The Lost Episodes of Doctor Who: A Vintage Discovery
A vintage film collector stumbled upon a cardboard box containing two long-lost episodes of Doctor Who featuring the first Doctor, played by William Hartnell, battling the Daleks in a storyline from the 1960s. Peter Purves, who portrayed the Doctor's assistant, was surprised with a viewing of the episodes at the Phoenix Cinema in Leicester. The restored episodes will be released on BBC iPlayer this Easter.
The recovered episodes, titled "The Nightmare Begins" and "Devil's Planet," were part of the third season of Doctor Who in 1965. Written by Terry Nation, the serial also starred Nicholas Courtney, Adrienne Hill, and Kevin Stoney. The episodes were part of "The Daleks' Master Plan" arc, a dark and gritty 12-part storyline that was almost entirely lost.
The episodes were found in a collector's eclectic film collection, which was donated to the Leicester charitable trust Film is Fabulous! after the collector's passing. The collector's films, including the Doctor Who episodes, were in varying conditions, but the Doctor Who episodes were well-preserved. The discovery left Peter Purves emotional and nostalgic, as he had not seen the episodes since their original airing.
The rediscovery of these lost Doctor Who episodes marks a significant moment for fans of the classic series. The episodes will reignite interest in the early seasons of the show and provide a glimpse into the pioneering days of TV sci-fi. Doctor Who historian Toby Hadoke, who orchestrated the event for Purves, believes that fans will be thrilled by the news of the episodes' survival and hopes for a resurgence of interest in the classic series.
A special screening of the recovered episodes, with Peter Purves as the guest of honor, will be held in London on 4 April. The event will coincide with the release of the restored episodes on BBC iPlayer, allowing fans to experience these long-lost episodes once again. The episodes offer a rare opportunity to witness the Doctor's battle against the Daleks in a storyline that has been missing for decades.