You’ll Soon Be Able to Stream Two Long-Lost Doctor Who Episodes

The release dates for episodes of Doctor Who have always been a bit unpredictable, but this is something truly special. Two episodes from season three, “The Nightmare Begins” and “Devil’s Planet,” previously believed lost forever, have been found and restored. They’ll soon be available on the BBC streaming service. These episodes feature the original Doctor, William Hartnell, and his famous enemies, the Daleks. The discovery brings the total number of missing episodes down from 97, but 95 still remain lost.

So, why are so many episodes of Doctor Who missing? Before digital recording, the BBC routinely reused videotapes to save money, as it was funded by the government. This meant old programs were simply taped over. As a result, many Doctor Who episodes have been lost. According to Justin Smith, a professor at De Montfort University, British broadcasters in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s discarded a lot of their content. Finding these missing episodes is considered the ultimate goal for fans. It’s understandable, though – those at the BBC years ago probably didn’t expect people would still be interested in a children’s show from the 1960s!

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2026-03-14 01:59