Cover of the first Doctor Who TV soundtrack release, and covers of four "Lost Episode" soundtracks released by the BBC Radio Collection
There have been many official and unofficial Doctor Who and related spin-offs released on audio, as LPs, audiocassettes, audio CDs and MP3 CDs. Recordings here are listed by their original release date.
Television soundtracks
In 1966, an abridged recording of episode 6 of The Chase was released with narration on a 7-inch record. In 1979, the BBC released an abridged version of Genesis of the Daleks. In 1992 a brief series began releasing audio versions of missing stories from the archives, with link narration provided by one of the actors who played the Doctor. The soundtracks that were known to exist at the time were not the optimal audio quality and the range only released a few stories. A second series of "Lost Episode" soundtrack releases began in 1999. This series differed from earlier releases by having "linking" 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 (except The Macra Terror, which used the original narration by Colin Baker). Another difference is that all 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 possibly availability, from surviving films. From 1999 to 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 different outer packaging. The series was officially completed in 2006 with the release of The Reign of Terror; however, a rerelease of the soundtrack for The Tomb of the Cybermen was produced and was followed by new audio productions of available serials. All have been released by the BBC unless otherwise noted. This list is in order by release date.
An abridged version of the soundtrack. Tom Baker provides link narration in character as the 4th Doctor. Reissues: 7 November 1988 (cassette, along with Slipback, see below). 2 July 2001 (CD, in a revised and expanded version with Exploration Earth: The Time Machine -see below). 29 April 2010 (free CD with that day's edition of The Daily Telegraph newspaper). 3 February 2011 (CD in a "facsimile" edition of the original LP edit replicating the original LP artwork).[1] 16 April 2016 (Blue vinyl LP released by Demon Records for Record Store Day)[2]
The narration is the same as later used on the 2000 CD edition but a poorer quality version of the original soundtrack was all that was available in 1992.
This release cut two scenes set in a coffee bar, in which music by The Seekers and The Beatles could be heard playing in the background. Unlike the releases of 1993, Tom Baker does not perform his narration "in character" as the Doctor.
This release was prepared in 1991, when all 4 episodes were still missing from the BBC TV archives. When all 4 episodes were returned to the BBC in January 1992, the planned spring 1992 cassette release was cancelled, with a VHS of the serial being released in May 1992 instead. Due to contractual obligations, the cassette version of the serial with Jon Pertwee's link narration was finally released in June 1993.
This release also used The Massacre title on its spine, and was released on both CD and cassette, with this being the last story released on cassette. Reissues: 4 August 2003 (CD, Adventures in History box set with The Myth Makers and The Highlanders). 3 February 2011 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Two: 1965–1966 boxset).[3] 5 September 2019 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Two boxset)[4]
Reissues: 7 April 2003 (Mp3-CD with The Abominable Snowmen). 7 July 2003 (CD, Yeti Attack box set with The Abominable Snowmen). 2 August 2012 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Five: 1967–1969 boxset)[5]
Reissues: 5 August 2010 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection One: 1964–1965 boxset).[6] 7 March 2019 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection One 1964-1965 boxset).[7]
Reissues: 4 August 2003 (CD, Adventures in History box set with The Myth Makers and The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve). 4 August 2011 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Three: 1966–1967 boxset)[8]
The narration is the same as used on the 1992 audio cassette edition, and is a noticeably less detailed narration compared to the CD releases of all other stories. A better quality version of the original soundtrack is used compared to the 1992 cassette release.
Reissues: 4 August 2003 (CD, Adventures in History box set with The Highlanders and The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve). 5 August 2010 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection One: 1964–1965 boxset).[6] 7 March 2019 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection One 1964-1965 boxset).[7]
Reissues: 3 February 2011 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Two: 1965–1966 boxset). 5 September 2019 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Two boxset)[4]
Reissues: 7 April 2003 (Mp3-CD with The Web of Fear). 7 July 2003 (CD, Yeti Attack box set with The Web of Fear). 2 February 2012 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Four: 1967 boxset)[9]
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. Reissues: 7 April 2003 (Mp3-CD). 3 February 2011 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Two: 1965–1966 boxset).[3] 5 September 2019 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Two boxset)[4]
Reissues: 3 February 2011 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Two: 1965–1966 boxset).[3] 5 September 2019 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Two boxset)[4]
A printed bonus is an included map of Cathay (China) similar to the one originally 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. Reissues: 5 August 2010 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection One: 1964–1965 boxset).[6] 7 March 2019 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection One 1964-1965 boxset).[7]
Part of The Daleks limited tin release with The Evil of the Daleks and My Life as a Dalek. Reissues: 2 August 2004 (CD, individual release). 20 June 2005 (Reconstructed with John Cura's "tele-snaps" to illustrate the serial when played on a home computer). 4 August 2011 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Three: 1966–1967 boxset)[8]
Part of The Daleks limited tin release with The Power of the Daleks and My Life as a Dalek. This was the first time that all the scenes from all seven episodes appeared unedited in audio form, with the exception of the Beatles song Paperback Writer being replaced by Hold Tight by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich in the second of the two scenes set in the coffee bar. The previous 1992 cassette release had to cut out both coffee bar scenes with songs from The Seekers and The Beatles playing in the background. This 2003 CD release got copyright clearance for the song Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen by The Seekers in the first coffee bar scene, but Mark Ayres discusses in a Doctor Who Magazine interview in issue 336 how a rights clearance for The Beatles song was not only unfeasible due to cost, but that the rights owner would not issue a clearance for an audiobook CD release under any circumstances. Mark goes on to describe how he painstakingly was able to use another song in the background instead, digitally inserting Hold Tight in place of Paperback Writer. Reissues: 2 August 2004 (CD, individual release). 2 February 2012 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Four: 1967 boxset)[9]
Released in the limited The Cybermen tin with The Invasion and The Origins of the Cybermen. Bonus interview with Anneke Wills. Reissues: 9 January 2006 (CD, individual release). 4 August 2011 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Three: 1966–1967 boxset)[8]
Released in the limited The Cybermen tin with The Tenth Planet and The Origins of the Cybermen. Bonus interview with Frazer Hines. Reissues: 9 January 2006 (CD, individual release). 2 August 2012 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Five: 1967–1969 boxset)[5]
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. Reissues: 4 August 2011 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Three: 1966–1967 boxset)[8]
Bonus interview with William Russell. 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. Reissues: 5 August 2010(CD, The Lost TV Episodes Collection 1 boxset[6] with the bonus interview moved to a separate CD.). 7 March 2019 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection One 1964-1965 boxset).[7]
Bonus interview with Frazer Hines (the interview is split into two parts, one part on each disc). 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. Reissues: 2 February 2012 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Four: 1967 boxset)[9]
Bonus interview with Carole Ann Ford. With this release in February 2006, the soundtracks of all 108 of the then missing episodes had been released with linking narration. From this point on, aside from re-releases of stories with lost episodes, stories with all its episodes existing in the TV archives started to be released on audio with linking narration. Reissues: 5 August 2010 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection One: 1964–1965 boxset)[6] with the bonus interview moved to a separate CD.). 7 March 2019 (CD, in The Lost TV Episodes Collection One 1964-1965 boxset).[7]
Bonus interview with Frazer Hines. Reissues: 6 April 2017 (CD, in the Classic TV Adventures box set).[10] 21 April 2018 (2-LP, heavyweight silver vinyl for Record Store Day 2018[11])
Bonus Interview with Caroline John. Released in the Monsters on Earth limited edition tin with The Sea Devils and Warriors of the Deep. Reissues: 7 January 2008 (CD, individual release). 6 April 2017 (CD, in the Classic TV Adventures box set)[10]
Bonus Interview with Katy Manning. Released in the Monsters on Earth limited edition tin with Doctor Who and the Silurians and Warriors of the Deep. Reissues: 7 January 2008 (CD, individual release). 6 April 2017 (CD, in the Classic TV Adventures box set)[10]
Bonus Interview with Janet Fielding. Released in the Monsters on Earth limited edition tin with Doctor Who and the Silurians and The Sea Devils. Reissues: 7 January 2008 (CD, individual release). 5 October 2017 (CD, in the Classic TV Adventures: Collection Two box set)[13]
Bonus interview with Peter Purves. Also includes a special 10-minute music segment, "The Ballad of the Last Chance Saloon" by Tristram CaryReissues: 5 September 2013 (CD, in The TV Episodes Collection Six boxset)[12]
Bonus archive radio items that look at the real-life Nero and the life and career of William HartnellReissues: 5 September 2013 (CD, in The TV Episodes Collection Six boxset)[12]
Bonus interview with Maureen O'Brien; this interview was reissued in The Lost TV Episodes Collection One: 1964–1965 boxset. Reissues: 5 September 2013 (CD, in The TV Episodes Collection Six boxset)[12]
Bonus interview with Lalla Ward. Reissues: 5 October 2017 (CD, in the Classic TV Adventures: Collection Two box set).[13] 21 April 2018 (2-LP, heavyweight translucent green vinyl for Record Store Day 2018[11]
Reissues: January 1979 (LP, World Record Club, Australia). April 1985 (Cassette, London Records). January 1986 (Cassette, Newman Publishing, USA). 1991 (CD & Cassette, Silva Screen Records). October 1993 (Cassette, Polygram). 3 January 2005 (CD with a bonus interview CD with Elisabeth Sladen, BBC Audio). 7 April 2011 (CD in the boxset The BBC Radio Episodes)[17]
Released with the CD reissue of Genesis of the Daleks (see above). Reissues: 28 April 2010 (free CD with that day's edition of The Daily Telegraph newspaper). 7 April 2011 (CD in the boxset The BBC Radio Episodes)[17]
Edited/modified version of the webcast. Bonus outtakes and interviews on disc 3. Reissues: 7 April 2003 (Special edition Mp3-CD including the original webcast with illustrations)
Part of the Hornets' Nest series, but also stands on its own. Reissues: 12 January 2010 (CD in the boxset Hornets' Nest: The Complete Series). 16 July 2015 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles).[18] 4 April 2019 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles)[19]
Part of the Hornets' Nest series, but also stands on its own. Reissues: 12 January 2010 (CD in the boxset Hornets' Nest: The Complete Series). 16 July 2015 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles).[18] 4 April 2019 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles)[19]
Part of the Hornets' Nest series, but also stands on its own. Reissues: 12 January 2010 (CD in the boxset Hornets' Nest: The Complete Series). 16 July 2015 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles).[18] 4 April 2019 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles)[19]
Part of the Hornets' Nest series, but also stands on its own. Reissues: 12 January 2010 (CD in the boxset Hornets' Nest: The Complete Series). 16 July 2015 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles).[18] 4 April 2019 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles)[19]
Part of the Hornets' Nest series, but also stands on its own. Reissues: 12 January 2010 (CD in the boxset Hornets' Nest: The Complete Series). 16 July 2015 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles).[18] 4 April 2019 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles)[19]
Part of the Demon Quest series, but also stands on its own. Reissues: 6 October 2011 (CD in the boxset Demon Quest: The Complete Series). 16 July 2015 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles).[18] 4 April 2019 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles)[19]
Part of the Demon Quest series, but also stands on its own. Reissues: 6 October 2011 (CD in the boxset Demon Quest: The Complete Series). 16 July 2015 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles).[18] 4 April 2019 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles)[19]
Part of the Demon Quest series, but also stands on its own. Reissues: 6 October 2011 (CD in the boxset Demon Quest: The Complete Series). 16 July 2015 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles).[18] 4 April 2019 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles)[19]
Part of the Demon Quest series, but also stands on its own. Reissues: 6 October 2011 (CD in the boxset Demon Quest: The Complete Series). 16 July 2015 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles).[18] 4 April 2019 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles)[19]
Part of the Demon Quest series, but also stands on its own. Reissues: 6 October 2011 (CD in the boxset Demon Quest: The Complete Series). 16 July 2015 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles).[18] 4 April 2019 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles)[19]
Part of Serpent Crest series, but also stands on its own.[25]Reissues: 6 September 2012 (CD in the boxset Serpent Crest: The Complete Series).[26] 16 July 2015 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles).[18] 4 April 2019 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles)[19]
Part of Serpent Crest series, but also stands on its own. Reissues: 6 September 2012 (CD in the boxset Serpent Crest: The Complete Series).[26] 16 July 2015 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles).[18] 4 April 2019 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles)[19]
Part of Serpent Crest series, but also stands on its own. Reissues: 6 September 2012 (CD in the boxset Serpent Crest: The Complete Series).[26] 16 July 2015 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles).[18] 4 April 2019 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles)[19]
Part of Serpent Crest series, but also stands on its own. Reissues: 6 September 2012 (CD in the boxset Serpent Crest: The Complete Series).[26] 16 July 2015 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles).[18] 4 April 2019 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles)[19]
Part of Serpent Crest series, but also stands on its own. Reissues: 6 September 2012 (CD in the boxset Serpent Crest: The Complete Series).[26] 16 July 2015 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles).[18] 4 April 2019 (CD in the boxset The Nest Cottage Chronicles)[19]
A ten-part audio drama released via BBC Sounds. People are disappearing and a blue box is somehow involved, but no-one can remember The Doctor except for the host of a paranormal conspiracy podcast.[31][32]
Bonus "Torchwood: All Access" programme detailing behind the scenes of the television show. Reissues: 8 April 2010 (CD, Torchwood: The Radio Adventures boxset).[34] 1 June 2017 (CD, The Collected Radio Dramas)[35]
Reissues: 22 September 2009 (CD, Torchwood: The Radio Adventures boxset). 8 April 2010 (CD, Torchwood: The Radio Adventures boxset). 1 June 2017 (CD, The Collected Radio Dramas)[35]
Reissues: 22 September 2009 (CD, Torchwood: The Radio Adventures boxset). 8 April 2010 (CD, Torchwood: The Radio Adventures boxset). 1 June 2017 (CD, The Collected Radio Dramas)[35]
Reissues: 22 September 2009 (CD, Torchwood: The Radio Adventures boxset). 8 April 2010 (CD, Torchwood: The Radio Adventures boxset). 1 June 2017 (CD, The Collected Radio Dramas)[35]
Audio dramas adapted from Thebes Publishing's line of Erimem novels featuring the Fifth Doctor companion from Big Finish Productions line of Doctor Who audio plays.[44]
Contains Regenerations by Daragh Carville, Blue Veils and Golden Sands by Martyn Wade, and Dalek, I Love You by Colin Sharpe. Reissues: 3 October 2013, CD in the box set 50 Years of Doctor Who at the BBC at the BBC[46]
A Recording of Jon Pertwee's one-man show Who is Jon Pertwee?
My Life as a Dalek
CD
BBC Audio
November 2003 (2003-11)
Presented by Mark Gatiss. Exclusively released in the limited edition Dalek tin with the soundtracks of The Power of the Daleks and The Evil of the Daleks
Doctor Who: The Dalek Conquests
2-CD
BBC Audio
May 2006 (2006-05)
Written, directed and narrated by Nicholas Briggs. An original account of the history of the Daleks, from their creation through their attempts at conquering the universe. The discs feature audio clips from the TV series, and short Dalek scenes performed by Briggs.
First broadcast on Radio 4 as part of the Archive on 4 series in December 2009. Shaun Levy investigates what happened to the missing Doctor Who episodes. Released in The Lost TV Episodes Collection Two: 1965–1966 boxset.[3]
Doctor Who at the BBC
Collection of documentary programmes, interviews and other items from the BBC archive. A further volume of radio dramas was also released in this series. Project: WHO?, originally issued as a standalone releases, was included in later Doctor Who at the BBC box sets.
Contains 30 Years, originally broadcast on 20 November 1993 for Doctor Who's 30th anniversary, presented by Nicholas Courtney and a series of radio clips from 1972–2002, presented by Elisabeth Sladen. Reissues: 3 October 2013,CD in the box set 50 Years of Doctor Who at the BBC under the title 30 Years and More[46]
Doctor Who at the BBC Volume 2
2-CD
BBC Audio
September 2004 (2004-09)
A variety of BBC Radio and TV clips from 1967–2003, presented by Elisabeth Sladen. Reissues: 3 October 2013,CD in the box set 50 Years of Doctor Who at the BBC under the title In the Hot Seat[46]
Project: WHO?
2-CD
BBC Audio
May 2005 (2005-05)
Release of BBC Radio 2 programme narrated by Anthony Head, with behind-the-scenes information on the new series. Contains thirty minutes of previously unreleased material. Originally a standalone release, it was retroactively added to the series in the box set 50 Years of Doctor Who at the BBC, released 3 October 2013.[46]
Doctor Who at the BBC Volume 3
2-CD
BBC Audio
September 2005 (2005-09)
Contains BBC TV and Radio items related to Doctor Who from 1974 through 2005, presented by Elisabeth Sladen. Reissues: 3 October 2013,CD in the box set 50 Years of Doctor Who at the BBC under the title Now and Then[46]
The Tenth Doctor
2-CD
BBC Audio
September 2007 (2007-09)
Presented by Elisabeth SladenReissues: 3 October 2013, CD in the box set 50 Years of Doctor Who at the BBC[46]
A Legend Reborn
2-CD
BBC Audio
January 2010 (2010-01)
Presented by Elisabeth SladenReissues: 3 October 2013, CD in the box set 50 Years of Doctor Who at the BBC[46]
William Russell, Carole Ann Ford, Brian Hodgson, Clive Doig, Richard Martin, Robert Shearman, and Jessica Carney, moderated by Toby Hadoke and Nicholas Pegg.
Bonus: Marco Polo: "The Roof of the World" Commentary
Bonus disc included with special edition: Additional commentaries on the episode "Day of Reckoning" and an archival interview with Bernard Kay and Ann Davies from August 2011.
^ abcdefHartnell, William. Doctor Who: The Lost TV Episodes Collection Six: Amazon.co.uk: William Hartnell: Books. ASIN1471344878.
^ abcdefHolmes, Robert; Whitaker, David; Houghton, Don; Troughton, Patrick; Pertwee, Jon; Baker, Tom; Cast, Full (5 October 2017). Doctor Who: Classic TV Adventures Collection Two: Six full-cast BBC TV soundtracks. BBC Physical Audio. ASIN1785298100.
^ abcdefHartnell, William. Doctor Who: The BBC Radio Episodes: Amazon.co.uk: British Broadcasting Corp, British Broadcasting Corporation, Tom Baker, Full Cast: Books. ASIN1408467569.
^ abcdefghijklmnoDoctor Who: The Nest Cottage Chronicles: Fifteen 4th Doctor audio dramas (Dr Who): Amazon.co.uk: Paul Magrs, Full Cast, Susan Jameson, Tom Baker: 9781785291227: Books. ASIN178529122X.
^Savile, Steven. Torchwood: The Radio Adventures (BBC Audio): Amazon.co.uk: Books. ASIN1408426676.
^ abcdefgLidster, Joseph; Goss, James; Laight, Rupert; Myles, Eve; Cast, Full; David-Lloyd, Gareth; Barrowman, John (1 June 2017). Torchwood: The Collected Radio Dramas: Seven BBC Radio 4 full-cast dramas. BBC Physical Audio. ASIN1785297902.