This was the fifth season released, on 23rd September 2019 in the UK. It was reissued on 4th October 2021 in standard packaging, with a shorter booklet.
Sources
All episodes originate from their PAL 1″ masters, with the credit sequences rebuilt using the raw SD masters, and the space station model shots inserted in true HD from the film originals.
UK Release History
This story has always been released in sets: As a 3-VHS collection 11/10/93 with art by Alister Pearson (BBCV5008) and a 4-DVD collection 29/9/08 with art by Clayton Hickman (BBCDVD2422).
All of the restored episodes, devoid of extras, were issued as part of the Doctor Who DVD Files magazine (2009-14) across the following issues: 129: The Mysterious Planet (11th December 2013), 130: Mindwarp (25th December 2013), 131: Terror of the Vervoids (8th January 2014), and 132: The Ultimate Foe (22nd January 2014).
Summary
Original text commentaries were by Richard Molesworth, replaced here by new ones from William Arthur and Paul Scoones.
The broadcast and extended episodes all feature the original mono soundtracks, along with – new for this release – optional 5.1 and isolated scores. In the case of Episodes 5-8, these were created using re-recordings of the score by Richard Hartley made especially for this box set.
There is no optional CG on any of the episodes, however there is a brand new ‘Trial-less’ edit of Episodes 9-12 with new CG.
Behind the Sofa are:
- Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant & Bonnie Langford
- Frazer Hines, Mark Strickson & Matthew Waterhouse
Audio navigation is provided by Colin 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 542 (released 22 August 2019, cover date October 2019) with the features listed out of order, and with alternate titles.
Disc 1: The Trial of a Time Lord – Episodes 1-4 (The Mysterious Planet) (1:38:40)
Commentary with Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Tony Selby, Adam Blackwood; alternate commentary with Eric Saward (Part One only).
| Format | Length | Original DVD Source & Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Making-of Documentary (Part One) | SD | 25:02 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1 |
| Deleted & Extended Scenes | SD | 8:29 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1 |
| Behind the Sofa | HD | 54:28 | New |
| The Doctor’s Table | HD | 41:23 | New |
| Wogan [25.08.86 with Colin Baker, Lynda Bellingham] | SD | 14:24 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1 |
| Saturday Picture Show [06.09.86 with Bonnie Langford] | SD | 7:32 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 3 |
| Points of View [17.09.86] | SD | 2:23 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1 |
| Blue Peter [18.09.86 with Colin Baker, Nabil Shiban] | SD | 6:51 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1 |
| Studio & Location Footage | SD | 1:35:35 | New |
| Model Footage | SD | 1:51 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1 |
| Clean Opening & Closing Titles | SD | 2:18 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1 |
| Theme Music Remix | SD | 3:08 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1 |
| The Trial Theme | SD | 2:49 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1 |
| BBC Trails & Continiuity | SD | 10:37 | 9:59 version on original disc |
| Photo Gallery | SD | 12:34 | 6:31 SD version on original disc |
Total contents: 6:28:04
- A German audio option from the Pandastorm DVD Sechster Doktor Volume 3 (Das Urteil – Der Rätselhafte Planet, Teil 1-4) was not included.
- No footage from the UK DVD release was removed for the BD.
- Clean Opening & Closing Titles were not mentioned in the DWM preview.
Disc 2: The Trial of a Time Lord – Episodes 5-8 (Mindwarp) (1:38:56)
Commentary with Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Philip Martin
| Format | Length | Original DVD Source & Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Making-of Documentary (Part Two) | SD | 20:22 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 2 |
| Deleted & Extended Scenes | SD | 9:03 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 2 |
| Behind the Sofa | HD | 35:16 | New |
| Temps X [including behind the scenes photo gallery] | SD | 16:13 | New |
| Breakfast Time [20.10.86 with Janet Fielding, John Nathan-Turner, Nicola Bryant] | SD | 8:37 | New |
| Now and Then | SD | 21:02 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 2 |
| Studio & Location Footage | SD | 39:48 | New. Rated 12. |
| Blessed on Doctor Who [interview recorded 2007] | SD | 19:55 | New |
| The Sixth Doctor Revisited | HD | 25:07 | New |
| 50 Years in the TARDIS [Colin Baker, recorded 2013] | HD | 20:54 | New |
| BBC Trails & Continuity | SD | 3:42 | New |
| Commentary Bonus [aka A Fate Worse Than Death?] | SD | 2:23 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 2 |
| Photo Gallery | HD | 8:00 | 6:58 SD version on original disc |
Total contents: 5:29:18
- A German audio option from the Pandastorm DVD Sechster Doktor Volume 3 (Das Urteil – Mindwarp, Teil 5-8) was not included
- Clips from Children in Need and Lenny Henry (both from the original DVD) were moved to Season 22
Disc 3: The Trial of a Time Lord – Episodes 9-12 (Terror of the Vervoids) (1:38:23)
Commentary with Colin Baker, Michael Craig, Pip & Jane Baker, Chris Clough. The Vervoids: SE is a new Trial-free episodic version with 5.1 surround sound mix, new title sequences and updated special effects.
| Format | Length | Original DVD Source & Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Making-of Documentary (Part Three) | SD | 19:17 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 3 |
| Deleted & Extended Scenes | SD | 14:05 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 3 |
| Behind the Sofa | HD | 37:02 | New |
| Studio Footage | SD | 1:26:12 | New. Rated 12. |
| BBC1 Trails & Continuity | SD | 3:37 | 3:14 version on original disc |
| Terror of the Vervoids: Special Edition | HD | 1:26:31 | New |
| Photo Gallery | HD | 9:07 | 5:55 SD version on original disc |
Total contents: 5:54:14
- A German audio option from the Pandastorm DVD Sechster Doktor Volume 3 (Das Urteil – Vervoid Terror, Teil 9-12) was not included.
- The Saturday Picture Show interview with Langford is moved to Disc 1.
- The Lost Season is moved to Disc 4.
- Now, Get Out of That is moved to Disc 6.
Disc 4: The Trial of a Time Lord – Episodes 13-14 (The Ultimate Foe) (54:21)
Commentary with Colin Baker, Tony Selby, Chris Clough, Pip & Jane Baker; alternate commentary with Eric Saward (Part Thirteen only).
| Format | Length | Original DVD Source & Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Making-of Documentary (Part Four) | SD | 15:14 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 4 |
| Deleted & Extended Scenes | SD | 4:38 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 4 |
| Behind the Sofa | HD | 33:12 | New |
| Saturday Superstore [29.11.86 with Colin Baker] | SD | 13:33 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 4 |
| Open Air [08.12.86 with Pip & Jane Baker, JNT] | SD | 10:29 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 4 |
| Tomorrow’s World [18.12.86 with Colin Baker] | SD | 28:28 | New. Edited to remove Kenny Everett. |
| French and Saunders [unaired, recorded 25.10.87] | SD | 7:36 | The Curse of Fatal Death VHS (with captions added, also present here) |
| Location Material | SD | 59:38 | New |
| Trials and Tribulations | SD | 55:06 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 4 |
| Bonnie Langford In Conversation | HD | 1:02:08 | New |
| The Lost Season | SD | 10:58 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 3 |
| The Writers’ Room [The Lost Season 23] | HD | 32:14 | New |
| Tomorrow’s Times [The Sixth Doctor] | SD | 12:56 | Vengeance on Varos SE |
| Stripped for Action [The Sixth Doctor] | SD | 17:47 | The Twin Dilemma |
| BBC1 Trails & Continuity | SD | 1:23 | 1:13 version on original disc |
| Photo Gallery | HD | 7:03 | 5:02 SD version on original disc |
| Coming Soon [Time and the Rani] | SD | 0:40 | Revenge of the Cybermen, Silver Nemesis |
Total contents: 7:07:24
- A German audio option from the Pandastorm DVD Sechster Doktor Volume 3 (Das Urteil – Der schlimmste Feind, Teil 13-14) was not included
- Doctor in Distress and 3x ’85 hiatus news reports (all from the original DVD) moved to Season 22
- Coming Soon: Four to Doomsday moved to Season 19
- In the DWM preview, the Location Material was listed as “Studio and location footage”
Disc 5: Bonus Disc 1
Newly created alternative edits of Parts One to Eight with optional 5.1 surround sound, totalling 3:29:15. Part Four is rated 12.
Disc 6: Bonus Disc 2
Newly created alternative edits of Parts Nine to Fourteen with optional 5.1 surround sound, totalling 2:43:21.
| Format | Length | Original DVD Source & Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Doctor Who Cookbook Revisited | HD | 39:33 | New |
| Bonus Recipe #1, #2, #3 | HD | 3:09 5:08 5:30 | New |
| Season 23 Blu-Ray Trailer | HD | 3:42 | New |
| Now Get Out of That! | SD | 28:20 | The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 3 |
| The Panopticon Archive [Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, 1993] | HD | 32:36 | New |
| Studio Clocks | SD | 4:26 | New |
Total contents: 4:45:45
The original DVD of The Ultimate Foe included PDFs of the Radio Times listings and articles, a press release, and the Zig-Zag feature.
Errata
There is a small mistake present in this set which did not warrant a replacement disc program. In Part Four, an early edit included a visual effect that was removed for the transmission version. In remastering, the team went back to the earliest edits as their basis, and accidentally left this effect in place.
