BBC Video will be releasing some new DVDs in North America come July that includes Torchwood: Children of Earth and Doctor Who: Planet of the Dead. I immediately took note of the fact that nobody mentioned releasing the last Doctor Who Christmas special which was broadcast in England in December 2008, The Next Doctor.

Way back in 1996, the BBC co-produced a Doctor Who television movie with Fox in the United States which starred Paul McGann as the Doctor. Since then, the rights regarding reproduction or broadcast of that movie in North America has been somewhat convoluted at best. In the last Christmas special, a clip of Paul McGann from that TV movie was shown, and I cannot help but wonder if that clip is holding up release of the video.

Of course, it could simply be a case of the BBC waiting until Christmas or any one of a dozen other reasons. But I have a suspicious mind and I cannot help but think that it was a mistake for the BBC to ever co-produce Doctor Who with an American company if it is such a hindrance to the American release of their own DVDs.

The BBC is keeping a video diary of the filming of the next Doctor Who special "Planet of the Dead". The video is on YouTube, so the BBC might yank it at any time. The video on the BBC itself might not be available outside of the U.K. You have been warned.

The interesting thing about watching the video is that you can tell that Tennant really loves playing the Doctor. When roll call is taken, he gives in jest the name "Matt Smith", the next actor to play the part. He seems sad that his run is coming to an end.

While Mr. Tennant will move on to bigger and better things, I have no doubt that he will continue to play the role in his own fashion. He loves it so much that I'm sure he'll show up at a convention at some point and participate in a Big Finish audio drama or two.

Video is after the jump.