The Collection: Season 2

This was the twelfth season released, on 4th December 2022 in the UK. It was reissued on 2nd December 2024 in standard packaging, with a shorter booklet.

The Storyteller

Sources

Most episodes were sourced from 16mm stored field telerecordings recovered from BBC Ents in 1978.

The third part of Planet of the Giants exists as the 16mm film copy of the 35mm film used for broadcast, itself an edited copy of the black-and-white video recordings of the original episodes three and four.

The fifth part of The Dalek Invasion of Earth was sourced from the 35mm negative used to create the transmission print.

The first part of The Crusade exists as a damaged16mm film copy of the original black-and-white video recording, returned from Australia by film collector Bruce Grenville in January 1999. Peter Crocker put in significant work to cover up the damage for this release.

The Time Meddler’s first, third and fourth parts are edited 16mm film copies of the original black-and-white videotape recording, returned from a Nigerian broadcaster in January 1985. Cut sections from the first and third parts were reinstated from a transfer made in 1994 of a complete 16mm film copy of the episode then held by Ian Levine, having been acquired from a collector by Ian Sheward in 1981. A 12-second cut in episode four remains missing – it was simply absent on the DVD, and replaced here by a remounted film sequence.

As usual, most of the restorations began from the DVD masters, however The Dalek Invasion of Earth and The Time Meddler were both ground-up restorations from newly-struck prints.

UK Release History

UK Release History

VHSVHS ArtDVDDVD Art
Planet of Giants14/1/02Uncredited [Black Sheep]20/8/12Lee Binding
The Dalek Invason of Earth7/5/90Uncredited [Alister Pearson]16/6/03Clayton Hickman
The Rescue5/9/94Andrew Skilleter23/2/09Clayton Hickman
The Romans5/9/94Andrew Skilleter23/2/09Clayton Hickman
The Web Planet10/9/90Uncredited [Alister Pearson]30/10/04Clayton Hickman
The Crusade1/7/99Uncredited [Black Sheep]N/AClayton Hickman
The Space Museum1/7/99Uncredited [Black Sheep]1/3/10Clayton Hickman
The Chase6/9/93Andrew Skilleter1/3/10Clayton Hickman
The Time Meddler11/11/02Uncredited [Black Sheep]4/2/08Clayton Hickman
Also: The Hartnell Years contained The Crusade [3]; Lost in Time contained both surving parts of The Crusade.3/6/91Photographic1/11/04Clayton Hickman

The Rescue and The Romans was paired up on both VHS and DVD. The Chase was paired with The Space Museum on DVD, and with Remembrance of the Daleks on VHS. The Time Meddler‘s VHS release was as part of The First Doctor collection. For more information and images see our VHS guide.

On DVD, The Dalek Invasion of Earth was also released as part of the October 2003 WH Smith exclusive Dalek Collector’s Edition set and in a similar set from Amazon in 2007.

Planet of Giants, The Space Museum and The Chase were released after a change in the BBC logo, and had reversable sleeves to match the rest of the range.

Three of the restored stories were issued as part of the Doctor Who DVD Files magazine (2009-14) across the following issues: 92: The Dalek Invasion of Earth (Aug 22nd 2012); 138: The Chase (Apr 16th 2014); and 150: The Time Meddler (October 1st 2014).

Summary

Information text by Matthew Kilburn (Planet of Giants, updating his own), Martin Wiggins (The Dalek Invasion of Earth and The Web Planet, updating his own, The Crusade, new, and The Time Meddler, updating Richard Molesworth’s), William Arthur (The Rescue and The Romans, updating Richard Molesworth’s), James Cooray Smith (The Space Museum, updating his own) and Richard Bignell (The Chase, updating his own).

Behind the Sofa are:

  • Maureen O’Brien, Peter Purves, Carol Ann Ford
  • Bonnie Langford, Sophie Aldred
  • Janet Fielding, Wendy Padbury, Sarah Sutton

There are no Behind the Sofa features for Planet of Giants, The Crusade or The Space Museum.

Arabic audio option for Planet of Giants (previously on DVD). New enhanced audio option (mainly focussed on the Dalek voices) available on The Dalek Invasion of Earth 2-6.

CGI options by Mike Tucker, Nick Sainton-Clark and Ian Simpson, from the original DVD, are available on The Dalek Invasion of Earth.

Audio navigation is provided by Peter Purves.

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 583 (released 13 October 2022, cover date November 2022) with the features listed out of order, and with alternate titles.

Disc 1: Planet of Giants (1:13:42)

Commentary by Clive Doig, Brian Hodgson, Sonia Markham and David Tilley (2011)

FormatLengthOriginal DVD Source & Notes
Making the Reconstructions [Rediscovering The Urge to Live]SD8:30Planet of Giants
Reconstruction: CrisisSD28:04Planet of Giants
Reconstruction: The Urge to LiveSD24:34Planet of Giants
William Russell in ConversationHD49:17New
Photo GalleryHD3:323:22 SD version on original DVD

Total disc contents: 3:07:39

  • Coming Soon: Vengeance on Varos SE (from the original DVD) moved to to Season 22.
  • The Lambert Tapes removed, expected to move to Season 1 or 3 (her first or last seasons)
  • Suddenly Susan moved to Disc 2

Disc 2: The Dalek Invasion of Earth (2:28:51)

Commentary by Richard Martin [1-6], Verity Lambert [1-4,6], William Russell [2,4-6], Carole Ann Ford [3-6], moderated by Gary Russell (2003)

FormatLengthOriginal DVD Source & Notes
Updated Special Effects CompileSD1:12The Dalek Invasion of Earth
Making-of Documentary [Future Memories]SD45:24The Dalek Invasion of Earth
Behind the SofaHD32:52New
Design Featurette [Future Visions]SD17:49The Dalek Invasion of Earth
Script to ScreenSD6:03The Dalek Invasion of Earth
Rehearsal FilmSD1:43The Dalek Invasion of Earth
Dalek Voices Featurette [Talking Daleks]SD10:30The Dalek Invasion of Earth
BBC Trailers [inc clip from 19.11.1964 edition of Gallery]HD2:161:43 SD version on original DVD
Now and ThenSD6:59The Dalek Invasion of Earth
Carole Ann Ford Interview [Suddenly Susan]SD15:19Planet of Giants
DVD Intro & Easter EggsSD2:25Compiled from five features on original DVD
Audio Archive [Whatever Happened to Susan Foreman]Audio26:24The Dalek Invasion of Earth [27:49]*
Photo GalleryHD3:553:46 SD version on original DVD
Coming Soon [The Rescue/The Romans]SD1:15Full Circle, State of Decay, Warriors’ Gate

* Whatever Happened to… Susan plays at a faster speed on BD, though the content is the same as DVD. It includes opening and closing continuties from BBC Radio 4, which are not included on the CDs Doctor Who at the BBC Vol 3, or The BBC Radio Episodes Collection.

Total disc contents: 5:22:57

  • Blue Peter: Dalek cakes (from the original DVD) removed, perhaps held for Season 3, as the timing is more closely aligned with The Daleks’ Master Plan.

Disc 3: The Rescue (49:54)

Commentary by William Russell, Christopher Barry, Raymond Cusick, moderated by Toby Hadoke (2008)

FormatLengthOriginal DVD Source & Notes
Making-of Documentary [Mounting the Rescue]HD21:54The Rescue (SD)
Behind the SofaHD32:56New
Maureen O’Brien in ConversationHD1:13:51New
The Storyteller [BD Trailer]HD6:24New
Photo GalleryHD4:118:13 SD version on original DVD

Total disc contents: 3:09:10

  • Coming Soon: Attack of the Cybermen (from the original DVD) removed, expected to move to Season 21.

Disc 4: The Romans (1:37:06)

Commentary by Nick Evans [1], Barry Jackson [1,2], William Russell [1-4], Christopher Barry [1-4], Raymond Cusick [4], moderated by Toby Hadoke (2008)

FormatLengthOriginal DVD Source & Notes
Making-of Documentary [What Has The Romans Ever Done for Us?]HD34:07The Romans (SD)
Behind the SofaHD33:11New
Model Featurette [Roma Parva]SD2:34The Romans
Dennis Spooner Profile [Wanna Write a Television Series?]SD17:47The Romans
Blue Peter [4.1.73 factual feature]SD7:15The Romans
Photo GalleryHD3:486:07 SD version on original DVD

Total disc contents: 3:15:48

  • Coming Soon: Attack of the Cybermen (from the original DVD) removed, expected to move to Season 21.
  • Girls! Girls! Girls! The 1960s removed, could move to any other 1960s season.

Disc 5: The Web Planet (2:26:53)

Commentary by Verity Lambert [1-3,6], Richard Martin [1,2,4-6], William Russell [1,3,5,6], Martin Jarvis [4-6], moderated by Gary Russell (2005)

FormatLengthOriginal DVD Source & Notes
Making-of Documentary37:51SDThe Web Planet
Behind the Sofa [Tales of Isop]31:41HDNew
Audio Archive [The Lair of Zarbi Supremo]56:46AudioThe Web Planet
Studio Clock0:25HDNew
Photo Gallery5:32HD6:45 SD version on original DVD

Total disc contents: 4:39:08

  • Give a Show Slides (from the original DVD) were partly replicated on the DVD and BD of The Chase, so removed here.
  • Spanish audio for the sixth episode, a special feature on DVD, could not be cleared for release on BD.

Disc 6: The Crusade (2 episodes missing) (1:37:15)

Note: “Play All” provides the options to play existing episodes only, play with William Russell links, or play with reconstructions. The total time above is based on the episodes plus reconstructions.

The William Russell links are – as they were on the Lost in Time DVD – missing the end credits that appeared on the VHS version.

Commentary [1] by Bruce Grenville, Neil Lambess, Paul Scoones and Steve Roberts (2021)

Commentary [3] by Julian Glover and Gary Russell (2004)

FormatLengthOriginal DVD Source & Notes
William Russell LinksSD5:20The Crusade VHS / Lost in Time DVD
Sylvester McCoy LinksSD0:52The Hartnell Years VHS
Looking for DavidHD1:00:55New
The Panopticon Archive [Carol Ann Ford and Jacqueline Hill 06.04.85]SD57:14New
Studio Clock [3]HD0:28Lost in Time (Easter Egg) (SD)
Photo GalleryHD7:10New
Telesnaps GalleryHD5:06
4:46
New
Coming Soon [The Space Museum/The Chase]SD1:52The Masque of Mandragora

Total disc content: 4:00:58

Disc 7: The Space Museum (1:31:37)

Commentary by Maureen O’Brien, Glyn Jones, William Russell [1,3,4], moderated by Peter Purves (2009)

FormatLengthOriginal DVD Source & Notes
Defending the MuseumSD9:29The Space Museum
Collectibles Documentary [Part 1: The 1960s]HD22:07New
BBC ContinuityHD0:10New
Photo GalleryHD2:344:26 SD version on original DVD

Total disc content: 2:05:57

  • Coming Soon: Myths and Legends (The Time Monster, Underworld and The Horns of Nimon) from the original DVD removed, and was not moved to Seasons 9, 15 or 17
  • A Holiday for the Doctor removed – new placement unknown but likely another 60s set

Disc 8: The Chase (2:28:14)

Commentary by Maureen O’Brien [1-2,4-6], William Russell [1-2,5-6] Richard Martin [1,3-6], moderated by Peter Purves (2009)

FormatLengthOriginal DVD Source & Notes
Making-of Featurette [The Thrill of the Chase]SD10:26The Chase
Behind the SofaHD31:13New
Ian & Barbara Featurette [Last Stop White City]SD13:16The Chase
Mechonoids FeaturetteSD2:50The Chase [Easter egg]
Daleks Beyond the ScreenSD21:57The Chase
Daleks Conquer and DestroySD22:39The Chase
Give-A-Show SlidesSD12:15The Chase (two stories had also been on The Web Planet)
Mary Celeste FeaturetteSD18:03The Carnival of Monsters: SE
The Wayne & Shuster Show [4.9.65 Hello Dalek! sketch]SD14:06New
Photo GalleryHD4:485:09 SD version on original DVD
Coming Soon [The Time Meddler]SD1:05Beneath the Surface [Doctor Who and the Silurians, The Sea Devils, Warriors of the Deep]

Total disc contents: 5:00:52

  • Coming Soon: Myths and Legends (The Time Monster, Underworld and The Horns of Nimon) from the original DVD removed, and was not moved to Seasons 9, 15 or 17
  • Cusick in Cardiff removed, unknown where this could fit.
  • Two features about Shawcraft removed: Shawcraft – The Original Monster Makers, and Follow that Dalek; suggested to go with the first Dalek serial.
  • Daleks Beyond the Screen was not mentioned in the DWM preview.

Disc 9: The Time Meddler (1:37:49)

Commentary byVerity Lambert, Peter Purves, Donald Tosh, Barry Newbery, moderated by Clayton Hickman

FormatLengthOriginal DVD Source & Notes
Behind the SofaHD30:16New
Restoration FeaturetteSD4:54The Time Meddler
The Lost 12 SecondsSD1:05The Time Meddler
Season 2 Documentary [Flight Through Eternity]HD46:10New
BBC Trails & ContinuitiesSD3:12New
Photo GallerySD3:122:39 SD version on original DVD
Coming Soon [Galaxy 4 animation]HD0:59Online

Total disc contents: 3:07:37

  • Coming Soon: The Five Doctors SE (from the original DVD) moved to Season 20.
  • Verity Lambert obituary and photo gallery removed, possibly to move to Seasons 1 or 3.
  • Stripped for Action: The First Doctor removed, expected on Season 4.

PDF Material

Richard Bignell’s promo image on Twitter, summarising the PDF content

Radio Times material originally appeared on Planet of Giants, The Rescue, The Romans, The Space Museum, The Chase and The Space Museum. Set designs originally appeared on Planet of Giants and The Rescue. The 1965 annual was originally on The Web Planet.

The BBC Enterprises Sales Promotion Brochure (Disc 1) was not mentioned in the DWM preview.

Errata

John Bay is miscredited as John Ray in the third and fourth parts of The Crusade, and Tutte Lemkow as Tutte Kemkow in the fourth part.