The BBC sci-fi series first arrived on screens almost 63 years ago, spanning around 900 episodes, 41 seasons, 15 (main) Doctors, and a 2005 reboot.
With such a wealth of content, there have been several early stories from the Classic Who era (1963-1989) which have been lost to time and wiped from the records.
In fact, over 90 episodes from the 253 which aired in the first six years are unaccounted for.
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However, last month it was revealed that, in the first major recovery in over a decade, two more long-lost episodes have been found.
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The two episodes in question – season three episode one, The Nightmare Begins, and episode three, Devil’s Planet – aired in November 1965, to launch William Hartnell’s third season with companion Steven Taylor (Peter Purves).
Nearly all of this William Hartnell adventure had been lost to time (Picture: BBC)
This story centred around the Doctor’s arch-nemesis – The Daleks (Picture: BBC)
A clip released earlier this week from one of the episodes, The Nightmare Begins, shows the Doctor attempting to get to a city in a jungle before being held at gunpoint.
The intervening second episode, Day of Armageddon, was also recovered in 2004 by a former BBC engineer.
All in all, the revived trio are part of a 12-part ‘dark and gritty’ Dalek storyline written by Terry Nation, with nine segments still wiped from history.
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As for where these gold-dust episodes were found, they were sitting in a cardboard box filled with a ‘ramshackle’ collection of vintage films discovered by charitable trust Film is Fabulous! (FIF), according to the BBC.
The episodes were only ever aired in the UK in the 60s, making them a true rare find and exciting addition to the Whoniverse.
Purves, 87, was invited to the Phoenix Cinema in Leicester, where the joyous finds were revealed, leading him to declare: ‘My flabber has never been so gasted.’
Purves, now 87, was surprised by the findings
BBC Archives are working to restore the original 16mm telerecordings, ensuring fans can enjoy a little extra treat with their Easter Eggs this April,’ Director of BBC Archives, Noreen Adams, shared in a statement.
Explaining the recovery process, FIF trustee chair Professor Justin Smith, explained: ‘We travel all over the country to recover film collections from private hands.
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‘A lot of the films had suffered water damage, and the cans had corroded. These are gems in what was an eclectic and ramshackle collection, a lot of which hadn’t been looked after as well as the Doctor Who had.
‘The collector did recognise what he had, but how he acquired them has been lost to time.’
There are still over 90 lost episodes (Picture: BBC)
Meanwhile, discussing his memories of the lost episodes, Purves added: ‘I’m not sure I even saw those programmes go out originally – I remember the stories, but having seen them, the pictures are unfamiliar to me.
‘I didn’t remember the first one when I was still almost comatose following the injury I received fighting in Troy in the wonderful Mythmakers – which of course is missing.’
The last time Doctor Who episodes were recovered was in 2013, through a Nigerian TV station housing nine missing instalments from two Patrick Troughton stories, The Enemy of the World and The Web of Fear.
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The BBC has been maintaining the legacy of Classic Who on iPlayer in recent years, with the vast corpus available on iPlayer.
This is the biggest discovery in over a decade (Picture: BBC)
It has even launched a colourisation project with the iconic 1963 tale, The Daleks, being released with colour just a few years ago. This was followed by Patrick Troughton’s The War Games.
The original series of Doctor Who aired from 1963 to 1989, before being rebooted in 2005. The most recent season, starring Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor, aired last year.
During the finale of his second season, the character regenerated and appeared to be replaced by Billie Piper, who played Rose Tyler, the Doctor’s first companion when the series was rebooted over two decades ago.
The finale also saw Jodie Whittaker, the 13th Doctor, make a guest appearance while Gatwa’s Doctor appeared to be travelling through alternate universes.
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The Nightmare Begins and Devil’s Planet are available to stream on BBC iPlayer now.
A version of this article was originally published on March 13, 2026.
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“Told through the lens of the artists, craftspeople, and technicians bringing J.K. Rowling’s beloved books to life for a new generation,” it will offer “an in-depth look at the making of the first season,” a press release states.
Narrated by Nick Frost, who plays Rubeus Hagrid in the show, the exclusive will also feature interviews with key cast members, including John Lithgow, Janet McTeer, and Paapa Essiedu, who star as Albus Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape, respectively.
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In a trailer for the special, released Thursday, a set designer standing beside a mock of the Hogwarts castle says: “To play in a sandbox this big, it really is incredible. We’re adding a level of world-building beyond what the audience is familiar with.”
‘Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic’ will premiere April 5 on HBO Max (HBO)
Each season of the series will be based on one of Rowling’s seven books, with the first eight-episode season covering the events of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.
It will welcome young newcomers Dominic McLaughlin, 12, Alastair Stout, 12, and Arabella Stanton, 11, as the leading trio Harry, Ron and Hermione. All three are reportedly being paid £500,000 for the first season, with a source recently telling The Sun that they are “on track to be multi-millionaires before they turn 18.”
Last week, HBO dropped the first trailer for the highly anticipated show, offering a glimpse of Harry’s journey from living under the stairs to discovering a new world as the Boy Who Lived. The two-minute clip became the most-watched HBO trailer in history. It amassed more than 277 million organic views across platforms in its first 48 hours online.
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Dominic McLaughlin takes over for Daniel Radcliffe as the Boy Who Lived in the new Harry Potter series (Aidan Monaghan/HBO)
“There is nothing special about Harry Potter — at least that’s what his Aunt Petunia always says. On his 11th birthday, a letter of admittance to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry opens up a hidden world for Harry: one of fun, friendship and magic. But with this new adventure comes great risk as Harry is forced to face a dangerous enemy from his past,” reads an official season one logline.
Finding Harry: The Craft Behind the Magic will stream April 5 at 8 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. ET/12 p.m. PT on HBO Max.
Sunderland City Council’s planning and highways committee this week refused plans for land at Mulberry Way in the city’s Houghton ward.
Persimmon Homes were seeking permission for 58 homes with “associated access, landscaping, open space” and a “sustainable urban drainage system.”
During a council consultation exercise there was significant public opposition, with around 122 formal objections and a 151-signature petition.
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Public concerns listed in a council report included loss of greenspace, highway safety, flood risk, wildlife impacts and the developer’s “violation of previous planning promises.”
The site formed part of a larger development granted in 2001 which included a condition which developers Persimmon “failed to fulfil”, council documents state.
A council report said developers were now “immune” from council enforcement action due to the time that had passed but noted developers “wished to mitigate the failure to provide children’s open space/informal recreation area and meadow space offsite”.
However, council planners said it was “premature” to consider housing plans until the “outstanding issue” had been addressed, adding the new application would “result in a loss of open play space for existing residents of the adjacent estate.”
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The application came before the planning and highways committee on Monday (March 30) and planning officers recommended the housing be refused.
Reasons included the historic play park issue, access worries and concerns about flood risk and ecology assessments.
Members of the public and Houghton councillors John Price and Mark Burrell spoke against the plans at City Hall.
A planning agent for Persimmon also requested the “gift of time” to address planning issues and agree details of improvements to the nearby Keir Hardie Park.
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Councillors later voted to refuse the housing plans, however the decision can be appealed.
A Persimmon Homes spokesperson said it was disappointing that developers had “not been able to find a way forward” with the council to “deliver much needed new housing”.
They said they had engaged with local councillors and residents on plans to “invest in the play park at the nearby Keir Hardie Park” and added it was “disappointing that time has not allowed for these plans to be presented and for the other matters to be resolved.”
For more information, visit the council’s planning portal website and search for reference 25/01316/FUL
It brings the total number of arrests in connection with the disorder to 17.
Four more people have been arrested in connection with disorder among Rangers and Celtic fans at Ibrox Stadium.
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Ugly scenes broke out following the Scottish Cup Final on Sunday, March 8. It saw flares fired into the midst of fans, while supporters, police officers and those working at the stadium came under attack.
A steward was seen being carried from the pitch, believed to have been injured in the chaos, and a number of people were pictured receiving medical treatment. The most recent arrests bring the total number to be made under the operation to 11.
Following the match, Celtic striker Tomáš Čvančara, who scored the winning penalty for his side, was interviewed for TV wearing a blood-stained shirt. He had been photographed intervening in an incident on the field. A member of Celtic’s coaching staff was also reportedly attacked. There was also violence outside of the stadium following the game.
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Operation Moonglint was subsequently launched by Police Scotland to trace those responsible. Police have confirmed four further men, aged 20, 26, 30 and 47, were arrested and charged and have been released on an undertaking to appear at court at a later date.
It brings the total number of arrests in connection with the disorder to 17.
Police say inquiries to trace those responsible are ongoing.
Detective Chief Inspector David Lamont said: “Extensive inquiries remain ongoing to identify and trace those involved. We will ensure those involved in acts of violence and disorder will face the consequences of their actions that day. Further arrests will be made.”
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Anyone with information can call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Information can also be sent directly to the investigation team.
The Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) is a website that gives the public access to a form to pass information, images and footage directly to the Major Investigation Team and can be accessed here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/SCOT26G03-PO1
Get more Daily Record exclusives by signing up for free to Google’s preferred sources. Click HERE.
Lamerd, a town in southern Iran, came under attack on 28 February. CCTV footage published by Iranian state media – which was authenticated and geolocated by BBC Verify – showed a munition moments before it exploded above a residential area. Experts identified it as likely being a US missile, based on its appearance, the size of the blast and the distance from potential US launch sites in the Middle East.
The vacant plot of land off Kestor Street in The Haulgh formerly housed Bolton Parish Primary School before they moved to their current school on Chadwick Street.
A design and access statement submitted by RA Design and Project Management said that “existing access into the site is tight” and “a dropped kerb will make access easier in the future”.
They continued: “There is no firm plan for the site but several prospective future users have commented that the access is too narrow”.
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They have proposed dropping the kerb and widening the entry gate to make the site easier for future occupiers to use.
Bolton Council’s town planning officers agreed with the proposal which they said “would not have any significant impact upon the visual amenity of the area”.
In their report, they said the area is predominantly in commercial and industrial use “with commercial fencing visible along Kestor Street”.
Officers were called to Northumberland Road on Thursday (April 2) at around 3.30am.
A cordon was erected as white-suited investigators probed the semi-detached home later on Thursday, with pictures showing how the property had two smashed windows.
No injuries were reported during the incident, although people were inside at the time.
Cleveland Police has today (Friday, April 3) confirmed no arrests have yet been made and the investigation remains ongoing.
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(Image: NORTHERN ECHO)
Crime scene investigators were seen wearing white suits with blue masks and gloves on Thursday within one of three police cordons set up along the road.
The road was fully blocked off at the junction with Thornaby Road, where an officer was standing guard beside a police van.
Detective Chief Inspector Chris Pringle, from Stockton CID said: “At 3.30am on Thursday, April 2, police received reports of a firearm being discharged towards a property on Northumberland Road in Thornaby.
“While occupants were inside the property at the time, there were no injuries reported.
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“Enquiries are ongoing and anyone with information, dash cam or doorbell footage is asked to call Cleveland Police on 101 quoting reference number 060930.”
The wind alert will now be in place until 7am on Easter Sunday, with the forecasters warning of possible disruption across Darlington and County Durham over the weekend.
Storm Dave will move in towards the North East during Saturday evening (April 4), bringing gusts of up to 50 to 60 mph and up to 60 to 70 mph in more exposed locations.
The spell of very strong winds later on Saturday and overnight into Sunday morning could lead to damage and travel disruption.
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Where will be affected?
The yellow weather warning runs from Saturday 5pm until Easter Sunday 7am (extended from Saturday evening) and applies to the following areas in the North East, including:
· Darlington · Durham · Gateshead · Newcastle upon Tyne · North Tyneside · Northumberland · South Tyneside · Sunderland
Forecasters rate the potential impact of the weather warning as medium, with the likelihood of the disruption being “very low.”
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The Met Office said: “A rapidly deepening area of low pressure, Storm Dave, is likely to move North Eastwards close to or across northwestern parts of the UK during Saturday evening and night, clearing to the North Sea by Sunday.
“While there is some uncertainty over the exact track, intensity and shape of this area of low pressure, a period of strong west to south-westerly winds is expected during Saturday night and into the first part of Easter Sunday, before gradually easing through the day.
“Peak gusts of 50-60 mph will be possible fairly widely, with 60-70 mph in more exposed locations.”
‘The design of the development will create a vibrant neighbourhood with strong connections to the local community’
Plans are under consideration to build over 200 houses in a sleepy Welsh village. Developer BDW Trading Ltd has lodged an application with Vale of Glamorgan Council to build 232 houses and a foodstore that could be as large as 20,000 sq ft on Church Farm in St Athan.
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The development would feature a mix of one, two, three and four-bedroom properties. These properties would be split into 150 homes for the open market, 54 social rented units and 28 “low-cost home ownership units”.
The application reads: “The development has been structured around a clear street hierarchy and integrated network of green infrastructure and public open spaces to create a high-quality and inclusive residential environment” For the biggest stories in Wales first sign up to our daily newsletter here
The affordable homes on site are located throughout the development, “providing integration with the open market housing”.
Planning documents read: “The proposals make efficient use of the site by providing much needed market and affordable homes, in addition to a new foodstore.”
It continues: “The design of the development will create a vibrant neighbourhood with strong connections to the local community.”
The documents also outline that a total of 498 private car parking spaces will be provided, with the numbers per plot ranging from one to three depending on “dwelling size”
There will also be 48-off carriageway visitor parking spaces.
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Four-hundred metres of hedgerow are proposed to be removed as well as 12 small hawthorn trees to make way for the development.
In return, a total of 200 trees are proposed to be planted across the development in addition to 600m of hedgerow, over 500sq m of “native shrub planting” and over 3,500sq m of native grassland and wildflowers.
The application reads: “The development includes the creation of several open spaces and green corridors within the site.
“This includes three large open spaces, with two primarily focusing on formal and informal play and the larger space combining informal play, biodiversity and sustainable drainage systems use.”
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Regarding the proposed foodstore, the application reads: “Given the limited food retailing options within St Athan currently, the proposed foodstore would make a significant contribution to the settlement as a whole and reduce longer journeys by private car to other foodstores further afield.”
It continues: “The provision of a food store will have significant sustainability benefits and have the potential to create a range of new employment opportunities.”
In its latest operational update, the Ministry of Defence said RAF Regiment gunners downed multiple Iranian drones overnight, while UK Typhoons and F-35 jets, together with Wildcat helicopters, continued their defensive missions over Cyprus, Jordan, Qatar, UAE, and Bahrain.
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