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Lost Doctor Who Episodes Resurface After 60 Years

3/17/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Two long-missing Doctor Who episodes, "The Nightmare Begins" and "Devil's Planet," have been recovered after more than 60 years.
The discovery occurred in a private collection, aided by Film is Fabulous.
The episodes are from the Daleks' Master Plan arc, which originally aired in 1965.
BBC iPlayer will host restored versions in April, alongside a screening featuring Peter Purves.
The recovery reduces the total number of missing episodes to 95.

History

Historical Context

"Doctor Who" premiered in 1963, but between 1967 and 1978, the BBC's archival policies led to the destruction of 95 episodes, primarily from the show's early years. Recent recoveries, including "The Nightmare Begins" and "Devil's Planet," underscore ongoing efforts by organizations like Film is Fabulous to restore lost cultural heritage, highlighting the importance of preserving historical media for future generations.

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Story summary

Two long-missing Doctor Who episodes, "The Nightmare Begins" and "Devil's Planet," have been recovered after more than 60 years.
The discovery occurred in a private collection, aided by Film is Fabulous.
The episodes are from the Daleks' Master Plan arc, which originally aired in 1965.
BBC iPlayer will host restored versions in April, alongside a screening featuring Peter Purves.
The recovery reduces the total number of missing episodes to 95.

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