The BBC Announces New Doctor Who DVD Releases

The BBC has announced, as of July 2008, a new schedule of release for classic Doctor Who serials on DVD for North America. They followed with a schedule for release of new serials on DVD for the United Kingdom. The following serials are on tap to be released on DVD, many of these have been previously released on VHS tape, however the new releases are usually accompanied by new documentaries and plenty of extras for the most rabid of fans.

First up is "The Brain of Morbius", which stars Tom Baker as the 4^th Doctor. This DVD is scheduled to be released on July 21^st, 2008 and will feature commentary by Tom Baker himself, Elisabeth Sladen (who played his companion, Sarah Jane Smith), along with director Christopher Barry and producer Philip Hinchcliffe. It also will feature a documentary about the making of the story and interviews with the designer Barry Newbery. It also comes complete with original design sketches, concept art, photo galleries, trailers, a PDF file of the Radio Times (for Americans, think "TV Guide") listings of the episode, subtitles and production notes. The story itself is a fine one. It revolves around a plot by scientist Mehendri Solon, played by Philip Madoc (who also provides commentary), to build a body from spare parts for the brain of the evil Time Lord Morbius and he wants to use The Doctor's head. The serial was released on VHS in the United Kingdom in July of 1984 (it was originally broadcast in 1976) and the United States and Australia in July of 1987. The United Kingdom had an unedited version released in July of 1990 before the Australians got their unedited version in January of 1991 and the United States version released in February 1997.