Regarded by many to be the best incarnation of the Baker Street sleuth (we're with Jeremy Brett), Douglas Wilmer gives a career-defining performance in the celebrated 1965 BBC series, Sherlock Holmes. Coming to DVD for the first time, it will be released by the BFI in March. This long-awaited release also has an array of fascinating special features, including two reconstructions of lost episodes, five audio commentaries and an interview with Douglas Wilmer.

Intelligent, quick on his heels, and bearing a striking resemblance to the original Sidney Paget illustrations, Douglas Wilmer’s portrayal is possibly the closest to Conan Doyle’s original vision that there has ever been. In 2012, his status as legend within the Sherlock pantheon was cemented when he was asked to make a cameo appearance in Sherlock with Benedict Cumberbatch.

The first story, The Speckled Band, was originally produced as part of the BBC drama strand Detective, but an entire series based on the works of Arthur Conan Doyle soon followed. Holmes’ loyal companion, Dr John Watson, is brilliantly played by the great Nigel Stock, while the supporting cast includes Clochemerle star Peter Madden as Inspector Lestrade, TV veteran Derek Francis as Mycroft Holmes, and guest starts such as Peter Wyngarde (Department S, The Innocents) and Patrick Troughton (Doctor Who).

Sherlock Holmes will be released on UK DVD as a 4-disc set by the BFI on 30th March 2015 at the RRP of £39.99.

Including the original 1964 Detective pilot episode The Speckled Band and all surviving episodes from the 1965 series, the set will have the following special features:

• Alternative Spanish audio presentation of The Speckled Band

• Alternative title sequence for The Illustrious Client

• The Abbey Grange episode reconstruction, featuring a newly-filmed sequence of Douglas Wilmer reading the first half of the story, followed by all surviving original footage

• The Bruce-Partington Plans episode reconstruction, using all surviving original footage and original shooting scripts

• Douglas Wilmer … on Television (2012, Simon Harries, 22 mins): the iconic actor discusses his career in British film and television

• Five audio commentaries, including contributions from Douglas Wilmer, co-stars David Andrews and Trevor Martin, and celebrated directors Peter Cregeen and Peter Sasdy, all moderated by actor-comedian Toby Hadoke

• Illustrated booklet with new essays and full episode guides

It's worth nothing that with the departure of Douglas Willmer for the second season of Sherlock Holmes, the role of the great detective was taken by none other than Peter Cushing.