This was the tenth season released, on 20th December 2021 in the UK. It was reissued on 22nd January 2024 in standard packaging, with a shorter booklet.
Sources
All stories are taken from D3 copies of the original 2″ transmission masters, with credits rebuilt in true HD, colour-graded to match the original episodes. Some film inserts from City of Death showing the Jagaroth ship are included in HD.
UK Release History
| VHS | VHS Art | DVD | DVD Art | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Destiny of the Daleks | 4/7/94 7/9/01 | Colin Howard | 26/11/07 | Lee Binding |
| City of Death | 8/4/91 8/5/01 | Uncredited [Andrew Skilleter] Uncredited [Black Sheep] | 7/11/05 | Uncredited [Clayton Hickman] |
| The Creature from the Pit | 15/7/02 | Uncredited [Black Sheep] | 3/5/10 | Clayton Hickman |
| Nightmare of Eden | 1/99 | Uncredited [Black Sheep] | 2/4/12 | Lee Binding |
| The Horns of Nimon | 2/6/03 | Uncredited [Black Sheep] | 29/3/10 | Clayton Hickman |
| Shada | 6/7/92 | Photographic | 7/1/13 12/17 | Clayton Hickman |
Shada was released in numerous formats:
- 1992: On VHS with linking narration by Tom Baker.
- 2013: The VHS version, rebuilt in higher quality, and paired with More Than Thirty Years in the TARDIS as part of The Legacy Collection. The rebuild featured a slightly incorrect sequence in Part Three, detailed here.
- 2017: An HD partly-animated movie, on DVD and BD, with the VHS version included as a bonus feature. The Part Three error was partly, but not completely, fixed, and this time the ‘VHS edition’ end credits were removed.
City of Death was reissued on VHS in 2001 with a revised cover. Destiny of the Daleks was included in a 2001 WH Smith exclusive Davros Collection VHS set. More images can be found here.
The Horns of Nimon‘s DVD release was part of the Myths and Legends box set. Destiny of the Daleks was the last of the Davros serials to be released on DVD, and came out alongside a Davros Collection set. All of the stories in Season 17, except Destiny and City, were released after a change in BBC logo, and as such featured reversable sleeves.
The restored episodes were issued as part of the Doctor Who DVD Files magazine (2009-14) across the following issues: 58: Destiny of the Daleks (Mar 23rd 2011); 37: City of Death (Jun 2nd 2010); 149: The Creature from the Pit (September 17th 2014); 134: Nightmare of Eden (Feb 19th 2014); and 139: The Horns of Nimon (Apr 30th 2014).
Summary
All episodes include their original mono soundtracks, along with two new optional 5.1s for Destiny of the Daleks. Both of these include a revised voice effect for Davros, but a second ‘enhanced’ one also includes additional music taken from Tristram Cary’s previous scores.
Optional CGI is also available for Destiny of the Daleks (by John Kelly, from the original DVD) and (and on Nightmare of Eden (new, by Chris Cassell and Justin T Lee). On the original Destiny DVD, Kelly had included some laser beam effects in an incorrect place – this was swiftly removed for overseas releases, and likewise are not present here.
Behind the sofa are:
- Graeme Harper, June Hudson and Mat Irvine
- Colin Baker and Matthew Waterhouse
- Katy Manning and Nicola Bryant
Text commentaries have all been revised and updated from the originals by Martin Wiggins (Destiny of the Daleks, replacing Richard Molesworth’s originals), Martin Wiggins (City of Death), Nicholas Pegg (The Creature from the Pit and Nightmare of Eden) and Wiggins with Niall Boyce (The Horns of Nimon; Boyce wrote the originals solo). Wiggins, Pegg and Paul Scoones provided a brand new commentary for the six-part part-animated Shada. Previous releases had mostly not featured a text commentary, except for the 2013 iteration of the ‘VHS Shada‘, which had a commentary from Pegg that would naturally not synchronise with this longer edition.
Audio navigation is provided by Tom Baker.
Disc Layout
With the exception of the audio commentaries, titles are as they appear on the menu screen (and in the same order), with explanatory information in square brackets.
The disc layout was previewed in Doctor Who Magazine 571 (released 11 November 2021, cover date Winter 2021) with the features listed out of order, and with alternate titles.
Disc 1: Destiny of the Daleks (1:40:03)
Commentary by Lalla Ward, David Gooderson, Ken Grieve
Commentary #2 [1,4] with Tom Baker and Toby Hadoke [uncredited], new for BD
| Format | Length | Original DVD Source & Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Making-of Documentary [Return to Skaro] | HD | 44:11 | New |
| Behind the Sofa | HD | 31:16 | New |
| Directing Who [Ken Grieve] | SD | 9:28 | Destiny of the Daleks |
| Terry Nation Documentary [Terror Nation] | SD | 27:49 | Destiny of the Daleks |
| The Dalek Tapes | SD | 53:21 | Genesis of the Daleks |
| 1979 Season Launch Trailer | SD | 2:00 | Part of the trailers compilation on original DVD |
| 2021 Blu-Ray Trailer [Risen] | HD | 4:18 | New |
| Nationwide [02.04.79 – Radiophonic Workshop] | SD | 8:45 | New |
| Blue Peter: Abseiling [17.05.79] | SD | 8:13 | New |
| Blue Peter: Dalek [21.06.79, history of the Daleks plus a fan-made one] | SD | 8:10 | New |
| BBC Trails & Continuities | SD | 8:04 | 3:45 compilation on DVD |
| Photo Gallery | HD | 13:03 | New [SD 8:14 version on DVD] |
| Studio Clocks | SD | 0:24 | Destiny of the Daleks [Easter Egg] |
Total Disc Contents: 5:19:05
- Prime Adverts (from the original DVD) moved to Season 18
- Coming Soon: Beneath the Surface (from the original DVD) could move to Season 7 or 21 (it was not present on 9, the other obvious placing)
Disc 2: City of Death (1:39:38)
Commentary by Michael Hayes, Julian Glover, Tom Chadbon
Commentary #2 [1,4] with Tom Baker and Toby Hadoke [uncredited], new for BD
Commentary #3 with Lalla Ward & Catherine Schell, new for BD
| Making-of Documentary [Paris in the Springtime] | SD | 44:04 | City of Death |
| Behind the Sofa | HD | 27:50 | New |
| Directing Who [Michael Hayes] | SD | 8:27 | The Armageddon Factor SE |
| Design Featurette | HD | 4:18 | New |
| Douglas Adams Documentary | HD | 48:25 | New |
| Prehistoric Landscapes [model shots] | HD | 2:27 | City of Death |
| Film Trims | HD | 9:59 | New |
| Visual Effects Footage [Chicken Wrangler] | HD | 2:46 | City of Death |
| Studio Footage [Paris W12] | SD | 20:05 | City of Death |
| Blue Peter [25.10.79 – K9] | SD | 6:26 | New |
| BBC Trails & Continuity | SD | 4:52 | New, incorporating 0:18 easter egg on original DVD |
| Tom Baker & John Cleese Skit | SD | 0:18 | City of Death [Easter Egg] |
| DVD Easter Egg [Douglas Adams 1985 interview] | SD | 6:35 | City of Death [Easter Egg] |
| Photo Gallery | HD | 13:04 | 8:40 SD version on original DVD |
| Coming Soon [The Creature from the Pit] | SD | 0:41 | The Time Monster, Underworld, The Horns of Nimon |
Total Disc Contents: 4:59:55
- Eye on… Blatchford (13:00) and its easter egg (1:44), along with the easter egg spoof sales brochure (2:02) have all been removed
- In the DWM preview, studio and location footage were erroneously listed under PDFs
Disc 3: The Creature from the Pit (1:36:39)
Commentary by Lalla Ward, Myra Frances, Christopher Barry, Mat Irvine.
| Format | Length | Original DVD Source & Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extended Part Three | HD | 24:01 | New (4 seconds longer than transmitted version) |
| Making-of Featurette [Remembering…] | HD | 14:51 | New |
| Visual Effects Featurette [Team Erato] | SD | 14:48 | The Creature from the Pit |
| Behind the Sofa | HD | 28:39 | New |
| Deleted Scene | SD | 0:26 | The Creature from the Pit |
| Animal Magic | SD | 2:38 | The Creature from the Pit |
| Lalla Ward Remembers Season 17 | HD | 55:21 | New |
| BBC Choice Backstage [10.11.99 David Brierley] | SD | 4:32 | New |
| BBC Trails & Continuities | SD | 2:56 | New |
| Photo Gallery | HD | 8:03 | 4:51 SD version on The Creature from the Pit |
| Coming Soon [Nightmare of Eden] | SD | 1:55 | The Dæmons |
Total Disc Contents: 4:14:49
- Coming Soon: The King’s Demons/Planet of Fire (from the original DVD) removed. It was not included on Season 20 and seems unlikely to be included on Season 21.
- The Christopher Barry feature moved to Season 8
Disc 4: Nightmare of Eden (1:35:45)
Commentary by Lalla Ward, Peter Craze, Bob Baker, Colin Mapson, Joan Stribling, moderated by Toby Hadoke
| Format | Length | Original DVD Source & Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Making-of Featurette [The Nightmare of Television Centre] | HD | 13:24 | Nightmare of Eden |
| Behind the Sofa | HD | 24:46 | New |
| Bob Baker in Conversation | HD | 1:08:26 | New |
| Going Solo | HD | 7:46 | Nightmare of Eden |
| Nationwide [17.12.79 Doctor Who toys] | SD | 3:25 | New |
| BBC Trails & Continuities | SD | 2:57 | New |
| Photo Gallery | HD | 10:38 | 5:49 SD version on original DVD |
| The Doctor’s Strange Love | SD | 15:44 | Nightmare of Eden |
Total Disc Contents: 4:02:51
- Coming Soon: Ace Adventures (Dragonfire/The Happiness Patrol) (from the original DVD) was removed, and not included on either Season 24 or 25
- Coming Soon: Myths and Legends (The Time Monster, Underworld and The Horns of Nimon) from The Space Museum/The Chase was not included, neither was it on Seasons 9 or 15
- Ask Aspel moved to Disc 5
Disc 5: The Horns of Nimon (1:40:58)
Commentary by Lalla Ward, Janet Ellis, Graham Crowden, Anthony Read.
| Format | Length | Original DVD Source & Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Behind the Sofa | HD | 30:22 | New |
| Anthony Read Interview [Read the Writer] | SD | 6:29 | The Horns of Nimon |
| Williams’ Era Documentary [A Matter of Time] | SD | 60:03 | The Ribos Operation SE |
| The Doctor’s Composer [Part 2] | SD | 18:05 | The Sun Makers |
| Music Demos | SD | 2:58 | The Horns of Nimon |
| Swap Shop [29.12.79 – Lalla Ward] | SD | 14:43 | New |
| Nationwide [07.02.80 – Lalla Ward] | SD | 2:33 | New |
| Ask Aspel [15.07.80 – Lalla Ward] | SD | 11:03 | Nightmare of Eden |
| The Panopticon Archive [Tom Baker] | SD | 40:23 | New |
| Audio Archive [Genesis of the Daleks LP] | Audio | 59:46 | Previously released on LP, cassette and CD |
| BBC Trails & Continuities | SD | 2:11 | New |
| Photo Gallery | HD | 10:00 | 7:53 SD version on original DVD |
| Coming Soon [Shada] | HD | 0:42 | New |
| DVD Easter Egg [Scottish Falsetto Sock Puppets sketch] | SD | 1:20 | The Horns of Nimon [Easter Egg] |
Total Disc Contents: 6:01:36
- Who Peter: Part One (from the original DVD) moved to Season 26
- Coming Soon: The Creature from the Pit (from the original DVD) moved to Disc 2
Disc 6: Shada (2:31:38)
(new 2021 six-part partially-animated version with optional 5.1)
| Format | Length | Original DVD Source & Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tom Baker Introduction | SD | 2:47 | Shada VHS |
| Making-of Documentary [Taken Out of Time] | SD | 25:37 | Shada 2013 DVD, 2017 BD/DVD |
| Behind the Sofa | HD | 28:02 | New |
| Strike Strike Strike | SD | 27:47 | Shada 2013 DVD, 2017 BD/DVD |
| Now and Then | SD | 12:43 | Shada 2013 DVD, 2017 BD/DVD |
| Tom Talks | HD | 41:25 | New |
| What’s on Wogan: K9 [31.05.80] | SD | 2:24 | New |
| What’s on Wogan: Lalla Ward [28.06.80] | SD | 2:45 | New |
| Clean Opening & Closing titles | HD | 2:25 | Shada BD (also on The Collection: Season 12 BD) |
| Photo Gallery [Original 1979 filming] | HD | 9:43 | SD 4:47 version on Shada 2013 DVD, 2017 BD/DVD |
Total Disc Contents: 5:04:29
- The DWM preview mistakenly listed Trails and Continuity for Shada. Tom Talks was not mentioned.
Disc 7: Shada Bonuses
2017 audio commentary by Christopher Neame, Daniel Hill, Martin Geraghty and AnneMarie Walsh.
| Format | Length | Original DVD Source & Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 VHS Version | SD | 1:49:34 | Shada VHS, 2013 DVD, 2017 Steelbook BD (1:48:56, removed VHS end credits) |
| Enhanced Movie Version [2017] | HD | 2:18:22 | Shada 2017 BD, with enhanced animation from 2021 version |
| 1979 Studio Footage | SD | 2:28:29 | New |
| 1979 Visual Efffects Footage | HD | 4:00 | New |
| 2017 Dialogue Sessions | HD | 14:07 | Shada 2017 BD/DVD |
| 2017 Deleted Scenes | HD | 1:13 | Shada 2017 BD/DVD |
| 2017 Model Filming | HD | 4:32 | Shada 2017 BD/DVD |
| 2017 Animation Reference Footage | HD | 2:38 | Shada 2017 BD/DVD |
| 2017 Photo Gallery | HD | 2:44 | Shada 2017 BD/DVD |
| Coming Soon [Season 18] | HD | 1:50 | New, produced for YouTube to promote The Collection Season 18 |
| Nationwide [24.10.80, with Tom Baker] | SD | 4:32 | Logopolis |
Total Disc Contents: 7:12:01
The Nationwide bonus sits much better on Season 18, so was presumably missed by accident and added here, as close as possible to its airdate.
- The Big Finish Shada has been removed, perhaps for The Wilderness Years.
- Coming Soon: The Reign of Terror (from the original DVD) expected to move to Season 1.
- Being a Girl is generic about women in Doctor Who and is not presented here.
- Production subtitles were present on the 2013 release of the VHS version, but were removed for both the 2017 and 2021 releases.
- The 2017 studio footage feature was not included, possibly in error.
The 1992 Shada has been rebuilt several times over the years, creating slightly different versions of the sequence where the TARDIS team enter Skagra’s spacecraft in Part Three:
- After ‘What’s that carpet doing here?’ the 1992 cut across to the monitor on Skagra’s ship quicker than on the 2013 and 2017 version.
- After ‘Affirmative K9, affirmative!’ the 1992 and 2017 versions cut to the side angle of the ascent up to the ship and then the shot of the legs, followed by the shot of K9 ascending , while the 2013 version holds on Tom and co for the whole time.
…The 2021 version almost exactly matches the 2017 version, except that the legs are no longer cropped off at the top.
The DVD version of the 2017 release presented the studio scenes as de-interlaced in error, which effectively filmised them, and also presented it (as per the BD) with black bars forced onto the left and right to create a BD-compliant 16:9 video – meaning those watching on a 4:3 screen found black bars around all edges. DVDs of 4:3 material are usually encoded in true 4:3, leaving the TV to either add black bars or not, as needed.
PDF Material
The original DVD releases contained Radio Times listings (except on City of Death), along with an RT article and poem (Destiny of the Daleks). City of Death contained the 1980 annual and The Horns of Nimon contained blueprints. The 2017 Shada release contained a large compilation of PDFs.
In the DWM preview, Douglas Adams’ Scriptwriter’s Guide (Disc 1) was not listed, and there was an erroneous listing for production documentation for the 2017 animated version of Shada, instead of 2017 storyboards. The preview also cited scripts for two 1992 VHS Tom Baker links, a confusing way of describing the two versions of the script (with and without annotations).
