Reviewed: #DoctorWho Galaxy 4 Animated DVD and Blu-ray

After a run of Patrick Troughton stories, it feels overdue for a First Doctor tale to be given the animation treatment. Rather surprisingly, this new release is the first complete story from the William Hartnell era to be animated, and also the first in colour.   Galaxy 4 is somewhat unloved story, both by the programme’s fans and those who worked on it. Incoming producer John Wiles, who aimed…

Blue Plaque Honouring #DoctorWho's First Producer, Verity Lambert, Unveiled Again (Via @DWASonline)

The heritage plaque honouring Verity Lambert (Doctor Who‘s first producer, and a TV legend) has been rededicated, as unveiled by An Unearthly Child director, Waris Hussein, and former showrunner, Steven Moffat. The plaque was originally put in place in 2014, but when London’s Riverside Studios was being re-developed, it was put in storage. Moffat (who was showrunner when the blue plaque was…

Reviewed: The Black Archive #14 – The Ultimate Foe

Actually, I quite like Trial of a Time Lord. I didn’t like it at all when it was first transmitted – another example of Who fans disliking something when it’s first aired and then thoroughly revising their opinions. It’s not perfect Doctor Who and it never gets above the level of “pretty good”. Some bits are dreadful; some bits are badly incoherent; some bits are “meh” (the first four episodes,…

The third of this summer's recently confirmed Doctor Who DVD releases is Planet of Giants, the 1964 serial starring William Hartnell!

Written by Louis Marks, Planet of Giants sees our travellers encountering some dimensional issues - but not the sort usually associated with Doctor Who. Indeed, a similar story was at one point intended as the very first episode...

The TARDIS doors open while the ship is still in flight by accident. Although they have arrived back on Earth in the 1960s, a time they have been trying to return to since they all met, the travellers soon realise that something is very wrong.

The Doctor, Ian, Barbara and Susan discover that they have all be reduced in size and the world they are now exploring has dangers at every turn…

Starring William Hartnell with William Russell as Ian Chesterton, Jacqueline Hill as Barbara Wright and Carole Ann Ford as Susan, the following extras are included on this release:

Special Features

Commentary with vision mixer Clive Doig, special sounds creator Brian Hodgson, make-up supervisor Sonia Markham and floor assistant David Tilley. Moderated by Mark Ayres.

Episode 3 and 4 Reconstruction Originally shot as a four-part story, the final two episodes of Planet of Giants were edited into a single episode for transmission. Using the original scripts, newly recorded dialogue and animation, this feature gives viewers and idea of how the original four-part version might have appeared.

Rediscovering The Urge to Live The team behind the reconstruction explain how it was put together.

Doctor Who Stories – Suddenly Susan Carole Ann Ford talks about her role as the Doctor’s granddaughter and the first companion in the TARDIS in this interview originally recorded for 2003’s The Story of Doctor Who.

Verity Lambert Tapes – Part Two Doctor Who’s original producer looks back on her time on the series in the second part of this interview recorded for The Story of Doctor Who

Prop Design Plans (DVD-ROM only – to be viewed on PC/Mac).

Coming Soon Trailer

Digitally remastered picture and sound quality

Radio Times Listings (DVD-ROM)

Programme Subtitles

Production Information Subtitles

Photo Gallery

Set for release on August 20th, Planet of Giants can be pre-ordered from Amazon for £14.99.

Classic Who: Vision Mixing - Doctor Who: The Sensorites