Lost Doctor Who Episodes Resurface in Remarkable Discovery
A truly momentous find for science fiction enthusiasts and Doctor Who fans has been announced, with two long-lost episodes from the show’s formative years unearthed from a private collection. The episodes, titled “The Nightmare Begins” and “Devil’s Planet,” hail from the third series, “The Daleks’ Master Plan,” and had been considered irrevocably gone since their original broadcast in the 1960s.
These precious artefacts, filmed in 16mm, were discovered as part of a surprisingly eclectic and somewhat disorganised assortment of vintage films. Fortunately, the charitable trust Film is Fabulous! (FIF) managed to secure the collection, and following meticulous restoration work by BBC Archives, these missing pieces of Doctor Who history are set to grace BBC iPlayer this Easter.
The episodes feature William Hartnell in his iconic role as the First Doctor, accompanied by his companion Steven Taylor, portrayed by Peter Purves. The stellar cast also includes Nicholas Courtney as Bret Vyon, Adrienne Hill as Katarina, and Kevin Stoney as the formidable Mavic Chen. The narrative, penned by the legendary Terry Nation, was renowned for its dark and engaging storyline.
Noreen Adams, Director of BBC Archives, expressed her delight at the discovery and the collaborative effort involved. “We’re thrilled to have worked with the team at Film is Fabulous! to bring these lost Doctor Who episodes to viewers on BBC iPlayer this Easter,” she stated. Adams further elaborated on the rigorous restoration process, highlighting the commitment to bringing the recordings up to broadcast quality. “BBC Archives has been working to restore the original recordings and update these to broadcast quality, ensuring fans can enjoy a little extra treat with their Easter Eggs this April.”
This marks the first public announcement of recovered Doctor Who episodes since 2014, adding significant weight to the find. “The Nightmare Begins” originally aired in November 1965, with “Devil’s Planet” following two weeks later. Intriguingly, an intervening episode, “Day of Armageddon,” was recovered in 2004 by a former BBC engineer. However, much of that episode’s “dark and gritty” narrative remains lost due to a directive for its wiping.
The reason for “The Daleks’ Master Plan” not being widely syndicated overseas is attributed to its perceived violence by censors in Australia and New Zealand. This led to the decision that selling the rights wouldn’t be commercially viable in other markets. Furthermore, with the advent of colour broadcasting, the black-and-white nature of this particular story diminished its perceived future value, leading to its eventual disposal.
However, a practice existed where technicians would create copies of episodes to identify and rectify potential issues before distribution. It is believed that these tapes eventually found their way into an amateur collector’s possession. Professor Justin Smith, Chair of Trustees at FIF, explained that the collection was donated to the charity after the passing of an anonymous collector who had amassed a vast array of films.
The late collector’s passion was primarily focused on trains and canals, and his collection included hundreds of home videos alongside other vintage films. Professor Smith described the challenging process of recovering such collections: “We travel all over the country to recover film collections from private hands. A lot of the films had suffered water damage and the cans had corroded.” He went on to describe the Doctor Who episodes as “gems in what was an eclectic and ramshackle collection, a lot of which hadn’t been looked after, as well as the Doctor Who.” While the collector was aware of the value of some items, the exact provenance of how he acquired these specific episodes remains a mystery lost to time.
In a heartwarming turn of events, Peter Purves, who played Steven Taylor, was invited to a special screening of the recovered episodes in Leicester on March 11th. Unbeknownst to him, the event was organised to present him with these lost instalments of his Doctor Who career. The 87-year-old actor was visibly emotional upon realising the true purpose of his attendance, having initially expected to discuss 1960s television with the media.
Purves confessed his astonishment, stating, “I’m speechless, knocked out” and later adding, “My flabber has never been so gasted.” He admitted to never having forgiven the BBC for losing the episodes. Reflecting on seeing them again, he shared, “I’m not sure I even saw those programmes go out originally – I remember the stories, but having seen them, the pictures are unfamiliar to me.” He also recalled a separate, also missing, episode: “I didn’t remember the first one when I was still almost comatose following the injury I received fighting in Troy in the wonderful Mythmakers – which of course is missing.”
To further celebrate this extraordinary discovery, FIF is hosting a special screening event in London on April 4th, with Peter Purves as the guest of honour. This event will coincide with the episodes’ official release on BBC iPlayer, offering fans a unique opportunity to experience these newly rediscovered pieces of Doctor Who history.
