April 14th, 2026
1,242 comments
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Doctor Who The Collection Season 21 Limited Edition
Available to order from www.amazon.co.uk, www.zavvi.com, www.rarewaves.com and various retailers on www.ebay.co.uk
Protective Slipcovers and Sleeves can now be ordered from the Steelbook Central ebay store.
Doctor Who fans can continue to build their own home archive on Blu-ray with a ten-disc box set of the climactic 21st Season, starring Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor and introducing Colin Baker as the Sixth incarnation.
- WARRIORS OF THE DEEP
- THE AWAKENING
- FRONTIOS
- RESURRECTION OF THE DALEKS
- PLANET OF FIRE
- THE CAVES OF ANDROZANI
- THE TWIN DILEMMA
In his final season, the action ramps up for Peter Davison’s Doctor as he faces terrors from his past, invaders from the future, arch enemies and a battle to the death. With companions Tegan (Janet Fielding), Turlough (Mark Strickson), Peri (Nicola Bryant) and robot Kamelion (Gerald Flood) the Doctor journeys from an underwater seabase to contemporary England, from a devastated Earth colony to the beaches of Lanzarote, from a volcanic alien world to the deadly caves on Androzani.
Along the way, the TARDIS crew confront Daleks, Sea Devils, Silurians, Tractators, slug-like Gastropods, the evil Malus and the vengeful Master!
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 21 is also jam-packed with hours of new and exclusive material including:
UPDATED SPECIAL EFFECTS
On The Awakening, Frontios, Resurrection Of The Daleks and The Caves Of Androzani
WARRIORS OF THE DEEP: SPECIAL EDITION
An exciting four-part re-edit with updated special effects and immersive 5.1 surround sound mix
IN CONVERSATION
Matthew Sweet chats to Janet Fielding (Tegan), Mark Strickson (Turlough) and Matthew Waterhouse (Adric)
NEW MAKING-OF DOCUMENTARIES
For Resurrection Of The Daleks and The Twin Dilemma
LOOK WHO’S BOATING
Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton take to the River for an epic adventure.
48 HOURS WITH FIELDING
Toby Hadoke crashes at Janet Fielding’s
BEHIND THE SOFA
New episodes with Peter Davison (The Doctor), Janet Fielding (Tegan), Sarah Sutton (Nyssa), Matthew Waterhouse (Adric), Sophie Aldred (Ace), Wendy Padbury (Zoe), Bonnie Langford (Mel), Colin Baker (The Doctor), Nicola Bryant (Peri), Tara Ward (Preston), Keith Jayne (Will), Jeff Rawle (Plantagenet), Rula Lenska (Styles), director Graeme Harper, Paul Conrad (Romulus) and Andrew Conrad (Remus).
THE DOCTOR WHO ESCAPE ROOM
Two new teams battle it out
BRAND NEW AUDIO COMMENTARY
On The Awakening
NEW SURROUND SOUND MIXES
On Warriors Of The Deep, The Awakening and The Caves Of Androzani.
TALES OF THE TARDIS
A 2023 edit of Earthshock with new linking material from Peter Davison and Janet Fielding
THE FIVE(ISH) DOCTORS REBOOT
With brand new audio commentary
EXCLUSIVE ARCHIVE TREATS
Including never-before-released TV appearances and studio footage
HD PHOTO GALLERIES
INFO TEXT
PDF ARCHIVE
PLUS LOTS MORE!
This ten-disc box set also includes hours of special features previously released on DVD including Documentaries, Featurettes, Audio Commentaries and more.
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Gordon
October 6th, 2026 - 8:05amThose worrying about the lack of releases or anouncments or the future of the range shouldn’t worry. Toby Hadoke said on his Patreon in the past 6 weeks alone he’s filmed about 5 doctor who shoots and was away to do another one yesterday. One for this past Friday isn’t even on the schedule yet and might not be for another 3-4 years depending on when it gets added to the schedule so if you hear they filmed x it doesn’t mean something is imminent. Plus there are more planned for the new the new year though he does say it could happen before then depending on how the scheduling works out.
Plus I hear frazer and Wendy have been blabbing about filming season 6 extras. Not a suprise considering Paul Vanezis has said material for pretty much every season has been recorded.
Prof Horner
October 6th, 2026 - 9:13amThe sad fact is some of these sixties actors may not still be around when these sets are released. Only Wendy is under eighty . So it makes sense to bank interviews while they are fit and able to do them. Can we assume that if we don’t get any announcements by the end of this month, then that is it as far as releases for this year are concerned?
Gordon
October 6th, 2026 - 10:25amGoing by previous years I would say this week is pretty much the cut off. Next week the absolute latest. The latest a collection set from announcement for the year was season 17 on 7th October and that came out 20th December. The latest for an animation anouncment was around 9/10th October for shada.
bookcollector
October 6th, 2026 - 10:25amI think with the Satan pit release being possibly december, could be January though, but I’m thinking it might be december, then there may not be anything else this year. Most animations have been announced several months before release so even if one was announced soon I think it will be January-march. Collection set rumour for 16 being next year is looking more likely too. All we can do is be patient. Animations and collections will come when they come.
Nb7
October 6th, 2026 - 7:52pmMy guess is announcement within next few weeks with no release date announced and I suspect the release to be January ish. The tease is out now sooo….
James
October 6th, 2026 - 9:09pmWell we had the Lee Biding colour tease on September 13th 3pm. What’s the average time between his colour teaser and the official announcement?
Just checked in his blue sky page and last set (S13) was 5th June colour tease and 3rd July announcement. That was 28 days between the dates.
S7 colour tease on 11th October 2024 and a announcement (all be it early due to a leak) was 19th December 2024. That being 69 days between the dates.
Anyone know the previous sets?
Gordon
October 6th, 2026 - 9:45pmBased upon lee’s twitter/x
Season 25 tease 10 April
Season 25 reveal 4 july
Season 15 tease 24 august
Season 15 reveal 11 January
I defenitly wouldn’t take a month as the norm for a gap between tease and announcement
Gordon
October 3rd, 2026 - 10:52amThe savages is now up on iPlayer for those that were waiting for it.
Also the 1992 bbc version of the borrowers is up for pre order. Chris chapman has contributed a 100 min making of for it so this must be the latest in the line of cult bbc children’s tv line (box of delights, chronicles of narnia) that he’s been doing making ofs for.
James
October 3rd, 2026 - 11:27amThanks Gordon. Know where the preorder is?
James
October 3rd, 2026 - 11:38amFound on Rarewaves so guess His Master Voice and The River will follow soon. Release date 23/11/2026. BR at £26.11 and DVD at £21.91. Did a google search as r dais nothing being released on Blu-ray then deeper search as a link to rarewaves found it.
James
October 3rd, 2026 - 11:52amWhat could we be getting next year? As seems to be a regular winter release. Box of Delights 25th November 2024, Narnia 24th November 2025, Borrowers 23rd November 2026.
November 22nd 2027….The Queens Nose? The Demon Headmaster?
Gordon
October 3rd, 2026 - 12:32pmhttps://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0HLPR3CXT?ref=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apan_dp_S1QP4M15T4G8WMWAQV4F&ref_=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apan_dp_S1QP4M15T4G8WMWAQV4F&social_share=cm_sw_r_cso_cp_apan_dp_S1QP4M15T4G8WMWAQV4F
It’s on Amazon too
As for what’s next perhaps moondial?
James
September 30th, 2026 - 2:21pmTerribly quiet this week…no comments regarding Collections or Animations…FiF have had a loads of canisters to go through from various people I see on Facebook. So,e from people who worked on DW and other BBC shows.
Nb7
September 30th, 2026 - 7:00pmAt a guess I would think a collection set will be announced in the next few weeks for a December or January release.
Film is fabulous get a lot of things they have to go through which takes a lot of time and doctor who isn’t they’re main focus, preserving and cataloguing films in general is there focus.
It’s likely we’ll see more Who returned but don’t be expecting it tomorrow or in the next few weeks or months. A long hard job they do which requires a lot of skill and time.
Gordon
September 30th, 2026 - 7:47pmUsually the physical media anouncments are Thursday so not surprised there has been nothing so far. Regarding FIF The one person that worked on doctor who (David Jervis) did from 78-84 so unlikely to be Hartnell or Troughton material.
Gordon
September 30th, 2026 - 8:52pmForgot he was also an inlay operator on a couple of season 12/13 stories too
RobW
September 30th, 2026 - 9:19pmFIF have said when the London operation is set up they’ll be able to pick up those big collections, so maybe by spring we will have good news?
Gordon
September 24th, 2026 - 12:51amI have 1 day away from any sort of internet connection and I seem to miss everything.
1. Blake’s 7 season 3 is due out 23 November
2. Chris chapman is ending a making of that’s from the 1960s
3. The savages is heading to iplayer 3rd October though tv zone wrongly anounce it’s the smugglers
Gordon
September 24th, 2026 - 6:40amThat should say editing not ending for point 2. Oh as well as editing a making of for a 1960s doctor who Chris has also delivered a documentary for “ a bbc family classic” so we are getting our yearly release that’s in the same vain of box of delights and Narnia
Nb7
September 24th, 2026 - 10:31amYeah I just read that about The Savages/Smugglers then thought I’d better come here to see what the hell was going on haha.
Great news about a new chapman documentary.
I still haven’t got the Narnia set yet, waiting for the price to drop a bit more. Wonder what the release is this year?!
Jamiouse
September 24th, 2026 - 1:32pmMaybe will get an announcement on The Smugglers animation today?
Gordon
September 25th, 2026 - 12:46amI’d be very surprised whatever the new animation is will be this week especially as they just announced the satan’s pit cinema 2 parter. I can see them wanting to at least give that a few days to give it time to shine. I suspect that the 1960s making of is for whatever the next animation is and it might not get announced till that has been delivered. It’s probably smugglers but I’m not ruling out something like myth makers
Gordon
September 19th, 2026 - 11:21amWell it doesn’t look like it’s going to be too long till we find out what the next animation is. David Busch (animator) has stated: “Indeed! I worked on something for a Doctor Who release, it has been completed, and will be out at some point in the not-too-distant future. (I actually have no idea when, I’m usually a smallish cog in the machine!)“
bookcollector
September 19th, 2026 - 11:45amGreat news. And i don’t even care what it is, anything will be welcome.
James
September 19th, 2026 - 11:50amOooo maybe a double announcement month. With Collection tease last week. What could the animation be? Any thoughts
RobW
September 19th, 2026 - 12:02pmI think it’s the Smugglers, Gordon heard it’s Space Pirates. I’ll be happy with either
Gordon
September 19th, 2026 - 12:19pmMultiple things are in the works so I’ll be happy with whatever gets announced. I do kind of want a season completer though.
Prof Horner
September 19th, 2026 - 12:34pmDo think Gordon after what Anneke Wills has just said about Fraser Hines in her DWM interview. They will ever appear together on the behind the Sofa?
Not sure which serial I want to be animated first. The Smugglers or to complete season 6 The Space Pirates. What ever comes first will be welcome.
bookcollector
September 19th, 2026 - 12:45pmThe smugglers is one I’d love to be able to watch, space pirates is one I’d be happy with as visuals will help the stories reputation (or not lol) the other one I’d love is myth makers
Professor Flibble
September 19th, 2026 - 1:59pmDavid Busch specifically working on an animation is exciting because he was responsible for the lighting and shading on Shada and Macra Terror, and the lighting in those was phenomenal. Could be an indicator we’d get a higher quality animation than the last few BBC Studios ones? I hope they get Rob Ritchie back.
What did Anneke say about Frazer?
Space Pirates I’d like because it’d complete a season and we just had two Hartnell stories.
RobW
September 19th, 2026 - 3:33pmI’ve just finished reading Anneke in DWM and it’s worth buying a copy for not only her views on Bill, Mike C., Pat and Fraser, but also her life and the missing episode rumour. I think now reading this backs up what I’ve heard. Fingers crossed. BTW I’ve met her twice and she is lovely, bubbly and has fantastic recall. I might get her book now.
Professor Flibble
September 19th, 2026 - 3:58pmBut what did she say about Frazer?? News to me there’s any issues between her and Frazer, nobody else seems to be talking about it.
James
September 19th, 2026 - 4:06pmBrief flick through but along the lines she wasn’t happy he got to stay and that Mike had to go. She left with Mike out of loyalty. Didn’t like the fact Fraser cozied up to Pat and stayed for more than one story.
James
September 19th, 2026 - 4:09pmWhich story would she be referring to though? Highlanders or Smugglers? Or something that’s been animated already like power, macra, faceless or underwater?
Gordon
September 19th, 2026 - 5:58pmUnless it’s news to frazer I doubt it would affect any working relationship. They have worked on the menace and moonbase commentaries so if there is any issues they are able to put things to the side and work. If there is issues I suppose they could always have Wendy or someone as a go between or different sofas. It’s also possible they could pass on it due to the long day filming. I believe that’s part of the reason why Tom stopped doing them
Professor Flibble
September 19th, 2026 - 6:04pmI can’t lie, I particularly found it disappointing Tom didn’t do any Behind the Sofas for other Doctors. His opinions on the other actors has always fascinated me given how rarely he talks about them, and he admits he’s never watched any following actor in the role. I’d also have loved to seen his opinions on the stories. Imagine Tom’s reaction to The Twin Dilemma.
CyberOrangutan
September 19th, 2026 - 7:05pmShe did say it was all in the past when asked if she had told Fraser in the interview
CyberOrangutan
September 19th, 2026 - 7:06pmBut she did say she hadn’t told him
RobW
September 20th, 2026 - 12:19amI can’t see them doing Behind the Sofa for animations, or even stories where a few episodes exist. Anneke and Peter would be good on War Machines , Ark and The Gun Fighters. We don’t even know what’s been recorded and banked so far. The only things I’m aware of are Mythmakers, Smugglers and Richard Franklin did a Matthew Sweet interview years ago
RobW
September 20th, 2026 - 12:20amAnneke mentions she watched the recon of the Smugglers recently, which she probably before the making of
Andy
September 20th, 2026 - 12:51amThis is great news sounds promising I do believe someone has been working on something as there has been nothing since The Movie 4k release back in May. I know if we had of had a new series that would have filled some of the gaps. If they is an animation in the works it must be a story with Anneke in if she is been doing interviews and stuff. If not an animation there has been missing episodes found and they are coming to BBC iPlayer for Christmas after they have been screened at the bfi event.
Andy
September 20th, 2026 - 1:08amI agree with some of you guys I would like a season complete and close to those are Seasons 1, 5 and 6. Season 4 still needs The Smugglers, and The Highlanders. I would also like it to be more missing episodes from Season 4 as this season doesn’t have a complete story. Something like maybe episode 4 of The Tenth Planet, Episodes 1 and 4 of The Underwater Menace, or Episodes 1 & 3 of The Moonbase. But think if Anneke has been doing interviews I think we can.narrow it down to episodes featuring her as Polly.
Gordon
September 20th, 2026 - 1:44amIt would have been nice to see him doing other doctors professor flibble but considering the days filming are a good 10 plus hour day including breaks
David says the thing he’s working on isn’t space pirates so you are probably right about smugglers Rob W. There is multiple things in the works so im not too worry just yet on a season not being completed, Also Paul Vanezis said on a podcast earlier in the year that there is stuff recorded for every remaining season
The 2 recovered masterplan eps never got a bfi cinema screening or any sort prior to the iPlayer release Andy so I don’t see future ones getting either. If the screening you are referring to is the surviving eps of menace and faceless that is usual riverside studios event and has nothing to do with the bfi and doesn’t have anneke or Frazer guesting so won’t have missing eps reveals. The only bfi thing I know of is a thing at the bfi reuben library on the 23rd November discussing the future of the show. There might be the extended satan’s pit 2 parter which was briefly listed in an Irish cinema but I’m kind of expecting that to get a wider release on 23rd November
Also for those in the uk who haven’t seen the savages animation it’s listed on the bbc website which suggests it’s coming on to iPlayer soon.
Gordon
September 20th, 2026 - 2:18amAlso anneke doing interviews for things doesn’t necessarily mean things are next or soon. They could be interviewed years in advance. The William Russell interview in season 2 was recorded 4 years ahead of release. The myth makers making of was recorded 2 years ago and no sign of a release yet
Professor Flibble
September 20th, 2026 - 2:32amMy only concern about The Smugglers is unless they do Highlanders alongside it, it’d feel like they’re still kicking the nearest possible 60s collection set down the road.
Scotel
September 20th, 2026 - 3:05amThe Smugglers gets Season 4 to that all important “one short” position that most of the other seasons are at. As much as it may be irritating to the completionists (and believe me, I get it) it doesn’t actually mean anything when it comes to getting the set on shelves.
They’ve got a limited amount of time (and consequently a limited number of animations), we’re not getting everything animated so there’s going to be gaps no matter what. From a purely practical perspective, spreading the work out across the five remaining sets makes more sense than pushing to finish a couple and leaving them with a headache when it comes to Season 3. It would be nice to get a season complete but if leaving one missing means we get a better quality product overall, I’ll take that over fulfilling a checklist.
Prof Horner
September 20th, 2026 - 9:24amI can’t see them not doing The Wheel in Space given it’s the last Cybermen story. So season 5 should be complete. Space Pirates should be animated. So two seasons complete at least. I said many I love The Smugglers so I would be happy to see that next or although I would be like Wheel in Space or Space Pirates first. Let’s hope the animation is big improvement on the last few .
RobW
September 20th, 2026 - 9:31amEasiest due to least amount of episodes to animat
Mythmakers
Smugglers
Highlanders
Wheel – Cybermen story so popular
Massacre
Hardest, as it will cost more to animate
MTTU / DMP
Marco Polo
Crusade (already released with recon)
Space Pirates
RobW
September 20th, 2026 - 9:36amSo FIF know of two collections that have Who, they my find more in the future. So at least one episode per collection, however if one of these collections is the one Paul knows about it has two missing episodes. So that’s three at the most. Paul’s collector has two Hartnells, which has been speculated about which stories until we’ve tied up selves up in knots, but these could be the Smugglers.
I just hope arrangements can be made ASAP to secure them for viewing and releases.
What a shame the other four episodes found with DMP were from existing episodes, that’s the way it goes
Gordon
September 20th, 2026 - 11:00amIt’s not the episode count that dictates how difficult they are but how much different assets they need to create. For that reason the likes of wheel and space pirates are easier to do than the likes of highlanders and the massacre make despite being longer. Those sets are way more complex and costumes are way more intricate
I’m sure wheel will get done. I have heard whispers but nothing concrete to be certain on that. Then again I’ve heard things about space pirates, myth makers, smugglers, massacre and in the last couple of days masterplan and Its getting harder to say what’s real information and what’s not.
One I’m fairly certain isn’t currently being worked on at present is highlanders. The skinners have friends that are animators plus lz worked on doing cg for the photo recons so I’d guess they know which ones are being worked on or at least know who does know what’s been commisioned. I imagine if the bbc had been working on highlanders they wouldn’t want to step on the their toes by doing their own version at the same time and I’d imagine their friends would advise them maybe not do that one.
James
September 20th, 2026 - 12:11pmHard to believe we’ve had 10 animations so far (15 if include the odd eps done for reign, tenth, moon, ice warriors and invasion) with only 9 stories left to comeplete (counting mission in with dmp as is a prequel mini ep.
IF there are missing eps that they know about, are the leaving those stories holding out for their return? Then working on animating stories they know currently not to exists?
S1 Marco Polo all 7 eps missing. Alot of characters, locations & costumes. Historical story
S2 The Crusade 2 eps missing of 4. Historical story. Recon on Collection.
S3 Mission solo ep missing. Has a official/unofficial remake
S3 The Myth Makers all 4 eps missing. Historical story
S3 Dalek Masterplan has 7 of 12 eps missing. Dalek story
S3 The Massacre all 4 eps missing. Historical story
S4 The Smugglers all 4 eps missing. New companions introduction
S4 The Highlander all 4 eps missing. New companion introduction. A lot of Tartan
S5 The Wheel in Space 4 of 6 eps missing. Cybermen story
S6 The Space Pirates 5 of 6 eps missing.
Hoping when/if they get round to Mission/Myth/Masterplan and Massacre they use the same style of animation for all four. As it’s a block of 4 stories/21 eps would be better viewing.
Hartnell has 7 stories needing completing.
Troughton has 3 stories needing completing.
We have 6 historical stories and 3 space/monster stories.
With a lot of ep people wanting a season completer so we can get a full 60s Collection set on the shelf. Is it possible though? Will they each have a story not fully comeplete ready for release? I’m hoping for a Troughton as we haven’t had one since 2023 Underwater Menace. Given that Highlanders is hard due to tartan patterns only leaves Wheel and Pirates.
Both sets are gonna be quite large sets. Given s5 has 3 animation stories and s6 has War Games b&w mega story and its colour movie style. Thinking about these will they include everything on the 60 sets with the stories that have animations or will they just give some? Will they include the b&w and colour or just one version?
As we know they sets can’t handle to much weight unless they work out new box or split the sets into 2 parts with artwork for each half, then housed in one box with the regular season artwork.
Scotel
September 20th, 2026 - 2:47pmWe’ve been aware of those episodes for nearly a decade and they still remain a low priority (FIF prioritise based on the vulnerability of the collection, not commercial value or interest in the contents). I very much doubt they’ll be holding off releases on that basis, it will be years before anything comes back and there’s a good chance it may outlast even the animations.
James
September 20th, 2026 - 4:20pmScoter
Was just wondering as would make sense to spend the money on something they know wasn’t returnable then something they may get back. Eg if they knew myth makers was being held and massacre was lost. Animate massacre as priority then come back to myth makers later if not returned.
Lucky FiF exists. Think needs to be another public appeal though. People could be junking loads not knowing what to do with them.
Professor Flibble
September 20th, 2026 - 4:54pmThe two Hartnell episodes Paul Vanezis mentioned are from two separate Season 3 serials, and have nothing to do with the collections FiF were talking about. The 6 other episodes he and Philip Morris were talking about back in 2020 are separate too, so there’s definitely a handful of episodes we could potentially get back. The one who had the two Hartnell eps I believe Vanezis said they weren’t dealing with handing them back yet because they had “bigger fish to fry,” whatever that means.
The tartan comments about Highlanders I always found bizarre. They remove the checkered patterns from Troughton’s trousers all the time, and manage to do a simplified version of Jamie’s kilt just fine. In fact, how many characters in The Highlanders even wear tartan? I think it’s just shorthand for “it’s a historical, the costumes are very complicated”
Professor Flibble
September 20th, 2026 - 4:56pmIn fact, I remember someone going through what the two Hartnell S3 episodes would realistically be and I think it was an episode of The Massacre and an episode of The Savages. So yeah, I really hope they get those back
Scotel
September 20th, 2026 - 6:28pmPaul Vanezis has collaborated with Film is Fabulous and they are aware of the collection with the two episodes he had previously identified and it is included in the various counts they’ve given over the years.
This was confirmed a few years ago when a member of the press fabricated a series of quotations to make it look like it was two episodes of The Daleks’ Master Plan had been found (and before anyone starts, no it is just an unfortunate coincidence, the timelines aren’t even close to matching up with the eventual recovery from earlier this year).
Scotel
September 20th, 2026 - 6:32pmAs for recoveries causing conflict, remember that they animate whole stories. A single episode coming back isn’t going to stop an animation happening. They aren’t going to stop an animation just because there’s a chance one episode comes back.
bookcollector
September 20th, 2026 - 6:33pmJamie, his laird, Alexander (i think that’s the name in episode 1) every highlander on the ship and in prison. And probably more in the background. Add in the detailed sets and numerous locations and its still an expensive undertaking. I agree, simplify the tartan but its still a complex thing to control in a traditional animation. As they said, 3d animation would mean they could fix errors relatively easily without having to redraw potentially massive sections but fans don’t want 3d. Personally I’d be happy with a 3d highlanders animation if that’s the best way forward.
Professor Flibble
September 20th, 2026 - 7:23pmScotel, that’s, uh, actually quite disappointing to hear, from a quantity standpoint. Was optimistic that there were several sources for missing episodes and two people talking about what they know, then it turns out they’re talking about the same collection. Though if it is indeed The Massacre and The Savages, actually to have an episode of The Massacre, one of the most missing feeling stories at all, that’d be wonderful. Especially if the Abbot’s in it.
Bookcollector, there might be more tartan than I remember tbf. Gordon’s said there seem to be no plans for Shapeshifter to continue so while I’d actually really like to see more 3D animations, I’m guessing it might not happen.
Bookcollector
September 20th, 2026 - 7:52pmI think the negative reaction to the toymaker animation (and a lot of that was from the trailer, an example of kneejerk reactions before assessing the finished product) has put a halt to the 3d style. It’s a shame as the more that were done the better they would be. Personally I liked toymaker, it fits the story well. It takes a bit of time to get used to the regulars but once you do it’s a fun watch.
Gordon
September 21st, 2026 - 10:29amIt is worth noting there has never been a fully missing story recovered by a private collector. Not saying it will never happen though. Plus as has been said a missing ep recovery doesn’t really change animation plans. It would need to be a complete or almost complete story for plans to change as the current funding model is animate in full to sell a consistent viewing experience to streamers and broadcasters. They could always make an exception for something like masterplan where almost half exists but a business case would need to get made.
Apparently the animations don’t take up that much space (I’ve not checked) so you probably might be able to fit the black and white version with the recon and any surviving eps on disc 1 with the colour version and extras on disc 2. 6 parters maybe would fit around 2 discs with the colour animation and extras on 1 disc and black and white and recon on disc 2. Personally I think they would struggle to fit animation surviving eps recons and all the extras to one disc anyway so it might need 2 discs regardless. Recons don’t take up much space so there should be room and maybe it could be SD where possible which may help. Looking at 1,5 and 6 it should be around 10 discs. 11 if they need a bonus disc.
These lists are an assumption that every remaining story gets animated
In the case for season 1 Marco Polo might be a struggle to fit on 2 discs but you could potentially put the recon on the edge of destruction as that disc is probably not taking up much HD space. The daleks might need 2 discs for the bonus material anyway so I can see the in colour being the main feature for the second daleks disc
Disc 1: An unearthly child
Disc 2: the daleks
Disc 3: Daleks in colour/extras
Disc 4: edge of distruction/marco polo recon
Disc 5: Marco Polo b and w
Disc 6: Marco Polo colour/extras
Disc 7: the keys of marinus
Disc 8: the Aztecs
Disc 9: the sensorites
Disc 10: reign of terror eps 1,2,3,6 plus animation and new recon of eps 4 and 5 plus extras
Disc 11: more extras (if required)
Season 5 should be pretty manageable. When it comes to abominable and wheel I feel they should not include the black and white animated surviving eps. Web should exclude the colour animated version of ep 3
Disc 1: tomb of the cybermen
Disc 2: abominable ep 2 plus b/w animation and recon of eps 1,3,4,5,6
Disc 3: abominable colour with extras
Disc 4: the ice warriors eps 1,3,4,5,6 plus animation and new recon of eps 2,3
Disc 5: enemy of the world
Disc 6: web of fear surviving eps 1,2,4,5,6 plus animation and recon of ep 3 plus extras
Disc 7: fury from the deep b/w and recon
Disc 8: fury from the deep colour and extras
Disc 9: wheel in space ep 3 and 6 plus b/w animation and recons of eps 1,2,4,5
Disc 10: wheel in space colour plus extras
Disc 11: extras disc (if needed)
Season 6 should be around the same. I expect the invasion and the the war games would need 2 discs. War games should fit on 1 disc (some network releases have about 4 hours of main feature HD content to a disc) with the extras taking up a second disc where you could put the in colour version. The space pirates ep 2 black and white animated version isn’t included
Disc 1: the dominators
Disc 2: the mind robber
Disc 3: the invasion surviving eps 2,3,5,6,7,8 plus new recon as well as animations of eps 1,4
Disc 4: the invasion extras
Disc 5: the Krotons
Disc 6: the seeds of death
Disc 7: the space pirates surviving ep 2 plus b/w animations and recons of 1,3,4,5,6
Disc 8: the space pirates colour animation plus extras
Disc 9: the war games
Disc 10: the war games in colour with extras
Disc 11: extra disc (if required)
It’s seasons 3 and 4 unsurprisingly need larger boxes. Maybe they can be housed in a big box that has 2 smaller boxes inside. Members of the blu ray team have repeatedly stated there won’t be split seasons
Surviving b/w animated eps of g4,masterplan, toymaker not included
Disc 1: galaxy 4 ep 3 plus b/w animation with surviving ep and recons for 1,2 and 4 as well as the option to play ep 1 animation with surviving footage integrated for those that want it
Disc 2: galaxy 4 colour and extras
Disc3: mission to the unknown b/w colour recon and extras
Disc 4: the myth makers b/w and recons
Disc 5: the myth makers colour and extras
Disc 6: masterplan surviving eps 1-3, 6 plus animation and recons for eps 4 and 6.
Disc 7: masterplan ep 10 with animation and recons for ep 7-9, 11-12
Disc 8: masterplan 1-6 colour and extras
Disc 9: masterplan 7-12 colour and extras
Disc 10: the massacre b/w animation and recons
Disc 11: the massacre colour with extras
Disc 12: the ark
Disc 13: celestial toymaker ep 4 with b/w animation and recons for eps 1-3
Disc 14: celestial toymaker colour and extras
Disc 15: the gunfighters
Disc 16: the savages b/w animation and recons
Disc 17: the savages colour animation and extras
Disc 18: the war machines
Disc 19: extra disc (if needed)
Season 4
Exclude underwater menace faceless and evil surviving animated eps. I’d exclude the b/w and colour power 2016 versions due to the original creators unhappy with the finished result
Disc 1: the smugglers b/w animated and recons
Disc 2: the smugglers colour and extras
Disc 3: the tenth planet eps 1-3 and animation and new recon of ep 4
Disc 4: power of the daleks
Disc 5: power of the daleks recon and extras
Disc 6: highlanders b/w and recon
Disc 7: highlanders colour and extras
Disc 8: the underwater menace eps 2/3 with b/w animation and recon of parts 1/4
Disc 9: the underwater menace colour animation and extras
Disc 10: the moonbase eps 2 and 4 with animation and new recon of 2 and 4
Disc 11: macra terror b/w animation and recon
Disc 12: macra terror colour animation and extras
Disc 13: faceless ones surviving eps 1/3 and b/w animations and recons of eps 2/4/5/6
Disc 14: faceless ones colour version
Disc 15: evil of the daleks serving ep 2 and b/w animations of eps 1/3/4/5/6/7
Disc 16: evil of the daleks colour
Disc 17: evil of the daleks ep 2 plus 1/3/4/5/6/7 recons and extras
Disc 18: extra disc (if needed)
Hypothetically if they decide to skip the colour animations (and personally I’m not sure they will due to the space constraints of having stories animations recons and extras all on the same disc. If the bundle the extras to a second disc there is probably space to include both versions). They would most certainly need to put the recons in SD to fit it all in
Season 1
Disc 1: An unearthly child
Disc 2: the daleks
Disc 3: Daleks in colour/extras
Disc 4: edge of distruction
Disc 5: Marco Polo b and w
Disc 6: marco polo recon and extras
Disc 7: the keys of marinus
Disc 8: the Aztecs
Disc 9: the sensorites
Disc 10: reign of terror eps 1,2,3,6 plus animation and new recon of eps 4 and 5 plus extras
Disc 11: more extras (if required)
Season 3
Disc 1: galaxy 4 surviving ep 3 with b and w animation recon and extras
Disc 2: mission to the unknown b/w animation recon and extras
Disc 3: the myth makers b/w and recons and extras
Disc 4: masterplan surviving eps 1-3, 6 plus b/w animation and recons for eps 4 and 6.
Disc 5: masterplan ep 10 with animation and recons for ep 7-9, 11-12 and extras
Disc 6: the massacre b/w animation recons and extras
Disc 7: the ark
Disc 8: celestial toymaker ep 4 with b/w animation and recons for eps 1-3 and extras
Disc 9: the gunfighters
Disc 10: the savages b/w animation and recons and extras (maybe move the Innes Lloyd doc to the gunfighters)
Disc 11: the war machines
Disc 12: extra disc (if needed)
Season 4:
Disc 1: the smugglers b/w animated and recons and extras
Disc 2: the tenth planet eps 1-3 and animation and new recon of ep 4
Disc 3: power of the daleks
Disc 4: power of the daleks recon and extras
Disc 5: highlanders b/w and recon and extras
Disc 6: the underwater menace eps 2/3 with b/w animation and recon of parts 1/4 and extras
Disc 7: the moonbase eps 2 and 4 with animation and new recon of 2 and 4
Disc 8: macra terror b/w animation and recon and extras
Disc 9: faceless ones surviving eps 1/3 and b/w animations and recons of eps 2/4/5/6 and extras (this might be a stretch)
Disc 10: evil of the daleks serving ep 2 and b/w animations of eps 1/3/4/5/6/7
Disc 11: evil of the daleks colour
Disc 12: evil of the daleks ep 2 plus 1/3/4/5/6/7 recons and extras
Disc 13: extra disc (if needed)
Season 5
Disc 1: tomb of the cybermen
Disc 2: abominable ep 2 plus b/w animation and recon of eps 1,3,4,5,6 and extras
Disc 3: the ice warriors eps 1,3,4,5,6 plus animation and new recon of eps 2,3
Disc 4: enemy of the world
Disc 5: web of fear surviving eps 1,2,4,5,6 plus animation and recon of ep 3 plus extras
Disc 6: fury from the deep b/w and recon and extras
Disc 7: wheel in space ep 3 and 6 plus b/w animation and recons of eps 1,2,4,5 and extras (might be a struggle
Disc 8: extras disc (if needed)
Season 6:
Disc 1: the dominators
Disc 2: the mind robber
Disc 3: the invasion surviving eps 2,3,5,6,7,8 plus new recon as well as animations of eps 1,4
Disc 4: the invasion extras
Disc 5: the Krotons
Disc 6: the seeds of death
Disc 7: the space pirates surviving ep 2 plus b/w animations and recons of 1,3,4,5,6 and extras
Disc 8: the war games
Disc 9: the war games in colour with extras
Disc 10: extra disc (if required)
Think when it comes to the tartan problem it’s more the case of variations as each surname and clan has a different variation but I haven’t really looked close at it. It’s been at least a year or 2 since I last seen it. I’m sure if they keep plugging away they will have to tackle it eventually. It’s probably only about half a dozen animations away. once they are past the likes of wheel, space pirates, the smugglers and myth makers it’s probably next or second next after the massacre and then after those 2 it’s the big trio of crusade/marco/masterplan and the latter could skip the Que if they really want the masterplan Eps out due to the recovery
Professor Flibble
September 21st, 2026 - 11:37amCan’t they just make an adjustment to the disc trays? Two discs on one tray for a story with that amount of discs or something. So that Season 4 would have 10 or so disc trays rather than 18 and it wouldn’t destroy the box.
Amypondfan
September 21st, 2026 - 2:34pmNo overlapping discs please, hate that.
bookcollector
September 21st, 2026 - 2:37pmI suppose Gordon you could make an argument for leaving the colour versions off a collection set. If they only include the b&w animations on the collection sets it makes the original releases of the animations more unique to them to be the only place for the colour versions.
James
September 21st, 2026 - 2:55pmThanks for your diac breakdown Gordon. I didn’t mean split releases, I meant like you’ve said split into 2 boxes then housed in one main box as one big release.
Obviously with each set we see a price rise given the way the world going. The 60s sets are going to be a lot more in price with all the work being done to upscale for Blu-ray, the current animations and new animations, and added extras specially s3 and s4. Can’t wait to have all 26 (possible 27) on the shelf.
Auton
September 21st, 2026 - 3:39pm18 or 19 discs is a scary thought. Can the boxsets even handle that many
Professor Flibble
September 21st, 2026 - 4:27pmWhat about double sided disc trays?
I really don’t want my Season 3 box to be completely destroyed because I’ve put on the War Machines disc. Those card boxes can only just about handle 10 disc trays. Two boxes might be a solution but would look odd compared to the rest of the range.
I recall Richard Bignell said they wouldn’t be split.
The Unlicensed Physician
September 21st, 2026 - 5:15pmI’ve always thought they should skip the colour animations, because as well as reducing the number of discs (and costs) it means the single releases don’t suddenly become worthless and it encourages people to keep buying them as they’re released if they want colour and widescreen. People who *need* colour and 16:9 wouldn’t be buying the Collection sets in the first place.
The Frankensteined colourised versions of The Daleks and The War Games could also be skipped – for multiple reasons. I would call it an example of addition by subtraction, but if people want modern fan edits they’ve probably bought them already and it’s not as if the Collection sets would improve their technical quality. Just mention their existence in the production text as an optionally available oddity from the Disney era.
Professor Flibble
September 21st, 2026 - 5:32pmDoesn’t that go against their remit to provide as complete an archive as possible? Don’t get me wrong, if anything had to be sacrificed, I’d rather just have perfect versions of the black and white ones for consistency’s sake. But they might get a backlash, considering they’ve made a point of including as much as they possibly can.
James
September 21st, 2026 - 5:38pmProfessor Fibble..we’re not suggesting splitting them as separate release. Be like the recent releases of xfiles/walking dead and Stargate. 2 box sets housed within a main box. Still have the main cover art on the outer boxes as normal. Then can have extra cover art on the two inner boxes. Extra Lee designs to look forward to.
Eg box one having g4, mission, myth, dmp and massacre with cover art for those stories. Then box two having ark, toymaker, gunfighters, savages and war.
Then the main cover having a selection of all
The Unlicensed Physician
September 21st, 2026 - 6:16pmProfessor: I’m thinking that, as the colour animations are a new 21st century thing, they could argue it was a new product rather than something archival. So it’s pushing things, but I think they could get away with it – especially since the animations didn’t exist when The Collection started. We should get always the audio and telesnaps/photo reconstruction, but the animated adaptations could be considered a bonus, particularly those that reinvent things.
Prowl 1701
September 21st, 2026 - 6:22pmFor all of the post-Power of the Daleks animations the color version has been the prioritized feature, with the animation just being grey scaled for the black and white releases which feels secondary to the color version. My concern is that if they could one pick one choice between color animation or black and white animations of said stories then they might use the color animations instead, as they see them as the definitive version of the animations. Even the “next time” trailer for Galaxy 4 on the season 2 box set was the color version. I’d be miffed if the boxsets excluded the black and white versions as the stories with surviving episode make it easier to watch those episodes with the black and white animations.
James
September 21st, 2026 - 7:37pmI’d agree if they just had the black and white animations with surviving EPs and recons. Have the colour versions available only on the individual animation release to make them unique as previously said. Then maybe when it comes round next time when all animations are done and they do a definite box set of each season with Everything or Doctor Sets. But that would be years down the line if it ever got thought about
Professor Flibble
September 21st, 2026 - 8:16pmProwl, I think either way the black and white versions are definitely going to be the “main” versions on the box sets, because even if the animations are supposedly straying from just filling in the gaps, the box sets are presenting Classic Doctor Who in its definitive state, so it’d shift the goalposts.
I have a feeling they will include the colourised Daleks and War Games because they included the Pyramids of Mars Tales of the TARDIS on Season 13. But yeah, if space was a major issue, just the b/w versions please and recons where necessary. And the b/w versions adjusted for consistency.
Prowl 1701
September 22nd, 2026 - 2:47amI’m perfectly fine with only the black and white versions being on the sets as it does help the individual releases maintain their value. And I do think those should be the default ones used for 60’s Who for consistency. I would like to have the colorized versions of the Daleks and wargames if space permits though.
Gordon
September 22nd, 2026 - 9:03amI can’t imagine the “in colour” releases won’t be included as there is some extras on both releases. If they are including the tales of the tardis releases I can see reason to include the daleks and war games in colour
The more I think of it the more i feel the black and white animated releases are going to need multiple discs regardless of a colour version. Take savages for example. That’s 100 min of hd animation. You also got a 100 min making of also in HD and an Innes Lloyd documentary in HD which is 90 mins. Plus the recon which is also 100 mins but doesn’t really take up a ton of space being mostly static images and also the Television Production Planning documentary and that’s 27 mins and you got surviving fragments which runs to 3 mins animation gallery 3 mins and photo gallery which is another 3 and to round it off a trailer which is 1 min. Thats around 424 mins total if my maths are right(6 hours 4 mins) most of which is true HD and it doesn’t rule out the possibility of new things getting added like an in conversation with Peter due to it being his leaving story. Thats going to be a struggle to fit 1 disc regardless of how they compress or move things around. It would probably need 2 discs anyway. Disc 1 would be the animation and recon (like the stand alone version) and disc 2 could include the making of and the Innes Lloyd doc (if it’s not moved to either gunfighters or war machines or even enemy of the world at the end of his tenure to season 5) and the television production plannning documentary could get moved to season 5 where it’s closer to when it was made. That would leave space to include new features or a colour version.
Having had a rethink I feel with 4 parters you could fit both black and white and colour versions on the same disc with a second disc as a recon with extras. 6 I could see a struggle to fit both versions but considering the likes of wb managing to bundle 12 eps of hd animation to a disc it could hypothetically fit. For 7 you would absolutely need a disc of its own as that would be very compressed. Having the recons being the 2nd disc with extras could open the possibility of doubling up bonus features that would originally have went on a bonus disc so that bonus discs might not end up being required
Alternatively what they could do is include the colour animations at the end of a season and have them over a couple of discs
Season 1 and 6 is just Marco Polo and space pirates so those are pretty easy enough to figure out.
Season 3:
Disc 1: galaxy 4, mission to the unknown, myth makers
Disc 2: dalek masterplan
Disc 3: the massacre, celestial toymaker, the savages
Season 4:
I know that there is a colour version of power but it was made without the original animators involvement and they also weren’t happy with it so it might not get included.
Disc 1: the smugglers, highlanders, underwater menace
Disc 2; the macra terror, the faceless ones
Disc 3: the evil of the daleks
Season 5
Disc 1: the abominable snowmen, web of fear 3
Disc 2: fury from the deep, wheel in space
I’ll be utterly gobsmacked and baffled if the black and white versions aren’t included.
Babelbro
September 22nd, 2026 - 3:49pmCan you imagine a Collection Season 3 boxset only offering the cgi animation version – Ian Levine would blow his wazoo haha!!
I say that, but no doubt he’ll still have his kneepads ready for the BFI
Professor Flibble
September 17th, 2026 - 6:26amApparently in the new DWM, Anneke Wills has heard “a really hot whisper” in regards to another missing episode recovery.
RobW
September 17th, 2026 - 8:01amMaybe the Smugglers rumour
Gordon
September 17th, 2026 - 8:15amShe did mention smugglers at that convention a few years back so it wouldn’t be a surprise if she was mentioning that.
Auton
September 17th, 2026 - 8:28amSurprised they would publish any rumours like that in DWM
Prof Horner
September 17th, 2026 - 8:36amMuch as I want The Smugglers recovery. I want a Troughton missing episode. The two missing episodes of The Moonbase would be nice.
Gordon
September 17th, 2026 - 8:44amAlso worth taking into account the rumour she heard might not even be true. We don’t know where it came from or the track record of where it came from
RobW
September 17th, 2026 - 7:55pmShe accidentally told about the Moonbase animation when I said I’d seen some Tenth Planet animation footage at a Riverside event, I had to keep quiet for a very long time about both projects.
It wouldn’t surprise me with the Smugglers. The original rumour was all 4 episodes had been found. I really hope this is true as it will be an incredible find and for season 4 to have a complete story. However it could be a mix of animation and missing episode or just animation.
We wait….
Prof Horner
September 14th, 2026 - 10:03amNovember 23rd falls on Monday this year. Ten weeks away. So if we get announcement in the next couple of weeks. It could be released on the anniversary day.Still leaving a good length of time between announcement and release. Then again December 7th could be the last release date before Christmas. Though season 17 was released on December 20th.
Gordon
September 17th, 2026 - 6:57amIt’s too late for that. Plus there is no time for a bfi screening
Gordon
September 17th, 2026 - 9:08amTo clarify When I mean there is no time I mean there is no time for a November 23 release plus as I say there is no ro room for a bfi screening at the weekend in the schedule up to the end of November. There probably still time for a early December bfi screening (13th December would be the absolute latest) and release on say the 21st but that window where it’s possible is closing by the week
Gordon
September 13th, 2026 - 3:21pmWe have Lee binding’s tease
booboo
September 13th, 2026 - 3:43pmThis embebed from its orignal source
Matthew Flin
September 13th, 2026 - 3:45pmThanks Gordon, do we think it is Season 16?
Prof Horner
September 13th, 2026 - 4:19pmLooks like Pertwee to me. But I could be wrong. But could be either 11or 16 .Its not as clear cut as we thought. Remember I don’t think any of expected season 13 colour to be purple. So does this mean we are going to get another season boxset before the end of the year after all?
Gordon
September 13th, 2026 - 4:28pmGoing by what he said on his tik tok about the seperate elements all coming together. On the booklet all coming together I’m still going by 16. Does look like it could be the key to time in the middle. It’s possible that the order may have changed but I’ve not heard anything
Nb7
September 13th, 2026 - 5:01pmCheers Gordon… here we go! Announcement within the next two weeks for a November December release maybe!
We can all sleep easy now!
Professor Flibble
September 13th, 2026 - 5:09pmI can’t remember what the time frame was between the previous colour teases and respective announcements. If we’ve had the colour tease now, does that mean we’ll get an announcement next month or month after that?
Also, Season 11 is definitely gonna be heavy on the blues, it’s the Pertwee season with the slit scan titles, his most iconic outfits from the season are blue, Invasion of the Dinosaurs has a very distinctively blue spaceship set, Planet of the Spiders has the blue Metebelis crystal and the cave and…look, if it isn’t blue, I’d be very surprised. But yeah, going from what Lee said, this is definitely Season 16, I mean I’d have gone for something a bit closer to the 2007 DVD set’s purple, but this still works.
Guesses:
Tom will be holding the tracer on the cover
He’ll be in his outfit from the first couple stories
TARDIS on the booklet holder will be from…Power of Kroll? That’s the most iconic TARDIS visual in the season and you could have Kroll lumbering in the background. If not that, the street from Pirate Planet.
Scene on the back will be the TARDIS in hyperspace next to the prison vessel
Hopes:
Both this and Season 11 get good updated effects packages given they’re the last colour seasons and they both have a couple stories that’d really benefit from them. With 16, I’d say Pirate Planet, Stones of Blood and Power of Kroll would all benefit. Maybe even an update for the Taran Wood Beast not too dissimilar to the Magma Beast, but I’m not expecting that one to be updated.
bookcollector
September 13th, 2026 - 5:52pmKroll always confused me. He was described as a giant squid in the script, when they find the regenerated one at the end its a squid… but… he looks more like an octopus! Maybe the monster designer should have read the scripts closer and done some research…
Professor Flibble
September 13th, 2026 - 6:26pmTbh I always felt Kroll was done really well, but an update in the vein of the Myrka would look fantastic. The bits that really need changing are those wide shots that try to blend the location filming with the modelwork because you can see the seam. I like when the stories that don’t get talked about as much get the big updates because it brings them up a level.
Prof Horner
September 13th, 2026 - 6:44pmYes, looking at again it probably will be 16. I just hoping we will before the end of the year.it is a awfully long way to next March for a tease now.
Yes I hope these two last seventies set get a lot of extra FX updates. Hopefully we will get this set before the end of the year. We will then hopefully get the first Troughton next year.
Professor Flibble
September 13th, 2026 - 7:31pmI was looking back at Gordon’s initial comments about the animation deal on the Savages DVD page, and I was wondering if that might be the case. Multiple stories being worked on simultaneously by different teams sort of thing. Saying that because if we had Wheel in Space and Space Pirates done simultaneously, Seasons 5 and 6 would be equally appropriate.
Bookcollector
September 13th, 2026 - 7:58pmActually I love Kroll, the story is great fun and his design is great, he’s just not a squid lol
Gordon
September 14th, 2026 - 8:55amThink around 8 October would be the cut off point for an anouncment in time for Christmas release if we use season 17 as a guide (anounced 7 October and out 20 December).
D84
September 14th, 2026 - 11:34amCould be The Key to Time cube in the middle in white, but also possible its the city of the Exillon’s therefore S11
Im 50/50
The Unlicensed Physician
September 14th, 2026 - 1:11pmIf Mark Hardy isn’t recording his interview for a couple of months, when documentaries are usually produced reasonably in advance, could he be recording it for something else? Perhaps a piece on playing a Who monster? (Or when green make-up goes wrong?) Most of the more familiar regular monster performers are long gone.
If Season 11 was next, would we not have heard more rumours about Dinos? Both CGI and colourisation?
It’s going to be a surprise Season 1 release! (joke)
Andy
September 20th, 2026 - 12:34amLee that is amazing I think judging by that I would guess its either Season 11 or possibly Season 1 like they did with Season 2 without Marco Polo maybe a Reconstruction. But I would say that it definitely looks like it could be Season 11 what looks like Jon Pertwee holding the Blue Crystal.
Gavin Spirrell
August 27th, 2026 - 3:37pmWith the collection box sets slowing down due to missing episodes and animations.
Do you think they will continue The collection with the new Dr Who adding more content etc.
Keeping it in the same style?
Nb7
August 27th, 2026 - 9:32pmAt the moment there’s very little to suggest that.
New Who seems to be a separate entity when it comes to repackaging each series or story.
It would look pretty odd on the shelf going from 26 to 1! Then getting to 1 again for Gatwas run.
The only things I can see that’s possible (and very very rough guesses) individual releases of classic stories in steelbook form and a 25th anniversary of Season 1 in a few years time. That’s just guess work on my part to keep the brand going. But I think the collection sets have quite a few more years left in them plus the odd animation here and there.
Professor Flibble
August 27th, 2026 - 10:55pmIf I remember correctly, I think a member of the Restoration Team said a few years there weren’t any plans, but they’d only consider it once they’ve finished the Classic Series.
The issue with doing the New Series is it’s still too fresh to do anything interesting in terms of special features. Most of the cast and crew are still at the height of their careers, so will be too busy, you’re not going to get any brutal honesty about the production (New Series special features tend to be very self-congratulatory) and some of the wounds are still sore, so an Eccleston In Conversation is unlikely. Or at least, getting both Eccleston and RTD involved with a Series 1 collection set.
I will say though, I think the New Series has never had the same kind of love and care put into its home media releases, and it doesn’t match the Classic Series anyway so whenever there’s news about a New Series release, I’m not particularly interested anyway. Collection sets would be different. The one good thing is now Doctor Who in its 2005 form is technically over, so now there’s a cut-off point.
Gordon
August 28th, 2026 - 1:20amPaul Vanezis said at a convention earlier in the year that the original files do exist and they could use them to redit and regrade them to a higher standard than it is available currently on blu ray or streaming. However it’s a much larger project and undertaking as well as headache than even the recent movie 4k release.
Personally I think there is a much larger scale of extras to make them fall in line with the classic series. In conversations, behind the sofa’s, tomorrows times, stripped for action as well as tributes to the likes of Bernard Cribbins as well as season overviews in the same vibe as the Blake’s 7 ones. Plus there is definetly room for new commentaries seeing as you got the like of Noel Clarke going on about all the women he wants to bang in army of ghosts and Bruno Langley was a bit creepy too. Little uncomfortable considering what has been revealed since.
Personally I think it’s years away if they go ahead with it as they said no plans till the classics are done though they have shown desire to do it.
Matt L
August 31st, 2026 - 8:08pmI’m thinking if we don’t hear anything in September about the next dr who the collection season, does everyone think the next one will be out in 2027? Thanks
Basil Funkenstein
August 31st, 2026 - 11:18pm@Matt L
There is still a possibility of an October or a November announcement for a December release.
I think we will definitely know by the beginning/middle of October whether we are getting another release this year or not. Personally, if they’re fixing AI issues, taking more time with restoration, adding special effects to more stories, or all of the above, I’m perfectly fine with waiting a little bit longer for the next collection boxset.
Gordon
September 1st, 2026 - 7:03amEarly October would be the cut off point for an anouncment before Christmas. Personally if there is an anouncment it’s more likely to be an animated one. That’s my feeling. We are still waiting for lee’s cover tease that he mentioned back in may and that’s usually at least a month in advance of an announcement.
J45ON96
September 1st, 2026 - 11:28amAs terrifying as it is to suggest, we’re rapidly approaching a point where the age of the New Series will be greater than the length of the Classic Series. It’s not as “New” as any of us want to believe anymore, and I think in the age where there’s less and less actors and crew around to be interviewed and give retrospectives of the old, attention eventually should be given to the new, while there’s more people around.
bookcollector
September 1st, 2026 - 12:49pmIts a valid point jason, but the difference is that new who (and yes its an odd term for a 21 year old show) has a lot more at the time interviews and extras than classic who did. But Eccleston is 62 now so it’s is a valid point that even the returned series has age related issues shall we say in terms of potential future projects around the making of the show. As I say though there is a lot more contemporary footage than classic who had. Even the McCoy years had little contemporary material.
Rory, the original you might say
September 1st, 2026 - 1:48pmI would 100% buy Collection sets of the new series. The extras on the existing releases are somewhat bare-bones, so it’d be nice to collect all of the existing material for these series, and to augment that with new features, such as they have on the classic series sets as Gordon suggests above.
There’s plenty of opportunity to create new material like with the classic series sets as most of the cast and crew are still with us.
It would be fantastic to see them upgrade the episodes by revisiting the original files. If that was the focus for the episodes then they probably wouldn’t have much budget left for new FX, but there’s a limit to how much they could improve effects on the Collection budget .
If they did start to tackle the new series, I’d like to see a similar style to the Collection sets, but make some slight changes to differentiate them. Change the grey base colour and change the logo, keep everything else in the same style, and you have a clear distinction between the two series while maintaining the theme.
James
September 1st, 2026 - 2:52pmIf they were to do New Who Collection sets would it be better do do them by Doctor rather than each series? Specially if get to Flux which is only 6 eps.
Considering New Who has been released multiple times for each series where as Classic Who this is the first time each season has had a box set (yes s16 was a box set I know). But given Classic was just dvd then these Blu-rays whereas New has had multiple dvd box sets and Blu-ray. New has had original box sets, then slimline sets, Blu-ray 1-4, Blu-ray 1-7. Plus be shelving space saved if one box for each instead of 3 per Doc (1 for Ecclestone I know)
Professor Flibble
September 1st, 2026 - 4:34pmRory, I don’t get why people still want Classic and New Who to look different on the shelf when the point would be to finally make it all look like the same TV show. Why shouldn’t New Series collection sets look exactly like the Classic ones?
Rory, the original you might say
September 1st, 2026 - 4:43pm@james, I think if they remastered the episodes it would be hard to do single boxsets for each doctor. They’ve managed new series Doctor sets up to now on the current standard, but remastering would take up much more space.
Plus, the new series sets we have are very light on extras. If you had the in-depth extras that you’ve got on the classic Collection sets then you wouldn’t have space to have 3-4 full series of episodes.
Missyrules
September 1st, 2026 - 6:47pmProf I have the entire run from an unearthly child to reality war as classic era style DVD covers and I’m very happy with that.
Gordon
September 1st, 2026 - 7:02pmThink it would be funny if they had a consistant different logo to stand out for the 2005 era onwards and the Jodie era ended up different to the then onscreen logo to make it consistant with the rest of the range.
When it comes to flux I’d have thought you would have 2 discs and an extras disc for flux also include the 3 specials: eve of the daleks, legend of the sea devils and power of the doctor. Looking at the run times of the 3 eps (48, 58 and 87) you could fit all 3 on a blu ray disc plus a disc of extras and maybe a bonus disc so perhaps a 6 disc set.
Professor Flibble
September 2nd, 2026 - 1:39amMissyrules, I’ve actually experimented with making Classic covers for the vanilla volume DVDs, and tbh I wish they’d done reversible covers for those years ago. Tbf different people responsible for the New Series DVDs so would never have happened.
Matt L
September 6th, 2026 - 6:22pmHello, any dr who the collection news from the recent Dr who convention in derby this weekend? Thanks
Andy
September 21st, 2026 - 4:34pmI would suggest Gavin, with the New Doctor Who just like we had Series 1 – 4 a few years ago, and the USA are getting the Matt Smith, Peter Capaldi and Jodie Whittaker Box Sets. So maybe something similar here to match that box set. And some are right in the way of new content we would have to wait so time for some of the actors and actresses to have either retired or something where they not busy on other projects.
Babelbro
August 10th, 2026 - 6:53pmReally interesting find today at a Car boot sale;
It was the 1999 dvd release of ‘Remembrance of the Daleks’, with an original Forbidden Planet retail sticker on it, presumably from that year, printed £19.99
I’m no economy expert let alone knowledge on physical media pricing history, but it really opened my eyes as to how expensive dvds once were, and that the early range of VHS tapes were crazy silly expensive.
Meanwhile today, my local CEX’s second hand 4k section that’s been one tiny shelf for years has, as of this summer, quadrupled in quantity. Plenty of 4k’s below £20, with some 4k’s even as low as £4, with a Doctor Who standard Collection set on the Blu-ray shelves for £24.99.
Amypondfan
August 10th, 2026 - 7:47pmThey are exactly the same prices now. You rarely paid the full retail price. Doctor who dvds retailed at around the 20 mark from the start until the end of the range but most shops sold them cheaper. Films were the same. I paid £9.99 for movies in 2000 and I pay the same now.
Babelbro
August 10th, 2026 - 8:07pm@Amypondfan I remember paying £15 in Sainsbury’s for Doctor Who Series 1 Volume 4 in 2005, as it still has the big red price sticker on the front cover.
Also in about the late 2000’s, can’t remember what the price tag was for it but I also remember a second hand video game store, long gone now, with a cellophane wrapped Trial of a Time Lord dvd boxset for some out there price far higher than £60 that the limited edition blu-rays are today.
bookcollector
August 10th, 2026 - 8:10pmThe retail price from the beginning to the end of the classic range was on average £19.99 but most shops sold them at £14.99 give or take a few quid. The price of dvds has stayed remarkably solid for the whole lifetime of dvds. Its only in the last year or so that films have begun (and its not all films) to increase to £10.99 from the £9.99 price that as amypondfan says has been the standard price certainly since I started getting dvds in early 2000. (Spurred on it the release of the five doctors in 1999 I think it was. Five doctors was the first dvd I bought)
bookcollector
August 10th, 2026 - 8:11pmThat should be spurred on by the release of the five doctors
bookcollector
August 10th, 2026 - 8:23pmTrial would be higher as it was four stories. The recommended retail price in 2008 was £39.99 so a lot cheaper than selling them individually. It was a box set.
Matt L
August 14th, 2026 - 6:59pmHi Gordon, have you heard anything from your contacts regarding getting any new dr who animations in dvd/blu ray or getting any other dr who the collection box sets during 2026? Thanks
RobW
August 14th, 2026 - 10:44pmI remember paying £20 for a Doctor Who story on VHS back in the 90s. Now you can buy stories on collection sets, dvd or stream. It’s changed so much for the better for fans who want to access episodes
Gordon
August 16th, 2026 - 12:13pmNo real updates since the last one. I suspect there will be something out before christmas. At a guess (and bear in mind I know nothing and it’s just a hunch) there will be at least announcements on both animations and collection releases before the year is up even if they ain’t out till next year. If I was going to guess what comes first it will be an animation.
Film is fabulous did update people at the Leicester event yesterday. No missing doctor who eps have either been recovered handed in or in their possession at the current time. They however do know of multiple collectors that do. They do reiterate that Film is Fabulous is not a treasure hunt. They look for vulnerable collections and help to preserve and look after them.
The collections that contain Doctor Who are not as vulnerable as others so they will get to them when they can.
Wendy Padbury was asked at a convention last week if she’s got any collection blu ray releases lined up and her response was ‘i can’t possibly comment…’ with a smile.
Prof Horner
August 16th, 2026 - 2:53pmWell it is positive news on missing episodes . They know were more are, it’s just a matter of time.
As for season collection boxsets. There’s still two Thursday left this month for announcement. Let’s hope we hear something before too long on this and animations.
ThePrimordInfectant
July 31st, 2026 - 10:07pmAnyone noticed Seeds of Doom on the Season 13 collection set seems to not have had AI Employed for its restoration. Maybe I didn’t notice it but to my eyes it doesn’t seem like theirs any. Just wondering if everyone else thinks the same!
Babelbro
August 5th, 2026 - 1:07pmOne or two stories avoided it like Seeds of Doom and Pyramids of Mars.
I just hope we get further context by the Restoration Team on what the DNR is removing and why.
It’s confusing going from the Jon Pertwee Seasons 7 + 8 Blu-rays, that have retained all of the analogue and telecine noise, then to watch the Davison to McCoy Blu-rays that have removed as good as all of the analogue noise that was present on the dvds – the dvds of which had already been DNR’d to a lower degree.
The dvds do have Mpeg2 codec artefact blocking, but the dvds of the Davison to McCoy era also have a chromatic looking noise especially in darker scenes. The question is, was that noise on the broadcast masters or is it second generation artefacting from the way the tapes were duplicated to digital back in the 80’s to 90’s.
I say that because I’ve also recently compared the newest Paul McGann tv movie release to the 2016 Blu-ray, and there’s a similar level of analogue noise on the source of the 2016 Blu-ray, especially on any dark areas like the blackness of space.
But if the above is the case and the noise was caused by 80s – 90’s archiving technology then it begs the question as to why Season 7 wasn’t given a similar DNR treatment. Did they simply run out of time, or was there just not enough picture detail if DNR were to be used on Season 7, given how poor quality the existing tape footage is of that season as a whole.
Matt L
August 6th, 2026 - 8:13pmSo does anyone think we might get an announcement after circuit breaker is out in August? So basically an September announcement for hopefully Season 16? Thanks
Gordon
August 6th, 2026 - 10:53pmThere is nothing circuit breaker planned next week. Looking at the schedule:
17/8/2026: don’t blink (short story on website)
20/8/2026: doctor who and the three witches (time lord fairy tales short story book)
27/8/2026: Momento Mori (lost in time game)
31/8/2026: the black archives (Blu ray)
3/9/2026: the kaleidoscope (book)
22/9/2026: full circuit (big finish)
24/9/2026: short circuit (big finish)
Next week is a possibility but I am also confident that a Blake’s 7 season 3 announcement with cover reveal extras and release date is pretty imminent though that doesn’t need to wait around for circuit breaker or anything who related. That could be as soon as tomorrow (the last one came on a Friday). After that probably September is your best bet
James
July 30th, 2026 - 3:32pmWell that’s the last Thursday of July gone by and it’s gone 2/3pm….waiting continues lol
ex15
July 30th, 2026 - 3:39pmOh dear, next year it is then?
Missyrules
July 30th, 2026 - 4:14pmIt will come out when it comes out.
Pete X
July 30th, 2026 - 4:36pmAnd if it means less poorly applied AI, then all the better.
Nb7
July 31st, 2026 - 10:48amIt’ll happen when it happens. We’ve been really lucky with the amount of releases within less than the last 10years! It’s amazing! And if there’s a slight gap I can easily live with that as I know more are coming and like every rehearsal far it’ll blow my socks off!
Remember the vhs days? They were deleted very quickly after release. I missed loads of vhs’ because of saving up pocket money to get the ones I really wanted. Now they’re everywhere!
ex15
July 31st, 2026 - 11:28amFor the older original fans, time is not a luxury, especially if health is an issue, so delays are always a worry.
So hopefully the reprocessing doesn’t take too long and we get back on track at some point, I know these things are not a 5 minute job and the team do a marvelous creation, just a shame that everywhere in life there is too much reliance on AI..
Prof Horner
July 31st, 2026 - 12:30pmWe don’t know for sure there is a delay. The fact that the last three releases were announced in July for September/October release. Doesn’t mean a thing. The previous two to them were announced in August for a December release. We also don’t for sure that the next one has been delayed because of the backlash against AI or have I missed something? Still, it is disappointing that we haven’t heard anything on the boxsets and future animations.
Gordon
August 1st, 2026 - 6:33amWell I’ve heard there is a backlog of things to be anounced. Mark ayres said he’s got about 6 soundtracks already delivered for release that has yet to be anounced (they won’t all be coming at once though). Circuit breaker seems to be the main brand marketing focus is going on. I don’t think even that key to time novelisation has even been advertised by the bbc outside of book listings though that could just be me (I’ve stopped buying dwm so not sure if it was mentioned on there). I’m pretty sure things are coming even if it’s not been anounced yet I asked and was told things are “on schedule” though no idea what the timetable for release is. Chris chapman has about 18 unseen documentaries (he says most of them are who)plus he did a reccie for another 3 so there is stuff going on behind the scenes. David Busch seems to know the schedule and in response to someone doommongering on galifrey base saying something has happened he said: “ Nothing has happened – there are many releases in the pipeline. I’ve personally worked on one of them (no, I won’t say which one). Everyone just relax!”. Considering his contributions for the bbc is just animation (dads army, shada and macra terror) I think it’s a safe bet to assume he’s referring to an animation
Matthew Flin
August 1st, 2026 - 9:12amThanks Gordon, that’s much appreciated.
James
August 1st, 2026 - 12:50pmGordon
Glad you’re here on this site. Fountain of knowledge and get to hear more from you then anywhere else. Thought the case was the focus was on Circuit Breaker first then other releases after. Just impatient lol
Gordon
July 27th, 2026 - 7:35pmNice to hear Chris chapman’s keeping himself busy. He’s done a documentary for Anderson entertainment on the secret service called secret service revisited. 63 mins and hosted by Matthew sweet. Was never a huge fan of the show. Probably my least favourite of the Anderson puppet shows but it’s a gap that needs filled plus if Chris is involved I’ve no doubt it will be good,
Matt L
July 27th, 2026 - 11:55pmHi Gordon, have you heard anything more on Season 16 and do you still think at this moment we will get 1 more dr who the collection season this year? Thanks
Babelbro
July 26th, 2026 - 11:58amVery interesting piece via a member of Gallifreybase…
“Mark Ayres pops up occasionally to talk about the sound mixing/editing but he keeps well clear of any talk about the picture quality. Best I can find is this from Steve Roberts, who’s an ex-member of the team.
“For what it’s worth, I’m not a fan of AI remastering and if I was still technical lead on the project we would not be using it. However, it’s well over a decade since I’ve been involved now. I was involved with AI scaling tests with BBC R&D just before I retired from the BBC last year and the consensus of my colleagues was that it wasn’t mature enough to be used. A major factor is that the results of processing video should be absolutely repeatable, but with AI tools the output changed in some respect every time it was re-run.
I also think that the QC process and operators are not yet capable of spotting AI artefacts, but this will undoubtedly improve once their brains have trained. I remember when we bought the first DVNR at TV Centre in the mid-nineties and were so astonished at its ability to remove dirt and grain that were were completely oblivious to the holes appearing in people’s arms, flocks of birds winking out of existence mid-flight etc.” “
Matthew Flin
July 16th, 2026 - 10:18amSomeone on X suggests that there is a rumour going around that the next collection set is being delayed until March 2027, not sure why or if this is true?
Gordon
July 16th, 2026 - 10:41amIt was being discussed over on the Peter Davison season 3 page:
I’ve not heard anything but looking in at roobarbs forum (where the rumour originated) it’s supposedly someone who was at an event that mat Irvine was apart of. Someone “close to things” told them of the supposed date move and “no AI”. It may explain why Lee said in may he was going to do a tease after the tv movie release and has not yet posted it yet. I’m a bit skeptical of it as they don’t have set dates rather tentative ones until everything is finalised. It could be true but I’d be surprised if it would take that length of time to fix ai if that was the case. Restoration isn’t my strong suit in discussion but I would have thought the Ai was added at the end of the restoration process so wouldn’t take that long especially if files were kept at the pre ai point, I suppose it’s possible they are also redediting the bonus features as they do tend to use the new restorations when showing footage on the new docs. Plus another posibility could be they could be going back to 13 and 21. It could also probably help the animations to give them more time and maybe film is fabulous as well. I do hope we get something to fill the gap even if it’s an animation rather than collection set as none of the remaining 60s sets are ready and I don’t think 11 is quite ready either . If it means no more ai id welcome the wait. I’ve still not been able to put myself through rewatching s21 again for the commentaries and production subs like I normally do when I get these sets
Matthew Flin
July 16th, 2026 - 10:46amThanks Gordon, much appreciated.
Prof Horner
July 16th, 2026 - 12:24pmAgain Gordon, I can’t say I have noticed! It would be disappointing if we don’t get another set this year. Maybe we are only going to get one set a year from now on . Which would give more time for animations and hopefully more lost episodes recovery . The problem is of course as I am 63 next Thursday and if they only release a year, I wonder if I will l still be when they release the last one!
Still on the plus side,I have picked up a copy of the Troughton tribute magazine at TG Jones here in leeds.
James
July 18th, 2026 - 6:59pmHas it always been a Thursday announcement?
How likely is it to be no more Collection sets for 2026 Gordon? Any more whispers from the new animation team set up last year?
Jack
July 18th, 2026 - 9:27pmRE James: There’s been 6 Announcements on a Tuesday, 3 on a Wednesday and 10 announcements on Thursdays in total so far. Since Season 9’s announcement on the 26th January 2023, we’ve had a new set announced on a Thursday up to now.
James
July 19th, 2026 - 12:07amThanks Jack
Gordon
July 19th, 2026 - 1:12amAgain I’ve not heard of any delays that would mean we get no more collection sets this year but that doesn’t mean there won’t be. The more I think on this rumoured delay the more it sounds like a friend of a friend type information especially when they have since also mentioned animations for smugglers and massacre coming soon. The fact that paul Hembrey producer of the animations said last year that the massacre wasn’t an imminent one I’m not sure how much I’d put stock in it but we will see. I know some may dismiss what he says but Richard Bignell said in response to it that: “I think you should start getting new sources that haven’t been smoking strange things.” Which suggests to me at least part of it might not be true.
As for animations I’ve not heard anything new. Hard to say when we will get an anouncment as we don’t know when work started on it but I’m completely convinced things are being worked on. It will be anounced when things are ready
I suspect if we don’t hear in terms of anouncments anything by mid October it won’t be till next year till the next collection set or animation
Matt L
July 23rd, 2026 - 7:19pmSo no news today about Season 16 -hopefully we do still get another box set this year – so hopefully there is an announcement in August. Does everyone still think Lee Binding will do a teaser this month or v soon for this box set?
Babelbro
July 9th, 2026 - 1:00amI wonder if the longer delay pending announcement of the next Collection is down to some kind of review into the use of Topaz Ai on the last few sets.
Speaking for myself I’ve certainly talked about this half to death over the last many sets as to why I don’t believe it should be anywhere near something like a final ever physical release range of Classic Who;
There are far more effective non-Ai methods and algorithms and software, some of which completely free to the public, that can upscale 576p footage as accurately as it can and will ever be done.
There’s QTGMC deinterlacing, the very least destructive existing form of creating 50 progressive frames a second, and NNEDI3 upscaling, that when combined with QTGMC can deliver a butter smooth output video free of jagged edges, colour bleeding and colour detail dropout.
I highly, highly recommend watching this video by archivist Zachary Halberd, who perfectly demonstrates both software tools, and helps best explain the preparation of archival video material towards a final editing project.
There’s plenty of good examples of Blu-ray boxsets avoiding Ai; ‘The Sweeney’, ‘Blakes 7’, ‘Only Fools and Horses’, and, of course, the earlier Doctor Who Collection sets.
There have of course been good reasons for denoising footage, recolouring, rebuilding composite shots and even entire sequences from source materials and Doctor Who’s certainly no different;
But all of that said and done, there are perfectly good, up to date, more than adequate non-Ai tools that can be actively used now for future Collections, without resorting to an experimental Ai programme that is literally redrawing detail by looking at random databases of what it *thinks* people and objects should look like, instead of recognizing the nature of the source footage, offering a sensible upscale with zero reimagining, eliminating all/any upscaling artefacts you could typically get by watching the dvds on a 4k tv, and just call it a day.
If the Restoration Team are more than happy to have left all of the SD tape signal banding all over Season 21, then hypothetically why would they object if the higher ups ordered them to stop using Topaz? Because if we the consumers have more or less not complained about the banding, then who on Earth is going to miss all of the screw ups caused by Ai on the last handful of box sets?
I wish I were proven wrong but sadly I think the damage has been done and is financially irreparable on those handful of sets, and maybe there’s just not enough incentive by the BBC to bother calling up the Restoration Team on this issue given the position Doctor Who has been left in recently, but holy moly is the Ai just blatantly bad.
It just isn’t an archival range anymore, it’s a reimagining, or maybe even along the lines of a cheap and awful Ai filter the likes of Disney Plus tend to slap onto early episodes of the Simpsons.
Genuinely, if tomorrow they simply put a social media post out to say “we got it wrong, no more Ai on future Collections” I would go back to pre-ordering them. It’s just such a shame.
Babelbro
July 9th, 2026 - 1:02amZachary Halberd YouTube link here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=g4STqyERKfM
Prof Horner
July 9th, 2026 - 9:06amWell I remember that both season 17 and season 2 where released in December. Both where announced in August I think. So I could be announced today, next week,next month who knows? There doesn’t seem to be any rumors at the moment and no colour tease. Maybe it’s my age but I can’t say I noticed the AI so it hasn’t really spoiled my enjoyment of these sets.
Mr Robert Watkins
July 9th, 2026 - 10:30amSeason 25 standard announcement first I think.
remember we are heading towards the final collection sets, so wouldn’t surprise me if they left bigger gaps.
Gordon
July 9th, 2026 - 10:41amNo delay as far as I’m aware. These get announced as when they are ready and not to some deadline. Could be any number of reasons it hasn’t been revealed yet. Could be that they are waiting for a gap in the circuit breaker schedule to reveal it or there might be an animation announcement or some other product reveal that they want to put out or various other reasons that they may be holding an announcement off. All I know is there is another release (16) coming this year
Also there isn’t really a restoration team and haven’t really been since the dvd range ended. It’s just really Peter Crocker on picture restoration, mark Ayres on sound and Paul Vanezis helps out on the scanning of film meterial.
James
July 9th, 2026 - 11:00amSmall team but they are doing a fantastic job. Who’d had thought we’d be only seven sets (possible eight if include a Wilderness/Legacy years/era set) away from a complete run of Classic Who on Blu-ray. As tech gets better the use of aí will be less noticeable.
Regards to circuit breaker the schedule is as follows
July
23 magazine story
30 audio book
August
4 comic
6 mobile game
17 website game
20 book
27 story
31 blu ray
September
3 bbc novel
22 big finish audio
27 big finish short story
Fingers crossed for another animation this year as well as a Collection set.
This doesn’t include all the Big Finish sets coming out. Fills up the gaps we’re missing for the televised show so loads of content to keep us occupied
COMICshopsDontStand
July 14th, 2026 - 9:10amAre they not waiting for circuit breaker publicity to finish first.
James
July 14th, 2026 - 10:21amIf they do we are looking at an October announcement with a December/january release. Christmas to much of a busy period I feel to be doing releases. Plus got to fit in a bfi press screening event thing.
So we could get a colour tease this month and announcement early august. Then a September bfi and October release.
Prof Horner
July 14th, 2026 - 10:42amAs I said before James , season 17 and 2 were released in December. I think 17 was released on December 20th. So a announcement could be next month or September, if that is the case.
Gordon
July 14th, 2026 - 11:18amPlus we got the Blake’s 7 season 3 cover, trailer and release date anouncment still to fit in somewhere as well. It’s probably out in November like the first 2 so that will probably be coming within the next monthish.
ex15
July 4th, 2026 - 12:31pmAre we likely to see “Spike Milligan’s Pakanstani Dalek sketch” in the Wilderness years box?
Bookcollector
July 4th, 2026 - 12:38pmDoubt it. Two reasons. One it’s from 1975 not the wilderness years. And two it’s not exactly modern sensibilities these days. I imagine it would be problematic for the BBC to include it.
Rob
July 9th, 2026 - 10:31amCan you imagine the reaction? Best leave it off.
Basil Funkenstein
July 3rd, 2026 - 7:10pmHas anyone got a “preferred release order” list of their next top 5 most wanted?
Mine are:
16
11
6
1
5
These 5 seem to make the most sense to me to be the next bunch of boxsets.
Basil Funkenstein
July 3rd, 2026 - 7:16pmAlso, incidentally, unless they somehow make animations quicker and release them wayyyyyyy before their respective season boxsets I can see them moving to doing only 1 boxset a year after season 11 is released. We miiight still get 2 a year but they’d really be pressed for time.
I’m totally okay with getting 1 set a year if that means those seasons will be as complete as possible.
I don’t personally buy the animations but it still bothers me that season 2 has those two missing episodes from The Crusade. I hope they either re-release season 2 one day with Crusade complete OR the release the animation of Crusade with disc artwork that matches the season 2 collection set so the disc can be swapped out.
If getting 1 set a year means we don’t get a repeat of the Crusade situation on season 1, 3, 4, 5, and 6 I’ll be more than happy.
Scotel
July 3rd, 2026 - 8:09pmAs they have said repeatedly over the years, they are not waiting for the animations. They’ll take what’s there (and if all the plans the animation team had are going ahead then the Collection team will know exactly which animations are coming in the next few years).
Beyond the courtesy (and potential backlash) of not dropping a set right on top of a corresponding animation I can’t see a slow down. People are already having a meltdown because they haven’t heard any animation news, slowing down the Collections would have doomsayers screaming from the rooftops that it’s all been axed.
Gordon
July 4th, 2026 - 8:54amThere is no guarantee that they will all be animated even with this new deal. Crusade in 2022 had already been passed for animation due to the complexities in character, set, and locations count so it made sense to put out season 2 in 2022 without an animated crusade. If they had skipped season 2 and put something else complete in that slot we in July 2026 would be just away to get the last colour season and we are no closer to getting the crusade animated now than we were in 2026. Personally I think there will be some animations but id expect the animation range outlast the collections regardless of how slow the collections go. It’s not just having the animations ready for the collection sets they need to recoup costs individually and a timeframe of exclusivity first before they go near the collection sets. I was hopeful that there was a posibility of getting the majority of the remaining ones animated for the collection range but as time rumbles on that becomes less and less of a reality. I expect there will be some animations done in time but not all. The animation range is its own thing and I expect will continue long after the collections are done. There is also no guarantee that there won’t be any hiatuses with them if there is a funding or some other issue that comes up. I suspect the likes of myth makers, smugglers, wheel and space pirates will get done in time for the collection range. Massacre and highlanders I’m kind of 50/50 on. Marco Polo and masterplan are both going to be really tall orders considering the enormous amounts of work that would be required.
Gordon
July 4th, 2026 - 8:55am“we are no closer to getting the crusade animated now than we were in 2022”
Prof Horner
July 4th, 2026 - 9:05amDo think Gordon they will prioritize stories with no visual representation. Like The Myth Makers and The Massacre ?
Gordon
July 4th, 2026 - 9:48amI’d expect massacre to be a very challenging one. I wouldn’t expect that one soon. If they are going in terms of easiest to most difficult it’s
Mission by a long shot as it’s only one ep and it’s a smallish cast (with the exception of the delegates scene) but it’s tied too closely to masterplan.
Wheel
Myth makers
smugglers
Space pirates
These 4 are roughly in the same level of difficulty though for every one that may be a bit easier in one aspect but has something else that equals itself out in other ways
Massacre and highlanders both have their different difficult challenges
Marco Polo is a 7 ep location hoping epic with a grand cast of characters
Crusade has more cast costumes and locations and moving parts than Marco making it more difficult despite only being 2 eps
Masterplan is by far the most difficult one to do.
bookcollector
July 4th, 2026 - 11:19amI do think we may have to accept that certain stories may never be animated. Marco, Crusade and master plan are ones I’d love animated but it may just be too much in terms of budgets versus sales for them to ultimately be viable.some people might say well do the easy ones then take the time to do the longer, harder ones. But time equals money. The longer the animation process the more it will cost in terms of production. I don’t think it’s ever been stated by the various animation teams that the plan was to animate every episode. I think it’s an ideal (and one fans talk of) rather than a practical reality. I agree with Gordon that certain stories are likely despite all stories having their own individual issues. Mission would be the easiest to a degree but would it be commercially viable to be released on it’s own? No doctor would definitely be an issue to some buyers. Massacre and highlanders have complications in terms of complexity in costumes that will make animation difficult without comprise. The remaining four should be achievable and even if we only get those that’s still brilliant. I feel sometimes who fans only focus on the negative, as in, we haven’t got these, instead of thinking how brilliant it is we have got what we have.
The recently returned master plan episodes exemplified this. So many comments about why didn’t they find this episode instead of focusing on the the fact that any returned episode is something to celebrate.
ex15
July 4th, 2026 - 12:40pm16 is next, 11 in the spring 2027, hopefully 6 autumn 2027, then 1 in 2028, that would be my preference. Perhaps the Wilderness Years next if it helps 3 & 4?
James
July 4th, 2026 - 1:29pmI hope when they use the same style when it comes to Myth/DMP/Massacre. If they did DMP they have to do mission at the same time. As said above it wouldn’t make sense to animate it and release on its own. Would only make sense to release it on Myth Makers animation.
Could they not work on multiple stories at the same time? Having the same main cast.
Myth Makers and Massacre
Smugglers and Highlanders
Wheel in Space and Space Pirates
These being the easiest/shortest/uncomplicated stories
The Crusade and Marco Polo
Mission to the Unknown and Dalek Master Plan
These being the longest/hardest/more complex stories
When it comes to the season 3 I’d be ok (not happy but ok) if they had massacre and myth animations, left dmp but added the unclan version of mission as an extra. Then animate it for its own release along with dmp after. See it being a Lost in Time size dvd release.
Also if they did multiple animations running alongside another be great to have double releases. Could have the 2 box set releases. Historical set for Myth and Massacre and Space set for Wheel and Pirates.
bookcollector
July 4th, 2026 - 5:58pmThe highlanders is not a straightforward story to animate. The costumes make it complex as tartan is very difficult to animate and keep continuity right. Plus it has a reasonably large cast and multiple locations.
Gordon
July 5th, 2026 - 9:38amThe animations aren’t cheap. They are 6 figure sums James. Not a chance they would do double packs as it wouldn’t be maximising its sales potential. It will be individual releases.
Working on multiple animations at once is also a good idea in theory but you need twice the workforce there to make it a reality. As things stand they are already pushed to get an animation done in time. Heck toymaker wasn’t done in time for its bfi screening. Just ask Rob Ritchie about the insane crunch’s he done to get it done on time. Hopefully Paul Henbury’s new animation studio that he’s set up may change things
The Ghost Monument
July 9th, 2026 - 12:47pm@Basil Funkenstein, Why would you not buy the animations? How are you meant to watch them (and support them!) if you don’t buy them?
Basil Funkenstein
July 11th, 2026 - 12:17am@TheGhostMonument
I bought the whole bunch for a while, a good long while, but for personal reasons I decided to just buy the collection sets.
If the collection range finishes and there are still animations released after then I’ll definitely get those as well, however I’d personally prefer everything to be in the collection range, i.e. re-released seasons or swappable discs etc.
Rob
July 11th, 2026 - 9:43amA lot of fans stopped buying animations when the quality dipped, so we are looking at Fury, Web 3 (that was a killer), G4, Abominable and the Underwater Menace
James
July 11th, 2026 - 11:08amGhost monument
Can see why some fans don’t buy everything that’s released. If they are going to be included in the Collection sets some may see it as buying the same thing twice. Whereas most of the collection sets are the original dvd but upscale. Where as the animations are a straight copy.
Personally I’ve watched them on iplayer then brought the, for my shelf when the prices have dropped a bit. Or lucky enough to find on market place when sold or part of job lot sales.
Was lucky enough to get the last Tom set for £15 off market place.
Amypondfan
July 11th, 2026 - 12:40pmI buy the animations and I think sales for all of them have been good. I’ve not had any issues with the newer style ones. Loved g4. Fury, abominable and underwater were all great. Yes web 3 was weak but it was a tester for that style of animation. I don’t buy the collection sets, too many issues and I’ve bought these stories on vhs and dvd so it’s simply a costs issue for me. I’ve got the dvds and I’m happy with that.
Gordon
July 12th, 2026 - 4:24amI don’t think sales of the animations have dropped off as much as people think. The savages was the 2nd biggest selling tv show on disc of 2025 (just behind house of the dragon) and since about fury they pretty much always topped or near the top of the charts the week of release
Released 16 March 2020: The faceless ones: dvd: 12 blu ray: 1 video (combined): 1 tv show on video: 1 end of year: info Not available
Released 27 July 2020: The power of the daleks SE: dvd: 21 blu ray: 2 video: 1 tv show on video: 1 end of year chart: info not available
Released 14 September 2020: The fury from the deep: dvd: 1 Blu ray: 1 video: 1 tv show on video: 1 end of year chart: info not available
Released 16 August 2021: The web of fear SE: dvd: 4 blu ray: 1 video: 3 tv show on video: 1 end of year chart: info not available
Released 27 September 2021: The evil of the daleks: dvd: 1 Blu ray: 1 video: 1 tv shows on video: 1 end of year chart: 74
Released 15 November 2021: Galaxy 4: dvd: 4 Blu ray: 2 video: 3 tv shows on video: 1 end of year chart: info not available
Released 5 September 2022: The abominable snowmen: dvd: 2 blu ray: 1 video: 1 tv shows on video: 1 end of year chart 66
Released13 November 2023: The underwater menace: dvd: 4 blu ray: 1 video: 3 tv show on video: 1 end of year chart: 97
Released 10 June 2024: The celestial toymaker: dvd: 1 blu ray: 1 video: 1 tv show on video: 1 end of year chart: 55
Released 24 march 2025: The savages: dvd dvd: 2 blu ray: 1 video: 1 tv show on video: 1 end of year chart: 49
I get that physical media sales have dropped but considering a niche animation of a missing 60s tv show direct to disc release can hit the top 50 and considering the competition I think that’s pretty good going
bookcollector
July 12th, 2026 - 1:00pmLike you say Gordon considering these are very much a niche market even hitting the top 100 is impressive let alone the top fifty. I’ve enjoyed the animations they really help to tell the stories and bear in mind that say in the case of underwater for example, some of these are not exactly the greatest doctor who stories written! The thing I find odd is that often the same people who complain about the animation likenesses are the same people who praise the tardis timegirl wheel animation which, be honest, rarely captures the actors correctly. It’s great but the leads don’t look like the actors most of the time. But the animations are not definitive versions they are approximations designed to give life to lost episodes.
bookcollector
July 12th, 2026 - 1:06pmPosted before I finished! The animations are what they are. Versions of the stories. None have been truly accurate 100% of the time . The newer ones focus on telling the story visually in a more complete way. Faceless for instance massively improves the sets and locations. What is obviously a small studio space on the original becomes a full sized warehouse or the full airport concourse. I loved fury and abominable opted to show the correct ethnicity of the characters which makes sense and looks good over the full animation. I really hope we get an announcement soon, perhaps in the next few months for a late 2026 or early 2027 release of new animations. Don’t even care what, just a new one!
Professor Flibble
July 12th, 2026 - 4:09pmI do think Underwater Menace is the worst animation because it’s not compatible with the existing episodes at all. And it looks incredibly flat. Even the other animations there’s visual continuity with the original production, but Underwater Menace, they completely changed the set designs and cast seemingly for the sake of doing it. And what was with those TARDIS doors? While they’ve been shifting the goalposts away from just filling the gaps in, they still need to consider that a good chunk of their audience, probably most tbh, are going to be watching the animated missing episodes with the existing ones. It was never an issue with the other ones so what went wrong with Underwater Menace?
Professor Flibble
July 12th, 2026 - 4:19pmAlso, people praise the TARDIS Timegirl stuff because it actually looks like the existing episodes. I personally think that Wheel in Space animation is good, needs a lot of polishing in different areas, but it’d be my ideal way to fill the gaps in 1960s Doctor Who, to do semi-photorealistic 3D animations like that. One of the only issues I have with that particular animation is the oil painting effect added to the characters, which wasn’t present on the other TARDIS Timegirl animations. And I’m not sure if it followed the camera scripts. I like a lot of the 2D animations in their own way, given I don’t have any conventional Doctor Who animated stories I can watch. But if we’re being totally objective, what TARDIS Timegirl’s doing is pretty much the way to go.
Gordon
July 12th, 2026 - 4:39pmTotally in agreement bookcollector. They are pretty much their own things at this point. They stopped being gap fillers and are pretty much their own versions at this point. since 2016 they are pretty much their own productions.
It’s no secret I want as many animated stories as possible released. It’s not just the animations I buy them for. It’s the recons, commentaries, the bonus documentaries and features, the steelbook and artwork. It’s the full package. Are the animations perfect? No far from it but it’s better treated than 99 percent of other missing shows which get nothing. Outside of dads army there really isn’t any other shows that get the treatment the missing eps does.
Professor Flibble
July 12th, 2026 - 4:54pmThere’s a point though where the changes are just totally arbitrary.
bookcollector
July 12th, 2026 - 5:19pmFunny thing is prof when watched galaxy 4 and faceless recently I opted for watching the full colour animations in order to maintain continuity of image. If I want to watch the original episodes I’ll watch them with the black and white version or more likely with the recon. The differences don’t particularly bother me. Like Gordon I buy these for the animation, the recon and the extras. You have the original version there as a recon. The animation is its own thing. I prefer the moving image of the animation to the recon but I will rewatch galaxy soon as a recon to see the original version.
Professor Flibble
July 12th, 2026 - 5:36pmWhat I’m saying is while you can’t please absolutely everyone, changing the designs of the entire cast and the design of every set is basically cutting your nose off to spite your face. The only thing I hear said about it is “well they’re doing their own thing” but every other animation adhered to the costume and set designs, and the actors’ faces. Faceless Ones, Evil of the Daleks, even Galaxy 4 to a point kinda works whichever way you choose to watch it. Underwater Menace forces you to watch in one way otherwise it’ll look really confusing. Why was Underwater Menace any different? What was the rationale? It genuinely confuses me. What was gained from removing Thous’ eyebrows?
The Ghost Monument
July 12th, 2026 - 5:58pmAnd I buy them because they provide a way to actually watch the stories rather than listening to them. Everything beyond that is simply a bonus; it is not the reason that they are bought (especially when I don’t even care for most of it anyway!).
Given the choice between listening to a story and watching a story, I will always choose to watch it. These animations make that possible.
The relative qualities of any individual animation are also equally irrelevant; any visual representation is better than none at all!
The Collection sets are a separate thing entirely. I never feel like I’m “double dipping” on those, especially given that every single BD release has included something I have an actual interest in watching that was not on the DVDs, even for seasons where I don’t enjoy the core product of the stories that much! (If anything, I almost wish I’d started collecting the Classic series a few years later and jumped directly to the BD versions!)
The Ghost Monument
July 12th, 2026 - 6:01pmAnd I buy them because they provide a way to actually watch the stories rather than listening to them. Everything beyond that is simply a bonus; it is not the reason that they are bought (especially when I don’t even care for most of it anyway!).
Given the choice between listening to a story and watching a story, I will always choose to watch it. These animations make that possible.
The relative qualities of any individual animation are also equally irrelevant; any visual representation is better than none at all!
The Collection sets are a separate thing entirely. I never feel like I’m “double dipping” on those, especially given that every single BD release has included something I have an actual interest in watching that was not on the DVDs, even for seasons where I don’t enjoy the core product of the stories that much! (If anything, I almost wish I’d started collecting the Classic series a few years later and jumped directly to the BD versions rather than spending so much time and money collecting the DVDs first just to upgrade later!)
bookcollector
July 12th, 2026 - 7:18pmThous eyebrows were ridiculous so why not remove that design element? As has been said the animations post 2016 are not meant to be recreations of the missing episodes. But the animations pre 2016 weren’t meticulous recreations either. The sets were more accurate but as we’ve said the newer ones are about expanding on the original. Look at tenth planet 4 as well and the scenes that do exist don’t match the animation. Its an interpretation. The first time I watched macra I was disappointed by the changes but subsequent releases and rewatches of macra have led me to enjoy the changes. There is no rule to say you have to watch the original episodes with the animation. If I want to watch the full unedited macra I can. Its there on the recon. I’ve watched it a few times but I like ghost monument prefer the moving images of the animations even over the reconstruction. I suffer with a concentration problem that means I can’t little to audio stories or radio comedy anymore. I had to stop listening to big finish in 2012 when I realised I just couldn’t follow the story anymore. I was very pleased to get reconstructions of the missing episodes as I can follow them better than the audios but the animations mean I can easily follow the plots (or lack of them lol) without having to take breaks between episodes. I understand you want them to match up with existing material but that’s what the reconstruction is for. I’m intending to evil of the daleks soon and I’m watching the full colour 7 episode version.
Gordon
July 12th, 2026 - 7:20pmWhat has to be said which hasn’t already about underwater menace is that the decision to enlargen the sets were down to being influenced by the script and novelisation. They were trying to be faithful to the original writers intention. Personally I think fury and abominable are far less faithful than menace. They take further twists from what was on screen than menace does.
It’s not a case of moving of the goalposts it’s more of a case there was nothing scorable from where the goalposts were that it was a necessity to move them. Invasion sold well but not enough to justify cosgrove hall doing power. When we next got an animation reign of terror by all accounts tanked badly enough that 13 years later we haven’t had another historical. Ice warriors faired better but despite being the most faithful of all the animations released so far got called dull and boring and captain pugwashy plus the animation studio went to the wall shortly after. Tenth planet did well but that may have had to do with the legendary status more than the animation. Moonbase was well received though some called it cheap looking however didn’t sell well partly to some believing the real thing was soon getting announced. Moving to full blown animations was a necessity for the range to move forward.
The underwater menace isn’t the worst animation by any stretch but it’s very basic by the numbers and Im convinced it’s partly to do with budgets being slashed which led to its flat looking production as well as . It was the first post bbc America animation after all. I also feel with some animators going and changing there may have been some needing time to find their feet.
Gordon
July 12th, 2026 - 7:27pmAlso I want to add I find the animations (or at least the recent ones) are more adaptations than recreations using scripts, sometimes telesnaps and footage. As with any adaptation from one medium to another changes are sometimes needed. Sometimes what works in live action doesn’t work as such in animation and vice versa. No matter how close the adaptation is there will nearly always be changes to fit
bookcollector
July 12th, 2026 - 7:41pmUnderwater is definitely influenced by the novelisation and the original scripts. Abominable is very different but it works. As you say Gordon these are different mediums and what works on screen in a life action production can be very hard to translate to animation. And yes the budgets are tighter now so simplicity is cheap. But simplicity also still works. I enjoyed the savages animation even though it is very simple. One of my favourite bits in the savages is the moment on the soundtrack you hear a savage grunt/cry out. The animation opts for a grunt of effort as a spear is thrown. The audio narration bizarrely opts for a savage somehow managing to impale himself on his own spear! Its all about choices and interpretation. One person hears athletic effort another hears an ejit somehow stabbing himself with his own spear.
Professor Flibble
July 12th, 2026 - 8:12pmIt’s 60s Doctor Who, bookcollector, most of it looks ridiculous. I asked why remove Thous’ eyebrows, could’ve also asked why make his eyes white, why make him bald, why make him look nothing like the actor did? What I’m saying is other animations might’ve had an approach of “Oh let’s add an easter egg or make the set a bit bigger,” the shot composition isn’t accurate to the telesnaps etc, but there’s a huge difference between that and just going “eh whatever” and making it look nothing like the original did. I don’t understand this point about the animations being more adaptations, no they’re still generally trying to look enough like the original, it’s only Underwater Menace and arguably Celestial Toymaker that’ve really deviated that much and even then at least Celestial Toymaker is more of a stylistic deviation than outright changing what the characters look like. Faceless Ones might not match the telesnaps to the dot or anything but all I need from it is exactly what it did, the characters and sets look exactly like they did, but the production value’s just been kicked up a notch so the Chameleon spaceship doesn’t look like a model, and the lighting is more cinematic. Otherwise you can watch it totally in colour widescreen or black and white 4:3 with the existing episodes and both work just as fine.
Gordon, my issue with Underwater Menace is it’s not just making the sets bigger like Fury did, I don’t even have much of an issue with that on its own. The issue is the sets, characters and costumes bear absolutely no resemblance to the original at all. It did shift the goalposts. Macra Terror is pointed to as one of the biggest examples of an animation deviating from the original but while yeah the colony looked much bigger, every character still looked exactly as they originally did. The way they do the animations I don’t need them to match the telesnaps or camera scripts or anything but I’d at least like them to try and *look* enough like the original production.
I only have minor qualms with the other ones really, it really is just Underwater Menace I have a major issue with if it’s the only way I’m ever gonna watch it in a fully moving state.
Rob
July 13th, 2026 - 9:08amWho can hit a top ten or become a best seller on Amazon as overall physical releases are dropping off and it still has a strong fan base. However most friends who are fans I know stopped with the animations when the decline in quality. I only know of one other friend who buys them apart from Celestial, which he avoided after the Web3 animation. I know these are done on a budget, but the ones farmed out to the overseas team in India are poor. Long arms, wide shots which are empty and characters looks changed.
I am a fool and pre-order them all anyway, same for the AI collection sets.
Neill Stringer
July 2nd, 2026 - 1:41pmWill we getting an announcement this month for the next Collection set?
Rob
July 2nd, 2026 - 1:47pmNothing this week by the look of it
Nb7
July 3rd, 2026 - 4:40pmShould be this month but no tease from Binding yet!
Let’s get this new fx version of Kroll!
Basil Funkenstein
July 3rd, 2026 - 7:07pmI could obviously be wrong but I personally think Lee won’t release a colour tease this time and just wait for the official announcement. Unless he has decided to throw a curveball, and do seasons 11 and 16 as different colours to the ones we’re expecting, I think it’d make it too obvious if it were either blue or lilac if he HAS decided to use those colour pallets for those 2 seasons.
I’m guessing an announcement will be either the 2nd or 3rd week of July if we’re getting a September/October release.
I’m genuinely hoping we get season 16 next. Then I can FINALLY watch all of Tom Baker’s era.
Gordon
July 4th, 2026 - 7:24amLee has already said back in may that we are getting one. Could be a later reveal than the usual July reveal
Rob
July 13th, 2026 - 9:09amHopefully Thurs this week for some announcement for animations or collections, I wonder if they are giving it a breather with Circuit Breaker in the headlights.
Lewis Frisby
June 26th, 2026 - 7:01pmQuick question I fancy watching resurrection of the Daleks on the s21 boxset is the new special effects on the 4 part or the 2 part version
daz
June 26th, 2026 - 7:07pm2 part
Lewis Frisby
June 26th, 2026 - 7:09pmCheers
Matt L
June 27th, 2026 - 4:03pmWhen does everyone think we will get a “tease” from Lee Binding for the next dr who box and does everyone still think we should get a trailer for it in July or August?
Rob
June 27th, 2026 - 4:07pmA picture online of the Tardis and Anneke on a beach by a cave, must be for a Smugglers documentary.
Bookcollector
June 27th, 2026 - 4:34pmAs has been said, a documentary doesn’t mean smugglers is imminent. The Myth makers documentary was filmed in 2024.
Gordon
June 28th, 2026 - 4:47amThat’s not a surprise considering there was a local newsletter saying there would be filming in the area this month. I know Toby was filming something on Thursday and considering he did a video with Anneke on his Patreon celebrating 60 years of polly I assumed it was for the smugglers.
I can’t think there is much locations left to cover at this point. Maybe Frensham Common in the highlanders and the pond for the model sequences in the myth makers but most of the locations in 1/3/4/5/6/11/16 are either covered or maybe tricky getting anybody to film there
Prowl1701
June 28th, 2026 - 6:17amSurprised we haven’t gotten a color tease for the next boxset from Lee Binding yet.
Prof Horner
June 28th, 2026 - 2:34pmWell Film is fabulous have certainly changed the game as far as future classic series releases as are concerned. It’s far more likely that The Smugglers doc is for a future animation release, but if the story turns up a private collection, it could be for that.
As far as the next collection set , we usually get announcement in July for the autumn release. As the announcements are usually announced on a Thursday and my birthday falls on a Thursday the 23rd of next month, it could be announced on my birthday!how cool would that be! I think we may get a colour tease this week.
Scotel
June 28th, 2026 - 6:44pmA complete story has never turned up in a private collection and nothing Film is Fabulous has found has changed that fact.
Matthew Flin
June 28th, 2026 - 8:10pmI think they announced the Season 13 boxset at the beginning of July last year, hopefully it will be the same with the Season 16 announcement.
Prof Horner
June 28th, 2026 - 8:28pmBut that doesn’t mean there isn’t one. Just because something hasn’t happened yet, doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Four part stories may exist in private collections. Film is fabulous may turn a lot of missing episodes, then again they may turn up only a few. We will have to see. All I know is they have turned up two cracking episodes.and I am grateful for that.
bookcollector
June 28th, 2026 - 9:17pmI’m all for optimism but I do feel people are getting carried away a bit. There seems to be this feeling that film is going to find anything and everything! Masterplan animation? Just wait until film finds the remaining 7 episodes. Smugglers animation? Surely film has found it. Optimism is great but it must be tempered by reality. As scotel says no full story has been found in the hands of a collector yet, and it’s possible, yes it’s possible, but it’s also unlikely. Personally I’d love more returned episodes but I’m not going to assume anything has been returned until we can actually watch it.
I remember back when tenth planet was being released on dvd. There were rumours of finds including the oft repeated 90 episodes returned that the BBC were “hiding from fans” and someone, the same poster as the 90 episodes story insisted that the tenth planet dvd wasn’t going to have an animated episode because episode 4 had definitely, categorically been found and it was going to be a double release with the returned power of the daleks episodes. All complete nonsense but people were so excited and no matter how many others tried to warn them they insisted on believing the nonsense. There were many devastated comments after tenth planet came out.
I also remember when the enemy and Web episodes were found and the rumours before the announcement. I was shocked when fans said they putting in freedom of information acts to the BBC demanding they tell them what had been found and again it was because of those ridiculous 90 episodes rumours were flying around again.
So once again I say, yes be excited by possible returns but don’t assume episodes have been found. Film can only find what exists in collections collectors are willing to return. Add to that they don’t actively hunt for doctor who it’s just what someone might have. And remember this, the chances of every episode existing is remote. Some episodes will be genuinely lost forever. I’ll be very happy when we get animation announcements and if we get returned episodes as well then fantastic. Ive seen comments like im not getting animations now I’ll wait for film to find the original episodes but the chances of the episodes being returned is very slim so I’ll be content with animations.
Some of you may think this is a very negative comment but frankly I’m just urging people to manage their expectations as I feel many people will be in for a disappointment when animations are announced over returns.
Gordon
June 28th, 2026 - 10:07pmBookcollector You are apsolutely spot on with people managing expectations. In my opinion they wouldn’t film extras for a recovered story till the recovery is anounced so it could be kept under wraps as much as possible till the time is right. This is why I’m more thinking it’s an animation or collection feature. People saying they ain’t buying animations as they are expecting a missing eps recovery has an aura of history repeating its self. I remember people being adamant and refused to buy the animated moonbase as it was just a contractual release and the bbc was gonna double dip and release it again with recovered eps. Shock horror it didn’t happen.
bookcollector
June 28th, 2026 - 10:08pmOh and prof i agree about the masterplan episodes. Such a joy to watch them.
Prof Horner
June 22nd, 2026 - 10:32amI starting to wonder wether season 6 will be released without The Space Pirates. If as I hope season 6 will be released in the autumn of next year, we are running out of time for a animation to be included on season 6 boxset. They will have to give it a stand alone release first. Even if we get it this year it’s only going to be less than a year between stand alone release and inclusion on season 6. Question is would you buy the stand alone if it will be on the boxset only months later.
Sad to hear the passing of David Daker at the end of April. Great in The Time Warrior and possibly played the the most tragic character in Who history in The Nightmare of Eden . RIP David.
James
June 22nd, 2026 - 11:24amDidn’t someone mention (maybe Gordon) that the animation releases will be shorter periods after standalone release before they’re added to boxsets or iPlayer?
Currently roughly 18 months but will be shorter
Scotel
June 22nd, 2026 - 11:48amI’m not aware of anything having been said beyond pure speculation.
The one thing we can say is that if the animation team got the new contract structure they were pushing for then the next few animations are locked in and the Collection team will know what’s coming and when. If Season 6 is coming first then we’re either getting The Space Pirates next or it’s not on their immediate lineup.
MrRobert Watkins
June 27th, 2026 - 4:08pmA picture online of the Tardis and Anneke on a beach by a cave, must be for a Smugglers documentary.
Gordon
June 20th, 2026 - 6:26pmJust seen this on gallifrey base. Apparently it was a local newsletter:
FRIENDS Of
STRUẠN
& St GRADE
DR WHO AND THE SMUGGLERS:
FILMING AT ST GRADE
We have some exciting news about filming at St Grade this month. A BBC documentary series is being made about early episodes of Dr Who. One of these was filmed at St Grade in 1966, as part of a Dr Who story
called The Smugglers’,
and the documentary will be reminiscing
about this episode. We are looking for anybody in the area who remembers the filming at St Grade in 1966, or who remembers seeing the episode.
Prof Horner
June 20th, 2026 - 7:25pmLet’s hope this is for a Smugglers animation.or even better a missing episodes recovery. Either the way , let’s hope for some positive news soon.
Related news , I understand that Anneke Wills is making her final public appearance at a Talking Pictures event in September before retiring.
Auton
June 20th, 2026 - 7:26pmGreat news! Would have thought they would have already banked something like this
SV7
June 20th, 2026 - 10:37pmThank you so much for sharing this. Fingers crossed this is for an animation!
James
June 21st, 2026 - 12:18amSo could we be looking at a smugglers animation release in the winter and maybe S4 box set late next year?
bookcollector
June 21st, 2026 - 12:35amWould love the smugglers animated it’s a story i have always enjoyed. First from the target book then from the audio version. But an animation would really help bring it to life.
Prowl 1701
June 21st, 2026 - 6:15amLove The Smugglers, the novelization is a great read, and it’s one of my favorite telesnap recons to watch as well. Like many, I’d love an animation of it. Season 4 is my favorite 60’s season of Who after all.
Gordon
June 21st, 2026 - 6:24amI doubt it’s for a recovery due to how they handled the 2 masterplan eps and I’ve heard that even if a full story from FIF was recovered it would go directly on iPlayer before any sort of physical release. Could be for a release that is years away. Worth noting the myth makers making of was recorded in 2024 so doesn’t necessarily mean it’s next. I do think it will get animated even if it’s not next. I’ve been told the next black and white season is expected to be 6 so it could be for an animated release. It could also easily fit on the season 4 set whenever that comes then an animated release later if an animation release isn’t imminent or vice versa.
Speaking of season 6 Paul revealed recently when discussing the possibility of them working on the newly recovered masterplan eps for iPlayer he mentioned that it worked out that R3store did it as they were already busy scanning other things for the black and white box sets at the time and referenced the surviving eps of the invasion as well as other eps getting scanned (2, 5 and 10 of masterplan, war machines and “others” were mentioned)
Duncan
June 21st, 2026 - 3:21pmThe Smugglers ? Yes, please ! Great if the original prints have turned up but Ill be happy with an animation. I listened to the audiobook a few weeks ago, and really enjoyed it. This story deserves more attention imo.
bookcollector
June 21st, 2026 - 9:41pmAs Gordon points out this doesn’t actually mean anything is imminent. Talk of returned episodes is very premature it’s more likely to be an animation but as to when is the question. I think we may get an animation announced within the next few months, possibly by September but it’s more likely to be myth makers or space pirates. I feel expectations need to be managed a little. Personally I will be happy with whatever story has been animated first. Doesn’t matter to me which it is as long as we get one!
Trebor
June 22nd, 2026 - 9:10amI posted that on GB, as a poster called Greg shared it on Facebook.
I will say that I was told about the DMP returns before the announcement, along with four other episodes. However the four others were NOT the duplicates found, but a complete missing Hartnell story. So I wait and see if this happens.
I do believe there are more to come this year.
Prof Horner
June 22nd, 2026 - 10:40amWell we will see wether this is true or just wishful thinking. Personally I’m want some Troughon. I certainly think there more to come. Film is Fabulous won’t behave in the same way Philip Morris behaved . if he had nothing instead of wind blowing in the right direction nonsense. I trust film is Fabulous far more than Morris.
Prof Horner
June 22nd, 2026 - 10:41amShould have read, if he had said nothing.
Nb7
June 10th, 2026 - 7:21pmSo, I didn’t know where to post this, but as there’s a really nice little community on here, it felt it right.
I first caught Who at the tail end of the original run, that was my introduction and for those few weeks and months it gripped me. Then nothing.
Every now and again we would visit a video shop and buy Who videos, I wore out the Fenric tape! And then nothing.
Paul McGann is THE Doctor. Bought more videos, saw the tv movie then nothing.
We moved house in 2003 and found my old Who videos, then I became the proper fan, watched everyone and bought more. And that’s how it was.
Then it was due to come back in 2005!
It’s been up and down ever since (more ups) but I’ve always loved the show… the imagination, the regenerations, the stories.
My love for that show, which has also shaped me into trying to be a better, thoughtful, respectful and happy person, will never die.
Where ever its future is, I can guarantee it will return, one day, not tomorrow, next week, next year or maybe even the next 10 years, but it will return.
bookcollector
June 10th, 2026 - 8:54pmI have memories of small bits of the green death (I was 3) then I remember alpha centauri from the monster of pelodon (but sadly and annoyingly I have no memories of the ice warriors) then I clearly remember from episode 6 of the planet of the spiders all the way through to episode 3 of survival. I loved the 1996 mcgann movie and I’ve enjoyed new who from 2005 up till the end of Jodie’s era. I’ve struggled a bit with Russell’s return but have enjoyed some stories. Its had a profound effect on my life. Helping me through depression and life in general. I’ve lifelong friends because of this show. Even met my partner because of it. She likes classic, smith and jodie. Our daughter loves it all. Cheers who, you’ve been a pal.
Gordon
June 10th, 2026 - 11:48pmWhat a lovely posts guys. The show has been there in more than a few times in the past 20 plus since 2005 when I’ve been down or low. Girlfriend break ups, family loss, depression and other sad times. It’s helped me taking my mind of things a lot. Admitedly it’s not always been on the same level of love for it as when it was in prime but there is still feeling there.
I do have friends that are who fans but I as I have other interests they are also into like films and music as well as gigs.
I’ve enjoyed some of rtd 2 era stories however both finales left a bitter taste in my mouth and that isn’t something that is just there for that era. Chibnel era feels similar with their finale’s so it’s not just a rtd 2 problem.
After how the last ep ended I’m actually ok where it currently stops for a couple of years. Gives the bbc time to regroup, figure on what went on and go and come back hopefully stronger better refreshed and renewed. Yeah it’s a little sad that doctor who is going away for a bit but it’s not dead. It’s out to competitive tender and I’m hopeful it will get another production company doing it and eventually will be back.
As much as I have love for the main show it was the dvd releases that really cermented my love my show. In 2005 I was playing catch up and by 2008 I was playing the waiting game sometimes not knowing what the next release going up for pre order. Going forward my doctor who focus will be on the collection and animations. I know I have had my issues for the last couple of sets but I still think in terms of bonus features the collection range is one of the most fantastic and value for money for the bonus features. Plus there are also other shows movies and music that I’m into. I’m not going to focus on the sadness and being mopey at it being gone but rather other things that makes me happy.
bookcollector
June 11th, 2026 - 12:33amThat’s one of the differences this time Gordon. When it ended originally we had so little material. Now I have all of the stories available to watch. But I also have hundreds of movies as I’m a big film fan. I’ve hundreds of music cds as I’m (an old-fashioned) music fan. My latest cd is out tomorrow (tarja, a Finnish opera-metal star) I’ve a wide range of interests including obviously a huge book collection of which who is only a part. As you say Gordon it’s sad but this time round we have lots to keep us occupied
Gordon
June 11th, 2026 - 2:10amAgreed. The doctor who world is so much bigger now than it was 36 years ago last time round plus it’s way more easier and accessable. Previously you had to be made aware of things being released and getting hold of things from independent companies etc may involve sending away postal orders and cheques and waiting sometimes weeks to get things back. Now it’s all easily found out and viewable in seconds as it’s easily downloadable or put on YouTube. It’s all a fingertip away The fan creator community will play a good part going forward especially with how talented some of them are
Oh I know of tarja. Was a fan back from when she was in nightwish. I can’t say I’ve completely kept up with her solo career but I did like listening to her what lies beneath and colours in the dark albums. Even saw her live in 2016 as she was playing a festival I went to.
Prof Horner
June 11th, 2026 - 9:26amWell my earliest memory of the series was season 6 and early Pertwee seasons terrified me . I remember how disappointed I felt when the special was cancelled back in 1993 . It feels different this time. The truth is I don’t care. Is that sad.Come on gives us colour tease for the next season boxset.
Alydon2007
June 11th, 2026 - 10:07amCrikey… I feel old…
I was initially turned on to the series through a fascination with Dalek rolykins on a very early family holiday, and I first started watching halfway though THE WEB PLANET, though I was so young I wasn’t always sure what was happening. My earliest memories are pretty vague for Hartnell, clearer for Troughton (I was convinced that the Krotons were actually Trods from TVComic), but it was the Pertwee era when I actually started following the stories and wasn’t just watching for the monsters.
And to echo some of the above comments… it may be off our screens for a while, but I’m sure it will be back.
Rory, the original you might say
June 11th, 2026 - 4:59pmI grew up with 80s Who, and I collected what scant offerings were available at the time. I had a great librarian at my local library who would always manage to get as many Targets as possible, whether by purchasing the new releases or by doing swaps with other libraries, so I mostly got to experience the first three Doctors and parts of four through the Target novels.
In the 90s I got my Who fix through the Virgin novels and waking up early at the weekend to record classic Who on UK Gold, so I eventually got to see every existing story. I avidly scoured the John Fitton catalogues for anything I hadn’t yet consumed, and managed to collect almost every Target and Virgin novel (I have since filled the holes in my collection).
Doctor Who has been with me for as long as I can remember. While I didn’t like the RTD2 era because I thought it had the same problems as his first era, but turned up to 11, I love experiencing new Who stories. I’m sad that there won’t be a xmas special, but there is still a lot of new work being created. This is a far cry from the wilderness years, although I wouldn’t mind having a new book published every month again.
This isn’t the end. It’s just a necessary pause. I look forward to seeing what comes next.
—
Also, I have seen Tarja several times, with and without Nightwish. I enjoy my music as much as I enjoy my Doctor Who, so it’s nice to see that there are others out there with similar tastes.
bookcollector
June 11th, 2026 - 5:18pmTarja is a definite favourite, unfortunately tomorrow’s cd is delayed as his masters haven’t received stock yet. I also follow the other nightwish leads, anette olzon and floor jansen. But it’s a wide range of music I listen too. Can’t listen to audio stories any more due to issues relating to concentration that arose from my mental health but music I can still enjoy.
bookcollector
June 12th, 2026 - 10:09pmJust received the email telling me my tarja cd is on the way. Much needed boost. Judging by the singles it’s set to be her heaviest album yet and I can’t wait!
Oh and my very first doctor who merchandise I bought… gerry Davis’ tenth planet target book when I was 7. Been thinking of who off and on all day and that suddenly came back to me.
James Spackman
June 9th, 2026 - 12:00amAny ideas as to what the next box set might be? , S11 or S16 have been speculated?.
ex15
June 9th, 2026 - 6:28amS16 I believe is expected.
COMICshopsDontStand
June 9th, 2026 - 7:28amI guess any update. / announcement wont happen until Circut Breaker as all been released depending how well that goes.
Prof Horner
June 9th, 2026 - 8:04amHopefully we will get a colour tease soon. Since there are only two colour seasons left to release. We from the colour, which one it will be. Blue for 11 ,purple or pink for 16. With a proper announcement next month.
Rob
June 9th, 2026 - 1:14pmNo word on animations either, like you said maybe after Circuit Breaker!
James
June 2nd, 2026 - 11:10pmRandom request. Is anyone good with Photoshop/ai/chat gpt? Looking at seeing if its possible to create a Blu-ray size cover using the template of the old silver dvd covers. Wanted to create a cover for Resurrection of the Daleks for starters. Updating the special features to cover all features old and new from the Blu-ray Collection S21 discs.
DPHill
June 2nd, 2026 - 11:21pmHello, I have always been a cover changer to match the style of the typical classic range, all nuWho dvds are in that styles as well as sja, wilderness unoficial spin-offs, the stageplays, lost season 23 and 27, i have also toyed with doing the televised omnibuses, all updated effects and omnibuses that have featured on blu-ray but not dvd, i even have the myth makers documentary collection dvds in the old classic dvd range format – question is, do you have a particular artwork in mind from anywhere? I could easily do one for you if there was an artwork – i do have a resurrection artwork in my clutches that i could use as i was going to do my own one anyways
James
June 3rd, 2026 - 2:00pmDphill
Either use the original release or the special edition from revisitations box set.
Rob
June 9th, 2026 - 1:13pmI didnt think chatgpt or copilot allow copyrighted material to be uploaded and altered.
James
June 9th, 2026 - 1:20pmManaged to get chat to alter the Daleks and war games colour covers so the text wasn’t multicoloured and matched the rest
Nb7
May 29th, 2026 - 10:43amWatched the tv movie on 4K last night and without doubt the best bbc upscale to date!
I knew it would be brilliant anyway but seeing it how it’s been for the last 30 years and now the new upscale, wow. Well done all involved!
Craig F
May 29th, 2026 - 5:53pmWell not an upscale, Paul V just done a 4K scan from the original 35mm negative.
Nb7
May 29th, 2026 - 6:41pmStill looks incredible.
Prowl 1701
May 29th, 2026 - 7:03pmThe 4K scan is much much better than an upscale. It’s in true 4K HD for the first time.
Rob
June 9th, 2026 - 1:13pmI agree, its incredible
Prof Horner
July 10th, 2026 - 11:13amWell it is always fun to speculate on season boxsets and what order they will come out in. The next two are 16 and 11 it seems. But what happens then? Season 6 seems likely late next year. But would season 1 be released after that given that 6 and 1have the most original episodes and need the most restoration. Would the so called Wilderness Years be released between them in the spring of 28? With season 1 in the autumn of that year? Then it will be 5,4 and 3 in that order. What do we think?
RobW
July 10th, 2026 - 12:21pmA few years ago season 6 was on the cards but then they must have changed plans around the space pirates. James Goss still has the original Invasion assets on a hard drive
Prof Horner
May 25th, 2026 - 12:55pmWell I would be interested in views on a Space Pirates animations later this year. If we get we get season 6 released later next year. It would have to be a far shorter release time between the animation stand alone release and the inclusion on the season 6 boxset. Maybe less than a year. Our friend Prowl did an excellent video on future animations .
Matt L
May 25th, 2026 - 1:32pmProwl’s videos are always a good watch, appreciate them. Yeah hoping it’s season 16 later this year and then next year S11 and S6 hopefully
Harold Shand
May 25th, 2026 - 6:14pmIs this speculation or announced? I may have missed it
Professor Flibble
May 25th, 2026 - 6:36pmI could see it being Space Pirates. A lot of people talk about its reputation but I think it’s been conspicuous by its absence. The only gap in Season 6, only a handful of characters with simple outfits, some fairly basic locations, and an opportunity to zhuzh it up a little.
Prof Horner
May 25th, 2026 - 6:57pmI was speculating on The Space Pirates beening animated. Just watched and commented on Prowls latest video on no news on animations.
Bookcollector
May 25th, 2026 - 9:10pmI’d like to see space pirates animated as it’s a story I think would benefit greatly from having visuals over just the audio. The savages is one that is helped greatly by the animation, which I enjoyed, yes it’s a fairly simple animation style but it greatly improves the story being able see it than just listen to it. Pirates is one that an animated version of would I think see it be reassessed. It’s not the greatest story and has some plot holes big enough to get the v-41 through but it is fun and the team of troughton, Jamie and zoe are one that is just fun to hear on the missing episodes. There are stories I think are better but sometimes it’s nice to get a weaker story and watch it with a fresh eyes.
Scotel
May 25th, 2026 - 10:27pmThe Space Pirates definitely suffers from the lack of visuals (for my personal tastes I’d say The Myth Makers suffers worse, but it’s definitely second place).
Also with the two TARDIS Timegirl animations we’ll be able to watch the complete Troughton era at long last.
Gordon
May 27th, 2026 - 1:56amIt probably wouldn’t happen but I wouldn’t be against a model and miniatures/animation hybrid with chris Thompson and his b7 model team doing the models trying to match the models and shots from ep2. I’ve always thought the space pirates would be a good one to do with a supermarionation style but I’d imagine that would be way to expensive plus I’d imagine Chris and co are busy.
Prowl 1701
May 27th, 2026 - 5:44amI’d definitely enjoy seeing an animation of The Space Pirates as I consider it to be a very visual story. If they took some creative liberties like they did with Macra I think we could get a really good animation story.
Professor Flibble
May 27th, 2026 - 12:00pmEpisode 2 doesn’t seem properly representative of the whole story, it’s the only episode that doesn’t feature Caven and it doesn’t feature Dom Issigri either. Bit like how Episode 3 of Enemy of the World was the only one for years and people didn’t care for it.
Prowl 1701
May 27th, 2026 - 10:25pmPlus in episode 2 our main cast are just stuck in that one room not able to do much for the episode.
Amypondfan
May 28th, 2026 - 12:04amCould be worse they are barely in some of the other episodes!
Professor Flibble
May 28th, 2026 - 12:50am15 minutes it takes for the TARDIS to arrive in Episode 1. I think yeah the story’s not very popular not only because of how missing it is (no telesnaps, barely any photographic material, only one surviving episode that isn’t representative of the whole thing), but also how absent Troughton and all that are in the whole story.
Also, Prowl 1701, want to say I enjoy your videos! Always nice when we get an announcement for a missing episode animation or a collection set and seeing your intitial thoughts on them
DPHill
May 28th, 2026 - 2:00amSure that a recovery or more likely an animation would bolster this story in a lot of people’s opinions -personally going for wheel but only because it is sixty years of the cybermen this year!!
Prowl 1701
May 28th, 2026 - 8:07amThanks professor, I appreciate you watching the channel! I feel soace pirates was just there to fill slots until they got ready for wars games. Do t our main cast just appear in pre filmed parts of part six as they were filing war games by then?
Bookcollector
May 28th, 2026 - 8:21amYes prowl, it takes 15 mins for them to appear in episode 1 and they only appear in pre filmed inserts in Episode 6. They are in around three minutes of the episode
Prowl 1701
May 29th, 2026 - 6:59pmI’ve only gone through the space pirates once as that recon is a rough watch. The novelization is a good read though.
bookcollector
May 29th, 2026 - 8:11pmAlways enjoyed the novel. Terrance did a good job with a rather rough story. The reconstruction is okay but an animation would be great.