New York; February 12, 2015 - Topping off Doctor Who's highest rated season ever on BBC AMERICA and Peter Capaldi's first season as the Doctor, Doctor Who: Last Christmas is a dangerous sleigh ride through space and time starring Nick Frost as Santa Claus (The World's End, Shaun of the Dead). Bonus features include exclusive audio commentary from Director Paul Wilmhurst and and Producer Paul Frift and a 10 minute behind-the-scenes making of featurette that includes interviews with Peter Capaldi, Jenna Coleman, Nick Fros, Stephen Moffat and more.
In the annual Christmas special, the Doctor and Clara (Jenna Coleman) face their last Christmas trapped on an arctic base, under attack from terrifying creatures. Who are you going to call? Santa Claus!
Lead writer and executive producer Steven Moffat commented on the special: "Well obviously, as everyone knows from the end of Death in Heaven (season finale), it's the ultimate meeting of Christmas heroes; Santa Claus meets Doctor Who. The buddy movie you've always wanted. In addition to that, it's quite surprising - it won't be what some people expect because it's a thriller of an episode. The Christmas element is covered in the fairly notable form of Santa Claus and the elves and their sleigh. But the rest of it is very much Doctor Who - scary, in a polar ice cap base, scientists under threat. I keep describing it as Miracle on 34th Street meets Alien."
Peter Capaldi added: "It's both really scary and really festive. It manages to be quite frightening and still have Santa Claus in it. It is extremely Christmassy but there is a plot line in it that is quite dark and I think Steven (Moffat) has done a brilliant job at balancing those two things." The episode premiered on BBC AMERICA on December 25, 2014.
DOCTOR WHO: LAST CHRISTMAS Street Date: February 17, 2015 Suggested Retail Price: DVD $14.98 ($18.74 in Canada) Suggested Retail Price: Blu-ray $19.98 ($24.98 in Canada) Length: Approx. 60 mins - bonus materials/single disc
BBC Home Entertainment hasn't announced it yet, nor has distributor Warner Home Video, but Amazon.com's pre-order listing shows that on May 19th BBC/Warner will release Doctor Who - The Cybermen on DVD. As an unannounced title, there isn't any content information available from the studio at the time of this writing. And Amazon's entry doesn't show what the "main" content is going to be...but it does list a pair of "Special Features" (extras):
Earthshock: Episodes 1-4. (4x25) Cybermen Origins: A New Documentary chronicling the creation of the dreaded monsters (1x20)
The 5th Doctor (Peter Davison) story arc named there, Doctor Who - Story #122: Earthshock, has been available on DVD in North America since 2004. And the cover art shown at Amazon (which we have for you, below) features key artwork that is taken from the Cybermen's most recent appearance, with the 12th Doctor (Peter Capaldi) in the two-part finale for the 8th series (season) of the 2005 program. So it's a safe guess that content from both the original and new shows will be on board. But that's just a guess.
Price for this 2-DVD set (no Blu-ray versions have been indicated, at least not yet...and possibly not at all) is $24.98 SRP, and you can pre-order it from Amazon at a discount. There was a U.K. release on DVD about 5 or 6 years ago, The Cybermen Collection, containing the first four episodes from the re-introduction of the Cybermen in the new program...but it's a safe bet that the content will be different for the North American release of the similar title. It's also a safe bet that the content will all be episodes previously available on DVD, excepting for the "all-new bonus material" mentioned in the banner across the top of the box front. I suppose we'll have to wait to find out, since we don't have a TARDIS handy to fly. Stay tuned!
Let me be clear: The Underwater Menace is available for pre-order, right now.
After the second episode was found back in 2011, the serial became 50% complete, and with fragments of parts one and four in existence, it seemed likely that a DVD release would come. But it never did, and the release was eventually confirmed as cancelled in June. As yet, we don’t know what prompted an apparent change of mind, although we understand that the BBC Shop has been given greater powers, so perhaps the answer lies there…
While we don’t know whether or not the missing episodes will receive an animated or photographic reconstruction, The Underwater Menace starring Patrick Troughton is finally heading to DVD – rejoice!
BBC Worldwide are to release The Underwater Menace on DVD, just two months after it was revealed that plans to release the story were cancelled. The DVD is listed on BBCShop.com with a UK release date set for 26th October 2015. Other regions are still to be confirmed.
Details of the release will be revealed by BBC Worldwide in the next few weeks. Anneke Wills, who played second Doctor companion Polly, has revealed on her website that she will be signing copies of the DVD, which can be ordered here http://www.annekewills.com/shop/dvds/doctor-who-the-underwater-menace-dvd-region-2/ Her website also lists some of the contents on the DVD: Fully remastered Episodes 2 and 3. Commentary on Episodes 2 and 3: a traditional commentary with actors Anneke Wills, Frazer Hines, Brian Hodgson, Catherine Howe, and Quentin Mann moderated by Toby Hadoke. “Fishy Tales” – making of documentary Tales of TV Centre – part 2 Programme subtitles. Subtitle Production Notes.
BBC Worldwide have now confirmed the details for the forthcoming release of The Underwater Menace on DVD, due on the 26th October 2015:
The Underwater Menace is the fifth serial of the fourth season, which was first broadcast in four weekly parts from 14 January 1967 to 4 February 1967. The story introduces Jamie McCrimmon's (Frazer Hines) on his first journey with the Doctor as a travelling companion. This special release will contain the two re-mastered existing episodes, with the two missing episodes represented with restored audio and surviving stills, as well as over an hour of extras.
Special Features: Commentary - For episode 1, Interview with actor Michael Troughton Part 2 (from The Ice Warriors). For episodes 2 and 3, a commentary with actors Anneke Wills, Frazer Hines and Catherine Howe, special sounds supervisor Brian Hodgson and floor assistant Quentin Mann. For episode 4, archive material featuring Patrick Troughton, directors Julia Smith and Hugh David, and producer Innes Lloyd. Moderated and linked by Toby Hadoke.
A Fishy Tale (Feature, dur. 28’ 30”) – cast and crew look back on the making of the story. With actors Anneke Wills, Frazer Hines and Catherine Howe, AFM Gareth Gwenlan, production assistant Berry Butler and new series writer Robert Shearman. Narrated by Peter Davison.
The Television Centre of the Universe – Part Two (dur. 32’ 10” ) – Yvette Fielding continues her tour of BBC Television Centre in the company of actors Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Mark Strickson, with contributions from former colleagues along the way. With senior camera supervisor Alec Wheal, AFM Sue Hedden, former BBC producer and writer Richard Marson, exhibitions assistant Bob Richardson, production assistant Jane Ashford and videotape engineer Simon Anthony.
North American Doctor Who fans may be able to purchase The Underwater Menace in the new year.
Tvshowsondvd.com has reported that it will be on sale January 19, 2016. The BBC has not yet confirmed the date. No cover art or special features for the R1 version have been announced yet.
The R2 version of The Underwater Menace was released October 26 2015. It featured previously missing episode two whose recovery was announced in December 2011, the extant episode three as well as reconstructions of episode one and four.
In a previous article Doctor Who News reported that The Underwater Menace would be getting a January 19, 2016 release date in North America. At the time BBC Home Entertainment and Warner Home Video, the North American distrubutor for Doctor Who, hadn't confirmed a release date. Tvshowsondvd.com is now reporting that Amazon.com has updated The Underwater Menace page to show a March 1, 2016 release. No official confirmation has been received from the BBC or Warner Home Video so all release dates will be considered tentative.
Our most recent update about the North American release of Doctor Who - Story #032: The Underwater Menace - posted in early December - was to tell you that the release date for this title in the USA and Canada appeared to have been finalized at March 1st . That continues to be the date, much to the relief of this fan of classic Who (me); we've waited quite long enough!
Now the folks at BBC Home Entertainment have released a "back of the box" description for the item, quoted above (in italics), and a first look at the package art for this long-awaited DVD set (see below). It's a single-disc release, priced at $24.98 SRP. There were several extras included as bonus materials on the UK version of the title, and while it's expected that those will be included on the American release as well, the BBC hasn't confirmed that for certain yet. So in an abundance of caution, we're holding off on listing those; stay tuned for updates!
Back in mid-February we updated you with the most recently scheduled street date - May 24th - for the North American launch of Doctor Who - Story #032: The Underwater Menace on DVD. Since then we've been keeping an eye out for a list of the bonus material including on the USA/Canada version of this item, and we've had no luck...until we turned our eyes northward!
The entry at Amazon.com's USA site simply says this of the special features: "EC TBC (30 mins estimated)." That's not very informative, of course (translated it means that the extended content is to-be-confirmed). But when we checked out the entry at Amazon.ca's Canadian site instead, they had this to say about the special features: Audio Commentary for all 4 episodes A Fishy Tale: making-of documentary (28:30) The Television Centre of the Universe Part Two (32:10) Photo Gallery Radio Times listings We don't have confirmation from BBC Home Entertainment or distributor Warner Home Video yet, but Amazon info is usually sourced directly from the studio, so this info would seem to be fairly solid. Whichever side of the USA/Canada border you live on, your wait would seem to be over in less than a month!
Let's hope the searchers will locate missing reels to get a complete Patrick Troughton serial. I am not interested in buying an animated version of a serial.
Fans of Paul McGann’s Eighth Doctor can rejoice with the release of both his televised exploits together in the bluray edition of the Doctor Who 1996 TV Movie.
This double-disc set, packed with extras, includes his first outing twenty years ago in the TARDIS and his more recent adventure from the 50th Anniversary year, Night of the Doctor.
PLEASE NOTE: This is an ‘upscale’ version of the TV Movie.
The Doctor is returning home to Gallifrey with the remains of his arch-nemesis, the Master. Forced off course, the TARDIS arrives in San Francisco on New Year’s Eve 1999, where the Doctor is critically wounded in a gangland gun battle. At the local hospital, Dr Grace Holloway fights – and fails – to save his life. Later, in the morgue, the Doctor wakes up a new man. But he is not the only one – the Master has also found himself a new body. As the clock counts down to the start of a new millennium, can the Doctor stop his oldest enemy destroying all life on Earth?
DISC 1 EXTRAS
• Commentary #1 From director Geoffrey Sax (recorded 2001)
• Commentary #2 By Paul McGann and Sylvester McCoy, moderated by Nicolas Briggs (recorded 2009)
• The Seven Year Hitch Documenting the return Doctor Who to the screen. Narrated by Amanda Drew.
• The Doctor’s Strange Love Writers Joe Lidster and Simon Guerrier discuss The TV Movie with comedian Josie Long.
• The Night of the Doctor The Night of the Doctor was a mini-episode released in 2013 in the run-up to the show’s 50th anniversary special. This marks Paul McGann’s second on-screen appearance as the Eighth Doctor.
• Photo Gallery
• Isolated Score The option to view The TV Movie with the isolated music soundtrack.
• Music Tracks Four tracks from the production presented in full: In a Dream, All Dressed Up, Ride into the Moonlight and Auld Lang Syne.
• Production Subtitles
DISC 2 EXTRAS
• Paul McGann Audition
• Electric Press Kit Used by Fox in 1996, this includes a short documentary and interview segments to allow other broadcasters to put together their own packages about the TV Movie.
• Behind the Scenes On set and on location in Vancouver, Canada during the filming of The TV Movie.
• Philip Segal’s Tour of the TARDIS
• Alternate Takes
• BBC Trails
• Who Peter 1989-2009 The second part of this documentary, exploring the special relationship between Doctor Who and Blue Peter. Presented by Gethin Jones.
• The Wilderness Years In the years between the end of the classic series and the broadcast of The TV Movie, Doctor Who survived in print, video and audio, kept alive by fans who were determined not to let it die.
• Stripped for Action – The Eighth Doctor Looking at the Doctor’s adventures in comic-strip form.
• Tomorrow’s Times – The Eight Doctor A look back at the contemporary coverage of The TV Movie in newspapers and other publications. Presented by Nicholas Courtney.
• VFX Tests June 1994 Early video effects tests by Amblin Imaging in 1994, featuring the ‘Spider Dalek’ design.
• VFX March 1996 Video effects presented as mute time-coded ‘work in progress’ shots from the CGI department.
Doctor Who: The Movie is released on bluray on September 19, 2016
Let's hope the searchers will locate missing reels to get a complete Patrick Troughton serial. I am not interested in buying an animated version of a serial.
Those rubbery faced, rubbery moving animated episodes are a disappointing waste of time.
The Mirror are claiming that 1966 story The Power of the Daleks, comprising 6 of Doctor Who’s 97 missing episodes, will be revived in animated form.
Report follows:
Six long-lost episodes of Doctor Who are to be revived as cartoons – 50 years after they were aired.
BBC Worldwide has commissioned a company to animate the 1966 classic six-part story The Power of the Daleks, featuring the first ever Doctor Who regeneration.
Patrick Troughton’s first outing as the Time Lord – taking over from William Hartnell – is the holy grail for fans, as it was only shown once in the UK and only sold overseas to Australia and New Zealand.
The film prints of the black-and-white fourth series were junked from the BBC archives during the early 70s.
Only a handful of short clips and cine film footage shot by a fan survive.
In the story Patrick turns up instead of the old Doctor, telling his companions Ben and Polly that the Tardis helped him to renew himselff.
They remain sceptical but stand by him as he faces his most deadly foe – the Daleks – on the planet Vulcan.
The story has now been brought back to life, using state-of-the-art animation based on off-screen photos taken at the time.
One thing’s for certain – it’s a hell of a lot easier for cartoon Daleks to get up the stairs.
At the time of writing the BBC have yet to confirm the news.
Let's hope the searchers will locate missing reels to get a complete Patrick Troughton serial. I am not interested in buying an animated version of a serial.
Those rubbery faced, rubbery moving animated episodes are a disappointing waste of time.
D.S.
I didn't mind the animated Cybermen in Moonbase...
BBC Worldwide has officially announced the first full story featuring Patrick Troughton as the Doctor, The Power of the Daleks is to be released as a new animated version on the 50th anniversary of its first broadcast:
The Power of the Daleks (animated) - The Daleks (Credit: BBC Worldwide) The Power of the Daleks (animated) - The Doctor (Credit: BBC Worldwide) It's one of the Doctor’s most celebrated adventures and yet no complete film recordings of The Power of the Daleks are known to have survived. The master negatives were destroyed in an archive purge in 1974.
BBC Worldwide has announced that a brand new black and white animation based on audio recordings of the programme using the original cast, surviving photographs and film clips will be released 50 years to the minute after its only UK broadcast on BBC One.
The six half hour episodes feature the regeneration, or as it was then called ‘renewal’, of First Doctor William Hartnell into Second Doctor Patrick Troughton, as the Time Lord and his companions Polly (Anneke Wills) and Ben (Michael Craze) do battle with the Daleks on the planet Vulcan.
Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks is being produced by the team behind the highly successful animation of lost Dad’s Army episode A Stripe For Frazer, first released on BBC Store in February this year. The producer and director is Charles Norton, with character designs from acclaimed comic book artists Martin Geraghty and Adrian Salmon.
Charles Norton says: The Power of the Daleks animation is the most ambitious Doctor Who archive restoration ever attempted and we’re all very honoured to be a part of such a an exciting project. Intelligent, suspenseful and magnificently staged, Power of the Daleks is one of the great lost classics of 1960s television and a superb example of the black and white era at its finest.
Paul Hembury, Executive Producer, BBC Worldwide says: Charles and his team are remarkably talented and passionate about Doctor Who and we are thrilled that fans will soon be able to enjoy this rather sinister but wonderful, classic story.
Doctor Who: The Power Of The Daleks will initially be exclusively released on BBC Store, with episode one available from Saturday 5th November at 5:50pm, and the others released on consecutive days thereafter. Readers can register their interest in the download at the BBC Store.
The story will become available online more widely from the 14th November, and will also be released on DVD in the United Kingdom on the 21st November (no other regions have been announced at present).
In addition to the story's release on the 5th November, there will be a special screening of the first three episodes at the BFI in London, which will include a Q&A with Anneke Wills, Charles Norton and Frazer Hines. Further information will be available from the BFI website from Monday 19th September.
UPDATE BBC America has confirmed that Doctor Who: The Power of the Daleks will be screened on the channel shortly after its U.K. Release. The animated serial premieres Saturday, November 12 and will be available the following day to stream on BBCAmerica.com and on the BBC America app.
