AI on Classic Doctor Who. Why it's bad.

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  I can’t believe I am writing a post like this, but I really fear for the future of The Collection.

 


 

The restoration work carried out on Classic Doctor Who had always been to such a high standard. When the show started coming out on Blu-ray in 2018 I was incredibly impressed how the picture looked. Free from DVD compression, allowing the master tapes of episodes shot on 2” or 1”inch video tape to shine through. There was picture noise, a bit of blurriness at times, but that was ok. No-one complained because we all knew how the episodes were made back in the 20th Century. You can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.

So I have to question why BBC Studios decided to risk all of that by starting to use AI to upscale the footage? In principle it may sound good, maybe even beneficial to the episodes, but the problem is AI is just what an algorithm thinks an image should look like, leaving in its wake a huge number artefacts that change how an episode looks. Problems such as, actor likenesses altering, eyes shooting off in random directions and background extras appearing more in focus than their foreground counterparts amongst many other issues. All of this I find too distracting and unsympathetic to the original episodes.

Colin Baker's weird eyes from The Twin Dilemma
 

If these AI upscaled episodes were included as an option, fine. But we don’t get a choice. It is this or the DVDs. And in the case of Season 21, I personally prefer the DVDs.

Why do I fear for The Collection? It’s because I’ve seen a large number of fans opting to boycott the range until it is fixed. An overreaction? Perhaps? But I get it. Despite all the wonderful extras included on this set, the main reason people buy these sets is to experience the episode in the best available quality. If others, including myself, feel that the DVDs look better, then you know something has gone horribly wrong.

AI upscaling relies on algorithms predicting what an image should look like. If I felt the technology did enhance the footage, I would support it. I’ve seen the argument the technology will get better. Maybe? I’m not convinced. Meanwhile Season 13 and Season 21 are left with these episodes looking waxy with detail removed from the picture. There are zero guarantees this will ever be fixed. It could be the final time for these episodes on physical media.

I highly recommend checking out TJ DW’s YouTube video, showing a comparison between the DVD and Blu-ray releases of Planet of Fire.  Whilst some shots recorded in studio (especially close ups) may look good enough, mid shots and anything containing background information seems to get flushed out or upscaled. Detail is getting lost and other detail is getting enhanced far stronger that it should. Problems with the videotape appear worse because the faults are being sharpened as well.


 

I am envious of the few who don’t see this issue. But the restoration takes me out of the story. It’s distracting. The Blake’s 7 Collection range isn’t using AI upscaling, and I think looks far better for it.

I’ve seen budget cited as an issue by some as to why the restoration standard has dropped. But if that was an issue, why isn’t money being diverted from the extras? As nice as it is, did we really need to see Peter Davison, Janet Fielding and Sarah Sutton on boat? I’d rather another price increase than the standard drop. The episodes themselves are the most important thing.

 

What I wish to happen:

  • A return to pre-2024 restoration methods
  • Avoid using AI (or at the very least make it optional)
  • Replace the episode discs on Seasons 13 and 21

 

Everyone was happy before AI was used. And I think those episodes look better than the more recent restorations.

It does pain me to be talking about The Collection in such a negative light. The work carried outside of the restoration is still to an incredibly high standard. The special edition of Warriors of the Deep is amazing. This isn’t an attack on any individual, I just wanted to put my point and to try and be listened to.

I feel if I don’t make a stand now, this will be the norm for the range going forward and if sales drop off, the range will suffer. Will I continue to buy The Collection? If AI is continued to be used on the next season I honestly don’t know? Put it this way, if I do get it, it won’t be to watch the episodes.

 

If like me, you object to AI being used to restore the episodes, the best course of action is to politely e-mail the BBC Studios DVD team at DVDSupport@bbc.com

There is also a petition you can sign here. https://c.org/VJhdTcmY7b

Comments

  1. Jack Christmas18 March 2026 at 04:54

    Hear, hear. I think I might be lucky enough not to usually notice the AI weirdness when just casually watching the episodes, but there's simply no need for it. The pre-13 sets looked fine! Immensely frustrating, and I'm glad I made the choice to hold onto my DVDs when the range started.

    I have my fingers crossed that the backlash to Season 13 did reach the team, and the work on Season 21 was just too far along for them to change course, so future sets will cut it out.

    Disc replacements seem like a long shot unfortunately, because pretty much all the discs are affected and they've already had to do so many disc replacement schemes for this range, but if they fixed the issues for the standard packaging releases of 13 and 21 I'd be very happy.

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