Public Servant Lifestyle

David Tennant takes on the mantle of the mysterious time traveller known only as 'The Doctor' for season 2 of the world's number one tea time SF show.

"Top gags, brilliant special effects, proper scary aliens and in David Tennant potentially the most charismatic Doctor Who ever." - The News of The World.

With its triumphant return for a second season in 2006 the world's longest running science fiction series continues to take back Saturday nights for the BBC and for fans of quality family programming the world over. Now any night can be Saturday night as BBC DVD and 2Entertain release the entire Series 2 collection in one sleek, extras-packed box.

Doctor Who - The Complete Series Two DVD Box Set, featuring all 13 episodes from series two, the 2005 Christmas special and a galaxy of extras, is unleashed from BBC DVD as a stunning 6-disc set in amazing packaging.

Triumphant

Following Doctor Who’s triumphant return to BBC ONE in 2005, the second series has proved just as popular, consistently topping ratings charts and gaining enormous critical acclaim as well as a host of awards. This second series introduced the sparkling talent of David Tennant (television's Blackpool, The Quatermass Experiment and Casanova as well as movies Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and Bright Young Things) as the tenth Doctor, with Billie Piper returning as his companion Rose, Noel Clarke as Rose’s boyfriend Mickey and Camille Coduri as Rose’s mum Jackie.

Now fans can own the entire series together on DVD for the first time in this highly collectable ‘lenticular’ packaging that features a special moving image on both front and back. This would seem to represent a massive leap forwards after last years’ Season One release was issued in groovy – but somewhat impractical – TARDIS shaped box.

Over the second series, the Doctor and Rose continued to have spectacular adventures that were out of this world, battling the sinister Christmas Day invaders the Sycorax, a band of misguided cat women 'nuns', a wicked werewolf, killer Krillitanes, a deadly demon and of course the Doctor’s two ultimate enemies – the Cybermen and Daleks, who did battle together for the first time ever!

Boasting state of the art visual effects, the second series also featured a host of special guest stars including Anthony Head (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Elisabeth Sladen, Marc Warren, Shaun Dingwall, Maureen Lipman, Pauline Collins, Penelope Wilton, Peter Kay (That Peter Kay Thing, Phoenix Nights), Roger Lloyd Pack (Only Fools & Horses), Shirley Henderson, Sophia Myles, Tracy Ann Oberman and Will Thorp, with Nicholas Briggs providing all of the voices for both the Daleks and Cybermen.

The full listing for what shows up on this boxed set shapes up like this:

The Christmas Invasion

The newly regenerated ailing Doctor lands back on Earth - with a confused Rose - to find that (as usual) they've arrived at the wrong place in the wrong time: right in the middle of an alien invasion. With the Doctor in a coma and Earth's defenders UNIT stumped as to what to do about the menace from space it falls to Rose to try and save the day. First shown on Christmas Day 2005 to a massive audience The Christmas Invasion is written by Doctor Who's chief writer and Executive Producer Russell T Davies and directed by James Hawes.

New Earth

Once again penned by Russell T Davies and directed by James Hawes the Series 2 opening episode takes the time travellers away into the distant future of mankind. While giving viewers of the new version of 'Who a first real glimpse of another world New Earth also sees the return of the trampoline-like Lady Cassandra (from Series 1) and the mysterious 'Face of Boe'. Not long after the Doctor and Rose arrive trouble breaks out when diseased human analogues rampage through a medical facility and Cassandra swaps bodies with first Rose then the Doctor himself...

Tooth and Claw

Arriving in Victorian Britain the companions find themselves in regal company as no less than Queen Victoria and retinue arrive at a remote country seat. Besieged by kung-fu monks and with a werewolf on the loose in the house the Doctor and Rose must work out the real purpose of the 'telescope' in the observatory before the British Monarchy can be usurped by the lupine menace. Written by Russell T Davies and directed by Euros Lyn Tooth and Claw sees the time travellers knighted on behalf of (then banished from) the British Empire - and the very first appearance of a werewolf in Doctor Who's long history.

School Reunion

The episode that re-introduced former companion Sarah Jane Smith (as played by actress Elizabeth Sladen alongside third and fourth Doctors: Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker in the 1970s). Also appearing was the Doctor's faithful robot dog K-9 and the British actor who made a career as 'Watcher' Giles in Joss Whedon's Buffy The Vampire Slayer: Anthony Head. Written by Toby Whithouse and directed by James Hawes School Reunion gives Rose a glimpse of her future as she falls out, then bonds with Sarah Jane - a glimpse of her future 'self' post The Doctor? Also introduces the murderous Krillitanes - shape-changing flying fiends masquerading as teachers and staff in the school - who seem intent on harvesting the pupils for their mental energies - and sometimes for their school dinners...

The Girl in the Fireplace

Deep-space and Earth history connect in this mystery from the pen of Steven Moffat. Mickey's (Noel Clarke) first TARDIS trip finds the threesome of time travellers aboard an alien vessel in the far future somehow linked with a palatial household in 18th century France. Separated from Rose and Mickey by stepping through to the other side the Doctor must solve the mystery of the Clockwork Robots to reach his old friends aboard the ship and save his new friend Reinette (Sophia Myles), who is being staked by them throughout her life. Directed by Euros Lyn this is particular fun for the great period costumes and the wonderful clockwork droids - worth watching purely for the Doctor's reaction to their first un-masking.

Rise of the Cybermen

Finding themselves on an Earth that's recognisable but also strangely altered Mickey, Rose and The Doctor quickly work out that they have crossed over to a parallel version of the world they know. With the TARDIS paralysed - and left regenerating itself after the journey the time travellers explore this strange new place. In this version of Britain Rose learns her father has survived to become a successful businessman and 'she' was never born. Ends with a terrific cliff-hanger as the eponymous Cybermen return to 'Who. Not too sure about Roger Lloyd Pack's villainous 'Lumic' though. He seems to be going for the 'Emperor Ming' school of evil mastermind acting - all eyeballs and evil chuckles. If he had a moustache, he's certainly have been busy twiddling it...Written by Tom MacRae and directed by Graeme Harper (The Caves of Androzani).

The Age of Steel written by Tom MacRae and directed by Graeme Harper.

Part two of the 'return of the Cybermen' story started in the previous episode The Age of Steel sees the rise of Cybus Industries' new breed of cyborgs as they begin the task of converting the whole population into Cybermen. Involving some true nightmare imagery: Battersea Power Station becoming one vast conversion chamber; lines of Cyber-controlled citizens sleep-walking into the process without a protest; The Doctor becoming trapped in a long underground passage filled with dormant Cybermen - half way through as they begin to awaken.

Weakened somewhat by a poor reprise of the cliff-hanger to Rise of the Cybermen (The Doctor exhibits an easy power to eliminate the immediate Cyberman threat that's almost as powerful as the abilities displayed by Rose when she became the 'Bad Wolf' at the close of Series 1 - but with none of the catastrophic consequences) this is nevertheless a mighty return for the metal maniacs. Strange that the Cybermen now run in a vaguely comic Benny Hill way, rather than the 'slow-moving-but-they-don't-need-to-hurry-they'll-still-get-you' of the 'old school' original series ones.

The Idiot’s Lantern

Written by The League of Gentlemen star (and notorious 'Who fan) Mark Gatiss and directed by Euros Lyn The Idiot’s Lantern sees Rose and The Doctor back in London - but a London of the 1950's - where something strange is menacing the population through their television sets. Some striking imagery - the 'faceless' victims and 'The Wire' (Maureen Lipman) are matched by some great period detail in clothes and cars as a tight little mystery unfolds.

The Impossible Planet

Doctor Who heads out into space once more for a spooky 'base-under-siege' style adventure as a group of astronauts struggle to understand the existence of the planetoid they have landed on - suspended as it is close to the event horizon of a black hole. With an amazing 'Eye of Sauron' style black hole, some great looking new aliens (the tendril-mouthed servitor race 'The Ood') and a genuinely claustrophobic, scary feel this has to rank as one of the strongest episodes of either Series 1 or 2 of the new 'Who. Written by Matt Jones, directed by James Strong and featuring a proper scary (and quite literal - with the Doctor last seen descending into 'The Pit') cliff-hanger.

The Satan Pit

Written and directed by the same team who produced part one this concluding part looses some impact by having to make good on the things only hinted at (and so well) in The Impossible Planet. The Doctor and Rose must fight for their lives as The Ood run amok and the imprisoned 'Beast' seeks to slip its bonds and escape to wreak havoc once more.

With more than a nod to Nigel Kneale's Quatermass serials as well as to (classic) Doctor Who's own rich history of adversaries too powerful to ignore: Sutekh The Destroyer, The Daemons, The Malus, Omega etc...

Love & Monsters

The episode that possibly divided viewers and fans alike in Series 2. Love & Monsters follows the exploits of a band of self-confessed 'Doctor Watchers' who each have their own reasons for wanting to track down the mysterious Time Lord. Forming a society to do just this the group finds a fellowship that goes way beyond their collective quest only to find things taking a more sinister turn when they are joined by a new member who may not be all he seems...

Hardly featuring the Doctor and Rose at all - and seen by some as a thinly veiled lampoon of Doctor Who fandom - this really rather affectionate episode takes a look at what happens to a world the character of The Doctor walks through. Written by Russell T Davies and directed by Dan Zeff the story features a sterling performance as an improbably accented creature (designed by a Blue Peter viewer), from comic Peter Kay.

Fear Her

Written by Matthew Graham and directed by Euros Lynn this is a smaller-scale tale of domestic strife after the blockbuster struggles of the earlier (and later) Series 2 episodes. Set against the near-future backdrop of the London Olympics one mother holds a lonely vigil to protect her daughter whose strange powers seemingly threaten the tranquillity of an ordinary suburban street where children are mysteriously vanishing.

Army of Ghosts

A mysterious shadowy race begins to appear on the Earth. The population believe they're the spirits of the deceased - but when scientists at the shadowy 'Torchwood' organisation continue meddling with alien technology the 'ghosts' take solid form and the planet becomes the staging post to a fully-fledged Cyberman invasion.

Written by Russell T Davies and directed by veteran Doctor Who director Graeme Harper Army of Ghosts and the concluding episode of the season (Doomsday - see below) feature not only the return of the alternative universe Cybermen (from two-parter Rise of the Cybermen/The Age of Steel) but also brings Torchwood (now featuring on BBC2 and BBC3 in its own right) out of the shadows and re-introduces the Doctors' ultimate foes the Daleks, for a Daleks versus Cybermen showdown.

Doomsday

The tearful finale which sees the departure of Rose - trapped in a parallel world from which she can never again return. Features a great battle between the Army and a group of Cybermen on a bridge. Spectacular as this is it's a slight shame it's not the Doctor's old friends at UNIT doing the fighting - would have been lovely to see the old guard taking on this new breed of alternative universe Cybermen. Ends with a sudden - and confusing - change of direction that's a clear 'teaser' for the forthcoming Christmas special starring comedienne Catherine Tate (Sixty-Six, Starter For Ten, TVs The Catherine Tate Show). Written by series supremo Russell T Davies and once again directed by Graeme Harper.

Special Features Discs

As usual with this level of release from the BBC/2Entertain the discs come with all sorts of extras including full audio description and subtitles on each episode. This being a Doctor Who (of which great things are expected) there's also a full audio commentary available on nine episodes, with 'In Vision' commentary available on five more. These feature many voices and faces from the Series 2 cast and crew, including contributions from the stars David Tennant and Billie Piper. These commentaries are all new - and different to the ones available as an interactive service to viewers lucky enough to catch the first Sunday afternoon/Friday evening repeats of the Series.

David Tennant's Video Diaries

One of the highlights of the whole package for fans of the latest incarnation of the Doctor. There are too many highlights to mention in this great feature – which really deserves to be sat and enjoyed right though in one go as it follows Tennant from the night before his first day on the show (the read-though of the first three episodes) to the end of the last day of filming.

High points include: watching the 2005 festive special The Christmas Invasion with David and his family and his Mum showing off an elaborate cross-stitch done by a friend to congratulate him on the role; Billie presenting him with a t-shirt emblazoned with ‘Trust Me, I’m A Doctor’ on his first day; Tennant describing his (then) new role as “the best job in the World” to camera.

Full of enthusiasm and a genuine joy to be doing this part, these diaries (recorded often straight to camera and interspersed with footage from the episodes where relevant) are possibly worth getting the boxed set for alone.

Billie's Video Diary

Rose actress Billie Piper’s own footage from behind the scenes on the shooting of the series. Shorter than David Tennant’s - that man appears to have unleashed his inner ‘fan boy’ and filmed everything - Billie takes us through continuity photo books of the cast and investigates the mysteries of the fridge in the crew make-up van. Best moment: Billie filming the schoolchildren who played extras in the School Reunion episode during the sequence where the school is ‘blown up’. Amidst much exuberant leaping and cheering as the (computer generated) front of the school explodes, showering everyone with papers one lad at the front goes off with a beaming smile and a story to tell his mates when Billie tells him he’s ‘cute’.

Doctor Who Confidential

As if that wasn't enough you'll also find all thirteen episodes of BBC3's behind the scenes show Doctor Who Confidential presented - these are edited versions of the full half hour programmes broadcast after each episode of the series and together form a good 'making of' documentary for the entire season.

These are than topped-off with Out-takes - a variety of clips showing what sometimes goes wrong behind the scenes - and the Children in Need special. The historic first appearance of the ninth Doctor (Tennant) this is a short 'teaser' of the post-regeneration Doctor that reprised the closing moments of Series 1 and led straight into the Christmas Invasion episode. This whole collection is presented in 5.1 stereo sound with a massive duration of around 630 minutes.

Following hot on the heels of some other great Doctor Who releases from the BBC - most notably the classic Patrick Troughton Cyberman adventure The Invasion and the ongoing colllections of 'Missing Stories' released as narrated CD soundtracks - this collection marks a fine end to 2006 for fans everywhere. It'll be interesting to see how they top this boxed set for next year's one!

For more information on all things Time Lord related, the following links may be useful:

The BBC's Official Doctor Who website

The BBC's 'classic' Doctor Who website

The website of British based fan club the Doctor Who Appreciation Society (DWAS) - formed in London in 1976 and still going strong.

Doctor Who - The Complete Series Two DVD Box Set (rated 12) is in the shops now (RRP: £69.99) and can be purchased directly from the BBC Shop, just by following this link.

PSP Ltd is not responsible for the contents of external links.

More information available in DVD / Home Video, TV & Radio