A lost piece of television history has been dramatically unearthed, offering a thrilling discovery for fans of the iconic science fiction series, Doctor Who. Two episodes, thought lost to time for nearly six decades, are set to reappear this Good Friday, a remarkable resurrection of early adventures with the First Doctor.
These aren’t just any episodes; “The Nightmare Begins” and “Devil’s Planet,” featuring William Hartnell as the original Time Lord and companion Steven Taylor, originally aired in November 1965. They represent a crucial part of a twelve-part storyline centered around the Doctor’s relentless adversaries, the Daleks, a narrative tragically fragmented by the ravages of time and BBC archiving practices.
The recovery is nothing short of miraculous. For years, these segments were considered irrevocably lost, wiped from existence along with a staggering nine other parts of this ambitious Dalek saga. The episodes were discovered within a “ramshackle” collection of vintage films, tucked away in a cardboard box by the charitable trust, Film is Fabulous!
A tantalizing clip from “The Nightmare Begins” reveals the Doctor facing immediate peril, attempting to navigate a dense jungle only to find himself confronted by a menacing figure wielding a gun. This glimpse into the past offers a taste of the “dark and gritty” atmosphere that defined this early era of the show.
The discovery sparked genuine emotion when revealed to Peter Purves, the actor who played Steven Taylor alongside Hartnell. Now 87 years old, Purves was visibly moved, declaring his “flabber was never so gasted” upon witnessing the recovered footage – a testament to the enduring power of these long-lost stories.
The episodes weren’t simply found intact. BBC Archives are meticulously restoring the original 16mm film recordings, ensuring the highest possible quality for a new generation of viewers. This painstaking process will allow fans to experience a unique Easter treat alongside their traditional celebrations.
The journey to recovery wasn’t easy. The film collection had suffered from years of neglect, with water damage and corroded cans threatening the fragile recordings. Yet, amidst the decay, these gems were preserved, a testament to the dedication of those who champion the preservation of television history.
While this is a monumental find, it’s important to remember that over 90 Doctor Who episodes remain lost. This recovery offers hope, a beacon illuminating the possibility of further discoveries and a more complete understanding of the show’s rich and complex past.
Purves himself admitted to a strange sense of unfamiliarity, recalling the stories but finding the visual depictions surprisingly new. He confessed to barely remembering the original broadcasts, his memories clouded by a previous injury sustained during another missing adventure, “The Mythmakers.”
This isn’t the first time lost episodes have been resurrected. In 2013, nine installments from Patrick Troughton’s era were found in Nigeria, a previous landmark recovery that demonstrated the enduring possibility of rediscovering these fragments of television history.
The BBC has actively worked to preserve Classic Who, making the vast majority of available episodes accessible on iPlayer and even undertaking ambitious colorization projects, breathing new life into iconic stories like “The Daleks” and “The War Games.” This commitment ensures the legacy of the original series continues to thrive.
From its initial run from 1963 to 1989, through its triumphant reboot in 2005, and continuing with the recent adventures of Ncuti Gatwa as the Fifteenth Doctor, Doctor Who remains a cultural phenomenon. These recovered episodes offer a rare and invaluable connection to the show’s earliest days, a thrilling glimpse into its formative years.
“The Nightmare Begins” and “Devil’s Planet” will be available on BBC iPlayer on April 4, 2026, offering a unique opportunity to witness a piece of television history reborn.
