Listings, original design drawings + Production Note Subtitles + Digitally remastered picture and sound quality

Today, the Press Review copies for BBC DVD DOCTOR WHO - DAY OF THE DALEKS arrived (see right).

A full review of this two-disc special release will be online shortly. The DVD set is released on 12 September 2011.

Read the DVD preview (uploaded: 21.08.2011)

The details of DOCTOR WHO - DAY OF THE DALEKS have been confirmed by BBC DVD.

World peace hangs in the balance and Sir Reginald Styles, a high-ranking diplomat, is the only person that stands between mankind and a third and final World War. But a mysterious and savage guerrilla force from the 22nd Century believe Styles is the agent that shaped their terrifying future and therefore must die...

The Doctor and Jo find themselves flung into the guerrillas’ world; a brutal dictatorship policed by the merciless and ape-like Ogrons. The Daleks have invaded Earth, enslaved the population and face certain triumph unless the Doctor betrays all he believes in and condones the cold-blooded murder of Styles in an attempt to change the course of history... forever.

Production Information - RRP: £20.42 Duration: 100 minutes

DVD EXTRA Disc 1

• 4 x 25 mins approx colour episodes with mono audio (Original Version).
• Commentary - stereo. With actors Anna Barry and Jim Winston, producer Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks and vision mixer Mike Catherwood.
• Blasting the Past (dur. 30’ 30”) – cast and crew look back on the making of this story. With actors Katy Manning, Jimmy Winston and, Anna Barry, producer Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks, monster maker John Friedlander, Dalek operator Ricky Newby, Dalek voice artiste Nicholas Briggs, classic series writer Ben Aaronovitch, new series writer Paul Cornell and Doctor Who Magazine writer Dave Owen.
• A View from the Gallery – producer Barry Letts and vision mixer Mike Catherwood talk about the art of vision mixing on a multi-camera studio show like Doctor Who.
• Nationwide – a report from a primary school on the day they took delivery of a Dalek, first prize in a Radio Times competition.
• Blue Peter – presenter Peter Purves remembers his time as a companion to William Hartnell’s Doctor and is joined in the studio by a trio of Daleks.
• Photo Gallery - production, design and publicity photos from the story.

DVD EXTRA Disc 2

• 4 x 25 mins approx colour episodes with mono audio (Special Edition).
• The Making of Day of the Daleks – Special Edition – producer Steve Broster guides us through the creation of his Special Edition of this story. With voice artiste Nicholas Briggs, audio engineer Mark Ayres, cameraman John Kelly, Dalek builder Toby Chamberlain, UNIT soldier Kevan Looseley and Ogron Nick Nicholson.
• Now and Then – the latest instalment of our long-running series revisits the locations used in Day of the Daleks to see how much or little they have changed over the years. Narrated by Toby Hadoke.
• The UNIT Family – Part Two – the second instalment of our series looking at the Doctor’s years on Earth as scientific advisor to the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce and the strong family bonds created during that time. With Katy Manning, Barry Letts, Terrance Dicks, actors Nicholas Courtney, John Levene, Richard Franklin and Fernanda Marlowe, stuntman Derek Ware.
• The UNIT Dating Conundrum – over the years, many fans have tried to rationalise the chronological setting of the UNIT stories from clues within the narrative, despite the obstacles seemingly put in their way by the production team. Narrator Toby Hadoke explains why dating the stories is so difficult, assisted by Terrance Dicks, Dave Owen, Nicholas Briggs and Ben Aaronovitch.
• The Cheating Memory – Special Edition producer Steve Broster tries to discover why the reality of Day of the Daleks doesn’t quite live up to the memory he has of first seeing it, aged six. With psychologist Dr. Sarita Robinson, Nicholas Briggs and Ben Aaronovitch.

BBC DVD has released press review copies of the forthcoming DOCTOR WHO - THE SUN MAKERS (1 August 2011), and this release includes the "Coming Soon..." preview for eagerly awaited Jon Pertwee story, penned by Louis Marks, DOCTOR WHO - DAY OF THE DALEKS.

The details of DOCTOR WHO - DAY OF THE DALEKS have been confirmed by BBC DVD.

World peace hangs in the balance and Sir Reginald Styles, a high-ranking diplomat, is the only person that stands between mankind and a third and final World War. But a mysterious and savage guerrilla force from the 22nd Century believe Styles is the agent that shaped their terrifying future and therefore must die...

The Doctor and Jo find themselves flung into the guerrillas’ world; a brutal dictatorship policed by the merciless and ape-like Ogrons. The Daleks have invaded Earth, enslaved the population and face certain triumph unless the Doctor betrays all he believes in and condones the cold-blooded murder of Styles in an attempt to change the course of history... forever.

Production Information - RRP: £20.42 Duration: 100 minutes

DVD EXTRA Disc 1

• 4 x 25 mins approx colour episodes with mono audio (Original Version).
• Commentary - stereo. With actors Anna Barry and Jim Winston, producer Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks and vision mixer Mike Catherwood.
• Blasting the Past (dur. 30’ 30”) – cast and crew look back on the making of this story. With actors Katy Manning, Jimmy Winston and, Anna Barry, producer Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks, monster maker John Friedlander, Dalek operator Ricky Newby, Dalek voice artiste Nicholas Briggs, classic series writer Ben Aaronovitch, new series writer Paul Cornell and Doctor Who Magazine writer Dave Owen.
• A View from the Gallery – producer Barry Letts and vision mixer Mike Catherwood talk about the art of vision mixing on a multi-camera studio show like Doctor Who.
• Nationwide – a report from a primary school on the day they took delivery of a Dalek, first prize in a Radio Times competition.
• Blue Peter – presenter Peter Purves remembers his time as a companion to William Hartnell’s Doctor and is joined in the studio by a trio of Daleks.
• Photo Gallery - production, design and publicity photos from the story.

DVD EXTRA Disc 2

• 4 x 25 mins approx colour episodes with mono audio (Special Edition).
• The Making of Day of the Daleks – Special Edition – producer Steve Broster guides us through the creation of his Special Edition of this story. With voice artiste Nicholas Briggs, audio engineer Mark Ayres, cameraman John Kelly, Dalek builder Toby Chamberlain, UNIT soldier Kevan Looseley and Ogron Nick Nicholson.
• Now and Then – the latest instalment of our long-running series revisits the locations used in Day of the Daleks to see how much or little they have changed over the years. Narrated by Toby Hadoke.
• The UNIT Family – Part Two – the second instalment of our series looking at the Doctor’s years on Earth as scientific advisor to the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce and the strong family bonds created during that time. With Katy Manning, Barry Letts, Terrance Dicks, actors Nicholas Courtney, John Levene, Richard Franklin and Fernanda Marlowe, stuntman Derek Ware.
• The UNIT Dating Conundrum – over the years, many fans have tried to rationalise the chronological setting of the UNIT stories from clues within the narrative, despite the obstacles seemingly put in their way by the production team. Narrator Toby Hadoke explains why dating the stories is so difficult, assisted by Terrance Dicks, Dave Owen, Nicholas Briggs and Ben Aaronovitch.
• The Cheating Memory – Special Edition producer Steve Broster tries to discover why the reality of Day of the Daleks doesn’t quite live up to the memory he has of first seeing it, aged six. With psychologist Dr. Sarita Robinson, Nicholas Briggs and Ben Aaronovitch.

15.06.2011 - The complete details for DOCTOR WHO - THE SUN MAKERS have been released by BBC DVD.

Far in the distant future, Earth has become uninhabitable, forcing mankind to colonise first Mars, and then Pluto...

No longer the coldest planet in the Solar System, Pluto is now warmed by a series of artificial suns. But access to the sunlight is limited to a select few... The majority of the citizens of the vast Megropolis cities are being overworked and overtaxed by the ruling elite, led by the Gatherer, and the sinister Collector.

When the Doctor, Leela and K9 arrive they discover that all is not well on Pluto. The human population is being totally exploited, while deep in the Undercity, a small band of rebels seeks to overthrow the mysterious 'Company' that controls all aspects of everyday life.

As the situation gets more desperate, the Doctor is forced to fight the oppression of the evil corporate rulers of Pluto. And their taxes...!

EXTRAS

• Commentary with actors Tom Baker, Louise Jameson and Michael Keating, director Pennant Roberts.
• Running from the Tax Man – a retrospective look at the making of the story and the science behind it. With actors Louise Jameson and Michael Keating, director Pennant Roberts, writer and historian Dominic Sandbrook and astronomer Marek Kukula.
• Outtakes
• Trailer – the original BBC1 trailer for the story.
• The Doctor’s Composer – Part Two – the concluding part of the series looking at the career of prolific composer Dudley Simpson, covering his work on the show in the seventies.
• Photo Gallery + Coming Soon – a trailer for a forthcoming DVD release.
• Radio Times Listings in Adobe PDF format + Programme subtitles + Subtitle Production Notes

On 1 August 2011, BBC DVD will be releasing the Fourth Doctor's 1978 story, DOCTOR WHO - THE SUN MAKERS as a single-disc Region 2 product, with the Region 1 product released a week later.

On 17 July 2011, BBC DVD will be releasing the DOCTOR WHO - SERIES SIX PART 1 on Region 2.

The Doctor returns, alongside newlyweds Amy and Rory, to face monsters and mysteries and adventures all across time and space in an action packed and often terrifying sixth series. Billed as the biggest and best series yet, the first 7 thrilling episodes of Series 6 arrive on DVD and Blu ray from 11th July, priced £25.52 and £30.63.

With Matt Smith as the eleventh Doctor, Karen Gillan as Amy Pond, Arthur Darvill as Rory and Alex Kingston as River Song, this exciting new series also guest stars a wealth of British acting talent including Hugh Bonneville (Twenty Twelve), Suranne Jones (Five Days) and Lily Cole (The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus).

Together they find themselves in Sixties America, battling the invasion the world forgot, then journey on the high seas of 1696 aboard a pirate ship, to solve the mystery of the Siren. In a bubble universe at the very edge of reality, the Doctor meets an old friend with a new face, and in a monastery on a remote island in the near future, an industrial accident takes on a terrible human shape. And waiting for them, at the end of all this, is the battle of Demon's Run, and the Doctor's darkest hour. Can even the truth about River Song save the Time Lord's soul?

Only two things are certain. Silence will fall. And a good man is going to die...

DVD Extras: Two Monster Files

7 June 2011 - The Press Preview copy of PARADISE TOWERS has arrived and a review will be online shortly.

14 June 2011 - The review is online.

In the meantime, here's a few screengrabs from the DVD. But you'll be able to find out what Janet Fielding thinks is "diddly-squat" and to whom she says, "Respect. You had it sorted girl..!" to.

On 18 July 2011, BBC DVD will be releasing the Seventh Doctor's 1987 story, DOCTOR WHO - PARADISE TOWERS as a single-disc Region 2 product. The region 2 sleeve has been published.

Mel wants to go swimming so the Doctor takes her to a tower block called Paradise Towers where there is reputed to be a fantastic pool. When they arrive they discover that the place is far from being the superb leisure resort they had expected - it is run-down and dilapidated.

The hallways are roamed by gangs of young girls known as Kangs; the apartments are inhabited by cannibalistic old ladies, the Rezzies; and the building is managed by a group of dictatorial caretakers, presided over by the Chief Caretaker…

The DVD's "value added material" consists of:

• Commentary – actress Judy Cornwell, writer Stephen Wyatt, special sounds supervisor Dick Mills and moderated by Mark Ayres
• HORROR ON THE HIGH RISE – DOCTOR WHO composer Mark Ayres presents a look at the making of DOCTOR WHO - PARADISE TOWERS. With actors Richard Briers, Howard Cooke and Catherine Cusack, writer Stephen Wyatt, script editor Andrew Cartmel and replacement score composer Keff McCulloch.
• Continuity – continuity announcements from the story’s original transmission.
• Girls! Girls! Girls! – The Eighties – three actresses who played companions in the 1980s – Sophie Aldred, Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton – discuss the trials and tribulations of being a DOCTOR WHO girl. Introduced by Peter Purves.
• Coming Soon – a trailer for a forthcoming DVD release.
• Radio Times Listings in Adobe PDF format.
• Programme subtitles + Subtitle Production Notes.
• Photo Gallery – production, design and publicity photos from the story.
• CASTING SYLVESTER – JIGSAW producer Clive Doig explains his relationship with Sylvester McCoy and his role in the actor’s casting as the Seventh Doctor.
• DELETED AND EXTENDED SCENES - deleted and extended scenes from the first edit of the story.

BBC DVD has confirmed that William Hartnell's 1964 six-parter will be reconstructed as part of their commitment to bringing the CLASSIC SERIES to a new generation of DOCTOR WHO fans.

In the BBC ARCHIVE, DOCTOR WHO - THE REIGN OF TERROR survives with only four episodes in tact and the decision has been made to "animate" the missing material (episode four and five). The animation project is being undertaken by Thetamation and Big Finish.

There are two additional stories - THE TENTH PLANET and THE ICE WARRIORS that are in a similar predicament, though no announcement has been made on whether animation will be utilised to aid DVD release.

On 1 August 2011, BBC DVD will be releasing the Fourth Doctor's 1978 story, DOCTOR WHO - THE SUN MAKERS as a single-disc Region 2 product, with the Region 1 product released a week later.

The DVD's "value added material" consists of:

• Commentary: Louise Jameson, Tom Baker, Pennant Roberts and Michael Keating
• Documentary: RUNNING THE TAX MAN
• Trailer
• Documentary: THE DOCTOR'S COMPOSER - DUDLEY SIMPSON

BBC DVD has released details for REGION 1 publication, DOCTOR WHO - EARTH STORY (12 July 2011).

On 16 May, the REGION 2 sleeves were officially released by BBC DVD.

BBC DVD has released details for scheduled and planned CLASSIC SERIES DVDs for the next two years, leading up to the series' 50th anniversary.

2011

• JUNE - EARTH STORY boxset (THE GUNFIGHTERS and THE AWAKENING)
• JULY - PARADISE TOWERS
• AUGUST - THE SUN MAKERS
• SEPTEMBER - DAY OF THE DALEKS

2012

• THE SENSORITES
• PLANET OF THE GIANTS
• THE REIGN OF TERROR
• THE KROTONS
• DEATH TO THE DALEKS
• TERROR OF THE ZYGONS
• THE ANDROID INVASION
• THE FACE OF EVIL
• NIGHTMARE OF EDEN
• DRAGONFIRE
• THE HAPPINESS PATROL
• THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH

Pre-production (2013)

• THE TENTH PLANET
• THE ICE WARRIORS
• THE AMBASSADORS OF DEATH
• THE MIND OF EVIL
• COLONY IN SPACE
• THE DAEMONS
• INVASION OF THE DINOSAURS (very special edition)

With thanks to BBC DVD.

It's not published until 30 May 2011 but eyeofhorus.org.uk has a preview review of DOCTOR WHO - FRONTIOS.

FRONTIOS DVD review

With thanks to BBC DVD.

BBC DVD has mailed the Press Review copies for the May 2011 releases from the CLASSIC SERIES archive. DOCTOR WHO - MANNEQUIN MANIA (two-discs - see image of preview discs) is released on 9 May and DOCTOR WHO - FRONTIOS released on 30 May.

Reviews will appear shortly.

As an update to this summer's releases, here's the current schedule:

• 20 June - EARTHSTORY boxset
• 18 July - PARADISE TOWERS
• 1 August - THE SUNMAKERS
• 12 September - DAY OF THE DALEKS (special edition)

With thanks to BBC AMERICA SHOP.

BBC DVD has released the REGION 1 cover for the forthcoming title, PARADISE TOWERS and is published on 9 August 2011 (RRP $14.90).

PARADISE TOWERS "Value Added Material":

• Audio Commentary
• Horror on the High Rise
• Casting Sylvester
• Deleted and Extended Scenes
• TV on-air Continuity
• Girls! Girls! Girls! - The Eighties
• Photo Gallery + PDF materials: Radio Times Listings + Production Note Subtitles
  

With thanks to BBC DVD.

01.04.2011 - BBC DVD has provided the individual sleeves for the release.

BBC DVD has released boxset sleeve for the CLASSIC SERIES, DOCTOR WHO - MANNEQUIN MANIA (featuring the revisited title SPEARHEAD FROM SPACE and TERROR OF THE AUTONS).

SPEARHEAD FROM SPACE "Value Added Material":

• Two Commentaries Caroline John and Nicholas Courtney and another with producer Derrick Sherwin and script editor Terrance Dicks.
• Down to Earth Cast and crew look back at the making of this story and how a strike at the BBC studios inadvertently created the only classic series story to be made entirely on film. With actor Jon Pertwee, producers Derrick Sherwin and Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks, costume designer Christine Rawlins and assistant script editor (and inadvertent Auton actor) Robin Squire. Narrated by Carl Kennedy.
• Regenerations From Black and White to Colour – ‘Spearhead from Space’ marked not only the arrival of a new Doctor but also the transition from black and white to colour. This documentary looks at the challenges faced by programme makers during this period. With actors Frazer Hines and Wendy Padbury, producer Derrick Sherwin, script editor Terrance Dicks, directors Timothy Combe, Christopher Barry and Michael Ferguson, designer Roger Cheveley and graphic designer Bernard Lodge. UNIT Recruitment Film (dur. 4’ 48”) – a spoof army recruitment film put together for BBC transmission during Doctor Who’s 30th anniversary celebrations in 1993.
• Trailers Two trailers for the 1999 BBC2 transmission of the story and for ‘Doctor Who Night’ from the same year.
• Photo Gallery Production, design and publicity photos from the story.
• Coming Soon - Trailer for a forthcoming DVD release.
• Radio Times Listings in Adobe PDF format.

TERROR OF THE AUTONS "Value Added Material":

• Commentary Katy Manning and Nicolas Courtney, producer Barry Letts.
• Life on Earth In this documentary, cast and crew look back at the making of the story and the differences in the way Doctor Who was made in the seventies compared to now. With actors Jon Pertwee, Katy Manning and Richard Franklin, producer Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks and new series producer Phil Collinson.
• The Doctor’s Moriarty With the introduction of the Master, the Doctor now had his very own Moriarty, who would be the dark figure behind every story in season eight, and many more beyond that. This featurette discusses the enduring appeal of the character. With actor Katy Manning, producer Barry Letts, script editors Terrance Dicks and Christopher H Bidmead and writers Robert Shearman and Joe Lidster.
• Plastic Fantastic How did the writers of Doctor Who and other programmes take something as everyday as plastic and turn it against us? With writers Francesca Gavin, Robert Shearman and new series designer Matthew Savage.
• Photo Gallery Production, design and publicity photos from the story.
• Coming Soon Trailer for a forthcoming DVD release.
• Radio Times Listings and promotional material for Sugar Smacks and Nestle products in Adobe PDF format.

Released on 9 May 2011.

With thanks to BBC AMERICA SHOP.

BBC DVD has released the REGION 1 covers for the forthcoming titles, THE AWAKENING and THE GUNFIGHTERS, and are published on 7 July 2011 (RRP $14.90).

However, the REGION 2 boxset is published on 20 June 2011 with a RRP £29.99.

BBC DVD has released initial details for the forthcoming boxset, DOCTOR WHO - EARTH STORY (featuring AWAKENING and THE GUNFIGHTERS).

The two disc set is published on 20 June 2011 with a RRP £29.99.

May's CLASSIC SERIES release by BBC DVD, DOCTOR WHO - MANNEQUIN MANIA boxset has been re-titled as MANNEQUIN MADNESS according to the COMING SOON trailer on the discs of DOCTOR WHO - PLANET OF THE SPIDERS.

17.03.2011 - The Press Review copy (see right) of this release has been received and a review will appear shortly.

The cover for the BBC DVD two-disc 1974 story, DOCTOR WHO - PLANET OF THE SPIDERS has been released.

At a Tibetan retreat in the English countryside, a group of men are using ancient meditation rituals to tap into a mysterious alien power. They unwittingly create a bridgehead between Earth and Metebelis 3, a planet where the ‘Two Legs’ are oppressed by giant spiders. The creatures are desperate to recover the blue jewel that the Doctor gave to Jo Grant as a wedding gift.

Now the Doctor must risk everything and return to Metebelis 3 to face the awesome power of The Great One, who plans to use the crystal to enslave all of human kind...

DVD Value added material

• Commentary with actors Elisabeth Sladen, Nicholas Courtney and Richard Franklin, producer / director Barry Letts and script editor Terrance Dicks.
• Coming Soon - a trailer for a forthcoming DVD release.
• Programme subtitles.
• Subtitle Production Notes.
• The Final Curtain – five years after its re-invention in colour and its rise to massive popularity, it was time for Doctor Who’s charismatic lead actor Jon Pertwee to move on… and with him the production team that had guided the show throughout that period. This documentary looks at the background to the Third Doctor’s swansong. With actors Jon Pertwee and Richard Franklin, producer / director Barry Letts, script editor Terrance Dicks, designer Rochelle Selwyn, visual effects assistant Mat Irvine and actor and author Mark Gatiss. Narrated by Glen Allen.
• John Kane Remembers… – actor John Kane memorably played the gentle, slow-witted Tommy, reborn through the power of the Metebelis crystal. An accomplished writer and series creator, Kane now lives in France, from where he looks back on his memories of the story.
• Directing Who with Barry Letts – Barry Letts is perhaps most famous as producer of Doctor Who, but he was also responsible for directing some of the show’s best-loved stories. Barry looks back on his career as a director in this documentary.
• Now & Then – the latest installment in our ongoing series takes a trip back to some of the locations used during production of the story.
• ‘Planet of the Spiders’ Omnibus Edition – the full-length omnibus edit of the story, presented here totally unrestored.
• Omnibus Trailer
• Photo Gallery - production, design and publicity photos from the story.
• Radio Times Listings in Adobe pdf format.

The DVD is published on 18 April 2011, RRP £19.99.

DOCTOR WHO - PLANET OF THE SPIDERS (Ten copies)

BBC DVD has confirmed that the both DOCTOR WHO CLASSIC SERIES stories, THE REIGN OF TERROR and Colin Baker's underrated, VENGEANCE ON VAROS will be released in 2012.

William Hartnell's THE REIGN OF TERROR is the second "incomplete" story (there are two episodes missing from the BBC archives - episodes four and five) to be re-formatted for DVD. BBC DVD has stated that it will be restored "as complete as can realistically be achieved".

With thanks to BBC DVD.

The 14 February release, DOCTOR WHO - THE ARK has been reviewed, and fans may be surprised that it a very good release.

DOCTOR WHO - THE ARK DVD review

The disc (RRP £19.99) contains a commentary with Peter Purves and its director, Michael Imison along with three documentaries.

• ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELLS (13' 14" minutes)
• ONE HIT WONDER (4' 33" minutes)
• RIVERSIDE STORY (20' 17" minutes)
• Additional content: COMING SOON trailer (MARA TALES), PHOTO GALLERY and INFORMATION TEXT

BBC DVD has published details of their DOCTOR WHO CLASSIC SERIES releases for 2011.

• MEGLOS
• THE MUTANTS
• THE ARK
• MARA TALES boxset (KINDA and SNAKEDANCE)
• REVISITATIONS 2 boxset (THE SEEDS OF DEATH, CARNIVAL OF MONSTERS and RESURRECTION OF THE DALKES)
• PLANET OF THE SPIDERS
• FRONTIOS
• EARTHSTORY boxset (THE AWAKENING and THE GUNFIGHTERS)
• PARADISE TOWERS
• REVISITATIONS 3 boxset (THE TOMB OF THE CYBERMEN, ROBOTS OF DEATH and THE THREE DOCTORS)
• MANNEQUIN MANIA boxset (SPEARHEAD FROM SPACE ND terror of the autons) - the working title for the boxset was "PLASTIC FANTASTIC"
• DAY OF THE DALEKS (with new CGI and new dalek voice track)
• THE SOLAR SYSTEM boxset (THE AMBASSADORS OF DEATH and THE SUN MAKERS)

With thanks to BBC DVD.

With 12.11 million UK viewers gorging themselves on Matt Smith's DOCTOR WHO - A CHRISTMAS CAROL fans may like to re-live the adventure courtesy of BBC DVD.

It is released on 24 January (both on DVD £13.27 and BLU-RAY £16.33) as a single-disc issue that includes the accompanying DOCTOR WHO CONFIDENTIAL and DOCTOR WHO AT THE PROMS 2010.

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE: It's the deepest part of winter, the exact midpoint, Christmas Eve - half way out of the dark. Amy and Rory are trapped on a stricken space liner that's plummeting through banks of thick icy fog to the surface of the planet below. Only one man has the power to save them; only one man is in possession of a machine that can clear the fog and let them land safely. That man is Kazran Sardick, a rich but lonely old miser who rules Sardicktown with a sky-mast of iron.

The Doctor's only chance of rescuing the ship's four thousand passengers is to save Kazran's soul and show him that life is worth living. For this he needs to go back, way back, to when Kazran was a boy with a life full of promise. But can the Doctor put a song in Kazran's heart and love in his life, in time for Christmas? Can he bring him out of the dark?

Starring alongside Matt Smith as the Doctor, Karen Gillan as Amy Pond, and Arthur Darvill as Rory Williams, A Christmas Carol also stars singing sensation Katherine Jenkins in her first acting role and British acting stalwart Michael Gambon.

With thanks to BBC DVD.

BBC DVD will be publishing William Hartnell's four-parter, DOCTOR WHO - THE ARK on 14 February 2011 as a single-disc issue.

The preview disc (called a "testmold") has been received and will be reviewed shortly. The final sleeve is shown (left, bottom).

Materialising in what appears to be a jungle on Earth, the Doctor, Steven and Dodo soon realise that things are not what they seem: the sky is made of steel, and the jungle merely a colossal life chamber in a craft that has embarked on the most important expedition in the history of mankind.

It is ten million years in the future, and the Earth is soon to be engulfed by the Sun in a catastrophic explosion. A gigantic space ark has been launched, taking the last humans to a new life on the distant planet of Refusis, serving the Guardians of Earth are the Monoids, mute reptilian aliens.

But the Ark's mission of deliverance is threatened by the arrival of the time travellers; Dodo inadvertently passes her cold to the Guardians - to them, it is a long-forgotten virus against which they have no defence. It is not long before people start to die and the TARDIS crew are on trial for their own lives.

DOCTOR WHO - THE ARK DVD review

The disc (RRP £19.99) contains a commentary with Peter Purves and its director, Michael Imison along with three documentaries.

• ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELLS (13' 14" minutes)
• ONE HIT WONDER (4' 33" minutes)
• RIVERSIDE STORY (20' 17" minutes)
• Additional content: COMING SOON trailer (MARA TALES), PHOTO GALLERY and INFORMATION TEXT

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