Yesterday there were 106 missing episodes of 1960’s DOCTOR WHO. As of today, there are now 97. After months of rumours and speculation, the BBC has finally revealed that nine missing episodes of DOCTOR WHO have been returned, missing from the archives for nearly fifty years.
The stories in question (1967’s THE ENEMY OF THE WORLD and 1968’s THE WEB OF FEAR) were found in Nigeria, Africa and returned to the BBC by researcher Phillip Morris, who says:
“The tapes had been left gathering dust in a store room at a television relay station in Nigeria. I remember wiping the dust off the masking tape on the canisters and my heart missed a beat as I saw the words ‘Doctor Who’. When I read the story code I realised I’d found something pretty special.”
The discovery of Episodes 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 of THE ENEMY OF THE WORLD mean that the story is now complete and all 6 episodes will be released on DVD this November. THE WEB OF FEAR meanwhile, whilst sadly still missing an episode (Episode 3), will see DVD release in early 2014. Both sets of episodes have been digitally remastered and are all available to purchase on iTunes from today (the absent Episode 3 of WEB replaced by the full episode soundtrack coupled with off-air telesnaps taken from the episode). Both stories feature Patrick Troughton as the Doctor in his second incarnation, as well as companions Jamie (played by Frazer Hines) and Victoria (Deborah Watling).
Its absolutely astonishing and wonderful, that even now fifty years on, that lost DOCTOR WHO stories continue to be found in the unlikeliest of places. THE WEB OF FEAR continues to be a fan favourite amongst Whovians even to this day, whilst ENEMY OF THE WORLD is a story that will no doubt become a popular story in fan polls and favourite story lists.
So, will any other lost episodes come to light? We’ll have to wait and see, but in the meantime fans can at least sleep well tonight, happy in the knowledge that there’s just a little bit more DOCTOR WHO in the world.
Doctor Who: The Enemy of the World & Doctor Who: The Web of Fear are available to purchase and watch now on iTunes.
