Power - A Rumour Report

[Alan Grover]

There's been a rumour going around recently on Gallifrey Base and Roobarb's DVD Forum about Anneke Wills letting slip about there being recovered missing stuff being kept under wraps for a fiftieth anniversary surprise. Specifically, Power.

I've traced its origin back to a few posts on Roobarb's, originating from this thread...

A mate of mine has just texted me from the Hammersmith convention, today. Anneke Wills said that something from Power has been found in Australia. She wouldn't say anymore than that, apparently; it may only be censor clips, but then again, Dan Hall did look very smug when he said he had his dream release for the fiftieth...

Not sure if it was on a panel or in the bar. Have to check with my mates, but she has, on more than one occasion, come and sat with us in a bar or pub after panels, so she may well have told them over a glass of wine.

Just heard back from my mate: apparently, he and another mate were chatting to her in the bar when she said it, but she was immediately silenced by her minder or whatever the people who look after the guests are called. Apparentley, she also said on her panel that we are all in for a wonderfull suprise for the fiftieth anniversary. So those things could be totally unrelated or not. Maybe, the wonderful suprise is more animation or not. Maybe, something to do with Underwater Menace? Either way, it seems like the fiftieth anniversary release does have something to do with her era...

Later...

My mate has just reiterated conversation: apparently, he said how great it was that Underwater Menace, episode two, had come back, as her era was so badly represented in the archives. She said, 'Well, there is more to come.' At which point, minder says, 'I don't think you should be talking about that.' At which point, my mate said, 'Any clues?' And as the bouncer moved her on, she whispered, 'Power of the Daleks,' to him.

A second poster challenges the claims made, at this point.

Just to add, that whole 'conversation' with Anneke and 'minders' was absolute bollocks.

The original poster defends themselves...

I'm sorry mate, unless you are Anneke herself or stuck to her throughout the whole event and heard evey conversation she said, you really can't make a comment like that. And just to add, I am in no way trolling, as others have said I've been on this board for a good many years. I was reporting the facts as told to me by my mate at the event. As I said, they were talking about recoveries and the state of her episodes in the archive, she said there was more to come and, before being moved on by the guy who was with her, she whispered, 'Power of the Daleks.' It could be animation, could be episodes, it could be censor clips; we don't know. I only posted it out of interest and, to be fair, message boards like this is the kind of place where such things would ususally be discussed and it did come from Anneke herself, not overhearing two fans stood at the bar. My mate who relaid this to me is someone I have known and trusted for years, he isn't the sort of person to indulge in unfounded speculation, he knew what he was told.

If the moderators feel this thread has run its course or should not have been started, please, do lock it, I in no way wanted to create a load of disharmony or trouble, just reporting what I was told. Remember, they were just chatting in the bar, maybe, Anneke was relaxed, chatting about the state of her stories in the archive and it just slipped out, it happens. Whoever the guy was who was with her did correct her pretty quickly, by the sounds of it. But from what she is also supposed to have said in her panel, about us having a big suprise for the fiftieth, she does seem to be aware of something we are not, presumably, regarding her era and is, perhaps, understandably excited about whatever it is.

Following this, a third poster, Ian Beard, (ratherly sensationally, actually!) writes...

Latest version that's got back to me...

Chris Barry in the green room at the convention said, 'It'll be interesting to compare the fan reimagining of Power to the programme, now it's back.' To which Anneke shrieked that he wasn't supposed to know about that - who had told him?

Quite how that relates to Anneke seemingly dropping the hint to any old fan at the bar it had been found is anyone's guess!

Muses: perhaps, official announcement bonfire night, on episode one's forty-sixth anniversary?

Yeah, that last one's probably a joke, though.

Well, what do you lot think?

[John Wall]

When I hear something from Paul Vanezis, Steve Roberts, etc then I'll give it credence.

[Daniel Hornby]

Oct 24, 2012 9:22:56 GMT John Wall said:

When I hear something from Paul Vanezis, Steve Roberts, etc then I'll give it credence.

Given that there's been less debunking than usual, perhaps that's as great a clue as any.

[Jaspal Cheema]

If Power has been found in some shape or form then it could be THE find of the century thus far!
Gives me goose-bumps to think it may exist and let's hope it comes to fruition like the rumours for Tomb did.Fingers crossed!

[Paul Vanezis]

Oct 24, 2012 9:29:00 GMT Daniel Hornby said:

Given that there's been less debunking than usual, perhaps that's as great a clue as any.

Given that this is the first I've heard of it, it's rather difficult to debunk!

Seriously, whilst it would be lovely to find any new material, finding a complete story is extremely unlikely. Finding 'Power', one of the four least likely serials to turn up is obviously less likely.

Since the return of 'Underwater Menace' and 'Air Lock', we've had the usual rumours of, well, every story being returned from a variety of different sources, the most recent being the Melbourne rumour of a return of 'Power' and 'Evil' etc...

Having spent some time with Anneke recently, she has frequently bemoaned the lack of episodes from her era and is obviously pleased another has come back and we've always said to her we must find more of her episodes. But that's quite different from tracking down any episodes of possibly the most sought after and rarest story. I think this is one of those cases where rumours of the BBC holding back something for the 50th anniversary (which would not happen) appears to have turned into a belief of fact.

I'll believe it when I see it... and I haven't seen it!

Paul

[John Wall]

For most fans of the classic (i.e., real) series something like Power of the Daleks turning up would be like all of their birthdays, Christmases, etc rolled into one. Just think of all the boxes it would tick.

MBW is only about six weeks away; if something has turned up that's where it's likely to be revealed.

I'm reminded of an exchange in Yes Minister:

Hacker: "Is this rumour true"
Humphrey: "Yes, it's true that it's rumoured"

If there is a major recovery like that, which would rank with the return of Tomb of the CYbermen, the powers-that-be would pick their time to announce it (like MBW) and have a build up to the release.

[stephenbray]

If it *is* back (and what is 'it' anyway? An episode? More clips?) does someone with intimate knowledge of bicycling prints etc. want to suggest quite how it may have survived..? Do we know how many PotD prints were circulated, and how many do we know the fates of...?

[John Wall]

Jon Preddle, or his site, would be the best place to start. He's probably got an idea of how many prints were struck.

[Richard Bignell]

Oct 24, 2012 9:22:56 GMT John Wall said:

When I hear something from Paul Vanezis, Steve Roberts, etc then I'll give it credence.

Steve has already commented on this (on Sunday):

"If it's of any use in the discussion, this is the first I've heard of it. I would have thought my contacts in both Australia and within the missing episode hunting community at this end would have let me know. I fear Anneke is a victim of rumour or Chinese Whispers."

[Alistair Gordon]

23 rd November would be a good day to announce a find.

[Richard Tipple]

So both Paul and Steve no nothing about it.

That means it's 99% hasn't been found.

[Richard Bignell]

I'd put it slightly higher than that!

[D. Frame]

Do you think this is an example of how 2013's going to go. A good old rumour frenzy a week.
I'm going to need medication or a nice clean padded cell if the chance of golden oldies are going to be dangled before my very eyes.

I'd be much, not happier but, more comfortable about this story if I didn't know that the fan made PotD's was shown at riverside that day.

A bit of mischief, half heard conversation and wishfull thinking as always.

[stevendoig]

To go off topic a wee bit. Paul confirmeda while back that he got in touch with a couple of leads who had 'who stuff, most of which we knew about already'
I like the 'most' part. Has there been a wee find? , which is responsible for these recent rumours - (say some film extracts or something?) Will we have to wait till MBW for confirmation?

[Ash Stewart]

And it should be note although he refers to "most of which we knew about already" it doesn't automatically follow that the rest was missing. Could very well be something like a different print of an already existing episode...