The Collection: Season 23

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 episodes all feature the original mono soundtracks, along with – new for this release – optional 5.1 or isolated scores. In the case of Episodes 5-8, these were created using re-recordings of the score made especially for this purpose.

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.

Grouped on Behind the Sofa are:

  • Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant & Bonnie Langford
  • Frazer Hines, Mark Strickson & Matthew Waterhouse

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.

Disc 1: Parts One – Four (1:38:40) aka The Mysterious Planet

Commentary with Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Tony Selby, Adam Blackwood; alternate commentary with Eric Saward (Part One only).

FormatLengthOriginal DVD Source & Notes
Making-of Documentary (Part One)SD25:02The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1
Deleted & Extended ScenesSD8:29 The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1
Behind the SofaHD54:28New
The Doctor’s TableHD41:23New
Wogan [25.08.86 with Colin Baker, Lynda Bellingham]SD14:24 The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1
Saturday Picture Show [06.09.86 with Bonnie Langford]SD7:32 The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 3
Points of View [17.09.86]SD2:23 The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1
Blue Peter [18.09.86 with Colin Baker, Nabil Shiban]SD6:51 The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1
Studio & Location FootageSD1:35:35New
Model FootageSD1:51 The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1
Clean Opening & Closing TitlesSD2:18 The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1
Theme Music RemixSD3:08 The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1
The Trial ThemeSD2:49 The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 1
BBC Trails & ContiniuitySD10:379:59 version on original disc
Photo GallerySD12:346:31 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.

Disc 2: Parts Five – Eight (1:38:56) aka Mindwarp

Commentary with Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, Philip Martin

FormatLengthOriginal DVD Source & Notes
Making-of Documentary (Part Two)SD20:22The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 2
Deleted & Extended Scenes SD9:03 The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 2
Behind the SofaHD35:16New
Temps X [including behind the scenes photo gallery]SD16:13New
Breakfast Time [20.10.86 with Janet Fielding, John Nathan-Turner, Nicola Bryant]SD8:37New
Now and ThenSD21:02The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 2
Studio & Location FootageSD39:48 New. Rated 12.
Blessed on Doctor Who [interview recorded 2007]SD19:55New
The Sixth Doctor RevisitedHD25:07New
50 Years in the TARDIS [Colin Baker, recorded 2013]HD20:54New
BBC Trails & ContinuitySD3:42New
Commentary Bonus [aka A Fate Worse Than Death?]SD2:23 The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 2
Photo GalleryHD8:006:58 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 were removed from this disc, presumably to feature on Season 22.

Disc 3: Parts Nine – Twelve (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.

FormatLengthOriginal DVD Source & Notes
Making-of Documentary (Part Three)SD19:17The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 3
Deleted & Extended ScenesSD14:05The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 3
Behind the Sofa HD37:02New
Studio FootageSD1:26:12New. Rated 12.
BBC1 Trails & ContinuitySD3:373:14 version on original disc
Terror of the Vervoids: Special EditionHD1:26:31 New
Photo GalleryHD9:075:55 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: Parts Thirteen – Fourteen (54:21)

Commentary with Colin Baker, Tony Selby, Chris Clough, Pip & Jane Baker; alternate commentary with Eric Saward (Part Thirteen only).

FormatLengthOriginal DVD Source & Notes
Making-of Documentary (Part Four)SD15:14The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 4
Deleted & Extended ScenesSD4:38The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 4
Behind the SofaHD33:12New
Saturday Superstore [29.11.86 with Colin Baker]SD13:33The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 4
Open Air [08.12.86 with Pip & Jane Baker, JNT]SD10:29The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 4
Tomorrow’s World [18.12.86 with Colin Baker]SD28:28New. Edited to remove Kenny Everett.
French and Saunders [unaired, recorded 25.10.87]SD7:36The Curse of Fatal Death VHS (with captions added, also present here)
Location MaterialSD59:38New
Trials and TribulationsSD55:06The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 4
Bonnie Langford In ConversationHD1:02:08New
The Lost SeasonSD10:58The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 3
The Writers’ Room [The Lost Season 23]HD32:14New
Tomorrow’s Times [The Sixth Doctor]SD12:56Vengeance on Varos SE
Stripped for Action [The Sixth Doctor]SD17:47The Twin Dilemma
BBC1 Trails & ContinuitySD1:231:13 version on original disc
Photo GalleryHD7:035:02 SD version on original disc
Coming Soon [Time and the Rani]SD0:40Revenge 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 removed, expected Season 22.
  • Coming Soon: Four to Doomsday moved to Season 19.

Disc 5: Bonus

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

FormatLengthOriginal DVD Source & Notes
Alternative edits – Parts Nine-Fourteen with optional 5.1 surround soundSD2:43:21New
The Doctor Who Cookbook RevisitedHD39:33New
Bonus Recipe #1, #2, #3HD3:09
5:08
5:30
New
Season 23 Blu-Ray TrailerHD3:42New
Now Get Out of That!SD28:20The Trial of a Time Lord Disc 3
The Panopticon Archive [Colin Baker, Nicola Bryant, 1993]HD32:36New
Studio ClocksSD4:26New

Total contents: 4:45:45

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

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.