2|entertain is deceased. It has ceased to be. It has expired and gone to meet its maker. This is a late 2|entertain.

Like the Norwegian Blue (beautiful plumage) 2|entertain has joined the choir invisible – otherwise known as BBC Worldwide where, from now on, it will be lumped in along with other licensed products, DVD releases and downloadable content, in the Orwellian sounding sub-division known as Consumer Products.

From spring Classic Doctor Who fans will no longer see the trusted 2|entertain logo on DVD packaging as the company – formed as a co-production in 2006 with the now defunct Woolworths Group – is assimilated into BBC Worldwide to cut costs.

However the reverse sleeve will remain as it is now with the old ‘BBC’ logo so you can continue to match new releases up in your collection. But why would you do that? There was never such a thing as 2|entertain – it’s always been Consumer Products.

Always.

Perhaps one bright cold day in April, when the clocks strike thirteen you’ll get bored enough to look back at those old sleeves and remember a time when DVD releases were handled by a seemingly savvy production company rather than another arm of the BBC’s commercial arm and everything was right.

To offer us comfort at this difficult time Communications Officer Emma Burch will give us a sterling rendition of Candle in the Wind…no, wait:

“The name change will not affect the quality of the restoration or the extras which we’re excited to bring fans on DVD throughout the year.”

Ah, well, thank goodness for that!