Two long-lost episodes of the classic television series Doctor Who have been recovered and will be made available to fans for the first time in over 60 years. The BBC has released a montage of clips from “The Nightmare Begins” and “Devil’s Planet,” the first and third parts of the 12-part storyline known as The Daleks’ Master Plan, which originally aired in 1965. These episodes were discovered through a donation to the charity Film is Fabulous and will soon be streamed in restored form on BBC iPlayer. The footage features iconic scenes with the First Doctor, played by William Hartnell, and introduces Nicholas Courtney in his debut as Space Agent Bret Vyon. The recovery of these episodes reduces the number of missing Doctor Who episodes to 95, a significant milestone for the series’ preservation efforts.
Why It Matters
The recovery of these Doctor Who episodes highlights the ongoing challenges of preserving television history, particularly from the early days of broadcasting when many shows were not archived. The BBC’s archival practices in the mid-20th century often led to the erasure of recordings due to space limitations and a lack of foresight regarding the value of past productions. This event is particularly important for Doctor Who, as the series has been a cultural icon since its debut in 1963, with many episodes previously deemed lost. The commitment to maintaining a comprehensive archive by the BBC in 1981 came too late for numerous early episodes, making the recovery of any lost material a significant achievement.
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