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Missing Doctor Who episodes discovered | Missing Doctor Who episodes discovered |
(about 1 hour later) | |
By Shaun Ley Presenter, BBC Radio 4 | By Shaun Ley Presenter, BBC Radio 4 |
Doctor Who fans are getting a fresh opportunity to travel back in time with the discovery of two missing episodes from the long-running BBC series. | Doctor Who fans are getting a fresh opportunity to travel back in time with the discovery of two missing episodes from the long-running BBC series. |
The 1965 and 1967 episodes star William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton, the first two actors to play The Doctor. | The 1965 and 1967 episodes star William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton, the first two actors to play The Doctor. |
They are among more than 100 instalments which were not retained by the BBC. | They are among more than 100 instalments which were not retained by the BBC. |
The announcement was made on Sunday at Missing Believed Wiped, an event held at the British Film Institute (BFI). | The announcement was made on Sunday at Missing Believed Wiped, an event held at the British Film Institute (BFI). |
The BFI, based in London, has been working with broadcasters and film collectors to recover missing recordings of many different television series. | The BFI, based in London, has been working with broadcasters and film collectors to recover missing recordings of many different television series. |
Television programmes only began to be routinely recorded in the late 1950s. Previously, they were broadcast live. | Television programmes only began to be routinely recorded in the late 1950s. Previously, they were broadcast live. |
Even when it became possible to make recordings, video tape was so expensive that most transmission tapes were wiped, so they could be re-used. | Even when it became possible to make recordings, video tape was so expensive that most transmission tapes were wiped, so they could be re-used. |
In the 1970s, the BBC commissioned a report by the historian Lord Briggs. His findings prompted efforts to improve the archiving of television programmes. | In the 1970s, the BBC commissioned a report by the historian Lord Briggs. His findings prompted efforts to improve the archiving of television programmes. |
Although original transmission tapes did not survive, programmes were transferred on to film for broadcasters abroad and it is these prints that the BFI sometimes recover. | Although original transmission tapes did not survive, programmes were transferred on to film for broadcasters abroad and it is these prints that the BFI sometimes recover. |
Doctor Who was sold all over the world in the 1960s. | Doctor Who was sold all over the world in the 1960s. |
The latest two episodes to be found were in the private collection of a former TV engineer, Terry Burnett, who bought them at a school fete in Hampshire in the 1980s. | The latest two episodes to be found were in the private collection of a former TV engineer, Terry Burnett, who bought them at a school fete in Hampshire in the 1980s. |
Mr Burnett had no idea the BBC did not have the recordings - it was only when he mentioned them casually in conversation to Ralph Montagu, head of heritage at Radio Times, that their significance was recognised. | Mr Burnett had no idea the BBC did not have the recordings - it was only when he mentioned them casually in conversation to Ralph Montagu, head of heritage at Radio Times, that their significance was recognised. |
Airlock is the third episode of a four-part story called Galaxy Four, transmitted in the autumn of 1965. | |
Hartnell is accompanied by Peter Purves, later a presenter on the children's series Blue Peter, and Maureen O'Brien, now better known as a novelist. | Hartnell is accompanied by Peter Purves, later a presenter on the children's series Blue Peter, and Maureen O'Brien, now better known as a novelist. |
The plot involves the desperate attempts by the Drahvins, a race of cloned females, to escape a planet which is about to explode. The story also marks the only appearance in the series of tiny robots known as the Chumblies. | The plot involves the desperate attempts by the Drahvins, a race of cloned females, to escape a planet which is about to explode. The story also marks the only appearance in the series of tiny robots known as the Chumblies. |
The other re-discovered episode is the second part of The Underwater Menace, from early 1967. | The other re-discovered episode is the second part of The Underwater Menace, from early 1967. |
It sees a mad scientist attempting to restore Atlantis by draining the ocean into the Earth's core. | It sees a mad scientist attempting to restore Atlantis by draining the ocean into the Earth's core. |
Patrick Troughton, in only his third appearance as The Doctor, was apparently unimpressed with the production. | Patrick Troughton, in only his third appearance as The Doctor, was apparently unimpressed with the production. |
In a recent biography, his son Michael says he argued with the director Julia Smith - who went on to become the original producer of EastEnders - complaining bitterly about the "ridiculous costumes and make-up of the fish people". | In a recent biography, his son Michael says he argued with the director Julia Smith - who went on to become the original producer of EastEnders - complaining bitterly about the "ridiculous costumes and make-up of the fish people". |
Innes Lloyd, who produced The Underwater Menace later admitted, "it did look like something from a '50s American 'B' movie". | Innes Lloyd, who produced The Underwater Menace later admitted, "it did look like something from a '50s American 'B' movie". |
The find makes only a modest dent in the number of missing episodes, with 106 instalments broadcast between 1964 and 1969 still being sought. | The find makes only a modest dent in the number of missing episodes, with 106 instalments broadcast between 1964 and 1969 still being sought. |
Among other items recovered and shown at Sunday's event were Emergency Ward 9, a play by Dennis Potter, and a comedy sketch featuring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. | Among other items recovered and shown at Sunday's event were Emergency Ward 9, a play by Dennis Potter, and a comedy sketch featuring Peter Cook and Dudley Moore. |