Doctor Who 1965 episodes found in private collection to be released on iPlayer

Two missing Doctor Who episodes from 1965 have been found! This is a big deal because many old episodes are lost forever.
By Newsroom | Television, Entertainment |

Two Episodes, Long Believed Gone, Emerge from Private Collection

Two missing episodes from the classic science fiction series Doctor Who, specifically 'The Nightmare Begins' and 'Devil’s Planet' from the 1965 serial The Daleks' Master Plan, have been rediscovered. These instalments, featuring William Hartnell as the First Doctor and Peter Purves as companion Steven Taylor, had not been seen since their original broadcast. The recovered material consists of 16mm telerecordings.

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Restored versions of these rediscovered episodes are slated for release on 'BBC iPlayer' over the Easter period. A special screening of the episodes was also planned for April 4th in London, with actor Peter Purves reportedly attending under the guise of a discussion about 1960s television before being shown the restored footage. The BBC Archives was involved in the restoration process.

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"Film is Fabulous!" Orchestrates Recovery Amidst Broader Archival Efforts

The rediscovery is attributed to a charitable trust known as 'Film is Fabulous!', a group composed of film collectors and cinema enthusiasts. This organization has been actively working with individuals possessing private film collections. They have reportedly been liaising with owners to catalogue, preserve, and return such materials to the 'BBC'.

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This particular recovery is part of a larger, ongoing effort to locate and preserve lost Doctor Who episodes. 'Film is Fabulous!' has indicated that their work extends beyond this specific find, addressing a wider array of 'ninety-seven missing episodes' from the early eras of the show, which span the 'William Hartnell' and 'Patrick Troughton' periods. The group has hinted at potential further discoveries in extensive private collections.

Contextualizing the Find: Private Collections vs. Systematic Archives

The emergence of these episodes from a private collection highlights a distinct but complementary approach to media preservation when compared to more systematic archival searches. While archival work may address a broader scope of material across various series and years, private-collection recoveries focus on specific, often unexpected, finds. Both methods are considered essential for restoring historical media. The 'provenance', 'coverage', and 'impact on serial completeness' are noted as key criteria for evaluating such recoveries. The eventual re-release of the episodes is anticipated to generate significant interest among dedicated fans of the long-running science fiction programme.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What lost Doctor Who episodes have been found?
Two missing episodes from the 1965 serial 'The Daleks' Master Plan', called 'The Nightmare Begins' and 'Devil’s Planet', have been found. They were last seen when they were first shown on TV.
Q: Who will be in these lost Doctor Who episodes?
These episodes have William Hartnell as the First Doctor and Peter Purves as his friend Steven Taylor. They are old recordings on 16mm film.
Q: When and where can people watch the lost Doctor Who episodes?
Restored versions of these episodes will be on BBC iPlayer over the Easter holiday. There was also a special showing in London on April 4th.
Q: How were these lost Doctor Who episodes found?
A group called 'Film is Fabulous!', made up of film fans, found the episodes in a private collection. They are working to find and save many old TV shows for the BBC.
Q: Are there more lost Doctor Who episodes that might be found?
Yes, 'Film is Fabulous!' is trying to find many more of the ninety-seven missing episodes from the early years of Doctor Who. They think there could be more in private collections.