In a surprising turn of events, the charity Film is Fabulous! (FIF) recently unveiled the discovery of two long-lost episodes of the renowned sci-fi TV series, Doctor Who. The episodes, titled “The Nightmare Begins” and “Devil’s Planet,” were found in excellent condition among a collection of films stored in a garage. These episodes, featuring the first Doctor played by William Hartnell, had not been seen since their original airing in 1965.

The BBC archivists have successfully restored the two episodes, which are set to be released next month on the broadcaster’s streaming platform. This discovery reduces the count of missing Doctor Who episodes to 95, which were lost due to the BBC discarding film recordings or reusing video tapes.

To reveal the surprise to Peter Purves, who played Steven Taylor in the series, FIF invited him to a local theater in Leicester under false pretenses. Purves was overwhelmed and emotional upon learning about the recovered episodes he starred in.

The circumstances surrounding the missing episodes highlight the historical context of the mid-60s when television preservation was not a top priority due to cost constraints. The lack of foresight regarding the show’s future global popularity led to the disposal of valuable recordings. The episodes’ discovery sheds light on the evolving attitudes towards preserving television history.

The episodes were discovered in the possession of a private collector who had amassed a diverse collection of films. The collector’s appreciation for the value of the episodes is evident in their careful preservation, ultimately leading to their return to the BBC.

The revelation of these lost episodes has sparked excitement among Doctor Who fans worldwide, emphasizing the significance of preserving cultural treasures for future generations.