Wiped! Doctor Who's Missing Episodes

[Stuart Douglas]

[from the Telos press release]

In the 1960s, the BBC screened 253 episodes of its cult science fiction show Doctor Who, starring William Hartnell and then Patrick Troughton as the time travelling Doctor. Yet by 1975, the Corporation had wiped the master tapes of every single one of these episodes. Of the 124 Doctor Who episodes starring Jon Pertwee shown between 1970 and 1974, the BBC destroyed over half of the original transmission tapes within two years of their original broadcast.

In the years that followed, the BBC, along with dedicated fans of the series, began the arduous task of trying to track down copies of as many missing Doctor Who episodes as possible. The search covered BBC sales vaults, foreign television stations, overseas archives, and numerous networks of private film collectors, until the tally of missing programmes was reduced to just 108 episodes.
For the first time, this book looks in detail at how the episodes came to be missing in the first place, and examines how material subsequently came to be returned to the BBC. Along the way, those people involved in the recovery of lost slices of Doctor Who's past tell their stories in candid detail, many for the very first time.
No more rumours, no more misinformation, no more fan gossip. The truth about Doctor Who's missing episodes can now be told in full!

ISBN 978-1-84583-037-3 (pb) £15.99 UK
PUBLICATION DATE: September 2010
www.telos.co.uk

[adriane17]

Thanks - I've been wondering when we will actually see the thing.

Hopefully it will put to bed a lot of the misinformation about this but given the possibility that "there is always a chance" no doubt the speculation will continue long after those of us who remember seeing the original transmissions have ceased to care.

[Gordon Roxburgh]

Got my copy today, and it looks an excellent read. Well done to Richard on all his research, and from glancing through it, it looks as if no stone has been left unturned in trying to locate missing episodes (sadly). But that still won't stop me hoping that maybe one day something may turn up...

[adriane17]

Yes - it looks an excellent piece of research. Probably rather TOO detailed for many of us in places (lots of lists which are maddening in their inconsistency) but it is important to document this subject in as much detail as possible - the most interesting sections for me are the stories behind the recoveries over the last 30 years and details of the markets Doctor Who was sold to. One never gives up hope but it is looking as if we are indeed approaching the end of the lane....Only two "new" episodes since 1999 makes it seem very unlikely that anything much more can possibly surface. But then again the mystique of the missing episodes gives Doctor Who even more appeal.

One thing I would quibble with is Richard's assessment of Tomb. Very much a case of watching it with a "modern" sensibility I think.

[davidstead]

I received my copy of the book this week and there's quite a lot of info in there. - I finally got an apology from Gary Russell after all these years (not that I hold grudges....lol).

I hope it sells well, Richard has put a hell of a lot of work into the research.

[Tim Burrows]

My copy turned up today and I've nearly finished it!

Without going off subject, in a desperate and pathetic attempt to help the Dr Who cause, I e-mailed a dealer of 16mm film and asked him if he ever had any 16mm Dr Who's.

He e-mailed back with words to the effect of "I've had some they're very rare and reach a high price". When asked was he aware some were missing he said "I know the guy who bought "the library", he lets one go now and again when he's hard up." How does this sound to those of you in the know? Dealer bravado? Am I being very naive to hope this guy could have a stash of tapes??

I have the e-mails and contact for the dealer if anyone in the know wants to take them off my hands.

[davidstead]

Hi Tim,

I would say from experience, that you should take it with a pinch of salt what the dealer says!

Most certainly if he talks about numerous ones and is also aware how valuable they are!

There certainly is a collector 'out there' with a fair few prints, as Steven Sigel bought both mine and Ian Levines collection of prints back around 2004, but a collector with numerous missing episodes is highly unlikely. Also when you consider where and when missing stuff has originated, it makes it even more improbable.

There is every likelyhood of a collector(s) 'out there', with missing ITV/BBC progs as the odds are much more likely...plus there are a lot of collectors around the world.

[davidstead]

....oh and just before anyone gasps - The Steven Sigel prints were all EXISTING material (remember Ian Levine was able to buy print copies in the early days.).

[Alex Dering]

Nov 1, 2010 21:08:59 GMT davidstead said:

There is every likelyhood of a collector(s) 'out there', with missing ITV/BBC progs as the odds are much more likely...plus there are a lot of collectors around the world.

Sorry if the following question has already been done to death, but ...

Okay, in the quest to figure out how many missing episodes are out there, the likelihood of episodes being in private hands, etc., could we turn the consideration to the same questions but for other programs in a similar situation?

Doctor Who wasn't the only show junked by the BBC. What sort of return rates -- and from what sources -- have the other programs had? The whole second season of Adam Adamant is missing, right? Z Cars and Dixon of Dock Green are in similar states, if I recall correctly. So how have recovery efforts fared for them?

[Tim Burrows]

Hi David,

Thanks for your time. Obviously a pinch of salt, with a tub of Saxa in reserve. I know you guys have heard, investigated and had your hearts broken so many times with these rumors, but I wonder if they all might just deserve a phone call, or an e-mail from someone who knows some of the collectors out there, and knows the right sort of tone to take with a dealer. I may be being naive and foolish, but it *might* be worth it even if it increases our knowledge of what stock is out there, and dare I say if a few episodes turn up.

I've only recently been re-fired up about this, and I've only just found this forum. It's a shame to see the activity on it is low, and the return over the last few years non-existent. I hope Richard Molesworth's book will re-inspire a few more people to hold a flame.

I think there's a couple of sequels to 'Wiped!' in the offing there Alex? Perhaps 'Swiped' and 'Nicked'? oh my, that's bad, even for me.

Tim

[Steven Sigel]

Nov 1, 2010 21:12:22 GMT davidstead said:

....oh and just before anyone gasps - The Steven Sigel prints were all EXISTING material (remember Ian Levine was able to buy print copies in the early days.).

I think there were one or two of yours David that I missed out on -- still kicking myself over those... :-(

BTW - I've had quite a few missing episodes go through my hands, but not Dr. Who I'm afraid. (And before anyone asks, yes, I let the bbc borrow them).

[Jacinta Brull]

Thanks to Richard Molesworth for making this happen, my copy is on it's way to my little house!