October 20th, 2025
1,011 comments
We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Doctor Who The Collection Season 13 Limited Edition
Available to order from www.amazon.co.uk, www.zavvi.com, www.rarewaves.com and various retailers on www.ebay.co.uk
The standard version is available to order in the USA from www.amazon.com
Bring home Tom Baker’s second season of adventures as the Doctor, plus hours of special features.
Doctor Who fans can continue to build their own home archive on Blu-ray with an eight-disc box set of the iconic 13th Season, starring Tom Baker as the Fourth Doctor.
In his second season, Tom Baker’s Doctor really hits his stride, with faithful companion Sarah-Jane Smith (Elisabeth Sladen) by his side. Together they cross time and space to do battle with the Zygons, the biomechanoid Loch Ness monster, the fearsome Sutekh and his robot mummies, vengeful renegade Time Lord Morbius, an anti-matter creature on a distant planet, the scheming Kraals and the terrifying Krynoid.
All episodes have been newly remastered from the best available sources – these classic adventures have never looked or sounded so good on home media.
The Collection: Season 13 is also jam-packed with hours of new and exclusive material including:
- NEW DOCUMENTARIES
- WORLDS WITHIN: A profile of actor Ian Marter, who played Harry Sullivan
- RETURN TO THIRTEEN: Philip Hinchcliffe returns to the locations of several Season 13 stories and is reunited with old friends
- IN CONVERSATION: Director Graeme Harper chats to Matthew Sweet about his life, career and Doctor Who
- TOM TALKS: Tom Baker on Season 13 and more
- THE DOCTOR WHO ESCAPE ROOM: The Fourth Doctor team attempt their escape
- BEHIND THE SOFA: New episodes with Colin Baker (the Sixth Doctor), Maureen O’Brien (Vicki), Katy Manning (Jo), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Janet Fielding (Tegan), Sophie Aldred (Ace), Sadie Miller (Elisabeth Sladen’s daughter), and comedian Toby Hadoke.
- BRAND NEW AUDIO COMMENTARIES: Tom Baker on episodes from Terror of the Zygons, Pyramids of Mars and The Android Invasion
- UPDATED SPECIAL EFFECTS: On Terror of the Zygons
- OMNIBUS EDITIONS: HD recreations of the Pyramids of Mars and The Brain of Morbius repeat screenings, plus a brand-new edit of The Seeds of Doom
- TALES OF THE TARDIS: A 2024 edit of Pyramids of Mars with updated effects and appearances from the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Ruby Sunday (Millie Gibson)
- EXCLUSIVE ARCHIVE TREATS: Including never-before-released footage from Mathshow, Disney Time and more
- INTERVIEWS: Unreleased footage of Elisabeth Sladen and Michael Sheard (Laurence Scarman in Pyramids of Mars)
- 5.1 SURROUND SOUND: New surround mix on Pyramids of Mars
- HD PHOTO GALLERIES
- INFO TEXT
- PDF ARCHIVE
- PLUS LOTS MORE!
This eight-disc box set also includes hours of special features previously released on DVD including Documentaries, Featurettes, Audio Commentaries and more.
Collection S13
Doctor Who: The Collection – Season 13 includes the following stories from 1975-76:
- TERROR OF THE ZYGONS
- PLANET OF EVIL
- PYRAMIDS OF MARS
- THE ANDROID INVASION
- THE BRAIN OF MORBIUS
- THE SEEDS OF DOOM
Categorised under: 
The Doctor Who Site
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Merchandise
Flickr
YouTube
Prowl 1701
November 3rd, 2025 - 8:05pmGot this response today about my email regarding replacement disc for my Season 20 LT boxset
“Many thanks for contacting us and our apologies for the delay in replying.
We are currently in the process of collating all the details of those who have contacted us and your details will be added to receive the Season 20 replacements when they are ready to be sent out.
Kind regards,
BBC DVD Support”
Hopefully that means things are progressing.
Prof Horner
November 3rd, 2025 - 3:20pmI see Film is fabulous have turned up from a private collector, 53 episodes of Emergency Ward 10, 30 of which were missing. Is it too much to hope that someone has 30 missing episodes of Doctor Who In their collection? Or at least quite a few.
Rex F
November 3rd, 2025 - 5:29pmIt’s not impossible, but EW10 was a soap and so could have had regular large batches being returned all the time, increasing the probability of a large “borrowing”. I think FiF! also mentioned that this wasn’t a random off the back of the crate event, but a staffer calling someone up and asking if they wanted a load of stuff destined for the skip. The Who eps, and BBC material in general, seems much more down to chance and putting things under the arm (two cans for two arms?).
Things that go bump in the night
November 3rd, 2025 - 9:32pmI believe that FiF! will be screening one of the EW10 episodes at the Blackpool Film Convention on Sunday 16th November.
They had mentioned that they will be showing 4 examples of recently acquired lost TV, but the other 3 programs haven’t been announced yet.
But please note, they have stated there won’t be any Doctor Who.
RPG74
November 2nd, 2025 - 12:08pmHas anyone else checked out Doctor Who and the Midjourney’s AI reimagining of the Zygons effect sequences on YouTube? It’s a little slapdash as they say, but interesting. Gordon was right though; I think if we’d had effects sequences as sophisticated as Midjourney’s were aiming for, they would have a stuck out like a sore thumb from the rest of the story. Shame we couldn’t have had some sort of happy medium though, rather a than a slightly refashioned glove puppet.
Erato
November 2nd, 2025 - 8:31pmNow that’s how you use AI on a special edition blu ray set…
https://youtu.be/4LCB-HzcJNU?si=0eow-0ddacpvje3B
RC
November 3rd, 2025 - 5:58amI’m sorry but you can’t just demand the blu ray team don’t use it but then cheer on its approval on other things. I think it’s very hypocritical. You are either want the blu ray team to use it or not
RPG74
November 3rd, 2025 - 9:37amNot really RC. I’d have liked to have seen a CGI Skarasen if that had been possible. The AI that Midjourney has used here, simply represents to my mind what that might have looked like. But as I said, it’s all a little extreme here in a way that would have been distracting from the rest of the serial. I don’t think we’d have wanted or needed CG Zygon ships, for example.
Gordon
November 3rd, 2025 - 10:05amI wouldn’t mind if there was more done for it but not as far as it went on mid journey. Looks overdone and out of place plus I’d always prefer real artists working on it who would always be a better judge of how far to go on it.
I actually don’t mind the new hand puppet effect. I always got the impression the aim was to match what was there and to fix the shots Douglas Canfield wasn’t happy with and didn’t feel were shot correctly while keeping the ones he felt were good.
Bob
November 3rd, 2025 - 12:35pmI would’ve preferred a CGI overhaul of the Skarasen like what was done for the Mara snake in Kinda and the Auton doll in Terror. The hand puppet is fine but it would be an exaggeration to say it improves the story.
It’s a shame because the Tom Baker boxsets had the most consistently good updated effects up to this point. The image quality hasn’t really been a major step up from the DVDs but you could always look forward to the VFX.
Rex F
November 3rd, 2025 - 5:18pmThat’s a rather binary view, RC. For optional, alternative special effects they can do whatever they like. (We finally got an alternative sock puppet option!)
I think you’re possibly muddling the argument against AI in general (power consumption, taking jobs, “borrowing IP”, etc, etc.) with the argument, as in relation to the S13 set here, that it’s generating hallucinations and glitches on the only available viewing option, and removing the original material from the disc completely. They’re very different arguments.
Things that go bump in the night
November 1st, 2025 - 1:06pmJust before Doctor Who fans start jumping up and down and making incorrect conclusions, Film is Fabulous has had to make an official statement on their Facebook site that the photo, in the upcoming Doctor Who magazine, which shows Mark Stuckey holding a film can in front of a Dalek is empty and is a prop used for the photo.
The photo is part of the Mark Stucky interview. It would seem Film is Fabulous advised against having the film can in the photo (based on previous experience with over enthusiastic Doctor Who fans), but it will be there.
So please be advised accordingly not to jump to incorrect conclusions…
On another note, there will be a nice Podcast posted soon presented by Toby Hadoke and host of other Doctor Wgho luminaries about missing episodes…
Amypondfan
November 1st, 2025 - 2:22pmYou should post this again on the magazine section when the magazine listing comes on. No doubt people will jump to conclusions and be over aggressive in their demands for information as per usual
Gordon
November 1st, 2025 - 2:44pmIt’s already out. Nice to hear film is fabulous have asked him to deal with the media in the case of any recoveries. He’s become such a good ambassador for the show.
The main crutch of the episode is a hypothetical question. If you are at a car boot sale and find 17 missing eps which ones would they be with the catch being that those are the last 17 episodes ever recovered.
If I was picking I’d go to try and prioritise something from every story that’s under appreciated as well as debuts and farewells:
Marco ep 7
Mission
Myth makers 4
Massacre 4
Savage 4
Smugglers 4
10th planet 4
Power 1
Highlanders 1
Macra 1
Faceless 6
Web 3
Fury 6
Wheel 2
That leaves 3 eps which id probably go for the other 3 eps of highlanders.
On the other hand If I was completing stories I’d go for
Marco Polo
The crusade
The myth makers
The highlanders
Prof Horner
November 1st, 2025 - 3:51pmWe can have endless fun with this one Gordon. I would probably go with all Troughton, part from Tenth Planet 4. Although I would quite like a bit of The Smugglers. Moonbase and The Invasion complete. Maybe an episode of Power of the Daleks, The Highlanders. The last couple of episodes of Evil of the Daleks. A couple of Wheel in Space and the good old Space Pirates. The list is endless. Toby is a real star. I look forward to listening to this
Mac
November 1st, 2025 - 9:33pmThe Dalek is empty?
The ergon
November 2nd, 2025 - 8:11pmI agree with lot of those choices gordon especially with regards to completism. My choices would be dictated also by characters unseen by telesnaps so id be very choosy with some stories. I would definitely like to see more finales or introduction and departures of companions and death scenes. For that alone i would have to include episodes such as The traitors. Volcano or golden death for more meddling monk and destruction of time and priest of death and bell of doom from the massacre as we get to see William Hartnell as the abbott of amboise and the introduction of dodo.
OllieOz
October 30th, 2025 - 9:15pmThe ‘Pyramids’ replacement effects option seems to cherry pick a lot of what it actually applies.
At around 03:37 on Part 2, the Sarcophagus time tunnel transition shot is still the original effect when updated effects are enabled.
I can understand that some of the other missing effects are creative choices so the effects remained consistent across scenes that didn’t receive replacement effects due to them being cut out of the ‘Tales’ edition.
However, this omission definitely seems like an error considering this shot was present for ‘Tales’ and the following shot of the Doctor and the time tunnel is the new effect anyway.
Chris
October 30th, 2025 - 6:50pmhow long does it take bbc dvd support to reply does anyone know? I have sent them a lengthy email detailing the problems in this set and suggested a disc replacement programe. Iv pointed out most people are not satisfied and if they dont act it could shake buyer confidance in the rest of the range. I also mentioned most people would accsept a slightly lower final grade instead of having AI incorrectly guessing what should be on the screen and making it look plastic. So lets see if that gets it anywhere
Chris
October 30th, 2025 - 6:51pmalso has anyone heard anything about disc replacement yet or no news yet?
Gordon
October 30th, 2025 - 9:35pmAll anybody is getting is:
Many thanks for contacting us and for bringing these matters to our attention.
We appreciate your comments and will ensure your feedback is passed on to the relevant team for their consideration.
Kind regards,
BBC DVD Support
daz
October 31st, 2025 - 12:24amFor Season 13 you might have to wait to see how the standard edition turns out before they offer replacements, similar to what is now happening with Season 20.
RPG74
October 31st, 2025 - 6:32amIt seems more and more like the limiteds are being used as unofficial beta testing for the sets. Any problems, and we’ll sort them out in two years for the standards. That probably isn’t true, but with the number of mistakes or issues with some of the releases, one would be forgiven for thinking it. That might be okay for standard purchasers like myself, but it must be rather frustrating for the day-one-purchase limited people. One wonders if perhaps BBC Studios should consider taking a short hiatus with these sets-like maybe no releases in 2026-to give them time for a breather and reset, not to mention proper space to unpick any AI damage they may have inflicted onto the next two or three sets.
RC
October 31st, 2025 - 7:51amHow about NO! You make it sound like every release has issues and that is not the case. A break? Talk about an enormous overblown overreaction. Plus they ain’t that far ahead in the releases and it wouldn’t take a year or even a month to fix things anyway. It’s up to the bosses if they get to issue replacements before the standard releases. The next one probably won’t need heavy ai usage anyway. Wasn’t it Gordon or someone on here that said 21 has most or all of all the filming bits so won’t really need to heavily use on those affected parts that they heavily used it on 13? It isn’t the whole box set that is wrong it’s only half of zygons where filming sections don’t exist and the filmed sections of planet and androids. Asking them to completely remove all ai usage won’t happen as it’s been used since 2017. Pausing things or resetting wont change that. It’s just needing more carefully applied which it wasn’t in the parts i mentioned.
RPG74
October 31st, 2025 - 10:56amMmm, perhaps RC.
Bob
October 31st, 2025 - 2:14pmTo be honest there have been too many problems with The Collection boxsets considering they’re premium products that only seem to be getting more expensive.
Season 20 took way too long to get addressed and I’m fearful that Season 13 will be the same if it gets fixed at all. For the first time I wish I had just bought the DVDs instead. Even if 80% of the stories look better, the improvement is only marginal, whereas the 20% is genuinely some of the ugliest video I’ve ever seen.
This will be the last boxset I’ll preorder, I need to see reviews before considering purchasing Season 21.
D84
October 31st, 2025 - 8:17pmI have had a response from
BBC DVD support today to acknowledge my request for S20 discs
Basically the copy and paste response as per above
I’m on a list apparently
Gordon
November 1st, 2025 - 2:14amConsidering there is about 40 hours of contents per box set to check through not including commentaries and alternative effects I’m actually surprised there isn’t more errors found. None are immune. Even the likes of Arrow and criterion that are quite often labeled as the best has been stung with needing replacement discs.
There probably will be a pause next year anyway if Peter Crocker was serious in what he said about retiring in 2026. Wouldn’t surprise me after delivering 21 (by the end of this year if he hasn’t already) followed by 11and 16 next year then that will be pretty much him. Seems the obvious point to retire with the completion of the colour seasons.
If there needs to be a replacement I kind of expect Paul Venezis to take over for the remainder. He’s done a fantastic job on the restoration of Blake’s 7 so far plus he’s far more old school whenever possible when it comes to restorations
Rob
November 1st, 2025 - 8:15amI’m surprised they’ve not acknowledged the issues and issues a statement about a solution. I’m really unhappy with the AI used on this set and my money is staying in pocket if this continues for the collection.
RC
November 1st, 2025 - 9:32amRob It takes time to assess things and make a decision on what needs done and sort things. It’s only been less than 2 weeks since they start getting letters. Give em time. Considering they didn’t give any sort of announcement on any of the others I doubt they are giving one now. People only found out they were doing replacements of the previous faults by responses from the dvd support line. What they done was a creative choice rather than some sort of error though creatively they went too far. They have been using ai since 2017 so it’s usage isn’t exactly an accident
Rex F
November 1st, 2025 - 7:32pmIf Paul V took over they’d still need someone to do the donkey work because I don’t think he’s a deblobber himself, is he? On previous projects, as far as I know, he’s taken on the supervisory role. And PC would probably be needed to process The Mind Robber affordably since the DVD master is still VidFire mark 1 (and a few odd episodes from otherwise missing stories).
Gordon
November 2nd, 2025 - 2:24amPaul was in charge of the series 1-4 remasters and as said he’s also the main person handling the new Blake’s 7 remasters. He’s more hands on in the past couple of years.
If I was going to put my speculation hat on he might be getting groomed to replace Peter when the time comes. I’m sure others can use the vidfire process. He may have developed it but I’m sure others can be taught if needed.
Even if Peter does end up sticking around they don’t have forever on these. A lot of these surviving film and sequences are quite old and delicate. Plus there is the posibility of disc plants being discontinued also I’m sure the likes of Carole, Peter, Anneke, Frazer, Wendy and others involved wanting to see their work in the best quality before it’s too late.
If you exclude the ones that got restored for blu ray the likes of g4: airlock, toymaker: the final test, evil 2, abominable 2, web 1,2,4,5,6 and enemy (it was future proofed for blu ray) there is only 104 black and white episodes to be picture restored and released for blu ray. Yes uwm and faceless had blu ray releases but the picture wasn’t blu ray restored.
Juggling the work around you could maybe do the work over 2 years. Peter has been doing about 52 doctor who eps a year. Hypothetically you could Restore season 1 (33) as well as s4 (9) and season 5 (10) 1 year and thats 52 eps. Do season 3 (15) and 6 (37) the following year and that’s the 104 all picture restored. I do think it makes a lot of sense not to restore the 2 big remaining 60s sets back to back.
Obviously the number needed will increase if film is fabulous. Plus in terms of audio mark Ayres has a lot more episodes to do. For example Marco Polo won’t need picture restoration but obviously it’s soundtrack will need remastered at some point for either the animation or collection set.
NickD
November 2nd, 2025 - 8:11amThey won’t replace them as they are not authoring problems if you are talking about the awful artifact it from the AI they look to have used instead of a proper restoration. Looks like the BBC cheapening out again. I hope they eventually re-issue it. Session 25 suffered from it but it’s been taken far harder and to much worse effect now.
Rex F
November 2nd, 2025 - 9:36amNickD: The AI processing is in addition to the usual work, so it’s potentially more expensive (time, processing power, etc). They could have left it as cleaned up soft telecine footage, like they used to, but they did more on top. (Saying that, they added fake grain on Season 22 to give an illusion of sharpness and most people were ok with that, even though I wasn’t keen.) I think it’s likely they kept a copy of the cleaned up footage before the AI was applied, which could be dropped in on a future repress in two years’ time.
Gordon: Thanks for the info – I was able to find an interview with Paul V, from Federation Strike, where he explains how he took on the B7 job and how he’s been handling it. For a chappy who wanted to paint out Sutekh’s hand and replace a shot of Klieg in Tomb back in the day (not as an option) he’s become much more of a purist – for an HD remaster without overscan I’m not sure I’d have left all the teleport glitches intact myself, but he did. He even left a jittery screen jittery, with the fixed version only on the new effects option! I really must get round to watching the first B7 set, to be ready for S2. I think I’ll quite like it.
Bookcollector
October 28th, 2025 - 4:37pmSo the reports are trickling in that the BBC have confirmed Disney is not renewing the deal and that a 2026 Christmas special is going ahead followed by a new series. The special is being written by rtd but the series has, no info yet obviously.
Gordon
October 28th, 2025 - 5:00pmThe wording “Russell has agreed to write” is interesting to me. Makes me think he’s only writing and wrapping up his era for the next showrunner to take over.
Prof Horner
October 28th, 2025 - 5:40pmI want the guy who plays Sebastian in Shakespeare and Hathaway to be the next Doctor . He would be great fun!
Bookcollector
October 28th, 2025 - 5:51pmYes I spotted that Gordon. Have to admit I’ll be happy with a new showrunner. I’ve not hidden my feelings on rtd’s writing even from the original run and I’ve definitely been disappointed by the quality of his stories since his return. However I will watch the Christmas special with an open mind (and an open bottle of something Scottish or Irish) and I’ll be as positive as I can. Oh, prof he is a good actor. Personally I’d like another woman though.
Rex F
October 28th, 2025 - 5:54pmPlot synopsis now they’ve lost the Disney money: The Doctor is trapped alone in an empty void. For the full 60 minutes.
Missyrules
October 28th, 2025 - 6:16pmRex the Disney money isn’t the whole budget. RTD debunked the £10m per episode in 2023 and estimates are the BBC budget was between £1-3m per episode with the Disney money roughly doubling that. Considering the money just went on amazing effects with poor scripts a return to a lower budget may force writers to come up with actual coherent stories
Snowman
October 28th, 2025 - 6:26pmShakespeare and Hathaway is One of My favourite Shows From The More Modern Era of TV. I was always Recording the Show on TV At One Time so I could Watch them a Few Times Over Again (I’ve Still Have Some on My Sky Hard Drive to Watch Whenever). I Really Liked All Three Main Cast From the Show. I Thought Sebastian Was Great, but I’m Not Entirely Convinced Going Down The Whole Gay Doctor Route Again is Such a Good Idea, Especially With Ratings as they are. (Although someone will disagree With Me).
Snowman
October 28th, 2025 - 6:48pmPersonally I Think the Next Doctor Should Definitely be Male and Not Gay. I wouldn’t Mind if Richard Ayoade Was the Next Doctor Either. There’s Something I like About the Guy. I was Actually Hoping he was Going to be The 15th Doctor before (Unfortunately) Ncuti Was Announced In the Lead Role.
RPG74
October 28th, 2025 - 7:08pmNot trying to start an argument here, but I really think It needs a proper rest. Five years, at least. A new generation with fresh ideas needs to take this on, when the time is right. If the Beeb foolishly plow on, like 1.5 million overnights and bad reviews never happened, I fear they’ll repeat all of the mistakes of the last two years and finally kill the thing off for good.
Ano miss
October 28th, 2025 - 7:10pmSnowman, why does he have to play the doctor gay? He is an actor he should be able to play the character straight if that’s the way the character is written.
Snowman
October 28th, 2025 - 7:16pmI Semi Agree with You RPG74. The Show Needs Totally New Writers With No Previous Connection to The Show with Fresh Ideas and a New Show Runner Aswell. Keep RTD as far Away as Possible From Dr Who Going Forward. But Just Having my Say about the Next Doctor, (Whenever that Might be) Being Male and Not Gay. Fingers crossed.
Snowman
October 28th, 2025 - 7:19pmAno miss. Just my Opinion but Ncuti Playing the Doctor as Straight seems a Bridge too Far for his Limited Talent I’ve heard Everything he’s acted in he Just plays his Ok ver the Top Flamboyant Self.
Snowman
October 28th, 2025 - 7:21pmShould be “Over the Top”
Ano miss
October 28th, 2025 - 7:22pmI meant the guy from hathaway.
Snowman
October 28th, 2025 - 7:32pmSorry Ano miss I thought you Meant the Other Guy. Yes Definitely, if Patrick Walshe McBride Could play the Doctor has Straight I wouldn’t have a Problem with That. To Me He Comes Across as Instantly Likable and as Great Versatility in his Acting Ability from what I’ve already seen.
Snowman
October 28th, 2025 - 7:53pmI Wouldn’t Mind Richard Ayoade being the Next Doctor Either as I Mentioned Earlier. (Although I have Vague Memories of Someone asking him about the Dr Who Role and he Said it Wasnt for him).
Prof Horner
October 28th, 2025 - 8:01pmPatrick is very likeable and talented. I understand he is leaving the series as well, which is sad as he is the best thing in it, particularly when he’s in disguise ! Does it really matter if he is straight or gay. What the series needs is a complete clear out. Maybe the Doctor has his or her mind wiped clean. A mystery traveler in time and space again. With no back story.
Snowman
October 28th, 2025 - 8:08pmYes I have to Agree Prof Horner, Patrick was the Best part of the Show Although I do like the Other Two Main Characters alot Aswell.
RPG74
October 30th, 2025 - 1:43pmInteresting written piece on Deadline today, re: the collapse of the Disney deal.
Rory, the original you might say
October 30th, 2025 - 3:49pmThe Doctor doesn’t need to be straight or gay. That wasn’t a thing in the entire 26 year run of the original series. We can just go back to the Doctor being uninterested in sex and it wouldn’t detract from the stories at all.
Coleman
October 30th, 2025 - 4:59pmThanks for the heads Up RPG74, I didn’t know about that Piece You Mentioned. I’ve just been Reading it. What an absolute mess. I hope to your proud of yourself RTD, well done mate.
Snowman
October 30th, 2025 - 5:08pmAgreed Rory. Not Just the 1st 26 Year run though but from 2005 Onwards. The Dr Always seemed A-Sexual to me. (If thats a Thing with Aliens). Then for some reason since RTDs Return the Doctors Turned Gay and Basically chases anything in trousers to the Detriment of Everything else in the Plot. I’ve found the Last Two Seasons of Dr Who Totally Bizarre if I’m Honest.
Duncan
October 30th, 2025 - 5:43pmThe show needs a deep clean ! Let Russell have his big Christmas finish, then hand over the reins to a new team. I’ve heard Pete McTighe’s name pop up every now and then but I’m not sure…. On one hand, he’s a big fan and is a very successful writer. On the other hand, part of me likes the idea of a completely new production team. Certainly have it made up of people experienced in drama. I’m not sure being a fan of the show is of much benefit. Sometimes it gets in the way of things.
The Unlicensed Physician
October 31st, 2025 - 2:24amPete McTighe would be picking up the old broom. I’d hope someone from outside would bring in a brand new one.
Rory, the original you might say
October 31st, 2025 - 10:20am@The Unlicensed Physician, the show desperately needs new blood. Philip Hinchcliffe is justly revered as showrunner, and it was his first job as producer. Selecting someone completely outside of the fandom sphere has a lot of potential to really shake things up. At the moment it’s an ouroboros with the same people who have been part of the show for 20 years. Lets have something fresh.
NickD
November 2nd, 2025 - 8:12amIt seemed obvious that they’ve wanted shot of it for a while now sadly.
Ano miss
November 2nd, 2025 - 9:18amA new Christmas special and a new series definitely indicates “It seemed obvious that they’ve wanted shot of it for a while now sadly”
RPG74
November 2nd, 2025 - 11:35amI think he means that Disney wanted shot of it? In any case, though the Beeb have announced the ’26 Xmas special, the series announcement is far less specific. At some point, doesn’t necessarily mean anytime soon, and matters could be complicated by the show’s current reputation. We may love the franchise, but right now, given the ratings and recent reviews, not to mention the embarrassment of the Disney kiss-off, industry professionals might well regard it as a broken brand with the stink of death on it. So names being bandied about like Charlie Brooker and Jack Thorne, they may not want to touch it with a barge pole. Perhaps a break of a few years would be for the best then, to let the franchise recover and to give it enough time for the wider audience to really miss it again.
Ryan
October 27th, 2025 - 4:58pmHaving now watched all of it, I personally think Planetbof Evil, Pyramids of Mars, Brain of Morbius and Seeds of Doom looked pretty good. The best they’ve probably looked. Terror of the Zygons and Android Invasion are both a very mixed bag. There are times where they look good but there times where the AI enhancements look blatantly obvious (also a lot of shimmering faces!), making it look sharp and waxy on my 4K OLED TV. Makes me wonder if there were technical issues there or if they genuinely thought this was the best they could do. I genuinely do hope we get disc replacements for both of these stories in the near future, especially since we’re only just now getting disc replacements for almost the entirety of season 20.
Timelord1944
October 27th, 2025 - 7:25pmI think the issues with The Android Invasion come down to the issues with the master tapes. If you watch on iPlayer it’s pretty poor and faces are a problem at times. The AI exaggerates some of the facial problems. However, I personally am glad they tried to improve it rather then release it in that state.
Lee
October 28th, 2025 - 3:28amAndroid Invasion is terrible. Tom and Liz look like Tim Robbins in “Jacobs Ladder” Nightmarish melted faces in some scenes. So distracting, it took me right out of the story.
Like many of us here, I own all the sets to date and this is the first time I have had any cause for complaint. Very sad it had to be my favourite season too.
I hope they sort this out, because the remaining colour seasons (11,16,21) are also some of the best Doctor Who that has ever been made.
Duncan
October 30th, 2025 - 5:46pmI’m almost overjoyed that my eyesight is shot as I haven’t noticed any of these AI issues. I don’t doubt they’re not there and it must be a pain in the butt if you’re particularly sensitive to this kind of thing. I’ll stick to my squinting 😀
James
October 27th, 2025 - 12:18pmWas waiting until released so could use a discount code. Luckily someone was selling theirs online sealed still so saved £34.
4 weeks to go until Doctor Who Day. Hopefully get something announced. Animation teaser, s21 minisode trailer teaser, WBTL&TS airdate, minisode Billie ep, Film is Fabulous update.
Gordon
October 27th, 2025 - 1:09pmMost of those won’t happen for doctor who day. It’s a Sunday. Retailers tend not to put things up for pre order on a Sunday. It’s very rare.
Definitely won’t be a season 21 announcement. There is still filming with mark strickson to be done next month plus we have never had a collection announcement on the 23rd. Closest was 25th for s8 and that had all its filming done in early October at the latest.
Don’t think the next animation is far enough along to be anounced that soon plus the last 2 were December not that I’m 100 percent convinced things are that far along for that either.
Going by what film is fabulous said on the missing episode podcast I’m not expecting anything this year let alone November. Any announcement is many months away.
Most I’m expecting is a new war between trailer with airdate and maybe a watch along of a story. I get the impression there hasn’t been any new filming happening and if there is being plannned it has to wrapped by April or even before it due to billie’s Wednesday schedule (filming starts April I believe but she may need or require to prepare for it before then)
James
October 27th, 2025 - 3:41pmGordon.
Yeah wasn’t expecting a full trailer for an animation or s21. Just a brief teaser clip or for animation a title/logo with a few still images.
Gather s21 will be almost certain next but just a mini clip from 5 and Tegan other week on the Thames. A teaser clip. Not a full trailer/minisode.
Maybe just a brief statement from FiF. A few clips identified, a story has been identified.
Maybe mini episode/clip for Children in Need tiein.
Agree the most likely would be an updated trailer and a confirmed airdate for WBTL&TS.
rich
October 27th, 2025 - 5:58pmIs doctor who day a thing?
James
October 27th, 2025 - 6:13pm23rd November..of course it’s Doctor Who Day
Like May 4th is Star Wars Day. October 21st Back to the Future Day
Gordon
October 28th, 2025 - 1:26amThey are not going to be revealing clips of the next animation or colection set if they aren’t also putting it up for preorder. It’s merchandise at the end of the day.
FIF is not working to a doctor who day timeframe. Plus they aren’t likely to reveal the name even if they have found something. That’s up to the bbc to reveal.
Notpostingmyrealname
October 28th, 2025 - 1:37pmThere is something happening or was in November as the BBC had a booking at a centre place in London near the Thames.
Sorry I can’t say anymore.
Gordon
October 28th, 2025 - 3:13pmWell they just anounced a Christmas ep for 2026 written by rtd with a series to follow so you got at least one of your wishes early
DanielM
October 28th, 2025 - 3:27pm@Gordon Season 8 Extras were still being filmed early/mid November 2020.
Gordon
October 28th, 2025 - 3:52pmOh yeah. I completely forgot some of the terrance and me interviews got punted to November. Still don’t think it’s getting anounced till next year though
Nb7
October 27th, 2025 - 10:23amThe Space Precinct Blu Ray that was released earlier this year also used AI as a clean up due to the original source material being unavailable and that looks great, no where near the overuse season 13 has got.
By all accounts it was a high up BBC decision to use this amount of AI.
If there is a disc replacement which I’m not sure there will be it’ll likely coincide with Season 13 standard edition.
I mean how much is this disc replacement scheme costing? Season 18 I think a few of us jumped on recently and now season 20 and if season 13 has disc replacement how much is it costing and is it or will it be affecting the collection sets?
rich
October 27th, 2025 - 5:59pmBy whose accounts?
Missyrules
October 27th, 2025 - 6:03pmExactly, sources please…
Nb7
October 27th, 2025 - 8:03pmIt’s on the official release statement.
https://gerryanderson.com/blogs/blog/restoring-demeter-city-the-secrets-behind-our-space-precinct-blu-ray
It is a really good job but for some reason season 13 has been overused.
Nb7
October 27th, 2025 - 8:07pmOr do you mean where did I hear that it was a bbc decision? If so I heard that on the type 40 podcast today.
Gordon
October 28th, 2025 - 1:21amAs I’ve said previously in most cases it’s not that it’s used at all is the issue it’s how it’s used. Use it correctly and with care it will look pretty decent. If it has been used on pyramids it’s actually been well applied that it’s nowhere near as noticable. Use it wildly or incorrectly and you get the results of zygons 1-2 or the film sequences of androids.
Im no means a restoration expert but i do get the impression from watching the episodes multiple times for commentaries and production subtitles it’s mostly been applied to film/location sequences they don’t have bar a couple of zygon studio scenes from ep 1/2. The entirety of studio bound morbius looks fine to me. Most of planet looks fine bar a couple of noticeable film sequences as are the most of seeds.
Having listened to the Type 40 episode it sounds more like speculation and logic jumping than actual information. The discussion feels very unresearched and underprepared in places saying Peter’s comments was alleged (not allegedly it was on the power of three podcast) and about Simons supposed knowledge about them using and only working with the broadcast master tapes of zygons despite the filming inserts for 2,3 and 4 also existing and were rescanned in 2k for this release. Trying to also say that the film insets were ai because it was faded. That’s incorrect. They always work with the broadcast master but they always use filming inserts whenever possible which is the case with half of ep 2 and parts 3 and 4 of zygons . However the those aren’t ai processed. They were scanned in 2k and got regraded. That shouldn’t need any sort of ai sweetening to get hd standard as that’s on 16mm. It was the filming inserts that are on the broadcast tapes that the ai was applied to. The whole high up thing feels very speculative than rather real info and implying that Peter isn’t happy and enforced with it doesn’t gel with his comments on ai on the power of 3 podcast as well as an article from the radio times recently discussing the future of doctor who with ai restorations
Nb7
October 28th, 2025 - 9:55amI agree totally with you Gordon.
The reason why I’m inclined to feel it’s a decision made higher up is I get the feeling a restoration team would keep it looking quite natural and even grainy so it’s in keeping and not looking like it does. I’m probably miles off but it’s a strange decision for a team as well established as this to go as heavy handed as they have.
I blame The Beatles and Peter Jackson! Ever since the Get Back films were done using this same technology other restorations have started following suit. Get Back looked rough as do some of these eps in places. Am I correct in that the Aliens 4K has a waxy look to?
I always thought they used the master recordings as well.
I always thought city of death looked very grainy especially on the blu ray but give me more of that any day over the plastic look.
I know one guy on YouTube has sent off a bit if an aggressive email to dvd support saying “Stop using ai in restorations” I don’t think that’s the way forward to get a decent response. If anyone is going to email please be pleasant and supportive to make your point, a lot of work goes into these sets and although we’ve got a slight issue it’s not been done out of malice, it’s a creative decision to hopefully make things the best they can. We all want the best for the episodes and I’m sure they won’t head down this route again.
Gordon
October 28th, 2025 - 11:16amMost of recent Cameron’s restorations have been ai restorations.true lies, abyss, aliens, terminator and t2. He’s obsessed with eliminating every speck of grain. I do think terminator is pretty much the best of the bunch though due to it at least having a grain structure to it.
Absolutely we need to be polite about this. Going in and angrily demanding that they don’t do this or must do that won’t get us anywhere and are less likely to listen and more likely to double down
Ryan
October 28th, 2025 - 2:22pmHopefully the reaction to this set will have them not implement this method as much in future sets. Also hoping we get disc replacements for both Terror of the Zygons and The Android Invasion that fixes the image quality. After all, we’re only now getting disc replacements for Season 20 after people complained about the technical issues with that set.
Bob
October 26th, 2025 - 8:28pmWhat size SteelBooks central cover goes with this set?
Rex F
October 26th, 2025 - 10:14pmThere’s discussion about the best fitting one on the previous page.
Gary A
October 26th, 2025 - 10:51pmSize 3 fits perfectly. Size 2 (the usual size for 8-disc sets) is too tight.
Tom Williams
October 27th, 2025 - 2:43amDW2 and it’s not tight as I put mine in this one and it’s fit perfectly fine on my bookshelf DW3 is wider one and there is also now a DW7 for season 20 but hardly in stock at mom
daz
October 27th, 2025 - 10:58amWith this release there seems to be differences in the spine due to how the box has been folded during manufacturing.
I recommend trying it in your other older protectors for 7 and 8 discs before ordering.
Babelbro
October 26th, 2025 - 1:45pmThe mole(s) that have correctly leaked spoilers have now claimed RTD is leaving, and will announce his departure within the coming months.
Given the razor sharp u-turn with quickly bringing Billie Piper into the lead role, I’m convinced this was always Russell’s end game plan that he’s had to bring forward for the above reason.
Timelord1944
October 26th, 2025 - 4:56pmHe must have known all along which is why he had to abandon the Susan arc, that was to conclude in season 3. The possibility of Susan returning properly is the biggest loss of this RTD2 era for me.
daz
October 27th, 2025 - 11:04amSusan could be revisited by whoever is in charge of Season 3. We saw her say, “Find Me”. Or maybe, completely forgotten about.
I think once the Billie Piper mystery is resolved, whether she is the Doctor or Tardis, or it starts fresh with a different actor, the show really needs to go back to basics, a bit like how Series 1 started.
Joe 90
October 26th, 2025 - 10:24amHas anyone had any issues with Pyramids with the new effects on?
I’ve just seen the infamous hand holding down the cushion near the end of Part4 but I thought this had been removed?
The new effects are definitely switched on as the time corridor scenes have changed.
Also, I haven’t watched S20 yet – does anyone know how I get the new replacement discs that are mentioned in this thread?
Gordon
October 26th, 2025 - 10:41amThe hand was removed in the tales version.
Is it the limited edition you have or is it the standard edition of s20? If you have the standard version you won’t need replacements. If it’s limited it’s [email protected] and explain you want replacements for season 20 and show a proof of purchase
Rex F
October 26th, 2025 - 11:28amContact [email protected] with S20 proof of purchase. Then wait a few weeks.
Joe 90
October 26th, 2025 - 4:50pmThanks Gordon/Rex – I always buy both versions of each season so will write to the support address – thanks for your help
Rex F
October 26th, 2025 - 10:13pmApologies for repeated info, it looks like messages with an email address don’t appear until approved by the mods.
Bob
October 29th, 2025 - 1:50pmI noticed quite a few of the changes from Tales were discarded on the 4 part version:
-The new pyramid establishing shot
-The Shada TARDIS model shot
-The mirror stabilisation
-The deflection shield’s ripple
-The Waters of Mars establishing shot
-The cushion hand fix
Most of these I found to be unnecessary changes so I’m glad they’re gone but I actually did think the ripple effect was a nice touch so I would’ve personally kept that. The hand is just too funny to remove.
Joe 90
October 29th, 2025 - 3:14pmHi Gordon/Rex, thanks very much for the Beeb support details.
I’ve written to them to ask for replacement discs for S20.
On a plus note for Zygons, it was nice to see the original TARDIS landing being included in the first episode, rather than a separate special feature.
I noticed the Zygon ship seemed to look alot more shiny than I remembered.
I did visit The Fox Inn down in Charlton last year – a nice little village and it was easy to imagine UNIT and Sarah Jane running down the lanes.
Amypondfan
October 29th, 2025 - 7:10pmJoe the deleted scene from terror had the option to watch it as part of the story on the dvd release
Timelord1944
October 26th, 2025 - 1:55amRegarding the AI I see that The Android Invasion has been heavily criticised. One criticism is that Sarah Janes face disappears at one point. The version shown on iPlayer has the same disappearing face, it’s just that when sharpened up for bluray it’s going to be more noticeable and it is. It seems to me the quality of the location film is pretty poor in that story and they’ve done their best with it. Missing faces would be far too difficult and costly to correct. Where it is possible to improve things with AI they have done it. Mainly with the shots of the village and various buildings. Personally I wouldn’t want to see the AI tool taken off them.
Rex F
October 26th, 2025 - 1:32amSarah Jane’s face disappears and is replaced by someone else’s on the Blu.
This is all going to come down to how many sales they lose, and I suspect that most people fall into the like it/don’t care/can’t see it categories (unfortunately, from my POV). So just a very minor dialling back in future.
Timelord1944
October 26th, 2025 - 2:07amI only saw the disappearing face in the quarry scenes in episode 1. Where is the face replacement scene?
Rex F
October 26th, 2025 - 2:24amCheck the Youtube compilation Gordon posted a link to – I think it’s in that one, failing that it’s amongst the pictures on the Blu-Ray forum.
Timelord1944
October 26th, 2025 - 2:33amThanks
ChrisP
October 26th, 2025 - 10:01amGenerally we are so lucky that these boxsets are so fantastic.
But….
Only watched 2 episodes of Android Invasion so far. (Started with this cos rest of family want to see most of the other stories)
The plastic face effect on the film sequences is just horrible. Please don’t do this to future releases. Or offer us an additional version without this.
Going to watch the rest of the set before emailing dvd support with my feedback.
Gordon
October 26th, 2025 - 10:29amI did suggest to them an option of also including a non ai sweeting version for future sets when I emailed them.
Timelord1944
October 26th, 2025 - 5:01pmChris P I got the impression from looking at the dvd and iPlayer versions of the story that the location footage is of real poor quality and needed a lot of work so they must have opted for AI as opposed to leaving it be. Sarah’s face is missing on the iPlayer and dvd version but is more pronounced on the Blu-ray because of the upgraded picture. I’m not a fan of AI but I think in some instances it’s been necessary.
Duncan
October 27th, 2025 - 4:02pmThis is one small positive about having poor eyesight. I have watched Android Invasion and didn’t notice anything (thankfully). I don’t doubt the issues are there though. Too many comments about it.
ChrisP
October 27th, 2025 - 4:08pmHad a little watch of iPlayer Android ep 1 as a comparison.
It is tricky because the blu ray wide shots have generally been significantly improved by the AI.
But, personally, I really really really dislike the effect of the AI on close ups.
To the extent that I’d rather have no AI than have what it does to Tom and Lis in close-up.
(I’m watching on a 55 inch tv. So, gigantic by 1970s standards but not especially large for these days haha)