In a surprising turn of events, two long-lost episodes of the renowned sci-fi TV series, “Doctor Who,” have been unearthed by the charity Film is Fabulous! (FIF). The episodes, titled “The Nightmare Begins” and “Devil’s Planet,” were discovered in impeccable condition inside film cans among a water-damaged collection of other films. These episodes, featuring the first Doctor portrayed by William Hartnell, have not been seen since their original airing in 1965.
Following the discovery, BBC archivists have meticulously restored the episodes, set to be released on the broadcaster’s streaming platform next month. The recovery of these episodes reduces the count of missing episodes to 95, which were lost due to the BBC discarding film recordings or reusing video tapes.
To surprise actor Peter Purves, who played the Doctor’s companion Steven Taylor, FIF organized a special event at a local theater in Leicester, U.K. Justin Smith, a cinema professor and FIF chair, shared insights with “As It Happens” host Nil Köksal on the elaborate ruse that led to the revelation and the significance of this find for “Whovians” worldwide.
The recovered film reels containing the episodes were carefully cleaned and scanned before being presented to Purves at a cinema event. His emotional reaction upon realizing he was about to watch the missing episodes he starred in from 1965 was described as a heartwarming moment by Smith.
Reflecting on the rarity of these discoveries, Smith highlighted the historical context of the mid-60s when television preservation was not a priority due to cost constraints and the lack of foresight regarding the enduring popularity of “Doctor Who.” The episodes’ retrieval from a private collector’s estate underscored the collector’s appreciation for the material’s value, ultimately leading to their return to the BBC.