The Five Doctors is a story you either love or hate. Doctor Who fans are divided on the issue. Non-Doctor Who fans would have no opinion at all. The story depends too much on knowing the back story of Doctor Who to make sense to the casual viewer. It is certainly not a good story to start exploring classic Doctor Who with.

The Fifth Doctor is holidaying on The Eye of Orion when he starts to experience ‘cosmic angst’. His previous lives are being taken out of time. The First Doctor and his granddaughter, Susan, are scooped out of time and have to run from Daleks. The Second Doctor and The Brigadier wind up in the wilderness. The Third Doctor and Sarah Jane are reunited on the edge of a quarry. The Fourth Doctor and Romana are stuck in a time warp and don’t arrive at all. Throw in Cybermen, The Master and a Raston Robot and stir the mix. Susan is true to character and sprains her ankle. The Master shows his true colours and tries to double cross everyone. The Lord High President himself turns out to be a traitor and comes to a sticky end and everyone gets sent home by time portal.

It’s a colourful, fun story and we get to see a bit of Gallifrey. I like it, generally.

10/10

Extras.

The Five Doctors Special Edition, according to the back cover, is a new version of the story including extended scenes, previously unseen sequence, new visual effects and a stereo soundtrack. The stereo soundtrack is very good, it has to be said. But that’s it. There is no commentary, and only one ‘extra’ as such. A set of music clips from the soundtrack. But it’s not really very well presented.

There is a nice little colour booklet inside the box which gives potted biographies of the characters, but given this is a DVD aimed at Doctor Who fans, who could write such bios with their eyes shut, it seems a little pointless.

2/10

Overall a rather disappointing package.

7 out of 10