Doctor Who (partially lost BBC sci-fi series episodes; 1963-1978): Difference between revisions
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[[File:MarcoPolo-slide-low-1024x683.jpg|thumb|300px|A picture taken on set of the lost episode "Marco Polo".]] | [[File:MarcoPolo-slide-low-1024x683.jpg|thumb|300px|A picture taken on set of the lost episode "Marco Polo".]] | ||
[[File:Collage_offair_304_thedaleksmasterplan.jpg|thumb|300px|Screenshots from the only confirmed lost for good episode of Doctor Who.]] | [[File:Collage_offair_304_thedaleksmasterplan.jpg|thumb|300px|Screenshots from the only confirmed lost for good episode of Doctor Who.]] | ||
The appropriately dubbed '''''Doctor Who ''Missing Episodes''' are a collection of | The appropriately dubbed '''''Doctor Who ''Missing Episodes''' are a collection of 147 episodes of the British sci-fi television series that were wiped by the BBC between 1963 and 1974, (as old reels would often be wiped for new material instead of buying expensive new reels). Though many episodes have been recovered over the years, 97 still remain missing; consequentially, full footage of these lost episodes have not been seen since their original airing. | ||
In addition to the completely lost episodes during the First and Second Doctor's runs, there are some episodes from the Third Doctors run that no longer exist in their original color format, although they do exist in Black and White versions, and have subsequently been restored to full colour. | In addition to the completely lost episodes during the First and Second Doctor's runs, there are some episodes from the Third Doctors run that no longer exist in their original color format, although they do exist in Black and White versions, and have subsequently been restored to full colour. | ||
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A total of 26 serials still remain incomplete, 10 of which are completely missing from the BBC archives. Still publicity photographs, scenes cut for censorship reasons, on-set footage and audio recordings for some of the remaining lost episodes still survive and were released by the BBC in a 2004 DVD boxset which is rumoured to be getting a Special Edition release Summer 2014, however this news is not yet confirmed.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_in_Time_(Doctor_Who) Wikipedia page on the 2004 DVD boxset ''Lost in Time''.] Retrieved 22 May '13.</ref> | A total of 26 serials still remain incomplete, 10 of which are completely missing from the BBC archives. Still publicity photographs, scenes cut for censorship reasons, on-set footage and audio recordings for some of the remaining lost episodes still survive and were released by the BBC in a 2004 DVD boxset which is rumoured to be getting a Special Edition release Summer 2014, however this news is not yet confirmed.<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_in_Time_(Doctor_Who) Wikipedia page on the 2004 DVD boxset ''Lost in Time''.] Retrieved 22 May '13.</ref> | ||
Of the | Of the 97 episodes that are currently missing, only one is confirmed to have no chance of recovery, Episode 7 of The Daleks Master Plan, A Christmas special, was only aired once and because the episode had no relevance to the plot, there were no film copies made. As a result, it was never offered to overseas broadcasters like all other episodes. It was destroyed for good in the second round of wiping on August 17th, 1967. | ||
It is widely rumoured that following the October 2013 reveal of missing episodes, more are to come in coming months, potentially restoring the majority of missing episodes. | It is widely rumoured that following the October 2013 reveal of missing episodes, more are to come in coming months, potentially restoring the majority of missing episodes. | ||
Revision as of 16:47, 4 September 2015
The appropriately dubbed Doctor Who Missing Episodes are a collection of 147 episodes of the British sci-fi television series that were wiped by the BBC between 1963 and 1974, (as old reels would often be wiped for new material instead of buying expensive new reels). Though many episodes have been recovered over the years, 97 still remain missing; consequentially, full footage of these lost episodes have not been seen since their original airing.
In addition to the completely lost episodes during the First and Second Doctor's runs, there are some episodes from the Third Doctors run that no longer exist in their original color format, although they do exist in Black and White versions, and have subsequently been restored to full colour.
After the BBC came to their senses in 1974, they decided to start searching for the episodes that they had lost by attempting to gain the co-operation of private collectors and probing the television stations that they had loaned tapes to (tapes that had, as of then, not yet been returned). Through these methods the BBC has managed to recover 50 episodes over the years (most recently in October 2013), including nine full missing serials.
A total of 26 serials still remain incomplete, 10 of which are completely missing from the BBC archives. Still publicity photographs, scenes cut for censorship reasons, on-set footage and audio recordings for some of the remaining lost episodes still survive and were released by the BBC in a 2004 DVD boxset which is rumoured to be getting a Special Edition release Summer 2014, however this news is not yet confirmed.[1]
Of the 97 episodes that are currently missing, only one is confirmed to have no chance of recovery, Episode 7 of The Daleks Master Plan, A Christmas special, was only aired once and because the episode had no relevance to the plot, there were no film copies made. As a result, it was never offered to overseas broadcasters like all other episodes. It was destroyed for good in the second round of wiping on August 17th, 1967.
It is widely rumoured that following the October 2013 reveal of missing episodes, more are to come in coming months, potentially restoring the majority of missing episodes.
UPDATE 10 Oct: Rumours have been abundant over the past few days, regarding reports that two previously lost Doctor Who episodes had been found (supposedly taken from the rumoured haul of 100+ episodes allegedly found in Zambia earlier this year). Well, today the BBC have confirmed the exact details of the find: NINE episodes have been rediscovered - the remaining five "The Enemy of the World" episodes (ie. 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6), and four of the five missing "The Web of Fear" episodes (ie. 2, 4, 5 and 6) - all of which have since been made available for digital purchase on iTunes!!!
The episodes were originally rediscovered by TV archive recovery expert Phillip Morris, at a local TV station in Nigeria, and there have even been hints from the BBC that there may be more to come (further perpetuating the rumour of the Zambian episode haul).
List of Missing Episodes
| Doctor | Season | Story No. | Serial | Lost Episodes | Tally |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Doctor | 1 | 004 | "Marco Polo" | All 7 episodes | 7 |
| 008 | "The Reign of Terror" | Episodes 4 & 5 (of 6 total) | 2 | ||
| 2 | 014 | "The Crusade" | Episodes 2 & 4 (of 4 total) | 2 | |
| 3 | 018 | "Galaxy 4" | Episodes 1, 2 & 4 (of 4 total) | 3 | |
| 019 | "Mission to the Unknown" | Entire episode | 1 | ||
| 020 | "The Myth Makers" | All 4 episodes | 4 | ||
| 021 | "The Daleks' Master Plan" |
Episodes 1, 3, 4, 6-9, 11 & 12 (of 12 total), Episode 7 is confirmed to no longer exist in any format, deeming it permanently lost. This is the only episode to be considered such. |
9 | ||
| 022 | "The Massacre of St Bartholomew's Eve" | All 4 episodes | 4 | ||
| 024 | "The Celestial Toymaker" | Episodes 1, 2 & 3 (of 4 total) | 3 | ||
| 026 | "The Savages" | All 4 episodes | 4 | ||
| 4 | 028 | "The Smugglers" | All 4 episodes | 4 | |
| 029 | "The Tenth Planet" | Episode 4 (of 4 total) | 1 | ||
| First Doctor Totals | 12 serials | 44 episodes | |||
| Second Doctor | 4 | 030 | "The Power of the Daleks" | All 6 episodes | 6 |
| 031 | "The Highlanders" | All 4 episodes | 4 | ||
| 032 | "The Underwater Menace" | Episodes 1 & 4 (of 4 total) | 2 | ||
| 033 | "The Moonbase" | Episodes 1 & 3 (of 4 total) | 2 | ||
| 034 | "The Macra Terror" | All 4 episodes | 4 | ||
| 035 | "The Faceless Ones" | Episodes 2, 4-6 (of 6 total) | 4 | ||
| 036 | "The Evil of the Daleks" | Episodes 1, 3-7 (of 7 total) | 6 | ||
| 5 | 038 | "The Abominable Snowmen" | Episodes 1, 3-6 (of 6 total) | 5 | |
| 039 | "The Ice Warriors" | Episodes 2 & 3 (of 6 total) | 2 | ||
| 041 | "The Web of Fear" | Episode 3 (of 6 total) | 1 | ||
| 042 | "Fury from the Deep" | All 6 episodes | 6 | ||
| 043 | "The Wheel in Space" | Episodes 1, 2, 4 & 5 (of 6 total) | 4 | ||
| 6 | 046 | "The Invasion" | Episodes 1 & 4 (of 8 total) | 2 | |
| 049 | "The Space Pirates" | Episodes 1, 3-6 (of 6 total) | 3 | ||
| Second Doctor Totals | 14 serials | 52 episodes | |||
| Totals | 26 serials | 97 episodes | |||
References
- ↑ Wikipedia page on the 2004 DVD boxset Lost in Time. Retrieved 22 May '13.
External Links
The Destruction Of Time, A deeper look into the lost episodes.