The DVDs are pricey I agree, simply because there are so many of them-but the entire series (many of which aren't yet out on DVD) was released on VHS and the videos still turn up regularly in charity shops and at boot fairs for a quid or two apiece, which is a rather more realistic proposition if you're on a tight budget. Of course, for that to be any use, you need a VCR, but then the Ipswich branch of cash converters tends to have them on sale for about twenty quid (roughly the price of one DVD box set) and I doubt they're unique in that...

Incidentally, while clearing out the loft the other day I came across duplicate copies of Spearhead from Space and The Robots of Death on VHS. If anybody wants them, PM me: no charge, someone may as well make use of them.

my local Cash Converters wont even take VCR's anymore,let alone sell them(infact ive taken to servicing my own VCR myself),but i agree VHS tapes are rather easy to come by

I should have phrased that better. What I meant to say was that we are used to Classic Who, we were brought up on, we're used to it. Off course it has nothing to apologise for and I wasn't for a moment suggesting otherwise.

I'm compelled to re-post this. Granted, it's not as mind-blowing as the news we've received today that "The Daemons" has suddenly been released on VHS seventeen years ago but I find it of similar importance and I'd hate to see it lost at the end of page 2.


Challenge accepted.

"The Power of Kroll", part 4 @ 6 minutes and 57 seconds.

The Doctor's in the rocket silo and the ladder he's on's wobbling and the control panel he's fiddling with is swinging about, too.

So, where's my prize?

I will keep my eyes peeled! And video player isn't an issue; have The X Files on VHS in their entirety, won't be getting rid of that anytime soon!

Actually wasn't there a wobbly set in the two doctors, in Dastari's office? I seem to remember that they had to reshoot a scene several times and still couldn't get it right (I think Colin Baker was commenting on it in the outtakes, but as usually I'm not sure).

The one with the control panel? It rings a bell but I'm not up to ploughing through that one for precise details!

Doctor Who's full of mistakes and I don't see it as something to get upset about. (I watched some "Crossroads" recently and I realised just how devastatingly close to reality Victoria Wood's "Acorn Antiques" was!) Mr Retro will be denying he saw Malcolm Terris' underpants in "The Horns of Nimon" next.

Absolutely. Wobbly sets, fluffs, etc are part of the charm of Doctor Who.

I think The Chase is single-handedly the most unpolished production in Doctor Who. Fluffs, dodgy double Doctors, background noises everywhere, dodgy props, Daleks onscreen before they are supposed to be onscreen and yet, the whole thing is still watchable!!!

And I also remember a TV series in the 70's, Doomsday, I think it was called(?( where Robert Powell was trying to kill some rats or something. It was supposed to be tense but it's the most hilarious TV viewing ever, the overacting was that bad!!!!

I think I might get very offended in a minute. I love the two doctors. Crossroads is classic, but it's hardly the epitome of steady sets.


It is. Of course not all sets were wobbly and it doesn't distract from how brilliant some of the classic episodes were.

Personally, I don't really think they're part of the charm - that phrase has become almost self-fulfilling - but there are some things that can't be removed! I'd much rather "classic" Who had had a bigger budget and better scripts but I'm content with what we have.


Doomwatch - the episode was "Tomorrow, The Rat". It's very of its time, yes! It was pretty controversial at the time, though.


I'm fond of TTD (as I don't call it!) but I also think it's total rubbish. Bad direction, bad costumes, dreadful Sontarans... A typical JNT/Saward waste of script. Still, it's got the Sixth Doctor and some great Robert Holmes dialogue so I forgive it.

No, I think The Chase was as worse as it got and I don't think many other Who's have ever come close to be honest, though The Web Planet had it's moments as well!!!

There are still plenty of wobbly walls in Coronation Street - you just have to know where to look for them!

Can't they actually get people in who can do a set justice anymore in Corrie?

OMG I will actually disagree with you. I love 1970's TV, and I think the sets and partly stilted acting is part of the charm. Mind you I'm not an expert on classic Who, so maybe I'm talking rubbish.





It's got the second doctor, the sixt doctor and Jamie. What else do you want. Ok, it has the second worst actor next to the Nyska woman as well (Victor). I just love the fact that it tried to raise people's awareness (e.g. gluttony and greediness).

Disagree with you about the charm thing, was brought up on wobbly sets and found it rather endearing!

Doomwatch, that was it! Rat scene still makes me laugh it was so bad!!

And I love The Two Doctors. Best story of the whole 22nd Season(And Peri looked hot!)

I think when I watch "archive" television, I just accept the different acting styles, longer takes, film/video contrast, etc., but I don't sit there thinking "I love seeing the seams on that monster costume" or "how cool to see that spaceship's wires!". It's a tough one, though. I see where you and your brother are coming from but I don't think shoddy production values are always something to be celebrated. It's a topic for another thread, to be honest!


Confession - I've never liked Jamie and I think the character is very poorly served in the story.

Oi! What about Peri?!!!!




Maybe you should start a thread on that!

Sorry to disagree again but I like Jamie, the best out of the male companions for me. Okay, you may be right that he didn't have much to do in TTD but there were four main characters to write for, but I love his humour and simplicity.

`

Well I don't celebrate it, and I certainly don't watch new who thinking, "where are the wobbly set?s". However, I can appreciate the story for what it is, despite the wobbly sets and now it reminds me of my childhood (mind you I didn't watch anything prior to Sylvester McCoy during my childhood).


`

I probably know where you are coming from, he is a bit too simplistic and naive just because he is from an earlier time. People from the 18th century weren't generally that naive. On the other hand, the return of a previous doctor and companion is always great.

It's not really the character... I don't think Frazer Hines plays him very well. Naff Scottish accent, for one thing.


I'm really not explaining myself very well! I overlook mistakes, too, but nobody loves the Myrka, do they?

Actually, I do love the Myrka and Ingrid Pitt's karate attack is amazingly awful... maybe the "so bad it's good" thing is what we're talking about? That's why I love "Timelash" more than "The Two Doctors" or "Rose".

I would not know about that. I'm not really listening to his voice.


I've never seen the one with Ingrid Pitt and the Myrka (although I know Ingrid Pitt's acting skills from the Wicker Man). I think we have been talking cross purpose (I was so pleased that I could disagree with you). I think we probably agree, the" so bad it's good thing" is exactly what we talk about, and I love Timelash for that very reason.

I loved "Rose", but only because it meant Doctor Who was back. I understand why - it was made to appeal to a new audience, not just me - but I thought it was really cheesy and some of the effects were dodgy. I didn't care though as I knew that it was back and it was in great, safe hands with a great cast.

Shameless. Quite shameless.


Don't even think about "The Wicker Man" when considering "Warriors of the Deep" - you might as well compare Laurence Olivier with the Chuckle Brothers. Just think of a pretend lady scientist with 80s "big hair" taking on a lopsided green pantomime horse from space... and losing. It's magnificent in its awfulness!

It must be on You Tube... or maybe you have letterbox men who can provide you with such treasures?

I know and I'm proud of it


It sounds like a lot of fun... I wonder if I knwo any letterbox men who could provide me with such treasures. I think it would be rather fun

The Wicker Man is very good though!

I've seen a few on the odd occasion. Maybe someday when I have the time and money i'll invest in some classic who box sets but New Who keeps coming, and they aint cheap.




You shouldn't be really. They'll be difficult to watch only in the sense that the effects will be dated but top of the range i'd say for their times. You just have to turn off your "New Who" blinders and expect to see frankly amusing sets when compared to what you get nowadays.Just think how dated New Who sets will look in the future.

Actually the point I tried to make before is because Rose brought the series back to life then I investigated the original series, and I am sure I'm not the only person to have done this either.
If it hadn't have come back to life then I doubt I would've been given the opportunity unless I was up at 6am in front of UK Gold and I can't say that happens very often!

Because the series was brought back you found a lot of people...erm...lets say making available the old series to view...on certain sites, which you wouldn't have before...
And then there was the whole BBC4 showings, sadly stopped before they really got going. (Was looking forward to them too and they were hoisted from us! )

And for those listing the slightly-not-as-planned moments in the original series (and the new series too to be fair!) should watch TV Mistakes on BBC3 showing a few times this week.
Loads of material!
(Just whose WAS that hand holding up that monster? )

Oh, it's not! Everybody wears eyeshadow then dies!



I wonder if you do...?

Back on topic... I resisted watching the leaked version of "Rose". A work colleague (not a fan but he fancied the pants off me so wanted to impress) watched it and wasn't keen. I waited with mounting excitement and...

...was a bit confused by it all. It wasn't "traditional" Doctor Who and it wasn't as impressive as Davies' other work like "The Second Coming" or "Century Falls". I realised this new version would take some getting used to - that turned out to be "The Unquiet Dead". However, friends and colleagues loved it and suddenly realised that I'd been right all along!

One of my mates - a confirmed Tennant/Piper/RTD fan boy (and thoroughly heterosexual in case we feel like judging) - still jokingly blames me for making him love Doctor Who. He's wrong - it was "Rose".