March 13th, 2026
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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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daz
March 16th, 2026 - 2:36pmReleased today. Film Is Fabulous statement on Doctor Who.
“Film is Fabulous! announced the recovery of two missing episodes of Doctor Who on Friday, 13th March 2026. The Press Released issued at the time provided a great deal of information. However, it is evident that an additional statement is required to provide further clarity, greater detail, and a simpler explanation, to ensure a better understanding of the situation.
Film is Fabulous! do not have any other missing episodes of Doctor Who. We are not holding any missing episodes back to announce at the special screening on Saturday, 4th April 2026.
Film is Fabulous! do not discuss the details of elderly private collectors, or the films in their collections, with third parties. John Franklin and Prof. Justin Smith are the only members of the team who know the facts, and they will not disclose this information during interviews.
Film is Fabulous is not an archive, nor is it run to provide research material for those interested in missing episodes of television. Please contact the British Film Institute (BFI) if you are looking for information on lost feature films and missing episodes of television.
Film is Fabulous! are not ‘searching’ for missing episodes of Doctor Who. The primary function of the team is to preserve vulnerable film collections held privately in the U.K. The following are examples of film collections that have been preserved (visit the website):
* Tim Beddows
* Terry Burnett
* Maurice Haynes
* Joseph Infanti
* Eric Mival
* David Moore
* Max Robertson
* John Ryan
* Michael Wilson
In October 2025, John Franklin of Film is Fabulous! appeared on the Doctor Who Missing Episodes Podcast with Tim Burrows, and gave a detailed explanation of the circumstances surrounding a film collector, who had sadly died, and the films within the gentleman’s collection. The two missing episodes of Doctor Who announced on Friday, 13th March 2026, were recovered from that collection.
The deceased collector curated his films with great care, but did not necessarily appreciate the importance of each print, or their archival status. Indeed, he had no knowledge of, or interest in, Doctor Who. The original 16mm prints of the recovered episodes, with the restored digital scans, will be returned to the BBC Archives.
The deceased enthusiast’s private collection contained a total of six episodes of Doctor Who. In addition to the two missing episodes listed above, the following episodes were also recovered:
* The Survivors (Broadcast: 28th December 1963)
* The Escape (Broadcast: 4th January 1964)
* The Web Planet (Broadcast: 13th February 1965)
* The Executioners (Broadcast: 22nd May 1965)
The four episodes of Doctor Who listed above are already held by the BBC Archives. However, the original 16mm prints recovered by Film is Fabulous! will be returned to the BBC, as they might provide a superior source for future restorations. Neither the original 16mm prints, nor the cans with labels, are for sale to private individuals.
Film is Fabulous! are unable to provide images from the two recovered episodes, as they are not the copyright holder. Special dispensation was granted to Film is Fabulous! by the BBC, so that images from the recovered episodes could be included in their Press Release, and on the relevant pages of the Film is Fabulous! website. If you require images for media purposes, please contact the BBC Press Office.
Film is Fabulous! have booked the venue at which the special screening will be held. The tickets will go on sale to the public on Tuesday, 17th March 2026. The venue is handling the sale of the tickets, together with the staging of the event. The details of the venue, and the programme, will be announced on Tuesday morning.
Film is Fabulous! requested that the two recovered episodes be placed on BBC iPlayer, for a wide audience to enjoy. We are extremely grateful to the BBC Archives, who have facilitated this request. The two restored episodes of Doctor Who will be delivered to BBC iPlayer team during the week of the 16th to 20th March. The episodes will be published on iPlayer at Easter. The target date is Saturday, 4th April 2026.
Film is Fabulous! are delighted to have recovered the two missing episodes of Doctor Who. The positive response, donations, and heartfelt comments about Peter Purves, are most pleasing. The team hopes that the above statement clarifies, contextualises, and provides sufficient information to fans of Doctor Who, to ensure falsehoods are minimised, and not perpetuated.”
https://filmisfabulous.org.uk/statement-on-doctor-who/
Prof Horner
March 16th, 2026 - 3:58pmYes I have seen this. Film is Fabulous have hardly put a foot wrong. We certainly don’t want a repeat of Philip Morris. We are grateful for him returning Enemy and Web. But all that wind blowing in right direction and expect the unexpected rather spoiled his legacy. Film is Fabulous won’t do that. When or if they get more lost Who they will tell us . I like the fact they have got The BBC to show them on iPlayer. As for these episodes although I really really want to see Troughton missing episodes recovered, this the one Hartnell serial after Tenth Planet 4, I wanted to see missing episodes from or maybe The Smugglers.
Rex F
March 16th, 2026 - 4:34pmThe fact they feel the need to say some of that stuff is worrying. It just shows that a portion of DW fans are quite, quite mad. And apparently unable to use Google…
One bit is curious: I don’t see how the four redundant prints would provide a better source for restoration than the negatives they were struck from, especially when we know from the previous remasterings that the negatives are perfectly fine. Bearing in mind they’ve sent other BBC films to auction, I’m assuming they’re trying to control the situation a bit and prevent hysteria that could damage the potential for future returns (no one would donate films if they saw prints selling for £££).
Bob
March 16th, 2026 - 7:06pmI’ve always thought The Daleks was one of the worst looking stories image quality wise so maybe it could help there. Then again, not counting the colourisation, 2006 was the last time this story got a restoration.
PJ
March 16th, 2026 - 8:37pmFILM IS DEFINITELY FABULOUS
Peter
March 17th, 2026 - 11:25amRex – different prints struck at different times can exhibit different features (can have more picture if not as zoomed in etc). For example, Web 1 found by Morris was a better quality copy than the one we always had.
Also, if a print is the older suppressed field type, it’s got a lower resolution (one episode of The Daleks is suppressed field – can’t recall which one, want to say 5?!- plus at least one episode of Reign of Terror is suppressed field). The suppressed field prints were replaced by the ‘stored field’ prints in the mid-1960s, which gave full resolution (425 line). We think only S1 and S2 ever had suppressed field prints made, with stored being the norm from S3 onwards.
Rex F
March 17th, 2026 - 12:11pmPeter: PM’s copy of Web of Fear 1 was better, but the only surviving copies were prints. The negs still exist for the four other episodes found by FiF!, in perfect condition, so the prints are redundant in terms of restoration (it’s not as if the negs are damaged).
Daleks 5 and 7 are the ones that only survive as suppressed field, and it looks as though they weren’t retransfered successfully when the quick pulldown copies were made. Daleks 2 and 3 still have the film recording negatives, full resolution quick pulldown at the BBC and suppressed field at the BFI.
The only potential use these duplicate prints could have is if they’re all “cutting copies” and the negatives have significant cuts – but they don’t. You’d be looking for eps 2 and 4 of Keys of Marinus for that (where they used CGI to extend some scenes for the DVD, alongside off air audio).
Jack
March 17th, 2026 - 12:36pmAs lovely as this whole affair of recovery has been, and how extremely professional, caring and considerate FIF have been; it does sadden me somewhat that they once again have to release a statement because some crackpots out there have convinced themselves that FIF is somehow holding a secret stash of further episodes.
We’d all like to see more recovered but we really mustn’t pressure or harass FIF and just let them get on with their work. By letting them jut crack on, we will most likely be in a better position to have more lost episodes recovered!
David Minter
March 16th, 2026 - 1:46pmI notice the BBC is offering these episodes on iPlayer April 4th. WISE decision NOT to post them on April 1st! 🙂
COMICshopsDontStand
March 16th, 2026 - 2:03pmYep maimly as Easter does not fall on1st April in the UK.
David Minter
March 16th, 2026 - 7:11pmOf course, this isn’t an April Fool’s Day gag by any stretch of the imagination as previously non extant clips from the 2 episodes have been posted online.
Rex F
March 17th, 2026 - 12:17pmDavid: I don’t think you needed to clarify that here, this place is fortunately more sensible than some of the others you might be thinking of! (Tell them the clips could be AI – someone wanted to show Ian Levine how it should be done…)
Dalek Eye Stalk
March 16th, 2026 - 7:33amWhy not release the 2 newly recovered episodes, alongside the 3 already surviving on DVD. Also included could be a photo/clips recon of the missing episodes. Using the ‘Loose Cannon’ reconstruction as a base. Then, if an animation does come along at a later date, they could re-release the story as a ‘Special Edition’.
Gordon
March 16th, 2026 - 8:30amI’m sure there are physical media plans at least being at least discussed as well as figuring out ways to get it outside of iPlayer and worldwide. I do think people need to kind of be patient on this as it may take a bit of time. It was only returned extremely recently (ie about a monthish I believe). I also believe the restoration is still ongoing. I’m sure things will get announced in time but I’m guessing this won’t be revealed till after it goes on iPlayer. I have this feeling with how much of a thing it being on iPlayer it is that iPlayer funding has had a hand in financing the restoration so it makes sense it gets it first.
War Chief
March 16th, 2026 - 1:08pmI would buy such a DVD, obvs…….but, as we all have the 3 surviving episodes, i’d prefer to just record the 2 new ones on BBC4…..or BBC3….
20th Century TV Is Better
March 15th, 2026 - 9:33pmGreat News! I much prefer 20th century Doctor Who, more than 21st century Doctor Who. Just saying.
War Chief.
March 17th, 2026 - 9:55amI felt exactly the same as you in 2005….irritating soap opera characters, modern housing estates, everyone had a mobile phone (I didn’t), the Doctor telling everyone to shut up….
But I got gradually acclimatised, as now regard Christopher Eccleston and David Tennant as something of classics themselves….
Basil Funkenstein
March 15th, 2026 - 3:39amSo…
Would it make the MOST sense to animate the remaining 7 episodes of DMP and place them on another Hartnell animation release in the Special Features?
There’s a few stories left from Season 3 that these could be placed on. Does anyone think it’s feasible and viable that the BBC will want to animated all 12 episodes?
Scotel
March 15th, 2026 - 6:08amComplete animations are an easier sell. While they may do a partial animation at some point if that’s the only option I expect they will stick to other stories for now.
Rushing out The Daleks’ Master Plan as a partial animation feels like asking for the universe to spite them and have another episode show up. On the other hand if they animated let’s say The Smugglers in full and a random episode turns up then that’s not a problem.
I’m sure one day we will get a Daleks’ Master Plan animation, but we’re in absolutely no rush for it. I’d rather they stuck to finishing off the shorter stories as they have been doing and leave the bigger projects for later.
Gordon
March 15th, 2026 - 11:38amThere is no rushing out an animated masterplan release. Even if it’s part animated It’s 7 episodes plus one of them (feast) has about 23 characters not including the 3 regulars plus a bunch of locations unique to that ep. To explain how much that is the entirety of evil had less characters (10) and locations than feast 7. I’d expect a part animated release to take about 18 months minimum.
Looking at other eps 6 and 12 don’t have any characters unique credited to that episode bar maybe an aged sara in 12 so those maybe are easier. Obviously you have Mavic Chen and daleks but you will need them for other eps.
Ep 4 has got Katarina (briefly) and Bret but as you are only doing the missing eps it’s unique to that ep if you are just doing gaps. There are a few characters that are in multiple eps but the majority are in 3/5.
Ep 8 has trevor and the uncredited cricketers are unique to that eps characters. Everybody else gets reused.
Ep 9 has 18 uncredited Egyptian warriors and 3 other characters that are in ep 10 everybody else is reused in other eps.
Ep 11 has 2 non regular characters, 1 which is in ep 8 and 1 is played by Brian Mosley who plays another character in feast of Steven.
I don’t think an animated release is impossible but it will need a lot of time and work
David Minter
March 15th, 2026 - 2:30pmMy thoughts are that the BBC would wait and animate the rest of the missing stories before Master Plan. Remember, BBC has said it’s not just the 12 episodes of MP. Their POV apparently is Mission To The Unknown, even though it is a standalone episode, is joined to MP at the hip. So, the minimum # of episodes to animate is 8.
My thinking also is MP will wait until the season it’s in for the Hartnell Blu-Ray release is the last one of the Blu-Ray sets to be made. Then, MP could be animated to complete the entire series on Blu-Ray. That strategy also leaves more time for other missing episodes from MP to turn up, which would reduce the amount of work necessary to animate missing episodes. Even though I believe the BBC would, most likely, animate all 13 episodes versus just the missing ones.
Scotel
March 15th, 2026 - 3:22pmThey’ve also said they aren’t going to wait for the animations to release the Collection sets. They’ll be long done by the time we get a Master Plan animation which is honestly another thing counting against it: if you only have a few animations left to get on the Blu Rays why take up more production time on Master Plan when you could potentially squeeze another one in?
Andy
March 15th, 2026 - 4:03pmAbsolutely no rush in them animating the rest they will be a lot of work to be done. By then just that might be a chance that more might turn up. It’s a shame this person passed away as they might have been able to ask him how he managed to have these Episodes think god he did, but it might have been a clue as were more might be. I mean Part 2 was found at the back of a church or something that was over 20 years ago. Then Part 1 and 3 turns up 20 years later. The rest have to be there somewhere. Expect Part 7 no.matter how much we wish this in existence we have to accept that has gone. We all just have to be patient as these things take awhile it’s like finding a missing piece of a jigsaw and fitting them all together. The Ice will be broken one day.
Master
March 15th, 2026 - 6:27pmI just want them to release the existing 5 episodes onto DVD or bluray with reconstructions as soon as possible.
David Minter
March 15th, 2026 - 7:34pmPart 2 was returned by a former BBC employee. Parts 5 and 10 were supposedly found in like the basement of a Mormon church. What they were doing there is anybody’s guess.
Rex F
March 15th, 2026 - 11:01pmDavid: If you search for the BroaDWcast site you can find out the facts behind the Mormon church story.
Rex F
March 15th, 2026 - 11:02pmI should add that it makes the story much less interesting though.
David Minter
March 16th, 2026 - 1:42pmAh, thanks for that info about the Mormon (I typoed it at first as Moron! LOL!) Mystery! I’d only ever heard that the episodes were found in a church basement. Never anything that the actual recovery had a bit of a murky background behind their history.
I will try to remember this in the future before quoting it, but I can’t guarantee I will. 😉
Bob Hellier
March 14th, 2026 - 6:49pmand the remaining 7 episodes of DMP hopefully will turn up I SHALL DEFINITELY watch the nightmare begins and Devils planet on iplayer
Bob Hellier
March 14th, 2026 - 6:40pmare there telesnaps of DMP TO LOOK AT FOR THE MISSING EPISODES for now before hopefully recovering more Classic Doctor Who stories
Paddy Troughton
March 14th, 2026 - 7:48pmNo unfortunately Telesnaps weren’t commissoned during the wiles era so for stories like The massacre and DNP there aren’t any. There is however some telesnaps for the feast of steven due to Robert Jewell taking some of his own for his appearance which however doesn’t cover the 2 episodes recently found
Paddy Troughton
March 14th, 2026 - 7:52pmOr the subsequent rest of them. When loose Cannon did their reconstruction they had to take artistic license and edit photos going off memory and the camera script. Hope this information helps!
Andy
March 13th, 2026 - 10:23pmI was thinking about this the other day before this announcement. I was wondering when we were going to get some news as when I was watching breakfast this morning that the announcement that two missing episodes had been found I never thought it would or could be from the Daleks Master Plan. I thought it might of been the Underwater Menace due to the fact I thought that was because that the animated current release has gone down in price massively the DVD £4.99 and Blu-ray down to £7.99. Yeah that was me just specified it could be the reason that maybe the 2 missing episodes from this story. But now I know it’s not and am glad that these are New Episodes to me as I was only born in the late 70s. So am rather excited to see these at easter. I know they are putting them on iPlayer. But I think for some older fans that don’t have iPlayer I think they could at least broadcast them on BBC Four for those who only have freeview. But these new episodes certainly has brought me more hope that more could be discovered soon.
War Chief.
March 13th, 2026 - 11:24pmI was born late 60s, and I’m just as excited….the earliest Dalek story I saw at the time was Death to the Daleks….and the Exxilons terrified me….!
I also rather hope they’ll be on bbc4….
Bobby Davros
March 14th, 2026 - 7:20amI-player is available through any digital service Freeview is also using isn’t it?
Andy
March 14th, 2026 - 2:11pmYeah but I’m only thinking of some folk that don’t have internet or broadband as I know few of my friends don’t. Everyone assumes that every single person has access to the internet. If your on the dole those folk couldn’t afford things like smart phones and that. And again Bobby you can only get iPlayer if you have internet or broadband. I know that the BBC won’t broadcast them on any of their BBC Channels.
Yeah War Chief my first Dalek Story Was Dr. Who and the Daleks The Peter Cushing Movies. I was about 3 yrs old my dad took me to the cinema as they were playing both films at the time.
But before that my dad had a audio cassette of Genesis Of The Daleks, it used to scare the crap.out of me. And funny enough and I still have it till this day my very first VHS Video was Death To The Daleks Edited into a 90 minute omnibus so I would have been about 11years old before I got my very first Doctor Who Story to own. Back then I wasn’t aware of any Doctor Who Episodes were missing I didn’t even know that Doctor Who was Black and White! Than my Nana got me the very first Dalek Story for Christmas I remember it well it was two separate video cassettes one black the other maroon colour. When I sat down to watch it I thought there was something wrong with video why was it in black and white I told my Nana that I think there is something wrong with the videos you got me there in Black and White both of them. She just laughed she went son that Dalek Story Was the very first Dalek Story Starring the very first Doctor William Hartnell. Doctor Who was in Black and White in the 60’s so there is nothing wrong with your videos son it’s just how it was made so she sat and watched them with me at the weekend. Then it was only when these special Videos started coming out which they did, The Hartnell Years, The Troughton Years, Daleks The Early Years and Cybermen The Early Years. It was those that I was aware of Doctor Who Episodes were missing from the first six years back then there was 110 missing that must have been around 1991 or 1992. And hear we are over thirty years later they are slowly being unearthed and only 15 have been found it that time. I now get rather excited when even one of these is found as for me it’s a new episode that I haven’t seen ever in my lifetime. If only technology was so advanced back then as it is today. I’m really looking forward to seeing these new episodes, there I said it again new when I know there old but to me they are a treasure and i hopefully get own them on physical media soon.
Although I think this might indeed hold things with the animations with these 2 turning up they might be hoping that more are discovered. As we did back in 2013, it was a few years before we got the first full animation of The Power Of The Daleks. So it just might am not saying it will but could put them on hold for awhile to see if anything else turns up. I think like me would like to have the original episodes then the animations which don’t get me wrong are great. But I’m dreaming that one day they gonna break the ice there is gonna be this massive find of film reels and every one will be the missing episodes because they have to be out there somewhere the evidence proved it after these two were found by a private collector so yeah I have faith in Film is Fabulous are the ones that could find them all in the next few years or so. I will support them in donating to there charity to help them in the marvellous work in finding lost tv and film.shows. So the 4th April I will watch these new episodes which of course I will probably watch the others with them. So heard three cheers to Film is Fabulous. I couldn’t have hoped for a better way to start my day off yesterday at breakfast.
NickD
March 13th, 2026 - 7:49pmDown to 107 now.
Andy
March 13th, 2026 - 8:05pmNo down to 95! It was 97 since 2013.
The Dr
March 13th, 2026 - 10:10pmYes.
Bobby Davros
March 14th, 2026 - 7:21amHe might have been talking about his blood pressure.
Pb
March 14th, 2026 - 2:39pmLOL @Bobby
Rex F
March 14th, 2026 - 4:35pmIan Levine probably still says 110… (Massive denial, because he refuses to accept that other people can find stuff better than he can.)
James
March 14th, 2026 - 4:52pmAnyone heard from him?
Missyrules
March 14th, 2026 - 6:24pmHe’ll be more annoyed people don’t need his AI travesties of these episodes now. How much did each one cost again…
James
March 14th, 2026 - 6:53pmLol. Even with 1 and 3 now recovered I bet he will say his are better lol
Rex F
March 14th, 2026 - 7:59pmYeah, he’ll say that his versions accurately reflect his memories and are therefore superior. “The world according to Ian.” (For legal reasons, he hasn’t actually said this – yet.)
Missyrules
March 14th, 2026 - 8:00pmLol James, his will be far more accurate than the real things
daz
March 14th, 2026 - 8:00pmQuote from Ian Levine’s facebook page.
“Obviously I’m thrilled that part one and three of my all-time favourite Doctor Who story have successfully been returned. If this had happened three years ago, I would’ve not been able to sleep from excitement. But now I feel ambivalent. These two particular episodes, I have now done three separate times each. I was very satisfied with them. Of course the real thing is always the best, but it’s only very recently that I redid them. The most interesting part of this will be to compare them. I hope that when you do, you will see that I was pretty close. Not perfect but pretty close. I’m now excited to see them again and just compare them for myself.”
Ano miss
March 14th, 2026 - 8:35pmAs close as the drone shots in the Highlanders? Very 1966. As were the actors with no legs floating in mid-air!
Rex F
March 15th, 2026 - 11:04pmPoor Ian. He’s one of those people who just doesn’t “get it” – and shame on the enablers who pretend to be his friends.
Mark
March 13th, 2026 - 6:26pmAwesome to wake up to this wonderful news. I watched this when it first came out and having it in my radio collection cd’s of the missing episodes has always bought it back to my minds eye. Now to see not one but two of the “missing” episodes. I was thinking that was that after so many years had passed, however now I know never say never. I am not selective about which missing episode turns up, dug out my Lost in time dvd and watched what we have to date . Just to refresh before the big reveal
daz
March 13th, 2026 - 6:11pmFantastic news. The deceased collector had 4 more episodes too (but these already exist in the archive).
It definitely makes MP more feasible for animation. I know they tend to do every episode animated for a story but maybe they should just do the 7 missing ones to keeps costs down. Most watch the existing episodes when there’s a mixture anyway.
I don’t mind if they delay Season 3 until more gaps are filled by animation (allowing single story releases) and more episodes are located.
NickD
March 13th, 2026 - 7:49pmI think they’re silly making all of the episodes in colour and black and white. Just do it like The Moonbase, animated in B&W and just the missing episodes.
Gordon
March 13th, 2026 - 8:19pmThey do whole stories as it’s the only way to sell to other streamers and networks is to have a consistent viewing option. Without those streamers/broadcasters It’s not viable otherwise. I however suspect this instance may become an exception to the rule with found eps and it being a dalek story as well as the full thing being 12 episodes and super complex with an insane number of costumes/characters/locations.
As for it being in colour they animate in colour as the animators have said to find it easier. Also it does not cost them any extra as it gets a black and white grade once it has been completed so there is no additional money wasted by doing both. That’s why when these things are announced there isn’t a black and white footage shown off as it doesn’t exist yet.
James
March 14th, 2026 - 12:01amWhat were the other 2 out of interest?
Gordon
March 14th, 2026 - 12:48amThe other 4 were
The Daleks 2 & 3
The Web Planet 1
The Chase 1
Rex F
March 14th, 2026 - 2:31amThe Chase 1 explains why DMP 1 had “The Executioners” also scribbled on the label I suppose. Have FiF! revealed if any of the other prints were cutting copies? Or supressed field/quick pulldown? I’m assuming the info is coming out on social media somewhere – the Devil’s Playground as opposed to Planet.
BTW: Thanks, Gordon.
Bob Hellier
March 13th, 2026 - 4:27pmgreat news today 2 episodes of dalek masterplan turning up today and can watch on i player
hopefully the remaining 6 or 7 episodes with up great seeing Peter purves to i remember him as a blue peter presenter too and hopefully episode 8 Volcano will turn up i liked Peter Butterworth as Meddling Monk all great actors in Masterplan.
Bellal
March 13th, 2026 - 4:45pmVolcano would definitely be my pick from the story. Shame it wasn’t that episode, however I cannot complain. A day of celebration for all of us
Bob Hellier
March 13th, 2026 - 6:21pmwho says Friday 13th is bad luck after today hopefully more episodes will turn up from somewhere after today of MP if not animated some time like others hopefully might have Patrick Troughton episodes missing returned too like Wheel In Space and other missing William Hartnell episodes too. very happy today first heard on radio 2 at 8.00am about MP missing episodes 1& 3
Sascha
March 13th, 2026 - 2:04pmI Hope us Non UK whovians will get a way to watch them asap
Bellal
March 13th, 2026 - 4:45pmYep. Ireland comes off really poor in this respect, e.g. no iplayer and blocked from classic who YouTube channel
David Minter
March 13th, 2026 - 5:57pmIs iPlayer only available to access in the UK? I’m in the US and it didn’t occur to me I may not be able to view the episodes on it in my country.
Prowl1701
March 13th, 2026 - 8:35pmHope they put them on the YouTube channel.
davidhhh
March 16th, 2026 - 9:55amThere’s always VPN, which can spoof a UK (or anywhere) IP address to allow you to access sites that are location specific, like iPlayer.
David Minter
March 16th, 2026 - 7:20pmI just checked and iPlayer is region restricted and unavailable in the US.
David Minter
March 13th, 2026 - 2:00pmWow, a tingle literally ran up my spine when I read this! Of all missing stories, The Daleks’ Master Plan seemed to be the one most unlikely to ever recover episodes.
I wonder if we’ll see a Blu-Ray release.
PJ
March 13th, 2026 - 3:11pmAMAZING NEWS SHAME IT WASN’T EPISODE 12 BUT SO EXCITING TO HAVE TWO UNSEEN EPISODES HOPEFULLY THEY WILL BE RELEASED ON IPLAYER
Steven Taylor
March 13th, 2026 - 6:26pmIf they find more or animate the remaining missing episodes, that’s when we’ll get a DVD/Blu Ray, hopefully at somepoint
Embodiment Gress
March 16th, 2026 - 1:50amI really hope these get an individual DVD/Blu-Ray release as soon as possible.
With 5 DMP episodes (2 new to us) and a few extras but not long reconstructions of the other 7 episodes it would still add up to a decent package for one disc.
Extras could include Peter Purves commentaries for all 5 eps, a feature about the screening he went to, a making of the serial, a feature on cutting copies and maybe one on film collections and Film is Fabulous. I’d certainly be happy with that!
Paddy Troughton
March 13th, 2026 - 1:33pmAbsolutely dumb founded to hear of these 2 episodes returned. As peter put it so perfectly my flabber has never been so gasted. Forever thankful for film is fabulous doing amazing work preserving film and television history and the fact we get missing episode returns is a nice bonus. Roll on the 4th of April
Paddy Troughton
March 13th, 2026 - 1:36pmIf you would like to support film is fabulous they accept charity donations on their website. https://filmisfabulous.org.uk/
Andy
March 13th, 2026 - 12:48pmWow this fantastic news two episodes from the Daleks Master Plan. This is made my day well done thank you Film is Fabulous. I will look forward to seeing them on iPlayer soon. Then hopefully that will give the green light to animate the rest. Or if Film is Fabulous discover any more. Yeah so we now have nearly half of this story now. Once again well done Film is Fabulous and thank you.
Peter
March 13th, 2026 - 12:45pmOMG this is incredible! Amazing seeing those clips. I’ve been listening to the soundtracks since late 1996 (horrendous quality bootlegs on cassette – which I’ve still got)
Ep 1 is particularly great to get as we don’t have a decent quality soundtrack of the first 12 mins (not on the Randolph tapes – they start when the TARDIS arrives). We also had zero visual reference for the characters Roland and Vizan in the amazing opening scene. Ditto loads of stuff in Devil’s Planet. We also now have 3 of 5 episodes featuring Katarina (just need her first and last).
Arggghhhh roll on 4th April. this is absolutely incredible news.
Bill Silver
March 13th, 2026 - 12:38pmAnd, with luck, there may be more to come.
D84
March 13th, 2026 - 11:39amIt may alter how feasible an animation of DMP is
With interest in the story already high, and the clear notion that on any animated release it is likely these recovered episodes would be included – it may move things around
I expect they will still animate all 12 parts as they have done with the other releases of this nature but it may stir things up
Would still be a gargantuan effort as its such a long story with 12 parts to get through
Bookcollector
March 13th, 2026 - 12:03pmIt will take the best part of two years to animate if not longer. Hope we get the episodes released sooner possibly on a myth makers animation as that makes sense. I think an individual release is a long way off unfortunately
Dunc
March 13th, 2026 - 10:30amThis is amazing news. I also wondering if they’ll release these on dvd/blu-ray?
pupbenny
March 13th, 2026 - 10:25amI initially misread ‘two’ as ‘ten’ then LOL but amazing to have found any! Great news to have new missing episodes STILL turning up after so long! 😀
Andy R
March 13th, 2026 - 9:28amAwesome news and amazing work. Nice they premiered them to Peter Purves too.
Jason Z
March 13th, 2026 - 1:37pmAnd they lied to him about what he was going to Leicester for, too!
Scott
March 13th, 2026 - 9:28amThis I brilliant news, hope they find more episodes soon, in the not too distant future.
War Chief
March 13th, 2026 - 11:46amMore episodes with the Delegates…..and the Meddling Monk……and the tragic last episode, with Sara Kingdom…..and well, the rest of the story really….!
And if they find The Myth Makers and The Massacre, those episodes would nicely bookend this story….
but excellant, excellant news……what a good Friday 13th…..!
James
March 13th, 2026 - 8:59amSomeone asked Ian for comment? Lol
So we’re now half way to a complete version of DMP now. With 2,5,10 already archived, the prequel (Mission to the Unknown) remade by UNClan, and now 1+3 only leaves 7 eps to be sorted out. Maybe FiF may stumble upon a few more episodes. Hopefully a Box set maybe late 2028.
What a suprise to wake up to this morning.
RPG74
March 13th, 2026 - 8:58amFantastic. Lets hope animating the rest is a priority. I’ll happily accept black and white animations, and only those for the missing episodes would be fine! I suspect others feel the same.
What a find!
Troughton’s Trousers
March 13th, 2026 - 8:36amSplendid news! Looking forward to watching them. Wonder what other episodes may have been found in the collectors’ treasure troves…
ThingsfallapartUK
March 13th, 2026 - 11:11amAbsolutely this. We get excited about Doctor Who in this community but these collections have so many other lost media that hopefully gets uncovered and restored
Auton
March 13th, 2026 - 8:32amAmazing news. Can’t wait to watch them
TimelordTim
March 13th, 2026 - 8:15amExcellent news, looking forward to seeing them.
Prof Horner
March 13th, 2026 - 8:12amWhat fantastic news to wake up to. Best of all it’s on iPlayer from next month.
The ergon
March 13th, 2026 - 8:38amFound out via Gordon about 4pm this morning. I couldnt sleep and just checked my phone. I Couldnt believe it.
The ergon
March 13th, 2026 - 8:39amThats 4am.
The ergon
March 13th, 2026 - 8:07amAvailable to view on iplayer the 4th April.
Toby hadoke discussed the findings on breakfast tv.