BBC Studios, out now

Jodie Whittaker’s debut series as the time-travelling Gallifreyan marks the beginning of Doctor Who’s Chibnall Years in this boxset of Series 11’s ten episodes, though there’s no New Year’s Day Special.

I won’t review the stories here – they’ve been covered individually in detail on this site if you wish to seek them out.

As complete series boxsets go, this is a tidy release from the BBC, the fold-out cardboard packaging enhanced by a 3D-effect lenticular cover and a set of four postcards (one for the Doc and each of her friends) but we do have to address the Dalek in the room, namely the absence of New Year episode Resolution. Now I do realise that there are no doubt logistical reasons why it couldn’t be included, the discs no doubt getting pressed before the Dalek reveal on TV, but your average fan on the street will argue that being released a fortnight after the episode has been aired, it’s not unreasonable to expect its inclusion rather than having to wait a further month and pay full whack for a single hour’s entertainment.

Rant aside, what we do get are excellent hi-definition transfers with DTS HD audio. The look of this year’s episodes is sumptuous, and this comes across in the episodes, three per disc, each accompanied by a five-minute ‘Closer Look’ behind-the-scenes segment. Four of the episodes also gain a commentary track – The Woman Who Fell to Earth, Rosa, The Tsuranga Conundrum and Demons of the Junjab. The yack track for the premiere episode is particularly joyous, a bubbly Jodie Whittaker regaling director Jamie Childs with anecdotes from the shooting. The Demons of the Punjab track is also engaging, producer Alex Mercer, Mandip Gill (Yaz), Shane Zaza (Prem) and writer Vinay Patel sharing significant behind-the-scenes details in a lively discussion.

The other 50 minutes of material is enjoyable, though most (if not all) of it has been shared along the way on the show’s social media channels, hence most of it is bite-sized (under a minute to nine minutes). It’s fun, but ultimately disposable, with the focus on Jamie Childs in Directing the Doctor being the closest we get nowadays to in-depth Doctor Who Confidential.

Verdict: This year the BBC have dispensed with splitting the series into two vanilla releases before inviting fans to double-dip with the complete boxset, but the absence of Resolution will anger many who would rather wait a couple more weeks to get all 11 episodes as one. Regardless, it’s a well-packaged set. We’re a long way from those extras-packed extravaganzas of old, but the commentaries are a welcome inclusion. 8/10

Nick Joy