Lost Doctor Who episodes found in 'eclectic' collection

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Lost Doctor Who episodes found in 'eclectic' collection

13 March 2026

Isaac Ashe and Simon Ward, East Midlands

A cardboard box found in a collector's "ramshackle" collection of vintage films contained two episodes of Doctor Who that have not been viewed since airing in the 1960s.

The episodes feature the first incarnation of the Doctor, played by William Hartnell, tackling a Dalek plan to take over Earth, the solar system and the galaxy in a storyline only ever shown in the UK.

Peter Purves, who played the Doctor's assistant Steven Taylor, was invited to the Phoenix Cinema in Leicester on Wednesday under false pretenses to view the two episodes, and he said: "My flabber has never been so gasted."

Restored versions of the episodes will be released on BBC iPlayer this Easter.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g7kwq1k11o

[Permanut]

1. Great discovery..

I discovered Dr. Who in the Tom Baker years - 1974 - 81.

[cstanleytech]

2. Same and he's one of my favorite ones.

[EverHopeful]

3. Thank you!

I had read some years back that many Doctor Who episodes had just been thrown out and that various people working at the studio had rescued them from the trash. Perhaps these found their way into this 'eclectic' collection that way. However it happened, can't wait to see them.

[QueerDuck]

4. You beat me to it... I was coming here to post this, too! Isn't it GREAT NEWS?? ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[LetMyPeopleVote]

5. I am looking forward to these episodes