Site Menu

March 16th, 2020 151 comments

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

Doctor Who The Faceless Ones Steelbook – update

Available to order from www.zoom.co.uk and www.zavvi.com

All formats are available to order from www.amazon.co.uk ( (Steelbook delayed)

Doctor Who’s missing serial The Faceless Ones will be released on DVD, Blu-Ray and SteelBook on 16th March 2020.

BBC Studios is pleased to announce that The Faceless Ones will be the next animated Doctor Who release, filling a gap in missing content. Following the success of The Power of the Daleks, Shada and The Macra Terror, The Faceless Ones will be released on DVD, Blu-Ray and as an exclusive steelbook next year.

The Faceless Ones is the mostly missing eighth serial of the fourth season of Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in six weekly parts from April to May 1967. Starring Patrick Troughton as the Doctor, the story concerns a sinister race of identity-stealing aliens known as the Chameleons.

Only two of the six episodes are held in the BBC film archives with snippets of footage and still images existing from the other four. Fortunately, off-air recordings of the soundtrack also still exist, making the animation of a complete serial possible once again.

The six new animated episodes are being made in full colour and high definition and will include the following exclusive special features:

  • Photographic reconstruction of the story, including surviving footage of episodes 1 & 3
  • Audio commentary on episodes 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6
  • ‘Making of the animated series’
  • Camera script PDF’s
  • Surviving film fragments from the story
  • x5 ‘Easter Egg’ surprises
  • Coming Soon Fury from the Deep trailer


Categorised under: Blu-ray, DVD

Adverts/Affiliates

151 comments

  • Fitz

    March 16th, 2020 - 2:01pm

    Very sorry to hear about people not receiving theirs from amazon, is very unlike them so hopefully everyone who ordered one will eventually get it. I rushed to HMV in my uni break today to grab one after seeing how fast they are disappearing, luckily I got one. So if people are hunting them, give HMV a try 🙂

    Reply
    • Things that go bump in the night

      March 17th, 2020 - 2:24pm

      “…how fast they were disappearing….” Sounds like this Blu Ray steel book is the next thing that the public are panic buying…

  • Alan Silvester

    March 16th, 2020 - 12:15pm

    Amazon are hopeless. Had the steelbook on pre-order since last June and, up until yesterday, it was saying “arriving tomorrow”. Now I get an e-mail saying it is not available and no estimated date or any other information given. Ridiculous – they must have known they couldn’t fulfil the orders and let us know earlier. I have cancelled the order, and gone to Zoom instead. How come they have stock and have already sent these out before the release date? As I said, Amazon are hopeless.

    Reply
    • TheBrigadier@2013

      March 16th, 2020 - 8:00pm

      Same here Alan!

  • Savo79

    March 16th, 2020 - 11:52am

    Damn. I’m home alone for once. Wife at work, kids at school and, like any middle aged man, I had planned to spend the day watching animated Doctor Who but Amazon have let me down. Guess I’ll just have to play with my 3rd Doctor and TARDIS I got from B&M the other day.

    Reply
  • Mjs

    March 16th, 2020 - 9:09am

    Has anyone received theirs from Amazon yet? I’ve checked my orders and it says it’s not even dispatched. There’s nothing about a delay.

    Reply
    • Rob W

      March 16th, 2020 - 9:13am

      Mine says delivery by next Monday. Might cancel and get the Steelbook from HMV as it is £25.99 too.

    • booboo

      March 16th, 2020 - 9:39am

      i have hardly seen anyone if any get the steelbook from Amazon yet, they don’t have stock on the release date either either

    • booboo

      March 16th, 2020 - 9:47am

      just had an email saying its delayed

    • Gordon

      March 16th, 2020 - 9:48am

      Apparently amazon has had delays shipping the steelbook.

    • Anonymous

      March 16th, 2020 - 10:03am

      I received an email saying that amerzon where still trying to get the steal book them selves

    • Gordon

      March 16th, 2020 - 10:13am

      With everything that is going on in the world I’m not surprised that there is delays to some suppliers. Expect more of this in the coming months

    • Anonymous

      March 16th, 2020 - 11:21am

      As annoying as it is, and yes I’m annoyed as I was expecting the DVD today but now have no idea what is going on, I do understand that the current situation may be affecting things and as Gordon says we may have to expect a lot more delays in the coming months, not just DVDs or bluray but books, magazines and toys will almost certainly be delayed as well as delays to potential filming dates for not just doctor who but many TV and film projects. I know all that and I’m still annoyed lol

    • TheMaster

      March 16th, 2020 - 12:18pm

      Hmv have them in stock in the shops all three versions

    • Rob W

      March 16th, 2020 - 1:03pm

      Yes, £17.99 3 Standard and £25.99 Steelbook BD editions

    • MJS

      March 16th, 2020 - 1:36pm

      Even Zoom say in stock, but then when the order is placed it says awaiting import to warehouse

  • BtsR

    March 15th, 2020 - 12:25am

    I think they missed a trick of having an art card of a postcard from the episode, so you can fill in your own message to your parents as you go on the chameleon tours. Would of been a nice little and cheap to produce bonus for the steelbook.

    Reply
  • Dean Wells

    March 14th, 2020 - 11:10am

    My copy has just arrived from Zoom. This steelbook is definitely the most stunning one yet!

    Reply
    • Lee D

      March 14th, 2020 - 4:58pm

      Can’t wait to pick mine up from HMV on Monday. Hope the Easter eggs on the disc are very subtle?

    • Anonymous

      March 14th, 2020 - 9:37pm

      My copy arrived today too, already on episode four of the b&w version- it’s amazing!

  • Mikewho2

    March 13th, 2020 - 8:17pm

    Zoom have emailed this had despatched. Be great if we get this tomorrow.

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    March 12th, 2020 - 11:13am

    Just got my dispatch notice of this from Zavvi.

    Reply
  • RPG74

    March 3rd, 2020 - 10:17am

    It just occurs, that since I have extras on Power for Amazon, and I know they have them on Itunes, the extras for Faceless-sans commentaries-should appear on both platforms the day the disc version hits shelves. Probably.

    Reply
  • RPG74

    March 3rd, 2020 - 9:03am

    The Faceless Ones just popped up on Amazon Digital/Google Play/Itunes as an early release. Episodes in colour and black and white, for £13.49 Amazon and Google, £14.99 Itunes. No special features though, which makes it kind of expensive. But for those among you who haven’t been soured by Chibnall’s recent contributions, and who just can’t wait…

    Reply
  • Stephen Watson

    February 28th, 2020 - 5:38pm

    Will there be any difference in content between the Steelbook and standard release. Blurb for each appears to be identical?

    Reply
    • Gordon

      February 28th, 2020 - 6:32pm

      It’s the same contents

    • RPG74

      February 29th, 2020 - 1:52pm

      All the content across all versions. Good. Although those who bought the standard versions of Power, Macra and Shada, may now feel short-changed somewhat.

    • Rob W

      February 29th, 2020 - 2:12pm

      Looks like the Steelbook price is currently £25.99 so it’s a bit more of a bargain. The standard BD and DVD prices by £2 each too.

    • Rob W

      February 29th, 2020 - 2:13pm

      Amazon prices I should add.

  • Anonymous

    February 12th, 2020 - 11:32pm

    Do I have to keep typing in a name to post comments or is their a way to stick with one

    Reply
    • Anonymous

      March 12th, 2020 - 11:10am

      Just for my dispatch notice for this from Zavvi

  • Who’s Who

    February 12th, 2020 - 12:01am

    Love that they are doing these animations I really hope they do get around to doing all of them even the really difficult ones

    Reply
    • philip shaw

      February 12th, 2020 - 7:44am

      My guess on the next 2 being ‘Evil of the Daleks’ and ‘Wheel in Space’. They seem to want to complete the Troughtons first which is good news to me, he’s my fave doc!
      I would also love to see ‘The Highlanders’.

    • philip shaw

      February 12th, 2020 - 7:47am

      They should do ‘The Dalek Masterplan’ volume 1&2, seperate releases the first of course featuring the new re-enacted ‘mission to the unknown’.

    • Gordon

      February 12th, 2020 - 11:16am

      I definitely think they will be announcing evil next. It follows on from faceless ones and has the faceless ones cliffhanger to resolve. I’m thinking abominable for the other 2021 release from big finish creative. It splits up the big monsters of Daleks and cybermen so they aren’t all out at once and has the same team as fury. Also wheel has a britbox recon but abominable doesn’t have any sort of recon which may make them prioritise abominable over wheel.

      In 2022 wheel to start from the bbc studios team and the space pirates from the big finish creative as they are the only 2 easy troughton’s that haven’t had a dvd release.

      The highlanders from the bbc studios team in 2023 as to test how a more expensive historical and underwater menace and web 3 from Big finish creative to finish off the Troughton era.

      If highlanders is successful In 2024 the bbc studios team could do the smugglers and the other team could tackle galaxy 4.

      2025 could see the savages and the other team could do the myth makers as a test for the remaining most expensive stories like crusade and Marco.

      2026 could see toymaker from bbc studios and the other team could tackle masterplan part 1.

      2027 could see the massacre from bbc studios and masterplan part 2 from the other team.

      2028 could be the crusade

      2029 could be Marco Polo.

      Providing the sales continue to be strong we could have a full set in 10 years. Would love a 3rd animation team on the go as it would cut things down considerably however it’s a marathon not a sprint.

    • BeeversMaster

      February 13th, 2020 - 2:46pm

      Hopefully we will get an animated version of Mission to the unknown to make it more in line with the animations as the re-make should be kept on YouTube and we have a proper version with an animation of how the original should have looked as there were lots of things wrong with the remake.

    • Anonymous

      February 13th, 2020 - 3:05pm

      The remake is great, done on a tiny budget they did brilliantly. I do think evil willbe next and I would love abominable as well. The audio is good but as the yeti don’t roar they have zero presence! Be so much better to be able to see them.

    • Philip Shaw

      February 14th, 2020 - 1:12pm

      Gordon…you forgot ‘The Space pirates’ but I like your list ideas. I personally love Pat Troughton and looking at the animation so far they may make ‘Pirates’ more exciting that it’s supposed to be, the audio without visuals is particularly dull!

    • philip Shaw

      February 14th, 2020 - 1:33pm

      Sorry Gordon you didn’t miss of ‘Space Pirates’…read it too quickly !!!

  • TheBrigadier@2013

    February 9th, 2020 - 7:16pm

    This steelbook looks glorious!

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    February 9th, 2020 - 8:34am

    When they get around to doing The Collection: Season 4 Blu-Ray set in the future will they include these animated stories in them?

    Reply
    • Gordon

      February 9th, 2020 - 8:53am

      Yes animations will be included. However I wouldn’t be surprised if the colour animations or the reconstructions aren’t included. Season 4 is going to be a massive beast of a set if it includes black and white and colour animations with reconstructions. About 16-17 discs to fit it all in

    • Anonymous

      February 9th, 2020 - 10:32am

      Yes I was thinking that myself the box set itself would be huge I don’t know how they would approach that quantity of discs with the current box design whether it would be split into two a Season 4 part 1 and Season 4 part 2 or something else as the housing for the discs currently would strain glue also would imagine cost effectiveness would need to be looked at cannot see them marketing that much content for £40

    • Kenman

      February 10th, 2020 - 1:37am

      As someone unable to afford all the animations (instead focusing on the Collection sets), can I ask how they have included both black and white and color versions thus far? Have they been separate discs or have they utilized seamless branching in some way?

    • Gordon

      February 10th, 2020 - 1:50am

      Separate discs so far.

    • Kenman

      February 13th, 2020 - 2:41pm

      Interesting. Be curious to see what they do when the Collection comes a rolling towards the 60s stuff.

  • MrAnonymous

    February 8th, 2020 - 8:24pm

    Booboo, will you be updating the Classic DVD/Bluray lists with this new artwork?

    Reply
    • booboo

      February 9th, 2020 - 11:02am

      yes soon

  • Nick r

    February 7th, 2020 - 7:19pm

    Just pre order this indeed my brother works at Gatwick airport to See what it looked like in 1968.

    Reply
  • Anonymous

    February 7th, 2020 - 6:57pm

    I’m sorry but this is genuinely stunning.

    Reply
    • booboo

      February 7th, 2020 - 6:58pm

      i would tend to agree

  • Anonymous

    February 7th, 2020 - 1:55pm

    If the steelbook is available from at least three different suppliers, in what way is it exclusive?

    Reply
    • Rob W

      February 7th, 2020 - 2:46pm

      It’s now a ‘Limited Edition’ according to Zavvi’s listing.

  • Rob W

    February 7th, 2020 - 1:36pm

    You wait ages for a Doctor Who Blu-Ray then 3 arrive on the smae day.

    Reply
    • Rob W

      February 7th, 2020 - 1:43pm

      Oops, I can’t count, that’s 2 on the same day

  • Master of M

    February 7th, 2020 - 11:53am

    Very reminiscent of a 1960s holiday brochure. Perfect design, and full marks to the designer.

    Reply
    • ChrisP

      February 7th, 2020 - 1:39pm

      Yes love this design

  • The Ergon

    February 7th, 2020 - 11:24am

    The artwork for this is beautiful and more in tone with the story. Shame i don,t collect the steelbook versions.

    Reply
  • Darren

    February 7th, 2020 - 10:43am

    Why no cardboard sleeve in the reveal photos?

    Reply
    • Gordon

      February 7th, 2020 - 10:46am

      I’m sure it will be there. They probably just want to show off the artwork

  • Gordon

    February 7th, 2020 - 10:25am

    Saw the steelbook on amazon. It’s gorgeous

    Reply
    • Gordon

      February 7th, 2020 - 10:38am

      Also doesn’t look like there is anything exclusive on the steelbook

  • Alvin Amey

    June 6th, 2019 - 1:08pm

    I’ve ordered the steelbook, I wonder if there will be extra content with the steelbook version, I’m hoping for an updated Loose Cannon recon including the existing footage 🙂

    Reply
    • Rob W

      June 8th, 2019 - 2:49pm

      The last 2 releases had a bonus disc so here’s hoping…

  • VHS

    June 4th, 2019 - 6:45pm

    The old three bears of format choice…
    Steelbook – Far too expencive, will get a scratch on the front and the J-card will disapear.
    DVD – Those round things that took over from tape, that are now cheaper low quality Blu-Rays.
    Blu-Ray – Just right but no card slip cover please they are the devil.

    Download – Virtual none existant thing that has no artwork…nope never.

    Reply
    • TigerMan1995

      June 6th, 2019 - 9:57am

      enjoy those slipcovers.
      DVD doesn’t do HD, so they are not “low quality BD”
      steelbooks shouldn’t get scratched if you take care of it, put your j-cards in a box. the steelbook is actually cheaper this time around.

      the only thing i agree with here is download / digital.

    • Anonymous

      June 6th, 2019 - 2:50pm

      VHS tapes – lower quality, wore our over time, picture some times jumped and the tape could get mashed in the machine, takes up loads of room and sometimes the doctor who cover art wasn’t very good.

    • booboo

      June 6th, 2019 - 3:00pm

      i know, but back in the day you couldn’t wait to rush down the WH Smiths on the first Monday in the month to see what the next releases were, its was much more exiting back then.

    • Anonymous

      June 6th, 2019 - 4:35pm

      Your so right booboo, it was more exciting, and the original VHS releases were the only way you could watch older stories, before they were shown on satellite tv, so every release was hugely looked forward to.

    • Who rules

      June 6th, 2019 - 8:11pm

      The target books and vhs – those were the days alright. And yes, vhs were bulky and poor quality but to us who fans of a certain age they were heaven sent. My daughter cannot understand that we couldn’t just call back a story we hadn’t seen or had missed. I was away on holiday with my family so missed the first two episodes of the leisure hive. Because of that I didn’t watch the remaining episodes rejoining the series for meglos. So the target book in 1982 was great but it wasn’t until 1997 I saw the leisure hive when the vhs was released. I didn’t have access to UK gold repeats. It’s a different world now.

    • booboo

      June 7th, 2019 - 4:24pm

      its called business and keeps people in jobs.

      also just because you bought all the the VHS and DVD’s doesn’t mean every one else has, there are 2-3 new generations of fans since all that happened.

    • booboo

      June 7th, 2019 - 4:51pm

      so you are saying that companies should not re-releases stuff in up to date formats or produce better Tv’s etc as technology improves

      I’m not sure exactly how will any of these companies could stay in business and keep people in jobs if they don’t move with the times.

    • Anonymous

      February 7th, 2020 - 10:42am

      Honestly who rules story reminds me we should be grateful doctor who’s is available on dvd, blu Ray, britbox!

    • Bobby Fackrell

      February 7th, 2020 - 2:18pm

      Steelbook every day!!

    • Whorules

      February 11th, 2020 - 4:46pm

      I’m confused about your comments boo boo, I never said anything about these DVDs or bluray releases being wrong. I buy the DVDs. I was just reminiscing about the old days.

    • booboo

      February 11th, 2020 - 5:13pm

      so am i, i think those are in the wrong place for some reason, i think they are a reply to comments that aren’t there anymore

    • Anonymous

      February 11th, 2020 - 5:57pm

      Ah, right that would explain it! Thought I’d said something without realising it.

  • Wputube

    June 4th, 2019 - 5:18pm

    They are animating season 4 so we can have a complete blu ray boxset probably

    Reply
  • Daniel

    June 4th, 2019 - 4:36pm

    Ordered mine from Amazon UK

    Reply
  • Doctor Mysterio

    June 4th, 2019 - 2:55pm

    Excellent news. Ordered mine already.

    Reply
  • Phasergrim

    June 4th, 2019 - 1:30pm

    Can’t wait. I’m sure it’ll be worth the wait. They’ve always been superb

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get your own avatar.
By clicking submit you agree to our terms and conditions (below), we reserve the right to edit or delete inappropriate messages.

Comment rules

The Doctor Who site welcomes constuctive comments related to the news article in question. Links posted in comments may not be displayed. We reserve the right to delete or edit any post entirely at our discretion. If you leave unacceptable comments your IP address will be banned and reported

Click here to read full comments terms and conditions

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Twitter

Facebook