doctor who audio releases

Since the 1970s, there have been many official and unofficial Doctor Who and related spin-offs released on audio, as LPs, audio cassettes, audio CDs and MP3 CDs. Recordings here are listed by their original release date.

"Lost Episode" soundtrack releases

A second series of "Lost Episode" soundtrack releases began in 1999. This series differed from earlier releases by having "linking" narration (i.e. narration to describe action and other sequences that were originally visual) read by an actor or actress who had played a companion in the original serial, rather than one of the actors who played the Doctor (with the exception of The Macra Terror, narrated by Colin Baker). Another difference is that all of the later releases were remastered for release by Mark Ayres from tapes recorded "off-air" at the original time of broadcast, or, when necessary due to quality and possible due to availability, from surviving films. From 1999–2004 these recordings were released under the "BBC Radio Collection" banner, and starting in 2004 they have been released under the "BBC Audio" banner, with a slightly different look to the outer case packaging. By 2005, all soundtracks to all "lost" episodes will have been released on audio cassette and/or CD.

1999

The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve (released as The Massacre)

Soundtrack released on double cassette and double CD (some CDs have a label for the cassettes)

Linking narration by Peter Purves

2000

The Web of Fear

Soundtrack released on 3 CD set

Linking narration by Frazer Hines

The Highlanders

Soundtrack released on 2 CD set

Linking narration by Frazer Hines

The Macra Terror

Soundtrack released on 2 CD set

Linking narration by Colin Baker

Galaxy 4

Soundtrack released on 2 CD set

Linking narration by Peter Purves

2001

The Moonbase

Soundtrack released on 2 CD set

Linking narration by Frazer Hines

The Celestial Toymaker

Soundtrack released on 2 CD set

Linking narration by Peter Purves

The Myth Makers

Soundtrack released on 2 CD set

Linking narration by Peter Purves

The Abominable Snowmen

Soundtrack released on 2 CD set

Linking narration by Frazer Hines

The Daleks' Master Plan

Soundtrack released on 5 CD set

Disc one contains Mission to the Unknown and also has a bonus data track, consisting of MP3 files of the episode soundtracks without narration, copies of the linking narration script in PDF format, and MP3 copies of sound clips before and after audio restoration

Linking narration by Peter Purves

2002

The Enemy of the World

Soundtrack released on 2 CD set

Linking narration by Frazer Hines

The Savages

Soundtrack released on 2 CD set

Linking narration by Peter Purves

The Smugglers

Soundtrack released on 2 CD set

Linking narration by Anneke Wills

The Faceless Ones

Linking narration by Frazer Hines

2003

The Space Pirates

Soundtrack released on 2 CD set

Linking narration by Frazer Hines

Adventures in History box set

Combines previous releases of The Myth Makers, The Highlanders and The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve

Yeti Attack box set

Combines previous releases of The Abominable Snowmen and The Web of Fear

Marco Polo

Soundtrack released on 3 CD set

Linking narration by William Russell

A printed bonus is an included map of Cathay (China) similar to the one originaly shown on screen while Marco Polo narrates his travel journal, and explaining historical inaccuracies between real locations and locations used in the serial.

The first disc in the set contains data as well as audio; the data includes MP3 files of the soundtracks without additional narration, PDF files of the narration scripts, and computer wallpaper versions of the aforementioned map of Cathay.

The Daleks Tin

The Power of the Daleks

Also released individually in 2004 on two CDs.

Linking narration by Anneke Wills

The Evil of the Daleks

Also released individually in 2004 on three CDs.

Linking narration by Frazer Hines

This was the first time that complete versions of all seven episodes appeared unedited on cassette or CD. A previous soundtrack released had to cut a scene set in a coffee bar with a Beatles song playing in the background. Mark Ayres discusses in a Doctor Who Magazine interview in issue 336 how a rights clearance was not only simply unfeasable due to cost, but that the rights owner would not issue a clearance under any circumstances. Mark goes on to describe how he painstakingly was able to use another song in the background instead (later revealed to be a song by the Dave Clark Five), digitally inserting the one over the other.

My Life as a Dalek

Recording of a 22 February 2003 BBC Radio 4 programme presented by Mark Gatiss

Interviews include Rula Lenska, Jeremy Young, Alexei Sayle, Verity Lambert, Deborah Watling and Frazer Hines, John Scott Martin, Cy Town and Roy Skelton.

Exclusive release within the collector's tin, not available separately.

2004

The Wheel in Space

Soundtrack released on 2 CD set

Linking narration by Wendy Padbury

Fury from the Deep

Soundtrack released on 2 CD set

Linking narration by Frazer Hines

The Cybermen Tin (numbered limited edition)

The Tenth Planet

Consists of 2 CDs

Linking narration by and bonus interview with Anneke Wills

The Invasion

Consists of 3 CDs

Linking narration by and bonus interview with Frazer Hines

The Origins of the Cybermen

Specially re-recorded for CD by David Banks. Material was originally the first of four sections of Banks' book on the history of the Cybermen, released on cassette in the early 1990s.

Exclusive release within the collector's tin, will not be available separately.

2005

The Underwater Menace

Soundtrack released on 2 CD set

Linking narration by and bonus interview with Anneke Wills

Inner CD card can be reversed so that the case's spine will match the style of the earlier BBC Radio Collection releases on a shelf.

The Crusade

Soundtrack to be released on 2 May 2005

Soundtrack released on 2 CD set with linking narration by William Russell

Includes a bonus interview with William Russell

The Ice Warriors

Soundtrack to be released in August 2005

Other details TBA.

The Reign of Terror

Details TBA

Original Programmes

1976

Doctor Who and the Pescatons

Written by Victor Pemberton, and starring Tom Baker as the Doctor, Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith and Bill Mitchell as Zor.

Released on LP by Argo Records (a division of Decca), re-released on CD in 1991 by Silva Screen Records, re-released again by BBC Audio on CD in 2005. The 2005 CD release includes the complete original programme on disc one, and a new interview with Elisabeth Sladen recorded on 21 May 2004 on disc two.

1978

BBC Sound Effects No. 19: Dr. Who Sound Effects

This was an LP and cassette released by BBC Enterprises, in mono, with sound effects from the Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker eras of Doctor Who.

One effect that does not appear on this recording is the sound of the TARDIS taking off and landing. As the BBC considers that to be a work of music, it appears only on a later musical soundtrack CD.

1979

Genesis of the Daleks

Originally released on LP, re-released on cassette in 1988, re-released again on CD in 2001. This is an abridged version of the television soundtrack, with narration by Tom Baker.

The CD version includes "Exploration Earth: The Time Machine," broadcast in 1976 as part of "BBC Radio for Schools." This twenty minute "episode" was written by Bernard Venables, and stars Tom Baker as The Doctor, Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith, and John Westbrook as The Megron.

1993

The Paradise of Death

Broadcast weekly on BBC Radio 5 in August and September 1993.

The recording was originally released on cassette in 1993, re-released on a two CD set in 2000.

This is a five-part, original story by Barry Letts, starring Jon Pertwee as the Doctor, Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith.

1996

Slipback

Broadcast in six parts on BBC Radio 4 in July and August of 1985.

The recording was originally released on cassette in 1996, and re-released on CD in 2001.

This is a six-part, original story by Eric Saward, starring Colin Baker as the Doctor, Nicola Bryant as Peri and Valentine Dyall as Slarn.

The Ghosts of N-Space

Broadcast weekly on BBC Radio 2 in January and February of 1996.

The recording was originally released on cassette in 1996, re-released on a three CD set in 2000.

This is a six-part, original story by Barry Letts, starring Jon Pertwee as the Doctor, Nicholas Courtney as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart and Elisabeth Sladen as Sarah Jane Smith.

2002

Death Comes to Time

Webcast on the official BBC Doctor Who website in 2001.

The recording was released as a three CD set, with a slightly edited/modified audio from the original, in 2002.

Disc three also contains a series of outtakes and interviews.

The full colour booklet, illustrated by Lee Sullivan (who illustrated the RealPlayer animations that accompanied the original webcast), includes background information to the production and the characters and settings.

2003

Doctor Who at the BBC

Disc One contains 30 Years, originally broadcast on 20 November 1993 for Doctor Who's 30th anniversary, presented by Nicholas Courtney.

Disc Two is a series of radio clips from 1972-2002, presented by Elisabeth Sladen.

2004

Doctor Who at the BBC Volume 2

The two discs in this set include a variety of BBC Radio and TV clips from 1967-2003, presented by Elisabeth Sladen.

Soundtrack Music

1991

Doctor Who: Variations on a Theme

This disc consists of four versions of the Doctor Who theme, arranged by Mark Ayres, Dominic Glynn and Keff McCulloch

The Curse of Fenric

This disc consists of the music for this Doctor Who serial, composed, arranged and performed by Mark Ayres, and includes another arrangement of the Doctor Who theme, also by Mark Ayres.

2000

Doctor Who at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop

Volume 1: The Early Years 1963-1969

This Disc contains the theme from 1963 and 1967, TARDIS effects (including the takeoff effect), and music from twenty-two Doctor Who serials.

Volume 2: New Beginnings 1970-1980

This Disc contains the theme from 1970, the stereo and "Delaware" versions from 1972, and the theme arranged by Peter Howell (including his demo tracks) in 1980. This disc also contains music and sound effects from ten different serials.

2002

Doctor Who at the BBC Radiophonic Workshop

Volume 3: The Leisure Hive

This disc contains incidental music from The Leisure Hive along with sound effects from that serial and two others. It further includes both the 1980 version of the theme music, and a new 2002 stereo remix of the theme using the original 1963 synthesized elements.

Volume 4: Meglos and Full Circle

This disc contains incidental music from Meglos and Full Circle.

2003

Doctor Who: Devils' Planets - The Music of Tristram Cary

This two disc set contains incidental music from The Daleks, The Daleks' Master Plan and The Mutants.

MP3 CDs

All of the MP3 files can be played in order on any compatible device, including home computers, and home audio equipment that is MP3 compatible. There are special 'viewers' and other material, depending on the disc, that can only be viewed on a computer.

2003

The Daleks' Master Plan

This is a re-release of the 5 CD set that appeared in 2001.

The Abominable Snowmen and The Web of Fear

This is a single MP3 CD release of two stories originally released individually.

2004

Death Comes to Time: Special Edition

This disc contains the complete audio programme of the 3 CD Death Comes to Time set released in 2002, including all five episodes, and the bonus audio-only material (outtakes, interviews, etc.)

This disc also contains video interviews that originally appeared on the BBC's Doctor Who website, behind the scenes video clips, and the complete original illustrations by Lee Sullivan that accompanied the audio in its original webcast format.

Tales from the Tardis Volume One

This disc consists of re-releases of material earlier released on cassette and audio CD. For those using a computer to play the files, images from the original series are also included to correspond with readings from the novelizations of selected Doctor Who serials.

Contents:

The Curse of Peladon read by Jon Pertwee

Kinda read by Peter Davison

Attack of the Cybermen read by Colin Baker

Out of the Darkness read by Colin Baker and Nicola Bryant (three short stories featuring the Doctor and Peri)

Short Trips read by Nicholas Courtney and Sophie Aldred (six short stories featuring Doctor Who characters)

Tales from the Tardis Volume Two

This disc consists of re-releases of material earlier released on cassette. For those using a computer to play the files, images from the original series are also included to correspond with readings from the novelizations of selected Doctor Who serials.

Contents:

Planet of the Daleks read by Jon Pertwee

Warriors of the Deep read by Peter Davison

Vengance on Varos read by Colin Baker

The Novel of the Film (Doctor Who: The TV Movie) read by Paul McGann

Earth and Beyond read by Paul McGann (three short stories featuring the Eighth Doctor)

2005

Doctor Who and the Daleks

This is a recording of the 1964 novelisation, written by David Whitaker, based on the second Doctor Who serial to be transmitted, and read in its entirety by William Russell.

The recording includes an interview with William Russell about his time on Doctor Who.

Doctor Who Reconstructed: The Power of the Daleks

To be released in June 2005

Will contain the same audio programme as the 2003/2004 audio CD release as well as John Cura's "telesnaps" to illustrate the serial when played on a home computer.