An eclectic, well-balanced array of studio commentary contributors certainly makes for an fascinating ‘listen’, all of whom are charmingly coerced by the most genial of hosts, Toby Hadoke - a man in tweed Trilby who has a rapier-like encyclopaedic mind from which instantly are retrieved DOCTOR WHO facts & (obscure) figures that satisfyingly contribute - in retrieving the previously time lost anecdotes.

The contributors range from actors & guest actors, production staff and, in a first of its kind, (professional) fans whose aim is to continue the search for ‘lost TV episodes’, and this diversity of opinion sets this DVD release apart from others.

Carole Ann Ford – the first DOCTOR WHO companion, Susan Foreman – is joined by Production Assistant, Timothy Combe, Neville Smith (D’Argenson), Jeffry Wickham (Webster), Caroline Hunt (Danielle), Ronald Pickup (Physician), Patrick Marley (Soldier), and, from ‘archive hunters’, Paul Vanezes and Phillip Morris.

Toby Hadoke on revisiting DOCTOR WHO – THE REIGN OF TERROR: It was 49 years ago; how does it feel?
Carole Ann Ford: Horrible.
Neville Smith: I’ve never seen it. I was working on something else (when it was first broadcast).
Carole Ann Ford: One of my favourite ones, I must say. Lots of dressing-up in this one which was very nice. I prefer the history ones compared to the sci-fi ones.
Neville Smith: (My character) went nowhere rally. A dead end. Well, (he) was murdered. A pity that the original script idea wasn’t done but it would have been an hour long.

On the main cast, Carole Ann Ford: An unlikely quartet but we gelled very much so.

On incongruities, Timothy Combe: Here’s a French boy who speaks perfect English. Carole Ann Ford: …and he understands perfectly.

Fact: DOCTOR WHO – THE REIGN OF TERROR was a replacement for a story based around the Spanish Armada written by David Whitaker.

Neville Smith recalls the time has undergoing an apprenticeship, under the guiding wing of William Hartnell, in completing THE TIMES crossword puzzle, and how Hartnell was mildly aggrieved that he had become almost ‘typecast’ as a ‘working class’ bruiser. Smith says that the lead actor said, “I’m not a rough Cockney that I’m often taken for. I’m a proper actor.”
Carole Ann Ford: I think that he was winding you up. He didn’t take himself that seriously.

Timothy Combe recalls the moment when, having changed Rehearsal Room location, Hartnell refused to drink Camp Coffee (an instant coffee liquid concentrate invented in 1876) and insisted on ‘…fresh coffee…”

Toby Hadoke discussed that for Director, Henric Hirsch, DOCTOR WHO – THE REIGN OF TERROR was to be his only BBC production as he found the pressure of director “…quite stressful…” and, later in the commentary, Timothy Combe reveals how this stress manifested during the filming of the six part adventure. (It is known that episode four’s filming was transferred to another Director due to the stress, but it seems that the identity of this person remains open to debate (it is either John Gorrie or Mervyn Pinfield).

As Webster, guest actor, Jeffry Wickham, re-tells the account that, following a ‘liquid lunch’ (read: alcoholic) he was recalled to the studio following his character’s death for an additional scene. However, this recording ‘pick-up’ was not without a minor mishap.

On acting to ‘nothing’, except to a sound effect of scuttling vermin), Carole Ann Ford: I do very good rats. I’m a very good ‘ratter’.

On Toby Hadoke’s seemingly ‘sad’ existence as a DOCTOR WHO fan, Carole Ann Ford (said with affection): When are you going to get a life?

On the studio lighting (by Howard King), Timothy Combe: He was prepared to give light and shade.

In a refreshing ‘twist’ of studio commentary, Hadoke interviews/converses with guest actor, Ronald Pickup, to accommodate the fact that episode four has been ‘lost’ from the BBC Archive. Skilfully, this conversation avoids being a ‘luvvie-fest’ that would be appropriate only for ‘actor types’, delivering a fascinating insight into a world that I have no experience of (read: acting, theatre and television).

Ronald Pickup: (I’m) very surprised to be a part of DOCTOR WHO culture. It was my very first job. Literally, before I did any theatre. So, out of the blue I was employed the week I left (RADA – the London-based acting school). I sat there (in the script read-through) if I’d die and gone to heaven. Seeing all those famous faces, particularly with whom, as I kid, I’d grown-up with.

On William Hartnell, Ronald Pickup: Very special actor. A ‘character’ actor. Very pleasant. Very charming.

Fact: Pickup was paid the sum of £31 for his five days on DOCTOR WHO. His is in contrast to the weekly salary of William Hartnell’s £210. The value of £31 in today’s (2012) value is approximately £1200.

With, again, a missing episode (the fifth) Hadoke discusses the pursuit of two (professional) fans, Paul Vanezes and Phillip Morris, to recover not only missing DOCTOR WHO episodes but archive British television in general. Reassuringly, this conversation avoids a self-congratulatory, slap-on the-back, geek-fest that could have been but it cleverly focused on delivering clarity of facts & substance rather than being spuriously ‘all anoraks and mittens-with-strings’ that sometimes (well, inevitably always) give DOCTOR WHO fans a bad name. Overall, it is a fascinating conversation and takes the telling this (never ending?) story right through to this year (2012) and the re-location of two more previously-thought-to-be-lost episodes.

For the final episode, Patrick Marley joins the studio commentary to recall his briefest of appearances as “Soldier”.

On William Hartnell being provided with a ‘named chair’ in the studio, Carole Ann Ford: He was chuffed. He needs his ego stoked. He was less secure than many of us think.

On seeing the actor playing Napoleon, Patrick Marley: I’ve got a nose. I could have played Napoléon. No one asked me.

Fact: During the filming of DOCTOR WHO – THE REIGN OF TERROR, BBC Drama Executive, Donald Wilson agreed that the series, which, with this story, coming to the end of its first ‘season’, would be re-commissioned by another 13 episode. Though, at the time, Series Producer, Verity Lambert expressed concerns that the lead actors were looking of different acting roles should the series not be confirmed.

On re-watching the six-parter 49 years on, Carole Ann Ford: It’s been fascinating for me to hear other people’s talk of their experiences, really. It’s been a pleasure.

Overall, the studio commentary excelled in balancing fading memories with a dissertation of the acting profession (fascinating if, like me, are not a part of that thespian fraternity) and the view of the obsessed fan. Engaging, equally informative and entertaining; a prime example of extraordinary coordination and production that we have come to expect – sometimes, it misses the mark - from the DOCTOR WHO CLASSIC SERIES DVD release editorial team.

The complimentary DVD EXTRAS include the statutory Photo Gallery, Information Text (and if you have not watched any episode without this facility then I urge you to do so. With access to original BBC production correspondence and notes, the information Text offers fans a new level of appreciation as it delves to uncover the intricacies and nefarious unforeseen issues that it may been beset by), PDF materials, Audio Options and a DOCTOR WHO – THE ARK IN SPACE Special Edition Coming Soon trailer.

Naturally, the three main features (DON’T LOSE YOU HEAD, the intriguingly titled ROBESPIERRE’S DOMAIN SET TOUR, and ANIMATION GALLERY) are adroitly observed and adeptly edited enough to retain interest without having that feeling that you’ve been short-changed at the Checkout by a Wal-Mart Christmas Temp.

Whilst the relentless slicing of “Madame Guillotine” may not be the squeamish or easily offended, DON’T LOSE YOU HEAD is clear, concise and creative as it charts the execution (sic) of the 1994 six-parter as it bookends the first season of DOCTOR WHO.

Central to the documentary is the seemingly progressive deterioration in (mental) health of its Director, Henric Hirsch to a point that he physically collapsed (found by DVD Studio Commentary contributor, Timothy Combe) and relieved of his duties (by… well, that’s a mute-point. No-one is quite sure who actually directed episode three) and returning for the final two episodes.

Interesting, considering the polished patina of the four remaining episode, the production team was deemed “green” (read: not very experienced), and this documentary discusses this expressing the fact that the series’ remained on ‘probation’ and an extension to its original 42 episodes was far from agreed (though ‘good news’ filtered through during the making of the six-parter).

Often overlooked as an element of production that ‘just happens by magic’, the documentary analyses Roderick Laing’s set design contribution and concludes that, as we, the viewer with the perspective of 48 years, already acknowledge as being nothing less than superb bearing in mind the constraints imposed on his vision by the (lack of) studio square footage. Carole Ann Ford recalls a ‘bespoke’ set design model (of a Parisian street) that she owned for a number of years until a hapless act of dexterity-free dusting devastated the cardboard scaled imagery.

Many reviewers of this DVD release may lambast the editor in commissioning two “DVD fillers” that are, basically, self-congratulatory pat-on-the-back featurettes based upon the two animation episodes. ROBESPIERRE’S DOMAIN SET TOUR (and ANIMATION GALLERY) does exactly what it says on the tin; impressive, evocative of not only the broadcast episodes but of the historical period, the set designs are expertly & intelligently crafted to support the “animated actors”. Animation house, Theta Sigma has developed a hybrid of Anime and new technology, known as Thetamation, giving the on-screen characters a true depth, of existence within a place, and of credibility. Subtly is the watchword here; even the flickering candle sconces are alive. If you thought that the DOCTOR WHO – THE INVASION (Troughton) missing episodes animation were extraordinarily creative you will be impressed with DOCTOR WHO – THE REIGN OF TERROR.

Contradicting the NEW SERIES in fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat adventure, DOCTOR WHO – THE REIGN OF TERROR is beguilingly consistent, delivering a number of set pieces that, for younger viewers in 1964, would have had them spluttering out their teatime beef dripping (if you were lucky!) sandwiches. Imagine seeing your time-space travelling hero being consumed by fire or an intimate meeting with “Madame Guillotine” for Susan & Barbara. Like the sad fan that I am, I have watched this Press Preview disc three times now, and at every viewing I have gained further appreciation of the difficulties overshadowed its filming; an inexperienced crew, a weary cast, and an uncertain future for the drama series itself.

Once in a while there’s DOCTOR WHO CLASSIC SERIES DVD release that ticks all the boxes, and one that you can osmotically feel has been lovingly built in order to do justice of the original team’s commitment and all-pervading focus in “…doing the best that we can.”

Honestly, this may be the best Christmas present that He will deliver, and in the age of Texting it’s never too late to add it to your Christmas List.

Though you will have to wait until January 2013 for its release and delivery. It will be worth the wait.