When I started collecting The Collection blu-rays, I found the Behind the Sofa series to be so much fun that it is always the first thing I watch when I get a new set. What are your thoughts on the series and who is favorite panelist? My favorite panelist hands down is Janet Fielding, she’s funny and great to watch.
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I love the Behind the Sofas, they’re so funny. I just wish they were longer mostly, I would watch endless hours of Janet Fielding and her blankets being snide about episodes 
I also love it when they get Katy Manning to do it, she’s so wonderful
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I’ve only seen the ones on the S22 blu-ray box set. They were alright, but I thought they could’ve assigned better seat assignments to make it more entertaining and less one-sided. For example, in this box set they had Colin, Nicola, and Terry Molloy on one set; Peter Davison, Janet, and Sarah on another; and Sylvester and Wendy on a third.
I thought combining all the Six-era members and all the Five-era people together was a misstep. There were questions and comments raised by the non-Six era groups that could’ve been addressed by either Colin or Nicola in order to enhance their viewing experience. Instead, it seemed like the newcomers walked away from the serials thinking “What did I just watch?” because they didn’t fully understand a plot point (like Wendy thinking the show was too violent because she thought Six pushed the guard into the vat of acid in Varos) or some other simple reason.
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Having recently rewatched the Season 8 installments, I especially enjoyed Sacha Dhawan’s comments as he discovered the original Master and how his performanced was similar or different.
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I must admit I don’t watch them as much as I’d like to, but they are definitely a Highlight! Of course having Janet or Peter is always a good Way!
But I also enjoy the ones with Sophie, Wendy and Katy!
Overall very positive on them, glad they are something we get with every of the Blu-rays!
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Have only watched the Castrovalva one and assorted compilations on YouTube but Peter and Janet are definitely a Hoot
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Like Darth on the OP, the Behind The Sofa feature is often the first feature I go for on any box set, and they are often very funny.
“Ah, I know what that is,” says Colin Baker. “That’s a Tetraps!”
“Sorry?” replies Michael Jayston.
The interaction between a lot of contributors is great fun often, especially Peter Davison and his TARDIS team. I think they can sometimes be a bit too harsh on some stories, and occasionally I feel Matthew Waterhouse is left out by the others - until he says something about how stupid Tegan is, and my sympathy evaporates!
Very entertaining in all.
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I love these. Janet Fielding, Sarah Sutton and Peter Davison are a big highlight for me when they’re involved because they bring the laughs. I have seen the sentiment that their negativity can kind of annoy people, but I’ve never particularly agreed up until the Season 9 set, I think that’s the first time you really get the impression they’re flat out not enjoying it.
This does dovetail into the other issue, because they’re watching cut-down edits the edit can be make or break on how they react to the story. It can be frustrating to watch when the edit leads to all sorts of confusion about the plot when it is very simple to follow in the broadcast episodes, and in the case of Season 9 in particular I can’t help but wonder if the edits were particularly unflattering to Pertwee’s portrayal of the Doctor. A comment Davison had throughout was that Pertwee’s Doctor had no warm when his dynamic with Jo Grant is all warmth to me.
Generally things are perfectly fine though, I just think for the edit of Behind the Sofa itself the confusion could be condensed a bit sometimes and I’d rather those watching gave their honest opinions on what they’re seeing anyway.
Another highlight from the top of my head was getting Sacha Dhawan for Season 8, I’d generally prefer hosts to be those involved with either that season’s production or classic Who on the whole, but getting the then-new Master in for Delgado’s debut and the very Master-heavy season that followed was an inspired move and I loved his commentary throughout. Something that’s stuck with me was on The Claws of Axos, where he says during filming he really, really wanted to find somewhere to slip in a “I am the Master, and you will obey me” but couldn’t, and he really hoped he’d get to do it some day. Fast forward to Power of the Doctor and he gets his wish!
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