KOOL TV REVIEW: 'DOCTOR WHO' - SERIES 7 PART 2 DVD SET

A smashing entrance for the Doctor (Matt Smith) and Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) in the latest series of DOCTOR WHO released on BBC DVD. Images: BBC.

Fans of Matt Smith's incarnation of the heroic space wanderer DOCTOR WHO must surely be gutted by the sudden news of his departure from the long running sci-fi show, scheduled this coming Christmas, but they can at least console themselves for the time being with the recently released BBC DVD and Blu-ray set of part two of his third season in the role, containing nine stories that will surely prove a tonic.

Doctor Who: Coming Soon in 2013 trailer - BBC One - YouTube

Up above the London skyline: the Doctor and Clara.

My own personal enjoyment of this new era for the show, however, continues to be erratic, and I found this season once again something of a mixed bag. As always the series is well made and Steven Moffat's writing/producer-ship reign is inventive and surely pleasing for the Harry Potter generation, but the series just doesn't quite have the heart it used to, and the storytelling often seems all over the place, with style sometimes very clearly overriding substance. Last years Xmas story, The Snowmen, is a case in point- better than the previous years saccharine and abysmal effort The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe, the menace of the titular creatures and the emergence of villain Richard E, Grant as a returned old nemesis from the Second Doctor's past, The Great Intelligence, was a good idea lost in a storyline that actually proved to have very little at its core and once again felt painfully overlong, though the proper introduction of sexily perky Jenna-Louise Coleman, as the first of many incarnations of new companion Clara, was solid. Moffat's next entry, The Bells of St. John, launching Series 7 part 2 in Easter, was thankfully an improvement in some respects- a zippy chase through modern day London to stop a wi-fi invasion of London and the world by the revenge seeking Intelligence, bolstered by a good guest appearance from popular comedian/actress Celia Imrie. However, the subsequent The Rings of Ahkaten, written by Neil Cross, featuring Clara's first trip to an alien society, and seeing her and her Time Lord partner saving the life of a little girl songstress from being a sacrificial lamb to an an angry planet, would sadly prove a complete nosedive in terms of storytelling, and proved a rather twee and dated fantasy that failed to ignite mine, and many others, viewers imaginations- truly a low point of the season and the series in general.

Clara gets personal with an Ice Warrior in Cold War.

Fortunately, the returning presence of a bulky and dangerous enemy- the intimidating hostile form of a martian Ice Warrior in regular series contributor Mark Gatiss's atmospheric, 1983 set cold war drama, aptly enough titled Cold War, was a tonic to all the Ahkaten nonsense,  Bolstered by a lot of visual atmosphere, a hunt the monster plot that evoked the early ALIEN films, and a brilliant redesign for the classic monster-again, another great invention from the Troughton era- plus great guest star performances from Liam Cunningham and David Warner, the story, despite running out of plot in its last ten minutes or so, proved welcome relief and a reminder that the show could recapture its former classic era glories, whilst also setting the scene for a future rematch with the creatures on a hopefully bigger scale. The seventies-set Earth-bound horror/romance Hide would continue the overall quality upscale with its haunted house setting, and Neil Cross improves his WHO reputation with this second script, though the plots transition from edgy ghost story to sci-fi MILLS & BOON ultimately robbed it of its early scares and full impact, as well as easily wasting a strong guest star presence in the form of film actor Dougray Scott.

Lost in infinite danger in Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS.

Lofty ambition and lots of hype almost get the better of the next story, the expeditionary romp Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS, slightly hampered by some poor guest star acting from Ashley Waters, one of three salvage worker brothers capturing the TARDIS for scrap metal value, but ultimately forced to assist the Doctor in saving a trapped Clara and the now critically unstable time vessel from death. This promised and most anticipated look inside the legendary and mysterious TARDIS had a few choice moments of inspired cgi wizardry, but proved nowhere near as spectacular as expected, though the idea of the "creatures" running around the ships fiery core were well handled by director Mat King, as were some nice continuity love-letters from the classic series.

Having broken the Ice Warriors back into the series, Mark Gatiss returns next with a second WHO script that proves a far more experimental and not altogether successful mix of ultimately high camp comedy with occasional chills- the period tale The Crimson Horror, which sadly failed to live up to my expectations and desire for a genuinely serious and disturbing horror story, becoming a poisoned chalice of sorts in the way that legendary actress Diana Rigg and her lovely daughter Rachael Sterling, both of whom were well cast and excellent in the story, stole the show rug out from underneath Smith and co's feet. With some additionally nice visual touches, and occasional, genuinely funny laughs from the returning Sontaran warrior Strax (Dan Starkey), the final reveal of the alien creature influencing the villainous plans of the Gillyflower family ultimately turns out to be a damp squib, looking like a cheap rate version of the Pepperami animal stick creature fom the funny British TV commercials!

The Cybermen lose some of their horror credibility in Nightmare in Silver.

Bigger, but not necessarily better, monsters came with the return of another classic villainous race- DOCTOR WHO's number two nemesis, the Cyberman, in Nightmare in Silver, written by acclaimed fantasy author Neil Gaiman, though this proved to be a "number two" of a very different kind by the time the end credits rolled. Nightmare for the Viewers would have been a more apt title! Pretty much everything about this other highly anticipated tale would turn out to be a savage disappointment- a tragic shame and waste of time and money, especially considering how good Gaiman's previous story, the nostalgic and often haunting The Doctor's Wife, had been. The plans by the production team to make the redesign-improved Cybermen scarier than ever are ultimately unsuccessful, within a story whose intergalactic fairground setting just doesn't work, alongside poorly written characters you just don't care about- easy cannon fodder for the now running metal monsters, and lots of unwise trick guest casting (Tamsin Outhwaite as a soldier? Please!). Plus two annoying, cringe-worthy school children, currently looked after by Clara, accompanying her and the Doctor in this hopefully one-off visit, who just can't act for toffee! Even Matt Smith gives a laughably poor performance when he's fighting against the controlling influence of the ambitious Cyber Planner, in scenes that should have been scary and terrifying- a rare moment when the Doctor is possessed by an alien force. Ultimately, only LIFE'S TOO SHORT actor Warwick Davis, as a diminutive leader in exile, manages to emerge from this mess with any dignity intact, whilst also proving he has the talent to make a good Doctor himself.

The Great Intelligence (Richard E. Grant) returns for the series finale.

Fortunately, away from the criminally disappointing, very smelly mess, there is a  redemption of sorts for the season with Steven Moffat's ultimately triumphant season wrap-up and lead-in to the all-important 50th Anniversary Special, coming November 23rd. The Name of the Doctor is the evocative, ultimately misleading and misdirecting title to this planetary sized tease of a story, which shows us the Doctors seemingly final demise on the war torn graveyard world of Trenzalore, his beloved TARDIS equally destroyed, its interior dimensions now outwardly spread across its surface, as Richard E. Grant's Great Intelligence returns to threaten the Doctor's entire timeline and absorb it into himself. as if the hero had never lived, whilst the mystery of Clara is finally revealed in a way that proves ultimately obvious from the start (well, at least to me anyway!). Its all enjoyable enough, though, with the return of the Victorian- era alien investigator favourites Lady Vastra (Neve McIntosh), her lesbian servant Jenny (Catrin Stewart) and hot-headed, blaster-toting Sontaran Strax back to aid the weakened Doctor, and helping Clara reach the finishing line in her long time-spanning journey to save her friend (though Alex Kingston's guest contribution as the Doctor's real wife, River Song, is seemingly a waste of time and the actresses talents).

As with previous Moffat efforts, Name was yet another complex puzzle to unravel- so complex I'm surprised many Average Joe viewers could follow it, but there were many slots of classic series nostalgia dotted along the path that could be enjoyed, especially the way the story cleverly mixed classic old Doctor footage with stand-ins (nice to see the colourful Sixth Doctor once again striding down the TARDIS corridors-bit where was Paul McGann's incarnation?). The opening footage, giving us William Hartnell's original and iconic Doctor, alongside Granddaughter Susan, stealing a Type-40 TARDIS on his home planet of Gallifrey, aided by a little hint from Clara, was easily one of the best moments of the new series, whilst John Hurt's mysterious figure of a future, possibly battle-scarred and corrupted version of the Doctor looming on the horizon looks intriguing-oh, how I wish that Hurt wasn't just a guest star and was actually the Doctor for the next couple of years. I wouldn't mind the series having a shorter season run just to accommodate the character actor's busy career...

Special features (DVD): Clara's White Christmas, Vastra Investigates, BBC Children in Need Special: The Great Detective, and The Bells of Saint John - a prequel.


KOOL TV RATING (overall episodes and extras): 3 out of 5


Get the set here: Doctor Who - Series 7 Part 2 [DVD]: Amazon.co.uk: Matt Smith, Jenna-Louise Coleman, Richard E. Grant, Dan Starkey, Catrin Stewart, Neve Mcintosh, Ian McKellan, Dougray Scott, Diana Rigg, Warwick Davis, Tamzin Outhwaite, Nicholas Briggs, Alex Kingston, John Hurt, Saul Metzstein, Colm McCarthy, Farren Blackburn, Steven Moffat, Mark Gatiss, Neil Gaiman: Film & TV

KOOL TV REVIEW: 'DOCTOR WHO' - CHARACTER ENCYCLOPEDIA

DOCTOR WHO: CHARACTER ENCYCLOPEDIA

Published by DORLING KINDERSLEY

Reviewed by Scott Weller

Once upon a galaxy, our time and space travelling hero known only as the Doctor kept himself a handy 500 year diary so as to keep track of the many peoples and places visited in his rackety and vintage police box shaped TARDIS. Now in his 950^th year of existence, and over ten regenerations later, he’s long since given up on the idea of book-keeping maintenance, but those sterling people at DORLING KINDERSLEY are doing a great job in his place, as their first exciting, colourfully produced new character encyclopedia hits the book shelves to educate and delight fans of the hit BBC1 series, and acting as a perfect primer for the shows 50^th anniversary of celebration and nostalgia this November.

Dutifully and snappily written by the expert trio of Jason Loborik, Annabel Gibson and Moray Laing, the book storms through the vortex of our past, present and future, showing us the great and the good, the friendly and the terrifying, and species unlike anything we’ve ever encountered before, and from all across the universe- planets known and unknown. It’s a book as characteristic and unique as the show itself: covering 200 characters from every era: monochrome to colour, to today’s digitally enhanced storytelling, with important statistics and details of their appearances alongside many rare photos from the BBC Archives-who must have a photo library as big as the TARDIS these days in order to house and maintain the wealth of publicity material needed. Plus, a look at our heroes diverse personas (eleven so far) and the definitive companions who’ve accompanied him in his exciting tales of triumph, tragedy, mystery and bewilderment: from the bolshy teenage pyromaniac that was Ace, the fiery Amy Pond and her besotted husband, Rory, to the brave and iconic Sarah Jane Smith and air stewardess Tegan Jovanka. Then there’s the classic monsters, old and new, of all shapes and sizes, which they’ve met and fought: from the plastic loving Autons to the ferocious, robot controlled Himalayan Yeti, to newcomers like the hypnotically deadly The Silence and those stone trapsters, the Weeping Angels.

Old and new enemies alike get prime profiles.

And only this particular series and title could ever mix the likes of France’s Madame de Pompadour alongside those fearsome metal pepperpots of Skaro- the Daleks- within its veritable intergalactic Who’s Who of pages!

Originally devised by Sydney Newman and Donald Wilson, writer Anthony Coburn, script editor David Whitaker and very young producer Verity Lambert, all pulling together in bringing the shows early episodes to life-the cavemen of the prehistoric era being the first characters to enter the Doctor’s television lives, I think its fair to speculate that not even their considerable talents likely anticipated DOCTOR WHO ever lasting so long and becoming so beloved, nor just how much of an impact it would have on viewers in general, evolving and becoming the mighty institution in Britain and beyond that it is today. Alongside the late, great William Hartnell-the only one back on 1963 who genuinely believed the show would run and run, this book is a true testament to their hard work and affection for the series in its crucial first year, and the way it so successfully mixed sci-fi aliens life forms with historical icons like Marco Polo with intriguing ease, to the point we’ve emulated today.

For those discovering it since its 2005 return, this is the definitive old and new series look at its most memorable and diabolical heroes and villains. The DOCTOR WHO CHARACTER ENCYCLOPEDIA is a nice size book at a feel good price- one that readers of all ages will never tire of dipping in and out of. Definitely worth adding to your collection.

KOOL TV RATING: 4 out of 5

Get hold of the book here: Doctor Who Character Encyclopedia (Dr Who): Amazon.co.uk: Jason Loborik, Annabel Gibson, Moray Laing: Books

DON'T HAVE NIGHTMARES! 'DOCTOR WHO's EASTER MONSTERS UNLEASHED!

Martian menace- the Ice Warriors return in DOCTOR WHO. Images: BBC.

"There are some corners of the universe which have bred the most terrible things. Things which act against everything we believe in. They must be fought."

Now that our Time Lord protector, the Doctor, has become far too human, showing an almost MILLS & BOON-esque obsession with his companions (and vice versa) in order to pull in new audiences who've never previously watched the series, my time watching modern DOCTOR WHO, starting up again on BBC 1 tonight, has now seen me more interested in saying Bring on the Monsters! than ever before, and this final batch of weird and wonderful aliens/creatures from the pen of Steven Moffat and his writing team, leading into the show's fiftieth anniversary 3D special later in the year, look set to be some of the most interesting yet, at least via the trailers and promotional images so far released by the BBC: the almost faceless top-hatted Whispermen (truly giving funeral parlour men a bad name!), the Crimson Horror (whatever that is-plague, possession?), the mummy-esque figure threatening The Rings of Akhaten, and a supernatural beastie that will surely make us all want to run and Hide.

The fearsome Whispermen, to be seen later in the run.

Silver terror. The Cybermen look more scary than ever.

And for fans of the above quote from the Second Doctor era, a time much beloved by star Matt Smith (his performance more a tribute to that fine character actor, Patrick Troughton, than ever before), there's the return of three of that monochrome period's distinctive and iconic nemeses: the formless Great Intelligence, which returned last Xmas to wage war on our hero with The Snowmen, and those formidable green Martian reptilian adversaries hissing and breathing long before Darth Vader made his booming entrance: The Ice Warriors, one of whom will be trapped with the Doctor and new companion Clara in a claustrophobic Das Boot'ish episode full of atmosphere and hopeful carnage: The Cold War. Finally, the survival driven Cybermen get the excellent new metal and silver makeover they deserve (is there an intergalactic version of Gok Wan out there doing this for them?), looking more suitably menacing and tear-drop eyes emotionless than ever before for the modern series, in what will hopefully be Neil Gaiman's exciting, and hopefully shocking, Nightmare in Silver...

Trailer: Doctor Who: New Series 7 Launch Trailer 2013 - BBC One - YouTube

KOOL TV REVIEW: 'DOCTOR WHO - THE LEGACY COLLECTION' DVD BOXSET

A lost story and a worthy documentary make up the latest Classic DOCTOR WHO BBC release: The Legacy Collection. Images: BBC.

DOCTOR WHO: THE LEGACY COLLECTION

(A 3-disc DVD set comprising Shada and More Than 30 Years of a Time Lord)

Released by BBC WORLDWIDE CONSUMER PRODUCTS

Reviewed by Scott Weller

The BBC kicks off its well-deserved Fiftieth Anniversary celebration of their greatest television achievement- an institution to both the British public and the sci-fi and fantasy genre- with a sterling three-disc set release that looks at the best and brightest aspects of the series classic past. Pop open the champagne bottles, “put another shrimp on the barbie!” and get the birthday cake ready: the LEGACY COLLECTION set, comprising the lost 1979 Tom Baker story Shada, and the 1993 30^th Anniversary documentary, More Than 30 Years of a Time Lord, have arrived on nicely priced DVD...

An ancient threat from Gallifrey poses problems for the Doctor (Tom Baker) and Romana (Lalla Ward) in Shada.

SHADA (2 discs)

There’s a mind stealer on the loose in the picturesque streets of Cambridge, planet Earth, as the Doctor and companion Romana are called to visit an old friend possessing a vital book of powerful Gallifreyan origin that mustn’t fall into the wrong hands. Too late…

Trailer: DOCTOR WHO - THE LEGACY BOX DVD - COMING SOON TRAILER - COPYRIGHT BBC AND 2ENTERTAIN - YouTube

Supreme master of wit and imagination Douglas Adams final work for DOCTOR WHO sadly never made it to the TV screens but its uncompleted form lives on, via a previous and successful VHS release from the mid-nineties, with linking narration making it whole, now available on DVD, alongside some meticulously produced behind the scenes extra material.

Humour and horror may have been in a state of imbalance during his era’s middle period, but Tom Baker’s dominance and charismatic portrayal of the Doctor remains as compelling as ever. Simply put, there has just never been anyone else in the role to have proved so natural, and seemingly effortless in their portrayal, especially in the way he combines larger than life comedy along with sophisticated drama. Baker’s natural intelligence and charm, along with his to be admired nomad heroism, radiate from the TV screen and bring a warm glow to audience’s heart. No longer the serious dark heart of earlier seasons, and now enjoying a personal creative whirlwind of freedom like never before, Baker’s Doctor is fearful and fearless, funny and intelligent: a hero for all time. Baker doesn’t act the part now-he is the part! And the world is all the richer for it.

Alongside him is Lalla Ward’s classy and intellectual Romana-still one of the finest of the Doctor’s companions, an actress whose personality and on-screen persona can clearly be seen capturing the heart of the actor and the character. Clearly making the most of their friend Adams lively and ideas packed script, they make a wonderful team of intellect and witticism, mixing business with pleasure: the kind of unique and entertaining people we’d all die to have on our dinner party guest list! It was a shame that their real life union beyond WHO was not to last…

Tom Baker: a force to be reckoned with...

A uniformly fine guest cast is well chose by director Pennant Roberts, clearly having a solid grasp on the shows storytelling needs, includes Denis Carey as the lovable eccentric with a dark secret, Professor Chronotis, the striking and leggy Victoria Burgoyne, who would have made an excellent travelling companion to Tom Baker’s Time Lord in my book, and a youthfully enthusiastic Daniel Hill, who brings heart and innocence to his portrayal of Bristolian academic Chris Parsons. Christopher Neame’s snooty, power hungry portrayal of mind stealing baddie Skagra is fine from what little material involving his character was completed, and ultimately proves nowhere near as bad as anything being performed by Graham Crowden as the completely over the top Soldeed in the season’s prior The Horns of Nimon.

Time Lady Romana (Lalla Ward) has fun on the river.

The story’s accompanying set designs are of a good standard and hold up well alongside the lovely location filming. The filmed episodic cliffhangers are also of effective note.

The VHS “completion” of the story back in 1994 did the best it could with a very limited BBC WORLDWIDE budget of the time, proving itself as a noble effort from late producer John Nathan-Turner, though his selection of late eighties WHO series composer Keff McCulloch as a replacement to the expert work of seventies music veteran Dudley Simpson, isn’t totally satisfying, and proves acceptable more than totally rewarding.

On the plus side, the transfer of the VHS release of the story has benefited from a major picture restoration, of which the shot on film location sequences look particularly superb.

With its successful completion into partially animated form last year by another dedicated fan and supporter to the series, record producer Ian Levene, it’s a shame that his unauthorised specially commissioned version of Shada, (with animation filling in the final episodes many blanks (notably its action packed end)) wasn’t additionally given an official release as part of the collection, especially considering all the hard work put into it, including reuniting many of the original cast in the voice recording studio. The animation, though basic, is of a very pleasing standard from what I’ve seen in example cells put online. Would it really have been any harm to include it? Especially in the anniversary year. I’m sure fans would have forked out extra monies to have seen it.

With Levene’s work rejected, it’s a further shame then, that the current BBC restoration team couldn’t have at least added some specially commissioned artwork to heighten the previous VHS release and Tom Baker’s sterling descriptive talents in the final two action-orientated episodes, mostly linked to the un-filmed material of the shows ultimate baddy, Skagra.

Pondering the mystery of Shada: Romana, K-9 and Chris Parsons (Daniel Hill).

Despite these frustrations, there is a rock solid foundation of extra materials accompanying the story. Chris Chapman’s behind the scenes documentary is a tight and compact affair of love and loss in the climate of a cancelled story, told against the lively green and intellectual climes of Cambridge, with contributions from the always wonderfully grandiose Tom Baker (with a cameo from his lovely pet dog roaming the countryside!), supporting caster Daniel Hill, his Production Assistant wife Olivia Bazalgette, and several other key behind the scenes players.

Additionally, Strike! Strike! Strike! is an interesting look at the history of the unions and their links to the BBC and the entertainment industry in general over the years, plus the trials and tribulations they’ve bought with them. Even more importantly, how they have ultimately affected the destiny of DOCTOR WHO on television, not always for the best over the years. As well as some intriguing and rather snooty comments from several then industry bosses (one of whom clearly doesn’t have much regard for DOCTOR WHO, especially in the late seventies, and its overall place with television audiences-no doubt accidentally dropped on his head as a baby when the very first episode went out!), there’s additional anecdotes from companion actress Nicola Bryant, producers Barry Letts and Derrick Sherwin, and long-term “superfan” and real-life union rep Gary Russell. Shaun Ley presents the documentary with clarity, in a fascinating production incorporating classic clips, behind the scenes material and production info from producer and director James Goss.

The Then and Now look at the Shada's competed location work is particularly pleasing in that it presents us with a charming presentation of not only the selected locations used in the final filming, but also the ones planned for but ultimately not used or abandoned due to rising industrial action complications, including the aborted night filming chase sequence between the Doctor and the pursuing mind sphere, and another short sequence involving the exterior of a Cambridge laboratory.

The mysterious Professor Chronotis (Denis Carey).

Finally, there’s the obligatory fine selection of photos from the location and studio filming, the informative and good humoured production notes, plus, as a final bonus, if only for access via PC and MAC, there’s the BBCi/BIG FINISH co-production of the Paul McGann incarnation of the story from the mid-2000’s, featuring the return of Lalla Ward as Romana. It’s a nice curiosity, but ultimately, despite its completed form, isn’t a patch on the original version.

Nothing to do with Shada itself, but the final Being A Girl documentary is an interesting addition to the overall special features/LEGACY set, as Thomas Guerrier produces a fun half hour featurette on the changing face of the Doctor’s numerous and attractive lady companions over the years, and how their importance along the Time Lord’s side has swung the pendulum in reflecting the times and changing attitudes in both real-life and within the evolving entertainment and story telling medium. There's some nice clips and narration from Leela actress Louise Jameson, whose vocal work brings subtle authority, as well as observations from the latest DOCTOR WHO magazine “expert” Emma Price and the return of journalist/ presenter Samira Ahmed. Engaging stuff.

Over the years there's been much fan debate as to whether Shada would ever have been so highly regarded if it had actually made it to completion on our TV screens as the final story of the shows seventeenth season, with many thinking that it’s overall enjoyment and consideration as a classic being ultimately due to the notoriety of its cancellation and the aura generated around it’s unfinished form. The late, great Douglas Adams himself was apparently not a fan of his final work on WHO, either, feeling it was rushed into development and not living up to his own personal satisfactions: pretty much glad it never made the light of day.

I personally don’t agree with such criticisms and complaints. From what material was completed, Shada, to my mind, shows a terrific cast at work enjoying a solid, intelligent and funny script, working in an overall story telling atmosphere that was both cosy and attractive. Alongside the prior excellent location filming, something good, something extra noteworthy, was definitely coming together at that time in television centre, and for the show, before the studio doors were untimely and disgracefully locked up by industrial action. Shada could and should have been a triumphant end to the series, and the reign of producer Graham Williams and script editor Adams, rather than the Beeb leaving us with the Rennie tablet-inducing travesty of the badly cooked Christmas turkey that proved to be the season’s premature ender, The Horns of Nimon. An enigma and a curiosity certainly, but what remains of Shada, which would have had something for everybody, is still, most definitely, a rewarding viewing experience...

Lots of fun for everyone with the More Than 30 Years in the TARDIS documentary. 

MORE THAN 30 YEARS IN THE TARDIS (1 disc)

1993: the last great year that the shows Classic Series era was truly celebrated by the upper echelons of the BBC, what with their unveiling of a plethora of merchandise, a marvellous celebrity packed convention in London and, despite the lack of a continuing series (not such a problem in these modern times!), the promise of a BBC ENTERPRISES one-off special production directly made for video: The Dark Dimension. Sadly, like Shada, the project ultimately proved doomed, though unlike the Douglas Adams classic, where at least something was shot for all to see, the Adrian Riglesford concoction seemed to have had dark clouds set against it from the start, with ENTERPRISES bullied by rival BBC management and, despite their passionate enthusiasm, ultimately lacking the necessary funds to push it through to filming.

Despite the resulting furore and disappointment, the BBC did at least commission young director and WHO superfan Kevin Davies into bringing to the screens that November an extremely worthwhile visual celebration documentary for BBC 1 viewers, and WHO fans of all ages, to savour and wax lyrical nostalgia over. A veritable triumph then to be given an extended lease of life with additional extra material by BBC WORLDWIDE, back in the days when VHS tapes were king. Now, MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF A TIME LORD returns via DVD, and is all the richer for its reappearance during this bigger, and likely better, Fiftieth Anniversary.

And it really does maintain its legacy as the ultimate knees-up to WHO’s past and then present, with a look into the shows exciting and ground-breaking birth in the monochrome era of the mid-sixties and its enduring legacy into the seventies and late eighties, what with the iconic character of the Doctor himself, his multitude of companions, incredible monsters- most notably those cunning metal monsters, the Daleks, and overall behind the scenes evolution, all given a much deserved examination in this ultimate visual scrapbook, alongside classic and rare clips from numerous episodes across all the shows eras as well as some sterling scene recreations from classic adventures like the Skaro realm that is The Evil of the Daleks and the Cybermen army patrolling the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral from The Invasion. Plucked out of the vaults, there’s lots of great behind the scenes material adding to this veritable goldmine of the past, and proving a timely reminder to fans of all ages as to why the series is so good and endured for so long, surviving the ravages of changing times, internal corporation resentment and rival channels competition.

Classic clips, extended and deleted scenes and unused title sequences of old, and even overseas TV commercials, are used to great effect alongside contributions from Classic Doctors Patrick Troughton and Tom Baker (appearing in archive form), whilst the late, great Jon Pertwee, Colin Baker and Sylvester McCoy talk affectionately about their time inhabiting the role and its important, multi-generational appeal. Original series producer Verity Lambert talks candidly on how the show came to fruition and casting original star William Hartnell, whilst successors Barry Letts, Philip Hinchcliffe and John-Nathan Turner maintain the legend admirably, along with equally noteworthy script editors Terrance Dicks and Eric Saward, all of whom discuss many developing aspects linked to the shows existence, including the lead character’s ability to be recast on and off via the handy concept of “regeneration”, and the occasional controversy or unsuccessful elements that have reared their heads along the way. Plus, some of the great traditions linked to the series over the years, like it's connections to Blue Peter, competitions and other publicity. Stars, sportspeople and political figures, like Toyah Wilcox, Mike Gatting and Ken Livingstone, share their childhood memories, whilst the late Gerry Anderson talks about his then young sons adoration for the programme, rather than his own productions!

Of particular note, it's nice to see extended contributions from much missed series icons like Nicholas Courtney (also the narrator of the documentary), and Elisabeth Sladen (who appears in some segments with her then little girl, Sadie), both of whom had played such an important part in so many people’s childhoods. Carole Ann Ford, Fraser Hines, Deborah Watling, Nicola Bryant and Sophie Aldred also have fun reminiscing, and there’s a nice little foray into the two colour packed Dalek movies of the sixties that starred Peter Cushing in the lead role.

Backed up with an affectionate incidental music score from Mary Ayres, the documentary has held up well twenty years on and remains a lively and engaging tribute to the 30th anniversary.

Complimenting More’s release are a host of new materials from the current custodians of the classic WHO flame, including:

Remembering Nicholas Courtney: a charming, sadly never finished documentary talking to the actor about his life and career, hosted by his friend and co-author Michael McManus, with a nice guest appearance from a lively Tom Baker.

Those Deadly Divas: a fun twenty minute look at the classic and modern series female villains, such as The Rani, with contributions from modern series writer Gareth Roberts and actresses Kate O’Mara, Camille Coduri and Tracy Ann Oberman, celebrating just what memorable ingredients are needed to make a lady baddy so memorable in DOCTOR WHO!

The Lambert Tapes- Part One: an interview with the original producer of the show, Verity Lambert: truly one of the all-time great talents of the British television industry, talking with charm about the early difficulties of getting the show made at the BBC with limited resources but lots of enthusiasm and luck, plus the satisfaction of seeing it hit the big time with audiences once the Daleks had made their big entrance. A noteworthy interview segment compiled from The Story of DOCTOR WHO documentary from 2003.

Doctor Who Stories- Peter Purves: Hartnell era companion and Blue Peter icon Peter Purves talks very candidly and amusingly about his time in the TARDIS, earning the then healthy sum of £35 pounds a week in 1964. A nice featurette featuring more unseen footage culled from The Story of DOCTOR WHO special.

Finally, there’s a classic photo gallery of the documentary’s various Doctors, companions and monsters, PDF Radio Times listings, and an atmospheric Coming Soon trailer for the next DVD release: William Hartnell's Doctor caught in the French Revolution, during The Reign of Terror!

KOOL TV RATING: Considered somewhat an eclectic set by die-hard Who fans, the LEGACY box set nonetheless remains an essential purchase. Overall rating: 3.5 out of 5

Get the set here: Doctor Who: The Legacy Collection Shada/More Than 30 Years In The TARDIS DVD: Amazon.co.uk: Tom Baker, Lalla Ward, Douglas Adams: Film & TV