Lost Doctor Who Episodes from 1965 Discovered and Restored for iPlayer Release
Two long-lost episodes of Doctor Who, unseen since their original broadcasts in the 1960s, have been unearthed in a cardboard box belonging to a deceased film enthusiast. The black-and-white shows, first aired in 1965, have been meticulously regenerated by BBC archivists and will be available to watch next month on BBC iPlayer.
Historic Find in Leicester
The film cans, wrapped in plastic bags, were discovered by Film is Fabulous!, a charitable trust in Leicester dedicated to preserving cinema and television history. They were found within the collector's vintage film collection, marking a significant breakthrough in the quest to recover missing classic TV content.
Justin Smith, a professor of cinema and television history at De Montfort University and chair of trustees for Film is Fabulous!, explained to Associated Press: "The main broadcasters in the UK in the 1960s, 70s, up to the 80s really, junked quite a lot of content. In some ways, finding missing Doctor Whos is the holy grail of classic TV discoveries."
Episodes Feature William Hartnell's Doctor
The recovered episodes feature the first incarnation of the Time Lord, portrayed by William Hartnell, as he confronts a Dalek plot to dominate Earth, the solar system, and the galaxy. This storyline was exclusively shown in the UK during its initial run.
The first episode, titled The Nightmare Begins, was part of the third series and originally aired in November 1965. The second, Devil's Planet, followed two weeks later. Both form part of a 12-part narrative, much of which remains missing.
Reactions from the Cast and BBC
Peter Purves, who played the Doctor's assistant Steven Taylor in 46 instalments, was secretly invited to view the episodes at the Phoenix cinema in Leicester. He expressed his astonishment: "My flabber has never been so gasted." Purves, now 87, added to the BBC: "Twenty-seven of mine still are missing, but I'm delighted that two have been found. It's rather sad, but it's great when some turn up."
This discovery reduces the number of missing episodes from the long-running series, which debuted in 1963, to 95. It is the first such find since 2013, when nine lost episodes were located in a television relay station in Nigeria.
Noreen Adams, director of BBC Archives, stated: "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."
Special Screening and Future Prospects
A special screening of the two episodes, organised by Film Is Fabulous! with Purves as guest of honour, is scheduled for 4 April in London. This coincides with the release of the restored episodes on BBC iPlayer.
Smith remains optimistic about further discoveries: "We know that other episodes are in existence. We don't know where they are or who's got them – otherwise we'd be knocking on doors. But, yeah, I think there are more. The only question is when and where they will come to light."
Doctor Who's Legacy and Future
Doctor Who originally ran from 1963 to 1989 before being revived in 2005. The most recent series, starring Ncuti Gatwa as the protagonist, aired in 2025. The show is set to return with a Christmas special written by Russell T Davies, followed by a new series featuring an undisclosed actor in the lead role.
