describing it as "a breezy excursion into a melodramatic murder mystery". Commercial releases In print A novelisation of this serial, written by Terence Dudley, was published by Target Books in September 1986. An unabridged reading of the novelisation by actor Michael Cochrane was released on CD in June 2008 by BBC Audiobooks. Home media Black Orchid was released in a twin VHS set with The Visitation in July 1994. On 14 April 2008 it was released on DVD. On 10 December 2018 it was released as part of the Doctor Who: The Collection - Season 19 boxset, which included an optional extended cut of Episode One running over two and a half minutes longer than the televised version at a total of 27:32. Critical analysis A book length study of the serial, written by Ian Millsted, was published as part of The Black Archive series from Obverse Books in 2016. The serial was covered in volume 35 of the Doctor Who: The Complete History book series, which reprinted Andrew Pixley's 'Archive' features from Doctor Who Magazine and the various Doctor Who Magazine Special Editions, as well as new articles created specifically for the book. References External links Target novelisation On Target – Black Orchid Doctor Who serials novelised by Terence Dudley Fifth Doctor serials Fiction set in 1925 Doctor Who historical serials 1982 British television episodes Television episodes set in England