Earliest surviving Doctor Who videotape

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Due to the junkings of the 1970s's every master videotape of the programme's first 253 episodes (1963–69) was destroyed or wiped. As a result, no surviving master videotape survives for the Hartnell and Troughton eras, at least ones that still have Doctor Who on them. I think some were found, but they have been wiped or overwritten.

Due to all the master videotapes for the Hartnell and Troughton eras being either wiped or junked, the earliest surviving Doctor Who master videotape is Episode 1 of "The Ambassadors of Death", a Pertwee episode. Of course, not all Pertwee episodes still survive their original PAL videotape. The earliest surviving serial to have all its episodes on their master videotapes is Day of the Daleks.

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If you're wondering why the earliest surviving Doctor Who master videotape is Episode 1 of "The Ambassadors of Death", whereas the earliest surviving serial to have all its episodes on their master videotapes is "Day of the Daleks", here's a overview.

Spearhead from Space: Filmed on 16mm Color Film, so doesn't count.

Doctor Who and the Silurians: Master videotapes for all 7 episodes junked or wiped, survives on 16mm film

The Ambassadors of Death: Master videotapes for episodes 2-7 junked or wiped, survives on 16mm film

Inferno: Master videotapes for all 7 episodes junked or wiped, survives on NTSC videotape

Terror of the Autons: Master videotapes for all 4 episodes junked or wiped, survives on 16mm film

The Mind of Evil: Master videotapes for all 6 episodes junked or wiped, survives on 16mm film

The Claws of Axos: Master videotapes for episodes 2 and 3 junked or wiped, survives on NTSC videotape

Colony in Space: Master videotapes for all 6 episodes junked or wiped, survives on NTSC videotape

The Daemons: Master videotapes for episodes 1-3, and 5 junked or wiped, survives on 16mm film

Day of the Daleks: All survive on PAL Master videotapes

So, in between The Ambassadors of Death and The Day of the Daleks, only the PAL Master videotapes of The Ambassadors of Death episode 1, The Claws of Axos episodes 1 and 4, and The Daemons episode 4 survive to this day.

[davetudor]

Also, although Seasons 10 and 11 come close, it's not until Tom Baker's first series, Season 12 from 1974-75, that we have a complete season of original videotapes, after which, of course, everything survives.

Ironically, 1974 was also the year that the last videotape from the 1960s (an episode of 'Fury From The Deep', I believe?) was wiped. That's if I remember what I read in 'Wiped!' correctly.