Lost Doctor Who episodes recovered, bringing the series’ longest arc near completion

Since its inaugural broadcast in 1963, Doctor Who has mesmerized audiences worldwide. The series chronicles the exploits of a nomadic Time Lord who traverses the galaxy in a TARDIS—a vessel disguised as a blue police box that defies conventional physics. Given the show’s vast longevity, it is a well-known tragedy among fans that several early installments were purged or lost to history.

However, a remarkable breakthrough recently occurred. As reported by the BBC, a “haphazard assembly of vintage films” owned by a private collector yielded two missing episodes from the 1960s. These rediscovered treasures feature William Hartnell’s First Doctor in a storyline that was historically suppressed from international syndication for being “excessively violent.”

The recovered segments, titled “The Nightmare Begins” and “Devil’s Planet,” serve as the opening chapters of The Daleks’ Master Plan, which remains the longest serialized narrative in the franchise’s history. These episodes originally debuted in late 1965 before vanishing for decades. The BBC previously noted that the third installment of this arc, “Day of Armageddon,” was successfully retrieved in 2004.

This discovery was made possible by the estate of a deceased, anonymous collector whose film canisters were donated to the Leicester-based charity, Film is Fabulous (FIF). This organization is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of lost television heritage. While much of the donor’s archive had succumbed to moisture and corrosion, the Doctor Who reels were found in surprisingly pristine condition.

“The collector certainly understood the value of what he possessed, though the exact circumstances of how he acquired these reels remain a mystery,” explained Justin Smith, the chair of trustees at FIF.

Aficionados can now finally experience the early stages of this gritty saga. Penned by Terry Nation—the creator of the Doctor’s most iconic and ruthless adversaries—the story follows the Doctor and companion Steven Taylor (Peter Purves) as they struggle against the Daleks. These malevolent cyborgs are hell-bent on subjugating the solar system and fracturing the very essence of time.

Despite this significant find, the complete 12-part arc remains unfinished. Nonetheless, with the modern iteration of Doctor Who currently in a state of transition, it is an ideal moment for enthusiasts to delve back into “Classic Who”—the era spanning from the show’s inception to the 2005 revival.

Those wishing to see these episodes on a cinematic scale will have their chance. FIF is hosting a specialized screening in London on April 4, with Peter Purves attending as a guest of honor. Additionally, the content will be made available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.

Noreen Adams, Director of BBC Archives, remarked: “Our team has been diligently refurbishing the original film to ensure it meets modern broadcast quality. We are delighted to offer fans this unique cultural treat just in time for Easter.”

It has not yet been confirmed if global viewers will be able to stream these classic episodes through international platforms like BritBox.

Source: Polygon