August 17th, 2023
162 comments
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Doctor Who Series 1-4 Blu-ray Newly Upscaled Versions
Available to order from www.amazon.co.uk
In its 60th anniversary year, newly upscaled versions of sixty Doctor Who episodes from the Ninth and Tenth Doctor’s eras are coming to Blu-ray.
These new episodes are now available to pre-order in one Blu-ray set. For the ultimate fan, this collection includes every episode and special from the first four series freshly upscaled to high definition using the latest technology, plus the Tenth Doctor specials, existing bonus features and a new specially shot extra, A Look Back Through Time and Space with Russell T Davies and David Tennant.
The boxset features newly upscaled versions of episodes from the following series.
Series 1
Christopher Eccleston plays the Ninth Doctor, an alien and a loner (it’s difficult keeping up with friends when your day job involves flitting through time and space) who meets Rose Tyler (Billie Piper), a shop-girl from the present day. From the moment she meets the Doctor, they click. They understand and complement each other. As they travel together through time, encountering new adversaries, the Doctor shows her things beyond imagination. The trip of a lifetime begins!
Series 2
The complete second series introduces David Tennant as the Tenth Doctor, with Billie Piper returning as Rose. The Doctor and Rose travel across the Universe, facing dangers and thrills at every turn. Whether that’s in Victorian Scotland facing a Werewolf, or on an impossible planet orbiting a black hole.
Series 3
The third series of Doctor Who is full of new adventures, new laughs, new heartbreak and some terrifying new monsters. From the moment the Doctor walks into the life of medical student Martha Jones (Freema Agyeman), he changes it forever. But whatever you do, don’t blink!
Series 4
David Tennant is back in his role as the Doctor in the fourth series of the hit sci-fi show! Award-winning comedienne Catherine Tate returns as the Doctor’s new companion, Donna Noble in this epic series that culminates in the Doctor’s friends coming together to stop the Daleks!
The Complete Specials
Five specials complete the Tenth Doctor’s journey as he meets new friends, familiar faces and comes face-to-face with an old enemy in a year of special adventures.
This Complete Specials includes all the Doctor Who Specials from 2009 – The Next Doctor, Planet of the Dead, The Waters of Mars, The End of Time – Part One and The End of Time – Part Two.
This boxset features eighteen discs containing sixty episodes of timeless adventures, remembered forever!
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MIKK89
March 7th, 2024 - 8:06pmJust Bought This and I Wasn’t expecting this to have the “WHOniverse” logo done for the BBC, but it seems the last few non 2023 specials releases have used Jodies logo, including this.
I Wonder if Jodies is used as the DVD title Card for pre-60th stories Blu-Ray/DVD and the “WHOniverse” logo for anything from The Star Beast Onwards…
daz
March 7th, 2024 - 10:21pmI think it is simply because it is a copy and paste of Series 1 to Specials from the Complete NuWho set that came out in the USA in October 2023. Hence her logo being on the start of each disc.
I expect the UK will get the Moffat then Chibnell years released separately too at some point.
Season 15 should have the whoniverse logo on it although with the collection keeping Jodies logo on the box it might not.
MIKK89
March 8th, 2024 - 3:10am@daz, I figured it would be that, as it was announced before BBC Iplayer branding all of Classic, Retro-New (2005-2022) and New+ Who as the WHOniverse, and have been wondering as I don’t own the Colourised Daleks release, whether that’s the same, as it was released after the specials, but on BBC Iplayer it is included with the Marvel Studios’-esque WHOniverse logo and is a joint production with Bad Wolf Productions
MIKK89
March 15th, 2024 - 5:09am@daz Also Just Realised where the confusion might have been… wasn’t the Box Art Itself (I Remembered reading that the Collection sets were sticking with the 2018-2022 Branding as the “Collection”‘s default J-Card, Box, Disc and Menu Logo’s) What I Meant was the mini-intro (on the Collections, ‘Underwater Menace’ Animation and Series 1-4+Specials still show the Whittaker Logo Reveal, Whilst the 60th Specials and Church on Ruby Road Disc have the intro as BBCIplayers ‘WHOniverse’ ident) that shows up between the Audio Description of What the writing says on Screen (eg. “Doctor Who, Season/Series 10, Disc 1”) and the Visual and Audio Announcement of “To Select Audio Navigation, Press Enter Now”. I Was Expecting anything with the 2023 and beyond Logo on it would either have the 2023-Diamond Logo Reveal or the WHOniverse Ident (example The Underwater Menace, The Celestial Toymaker and Series 1-4+Specials all featuring the 2023-Diamond Logo Reveal, then all stories from The Star Beast Onwards with the WHOniverse Ident)
daz
March 20th, 2024 - 5:36amYup. Season 15 has Jodies ident at the start of the disc still rather than the Whoniverse one so looks like, due to the logo being on the packaging, it will remain on the discs too.
15 down, 12 to go (wilderness included).
mick
February 22nd, 2024 - 4:26pmgot my replacement disc today
mick
February 23rd, 2024 - 3:32pmthe label on the replacement disc is really off, some of the smaller writing is blurred and the colours dont match the other discs now. looks like a bootleg disc.
daz
February 23rd, 2024 - 4:49pmAlthough the disc label isn’t as bright as the original it isn’t blurred on mine. Yes the white text doesn’t pop as much but I wouldn’t say it looks like a bootleg copy someone printed at home .
Just keep the old disc too if it is an issue.
I hope they do fix the other issues in the set but I guess The Next Doctor sound issue is the main one to be resolved.
mick
February 16th, 2024 - 2:24pmDid anyone actually received the replacement disc I enquired about it over 10 days ago and they said they would send me one but to this day I’ve received nothing. Sent them 2 further emails but haven’t received any replies
daz
February 16th, 2024 - 3:42pmNot got mine yet. I imagine it is 7 to 10 working days though.
Rex F
February 16th, 2024 - 6:32pmIt’s only two people and a dog who handle replacements, so it always takes a while and you are unlikely to receive email updates. Remember “Please expect 28 days for delivery”? It’s like that.
mick
February 12th, 2024 - 4:09pmanyone got the replacement disc for this yet
daz
February 12th, 2024 - 5:02pmSaw someone had theirs on Facebook on Saturday.
Mine is on its way. The BBC are still investigating the other issues I reported but hopefully we’ll get more than just the End of Time disc replaced.
mick
February 13th, 2024 - 7:01pmI’ve contacted them today and mine hasn’t been sent out yet even though it was over a week ago since I contacted them about the replacement
daz
February 4th, 2024 - 6:42pmErrors on Series 1 to 4 and Specials Remastered Discs.
Saw this on Digital Spy. Sharing so those who bought it are aware of potential issues with more than one disc now.
I’ll check mine when I get the chance.
The BBC are sending out replacement discs of The End of Time.
Issue with the Subtitles.
Email [email protected]
Other errors reported but awaiting response…
The Next Doctor disc is missing several lines of dialogue which makes it unwatchable.
The End of Time disc has incorrect screen caps on the scene selection menu.
The Confidential Disc for Rose ends half way through the closing credits.
The Confidential for Planet of the Dead is in SD but should be HD.
Thanks
Ryan
February 5th, 2024 - 4:46pmOn my copy, the David Tennant video diary for Series 2 has a different time-length to that on the DVD version, there’s the incorrect audio commentary for Last of the Time Lords and the two S4 David Tennant video diaries are on the wrong discs (Blackpool trip on S4 finale disc and the finale is on the first S4 disc).
daz
February 7th, 2024 - 3:42pmRyan.
I’ve reported the errors in my original comment as I went through my set.
Also reported the Diary error in S4 that you mentioned.
Not sure about the S2 one as it might have been edited for compliance reasons. Not sure of original time length though to compare.
As for Last of the Time lords my copy has the correct audio commentary.
Rex F
February 7th, 2024 - 5:03pmRyan: Several of the extras have been altered for the set,
usually relating to a particular person. The commentary change probably reflects the international version, making it standardised/clearable across all territories.
I’m Batman
February 14th, 2024 - 12:54pmWhere is this Digital Spy article?
It would be nice to see a video or pics of these errors for archival purposes before all the discs are presumably destroyed.
daz
February 14th, 2024 - 4:34pmIt’s not an article on Digital Spy. It is just on the 2024 DW Release thread in the forum on there.
I have the discs and can see all the errors I’ve reported as I went through them.
Not sure why you’d need to archive them?
The set hasn’t been recalled though, so far they’ll just replace The End of Time disc if you request it but future batches will have the correct disc instead.
Bushboy
December 18th, 2023 - 5:11amIt’s great to finally have these playing at the correct speed on Blu-ray. However, the Next Doctor still seems to play a little slow. I compared the running time with the original stand alone release and it seems to be about 4 minutes longer. Not sure why that would be when all the other episodes seem fine.
Rex F
December 18th, 2023 - 1:41pmYou could check if it’s 24p instead of 50i with the info/display button. It was the change-over episode, the last in SD but put together with the first HD batch, so I guess someone could have taken the wrong tape off of the shelf… That would also explain the issues with the non-broadcast soundtrack and credits still being present.
Gabriel Archangel
December 10th, 2023 - 6:22pmThis set is quite disappointing.
I have the old dvd digipack sets, which feature gorgeous packaging, different characters and monsters printed on each disc and awesome booklets with introduction to each series and episode synopsis. Nothing of the sort for this set: bland artwork outside of the boxes, nothing on the inside at all and discs have all the same artwork. The fabulous booklets have been replaced by dull single leaflets.
As for the av quality: video is only slightly better, although it has to be expected from the sd original material. At least menus and subtitles look HD now. Audio on the other side plays noticeably better. The Children in Need episode audio has been restored to its original, correct form. Disc menus are a bit bland and awkwardly feature the 13th doctor intro sequence and logo. The animated episodes and The Wedding of Sarah Jane have not been included.
Adam
December 11th, 2023 - 9:54pmI came on here to see if anyone mentioned the CiN special as it has been annoying me since 2006 that they never fixed it! Happy to hear they did, but the rest does sound disappointing, not sure I can justify buying a third version.
I look back at those early DVD releases and as you say, so much more care and thought went into it, the booklets were great! I wish a little more care was put into them, seemed to drop off during the Smith era. And yes this could have been a much more complete set with the animations etc.
mick
December 4th, 2023 - 3:46pmi ordered another one of these online from hmv this time and you wouldnt believe it this one turned up smashed up as well. this one was even sent in a box, having no luck with this set
Bicky
December 2nd, 2023 - 4:28pmBit irritating that the full version confidentials aren’t on here but you can get them on the iPlayer. Surely they could have put them on . Maybe more people would have bought them then.
Cheap paper inserts and sleeves- lazy and poor
Pythia Louise
December 4th, 2023 - 2:38pmThe iPlayer versions aren’t the full ones either.
mick
November 28th, 2023 - 11:00pmMine arrived from Amazon in a brown paper bag smashed to bits. It’s been sent back. Couldn’t buy it from my local hmv as all the copies that had have been damaged by the spider security tags they put on them.
D84
November 28th, 2023 - 1:04pmAnyone opened theirs and watched any as yet?
Wondering if the “judder” issues have found its way into this set too?
I have unsealed mine but not played any of the discs as yet – probably wont get chance for a few days either
Nb7
November 29th, 2023 - 12:05pmMine arrived Monday, no damaging. I personally like the packaging, everyone’s opinion different which is good.
I never had these on blu ray before only first generation dvd from when each was first released.
Looks a decent upscale from the dvds which I’m basing my view on it.
No juddering issues on mine but my season 20 didn’t judder either.
I know a lot of us would like to see these in the collection style packaging but honestly can’t see it as these are only 3-4 discs. They fit nicely in a single blu ray case. I think 2005 who will always be separate from pre 1996 who. Makes sense as there’s very little you could add to new who collections.
For me this a lovely set first my first time on blu ray, very happy.
Jake E
December 1st, 2023 - 12:23pmYes, there’s judder. It’s not on the animations just the surviving episodes. The judder for me is worse than on the Season 20 set
Jake E
December 1st, 2023 - 12:24pmOops wrong thread. Ignore my message haha
Gordon
November 22nd, 2023 - 11:27pmSaw Jason Arnop’s YouTube unboxing of s1-4. Looks cheap and lazy. The artwork for the cover of each season is what is used for each disc. There is a sheet of paper in each box telling you what’s on it. The disc layout is mostly similar but the specials has the episodes on the first 2 discs and the confidential and new interview is on disc 3. Extras are the same as the previous non steelbook release Can confirm no sja infinite quest and dreamland. Might buy it if/when it drops to £40
Gordon
November 23rd, 2023 - 8:21amOh there are some extras edited for compliance
Nb7
November 23rd, 2023 - 10:21amI’m happy it’s not like the American complete newwho set, which has each series in a BIIIG case. That packaging I hate but personally I don’t mind this. Just hope the upscaled look ok.
Rex F
November 23rd, 2023 - 1:37pmThis set sounds more and more disappointing. I can imagine who might be involved in the compliance cuts, but finding out about these could be the most interesting part of the release for me now (and whether they fixed the AV – mostly A – errors of the previous versions).
Jake E
November 20th, 2023 - 1:15pmA guy on YouTube who did an unboxing of the new Series 1-13 Blu-Ray set said that to him Series 1-4 looks identical to before. It didn’t look any better.
Also the Series 1-13 American set is atrocious looking haha. Glad I cancelled it and I’ve cancelled the Series 1-4 set too
Prowl 1701
November 16th, 2023 - 11:33pmThe Series 1-13 Boxset for the US is back in stock on amazon (US) on sale for 165.99. Release date for it is the 21st.
CJWho1963
November 16th, 2023 - 1:28amI don’t particularly like the art work. I’m also hoping that they will eventually start releasing Series 1-13 in the same style as The Collection sets. It would be nice to have Behind the Sofa and numerous extras, such as the Tardis-odes released in a definitive collection.
Things That Go Bump In The Night
November 14th, 2023 - 2:05pmThe set seems to be a box with 5 x blu-ray cases inside the box – according to the Amazon listing.
The listing also states 55 series episodes (which means it includes the Christmas Specials) for series 1 to 4 + 5 DT specials.
But will the set include: Children in Need short; Timecrash short; The Infinite Quest animation, Dreamland animation; Music of the Spheres short and Doctor Who Proms (2008)? And the full confidential programs, or the cut downs?
It that what the listing means by ‘existing bonus features’?
Btw, the text of the listing mentions 18 discs, whereas the cover artwork mentions 16 discs…
Thank you
daz
November 14th, 2023 - 7:46pmIt’ll include the Children in Need 2 episodes as these were already included as special features on the original releases.
They will be the Confidential cut downs too because of this. Full versions are on the iplayer now though.
But as it is only 16 discs it will most likely not include the Bonus Disc that the Specials Steelbook had which included the 2 animations and The Wedding of Sarah Jane Smith, along with a then, new interview with DT.
Gonna wait to see a review before I order it now.
Jake E
November 15th, 2023 - 9:38amIt does not include the animations. The BBC email team confirmed it
daz
November 15th, 2023 - 10:33amThanks for the update Jake
Ryan
November 14th, 2023 - 12:56pmAfter the release of this set, is it more likely that the remaining New Who seasons will get re-released sets as well with Series 5-7 & 2013 Specials for Matt Smith, Series 8-10 for Peter Capaldi and Series 11-13 and 2022 Specials for Jodie Whittaker?
D84
November 14th, 2023 - 2:14pmI guess that depends on sales of this one
I switched to season box sets (as opposed to the original Volume DVD’s) from S5 onwards so i dot have as desperate “need” for the later new series as i did with 1-4
But i would still buy them of course if they are repackaged in this format.
I missed the last round of releases (Steelbook) so this would great for me
D84
November 13th, 2023 - 11:07amStarting to think the release date will slip again
Now only 2 weeks away until this is supposed to be released and still no cover art reveal?
Thoughts people??
Gordon
November 13th, 2023 - 11:22amI suspect it will be the same cover and box as the series 1-4 portion of the American s1-13 box set. Part of me thinks it will be funny if it just turns up at your door and you find out then
D84
November 13th, 2023 - 2:34pmAt this rate that is 100% what will happen
Craig
November 13th, 2023 - 8:11pmJust noticed on my amazon pre-order page that the new cover has appeared.
Still not on the order page yet or on this site. It’s postage stamp size but you can make out the back of Tennant & Eccleston standing.
Anyone else spotted it yet?
Bushboy
November 14th, 2023 - 4:17amI have just looked at the artwork for this set. It looks to be the same as the US release but with the new logo instead of the Jodie Whittaker era one.
I really like the new logo a lot, but only the full version in the diamond. The horizontal version looks terrible.
As for the artwork itself, I was hoping for something different to be honest. But it’s the disc content that really matters and I’m just happy that they will be presented at the correct speed this time. I might just pop the new discs into the old cases perhaps.
DPHill
November 14th, 2023 - 9:24amHi BushBoy, can I ask where ya found it? I have looked on Rarewaves amazon and hmv and cannot find it yet. Shame if it does look like the same style as the US ones, probably just a cash grab before going into the definitive collections perhaps – i can only dream
still says 27th November for HMV and Rarewaves but 4th December for Amazon, I do think that perhaps the issues in s20 may have delayed it, they do tend to keep rather quiet though don;t they?
booboo
November 14th, 2023 - 9:44amhttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/F-2FTtVX0AAxFbc?format=jpg&name=small
D84
November 14th, 2023 - 10:14amAh yes
Looking at the product page – it still displays the “Artwork not final” placeholder
But if I look at my actual pre order – then the thumbnail image comes up
Looks great I like it a lot, very “moody”
Now if only they could do S5 – S13 including those specials in the same style ………. hint hint BBC / Bad Wolf / RTD – come on you know you want too
Samuel
November 7th, 2023 - 4:53pmBefore I say what I’m going to say – I just want to stress that overall, the Doctor Who 60th content has surpassed all of my expectations, and everything remaining this Year will be a bonus as far as I’m concerned. We’ve yet to see the actual 60th feature episodes, and yet the 60th feels so much better than the 50th anniversary was in 2013.
So just to make that point crystal clear first, I personally could not be happier with how Doctor Who has overall been handled this year by RTD, Badwolf so far.
All of that said, and I’ve no clear idea of who is in charge or what in terms of this Blu Ray pre order in question; “Doctor Who Series 1-4 Newly Upscaled Versions” but, the following just has to be said;
Unless there is a very serious technical delay on this set behind the scenes, especially given the current investigation into the faults / image glitching with the current Classic Who Season 20 Blu Ray boxset – should this delay for Series 1-4 have nothing to do with a product technical fault, then this has got to be one enormous cock up – if not the biggest merchandising cock up of the entire 60th year (as of November).
Literally no word so far on this set. I pre-ordered straight away, given the incredibe value for money per Series, along with all the promised work using the original master file recordings from BBC Wales, pretty much getting the best we can possibly get with the earliest generation possible image quality, and the tech we have in 2023. Bargain.
Aside from the above, not a single mention of what the heck is going on. At least with Classic Who Season 20’s image glitching, there was an official online response and promise of an investigation into that, giving dedication and care to the customers and fans of the show.
All I know is that I’ve made a pre order, on what is a blank Amazon advert – I’ve seen no source material of the newly worked on footage, let alone any such exclusive material towards this set – but I expected to at least see a little something, just as assurance that this is a legitimate product order that my money’s going towards. Instead it’s pretty much starting to feel very off.
I’m seriously hoping there is a logical explanation, which I’d think likely to be problems surrounding the Season 20 investigation – if it isn’t, and there simply is no reason why delays and lack of descriton or clarity is just piling up on this pre order – then I’m really starting to get doubts as to what it is I’ve ordered.
It’s already taken countless customer emails to finally get the answer of “It’s a 50i picture”, which is all we know. Why it’s such a big problem and inconvenience for us, the customer, to be informed on what it is that’s for sale, let alone what we’ve pre-ordered, is beyond me.
So far, this set is the one pothole of this 60th anniversary. The rest of the 99% (with benefit of the doubt with Season 20), I couldn’t be prouder to be a Doctor Who fan today.
Nb7
October 30th, 2023 - 8:29pmNew email from Amazon, delayed and arriving on 2nd December. This release seems to be a quiet one, not much build up to it considering it’s out in a month. Have they abandoned the possible artwork from the complete new who set and gone last minute with Lee Binding? I do hope so
D84
October 30th, 2023 - 8:15pmLooks like delivery has slipped again.
Amazon now showing release date as Monday 27th
Anyone got any ideas as to what’s going on?
Nb7
October 31st, 2023 - 1:02amIt’s very mysterious. Maybe it’s to do with the issues in the season 20 set?
Are the new upscaled versions going to be part of the new iplayer Whoniverse?
James
October 25th, 2023 - 1:33pmJust over 4 weeks and still no artwork? Hope it looks like the 9th/10th doc 1-4 from the 1-13 us box set
Bushboy
October 23rd, 2023 - 5:28pmI have just received the following response from DVD support to a email I sent them asking if the frame rate problem with the previous Blu-ray releases have been corrected on this new set:
The following information has been supplied to us by those involved in the new Doctor Who S1-4 blu-ray release.
The new upscales made of series 1-4 have utilised the original masters supplied by BBC Cardiff between 2004 and 2009.
The four series and the standard definition specials were mostly filmed interlaced on Digital Betacam and then filmised using a standards converter. This process has embedded some conversion errors into the final masters that cannot be removed. However, the new upscales have been achieved using the latest hardware conversion technology and no additional processing has been used to achieve this.
In addition to the new upscales, new high-definition title captions and credits have been created using the original fonts, but in high-definition. Although the upscaled programmes are progressive, the title captions and end rollers have been rendered in 50i to match the interlaced look of the original masters. The final masters for the UK are 50i.
Samuel
October 24th, 2023 - 1:08amMany thanks for having sent the first email, and likewise to everyone still trying to get a response as to what’s going on with info on this set.
50i, thank goodness for that.
I think overall just getting better bit rate and eliminating as much dvd compression as possible in itself and general refinement will be a massive upgrade, as it has been for The Collection picture quality.
Regarding upscaling + fx limitations, I highly recommend the YouTube channel of TJ DW, specifically their upscales of The TV Movie and most recently The Seeds of Doom in 4k – Seeds in particular being a dvd compressed image source. Both look pretty mind blowingly amazing to me.
As others have said, 50i picture confirmation is a perfect start, just need overall sound work revisited, re-edit of Born Again, if doable maybe bring back the singing track on the infostamp scene from The Next Doctor (I remember it being on tv broadcast, but it’s absent on all media).
Nb7
October 25th, 2023 - 1:03pmVery good news. Hopefully all the other issues on the original dvds is corrected.
My season 1 and 2 had faults. No 5.1 on aliens of London and on season 2 the children in need special had different background music to the transmitted version. I think you could replace the discs at the time but I only found out months and months later.
And still no artwork…
Nb7
October 14th, 2023 - 12:43amJust had an email from stating the new delivery date has changed to November 25th.
D84
October 14th, 2023 - 6:56amSame – Mon 27th
I did think it was getting too close and we don’t have a cover art reveal yet
D84
October 14th, 2023 - 7:00amWait it’s moved back by 1 week?
Was due out 13/11
Amazon now shows release 20/11
BUT – the delivery dates are around a week later
Fastest Sat 25/11
Free delivery Mon 27/11
Stock issues?
Nb7
October 14th, 2023 - 11:07amVery strange considering it’s just over a month to go!
I’m just hoping it’s not one big case, looks so cheap, like a lot if the American tv show boxsets. I’d rather individual series packaging within the packaging with nice individual artwork but I think for the price this is going for it’ll be trays! It’s the content that mattes i suppose but considering the archive sets it’ll be a big come down if so.
Nb7
October 19th, 2023 - 1:52pmJust over a month to go and still no artwork?
D84
October 19th, 2023 - 4:55pmIndeed
daz
October 7th, 2023 - 11:37amWith information thin on the ground does anyone know exactly how many discs this has and if it will include the bonus disc we got in The Specials Steelbook which had the animations/wedding of Sarah Jane, so is indeed complete?
D84
October 7th, 2023 - 2:37pmIt’s right there in the description – 18 discs / 60 episodes
Although those specifics around extras – I can see any mention