The Trial of a Time Lord
(DVD)


Starring Colin Baker
14 Episodes
1986
??? minutes (color)
Four Discs
R1 RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 7, 2008


 

 

Production Notes
Doctor Who
Colin Baker

Peri Brown
Nicola Bryant

Melanie Bush
Bonnie Langford		 The Valeyard
Michael Jayston

The Inquisitor
Lynda Bellingham

The Master
Anthony Ainley
 		 Written by
Robert Holmes (Episodes 1-4, & 13)
Philip Martin (Episodes 5-8)
&
Pip and Jane Baker (Episodes 9-12 & 14)

Directed by
Nicholas Mallett (Episodes 1-4)
Ron Jones (Episodes 5-8)
&
Chris Clough (Episodes 9-14)

Produced by
John Nathan-Turner

Original Airdate
Sept 6, 1986 - Dec 6, 1986

Region 1 DVD Release Date
October 2008

Warner Home Video
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Cover Blurb
 

 

Not Yet Available...

 

 

 
 

 
 

 

 


 

DVD Features
 

Disc One
Episodes 1-4 collectively known as "The Mysterious Planet" as they were originally transmitted in 1986 plus these bonus features.

 
  • The Making of 'The Mysterious Planet':
 An 25 minute featurette that sheds light on the first installment of The Trial of a Time Lord.  Includes interviews with Colin Baker (The Sixth Doctor), Nicola Bryant (Peri), Michael Jayston (The Valeyard), and Tony Selby (Glitz).  Also contributing are Eric Saward (script editor), Dominic Glynn (composer), and Mike Kelt (visual effects designer). 
 

 
  • Extended and Deleted Scenes:
 Eight minutes of footage cut from the story prior to transmission.
 

 
  • Trails and Continuity:
 Nearly 10 minutes of trails and continuity announcements from the original transmission dates.
 

 
  • 35mm Film Sequence:
 The complete version of the opening model shot to episode 1.
 

 
  • Music Videos:
 3 options to choose from...

  A. Clean Titles (with a original mono, newly mixed stereo, and 5.1 audio option)
  B. Theme Music Remix (again with a original mono, newly mixed stereo, and 5.1 audio option)
  C. The Trial Theme (this time with a stereo and 5.1 audio option)
 

 

  • Wogan:

 An extensive interview from 1986 with actors Colin Baker (6th Doctor) and Lynda Bellingham (the Inquisitor) taken from the Terry Wogan show.
 

 

  • Blue Peter:

 Interviews at the time of transmission with Colin Baker (6th Doctor), Bonnie Langford (Mel), and Nabil Shabam (Sil) taken from the children's show Blue Peter.
 

 
  • Points of View:
 Fans' reactions (in the form of view letters to another program) to the return of Doctor Who after it's 18 month hiatus.
 

 
  • Photo Gallery:
 Once again we are treated to many rare production stills and quite a few behind the scenes ones as well.
 

 
  • Information Text:
 Lots of trivia and tidbits of Whovian detail are provided.  The text appears intermittently along the bottom of the screen and is written by members of the Doctor Who Restoration Team.
 

 
  • Audio Options:
 The first option is to listen to an audio commentary from the cast.  The participants on this commentary are Colin Baker (The Sixth Doctor), Nicola Bryant (Peri), Tony Selby (Glitz) and Adam Blackwood (Balazar).

The second option is to listen to an audio commentary from the script editor Eric Saward.  This option is for episode 1 only.
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 Unknown at this time.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE. 
 
     
 

 

 

 

Disc Two
 Episodes 5-8 collectively known as "Mindwarp" as they were originally transmitted in 1986 plus these bonus features.

 

  • The Making of 'Mindwarp':

 A 20 minute featurette highlighting the making of episodes 5-8 (aka Mindwarp) of The Trial of a Time Lord.  Includes interviews with Colin Baker (The Sixth Doctor), Nicola Bryant (Peri), Brian Blessed (King Yrcanos), Michael Jayston (The Valeyard), and Patrick Ryecart (Crozier).  Also contributing are Philip Martin (writer), Eric Saward (script editor), and Jim Sangster (TV historian).
 

 
  • Deleted and Extended Scenes:
 Nine minutes of deleted footage removed during the editing phase.
 

 
  • Now and Then - on the Trail of a Time Lord:
 A featurette that highlights the location work done for this story and how it appears today.
 

 
  • A Fate Worse Than Death?
 Actors Colin Baker (6th Doctor) and Nicola Bryant (Peri) react (in commentary form) to the revelation of Peri's fate during the final episode of "The Trial of a Time Lord."
 

 
  • Trails and Continuity Announcements:
 Continuity announcements and trails from the original broadcast.
 

 
  • TV Talkback:
 Taken from the show Saturday Superstore, viewers comments are read about the return of Doctor Who and the new theme tune arrangement.
 

 
  • Children in Need:
 A short three minute clip highlighting the efforts of many, many former Doctor Who cast members raising money for children in need.
 

 
  • Lenny Henry Sketch:
 A short comedy sketch done on the Lenny Henry show roughly around the time of the original broadcast.
 

 
  • Photo Gallery:
 Once again we are treated to many rare production stills and quite a few behind the scenes ones as well.
 

 
  • Information Text:
 Lots of trivia and tidbits of Whovian detail are provided.  The text appears intermittently along the bottom of the screen and is written by members of the Doctor Who Restoration Team.
 

 
  • Audio Options:
 The participants on this commentary are Colin Baker (The Sixth Doctor), Nicola Bryant (Peri), and Philip Martin (writer).
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 Unknown at this time.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.

 
     
 

 

 

 

Disc Three
 Episodes 9-12 collectively known as "Terror of the Vervoids" as they were originally transmitted in 1986 plus these bonus features.

 
  • The Making of 'Terror of the Vervoids':
 This featurette clocks in at 25 minutes and examines the making of episodes 9-12 (aka Terror of the Vervoids) of The Trial of a Time Lord.  Includes interviews with Colin Baker (The Sixth Doctor), Nicola Bryant (Peri), Malcolm Tierney (Doland), and Michael Craig (Commodore Travers).  Also contributing are Pip and Jane Baker (writers), Eric Saward (script editor), Chris Clough (Director), and Jim Sangster (TV historian).
 

 
  • The Lost Season:
 Nearly 20 minutes long, this featurette details the initial plans of the original season 23 prior to the show's cancellation/hiatus during 1985.  See what would have been...
 

 
  • Deleted and Extended Scenes:
 We are treated to a hefty amount of scenes that didn't make it into the final version (14 minutes worth).
 

 

  • Trails and Continuity Announcements:

 Three minutes worth of trailers as well as continuity announcements from the original broadcast.
 

 
  • Now, Get Out of That:
 A nearly 30 minute long featurette that examines and analyzes the trademark cliffhangers of Doctor Who.  Contributors include actors Tom Baker (4th Doctor), Peter Davison (5th Doctor), Colin Baker (6th Doctor), and Sophie Aldred (Ace)
 

 
  • Saturday Picture Show:
 New companion Mel (played by actress Bonnie Langford) is interviewed during this clip.
 

 
  • Photo Gallery:
 Once again we are treated to many rare production stills and quite a few behind the scenes ones as well.
 

 
  • Information Text:
 Lots of trivia and tidbits of Whovian detail are provided.  The text appears intermittently along the bottom of the screen and is written by members of the Doctor Who Restoration Team.
 

 
  • Audio Options:
 The participants on this commentary are Colin Baker (6th Doctor), Michael Craig (Commodore Travers), Pip and Jane Baker (writers) and director Chris Clough.
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 Unknown at this time.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE.
 
     
 

Disc Four
 Episodes 13 & 14 collectively known as "The Ultimate Foe" as they were originally transmitted in 1986 plus these bonus features.

 
  • The Making of 'The Ultimate Foe':
 The final installment of the "Making of..." series concludes with an examination of episodes 13 and 14 (aka The Ultimate Foe) of The Trial of a Time Lord.  Includes interviews with Colin Baker (The Sixth Doctor), Nicola Bryant (Peri), Michael Jayston (the Valeyard), and Tony Selby (Glitz).  Also contributing are Pip and Jane Baker (writers), Eric Saward (script editor), Chris Clough (Director), and Jim Sangster (TV historian).
 

 
  • Trials and Tribulations:
 Clocking in at nearly one hour, this documentary delves into one of the most difficult and contentious periods in the show's history.  Contributors include Colin Baker (6th Doctor), John Nathan-Turner (producer), Eric Saward (script editor), Nicola Bryant (Peri), Pip and Jane Baker (writers), Philip Martin (writer), Ian Levine (continuity adviser),  and David Reid and Jonathan Powell (former BBC Heads of Series and Serials).
 

 

  • Extended and Deleted Scenes:

 Over four minutes of material edited out prior to transmission.
 

 
  • Trailers and Continuity Announcements:
 A little over one minute's worth of trailers as well as continuity announcements from the original broadcast.
 

 
  • 1985 Hiatus:
 A series of clips highlighting the media coverage of the show's hiatus in 1985.
 

 
  • Doctor  in Distress:
 A music video made at the time of the show's hiatus.  If you haven't seen this, then you're not a "real" Doctor Who fan.  ;)
 

 
  • Open Air:
 A clip from the popular show Open Air where fans of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society react to the finale of The Trial of a Time Lord with producer John Nathan-Turner and writers Pip and Jane Baker in studio.
 

 
  • Saturday Superstore:
 Colin Baker (6th Doctor) made an appearance on this show to celebrate Doctor Who's 23rd anniversary back in 1986.
 

 
  • Coming Soon:
 A specially made trailer for an upcoming DVD release of classic Doctor Who.
 

 
  • Photo Gallery:
 Once again we are treated to many rare production stills and quite a few behind the scenes ones as well.
 

 
  • Information Text:
 Lots of trivia and tidbits of Whovian detail are provided.  The text appears intermittently along the bottom of the screen and is written by members of the Doctor Who Restoration Team.
 

 
  • Radio Times Listings:
 Accessible from any computer with a DVD drive, a PDF of the original Radio Times press clippings for all 14 episodes.  Also contains an additional BBC Press Office release about the season.
 

 
  • Zig Zag Magazine:
 A PDF excerpt from a children's magazine (named Zig Zag).  This selection (accessible from any computer with a DVD drive) shows an extract from the magazine about the making of the series in 1986.
 

 
  • Audio Options:
 The first option is to listen to an audio commentary from the cast.  The participants on this commentary are Colin Baker (The Sixth Doctor), Tony Selby (Glitz), Chris Clough (director) and Pip and Jane Baker (writers).  Pip and Jane Baker only appear for episode 14

The second option is to listen to an audio commentary from the script editor Eric Saward.  This option is for episode 13 only.
 

 
  • Easter Eggs:
 Unknown at this time.  For a full list of known Easter Eggs and screen grabs of them click HERE. 
 
     


 

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Notes

  • After a 22 month long hiatus, Doctor Who was brought back with a season cut down to half of the normal number of episodes and with the threat of cancellation hanging over its head.
     
  • "Trial of a Timelord" was an ambitious story arc that ran throughout the season and paralleling the show's own uncertain future. 
     
  • Peri, popular companion to the 6th Doctor, left during "Mindwarp" (episodes 5-8).  Peri's departure is quite spectacular, to say the least.  A new companion, Melanie Bush, was introduced in the following section "Terror of the Vervoids" (episodes 9-12).
     
  • Robert Holmes was originally intended to pen the final two episodes, but died suddenly while working on the story.  With his first episode nearly complete, the task of finishing the last episode fell to script editor Eric Saward.
     
  • The original ending for Trial was much more ambiguous as the Doctor and the Valeyard were locked in a deadly struggle (ala Holmes/Moriarty plunging off a waterfall type scenario).  Unfortunately, there was major blow out between producer John Nathan-Turner and script editor Eric Saward.  Saward, who had written the final episode, left abruptly and took his ending with him.  Pip and Jane Baker were asked to come in and pen a new ending.  The original ending of episode 14 would have seen the Doctor and Valeyard tumbling through the space/time vortex at each other's throats (much like the legendary waterfall scene between Sherlock Holmes and Moriarty).
  • Anthony Ainley (The Master) is rumored to have had a little tiff with producer JNT as well and would only return for one more story (ironically, it was the final story of the final season of Doctor Who).
     
  • Colin Baker, who's contract to play Doctor Who was near the expiration point, was asked to leave the series.  While he was given many pleasant excuses, the consensus among fandom is that he was the scapegoat for less than stellar ratings for the series.   Asked to return the next season for a 4 part regeneration story, Baker refused, effectively making "Trial of a Time Lord" his final story.
     
  • More detailed information on this release is available at the Doctor Who Restoration Team's website.  You can find the article HERE.