Red Dwarf X – DVD/Blu-ray review

"That crate's slower than the speed of dark"

RED DWARF X

DVD/Blu-ray

RRP: £20.42/£25.52

BBFC: 12

Released by: 2ǀentertain

Release date: 19 November 2012

It’s not often that a show manages to return for its first full series in over a decade, but that’s exactly what’s happened here. After Red Dwarf’s eighth series aired in 1999 on BBC Two, the sci-fi comedy vanished from screens, before returning in 2009 for three Back to Earth specials on Dave (which officially formed the ninth series). Now, Red Dwarf is back once more. Six new episodes comprising the tenth series have been broadcast this year (again on Dave), and have now been released on DVD and Blu-ray by 2ǀentertain.

All six episodes are on the first disc, and the opening instalment – Trojan – is an excellent episode to kick things off. Although most of the people watching the series’ return on Dave were undoubtedly existing fans, this episode is perfectly accessible for first-time viewers. Given the length of time since the last full series, it’s entirely appropriate that this is a highly character-driven episode. It focuses on Rimmer (Chris Barrie), and the situation he finds himself in when a ‘quantum rod’ brings him into contact with his brother Howard (Mark Dexter), who is in major trouble and in need of help. But Howard – like all of Rimmer’s brothers – is an officer, so Rimmer cannot bring himself to face him at first.

Rimmer’s attempts to pass a test to become an officer (and the question which only he struggles with) are very funny indeed, and the humour in this episode is generally pitched at exactly the right level. The denouement is a brilliant twist in the relationship between Rimmer and Howard – tragic, hilarious, surprising and inevitable all at once. The episode’s sub-plot involving Lister (Craig Charles) is a parody (and an alarmingly realistic one) of the many teleshopping channels which exist today, and while it doesn’t really have a huge amount of relevance to the main narrative for most of the episode, it never feels like it’s playing for time. There’s actually a proper story being told behind all the comedy, and it’s this which makes the show such a delight to watch. With Trojan, Red Dwarf returned in style.

Whereas the first episode focuses primarily on Rimmer, the second – Fathers and Suns – gives Charles a chance to really shine as Lister. It’s Father’s Day, and in a continuation of an idea introduced in a previous series, the episode largely revolves around Lister being his own dad. The highlight of the episode for me is a scene in which Lister ends up talking to himself. Well, it’s not really himself. But it’s himself. It’s not a real conversation, either. But it is. It’s all bonkers stuff (in a way that only Red Dwarf could manage), but it does form a sort of twisted logic, which makes it all the more amusing to watch. Charles is clearly loving the material, and he brings his scenes to life in spectacular fashion.

Also in this episode, Rimmer and Kryten (Robert Llewellyn) install a new computer, Pree (Rebecca Blackstone), whom they envisage as a replacement for the previous computer, Holly (last seen at the end of the eighth series). The notion that Pree can foresee entire conversations before they even happen, and thus eliminate the necessity to have the conversations in the first place, is a wonderful idea which gives rise to a number of great gags. As if all of this wasn’t enough, this episode also sees a superb running gag with Red Dwarf’s talking vending machines, which is the icing on the cake for a very clever and memorable episode, packed with laughs. Furthermore, the separate narrative strands combine far more prominently in Fathers and Suns than in Trojan, resulting in a very satisfying episode which picks up character details from earlier in the show’s history and puts them to fantastic use.

Next is Lemons, and it’s a strange one. It’s a great concept, using space/time travel to get the crew away from Red Dwarf for a while and back to Earth in 23AD. They must then spend six months trekking from Britain to India to get the components for their return journey, where they meet a very famous face: Jesus (James Baxter). Looking at the story alone, it’s great to watch. But the issue for me was that I just didn’t find this one hugely funny – save for a few bits such as the “Jesus!” moment, I didn’t really start to genuinely laugh until around ten minutes from the end. Looking at the positives, though, this episode gives all of the regular cast members an equal share of the limelight. Although the focussing of the previous two episodes on specific characters worked very well for those plots, it’s nice to see everyone getting a fair share of screen-time around the half-way point of the series.

For me, the best performance of the episode is from Llewellyn as Kryten – he delivers his dialogue in such a way that he expertly underplays the comedy. Baxter is great in his guest role as Jesus (it still feels slightly weird to type that), playing the part with conviction and lunacy as and when the script demands each. While the humour didn’t really work for me for a lot of the running time, the far funnier moments towards the end make Lemons worth a watch, even though it's not one of the best episodes of the series.

The fourth episode, Entangled, is a masterpiece from beginning to end. What starts as a parody of health and safety bureaucracy continually evolves over the course of half an hour, with a multitude of sub-plots gradually merging together. Drawing upon elements established in the series’ opener, Cat (Danny John-Jules) and Kryten find themselves embroiled in ‘quantum entanglement’, resulting in one of the greatest delights of the episode. In a showcase of the talents of both actors, the two characters speak a lot of their dialogue in perfect synchronisation. This finally gives John-Jules something more to do (after not really having a story strand of his own until now), and the two actors’ performances make this one of the most memorable aspects of this series.

Meanwhile, Charles gives another fine performance, as Lister is locked to a very dangerous (and very Red Dwarf) device. All of this leads the team to again vacate Red Dwarf for a while, to try to settle with the creatures who Lister has been gambling with. The convergence of the various plot strands of the episode is executed cleanly and convincingly, leading up to a conclusion which is both gripping and whimsical. This is without doubt one of my favourite episodes of this series, as it is strong and consistent from start to finish, with more laughs than you can shake a quantum rod at. All of the cast are on top form, and all of the main characters have something to do. The perfect example of Red Dwarf at its best.

The penultimate episode of the run is Dear Dave. Although the title exclusively references just one of the plot strands that come into play here, there is also a second in this episode which takes an equal share of the spotlight. In fact, it isn’t until over half-way through the episode that it really becomes clear exactly what gives the episode its title, and it is a sub-plot with Rimmer which keeps things ticking over until that point. This gives Barrie some good material to work with, referencing the origins of Red Dwarf and conspiring to use Lister as an excuse for the predicament he finds himself in. When Lister’s storyline really gets going, it too proves to be very enjoyable, primarily fuelled by his status as the last human being alive.

Whereas the previous episode takes place on a relatively large stage, bringing all the characters into the mix in some way, Dear Dave is a far quieter affair. Kryten and – in particular – Cat are mainly relegated to the background here, but Lister and Rimmer’s storylines work wonderfully. The vending machines reappear, and whereas their role in Fathers and Suns was entirely separate to the main plot of that episode, their part here links perfectly into the main storyline with a scene that is one of my favourites of the whole series. Although Dear Dave isn’t quite as good as the episode before it, it shines in its own way. It seems that this fifth slot in the series is one of those which encountered production problems, but the end result is a real treat.

The series began with an episode about Rimmer, and it ends with an episode about Rimmer – The Beginning reveals a lot about his earlier days. The appearance of his father, played by Simon Treves, is a real eye-opener, and goes some way towards explaining why Rimmer is the way he is today. Given the financial difficulties which this series had, production values on this episode are very impressive, with the first shots after the title sequence consisting of well-realised CG establishing shots of Io. Indeed, it would be impossible to review Red Dwarf X without referencing the effects. The model shots throughout the whole series never fail to be amazing – in this episode, many of the shots of the Simulant ships and in the asteroid belt look wonderful.

The Beginning references a number of earlier episodes of Red Dwarf – the title echoes that of the first-ever episode, and more recently, one line of dialogue brings back memories of Rimmer’s issues with exams in Trojan. But by far the best reference is the crew’s discussion about the events which ended the eighth series. The show has now acknowledged that cliffhanger, but we barely know any more about its resolution than we did to begin with, making the reference infinitely better than any proper explanation of what happened next ever could be. In a way, the ending is rather abrupt, but it works brilliantly. The things which Rimmer discovers during this episode lead to us seeing a new side of the character, and the ending is delightful and promising. When Red Dwarf returns (and it surely must be a question of “when”, not “if”), it will be fascinating to see what’s next for Rimmer and his relationship with the crew. With this episode, Red Dwarf X ends on a high. If I had to choose a favourite episode from this series, there’s a very strong chance I’d go for this one.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Over twelve minutes of Smeg Ups are included. Out-takes never fail to be a delight to watch, and there isn’t really much more to be said here! My favourite involves Kryten and a jet… At nearly twenty-eight minutes, the package of Deleted Scenes from across the series is about as long as an entire episode. There’s a wider variety of clips included than the name might suggest. As well as deleted scenes in the traditional sense, there is also some material from alternate versions of episodes (prior to reworking of the scripts), footage as it was prior to chromakeying of background plates into green-screen shots, very early drafts of CG shots, and an unused model shot intended for use as the background of the closing credits. Although it’s interesting to watch all of this excised material, and there is a handful of particularly good moments, a lot of it isn’t really missed. In fact, some of it would have detracted from the quality of the overall piece – a case in point is a deleted second occurrence of “Jesus!” in Lemons. This is a great gag, but it just loses it when repeated immediately afterwards, so it’s good that it was cut. The highlight of this feature is footage from a Drive Room scene, performed on the Blue Midget set with no intention to use the resulting footage, to get an idea of “where the laughs were”. Llewellyn is superb (especially when John-Jules forgets his lines) and if you thought you’d never see Kryten wearing reading glasses, think again. Although the footage in this feature is of varying quality, it is still an essential watch for any fan of the series. To top it all off, there is a very interesting optional commentary from series writer, producer, director and co-creator, Doug Naylor, in which he explains the origins of the material and why it wasn’t ultimately used.

But the crowning glory of the special features package on this release is We’re Smegged, a mammoth making-of documentary. At nearly two hours, this is an amazingly comprehensive feature, covering all aspects of production, from the announcement of the series and its pre-production, to in-depth coverage of every episode, plus a look at the model-work and post-production. This is by far the longest made-for-DVD documentary that I’ve seen for ages, and the long running time allows for each topic to be given the coverage that it deserves. I learnt a lot of facts about the series, such as how certain sets were sneakily re-used in later episodes to make the best use of the budget, and there is also discussion of the technical side of the series. For example, I had no idea that Red Dwarf X was mainly shot in 4K, with 2K model shots, even though the highest resolution currently required is 1080 HD. Future-proofing in practise. But while the documentary covers the highlights of making the series, it also looks at the many problems which the series encountered – from budgeting issues to script re-writes to technical problems. It is primarily these areas that make the feature so fascinating, as Doug Naylor and other members of the production team recount the issues in detail, and how they were ultimately resolved. All four primary cast members are interviewed, and as you’d expect, Barrie, Charles, John-Jules and Llewellyn all have great stories to tell about the series’ production. The documentary concludes with a gag borrowed from one of the episodes of this series – Naylor, you tease, you…

AUDIO/VIDEO (DVD version reviewed)

The episodes are presented in Dolby 5.1 surround sound, with 2.0 stereo extras. Other than that, there isn’t much to report on the audio side of things. Dialogue is audible – not overpowered by the audience laughter – and the series’ sparse incidental music sounds fine.

Mostly, the video is fine too. Everything looks as crisp and vivid as is possible on a DVD. One thing to note is that due to technical issues with the camera (discussed in the documentary), a small number of brief shots in Trojan are afflicted with vertical blue streaks and patterning across the image. After extensive work in grading and other post-processing, the makers of the programme managed to tone down this problem to a level acceptable for broadcast, and since it’s only there very briefly, it’s not a major issue.

SUMMARY

Hopefully, Red Dwarf X is the revival of the programme as a regular series again. Of course, some of the episodes are stronger than others, but the only one which I really considered to be a weak link is Lemons. Judging the episodes alone, I’d award this series a six or seven out of ten. But after factoring in the special features package (which is small by numbers, but vast by running time), this release is better than that. To define it within one sentence, it’s a must-have title for any Red Dwarf fan.

8 OUT OF 10

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London 2012 Olympic Games – DVD/Blu-ray review

"When our time came, Britain, we did it right"

LONDON 2012 OLYMPIC GAMES

DVD/Blu-ray

RRP: £29.99/£34.99

Released by: BBC Worldwide

Release date: 29 October 2012

It was a truly unforgettable time. The eyes of the world were fixed on Great Britain, as the Games of the XXX Olympiad took place. Now, the best moments of the Games can be relived on this five-disc DVD/Blu-ray release from BBC Worldwide.

Occupying Disc 1 and some of Disc 2 is director Danny Boyle’s opening ceremony, which was the subject of a huge amount of hype and – let’s face it – concern. The comparisons were always going to be with the Beijing 2008 opening ceremony, and it must have been a superhuman task to devise a credible successor to that phenomenal spectacle.

But they did it.

After a fun countdown sequence involving all things London, Bradley Wiggins took to the stage to ring a rather large bell, marking the start of proceedings. What began next was a journey through the cultural and industrial history of Britain. As Kenneth Branagh appeared in the green and pleasant land, playing Isambard Kingdom Brunel while reciting Caliban’s speech from The Tempest (strange, yes, but not to worry), we were thrown into a pulse-pounding and breath-taking sequence which represented the industrial revolution. On every re-watch, the staging of this section never ceases to be incredible – the urban landscape of bricks and chimneys literally rises out of no-where. Quite how much logistical planning this took is anybody’s guess, but the result is remarkable. All of this was building up to a moment of pure genius, as the five Olympic rings were forged out of the burning chaos and then set ablaze high up in the air. This – surely one of the most memorable images of London 2012 – was truly the start of something very, very special.

Next, the Queen made her acting debut, starring alongside Daniel Craig in a specially-shot James Bond sequence. This led to ‘the Queen’ jumping out of a helicopter into the Olympic Stadium. Yes, it was ludicrous, but it was also utterly captivating. But not as captivating as what followed it. In a time when the NHS is being increasingly privatised, it was a delight to see a whole section of the ceremony devoted to it. Perhaps inspired by the stacks of children’s books which can be found in so many hospitals, this celebration developed into a surreal dream-like adventure as characters such as Lord Voldemort and Mary Poppins appeared, accompanied by an appearance by J.K. Rowling. The reaction from the audience at this point says it all.

007 wasn’t the only person allowed an appearance – enter Mr Bean! Rowan Atkinson made a hilarious contribution to the London Symphony Orchestra’s rendition of the Chariots of Fire theme, flowing neatly into a pre-filmed re-enactment of the iconic beach running scene. Moments like this embody the brilliant thing about the ceremony – it was a showcase of the very best of British, celebrated in a way that only an Olympic ceremony could achieve. My personal favourite segment, though, has to be the whirlwind tour through a jaw-dropping quantity of film, music and television from across the decades.

By and large, the live and pre-recorded material here blended reasonably well, and the result was an energetic and bonkers montage of everything. The focus was very much on the younger generation, using social networking as a narrative framing device to great effect. Because of this, it’s entirely appropriate that this part of the proceedings builds up to an appearance by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, inventor of the World Wide Web. Special mention must go to the projections onto the house which run throughout this sequence – it must have been a magnificent spectacle for the audience in the stadium, and it still works wonderfully on television. That said, it’s impossible to fully appreciate the complexity of the graphics on the small screen, which is where one of the special features on this release comes in – but more on that a bit later.

Prior to the beginning of the athletes’ parade, there was an emotional pause to remember the victims of the bombing of London on 7 July 2005, the day after it was announced that London had won the bid to host the Olympics in 2012. Amid the partying and celebrations, this brief moment of slow, quiet reflection is a fitting and beautiful tribute to those who lost their lives. To this day, I still can’t quite believe that NBC removed it from the US broadcast of the ceremony.

The athletes’ parade is where, for some people, the existence of the fast-forward button will come in handy. But anyone who wants to can view it in its entirety, although this does make the wait for Team GB even more excruciating than it was on the night. But when they finally emerged, it was a once-in-a-lifetime moment of glory, and something which truly will remain in the memory forever.

Following a performance by the Arctic Monkeys, it was time for the traditional speeches to mark the opening of the Games. Up first was Lord Sebastian Coe, who gave a truly inspirational speech. At the end of the day, it is Coe who we need to thank for providing such a wonderful London 2012. As the chairman of LOCOG, he was at the helm of London’s bid to become the host city of the 2012 Games, before being ultimately responsible for every aspect in the organisation and running of these Olympics. Yes, there were some worrying moments along the way involving ticket controversies and construction delays, but it all came together spectacularly in the end. Coe deserved all the applause he got here. It was then the turn of IOC president Dr Jacques Rogge, who described London as “the birthplace of modern sport”, and spoke of the inclusion of female competitors on every team as “a major boost for gender equality”. Indeed, Rogge’s speech seemed to focus largely on the theme of legacy – the fact that this was the third time that the Games would be held in London, the lasting influence of Britain on global sport, and the aim to Inspire a Generation. Mission accomplished.

After the Games were officially opened by the Queen, the Olympic flag was carried in by a group deserving special recognition, including Ban Ki-moon and Doreen Lawrence. As it neared the flagpole, legendary boxer Muhammad Ali made an appearance. It was very sad to see him in such a frail state, but nevertheless, the inclusion of this sporting icon was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the ceremony. Then, it was time to lift the lid on perhaps the biggest mystery of all.

A quick Google search a few hours before the ceremony aired told me that the biggest names rumoured to be carrying the torch into the stadium and lighting the cauldron were Steve Redgrave or Roger Bannister, two sporting legends. As a boat with the flame rapidly approached the Olympic Stadium (among those on-board was one of London 2012’s greatest ambassadors, David Beckham), and a figure awaited its arrival, it looked like this huge question would finally be answered. It was Steve Redgrave. But there was a massive twist waiting in the wings. As Redgrave jogged into the stadium, the future of the Olympics was waiting for him – seven young athletes, each one selected by an Olympian, and showing massive potential in their respective sports. These were the people who would complete the long journey of the Olympic flame, but there was still one final enigma: the cauldron. Earlier, when the competing nations entered the stadium, each carried in a ‘copper petal’. Now, the function of these petals was finally revealed – each was a component of the cauldron itself. This is a perfect embodiment of the spirit of the Games. It is completely appropriate that each nation is essentially a part of the greatest symbol of the Olympic Movement.

This was a ceremony designed to present the best of Britain’s past, present and future. It was about welcoming the world to a party seven years in the making. Many of us weren’t sure what to expect, but what we got was a captivating, joyous and clever rollercoaster ride. Danny Boyle and his team created a show which really did have something for everyone, but best of all, all of it was merely a part of one grand story.

The version of the opening ceremony included on this release isn’t exactly as it was broadcast. It is a ‘director’s cut’, tweaked to take advantage of post-production, a luxury which obviously wasn’t available to the live production. Before watching it, I had mixed feelings. I was intrigued about what had been changed, but also concerned about what might be missing given that the transmitted version wasn’t present. But having now seen it, I’m delighted to say that I really didn’t notice any notable excisions. It seems that the vast majority of cuts have been made simply to tighten up the delays between each segment of the ceremony. In addition, some tweaks have been made here and there – some alternate camera angles have been inserted in places to replace certain broadcast shots, one part of the ceremony towards the beginning has had stylised freeze-frames added to it, and extra captions have been added where they were lacking on broadcast, such as when the seven athletes of tomorrow conclude the flame’s journey. This re-edit of the opening ceremony gets the balance spot on – a brilliant use of post-production, while remaining very sympathetic to the essence of the original broadcast. My opinion on this has totally turned around; I actually don’t miss the broadcast version, and genuinely don’t think it needed to be on this release.

There are no less than three audio tracks available for the opening ceremony: the original BBC commentary by Huw Edwards, Hazel Irvine and Trevor Nelson, the raw stadium sound (which was also available as an optional stream on the Red Button, one of the BBC’s dedicated Olympics channels and online during the live broadcast) and a brand new commentary by Danny Boyle and writer Frank Cottrell Boyce. This commentary is fascinating to listen to, as the two contributors have a huge amount to say about the genesis of the various aspects of the ceremony. Facts on offer include the person originally signed up to play Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and a genuine historical relic that was included. They are glowing with praise for the volunteers, and go into depth about the historical context which connects the different elements together. If you want a genuine insight into the creative minds behind the opening ceremony, look no further than here.

The remainder of Disc 2 and all of Discs 3 and 4 is where you’ll find all the sporting action itself. Over seven hours of highlights are included, presented in a chronological day-by-day format. Used as a framing device is a mixture of original links by BBC presenters during the Games, and newly-filmed footage presented by Sue Barker. This glues the highlights together into a coherent collection of the greatest moments from these Olympics, and the medals table is shown at the end of each day. This means that these highlights convey the story of London 2012 very well – the highs for a number of the competing nations, and the ongoing battle between China and the United States for the top spot on the medals table, not to mention Great Britain’s gradual climb up the ranks.

Inevitably, the amount of time given to different sports varies, depending on how much notable action there is to cover. Some events such as gymnastics get a large chunk of screen-time in one go, while others like mountain biking are only touched upon briefly. Most sports at least get a look-in to some degree, although not all of them – for example, synchronised swimming is one event that springs to mind as being almost absent, apart from a few very brief clips during montages. A condensed collection of highlights like this could never be totally balanced, due to the sheer range of events that make up the Olympics, but the day-by-day format means that this release is as close as it’s really possible to get.

Disc 5 is devoted entirely to Kim Gavin’s closing ceremony, which is presented here exactly as it was broadcast. It took a very different approach compared to that of the opening ceremony – the story being told here was that of the evolution of British music throughout the decades. Thinking of it as a concert, it did the job really well. There was certainly a wide range of music on offer – from Muse, Ray Davies, Madness and the Kaiser Chiefs to Ed Sheeran, the Spice Girls, Queen With Special Guest Jessie J and the Pet Shop Boys with traffic cones on their heads. (No, I haven’t got a clue why either.) For me, the highlight was Freddie Mercury’s virtual contribution to the show. Just listen to the crowd – even now that he’s no longer with us, that man retains his unique and unrivalled ability to command everybody in the audience. Magical.

The issues start to arise when you look past the concert aspect, and at the show in its wider form. There’s no doubting that the ambition and intent was there, but there’s something not quite right about the whole thing. The sequence depicting the chaotic London as a city made, quite literally, out of news shows some interesting statements and ideas, but unfortunately it comes across rather bland. Things get a bit livelier when Stomp and the acrobats appear, but it still never quite manages to hit the right note. Then there’s the downright bizarre; why did Timothy Spall recite exactly the same Shakespeare as heard in the opening ceremony? It almost looks like Gavin and Boyle didn’t speak to each other at all, but they surely must have done – the repetition of the same dialogue can only have been intentional, but it doesn’t really make any sense at all. When the entrance of the athletes overran, and Elbow ran out of music to play, it was time to bring out plan B. No, not Plan B – a repetition of a lot of the music that had been performed live just moments previously. Wasn’t there any other good British music to share with the world?

Perhaps all of my misgivings are simply because of the unavoidable comparisons with the fantastic opening ceremony, but while there are some great moments – such as the construction of a representation of the head of John Lennon, and the rising of a phoenix out of the ashes of the Olympic flame – the closing ceremony at large was something of a hit and miss. Best just to enjoy the music bits.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Over half an hour of bonus content is included, most of it related to the opening ceremony. Nimrod is the London Symphony Orchestra’s performance of Elgar’s classic composition, while Frank Turner sees the musician perform some of his acoustic songs on the recreated Glastonbury Tor. These uplifting performances took place in the stadium in the build-up to the start of the ceremony, and are presented here as separate menu items.

Isles of Wonder Deconstruction is a look at the creation of the memorable animated journey up the Thames to the Olympic Stadium, by removing the different composited elements from selected parts of the sequence layer by layer. Although it doesn’t cover the whole animation, and doesn’t have any explanatory input from its creators, the visuals alone provide a fascinating glimpse of the work that went into blending ‘real’ imagery with computer-generated enhancements.

Thanks Tim Projection House is an absolute revelation. As mentioned previously, it allows all of the projections during the house sequence to be seen in full. In addition, the output of the two LED big screens is represented along the bottom of the screen. This feature allows more appreciation of the technical complexity than the television broadcast itself possibly could, and it was only after watching it that I realised just how big an achievement this part of the ceremony was. Commentary on this extra is provided by Danny Boyle (by the sounds of it, this was recorded after the main feature commentary), who discusses the thoughts and intentions behind what is arguably the most elaborate section of the opening ceremony.

An item listed on the menu as Extra Sporting Moments is a look at some of the things that didn’t quite fit in the main highlights. Originally broadcast prior to the closing ceremony, it serves as a reminder of some of the lowlights of the Games. It’s not all doom and gloom, though; there’s uplifting stuff in there too, such as crowd opinions, and the very well-written narration makes it essential viewing. The perfect companion to the many hours of highlights on this release.

AUDIO/VIDEO (DVD version reviewed)

Across these discs, the commentaries seem perfectly audible, and none of the audio really seems amiss. The opening ceremony’s raw stadium sound is presented in Dolby 5.1 surround sound, while the commentaries are in stereo. The highlights and closing ceremony are in 5.1.

As far as the video goes (and keep in mind I’m working from the DVD here), while it’s certainly not perfect, it’s probably as good as was possible. Aliasing can be seen in places (the OBS captions with extremely small lettering suffer) and particularly dark areas of the picture are rather noisy, but this is probably due to the very nature of standard definition DVD, and the MPEG-2 compression it employs. For the most part, except for these issues when they appear, the pictures do generally look rather good. Selected shots have been ‘filmised’, removing the interlaced video look. In itself, I’m not entirely sure why this was done, as it doesn’t seem very natural for content that was originally broadcast live. The really strange thing, though, is that there doesn’t seem to be any defined pattern of what was and wasn’t filmised – on more than one occasion, we go from filmised video to interlaced and vice versa from shot-to-shot. A minor annoyance, but not a major showstopper. It should be noted that Disc 3 has some brief video quality issues inherent in the highlights footage, but this was there on broadcast and was therefore impossible to remove (there is a disclaimer about this before the menu appears on this particular disc).

SUMMARY

I enjoyed this. A lot. I’m so glad that I have these discs in my collection, so that I can relive these Olympic Games whenever I like. And that is precisely the reason I’m giving for you to go out and buy this release. These were once-in-a-lifetime moments, and this is the perfect way to remember them. Add to this the special features that are included, and this is not only the definitive release of the London 2012 Olympics, but without doubt one of the best DVD and Blu-ray releases of the year. I simply can’t recommend it enough.

9 OUT OF 10



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Doctor Who: The Daleks' Master Plan – investors wanted for unofficial animation

Talk of animation is somewhat common in Doctor Who fandom at the moment. In January of next year, the six-part William Hartnell story The Reign of Terror will be released on DVD, with its two missing episodes animated using the original soundtracks. This will be the first time since 2006 that animation has been used in this way in the Doctor Who DVD range, but other things have been going on elsewhere.

Last year, Ian Levine (Doctor Who mega-fan – if there's one person who warrants that title, it's him) directed a project to complete the unfinished Season Seventeen Tom Baker serial Shada, by animating the unfilmed scenes and recording the dialogue with as many of the original cast as possible. Sadly, this production was not picked up by BBC Worldwide for the forthcoming DVD release of Shada, so it must remain under wraps for the time being. But Ian has another big project on the horizon...

In 1965/66, an epic was broadcast. Consisting of a mammoth twelve episodes, The Daleks' Master Plan remained the longest-ever Doctor Who story until 1986. (Or on the other hand, it's still the longest story. Depends on your viewpoint.) But tragically, only three of these episodes are currently known to exist – the second, fifth and tenth. The other nine episodes fell victim to the BBC's purging of its archives to make way for new programming in the sixties and some of the seventies.

This is where Ian comes in.

As with every other missing episode of Doctor Who, the soundtracks of the missing parts of The Daleks' Master Plan survive, recorded off-air by dedicated fans. Ian's plan is to hire a team of animators to recreate the lost visuals, and he has kindly granted permission for a selection of character shots to be reproduced in this article. He has also allowed me to publish his two Facebook posts about the project.

21 October 2012: Okay this is an important and serious request. Once we finish the current private Doctor Who projects (Yellow Fever, Gallifrey etc) we are going to properly animate the entire Daleks' Master Plan. But I need to find a few serious people who can chip in and help, or it's not going to happen. The standard will be as good as anything you have ever seen. Please please no public replies, only by private message. It's in a very worthwhile cause, despite the letdowns over our wonderful Shada. And please remember that one day, eventually, there will be someone different and more receptive at the BBC.

30 October 2012: We can honestly genuinely make The Daleks' Master Plan work, fully animating the remaining nine episodes. We finished animating Shada, Mission to the Unknown, and reconstructing Lost in the Dark Dimension and loads more. We proved we can do this. We can do it to a better standard than The Invasion or The Reign Of Terror. But we need genuine sincere investors to pull off such a major coup. If you can help, PLEASE get in touch.

So, that's basically what this is all about. If you have any money to spare, it would be really worthwhile to contact Ian. His Facebook profile is at http://www.facebook.com/ian.levine.35. There's no guarantee that this will see an official release, but in any case, you'd be helping to recreate a lost classic.

Source: Ian Levine



More 2013 Doctor Who DVD news

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine confirms the DVD releases for the first part of 2013.

So that's how Shada's coming out on
DVD...

Next year's release schedule will begin on 7 January with The Legacy Box, containing the unfinished story Shada and Kevin Davies' 1994 documentary More than 30 Years in the TARDIS. Recording began for Tom Baker serial Shada in 1979, with the intention to air the story in 1980. However, after all the location filming in Cambridge and one of the three planned studio sessions had been completed, industrial strike action forced the remainder of the production to be abandoned. After months of speculation, the magazine confirms that the DVD will be a restored version of the 1992 VHS release, which featured narration and in-vision links by Tom Baker to summarise the missing material. North American DVD website TV Shows on DVD lists a "Flash version" among the special features, referring to the 2003 webcast of Big Finish's Paul McGann version of the story (still available to view on the BBC's website). However, it is understood that this will be computer-oriented DVD-ROM content, not viewable on a lot of DVD players. Released straight to VHS in 1994, More than 30 Years in the TARDIS is an extended version of 30 Years in the TARDIS, which was broadcast the previous year to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Doctor Who.

Animation brings the two missing
episodes of The Reign of Terror back
to life.

Later that month, on 28 January, the 1964 William Hartnell story The Reign of Terror will be released. The fourth and fifth episodes of the six-part finale of Doctor Who's first series are missing from the BBC's archives, so they are represented here by brand-new animation by Theta-Sigma, using off-air soundtrack recordings. This will be the first time that missing episodes have been reconstructed in this manner since the Patrick Troughton serial The Invasion was released on DVD in 2006.




On 18 February, the 1975 Tom Baker story The Ark in Space will be re-released on DVD as a Special Edition title. In addition to sporting brand new special features, the restoration of the story will be improved over the 2002 release, as that original DVD did not make use of a bit of restoration kit called the Transform PAL Decoder (this is now the only colour story from 1963-1989 for which this is the case).

1964's William Hartnell story The Aztecs will also be re-released on 11 March. As with The Ark in Space, more special features will be included, along with a new restoration of the serial to take advantage of the significant advances in restoration technology since the original DVD release in 2002. Most significantly, this release will include Air Lock, the third episode of the 1965 story Galaxy 4, which was discovered in 2011 after being missing from the archives for decades previously.

The magazine also reveals two releases for June 2013. One of these is 1975's Terror of the Zygons, which will complete the Tom Baker era on DVD. The other is a Blu-ray release of Jon Pertwee's first story, 1970's Spearhead from Space. This was the only Doctor Who story to be shot entirely on film between 1963 and 1989, so a high definition transfer is possible. The Blu-ray will also include two exclusive features. A Dandy and a Clown: The Life of Jon Pertwee will be a biography of the third actor to play the Doctor, produced and directed by Chris Chapman, while a tribute to the late Caroline John (who played companion Liz Shaw in this story and the rest of Season Seven) will also be presented.

There is one classic release remaining for 2012. The DVD range continues with the Special Edition re-release of The Claws of Axos on 22 October, while the recently-broadcast first part of Series Seven will be released on DVD and Blu-ray on 29 October.

Sources: Doctor Who Magazine, TV Shows on DVD, Chris Chapman, Steve Manfred

Sky gains exclusive rights to all eight Harry Potter films

Sky has made a deal with Warner Bros to hold exclusive UK television and streaming rights to all eight films in the Harry Potter series. Across a three month period starting next month, no other channels or streaming providers will be able to show any of the films, which also means that Sky Movies will be the only place to see them on television over the Christmas period.

In addition to the films being available on Sky Movies, subscribers will also be able to view them using the On Demand service which is currently being rolled out to Sky+HD boxes, via Sky Go on various internet-connected devices, and on NOW TV (the Sky-powered internet TV service) with the Sky Movies monthly pass. The eighth and final film of the series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 2, will also be available in 3D on Sky 3D. This was the only one of the films to see a 3D release in cinemas, although Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 was eventually released on Blu-ray 3D after the 3D conversion could not be completed in time for the theatrical release.

Ian Lewis, Director of Sky Movies, said: "We’re delighted to be extending our partnership with Warner Bros to deliver Sky Movies customers exclusive access to the entire Harry Potter™ collection, which will not be available on any other TV channel or streaming service this Christmas. To make it even better, Sky Movies customers can also enjoy the entire series of films on demand through their Sky+HD box, or watch them while they are on the move via their smartphone or mobile tablet."

Josh Berger CBE, President and Managing Director of Warner Bros UK, Ireland and Spain, said: "The Harry Potter™ film franchise is a uniquely British success story, one that was conceived and produced here in the UK with a largely British cast and crew and beloved by millions of people around the world. For the first time ever, Sky Movies customers can look forward to enjoying all of the movies in this record-breaking series in one place at one time."

This is not the only agreement to be made between Sky and Warner Bros; Sky Movies will be the first UK subscription service to show a number of the studio's films.

Source: Sky

November 2012 DVDs from BBC Worldwide

News on the new releases heading your way soon...

UPDATE: A handful of the titles listed in this article will form BBC Worldwide's first foray into UltraViolet. Specifically, these are John Bishop Live: Rollercoaster Tour 2012, Attenborough: Sixty Years in the Wild and this year's Top Gear special, along with Doctor Who: Series 7 Part 1 (out on 29 October). UltraViolet allows purchasers of a DVD or Blu-ray which includes the feature to stream a digital copy of the content to internet-connected devices such as a PC or compatible mobile device (it does not work, however, with iTunes).

Today, BBC Worldwide issued a press release for the DVD (and, in some cases, Blu-ray) releases that are due next month. These titles are listed below:

London 2012 Olympic Games

Available: 29 October

RRP: £30.63 / £35.73

Experience once again the magnificent performances from outstanding athletes such as Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Chris Hoy and Jessica Ennis. Marvel at the many amazing achievements, including Mo Farah’s double gold, Oscar Pistorius’ Olympic Games début and Nicola Adams’ gold in the boxing ring.  Relive Team GB’s 29 gold medal triumphs and recapture the moments which made these Olympic Games so special; from the electrifying atmosphere in the stadium on ‘Super Saturday’ to judo’s Gemma Gibbons’ tearful dedication and the pure emotion of swimmer Chad le Clos’ father.

Jubilee Tribute to the Queen by the Prince of Wales

Available: 5 November

RRP: £13.27

A personal tribute to Her Majesty the Queen by His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Through previously-unseen photographs and cine films from Her Majesty's private collection – many of them taken by the Queen herself – the Prince reflects on various public events and private family moments during the sixty years of the Queen's reign. The film includes footage of nine-year-old Charles and his younger sister Princess Anne on a family beach holiday in Norfolk in 1957. In some light, the Prince himself has never seen the footage before.

Life on Earth (Remastered)

Available: 5 November

RRP: £23.48

Available on Blu-ray for the first time ever, Life on Earth, the first of David Attenborough’s great surveys of life on the planet has been re-mastered to HD quality – sharper and clearer than it has ever been seen before.

The landmark 1979 series tells the story of the development of life on Earth; from the first single-cell organism that appeared in the seas about 3,500 million years ago, to the millions of diverse and complex animals and plants that share the world with us today.

It features breathtaking photography and unforgettable footage – including David Attenborough’s legendary encounter with the mountain gorillas of Rwanda, remarkable film of a live coelacanth (long believed extinct), a tiny tadpole ejected from the mouth of a Darwin frog and the amazing interior of a cave full of bats.

Trials of Life (Remastered)

Available: 5 November

RRP: £23.48

David Attenborough’s remarkable 1990 landmark series has been re-mastered to HD quality for this release – sharper and clearer than it has ever been seen before. Examining animal behaviour from birth to adulthood, twelve 50-minute episodes each feature a different aspect of the journey through life, from finding food and hunting to making homes and protecting the next generation.

The series remains a TV classic, renowned for its many incredible wildlife sequences including killer whales beaching themselves to catch sea lions, chimpanzees undertaking a brutal hunt for colobus monkeys, footage from the inside of an army ant bivouac and the amazing surge to the sea of millions of red crabs on Christmas Island.

The British

Available: 5 November

RRP: £25.52

This bold and exciting series brings Britain’s tumultuous history to vivid life in an exciting new style combining gripping drama, spectacular CGI and compelling commentary.

This seven-part series takes viewers on an amazing journey from the Roman invasion to the coronation of Elizabeth II in 1953, looking at the people and events that shaped the nation. Surprising and thought-provoking, The British focuses not only on the battles, monarchs and leaders who have shaped our history, but also on the reformers, inventors, pioneers and unsung heroes who changed the face of Britain.

Gary Tank Commander – Series 3

Available: 5 November

RRP: £20.42

Series 3 of Gary Tank Commander provides fresh challenges for Gary as he tussles with a cocky fitness instructor who makes fun of his physique, a confidence trickster who seems to have mind control powers over him and, as ever, an increasingly angry Sergeant Thomson.

The Secret of Crickley Hall

Available: 5 November

RRP: £13.27

A chilling haunted house thriller based on the bestselling novel by James Herbert and starring Suranne Jones.

A year after their little boy goes missing, Gabe and Eve Caleigh and their two daughters move to Crickley Hall to try and escape the past. It's a chance for a fresh start. Then cellar doors start to open of their own accord, unseen children cry through the night and a frenzied spectre wields a cane. But just as the Caleighs are ready to move out, Eve hears her missing son.

Hunderby

Available: 5 November

RRP: £20.42

A shipwreck survivor is washed ashore near a small English village. There, she is swept off her feet by widowed pastor Edmund and the two soon marry, the puritanical Edmund believing his bride to be untouched by another man. But, she has a history, a dark past that she cannot escape. As Helene moves into Edmund's home and battles to keep her past a secret, she must navigate the house keeper's devious scheming, her husband's harsh critique and a potential new love interest. In a gothic setting populated with a cast of fiends, physicians, hunchbacks, wastrels, maids, crones, and an adorable puppy called Wilfred, Hunderby oozes with the dark and absurd humour that has become Julia Davis' trademark.

Strike Back - Vengeance

Available: 5 November

RRP: £25.52

British Special Forces Sergeant Michael Stonebridge and US ex-Delta Force commando Damien Scott are thrust back into the field at the orders of maverick new Section 20 commanding officer, Major Rachel Dalton. When enigmatic billionaire businessman Conrad Knox resolves to play God with the future of Southern Africa using weapons stolen from the crumbling regime in Libya, Section 20 are the only force capable of confronting his deadly scheme. Strike Back: Vengeance is a heart-pounding thrill-ride set across five electrifying stories. Section 20 are tasked with rescuing British hostages from a Somali warlord in Mogadishu; chasing an infamous al-Qaeda operative into a terrifying siege in the Algerian desert; turning a scientist concealing a deadly secret in Cape Town; diffusing a scheme to overthrow the government of Zimbabwe and finally countering a nuclear plot that will change the face of Africa forever. But when Knox and his generals attack the very heart of Section 20 and the private lives of its operatives: the fight becomes personal…

John Bishop Live: Rollercoaster Tour 2012

Available: 12 November

RRP: £20.42 / £25.52

Playing to nearly half a million fans in this year’s arena tour, his ambitiously visual new show really does take traditional stand-up comedy into a whole new world.

John’s first release remains the fastest selling début stand-up DVD of all time, and he’ll be hard to avoid on TV this Christmas, appearing in BBC One’s Who Do You Think You Are? this Q4 and John Bishop’s Britain (BBC One, over 6.5M viewers).

Alan Partridge: Mid Morning Matters

Available: 12 November

RRP: £20.42

Steve Coogan is back as one of Britain’s best loved comedy creations, Alan Partridge in Mid Morning Matters. Alan is still working as a disc jockey, this time on 'North Norfolk Digital' where he is occasionally joined by 'Side-kick Simon'. Originally commissioned by Foster's for 10 minute slots on their website, the programmes have been edited into half hour DVD friendly format.

The Thick of It – Series 4

Available: 12 November

RRP: £20.42

Government embarrassment, ministerial cock-up, coalition rows, backroom deals, policy U-turns, spin-doctoring, political back-stabbing, wild media speculation, and more time spent with one's family. It can only be the eagerly-anticipated return of Armando Iannucci’s Westminster political comedy. Rebecca Front and Peter Capaldi reprise their BAFTA-winning roles as Nicola Murray and Malcolm Tucker, now consigned to the opposition benches, but still desperate for power. Roger Allam returns as Peter Mannion, the new Secretary of State for Social Affairs, supported by his team of special advisors and thwarted by his new coalition partners. With Chris Addison, Vincent Franklin, Olivia Poulet, Joanna Scanlan, James Smith, Will Smith, Geoffrey Streatfeild, and Ben Willbond.

The Thick of It – Series 1-4 Box Set

Available: 12 November

RRP: £38.80

Featuring every episode from the hugely popular Thick of It. Join the farce that is the department of Social Affairs and Citizenship as it farcically stumbles its way through the corridors of power. Starring a fantastic cast: Peter Capaldi, Chris Addison, Rebecca Front, Roger Allam and a host of other British talent.

Limmy's Show – Series 2

Available: 12 November

RRP: £20.42

A unique blend of comic characters, sketches, observation, animation, music and dancing. Starring Brian Limond AKA Limmy who writes, directs, performs and guides the viewer throughout the show. His character creations include Falconhoof the fearless TV adventure call phone-in host, Dee Dee – a zoned-out waster and occasional intergalactic space traveller and a vignette from a shirtless figure who tells the world, “she turned the weans against me”.

Andrew Marr's History of the World

Available: 12 November

RRP: £25.52

In this ambitious and creative new series, Andrew Marr embarks on the greatest story ever told – the epic story of human history. Bringing 70,000 years of human history to life, this epic series travels through time to the big stories of history. Each film explores a crucial turning point in history, featuring dramatic reconstruction, computer graphics and gripping story-telling. From the early settlers in Mesopotamia to the wonders of Egypt and Rome and from the French Revolution to the Industrial Revolution, viewers are within history; shoulder to shoulder with the people who have shaped the world as we know it today.

Vikings

Available: 12 November

RRP: £20.42

The accepted history of the Vikings is of a band of blood-thirsty pirates raiding the peaceful monasteries of Christendom… and all of it is completely true. The Vikings took no prisoners, relished cruel retribution and prided themselves as warriors… But this is only a small part of the story. The Vikings themselves did not write their history… so we have to discover it. Presented by Neil Oliver, we see the Vikings from their point of view, which reveals an extraordinary story of a people who came back from the brink of destruction and in the course of 200 years reached around a quarter of the globe and built an empire.

The Pajama Men – In the Middle of No One

Available: 12 November

RRP: £20.42

Their unique brand of comedy which requires no more than their pajamas and an endless assembly of voices has consistently wowed audiences and critics wherever the Pajama Men have played over the past few years and has built up an ever growing army of enthusiastic fans. In the Middle of No One sees a lone explorer leave his wife and child behind in search of things most people have never seen, let alone know about. Meanwhile a dim-witted and affable genius space-man (who discovered time travel in a morally confusing way) struggles to make the right decision by doing exactly the wrong thing. You'll also meet some vicious housewives, a gigantic sea monster known only as the Ice Beast, an unhelpful robot, a very rare bird and more, as the Pajama Men jump from character to character in the blink of an eye.

Threesome

Available: 12 November

RRP: £20.42

Alice (Amy Huberman) lives with her boyfriend Mitch (Stephen Wight) and their gay best mate Richie (Emun Elliott). They are an unconventional and inseparable trio who live, laugh and large it together. After one particularly big night out, they have an unplanned threesome – resulting in an unexpected pregnancy. Deciding that the thing that should split them up could actually keep them together, they decide they are going to have the baby and raise it as a threesome.

Him & Her – Series 2

Available: 12 November

RRP: £20.42

Series 2 of Him & Her sees the return of Russell Tovey and Sarah Solemani to their unmade bed as young lovers Steve and Becky, alongside the ensemble cast including Kerry Howard (Laura), Ricky Champ (Paul), Joe Wilkinson (Dan) and Camille Coduri (Shelley). This series sees Becky moving into Steve’s place permanently. Their relationship blossoms above the nitty gritty of living together – but there’s trouble on the horizon. Laura’s working with Steve’s ex-girlfriend, who’s a bit too interested in Steve. Meanwhile, upstairs, Dan’s back with his girlfriend and is more miserable than ever. And Paul’s up to his old tricks again.

Him & Her – Series 1 & 2

Available: 12 November

RRP: £25.52

Steve and Becky are young, unemployed and lazy. All they want to do is eat, drink and have sex – so they do. They don’t want to get a job – so they don’t. They’re happy to spend their days watching DVDs in Steve’s bedsit, but they’re constantly interrupted by Dan – the lonely bloke from upstairs – Laura and Paul – Becky’s sister and her fiancé or, most frighteningly for Steve, Becky’s parents. Series 2 of Him & Her sees Becky moving into Steve’s place permanently. Their relationship blossoms above the nitty gritty of living together – but there’s trouble on the horizon. Laura’s working with Steve’s ex-girlfriend, who’s a bit too interested in Steve. Meanwhile, upstairs, Dan’s back with his girlfriend and is more miserable than ever. And Paul’s up to his old tricks again.

Red Dwarf X

Available: 19 November

RRP: £20.42 / £25.52

Space battles, quantum entanglement, and love triangles with snack dispensers are just some of the problems facing the Dwarfers. The posse also stumble across the mysteriously abandoned SS Trojan while Lister grapples with the problem of being his own father and Kryten and Cat become quantum entangled, forcing them to do everything in unison. The series finale finds the boys surrounded by a simulant war cruiser and its fleet of attack ships. Armed with only two forks and a pencil sharpener, the Dwarfers begin to wonder whether this is the beginning of the end.

Includes over 150 minutes of deleted scenes, outtakes, interviews and extras plus a special reversible collector's sleeve.

Daniel Sloss – Live

Available: 19 November

RRP: £20.42

Scotland’s half-man-half-Xbox, hormone-ridden comic prodigy is currently one of the fastest rising stars of UK comedy. He started doing stand-up aged 16 and has made a string of high profile TV appearances including Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, 8/10 Cats,  Jason Manford’s Comedy Rocks, Sport Relief and Mock the Week as well as starring in his own BBC show The Adventures of Daniel.

Westlife – The Farewell Tour Live at Croke Park

Available: 19 November

RRP: £20.42 / £25.52

In 2012 Westlife embarked on what was their final tour together. Over a three month period The Farewell Tour travelled to more than 100 venues worldwide culminating in a spectacular homecoming concert to 85,000 fans at Croke Park Stadium in Dublin.

Essential for all Westlife fans, this DVD captures this once in a lifetime moment recorded at their final concert and invites fans to join Shane, Mark, Kian and Nicky for an epic music event and unforgettable farewell.

Celebrity Juice: Too Juicy for TV 2!

Longerer, Funnierer, Juicierer…

Available: 19 November

RRP: £20.42 / £25.52

The BAFTA award-winning Celebrity Juice returns with a second DVD and it’s even morerer juicy! Join Keith, Fearne and Holly for lots of unseen material, exclusively filmed content and all the best bits from Series 4-6.

Celebrity Juice – The Bang Tidy Box Set

Available: 19 November

RRP: £30.63

This juicy box set will contain both Celebrity Juice releases plus a bonus disc of unseen footage!

Rev. Series 2 plus Christmas Special

Available: 19 November

RRP: £20.42

BAFTA award-winning comedy series Rev. returns with six divine new episodes and a Christmas special, and a host of new faces and guest characters. Tom Hollander is back as the Rev. Adam Smallbone, struggling to remain relevant in his inner-city parish where he’s largely derided or ignored except by the intimidating Archdeacon and the demanding and irritating few who attend his church… From Lay Reader Nigel, who thinks he should be a vicar, to hard-drinking Colin on an eternal quest for enlightenment, cassock-chasing Adoha and local crackhead Mick who isn’t quite the sophisticated grifter he thinks he is. Meanwhile, Adam’s trying to live down the embarrassing pass he made at headmistress Ellie last series, and at home, Alex, played by Olivia Colman, has lost patience with being a vicar’s wife.

Also coming soon:

Rev. Series 1 & 2 plus Christmas Special Box Set

Available: 19 November  

RRP: £30.63

Diversity – Digitized: Trapped in a Game

Available: 19 November

RRP: £20.42

Diversity – Digitized: Trapped in a Game is the current brand new, live tour which sold out to great success at the London O2 Arena, Birmingham LG Arena and many more. After the success of two sell out tours, Diversity announced their biggest UK Arena tour to date with a new show for 2012.  Digitized: Trapped in a Game follows the group’s journey after they become trapped in a video game and challenged to complete various levels within the game to allow them to return to the 'real' world. Incorporating a vast range of dance styles, Digitized: Trapped in a Game includes street dance, hip hop and even a cheeky bit of Zumba accompanied by a fantastically diverse musical playlist, featuring Daft Punk, Lenny Kravitz, DJ Fresh, Stevie Wonder, LMFAO as well as many others. 

Attenborough: Sixty Years in the Wild

Available: 19 November   

RRP: £20.42 / £25.52

Sir David Attenborough has been at the forefront of natural history film making for over half a century, witnessing an unparalleled period of change in our planet’s history. In this unique and important series he delivers his testimony in a trio of spectacular films, focusing on three areas which have transformed most profoundly over his career: film making, science and the environment. During his extraordinary career he has seen, first-hand, more of the natural world than anyone else, and witnessed how our remarkable planet has changed more rapidly and extensively than ever before.

Top Gear DVD Special 2012

Available: 19 November

RRP: £20.42 / £25.52

Jeremy Clarkson and James May join forces to bring you this year's Top Gear exclusive.

Jason Byrne Live: Cirque du Byrne

Available: 19 November

RRP: £20.42

Jason Byrne, the ringmaster of comedy, presents his all new stand-up show Cirque du Byrne filmed during the sell-out UK tour. With a riotous set captured at London's Hammersmith Apollo, Jason shows just why he is one of the fastest and biggest selling comedians of all time at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival and across the UK. Opening with a high-octane spectacular, Jason's devilishly inspired and deftly delivered stand-up comedy will have you roaring with laughter.

Danny Bhoy: Live at the Festival Theatre

Available: 26 November

RRP: £20.42

Danny Bhoy is one of the most in-demand stand-ups on the planet. A natural gift in storytelling combined with a razor-sharp wit makes him one of the most unique and exciting comedians to emerge in the past few years. Recent barnstorming appearances on The Late Show with David Letterman and BBC One's Live at the Apollo tell only part of the story. Over the past decade, this young Scot has quietly built a huge global following on one of the most reliable social media platforms of all, word of mouth. This DVD features a special performance on his return to his home city of Edinburgh. Filmed at the prestigious Festival Theatre, it features material taken from his past two highly acclaimed shows By Royal Disappointment and Messenger (Please Do Not Shoot).

Stewart Francis Live: Outstanding in his Field

Available: 26 November

RRP: £20.42

This specially-filmed performance of the 2012 stand-up show from killer-gag purveyor, Stewart Francis, features a brand new crop of brilliant one-liners and wisecracks.  Delivering devastating jokes at maximum laughs-per-minute, Francis has earned rave reviews. Having regularly stolen the show on the BBC’s Mock the Week, Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow and Live at the Apollo, he has established himself as a premier league comedian and has produced one of the year’s most eagerly-awaited comedy DVDs. 

Brazil with Michael Palin

Available: 26 November

RRP: £20.42 / £25.52

Brazil is the fifth largest country in the world – both in terms of population and geography. Over 192 million people call this land their home. Taking up over half of South America, Brazil is a mix of races, religions, sophistication, wildness, wealth, poverty and unexplored wilderness. The country is considered one of the rising global powers – less scary than China, less authoritarian than Russia and less chaotic than India with vast natural resources, a burgeoning industrial base and a strong currency that make it the envy of all. In this programme Michael Palin visits Brazil for the very first time, travelling from the lost world of Amazonia to the buzzing metropolis of Rio de Janeiro, to meet the people and visit the places that shape this nation.

American Friends

Available: 26 November

RRP: £16.33

Francis Ashby, a senior Oxford don on holiday alone in the Alps, meets holidaying American Caroline and her companion Elinor, the blossoming Irish-American girl she adopted many years before. Ashby finds he enjoys their company, particularly that of Elinor, and both the women are drawn to him. Back at Oxford he is nevertheless taken aback when they arrive unannounced. Women are not allowed in the College grounds, let alone the rooms. Indeed any liaison, however innocent, is frowned on by the upstanding Fellows.

Parky's Picks

Available: 26 November

RRP: £22.46

Michael Parkinson personally chooses his favourite and most ground breaking interviews. Having interviewed some 2000 names over a career that has spanned 40 years, Parky looks back and chooses the interviews that were the most entertaining, eye opening, informative and just his plain favourites. This release will see especially extended clips giving more of an insight into each interviewee.

Hebburn

Available: 26 November

RRP: £20.42

Co-written by Graham Duff (Ideal) and starring Jim Moir (Vic Reeves). Hebburn is the home town of stand-up comedian Jason Cook, who has created this warm, true-to-life comedy based on his own experiences of growing up in the North East of England. It tells the tale of the Cook family and their son, Jason, who has left Tyneside for the bright lights and glamour of Manchester. He’s secretly married a middle class Jewish girl, Clare, and realises that it is about time he introduced her to his family...

Earth: 24/7 Wild

Available: 26 November

RRP: £25.52

In a new and exciting marriage of real time unfolding wildlife drama and exciting stories, witness the most charismatic animals on earth as they experience life’s ultimate challenges in the first few vulnerable weeks of life. The four specials focus on lions in the Maasai Mara; bears in Minnesota; elephants in Kenya and macaques in Sri-Lanka – Earthwatch captures the trials and tribulations of life as it unfolds before our eyes.

Getting On – Series 3

Available: 26 November

RRP: £20.42

The BAFTA-award winning Getting On returns for more dark humour among the bedpans; set in the backwaters of the National Health Service this third series sees King Edwards closed and Den, Kim and Dr Moore transferred 12 miles to a newer ward. Cuts, restructuring and life events once again dominate the daily grind. Devised and written by its three principal cast, the real challenge lies in just getting on with life in a world where few things work smoothly and messy choices are the order of the day. Over six shifts we watch as the staff cope with mounting bureaucracy and shine a light on the everyday.

Getting On Box Set (Series 1-3)

Available: 26 November

RRP: £30.63

Set in the geriatric ward of an NHS hospital, Getting On is centred around four brilliantly observed members of hospital staff – return-to-practise nurse Kim Wilde (Jo Brand), the lowest form of life on the ward after the lino; Sister Den Flixter (Joanna Scanlan), drowning in paperwork and beset by personal problems and the jargon-fuelled, stool-obsessed ward doctor, Pippa Moore (Vicki Pepperdine). The black comedy flows thick and fast as the staff get on with the daily round of bowel movements and hip problems whilst battling the endless form-filling, self-obsessed consultants, cuts and bickering in the furthest backwaters of the NHS.

Strictly Come Dancing – The Show Stoppers

Available: 26 November  

RRP: £18.37

Strictly Come Dancing judges Len Goodman, Craig Revel Horwood and Bruno Tonioli look back over the past nine series and personally select their best Strictly dances, giving us all the Strictly Greatest Hits!

Me & Mrs Jones

Available: 26 November

RRP: £20.42

Sarah Alexander stars as Gemma Jones – a divorced mother of three who leads a hectic life juggling working from home with looking after her twin girls and dealing with her child like ex-husband Jason and his demanding Swedish girlfriend Inca. When handsome dad Tom asks her out on a date, Gemma is the envy of all the other mums in the playground but then her grown up son Alfie returns home from travelling abroad with his charming 24-year-old friend Billy and Gemma finds herself, for the first time ever, with more than one possible love interest.

The Dark Charisma of Adolf Hitler: Leading Millions into the Abyss

Available: 26 November

RRP: £20.42

Adolf Hitler was, arguably, the most extraordinary leader who has ever lived. He left behind a legacy of destruction that is without parallel in history. Yet there is a paradox at the heart of the story of Hitler: given his violent and hate-filled character, why did millions support him, ultimately to the destruction of their own country? These three films examine Hitler’s relationship with the people he led both before and after the Second World War, with the help of testimony from people who were there, compelling archive film and dramatic reconstructions.