SFF Chronicles News
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13th December 2011 12:01 PM
Darren Allan
If you’re a Doctor Who fan – and one of the true variety who has all the old black and white episodes on DVD, still watching them regularly – then some exciting news has emerged.
Two episodes from the sixties which were thought to be lost have been discovered and returned to the BBC, meaning we should hopefully get to see them soon.
Back in the sixties, TV shows weren’t kept archived as tapes were reused due to their expensive nature.
However, some programmes were recorded to film and sent abroad as Doctor Who was screened worldwide, and it’s a couple of these which have found their way back to the Beeb.
They were actually bought by a retired broadcast engineer at a school fête, of all places, way back in the eighties. He hadn’t realised the significance of them, and that they’re probably the only copies left, until now.
The two episodes in question are from 1965 and 1967, and they star William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton respectively, the first two actors to play the Doctor.
Unfortunately the episodes aren’t standalone, but are both part of a series.
The 1965 programme is part three of a four episode run entitled Galaxy Four, and the 1967 show is the second part of a two parter, so at least that has the conclusion to the story – which apparently involves unconvincing fish men and a plot to drain the ocean into the core of the Earth.
Sounds like classic Who indeed!
Over a hundred episodes that were broadcast in the sixties are still missing. Perhaps they’ll turn up one day, too.
Darren Allan
If you’re a Doctor Who fan – and one of the true variety who has all the old black and white episodes on DVD, still watching them regularly – then some exciting news has emerged.
Two episodes from the sixties which were thought to be lost have been discovered and returned to the BBC, meaning we should hopefully get to see them soon.
Back in the sixties, TV shows weren’t kept archived as tapes were reused due to their expensive nature.
However, some programmes were recorded to film and sent abroad as Doctor Who was screened worldwide, and it’s a couple of these which have found their way back to the Beeb.
They were actually bought by a retired broadcast engineer at a school fête, of all places, way back in the eighties. He hadn’t realised the significance of them, and that they’re probably the only copies left, until now.
The two episodes in question are from 1965 and 1967, and they star William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton respectively, the first two actors to play the Doctor.
Unfortunately the episodes aren’t standalone, but are both part of a series.
The 1965 programme is part three of a four episode run entitled Galaxy Four, and the 1967 show is the second part of a two parter, so at least that has the conclusion to the story – which apparently involves unconvincing fish men and a plot to drain the ocean into the core of the Earth.
Sounds like classic Who indeed!
Over a hundred episodes that were broadcast in the sixties are still missing. Perhaps they’ll turn up one day, too.
