The Savages - New Animation heading to DVD

Thursday, 12 December 2024 - Reported by Marcus
The Savages - Logo (Credit: BBC Studios)

The First Doctor story The Savages has been animated and will be released next year.

The four-part series, first broadcast between May and June 1966, will return as an animated series to be released on DVD, Blu-ray and a limited-edition Blu-ray Steelbook next spring.

With the original master recording lost, as many of these television episodes where historically wiped after transmission, the BBC Studios Home Entertainment teams worked with original audio recordings and soundtracks of all four episodes and a team of animators to bring back to fans this long-lost story arc.

In this early story, the Doctor (William Hartnell) and his travelling companions, Steven (Peter Purves) and Dodo (Jackie Lane), arrive on an unnamed planet where they encounter two distinct people - the Elders and the Savages. They soon discover the Elders are the evil ones, draining the primitive Savages for their life source to remain young and powerful forever. This story marks the final appearance of Purves as Steven.

 

The Savages: Ep1 Dr in the Ravine (Credit: BBC Studios)The Savages: Ep2 Dr in cubicle (Credit: BBC Studios)The Savages: Ep3 Cave group (Credit: BBC Studios)The Savages: Ep4 Steven destroying a console (Credit: BBC Studios)

This three-disc release will include all four 25-minutes animated episodes in colour and black and white, as well as exclusive bonus features.

Paul Hembury, Executive Producer commented:

We have a wonderful team of creators who work together to bring these lost Doctor Who stories back to life through animation. It’s always an exciting time when a story nears completion, and we prepare to share it with the fans, for whom it has been made. 

The story is available for pre-order on Amazon

 

THE SAVAGES RETURNS

 


In addition, BBC Studios Home Entertainment will release the new colourisation of The War Games. Originally aired in 1969, The War Games marked the end of an era for the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton), following him and his companions Zoe and Jamie as they land in a battlefield that appears to be a World War I military zone – but all is not as it seems. They soon discover that soldiers from different historical periods have been abducted and are being manipulated in a cruel game. As they work to uncover the mystery behind the War Lord and his twisted experiments, the Doctor faces one of his most difficult challenges.

For the first time, these original episodes have been meticulously colourised and enhanced with updated visual effects edited into a new, 90-minute feature-length experience to appeal to today’s modern audiences. With updated sound and a new score, this newly updated version of The War Games offers both fans and newcomers even more ways to watch the much-loved classic story. This title will be released on DVD, Blu-ray and limited-edition Blu-ray Steelbook and will air on BBC will air on 23 December 2024 on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer.





FILTER: - First Doctor - Season 3

The Edge Of Destruction On Zoetrope Picture Disc

Friday, 16 February 2024 - Reported by Marcus
 Doctor Who: The Edge Of Destruction (Credit: Demon Music Group)

To mark Record Store Day 2024, Demon Records are releasing the complete narrated TV soundtrack of the Doctor Who story ‘The Edge Of Destruction’.

This brand new audio presentation, making its debut in any format with this vinyl release, features unique linking narration by Carole Ann Ford.

There’s also a bonus interview with Ford herself, in which she recalls playing Susan, the Doctor’s granddaughter, in the original TV episodes.

The vinyl boasts a picture disc Side A, showing the Ship’s melting ormolu clock from a pivotal scene in the story, and an exclusive Zoetrope Side B, depicting the TARDIS swirling across space and time (best experienced using a smartphone running a third-party stroboscope app).

The 12” disc is presented in a stunning die-cut artwork outer sleeve.

Escaping from their previous adventure, the Doctor, Susan, Ian Chesterton (William Russell) and BarbaraWright (Jacqueline Hill) are inside the TARDIS when it appears to be taken over by an outside force.

2024 is the 60th anniversary of this two-episode story starring William Hartnell as the Doctor. First broadcast on the 8th & 15th February 1964

The disc will be released on 20 April 2024 on Record Store Day, the day when over 260 independent record shops all across the UK come together to celebrate their unique culture.





FILTER: - season 1 - First Doctor - Vinyl

The Celestial Toymaker Animation

Thursday, 7 December 2023 - Reported by Marcus
The Celestial Toymaker (Credit: BBC Studios)

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 Celestial Toymaker sees the Doctor and companions separated when they come up against The Toymaker. While the Doctor plays the Trilogic Game, Steven and Dodo are forced to play seemingly childish but ultimately dangerous games with the aim of being reunited and getting back to the TARDIS.

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

  • Episodes 1-4 – Animation – Black and White
  • Episodes 1-3 – Reconstruction
  • Episode 4 – Original 1966 Episode newly restored
  • New Audio Commentaries

Disc Two

  • Episodes 1-4 – Animation – Colour
  • Making The Animation
  • Doctor Who Escape Room – Team First Doctor
  • Sylvester McCoy Introduction for episode 4 as per the original VHS release
  • Photo Gallery
  • PDF Material including camera scripts

 

The Celestial Toymaker (Credit: BBC Studios)The Celestial Toymaker (Credit: BBC Studios)

 

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! 🎲





FILTER: - First Doctor - Blu-ray/DVD

The Daleks in Colour - First Look

Tuesday, 14 November 2023 - Reported by Marcus

The Doctor (William Hartnell) , Susan (Carole Ann Ford) and Ian Chesterton meet The Daleks for the first time (Credit: BBC)The BBC has released images from the colourised version of the second Doctor Who story, The Daleks, due to be screened on BBC Four on the 23rd of November 2023.

The story follows the very first crew of the TARDIS as they land in a petrified forest on an alien planet. Determined to explore, the Doctor (William Hartnell) leads his companions into the metal city, where they discover danger at every corner and what will become his deadliest enemy, the mutant Daleks.

Originally broadcast as seven 25-minute episodes, the Terry Nation story has now been edited down to 75 minutes by Benjamin Cook and the result colourised. 

With brand new sound and a new score - created by Mark Ayres - The Daleks has been gloriously updated, whilst ensuring the original classic story remains as thrilling as it was when it was first seen back in 1963.

The colorised version will be released on DVD, Blu-ray, and as a Steelbook next February. 

This DVD release also includes the original seven episodes in black & white, as they were first broadcast plus a 15-minute exclusive featurette and all special features from the previous release.

The set can be pre-ordered from Amazon

 

 

William Hartnell as The Doctor, Jaqueline Hill as Barbara Wright, William Russell as Ian Chesterton and Carole Ann Ford as Susan (Credit: BBC)Susan (Carole Ann Ford) and Alydon (John Lee) (Credit: BBC)Two Daleks plotting the destruction of their enemies the Thals (Credit: BBC)Jaqueline Hill as Barbara Wright (Credit: BBC)




FILTER: - First Doctor - Season 1

Doctor Who: The Collection - Season 2

Tuesday, 16 August 2022 - Reported by Marcus
Season 2 (Credit: BBC Studios)

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. 

Doctor Who – The Collection: Season 2​

PLANET OF GIANTS
THE DALEK INVASION OF EARTH
​THE RESCUE
THE ROMANS
THE WEB PLANET
THE CRUSADE
THE SPACE MUSEUM
THE CHASE
THE TIME MEDDLER

 

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





FILTER: - Blu-ray/DVD - Season 2 - First Doctor

The Sensorites On Vinyl

Thursday, 19 May 2022 - Reported by Marcus
The Sensorites (Credit: BBC Studios)

A  narrated version of the First Doctor story, The Sensorites, is to be released by Demon Records.

The story, starring William Hartnell as the Doctor, was first broadcast during the summer of 1964 as part of Doctor Who's first season. 

The TARDIS lands onboard a spaceship, in orbit around a planet known as the Sense-Sphere. TheDoctor and his companions learn that the human crew have been imprisoned on their craft by the Sensorites, who blame them for the introduction of a fatal disease. When the Sensorites steal the TARDIS lock, the travellers are forced to go with the aliens to their planet and attempt to broker peace between the races. But many dangers lie ahead…

Presented across 3 x 140g Sense-Sphere marble vinyl discs, this 1964 TV adventure is narrated by William Russell, who also plays Ian Chesterton. The supporting cast includes Jacqueline Hill as Barbara and Carole Ann Ford as Susan, with Stephen Dartnell, Ilona Rodgers and Lorne Cossette.

Incidental music is composed by Norman Kay, and the familiar strains of the Doctor Who theme are courtesy of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop

.An embossed, frameable art print accompanies the coloured vinyl LPs, presented in individual pockets which, when placed in order, reveal a double-sided composite illustration.

An accompanying booklet supplies cast and credits, and inner bags featuring complete episode billings. 

The discs will be released on 22 July 2022 and are available for pre-order from Amazon





FILTER: - Vinyl - First Doctor

Galaxy 4 Animation

Wednesday, 15 September 2021 - Reported by Marcus
Galaxy 4 Animation (Credit: BBC Studios)

BBC Studios have announced that the first Doctor story Galaxy 4 will be released as an animated reconstruction later this year. 

Galaxy 4 was the first story of Season 3 of Doctor Who and was originally shown on BBC 1 in September 1965. It starred William Hartnell as The Doctor, with Maureen O'Brien playing Vicki and Peter Purves playing Steven. The story was wiped after transmission and most of the story is missing from the archives. 

DOCTOR WHO: GALAXY 4

Written by William Emms
Directed by Chloe Grech (2021 Production)
Directed by Derek Martinus (1965 Production)

Executive Producers for Big Finish Creative – Gary Russell, Mark B.Oliver and Jason Haigh-Ellery (2021 Production)

Executive Producer for BBC Studios – Russell Minton (2021 Production)

Produced by Verity Lambert (1965 Production)

Starring William Hartnell, Maureen O’Brien, Peter Purves, Stephanie Bidmead, Marina Martin, Susanna Caroll, Lyn Ashley.

Galaxy 4 Animation (Credit: BBC Studios)The animated version of the story will be released in the UK on the 15th November 2021 and BBC Studios have today released a sneak peek of what’s included in the release.

The release follows the success of the existing animations, which are filling a gap in the missing Doctor Who archive. Thanks to fans who recorded the audio on domestic machines at the time of broadcast, audio-only recordings of all four episodes have survived and have been used here to create a brand new fully animated presentation of the entirety of this lost classic.

This will be presented alongside the original Episode 3, which was recovered from a collector in 2011 and over five minutes of original footage from the otherwise lost Episode 1.

The story sees the TARDIS landing on a planet on the verge of total annihilation as it drifts too close to the three suns which it orbits. Trapped on the planet with them are the Drahvins, a race of warrior women, and the reptilian Rills. The Drahvins want to steal the Rill spaceship to escape the planet's death throes and enlist the Doctor's help, which he is forced to give when Maaga, the cunning Drahvin leader, keeps first Vicki and then later Steven as her hostage.  Even though the Doctor is determined to broker a peace deal between the two sides in this conflict and help everyone escape safely, Maaga doesn't trust him, or the Rills...

The two-disc release gives fans the opportunity to enjoy the four new animated episodes of Galaxy 4, in either colour or black and white. The release will also include:

  • Remastered Surviving Original Episode 3
  • ​Remastered Surviving Clip from Episode 1
  • Telesnap Reconstructions of Episodes 1,2 and 4.
  • Audio Commentaries 
  • Making Of Documentary
  • Finding Galaxy 4 Documentary
  • Photo Gallery
  • Production Subtitles 

Gary Russell, Executive Producer from Big Finish  said

After a gap of many years, it is very exciting to bring the era of the First Doctor back into the animation world. Galaxy 4 is one of the most traditional adventures of 1960s Doctor Who and it’s been a real honour to work on this alternative version which hopefully reflects those technicolour thrills that sci-fi movies of the '60s had but which Doctor Who’s monochrome TV limitations couldn’t yet achieve.

BFI Southbank will host a special screening of all 4 episodes of the newly animated story Galaxy 4 on 7th November 2021; tickets go on sale on 16th September at 11:30 to BFI Champions and Patrons, at 12:30 to BFI Members and at 16:00 to the general public.

The new animated release will be available online and in-store as is available to pre-order on DVD, Blu-ray, and as a Limited Edition Blu-ray Steelbook   

 

  




FILTER: - First Doctor - Season 3 - Blu-ray/DVD

Doctor Who: Chronicles – 1965

Wednesday, 24 February 2021 - Reported by Marcus
Doctor Who: Chronicles – 1965 (Credit: Panini)

Doctor Who: Chronicles is a new series of bookazines from the makers of Doctor Who Magazine.

Examining the landmark years of the show’s history in unprecedented detail, the first issue looks at 1965, when the most popular episodes of Doctor Who attracted more than 13 million viewers and Dalekmania reached its peak with the release of the first feature film based on the series.

This 116-page bookazine features newly discovered images and all-new features, including a summary of the year’s most significant events in the Doctor Who universe (both on and off-screen); the rarest items of Dalek memorabilia; designs for Galaxy 4 toys that never went on sale; the untold story behind a Dalek-voiced TV commercial; how Doctor Who was reported in the popular press; insights into the BBC’s Audience Research Reports; a look at the first Doctor Who annual, a tribute to The Daleks comic-strip artist Richard Jennings; The Curse of the Daleks, the first theatre production based on the series; special effects and production techniques; overviews of The Rescue, The Romans, The Web Planet, The Crusade, The Space Museum, The Chase, The Time Meddler, Galaxy 4, Mission to the Unknown, The Myth Makers and The Daleks’ Master Plan – and much more.

Doctor Who: Chronicles – 1965 is on sale from 24 February, RRP just £9.99 from store.panini.co.uk and selected branches of WH Smith. It’s also available digitally from pocketmags.com priced £8.99.

 




FILTER: - DWM - First Doctor

Big Finish Takes the First Doctor Back to Skaro

Thursday, 7 November 2019 - Reported by Marcus
First Doctor Adventures volume four (Credit: Big Finish)David Bradley, Jemma Powell, Jamie Glover and Claudia Grant return as the original, yet slightly different, TARDIS team in the fourth volume of audio drama series, The First Doctor Adventures, due for release in March 2020.

And this time they’ll be facing the Doctor’s greatest foe – the Daleks.

Doctor Who – The First Doctor Adventures Volume Four is available for pre-order now at £24.99 on collector’s edition CD or £19.99 on download.

Actor David Bradley expressed his delight at battling the Daleks
To record audio scenes with Daleks you have to have met them in real life – which I did in An Adventure in Space and Time and in Twice Upon a Time. The first time I encountered one on set it brought back that prickle on the back of the neck as I remembered them from when I was a child. The fact that they couldn’t go upstairs didn’t matter, they were still terrifying! To meet the man inside was funny and touching – it took me back to being young and terrified!
Script Editor John Dorney adds
I’ve always been a big fan of the first few years of the series – it’s still figuring out what it is and is willing to go anywhere and do anything. And this new batch of stories does pretty much that. From a perfectly pitched Terry Nation tribute to a morally complex historical, I think this box set covers the full gamut of what the first Doctor’s era can do.
First Doctor Adventures volume four (Credit: Big Finish)The First Doctor Adventures Volume Four contains two stories – one historical and one set in the future:
  • Return to Skaro by Andrew Smith
  • A new plan to return to Earth actually returns the TARDIS to another place its crew have recently visited - Skaro, home world of the Daleks. But it is some time after their previous visit. The Thals have moved on with developing their species... Yet the shadow of the Dalek city always looms large over them. Venturing into the abandoned metropolis, the Doctor and his friends discover the Daleks aren’t as dead as they might have thought... and it isn’t only their enemies who have secrets.
  • Last of the Romanovs by Jonathan Barnes
  • The TARDIS lands on Earth near to an eerie and familiar house... with the only witness a regal man watching from inside through a broken window. Leaving the ship the crew immediately find themselves in trouble - because they have landed in Ekaterinburg early in the twentieth century. The man inside the house is Nicholas, the last Tsar of Russia, imprisoned with his family... and one of the most notorious crimes in history is just about to happen.
Doctor Who – The First Doctor Adventures Volume Four is available for pre-order now at £24.99 on collector’s edition CD or £19.99 on download.




FILTER: - Big Finish - First Doctor

Mission to the Unknown - Reconstruction - Available Now

Wednesday, 9 October 2019 - Reported by Marcus
The reconstruction of the lost Dalek episode of Doctor Who, Mission to the Unknown is now available on Youtube.





FILTER: - First Doctor
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