https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4g7kwq1k11o BBC Homepage * Skip to content * Accessibility Help * Your account * Home * News * Sport * Earth * Reel * Worklife * Travel * Culture * Future * Music * TV * Weather * Sounds * More menu More menu Search BBC * Home * News * Sport * Earth * Reel * Worklife * Travel * Culture * Future * Music * TV * Weather * Sounds Close menu BBC News Menu * Home * Climate * World * US & Canada * UK * Business * Tech * Science * Entertainment & Arts * Health More * In Pictures * BBC Verify * Newsbeat * England * Regions * Leicester Lost Doctor Who episodes found in 'eclectic' collection To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. This video can not be played Media caption, The episodes feature William Hartnell in the lead role ByIsaac Ashe and Simon Ward, East Midlands * Published 13 March 2026, 00:06 GMT * 283 Comments Updated 09:52 GMT 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 pretences 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. The first episode, titled The Nightmare Begins, was part of the third season of Doctor Who and was aired in November 1965. The second recovered episode, Devil's Planet, was broadcast two weeks later. The two actors on board a spaceship in a scene from a black and white episodeImage source, Doctor Who/BBC Image caption, William Hartnell appeared as the first incarnation of the Doctor alongside assistant Steven Taylor, played by Peter Purves The intervening episode, Day of Armageddon, was found in 2004 by a former BBC engineer, meaning fans now have the first three instalments of The Daleks' Master Plan arc. Written by the creator of the Daleks, Terry Nation, and Dennis Spooner, the serial starred Hartnell and Purves alongside an early appearance by Nicholas Courtney as Bret Vyon, Adrienne Hill as Katarina, and Kevin Stoney as Mavic Chen. Courtney would go on to play recurring character, The Brigadier. But the "dark and gritty" 12-part storyline was ordered to be wiped, and more than half of it remains missing. A circular film reel tin with a vintage BBC TV Enterprises label. It says 'Telerecording cutting copy' and has handwritten details on the label. Image caption, Reels were found in a cardboard box as part of an "eclectic" collection of thousands of films So how did they become the first lost Doctor Who episodes to be announced to the world since 2013? The work of Leicester charitable trust Film is Fabulous! (FIF) is behind what had become the longest gap between lost episodes being uncovered coming to an end. Many previous lost episodes had been found in archives of TV stations overseas, including the last episodes found, which had been recovered from a Nigerian TV station. But with The Daleks' Master Plan, the story was not sold overseas. A black and white still of three daleks from a Doctor Who episode Image source, Doctor Who/BBC Image caption, Two episodes of The Daleks' Master Plan from 1965 have been discovered among an amateur collector's estate Censors in Australia and New Zealand deemed it too violent, and without their buy-in, selling to other markets was not profitable. Combined with the move towards colour, the black and white story was thought to have little future value and consigned to the bin. But copies of some episodes were still made by technicians to check for problems which might need to be fixed ahead of pitching the episodes to other markets. It was these versions that made their way to an amateur collection. Professor of cinema and television history at Leicester's De Montfort University, Justin Smith - chair of trustees at FIF - said "a debt of gratitude" was owed to the anonymous late collector, whose films - largely focused on his love of trains and canals, including hundreds of home videos - were donated to FIF after he died. A man sat inside the Phoenix Cinema foyer Image caption, Prof Justin Smith said the finds were "gems" He said: "We travel all over the country to recover film collections from private hands. "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." News of the discovery left actor Purves, 87, tearing up after travelling to Leicester on Wednesday to attend what he believed were going to be interviews with the media about television in the 1960s. Learning the real reason he had been lured to the venue with "a perfect lie", he said: "I'm speechless, knocked out." A man smiling sat in the seats of a cinema Image caption, Peter Purves was emotional when he was told the real reason for his trip to the East Midlands And after viewing the two episodes, he said, "my flabber has never been so gasted", although he quipped: "I've never forgiven the BBC for losing those episodes, it would be really nice to get a few royalties." 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." Peter Purves and Toby Hadoke sat in a cinema watching Doctor Who Image caption, Six decades after being broadcast, the two episodes were played on the big screen this week Recalling the industry in the pioneering days of TV sci-fi, Purves said: "It was just a job. It sounds silly but we did an episode of the programme each week, in the year I did 46 episodes. "It was great fun and was great to be doing a series that was hugely popular. "But it was a difficult time, I won't pretend it was easy, the cast kept changing and it seemed a bit of a time of flux. "In the two episodes we've seen there was a great performance by Nick Courtney playing Bret Vyon. "I was concerned very much that he was there as a replacement for me. "As it happens, he got killed in episode four or five." William Hartnell head and shoulders shown in a still from the rediscovered episodesImage source, Doctor Who/BBC Image caption, Hartnell puts in a memorable performance in the episodes, which make up some of the first in the storyline Purves expects the lost episodes being rediscovered will reignite interest in the early seasons of the show. "It was the fourth appearance of the Daleks and it'll be exciting to fans for a lot of reasons," he said. "The fans of Doctor Who are legion, and they seriously love the classic times. "I'm astonished these two wonderful episodes have finally turned up - so many of my episodes are missing - it's heartbreaking to me. "I'm absolutely thrilled and maybe I'll [get] quite a few invites to conventions and various things." Doctor Who historian Toby Hadoke, who "lured" Purves to Leicester for the event, expects the Doctor Who fanbase will be "thrilled" by the news of the episodes surviving through the decades. Head and shoulders shot of a man in Phoenix Cinema. He is bald and has a salt and pepper goatee. He is wearing a checked shirt, pink tie and brown cardigan. Image caption, Toby Hadoke says he dreams of finding lost episodes of Doctor Who in places like car boot sales He said: "It was really touching, and what a privilege. "We never thought we'd see these episodes again. It was a real factory process, no time for post-production or anything like that, never repeated, never sold abroad. "People will be thrilled. The thing about Doctor Who is it's a connection to your childhood. "I'm a grown man and I've been wishing I could see The Nightmare Begins since I saw the name on a list of missing episodes of Doctor Who 30 years ago. "Forget Glastonbury, I think if you put on a screening of these tomorrow it would sell out in seconds. "They really are the holy grail." A special screening of the two episodes organised by FIF, with Purves as guest of honour, is being held in London on 4 April. Details of the event are yet to be announced, but it will take place on the same day the two restored episodes are made available in full on BBC iPlayer. Episode one sees the Tardis landing on the planet Kembel in search of help for the Doctor's injured companion, only to learn the Daleks are planning with Guardian of the Solar System Mavic Chen to conquer the Earth. By episode three, the Doctor has stolen a vital component needed for the conquest, but after leaving Kembel they are forced to land on penal planet Desperus - pursued by the Daleks. Noreen Adams, director of BBC Archives, said she was "thrilled" the episodes would be released on BBC iPlayer. She said: "BBC Archives has been working to restore the original recordings and update these to broadcast quality, ensuring fans can enjoy a little extra treat with their Easter Eggs this April." Get in touch Tell us which stories we should cover in Leicester Contact form Contact form Listen to BBC Radio Leicester on Sounds and follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, external, on X, external, or on Instagram, external. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk, external or via WhatsApp, external on 0808 100 2210. Related topics * Doctor Who * Leicester More on this story * The changing face of Doctor Who * Shrine to Doctor Who spin-off character to be taken down after 17 years + Published 4 March A wall covered in pictures and a string of Welsh flags. At the top a board reads Ianto's Shrine in white writing. The pictures are attached to a rusty metal grid. * Doctor Who returns to filming location 40 years on + Published 28 February Man and woman outside police box in front of Tower Bridge * Doctor Who spin-off pushes boundaries, says Russell T Davies + Published 9 December 2025 A composite image. On the left, Tovey is in character as Barclay and is stood in front of a orange and red fire themed background. He is wearing a green t-shirt and is stood with his arm reaching into the other side of the image with his hand touching Mbatha-Raw's hand. On the right, Mbatha-Raw is in character as Salt, and is stood in front of a blue ocean background. She is dressed as a mystical creature. * BBC finds missing Dalek episode Related internet links * BBC iPlayer * Film is Fabulous! * De Montfort University * Phoenix Leicester Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser View comments | 283 From other local news sites * Councillors decide to sell off former Melton community centre + External Melton Times * Melton care home residents enjoy 'magical' day of ice skating + External Melton Times * Rutland Council shares draft response to local government merger + External Oakham Nub News * Winners announced for Rutland and Stamford's Favourite Independent Shop Awards + External Oakham Nub News * In Pictures: First signs of spring emerging in Harborough + External Harborough Today * Events and offers in Ashby for Mother's Day + External Ashby Nub News Information about BBC links to other news sites Top stories * Live. US military to send Marines and more warships to Middle East, reports say + 31612 viewing32k viewing * How the bombing of Iran sent shockwaves around the world * First image emerges of Andrew, Mandelson and Epstein together + Published 5 hours ago More to explore * How the bombing of Iran sent shockwaves around the world Stylised image of Trump and Ayatollah Khamanei * From Mr Nobody to Oscar nominee: How one man took on Putin Pavel Talankin looking direct to camera in a grey suit and black top, with people behind him * Morrissey 'too tired' to perform, and 12 other excuses for cancelled concerts Morrissey, wearing a blue suit jacket, holds one hand to his head as he performs on stage * As hopes of regime change in Iran fade, Netanyahu faces political test A member of the Iranian security forces stands guard in front of a billboard depicting the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, and Iranian military and Revolutionary Guards commanders, during a rally to mark Quds Day at a square in Tehran, Iran (13 March 2026) * Why has Trump eased sanctions on Russian oil - and will it help Putin? An image of Donald Trump side by side with Vladimir Putin. * How long will the cold weather last? A country scene in Nairn in the highlands with fields and a country road winding away in to the distance. There is a pale sky with pinks and greys. No people or buildings are visible * Post Office scandal 'has taken 21 years of my life' A woman with dark hair and a multiple colour jumper siting on a green sofa inside her living room. * Weekly quiz: This dog was Best in Show at Crufts - what other prize did he win? Bruin the Clumber spaniel runs alongside his owner at 2026 Crufts. * US Politics Unspun: Cut through the noise with Anthony Zurcher's newsletter US Capitol with red white and blue stripes behind Elsewhere on the BBC * Celebrated actor Jessie Buckley picks her Desert Island Discs Desert Island Discs: Jessie Buckley * Watch every epic episode of Birmingham's notorious crime family Peaky Blinders * The new album from Harry Styles and the Big Weekend line up [p0lyhxct] * Catch up on all episodes of Britain's toughest job interview The Apprentice Most read 1. 1 Two more horses die on final day of Cheltenham 2. 2 First image emerges of Andrew, Mandelson and Epstein together 3. 3 Sheriff in Nancy Guthrie case believes they know kidnapper's motive 4. 4 Planters demoralised as council mows down 30,000 bulbs 5. 5 Pink Floyd guitar sold for record-breaking $14.6m 6. 6 Petrol retailers in row with government over 'rip off' accusations 7. 7 Morrissey 'too tired' to perform, and 12 other excuses for cancelled concerts 8. 8 Woman found out she had terminal brain cancer after suitcase fell on her head 9. 9 Austrian glaciers disintegrating due to climate change, say scientists 10. 10 Bahrain & Saudi Arabia Grands Prix to be cancelled BBC News Services * On your mobile * On smart speakers * Get news alerts * Contact BBC News * Home * News * Sport * Earth * Reel * Worklife * Travel * Culture * Future * Music * TV * Weather * Sounds * Terms of Use * About the BBC * Privacy Policy * Cookies * Accessibility Help * Parental Guidance * Contact the BBC * BBC emails for you * Advertise with us Copyright (c) 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. [p]