March 13th, 2026
228 comments
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Two Missing Episodes from The Daleks’ Master Plan Found
From the BBC Press Office
Doctor Who fans are in for a treat this Easter, as two ‘missing’ episodes from the 1960’s will be made available for viewers on BBC iPlayer.
The episodes, thought to be lost forever, were found by Film is Fabulous! – a charitable trust run by film collectors, cinema lovers and vintage television enthusiasts. They approached BBC Archives after finding them in a private collection. BBC Archives has worked to restore the original 16mm telerecordings – meaning viewers will be able to watch them in the best possible condition on BBC iPlayer.
The two episodes; The Nightmare Begins and Devil’s Planet were from the third series entitled The Daleks’ Master Plan. Written by Terry Nation, the series starred William Hartnell as the Doctor and Peter Purves as Steven Taylor. It also featured Nicholas Courtney as Bret Vyon, Adrienne Hill as Katarina, and Kevin Stoney as Mavic Chen.
Noreen Adams, Director of BBC Archives says: “We’re thrilled to have worked with the team at Film is Fabulous! to bring these lost Doctor Who episodes to viewers on BBC iPlayer this Easter. 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.”
These two episodes add to a raft of Doctor Who programming which forms The Whoniverse on BBC iPlayer.
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Bookcollector
April 17th, 2026 - 8:30pmJust watched my updated master plan reconstruction disc 1. Oh those episodes are a joy. My reconstruction will do until we get an official version at some point.
Andy R
April 17th, 2026 - 6:13pmHaving watched the episodes again a couple of times, a plot hole leaps out at me everytime. In episode 3, they go to great lengths to spell out that it took 50 years to mine the taranium and that Chen personally arranged this in secret. But when did he do that? He’s said to be a human so he has a normal life span. So how old is he in DMP? Did he borrow the Dalek time machine and nip back 50 years or is he a very well preserved 70 / 80 year old.
Missyrules
April 17th, 2026 - 8:28pmIt’s the year 4000 so humans have longer spans. It’s not an error, honestly.
David Minter
April 7th, 2026 - 12:32amCan someone who can access these 2 episodes on BBC iPlayer answer a few questions I have?
1.) The YouTube Doctor Who Channel versions have a BBC logo in the upper left hand corner throughout the entirety of their run time. Is this present on the iPlayer versions?
2.) The YouTube Doctor Who Channel versions have a “Discriminatory Content” warning at the beginning of each episode. Is this present on the iPlayer versions?
3.) The YouTube Doctor Who Channel version of Devil’s Planet has an audio error at around 0:18:21 that lasts for about 2 or 3 seconds. It’s in a line of Dalek dialogue. Is it present in the iPlayer version? It may be an audio artifact present in the recovered film copy that couldn’t be fixed. If it is, then the only probable way to correct it is to replace the line with a copy from one of the existing audio recordings made by home viewers in 1965.
Thanks!
Gordon
April 7th, 2026 - 2:14am1. Yes it’s there
2. None as far as I can see
3. Yes that’s there. I’m sure that will get the mark Ayres magic whenever it gets a physical release
Andy
April 7th, 2026 - 2:23amDavid yeah it has the BBC logo in the left hand corner of the screen it has on every programme on iPlayer. But no it doesn’t have a Discriminatory Content warning at the beginning of each episode it might on the You Tube Channel might be for younger viewers as it is a lot darker story then the previous Dalek Stories. It always plays the next episode automatically. Yeah it has the same error of the Dalek dialogue. Im glad am not the only one to have picked up on that. They will probably fix it when they are remastered for a future DVD and Blu-ray release. These are the best we are going to get for now at least.
Gordon
April 7th, 2026 - 9:05amConsidering they didn’t use the 35 mm film inserts and also wasn’t vidfired and only used the original soundtrack there will definitly be more work done for an eventual physical media release. I’m sure mark Ayres possibly has better off air options on the audio side too. If it’s a stand alone release of some sort I expect they may also look at the 3 other surviving eps too considering how long ago they were worked on.
Rex F
April 7th, 2026 - 10:18amThe iPlayer version just has a note in the description about “reflecting the broadcast standards and attitudes of its time.”
David Minter
April 7th, 2026 - 2:25pmOh, I had wondered if VidFire hadn’t been applied to these episodes yet. They didn’t appear as if they had been processed with that.
David Minter
April 7th, 2026 - 2:42pmPosting these episodes online was probably a “stop gap” measure. To get them out there so people could see them as soon as possible. So, probably the most efficient methods of restoration were used, though not necessarily the best. A future physical release will probably get intensive processing by the Doctor Who Restoration Team. (I’m guessing that’s still a thing? 🙂 ) VidFire will be applied. Mark Ayres will probably work his usual magic on the audio restoration. And this would probably be the first opportunity to use those discovered home audio recordings from a few years ago that are supposed to be superior to the ones released/used in the past?
Rex F
April 7th, 2026 - 6:42pmThe Restoration Team essentially went their separate ways yonks back. In terms of regulars it’s Mark Ayres on audio and the one guy at home on picture. A couple of the other people who worked on the DVD line might have the odd little bit of involvement from time to time, more in an admin sense I think, but the idea of a team barely made it to the end of the DVD range.
Andy
April 6th, 2026 - 5:39pmDon’t know if this might some interest to any of you guys. Just landed on prime video, is a Doctor Who Spin-off its old from Reel 2 Reel pictures that were just released on Video after the series ended in 1989! It’s called Downtime, Nicolas Courtney and Elizabeth Sladen are the stars reprising the roles as Sarah and the Brigadier. So for any of you guys that haven’t seen them its now on Prime Video free to prime customers.
Andy
April 6th, 2026 - 5:43pmAlso its Directed by Christopher Barry who directed a lot of Doctor Who in the classic era.
War Chief.
April 6th, 2026 - 5:57pmOh….it was a book as well….I wish I’d read it now…..
Amypondfan
April 6th, 2026 - 6:03pmDowntime was released in 1994 and the book was in 1995. Flawed but fun. Great cast and the book was expanded by the author Marc Platt from his scripts.
War Chief.
April 6th, 2026 - 6:31pmI most enjoyed Marc Platt’s novels Ghost Light and Battlefield….
I liked Cat’s Cradle (1992) or whatever it was called….but struggled a bit with Lungbarrow….
Bob Hellier
April 6th, 2026 - 11:58amwillthere be A MAVIC Chen or other delegates ie Trantis figures from DMP
War Chief.
April 6th, 2026 - 12:47pmDMP…..? Another of my (long term) dreams is to have Character Options figures of Mavic Chen and the Dalek Delegates….
However, I’ve been wishing for this since 2010….!
Rob
April 6th, 2026 - 4:27pmProbably not. B&M range is on the wind up, as the number of sets drop per year and Vortex will be looking at popular characters they can sell 4K of sets
War Chief.
April 6th, 2026 - 4:37pmI wish they’d released the Dalek Delegates in the Dr Who renaissance days, at the same time they released the Mechanoids, Drashig head and Sontaran spaceship….
Nowadays, I agree, it’s most unlikely….
Dalek Eye Stalk
April 5th, 2026 - 9:32pmMaybe if and when they animate ‘Daleks’ Master Plan’, they should only animate the missing 7 episodes in black and white. Instead of doing the entire story like recent releases.
Gordon
April 6th, 2026 - 7:54amMay all depend on the funding model but I could see a special case being made. Unlike most of the other animations that had existing eps where they would have to animate assets anyway in the missing eps there is quite a few characters and costumes and sets unique to the early masterplan eps. It doesn’t solve all its problems. Ep 7 would be a nightmare to animate on time and budget. 8 and 9 does have a lot of background/non credited characters but I could see a way round those. I suspect they would animate mission first as the jungle could get reused in 6 11 and 12 plus the deligates will get reused.
RPG74
April 6th, 2026 - 10:36amPersonally, I’d be fine with them animating six and leaving Feast of Steven as a photo recon. It isn’t germane to the wider plot, and is rather silly.
Amypondfan
April 6th, 2026 - 11:56amWhat would be the point of that! Episode 7 should be animated. Remember it’s meant to be silly, it was a light hearted Christmas Episode, a deliberate break in the dark story that had seen the death of katarina and Brett.
RPG74
April 6th, 2026 - 1:06pmIdeally everything would be done, but if they have to make sacrifices somewhere, then yeah, ep 7. In terms of the difficulty in animating, budget wise, we’re talking mostly new characters for just one episode. But I suppose we’ll have to see what happens.
Rob
April 6th, 2026 - 4:27pmThey’d animate them all for streaming and media purposes, it’s been said before that’s why UM has all episodes animated
Missyrules
April 6th, 2026 - 6:05pmAs Gordon says rob it may come down to funding. 7 versus 12.
Bob
April 6th, 2026 - 6:29pmThe main reason why I’d be against them animating the story in full is because Galaxy 4, The Abominable Snowmen, The Underwater Menace and The Celestial Toymaker all blatantly ignored the surviving episodes when it came to designing sets and/or characters making a hybrid viewing far too jarring.
I understand these productions have a limited budget so I’ll accept a bit of “jank” just to be able experience these otherwise lost stories but it would be an insane expectation for people to watch all 12 episodes this way when 5 of them still exist.
The Faceless Ones has been the only release that works as both a full animation and a hybrid so that would be the approach I’d want them to take if they were to animate the full story.
I’d also hate it if an animation gets vetoed because 12 episodes would be too costly if 7 or even just 6 is feasible. I could live without Mission and Feast if necessary.
Gordon
April 7th, 2026 - 2:25amTo be fair on the underwater menace they went by the original script for reference on how it was originally meant to look.
Seeing as they would need to animate animate the jungle and delegates anyway I could see them doing mission. I don’t think it really needs it. You have the uclan remake plus I’ve seen a version with the original audio synced and it works well which hopefully could be done for it. I doubt they would skip feast as it is part of the story even if it’s loosely. Its esentually 2 full cast lists in one ep so its going to be a beast to do
Prof Horner
April 5th, 2026 - 2:46pmWell these are great episodes and I have really enjoyed them. It’s a pity that Brett was killed off in episode 4. Makes me wonder how different the story would have been if he had stayed to the end of the story and if there had been no Sara. If it had been Brett who aged to death and not Sara. On the other hand, it’s hard to see how Brett would have fitted in with the ridiculous Feast of Steven episode or with The Meddling Monk ,who is definitely not The Master!
War Chief.
April 5th, 2026 - 2:53pmBrett being asked to take his clothes off in the Feast of Steven….no, can’t see it…..!
It’s all a bit of a forerunner to Terry Nation’s Blake’s 7…..characters you are definitely not expecting to get killed off, get killed off…..!
Barney
April 6th, 2026 - 11:42amThing is in the original 6 parter that masterplan was designed for Brett being killed off in ep 4 would of been quite an epic ramp up from act 2 to 3…it only feels a bit of a shame he didnt stock around because of the chase mark 2 being sandwiched in between the original middle and ending of the story. Do love Bret nic was sucha good actor
Bob Hellier
April 5th, 2026 - 12:00pmive got a figurine of the Meddling Monk i liked Peter butterworth i agree i hope more of William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton missing stories are found. i think it would be great if the missing episodes turned up and i wonder if the Monk and Black and White Guardians may one day return to Doctor Who?
War Chief.
April 5th, 2026 - 12:16pmOne of my dreams is to have a Character Options Monk figure…..released with a Dalek perhaps…
And a Black Guardian figure…..! With Turlough….?
Bob Hellier
April 4th, 2026 - 11:43amnot surprised Nicholas Courtney great actor Bret Vyon and KEVIN STONEY Mavic Chen came back as colonel then BRIGIADER Lethbridge Stewart and Tobias Vaughn WITH the cybermen great actor
Ano miss
April 4th, 2026 - 11:58amThey came back mainly because director Douglas canfield liked using familiar actors. Remember courtney only became colonel lethbridge-Stewart by default after another actor was replaced.
Prof Horner
April 3rd, 2026 - 8:42pmWell I watched the two episodes and how wonderful they both are. I think of the two , The Nightmare Begins is the better of the two. I always love to see inside the sixties Tardis , with the wonderful and still the best console. It would great if they could at least recover episodes 4 and the last two episodes as well, to gives most of the story. As with everyone on thls site, a big thank you to film is Fabulous. Let’s there is more to come. Some Troughton Dalek episodes would be nice.
War Chief.
April 3rd, 2026 - 11:29pmSome Troughton Dalek episodes would be superb….and more of the Meddling Monk as well….!
Andy
April 4th, 2026 - 12:00pmWar Chief. I think the Meddling Monk his first appearance was in a existing story The Meddling Monk, i think The Daleks Master Plan he was only in it for a few episodes i think episode 10 was his last appearance. Infact I think I read somewhere that he was an early incarnation of the Master as he had a time machine but liked meddling with time change history in is early days.
It does seem that they could be more episodes are in this country of the Daleks Master Plan, the surviving episodes have all been found in this country episodes 5 and 10 were found in a church no one knows how they got there that was in 1985, than in 2004 nearly 20 years that a former engineer that worked at the BBC returned episode 2. Now 22 years on episodes 1, and 3 are found in this private collector. Now i only heard of Film is Fabulous last year, and in that time they have already found 2, in fact they was 6 so i think we will probably get more found by them maybe by the end of the year with announcement by this time next year. There is some collectors out there sitting on a gold mine. Im like everytime i go to a car boot sale and i see blank videos with recordings on in hoping that there could be Doctor Who on them. I’ve yet come across film cans in boot sales which is the only things that we would be looking for in hope that they could be missing episodes.
Now some of these film collectors like this guy could have film collection of film cans in there loft or something gathering dust. They could be at there end of life care and we have to respect that and Film is Fabulous are contacted to retrieve any film collections and catalogue those collections if they aren’t aware of any film collections then their families will either dispose of them or give them to charity which we hope is Film is Fabulous.
Bet some Doctor Who fans are asking their grandparents if they have any films in their loft or locked in a cupboard or something. Yes please ask them they might well do just to jog their memory and can’t remember if they have. Ask anyone families and your friends. Some of my folk don’t even know that they were missing episodes from the archives they thought the BBC had everything from back in the day. Make people aware of this the more chance we have in more episodes turning up. I’m 49 in a couple of weeks i have been dreaming since i was 15 years old that i would be alive to see every single episode of Doctor Who. I mean the original episodes not these Animated Reconstruction or the Loose Cannon Reconstructions they are great but can’t beat the original episodes. Sesson 3 the numbers are coming down a bit. It would be nice if we only had a completed story from Season 4 as this is the Season that has only odd episodes from that season so yeah it would be nice to see the 2nd Doctor’s first Dalek Story in its original form. So was 110 that was when i was 15 yrs old in 1992, 2026 nearly 49 yrs old and only 95 to go.
Ano miss
April 4th, 2026 - 12:15pmNot the master, a time lord in his own right. And there are only two missing monk episodes (master plan 8 & 9)
Gordon
April 4th, 2026 - 12:28pmTo be honest we aren’t missing that much of the monk. He pops up round about the half way mark of volcano and then he’s in a good chunk of golden death. We have escape switch and that’s pretty much it for him on screen
Andy
April 4th, 2026 - 1:18pmYeah Gordon thats right as the Doctor changes his Time Machine in to a Police Box in episode 10 that was it from.him.
And yes there wss rumours were that he was The Master wether this is true as he never showed up again i think that’s where the theory came from.was the fact we never saw him again that maybe he was an early incarnation disguised as the Meddling Monk as it was never mentioned that The Doctor or The Monk were Time Lords they just came from the same place, we jdidn’t know until the end of the 2nd Doctor’s run we didn’t know that the Doctor was a Time Lord until the War Games then in the colour version they decided that the War Lord was The Master which i think was made up for a younger audience. but im always believe that Roger Delgado will always be the first as The Master in my opinion, maybe there was an early incarnation off screen as the Doctor both went to the same school and academy together they where friends back then not foes. So wether they were or not i believe this was all made up maybe if the Monk ever showed up again in the future hey why not they brought the Toy Maker back, or if The Master says i used to be a monk and a Chief war lord still that wouldn’t still convince me as again it would be made up for younger audience. The Master The First, and the best was Roger Delgado there was just something about him that he was a superb actor for a villain you will obey me! It such a shame he died of unforseen circumstances as pertwees last couple of seasons would have been a whole lot different. So I’m putting to bed that The Monk and the War Lord was not the master all made up. Time Lords yes not The Master. I’m currently watching The Daleks Master Plan again in case i missed something at first glance.
Missyrules
April 4th, 2026 - 1:57pmThose are fan rumours the master was created by Barry letts and terrance dicks in 1970 and brought to screen by Robert Holmes in 1971.
Missyrules
April 4th, 2026 - 1:59pmSo yes Andy, the monk and the war chief are not the master.
War Chief
April 4th, 2026 - 3:14pmWell, i want to see the Monk in Volcano and Golden Death…..For me he’s one of my favourite Time Lords…..a buffoon rather than an outright baddie….And no, he could never be the Master…..completely different temperaments…chalk and….something unlike chalk….
Missyrules
April 4th, 2026 - 3:16pmChalk and… grease isn’t it…
War Chief.
April 4th, 2026 - 3:55pmCheese it, Missy……!
And yet….and yet……if both Peter Davison and Christopher Eccleston, for instance, can play the Doctor…..
With regeneration, anything is possible….
And in Terror of the Autons, when informed about the Master, Jon Pertwee says something like ‘all he ever does is cause trouble….’
That description could well apply to the Monk….
Andy
April 4th, 2026 - 6:49pmIt is a possibility he may well have been nothing was cleared up in the Hartnell Years apart from Daleks his era was mostly historical eras with odd trip to alien planets. Yeah that is right War Chief yeah one of the Time Lords warns him of an old acquaintance of his has landed on Earth referring i think says something likes to call himself the Master now. You couldn’t make it up anything is possible in Doctor Who! then if you remember The Mind Robber it was referred to as The Master’s Brain could have been The Master. Its just like The Daleks we never knew they creator until 1975 Genesis Of The Daleks. Just as am writing this a friend of mine has just done that you might want to Google this can Monks be referred to as Master, the answer we get is Yes! Monks can refer themselves as Master. So the Monk could be The Master in another carnation maybe thats what Jon Pertwee ment be all he ever does cause trouble. But still if there is any truth in this am.sorry Roger Delgado is still The original Master, and yeah he did have some names to disguise himself in a different language or something and it clicks when the Doctor and Jo work the logics and the discover The Master is behind it. Maybe we should watch the Time Meddler to see if any of the characters mention the word master as it was in that story he was a time traveller disguised as the Monk. Then when the Doctor meets him again later on in The Daleks Master Plan he refers him to his companions he likes to be called the Monk and he causes trouble. Similar to Jon Pertwee in Terror Of The Autons, Now fast forward to The Five Doctors when Anthony Ainley was The Master. Then again it’s Jon Pertwee that refers him to Sarah he likes to be called The Master don’t you another similar reference William Hartnell said in The Daleks Master Plan. We all have are own opinions if you like to think The Monk and Master are the same as i now know that Monk refers to Master i never knew that until some clever dick sitting beside me decided to Google it just type can the Monk refer to themselves as Master! And you will get your answer. You learn something new every day. Who started this anyway with The Monk oh yeah it was War Chief. But I must say it is as the First Doctor would say when he made a discovery that is very very interesting. Well of course we know that The Master was called Missy in Capaldi’s era.
War Chief.
April 4th, 2026 - 7:14pmThe Five Doctors, Andy….a very good case in point….! The First Doctor doesn’t seem to recognise the Ainley Master….’do I know you, young man…’?
Perhaps because he only knew him as the Monk…..?
FYI in the Peter Ling Target book The Mind Robber, he says that ‘his’ Master is ‘not to be confused with the Doctor’s arch enemy….’
Andy
April 4th, 2026 - 8:08pmYeah that’s right he didn’t, but then the Master says believe it or not we were in the Academy together. Then nothing was said after that as the Cybermen were behind him. But the Doctor and The Monk were curious about their Time Machine as the first Doctor very rarely called it the TARDIS it was called the ship to him. But i remember the Monks TARDIS was an early version to the Doctors The Doctor never told him what type his was he was always very secretly towards his machine. Just maybe the reference as we learn later on that when we meet The Master is they were in the Academy together to discover the secrets of Time Travel. As what The Master is referring to in The Five Doctors! But the Master has disguised himself as someone else in countless times. Hey we could be Doctor Who writers one day lol. With this idea that The Master used to be a monk. Am surprised that no one who has picked up on this but it was Barry Letts and Terrence Dicks are the Masters creator scripted by Robert Holmes. So on screen The Master is still Roger Delgado. Off screen he maybe have been disguised as a Monk.
Bobby Davros
April 4th, 2026 - 8:30pmWhy do you want everyone to be the Master? Enlargen the universe don’t shrink it.
Amypondfan
April 4th, 2026 - 8:43pmNever understood this obsession with trying to shoehorn unrelated characters into being the master. The basic fact is that the monk and war chief were created before the master was thought of. Terrance dicks who co-created the master and the war chief is very clear in his novel timewyrm: exodus that the war chief is not the master. Why weaken these characters? Let them stand on their own
War Chief.
April 4th, 2026 - 10:01pmIf you know about Timewywm Exodus, Amy, then you must surely know about the chain of Dr Who novels in 1993/94 that had the Monk as this evil baddie….
I was hoping someone other than me would bring this up…..!
Amypondfan
April 4th, 2026 - 10:12pmYes, he was the villain in the five set of books beginning with blood heat and ending with no future. But he is definitely not the master. He is called mortimus and is the same character as in the time meddler and master plan
War Chief.
April 4th, 2026 - 10:17pmI’m not really saying he’s the Master….I’m saying my Monk obsession started in 1994….
(That was a couple of years before I even knew he was Peter Butterworth…..! No internet back then….)
Amypondfan
April 4th, 2026 - 10:21pmIt was great to see the mortimus the monk back in those books.
War Chief.
April 4th, 2026 - 10:28pmAnd (topically) Artemis the Chronovore, and the Vardans…..
Bookcollector
April 5th, 2026 - 12:32amAfter seeing the time meddler on bbc 2 in 1992 I loved the monk coming back in those books. And i have to say i loved no future even though the author Paul cornell didn’t like it. Great to see the monk, the cronovores and the vardans (who thought they would return!) back.
War Chief.
April 5th, 2026 - 9:29amI thoroughly enjoyed reading No Future…..and it made me read again John Peel’s The Mutation of Time, as it also had the Monk in it….
But it wasn’t until about 1995, when I borrowed from Blockbuster that video of existing Dalek stories including Escape Switch, that I realised that the excellent Peter Butterworth was the Monk….! I nearly fell off my chair…
(In 1992 I think I only saw part 2 of The Time Meddler….I have the video now of course, watched many times…..)
Ano miss
April 3rd, 2026 - 8:22pmThere is a brilliant comparison of the original episode one to Ian Levine’s ai slop. Very funny. Its completely inaccurate lol
Andy
April 3rd, 2026 - 4:07pmYeah it did take me awhile to find them they weren’t showing on the homepage of iPlayer had to scroll to season 3 where i eventually found the new episodes of Doctor Who which i haven’t seen before episode 1 is not bad for its age, but episode 3 am sure some of you will agree is one am impressed with most it is the best of the picture quality really good for something that has been lost for decades. It’s such a shame we can’t see more of this story a gap for missing episode 4 then we get episode 5, then a bigger gap 6, 7, 8 and 9, then we get to episode 10, then we don’t get to see what happens next in the final 2 episodes. Who knows we may get to one day. And a great big shout out to Film is Fabulous well done without you we wouldn’t of been able to see these Episodes again, as the this is a new beginning of more lost episodes turning up soon hopefully it’s more from The Daleks Master Plan. I would also like to see the previous story found one day The Myth Makers where Steven falls seriously ill.
Amypondfan
April 3rd, 2026 - 8:24pmNot so much ill as slashed with a sword, he makes a remarkable recovery!
David Minter
April 3rd, 2026 - 4:05pmNow that people have seen the episodes, maybe someone can answer a question for me since I live in the US and am unable to access iPlayer.
Does the Time Destructor prop itself appear on screen in either episode? I’ve always wondered what it looked like. It was represented in the Loose Cannon reconstructions, but I’ve no idea if it was based on actual video evidence of the prop itself or an interpretation.
Thanks!
Jack
April 3rd, 2026 - 4:20pmIt does appear in episode 3 a fair bit. Apparently if you’re in the USA, you should be able to watch them on the Dr Who Youtube channel!
Prowl1701
April 3rd, 2026 - 6:55pmYeah they are up in the doctor who classic YouTube channel.
David Minter
April 3rd, 2026 - 8:12pmOH! Great news! Thanks for the heads up! I can see that they are there on Youtube. We in the US can see these, too! 🙂
War Chief.
April 3rd, 2026 - 8:16pmI didn’t spot the Time Destructor in episode 3, Jack…..
Perhaps I blinked and missed it….but shall certainly watch the episode again….!
David Minter
April 3rd, 2026 - 9:50pmIt’s been some years since I’ve seen the Loose Cannon Reconstructions, but my vague memory is the Time Destructor itself doesn’t show up until Episode 4. I am thinking it doesn’t show up properly until the Daleks attempt to test it and it fails to activate. However, is that in Episode 4 or 6? It’s definitely not in Episode 5, which already existed. It also doesn’t show up in extant Episode 2 nor was it present in Episode 10.
War Chief.
April 3rd, 2026 - 11:32pmWhen Trantis gets exterminated, David….? That must be episode 8…..
Duncan
April 4th, 2026 - 7:30amI certainly don’t remember any Time Destructor in an early episode. Thought it first appeared towards the end of the story.
Jack
April 4th, 2026 - 5:23pm@ War Chief
You’re quite right, in my haste I muddled myself between the time destruction and power core
War Chief.
April 3rd, 2026 - 10:31amBrilliant…..absolutely brilliant…..!
To see Bret Vyon, and Katerina, and Kembel…..and Zephon being exterminated……
I remember this excitement when The Lion episode was found….but these ones have daleks in them….!
The ergon
April 3rd, 2026 - 3:33pmZephons death seemed to be in a larger space in my imagination but was rather funny seeing 4 daleks in a tight shot jostling to kill him in a tight corner. Still brilliant all the same.
Seeing that next week: The traitors though was hard blow as it has two memorable characters killed or 3 if you count Baxter, or Daxter or whatever they call him.
I hope they find more from this including volcano and the destruction of time. Cant wait for the DVD.
Bellal
April 3rd, 2026 - 6:55amFor once I am happy about working night shifts and finishing at 5:30 being wide awake.
A truly exhilarating experience. Episode 3 the better of the two recoveries for me. The proper look we get of Desperus being the highlight for me.
Thank you Film is Fabulous!. Your brilliant work is not taken for granted
Andy R
April 3rd, 2026 - 7:17amTotally agree, i loved both but episode 3 pips the post as the story really gets going. Surprised by how much i enjoyed Katarina.. well writing and acted.
Gordon
April 3rd, 2026 - 8:40amThat was superb. Almost feels like years of imagination of just having the audio come to life. Douglas campfield’s direction is just marvelous. Plus we now have more of Adrianne Hill’s performance to see how good she was. I also feel it improves ep 2 to have the context of the eps around it. Watching ep 4 through Josh snares recon and it’s a nice recon but it’s not the same as the real thing.
Rob
April 3rd, 2026 - 10:03amI watched UCLAN MTTU last night and 1-3 this morning. It’s incredible to have these two episodes back to make a small run. Great to see Nick’s first appearance and more of Katarina
I take my hat off to Film is Fab
MDS
April 3rd, 2026 - 2:14pmHaving watched the episodes and finding them more enjoyable than some 21st century episodes all I wish for now is for someone to find the original episode 4, and the rest if possible.
Andy
April 1st, 2026 - 4:48pmThere is a seller on eBay selling reconstruction of missing episodes on dvd with covers they include surviving episodes of partly missing stories. The reconstructions are just photo stills probably upload from you tube. The seller has in the listing that will also be updating The Daleks Master Plan soon with the missing episodes 1 & 3.
Bob Hellier
April 1st, 2026 - 5:56pmbut today are things April fool jokes Andy.
Andy
April 1st, 2026 - 8:52pmNo Bob its no joke check the sellers listing Stick Dog, ave bought some off him to fill in my gaps. But ah can see why you would think its an Aprils fools no check it out for yourselves if you don’t believe me even does Doctor Who that has never been released like The Children In Need Dimensions in Time, and The Comic relief The Curse Of Fatal Death. Stick Dog. Which both i bought from the seller.
Andy
April 1st, 2026 - 8:56pmNo Bob its no joke the seller is called Stick Dog, check it out. Ave bought off this seller before they good but not great. Responsible priced as well. But i can see why you would think it’s an April fool joke, but i can assure you it’s not. I couldn’t fool anyone if i tried.
Gordon
April 1st, 2026 - 10:19pmI’ll be surprised if it doesn’t end up on dailymotion or internet archive or one of those sights very quickly once it goes up on Friday. I’m sure there will be somebody out there able to download their own version from iPlayer and put it up somewhere else for anybody to watch or make a copy
Andy
April 2nd, 2026 - 11:37pmYour probably right Gordon, some computer wizz kids will know how, i haven’t got a clue. But the seller on eBay must because as this seller has mentioned will be updated soon.
Rob
April 3rd, 2026 - 10:37amI’m glad the right has been done to make these episodes available to fans in the uk. Commercially where could they go? Unless they stuck them on iTunes.
I’m sure the BBC will find a way to make money from them at some point
Missyrules
April 4th, 2026 - 9:50amUpdated reconstruction available on ebay. Will do until we get an official release
Gordon
March 31st, 2026 - 11:24amSounds like we don’t have to wait till Saturday. It’s going up Friday:
Breaking news! The two ‘missing’ Doctor Who episodes from THE DALEKS’ MASTER PLAN will be materialising on BBC iPlayer on 3rd April at 6am!
Andy
March 31st, 2026 - 2:54pmHa ha, its just like when you were a kid when you believed in Santa Claus to get your presents. It will be like that every Doctor Who fan counting down the hour and minutes for them watching Doctor Who while having your breakfast what a great way to start the day.
The ergon
March 31st, 2026 - 3:41pmBreakfast at 6am though?
Rob
March 31st, 2026 - 4:40pmI’ll watch MTTU on youtube the night before.
Pete X
March 31st, 2026 - 5:40pmI just hope iPlayer will be able to take all the traffic and not crash.
Andy
March 31st, 2026 - 8:14pmYeah Breakfast at 6am some people start work at 6 so probably have breakfast about 5am for some. I have a feeling once these drop there will be an announcement for a future DVD and Blu-ray release. Still think they should consider broadcast these on BBC Four for those who don’t have BBC iPlayer. As some of my friends don’t some even have the old widescreen tvs’ with the big backs because they can’t afford these new devices been on the dole. We however are the lucky ones that can watch it anywhere on phones, computer and tv.
Prof Horner
March 31st, 2026 - 8:24pmGreat news! I am not working on Friday, but I am on Saturday.
James
March 31st, 2026 - 10:06pmAgreed…should air all 5 eps on bbc four. Or even if just ep1 on BBC 2 then advertise the rest via iPlayer. To late now anyways
Gordon
March 31st, 2026 - 10:33pmThink the issue with broadcasting all 5 is there are gaps and they aren’t likely to broadcast recons. I could see the first 3 being broadcast but given it does not appear to be happening I can’t see it. I definetly don’t see bbc 1 or 2 showing it. If they dedicated a night on bbc 4 to classic who or a specific person ie Innes Lloyd I could see it. Think it would get a reasonable turn out but I wouldn’t expect millions.
The ergon
April 1st, 2026 - 12:19pmI wont be getting up for 6am. I will just avoid all comments and watch around midday fresh and not bleary eyed. Its not like i havent heard the soundtrack many times. Masterplan is one of my favourites.
Gordon
March 24th, 2026 - 9:51amAmazing to think we only need 42 animated eps (about 1050 mins) till we have a full run of viewable in motion Doctor who on disc. I know it’s not the same as having the real thing but it’s still great to see. Even less if you want to count the fan made wheel and mission which I quite enjoy
James
March 24th, 2026 - 10:46amAgreed. In space of 20 years we’ve had 61 (67 if you include Shada) episodes animated across 17 stories (include Shada).
Do your think the BBC would pick up TardisGirls Wheel version and work on it so it’s more release worthy? Or would they stick to 2D now? They said they listen to the fans so didn’t use it when she approached them. Yet we got Toymaker in 3d.
It’s hard to believe we are only now 10 stories away from a full run. When it was 26.
Do you recon they would use the same company to do Mission/Myth/Masterplan/Massacre? They all follow on from each other in S3. Obviously Mission and Masterplan will as they use the same characters.
That would leave Marco S1, Crusade S2, Smugglers and Highlanders S4, Wheel S5 and Pirates S6 to get worked on.
The Collection team have said they won’t be eating for animations to release the sets. If they are ready in time and can be added it be a bonus. So once everything has been completed, a Ultimate Collectors Collection set be done years down the line. A complete set with all stories mixed with live and animations, and updated The Collection set so to speak. Maybe not done in the cardboard limited style and just a standard set version.
Can’t wait for the day where my shelves are full with every story on silver dvds lined up, box sets however they need up being released.
Prof Horner
March 24th, 2026 - 12:35pmI think the wonderful thing as a Troughton fan is we are of only three stories short of a completing his run. At one time of day he had only five complete stories, all from season 6. Now we have two complete stories from season 5 and a couple almost complete, with the rest of them complete with animation. Hopefully we will get at least Wheel in Space and Space Pirates animation in the year or two, to complete 5 and 6.
Gordon
March 24th, 2026 - 1:22pmThe wheel rejection was after the toymaker release James. For all we know they could also be taking into account the early trailer response of toymaker into consideration. I wouldn’t rule it out as a special feature on season 5 but I suspect not as I do feel their own version will probably get made and released on its own before season 5. I do feel it would need additional polish up (which lz skinner has said she would be doing anyway for an official release) first.
It makes a ton of sense to do mission all the way along to massacre 4 in the same animation style and team but it may all depend on how it’s being released.
It’s so close prof. Can’t wait to get our first complete with animation season
Bob Hellier
March 23rd, 2026 - 7:52pmwould the other missing episodes have to be animated though on the DVD?
Scotel
March 23rd, 2026 - 8:49pmNo there is no requirement to animate the missing episodes.
I expect any DVD will have a recon for the remaining episodes (and seeing as there’s no telesnaps they’ll have to put some actual effort into it, so no repeat of The Underwater Menace).
Amypondfan
March 23rd, 2026 - 9:41pmNo but it would be better than just a reconstruction. I imagine we might get a reconstruction as any animation is likely to take 18-24 months depending on if all episodes are done or just the missing ones.
Gordon
March 24th, 2026 - 2:58amDoctor who on disc is in a very different place than it was when underwater menace came out. There wasn’t really anybody heading the range then as it was pretty dead at that point due to reaching its then natural end and Derek Handley (formally loose cannon) has worked the range since 2018 so I doubt they will ever repeat recons to the poor level of menace again.
As much as I’d want an animated version I don’t see them waiting 2 plus years to get them out when other territories will be needing ways to see them
Mac
March 22nd, 2026 - 6:27pmHoping for a DVD release with episodes 1,2,3,5 & 10 reunited
Gordon
March 23rd, 2026 - 11:37amI’m sure there will be at some point. I doubt it’s going to stay just on iplayer forever
Gordon
March 19th, 2026 - 5:00pmhttps://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7ultQoSQkbA&pp=iggCQAE%3D
Comparison pic
Auton
March 19th, 2026 - 9:40pmJust when I ask about comparisons, FIF deliver. The original unresolved version doesn’t look too bad but the remaster certainly looks great
Gordon
March 19th, 2026 - 12:29pmNo Crocker/vanezis/Ayres restoration
INFO: Doctor Who Restoration by R3Store
Film is Fabulous! have collaborated with the BBC Archives, and R3Stores Studios in London, to ensure that the two recovered episodes of Doctor Who look and sound great, when released on the BBC iPlayer.
R3Store Studios used a range of restoration tools on Phoenix to return these episodes as closely as possible to their original broadcast appearance.
Over time, film naturally degrades: it can shrink, warp, and lose stability, so the first step was to stabilise the image by effectively ‘pinning’ the four corners of each frame.
From there, R3Stored applied a de-flicker process to correct fluctuations in brightness, followed by an automated dirt pass that identifies and removes black and white specks. This is supplemented by a meticulous manual clean-up to address any imperfections the automated process may have missed.
Because automated tools can sometimes introduce artifacts, every pass is carefully reviewed on a shot-by-shot, or scene-by-scene, basis to ensure any unintended issues are corrected.
The final stage of the visual restoration involves subtle sharpening and targeted noise reduction, to enhance clarity while preserving the integrity of the original image.
To restore the audio, a newly developed source separation technique and process, which allowed the different elements of the soundtrack to be isolated before any restoration work began, was used.
By separating out the dialogue first, noise reduction was applied only to the remaining elements, completely avoiding the risk of artefacts affecting the speech.
The result is cleaner dialogue that retains its original character. Given the soundtrack had accumulated noise at every stage, getting as close to the source as possible was the ultimate goal.
Auton
March 19th, 2026 - 3:05pmWe all knew it would take some work but I’m sure it will look great. I would love a comparison to really see how much work has to be done on surviving film cans left in a box.
Gordon
March 19th, 2026 - 3:13pmThere is some side by side comparison photos on the film is fabulous Facebook
Missyrules
March 19th, 2026 - 5:45pmI’d rather not watch ian’s besides no doubt he will still claim his are more accurate than the original episodes!
Bob Hellier
March 18th, 2026 - 7:46pmthe remake of mission to the unknown was good but to find the original with the original Marc Cory Edward De Souza would be good as it was the episode before DMP PART 1 then you could have both episodes to watch
Bob Hellier
March 18th, 2026 - 2:19pmi dont think 2 episodes recovered from dmp will be on say an updated Lost In time dvd will they?
Amypondfan
March 18th, 2026 - 2:48pmNo, more likely on the next hartnell animation such as myth makers or smugglers
Andy
March 18th, 2026 - 3:44pmI know when episode 2 of The Daleks Master Plan, Day Of Armageddon was found they did release it on the Lost in Time.
So yeah they could update that release to refresh the episodes as it doesn’t no longer need episode 1 of The Web Of Fear or episode 3 of The Enemy Of The World. Then I remember the Sun newspaper back in the day did a promotion of Single episodes on DVD I remember that one was of the recent missing episode of The Daleks Master Plan Day Of Armageddon. So yeah maybe do another Lost in Time with the odd episodes that were found for the likes of Galaxy 4 Episode 3 Air Lock, and Episode 2 of The Underwater Menace I know these have been released in animation form but yeah maybe those could be added as they are episodes from missing stories so yeah add on along with The Daleks Master Plan Episodes 1 & 3. So yeah Lost in Time Vol. 2 could be a possibility could be a way forward to get the recent episodes that have been found. I think some people would be happy with that. So it would give them more time if they decided to animate it in the future.
Missyrules
March 18th, 2026 - 4:00pmReally don’t see the point of a new lost in time set when most of the episodes have now had their own releases. The only ones that haven’t come out individually are…
The Crusade 1 & 3
Daleks’ Masterplan 2, 5 and 10 (and now 1 and 3)
Wheel in space 3 & 6
And space pirates 2
Can’t say I think a new version would be popular especially as the rumours of animation include pirates reducing it down further.
SV7
March 18th, 2026 - 4:29pmI would expect them to be a bonus feature on the rumoured Myth Makers animation alongside episode 2. If Myth Makers is being animated that is… (didn’t one of the original surviving cast members say a little too much at a convention recently?)
I guess as a worst case scenario we’ll just have to wait a few years for the Season 3 Blu-ray, but they will get them out physically at some point.
Gordon
March 18th, 2026 - 10:53pmI’ll be honest I don’t really see a lost in time 2 happening any time soon. Take off the like of crusade that is on season 2 already, g4: airlock which has its own release, same with the final test, uwm 2 and 3, faceless 1 and 3, abominable 2, enemy 3 and web 1 it only leaves 5 masterplan eps wheel 3 and 6 as well as pirates 2 and surviving clips (and these are only a couple minutes total combined) of myth makes, massacre, smugglers and highlanders and considering some of these will probably get animated/collection sets in a few years you’d just be as well doing a masterplan release
The more I think about it the more I think it won’t get included on the next Hartnell animated release. If it was included that release would need budgeted in advance. Plus if it was included on say myth makers it would make no sense to just be 1 and 3 so you have 2 as well. At that point you would be as well including 5 and 10 too. Plus if they thought mission remake/recon should be included that would mean there is more masterplan eps than myth makers eps. It would be buying a masterplan release for a bonus myth makers animation. There is a clear imbalance there.
Peter
March 19th, 2026 - 8:30amLost in time was released 22 years ago – the market has totally changed since then and DVD is now old hat. There’s no way they will do a LoT 2, and these two newly discovered episodes going (amazingly) to iPlayer are kind of indicative of that.
The Collections are the big, latest thing that will seen them given a physical media release.
atl
March 18th, 2026 - 11:34amis there a way these can be put on disc … it can not be on its own release with 8 missing and i am counting mission to the unknow i suppose there may be more missing episodes to come and there could be a lost in time 2 box set short of thing or there could be a animation of another story sometime and the new/old eps can be on that , but i know when the underwater menace 2 was found it took years to come to home media
Peter
March 19th, 2026 - 11:41amThe episodes will be on the S3 Collection set, whenever it’s released. 🙂
And FiF! have told us there are other episodes out there in private collections, so looking hopefully they’ll be back soon also. Happy times and places.
Lee
March 18th, 2026 - 4:13amI’m really glad a decent organisation like film is fabulous have aquired these and they will be available for all of us very soon. I haven’t forgotten all those missing episodes found in 2013 were at first exclusive to apple tv and we had to pay to stream them.
Gordon
March 18th, 2026 - 8:01amIf FIF hadn’t requested iPlayer I suspect it would have been a digital release first to get them out asap. I’m sure they will be able to buy at some point for those without iplayer
Kev
March 18th, 2026 - 11:02amThey came out on DVD first didn’t they?
Gordon
March 18th, 2026 - 1:44pm8 October 2013: Both stories released digitally on iTunes
25 November 2013: enemy of the world dvd
24 February 2013: web of fear dvd with recon
26 March 2018: enemy of the world special edition with extras
16 August 2021: web of fear special edition with animation and extras
Auton
March 18th, 2026 - 2:30pmWhat date was those 2013 episodes returned?
Prowl 1701
March 18th, 2026 - 2:39pmI think Gordon meant February 2014 for the first web dvd release.
Andy
March 18th, 2026 - 4:24pmAuton, The BBC had been pressured into making an announcement because of the press and social media spreading rumours that over 100 episodes had been found in 2013. So they had to announce something to put to bed the rumours it was in fact 11 episodes were found 2 of which already were in the archives like the recent episodes that were found they was 6 episodes 4 of them exist already. The announcement came just weeks before the 50th Anniversary of The Day Of The Doctor. Yeah they were available to buy on itunes as BBC iPlayer was still quite young at the time. I think the plan was to quietly release the stories as a surprise to fans on DVD but because of the press and social media they were forced hand to make an announcement. Now no-one knows but The Web Of Fear episode 3 was there as well but it had disappeared on its journey back to the BBC. So we know that there is the possibility of one missing episode somewhere in between Nigeria and the UK. which is episode 3 of The Web Of Fear. The answer to your question is was October 2013 they made the announcement of the 9 episodes of The Web Of Fear, and The Enemy Of The World.
Gordon
March 18th, 2026 - 9:36pmYes prowl meant to say feb 2014 for the original web dvd.
Aston it was announced in October 2013 but it was returned a few months early (it was scanned around June time) and was restored through the summer ready for the October reveal. However Philip was said to have found them a while before then in jos (some point 2011 rings a bell) but it took a till 2013 to get over here.
DPHill
March 17th, 2026 - 12:34pmWell FiF have been let down by Riverside as their website crashed, but also expected of doctor who fans, had to try and call, but it was too late and all sold out now! I kind of wish they did not drop on the same day as the screening to maybe give a couple or three screenings before everyone can see it, anyway, maybe the bfi will still do a screening of it later on!
Gordon
March 17th, 2026 - 2:32pmI don’t think it matters who had hosted the tickets. It would have crashed anyway. The place doesn’t hold that much either (450 odd maximum).
DPHill
March 17th, 2026 - 8:39pmI mean that’s right, maybe for missing episodes a couple of screenings before could have been good, but regardless we have missing episodes! The place at riverside really is tiny with around 200 seats, at least BFI is 450, can’t wait for whatever who we get next, about to dive in S21 special features in a mo!