Count Arthur Strong DVDs recalled due to error

It has emerged that the first batch of Count Arthur Strong Series 1 DVDs released to shops were manufactured incorrectly, resulting in the picture quality not being as desired.

The BBC has confirmed the issue and set up a process by which fans can get a fixed version. If you have bought a Count Arthur Strong DVD and it has a red triangle in the top right hand corner of the cover you may wish to consider getting a free replacement by emailing the BBC's general DVD email address: dvdsupport@bbc.com - you will receive a reply to your message after a few working days days (but expect a delay as the BBC is likely to receive a lot of emails).

Co-writer Graham Linehan has explained the situation further on his blog. He posted:

A kindly fan of the series alerted us to the fact that the picture looked different on the DVD version than it did when it was broadcast. We've dug into the issue, and it turns out it does. Someone, somewhere in the process of manufacturing the master from which all the DVDs were duplicated, had changed a setting and so all the video had been 'de-interlaced'. It's the same process they use to 'film effect' TV shows, and it wasn't what we wanted the series to look like.

There's no other difference from the broadcast version, but that's not how the series is supposed to look, so we've talked to the DVD people and they are issuing a recall for all the discs that have been sent out to retailers already. If you've already bought one, thank you, but we'd like you to see it as we intended, so there's a way to get a replacement disc sent to you free. Simply email dvdsupport@bbc.com requesting a replacement and they will give you a Freepost address to return the disc. They'll send a fresh one back, video properly interlaced as we intended.

If you haven't already bought one, the way you can tell if it's a new, correct version will be to look at the top right hand corner of the front of the box. The little triangle with the Daily Telegraph quote is red on the original, but will be blue on the new ones, and that's the one to buy.

In advance of a second series, due on screens next year, the first repeats of Series 1 begin next Saturday. The programme will immediately follow Dad's Army, at 7:30pm on BBC Two.

In the meantime Count Arthur is preparing to release his autobiography. Through It All I've Always Laughed: Memoirs Of Count Arthur Strong will be released in on the 7th of November. Here is a video in which the star introduces his new book:

Our guide to Count Arthur Strong (the TV sitcom)