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123[1] – Arc of Infinity
Doctor Who serial
Cast
Others
Production
Directed byRon Jones
Written byJohnny Byrne
Script editorEric Saward
Produced byJohn Nathan-Turner
Executive producerNone
Music byRoger Limb
Production code6E
SeriesSeason 20
Running time4 episodes, 25 minutes each
First broadcast3 January–12 January 1983
Chronology
← Preceded by
Time-Flight 		Followed by →
Snakedance
List of episodes (1963–1989)

Arc of Infinity is the first serial of the 20th season of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, which was first broadcast in four twice-weekly parts on BBC1 from 3 to 12 January 1983.

The serial is set in Amsterdam and on the planet Gallifrey. In the serial, the Time Lord traitor Hedin (Michael Gough) seeks to bring the founder of the Time Lords Omega (Ian Collier) out of the universe of antimatter by making him bond with the body of the Fifth Doctor (Peter Davison) in the universe of matter.

Plot

[edit]

On Gallifrey, the Fifth Doctor's home planet, a Time Lord traitor steals the bio-data code of another Time Lord and provides it to the Renegade, a creature composed of antimatter. The High Council of the Time Lords issue a Warrant of Termination on the Doctor to ensure the Renegade can no longer bond with him. The Doctor is taken for execution, despite Nyssa's attempts to save him, and placed in a dispersal chamber.

Unbeknownst to the High Council, The Doctor's mind has been taken into the Matrix, the repository of all Time Lord knowledge, while his body is hidden. The Renegade, who demands an opportunity to return to the Universe it once inhabited, contacts him. The truth of the aborted execution is discovered by the Castellan, who tells Nyssa, Damon, and the High Council that the Doctor is alive.

Omega's costume for this episode, on display at the Doctor Who Experience.

In Amsterdam, the Doctor's former companion Tegan is looking for her cousin Colin Frazer. She is greeted by his friend Robin Stuart, who explains that Colin disappeared while they were crashing in the crypt of the Frankendael mansion. The Renegade, which has established its base at the Frankendael, finds them and uses Tegan as bait to force the Doctor to obey him. The Doctor is returned to normal space on Gallifrey where he makes for the High Council Chamber.

Time Lord Councillor Hedin is revealed as the traitor who transmitted the bio-data. Hedin is in awe of his master Omega, first of the Time Lords and pioneer of time travel. Hedin wishes to release Omega from his exile in a universe of antimatter, not realising the great Time Lord has been driven insane by his years of solitary confinement. The Castellan kills Councillor Hedin, but this does not prevent Omega using the Arc of Infinity to seize total control of the Matrix and come to Earth. When he peels his decayed mask away, he reveals the features of the Doctor, whom he now perfectly resembles.

Omega leaves for Amsterdam with the Doctor and Nyssa in pursuit. Within a short time, the Doctor's prediction of an unstable transfer begins to come true: Omega's flesh decays and it is clear his new body is not permanent. When the Doctor and Nyssa catch up with him, it is a painful task for the Doctor to use the Ergon's antimatter converter on Omega, expelling him back to his own universe of antimatter. The Time Lord High Council on Gallifrey detects the end of the threat. Once Tegan has checked on her cousin's progress in hospital, she decides to rejoin the TARDIS crew.

Production

[edit]

The working titles for this story were The Time of Neman[2] and The Time of Omega.[citation needed] For the 20th anniversary season, the production team chose to feature returning elements; Omega previously appeared in The Three Doctors (1972-1973). For Parts One and Two, the character of Omega was credited as "The Renegade" on the end credits, so as not to spoil the reveal.[2]

Substantial portions of the story were filmed on location in Amsterdam. This was only the second time the show had filmed outside of Britain. John Nathan-Turner hoped to repeat the success of the first story filmed overseas, City of Death (1979).[3] Amsterdam was chosen both because the BBC had recently developed contacts there and because it was cheap to arrange travel and hotel accommodations. Story writer Johnny Byrne had some trouble at first because the producers wanted a plot that made the Amsterdam setting a key factor in the course of events, rather than him just happening to be there.

Cast notes

[edit]

The story features a guest appearance by Michael Gough (who had previously played the Celestial Toymaker in the story of the same name).[4] Leonard Sachs previously played Admiral Gaspard de Coligny in The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve (1966).[2] Ian Collier previously played Stuart Hyde in The Time Monster (1972).[4]

Colin Baker (who would later portray the Sixth Doctor) appeared in the serial as Commander Maxil.[4] It was his performance in this role (which, according to Baker, producer John Nathan-Turner repeatedly told him to "tone down") that first brought him to the attention of the production office. Shortly after the production, the Assistant Floor Manager on the serial, Lynn Richards, invited Colin Baker to her wedding reception. Baker has said in a number of interviews that his entertaining form at the party directly led to his being cast as the Sixth Doctor the following year. Baker reprised the role of Maxil as a cameo in the 2006 Big Finish Productions audio play Gallifrey: Appropriation.[5] Colin Baker stated on Doctor Who: The Colin Baker Years video that John Nathan-Turner believed his performance was a little arch, and therefore gave him the nickname of Archie.

Elspet Gray, who played Thalia, later played Hera in the audio play Immortal Beloved. At the Fifth Element convention in London in February 2010, Alastair Cumming (who played Colin Frazer) explained that he is not related to Fiona Cumming (director of the Fifth Doctor serials Castrovalva (1982), Snakedance, Enlightenment (both 1983) and Planet of Fire (1984)), despite frequent reports that she was his mother.

According to the extensive production documentation released from the archive as part of the Season 20 - The Collection Box Set in September 2023, Colin Baker was originally considered for the part of the Castellan, alongside Bernard Hepton, Derek Godfrey, Patrick Stewart, Francis Matthews, Morris Perry, Keith Michell, Terrence Hardiman, Anton Rodgers, Peter Vaughan, Edward Woodward, Charles Kay, Sean Arnold and Peter Gilmore.

This is the third appearance of the Doctor's tutor Borusa, now Lord President.[2] Actors considered for the role of Lord President Borusa were Peter Cushing who had played 'Doctor Who' in two 1960's movies featuring The Daleks; Michael Lees, Robin Bailey, Geoffrey Bayldon, Andrew Cruickshank, John Horsley, Bernard Archard, Richard Vernon, Terence Alexander and David Langton.

Alan MacNaughtan, William Fox, Donald Bisset, Glyn Owen, Richard Leech, William Lucas, Jonathan Newth, Jeffery Dench, Maurice Denham and Conrad Phillips were all considered for the role of Hedin.

Jonathan Newth was also suggested for the part of Omega, along with Malcolm Stoddard and Stephen Riddle. Honor Blackman, Jennie Linden and Lynda Bellingham were all shortlisted for the part of Thalia, with Pierce Brosnan and Tim Woodward being shortlisted for Maxil. The documentation does list whether or not some of the actors were available for the recording dates, but does not reveal if any offers were made or how final decisions on casting were reached.[6]

Leela, the fourth Doctor's previous companion who remained on Gallifrey at the conclusion of her final televised story, is mentioned in the script, but the production documentation makes no reference to her character ever being scheduled to appear in the story.[7]

Broadcast and reception

[edit]
EpisodeTitleRun timeOriginal release dateUK viewers
(millions) [8]
1"Part One"24:373 January 1983 (1983-01-03)7.2
2"Part Two"24:425 January 1983 (1983-01-05)7.3
3"Part Three"24:3711 January 1983 (1983-01-11)6.9
4"Part Four"24:2812 January 1983 (1983-01-12)7.2

Part One was broadcast on a Monday[9] due to New Year's schedules, in contrast to the rest of this season's episodes, which were all transmitted on consecutive Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.[10] Radio Times printed complaints about the schedule.[10] The around 7 million viewers rating was about two million lower than the previous year's series.[10] The serial was sold abroad in New Zealand, the United States, Canada, Holland, and the United Arab Emerates.[8]

In The Television Companion (1998), David J. Howe and Stephen James Walker described Arc of Infinity as "a prime example of a story with very high production values but, ultimately, not much else in its favour." They noted that the build-up to Omega would "fall very flat" for more casual viewers not familiar with the character, but they praised Nyssa's character.[11] Paul Cornell, Martin Day, and Keith Topping in The Discontinuity Guide (1995) was more positive, writing, "If you can put to one side the premise, and the sub-horror film scenario of two young men staying overnight in a crypt, then there's more than a little fun to be had here." They praised Davison's performance as Omega in Episode Four, though felt Gallifrey was "drab."[12] In 2012, Patrick Mulkern of Radio Times gave the serial one out of five stars, describing it as "Eyes-rolling-back-in-your-skull, tongue-lolling-out-of-your-mouth dull. And over-complicated." He criticised the coincidental reintroduction of Tegan and the direction, but praised the Time Lord actors.[9] IGN's Arnold T. Blumberg was more positive, writing, that it "never quite succeeds at being the splashy anniversary opener that it wants to be, although it's pretty good over all."[13] For DVD Talk, Stuart Galbraith IV rated the content of the story two and a half out of five stars, describing it as "an entertaining but deeply flawed story." He noted that handling the Amsterdam locale, Tegan's return, and Omega's return made the story "disjointed" with a lot of running around.[14] Reviewing the season as a whole, Starburst's Paul Mount described Arc of Infinity as "a dreary four-parter that involves too much creaky melodrama on the Doctor’s home planet Gallifrey (and some runaround location footage shot in Amsterdam for no other reason than just because) and a ludicrous chicken-headed alien called the Ergon."[15]

Commercial releases

[edit]

In print

[edit]

A novelisation of this serial, written by Terrance Dicks, was published by Target Books in July 1983. It included some of the deleted scenes.[16]

Key Information

Home media

[edit]

Arc of Infinity was released on VHS in March 1994.[16] A double-pack DVD featuring both Time-Flight and Arc of Infinity was released on 6 August 2007. This serial was also released as part of the Doctor Who DVD Files in Issue 108 on 20 February 2013. In September 2023, the story was released again in an upgraded format for Blu-ray, being included with the other stories from Season 20 in the Doctor Who - The Collection Box Set.[17]

References

[edit]

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Arc of Infinity

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Arc of Infinity is a four-part serial of the British science fiction television series Doctor Who, consisting of the first story of the twentieth season. Originally broadcast on BBC One from 3 to 12 January 1983, it stars Peter Davison as the Fifth Doctor, alongside companions Nyssa (Sarah Sutton) and Tegan Jovanka (Janet Fielding, who joins in the second installment). The serial was written by Johnny Byrne, directed by Ron Jones, and produced by John Nathan-Turner. In the story, the Doctor and Nyssa investigate strange occurrences in , where they encounter an alien creature, unaware that the Doctor's biodata extract has been stolen on Gallifrey. This theft enables the ancient Omega—a being of pure anti-matter trapped in another universe since his defeat in The Three Doctors (1973)—to attempt a dimensional crossing by bonding with the Doctor's physical form. Aided by the Master (), Omega's plan threatens the stability of the universe, prompting the ' High Council, led by President Borusa (John Stratton), to summon the back to Gallifrey and authorize the Doctor's execution to avert catastrophe. The serial marks the return of Omega, originally portrayed by Stephen Thorne, now played by Ian Collier, and introduces the Matrix's visual representation as well as the ornate High Council chamber set on Gallifrey. Filmed partly on location in Amsterdam and at BBC Television Centre, it explores themes of identity and sacrifice amid the Fifth Doctor's early tenure, blending Time Lord intrigue with Earth-bound peril.

Synopsis

Plot

In the Citadel on Gallifrey, a traitor conspires with the Doctor's old enemy, the Master, to extract the Fifth Doctor's from , enabling an ancient being trapped in the anti-matter universe to attempt a return to . The Doctor and his companion Nyssa arrive in the after being irresistibly summoned by the High , led by President Borusa, who reveals the theft and the ongoing genetic bonding process with the anti-matter entity. To prevent catastrophe, the places the Doctor on and sentences him to termination by disintegration, though he protests the presence of a traitor among them. Meanwhile, in along the city's foggy canals, , separated from the crew, arrives to find her missing cousin Colin Frazer. She meets his friend Robin Stuart, who reports Colin's abduction by a monstrous creature called the Ergon, serving Omega's plan. Tegan pursues leads through the streets and into hidden crypts, encountering the Ergon but escaping capture. Nyssa, attempting to protect the Doctor from execution, is captured by guards led by Maxil and transmatted to to join Tegan, while the Doctor, shot but shielded by the 's dimensional transcendence, hides within its corridors and begins investigating the Matrix breach. As the bonding accelerates, the Doctor experiences physical agony and partial regeneration, his features distorting into a monstrous form, forcing him to flee Gallifrey in the TARDIS to Amsterdam. Reuniting with Nyssa and Tegan in the crypts beneath the city, the trio uncovers the Master's manipulation of the High Council through the traitor Hedin and traces the plot to Omega, the legendary Time Lord founder exiled to the anti-matter realm after his defeat in a prior encounter with the Doctor. Colin Frazer is briefly enslaved by the Ergon to aid the scheme but later freed. Omega, seeking revenge against the Time Lords who abandoned him, plans to bond fully with the Doctor's body via the Arc of Infinity—a dimensional gateway in the Matrix—to cross into the matter universe and seize control. In the anti-matter universe's void-like expanse, Omega compels the Master to complete the transference, but the unstable bond causes Omega's form to manifest imperfectly on Earth as a destructive anti-matter entity. The Doctor confronts the Master in Amsterdam's labyrinthine alleys; Nyssa destroys the Ergon by firing its own matter converter weapon at it, allowing the Doctor to seize the device. The Doctor then uses the matter converter to sever the biodata bond. Realizing he cannot sustain his form without it, Omega implodes into a singularity, vanishing back into the Arc of Infinity, while the Doctor recovers, and the TARDIS crew—now reunited with Tegan—departs.

Continuity

"Arc of Infinity" marks the return of Omega, a foundational figure in Time Lord history originally introduced in "The Three Doctors," where he was depicted as a stellar engineer who pioneered time travel experiments on Gallifrey but became trapped in a black hole leading to an anti-matter universe. Having sustained himself as a singularity through sheer willpower after his physical body was destroyed, Omega harbors deep resentment toward the Time Lords for abandoning him, viewing them as betrayers who reaped the benefits of his sacrifices without rescue. In "Arc of Infinity," this backstory culminates in Omega's scheme to breach the dimensional barrier via the Arc of Infinity—a theoretical gateway linking matter and anti-matter universes—by extracting the Fifth Doctor's biodata, a unique biological and temporal signature that allows Omega to attempt a physical incarnation within the Doctor's form. The serial deepens Time Lord lore by portraying the Matrix as a vast digital repository housing the collective consciousness and accumulated knowledge of deceased , serving as both a historical archive and a tool for and . Political machinations within the High Council underscore the Doctor's fraught alliance with Gallifreyan authority, as the traitor Councillor Hedin, motivated by a desire to revive Time Lord supremacy through Omega's return, manipulates Council proceedings and even advocates for the Doctor's execution to facilitate the plot. emerges as a critical concept here, representing an individual's complete physiological and chronological profile, vulnerable to theft and exploitation for identity reconstruction or elimination, highlighting the Time Lords' advanced yet perilous biotechnological capabilities. Companion developments tie into prior narratives: Tegan Jovanka's personal stakes intensify through references to her aunt Vanessa, murdered by the Master during the events of "," and her cousin Colin's abduction in , forging emotional links to her earlier traumas and family losses. Nyssa, bearing her Trakenite heritage from the destroyed union of Traken, reunites with and continues traveling with the Doctor after resolving the crisis. The story's events foreshadow escalating tensions in Time Lord society and the Doctor's adversarial dynamic with the Master, exemplified by later Gallifreyan conspiracies in "The Five Doctors," where the Master's collusion with the High Council echoes the treachery seen here and perpetuates threats from within the Doctor's homeworld.

Production

Development

Johnny Byrne was commissioned by script editor Eric Saward to write the opening serial for Doctor Who's twentieth season in January 1982, following the positive reception to his previous script, The Keeper of Traken. Byrne's initial storyline, submitted on 15 December 1981 and titled The Time of Neman, centered on the Doctor experiencing nightmares about his recent regeneration, induced by a tyrant named Neman from an alternative Earth who sought to bond with him using advanced technology. The concept originated as a Gallifrey-based story involving the Matrix and a threat emerging from the universe's edge, with the title Arc of Infinity ultimately referring to the unstable boundary between matter and anti-matter universes, a key plot device allowing the antagonist's incursion. Producer John Nathan-Turner influenced the script's direction by insisting on incorporating Earth-bound elements to ground the narrative, including a key sequence set in Amsterdam to fulfill his desire for an overseas location shoot, and the return of companion Tegan Jovanka to expand her role after her departure in the prior season. Nathan-Turner also pushed for a classic villain's return, leading to the replacement of Neman with Omega—an ancient Time Lord founder of Time Lord society, previously featured in The Three Doctors—a suggestion originating from fan consultant Ian Levine. Director Ron Jones, assigned in early 1982, contributed by emphasizing atmospheric tension in the Gallifrey sequences through shadowy lighting and deliberate pacing to heighten the sense of intrigue and isolation. Script revisions addressed challenges in integrating these elements, particularly the expansion of Tegan's storyline to justify her reappearance and the need to explain complex Time Lord technology like the Arc of Infinity and the Matrix without alienating viewers. The working title shifted from The Time of Neman to The Time of Omega and finally to Arc of Infinity by late February 1982 to preserve the antagonist's identity as a surprise. Development occurred primarily in late 1981 and early 1982, with the script finalized by spring 1982 ahead of pre-production.

Casting

Peter Davison continued in the lead role as the . Sarah Sutton portrayed the Doctor's companion Nyssa. Janet Fielding returned to the series as , rejoining the crew after her departure at the end of Time-Flight, a decision by producer to restore the full companion team of Nyssa and for the twentieth season. Anthony Ainley reprised his role as the Doctor's nemesis, the Master. Ian Collier provided the voice for the antagonist Omega, marking the character's return since The Three Doctors in 1973. Malcolm Harvey performed as the Ergon, the anti-matter creature dispatched to Earth. Supporting roles on Gallifrey included Michael Gough as the traitor Councillor Hedin, Leonard Sachs as President Borusa, Elspet Gray as Chancellor Thalia, Paul Jerricho as the Castellan, and Max Harvey as Cardinal Zorac. James Bree appeared as the Keeper of the Matrix. Colin Baker made his Doctor Who debut as Commander Maxil of the Chancellery Guard, cast on the recommendation of casting director Lynn Richards for his authoritative performance as Bayban the Butcher in Blake's 7. In the Amsterdam sequences, the backpackers were played by Alastair Cumming as Colin Frazer and Andrew Boxer as Robin Stuart, while Maya Woolfe portrayed the youth hostel receptionist; these minor roles were filled to enhance location authenticity.

Filming

Location filming for Arc of Infinity took place in Amsterdam, Netherlands, from May 3 to 7, 1982, capturing the serial's Earth-based sequences. Key sites included the canals along Herengracht and Prinsengracht, the flower market at Muntplein, the police station at Lijnbaansgracht, the youth hostel on Zandpad, Frankendael House on Middenweg, the Amstelsluizen locks, and Dam Square. These locations provided the backdrop for scenes involving the Doctor, Nyssa, and Tegan's pursuit of Omega, as well as Tegan's interactions with her cousin Colin. The shoot presented logistical challenges, particularly with , as Peter Davison's portrayal of the Doctor attracted significant attention from local fans familiar with the series. Coordinating the international travel and permissions for the crew added complexity to the production schedule. Studio recording occurred at Centre Studio 1 in , spanning two sessions: May 17–18 and May 31–June 2, 1982. These sessions covered interior scenes, including the , Gallifrey's Citadel sets, and the Amsterdam crypt where the Ergon confronts the backpackers. The Gallifrey sets were constructed within the studio to depict the ' chambers and council areas. Visual effects were handled by designer Christopher Lawson, incorporating chroma key compositing (CSO) for the Matrix sequences that visualized the Doctor's mental bond with Omega. The Ergon creature was realized through a prosthetic costume created by Imagineering in Oxfordshire, first worn during the May 18 studio session; however, its design, featuring elements like a pterodactyl-like skull, proved cumbersome and limited its mobility. For the climax involving the Arc of Infinity, transmat beams and the anti-matter bonding process utilized CSO overlays and practical effects to depict the dimensional transfer. Budget considerations influenced the scope of the Amsterdam exteriors, with the production opting for a focused selection of iconic urban sites rather than expansive filming to manage costs associated with overseas travel.

Broadcast and reception

Transmission details

"Arc of Infinity" was the first serial of the twentieth season of Doctor Who, broadcast on BBC One as a four-part story commencing immediately after the Christmas period to mark the show's 20th anniversary year. The episodes aired at approximately 6:45–6:50 PM, with Part One transmitted on Monday 3 January 1983 to an audience of 7.2 million viewers, Part Two on Wednesday 5 January drawing 7.3 million, Part Three on Tuesday 11 January with 6.9 million, and Part Four on Wednesday 12 January achieving 7.1 million. This irregular scheduling positioned the serial as Tegan Jovanka's on-screen return following a nine-month absence since the previous season's "Time-Flight". The serial's average viewership stood at 7.1 million, reflecting a solid but not exceptional performance influenced by post-Christmas audience fragmentation and competition from other programming. In comparison, the preceding anniversary special "The Five Doctors", aired later in November 1983, attained higher figures of around 7.7 million, underscoring the impact of special event timing on ratings. Initially limited to UK broadcast on BBC One, "Arc of Infinity" saw international transmission beginning in Australia in April 1983, followed by airings in markets such as the United States in early 1984.

Critical response

Contemporary reviews of Arc of Infinity in 1983 were mixed, with praise directed at the atmospheric location filming, which provided a fresh, real-world contrast to the Gallifrey sequences, and Peter Davison's strong performance as the , particularly his emotional range in confronting the to his identity. However, criticisms focused on the serial's slow pacing, especially in the dialogue-heavy Time Lord intrigue, and the poorly designed Ergon creature, described as one of the series' most absurd monsters. Viewer letters published in subsequent issues of Doctor Who Magazine highlighted confusion over the complex Time Lord plot and Omega's motivations, noting the story's dense exposition as a barrier to accessibility. Retrospective analyses in the 2000s, including extras on the 2006 DVD release, lauded Arc of Infinity for its ties to the show's 20th anniversary season, appreciating how it revisited classic elements like Gallifrey and Omega while integrating companion dynamics. The audio commentary featuring Peter Davison, Sarah Sutton, Janet Fielding, and Colin Baker emphasized the fun of the production despite challenges, with praise for the cast's chemistry. Modern analyses have positively noted Tegan's emotional return, portraying her reintegration into the TARDIS crew as a heartfelt moment of reconciliation and growth following her departure in Time-Flight. Fan and academic perspectives have explored themes of identity and in Arc of Infinity, with Omega's desperate bid to escape his imprisonment mirroring the Doctor's own strained relationship with society, while Tegan's subplot touches on familial bonds and displacement. In Doctor Who Magazine reader surveys, the serial consistently ranks in the lower mid-tier; for instance, it placed 222nd out of 241 stories in the 2014 poll and dropped to 272nd out of 295 in the 2023 60th anniversary poll, reflecting its divisive status among fans. Recent commentary on the 2023 Blu-ray release in : The Collection – Season 20 has appreciated the restored visuals, including upgraded CGI effects that enhance the sequences and Gallifrey sets, bringing new clarity to the production's ambitions. However, reviews reiterate issues with the plot's density, labeling it a "dreary four-parter" overloaded with creaky and underdeveloped intrigue, though the extras, such as cast revisits to locations, add value for enthusiasts.

Commercial releases

Novelisation

The novelisation of Arc of Infinity was written by , adapting the 1983 television serial by Johnny Byrne, and published by on 20 October 1983 in both (via W.H. Allen) and formats. The edition carried 0-426-19342-3 and featured cover art by Andrew Skilleter, depicting the against a swirling vortex with Omega's shadowy form. In adapting the core story events—where the Fifth Doctor faces a threat from the anti-matter entity Omega attempting to bond with him via a stolen biodata extract—Dicks expanded the narrative with additional backstory on Omega's prior experiments and the Matrix's role in Time Lord security, drawing connections to earlier events like those in The Three Doctors. The novel includes deeper internal monologues for the Doctor, reflecting his growing suspicion and resolve on Gallifrey, and for Tegan, highlighting her confusion and fear during her possession. Minor extensions appear in the Amsterdam sequences, such as enhanced descriptions of the city's atmosphere and the youth hostel's setting, along with a new cliffhanger emphasizing Colin Frazer's dread in the crypt. These additions provide greater depth to character motivations and lore without altering the primary plot. Subsequent editions included a 1992 reprint by Virgin Books, retaining the Target numbering as #80 but with updated cover art. In 2012, BBC Books issued a new edition as part of their ongoing Target Collection reprints, featuring color illustrations to appeal to modern readers and no major textual updates. No further significant reprints have occurred since 2012. As part of Target Books' Doctor Who novelisation range, which produced over 150 adaptations from 1973 to 1994 primarily aimed at young readers, the Arc of Infinity edition contributed to the publisher's tie-in merchandise surge during the show's 20th anniversary year in 1983.

Video and audio releases

The VHS release of Arc of Infinity in the was issued by on 7 March 1994, featuring an edited 95-minute version of the serial to fit the format. In the United States, the edition followed on 19 September 1995, also in an edited format distributed by BBC Video. The serial received its first DVD release in the UK on 6 August 2007 as part of a double-pack with Time-Flight, produced by and including audio commentary tracks featuring (the ), (Nyssa), and (Tegan), moderated by Clayton Hickman. Additional extras on this Region 2 edition comprised a behind-the-scenes titled "," interviews with writer Johnny Byrne and director Ron Jones, a music suite by composer Roger Limb, and photo gallery. The Region 1 DVD for was released on 6 November 2007, retaining the same special features. In 2023, Arc of Infinity was remastered in high definition for inclusion in the Blu-ray box set Doctor Who: The Collection – Season 20, released on 18 September in the UK by . This edition featured upgraded video from the original , cleanup of including CSO composites and film sequences (as originally produced during filming), and isolated music tracks. It incorporated all prior DVD extras plus new content such as interviews with Davison, Sutton, and production designer Malcolm Thornton. A standard edition reissue followed on 29 September 2025. Official audio releases include the unabridged audiobook of Terrance Dicks' novelisation, released by Audio on 3 June 2021 and narrated by , running 3 hours and 25 minutes and available on CD and digital platforms. The original television soundtrack by Roger Limb is available as an isolated track on the DVD and Blu-ray editions but no standalone remastered audio-only product of the TV episodes exists as of November 2025. Fan-made audio reconstructions exist online, though these are unofficial and not endorsed by the . As of November 2025, Arc of Infinity is available for streaming on BBC iPlayer in the UK, and on BritBox in the US and Canada, encompassing all episodes in their original broadcast format. Purchase options include iTunes and Amazon Prime Video in select regions.

References

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  41. https://whospecialfeatures.fandom.com/wiki/Arc_of_Infinity
  42. https://www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-features/season-20-with-peter-davison-next-instalment-collection-bluray-range
  43. https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Doctor-Who-The-Collection-Season-20-Blu-ray/341733/
  44. https://www.rarewaves.com/products/5051561006296-doctor-who-the-collection-season-20
  45. https://tardis.wiki/wiki/Arc_of_Infinity_(novelisation)
  46. https://www.audible.com/pd/Doctor-Who-Arc-of-Infinity-Audiobook/152914132X
  47. https://www.doctorwho.tv/news-and-features/classic-doctor-who-comes-to-britbox
  48. https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/doctor-who-1963/season-20
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