Two Lost 'Doctor Who' Episodes from 1965 Discovered

Fans will soon be able to watch the newly restored episodes on BBC iPlayer.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 7:48pm

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Two lost episodes of the classic British sci-fi series 'Doctor Who' from 1965 have been discovered and restored by the BBC. The episodes, titled 'The Nightmare Begins' and 'Devil's Planet,' were part of the show's third season and starred William Hartnell as the Doctor. The episodes were found in film canisters among the possessions of a deceased collector in England.

Why it matters

The discovery of these lost 'Doctor Who' episodes is significant for fans of the long-running series, as nearly 100 episodes from the 1960s have been missing for decades. The BBC routinely erased or discarded old recordings, believing they had no commercial value, leading to the loss of a large portion of the show's early history. This find provides a rare opportunity for fans to experience more of the original Doctor Who storylines.

The details

The two 25-minute episodes were discovered by a charitable trust called Film Is Fabulous, which found the film canisters wrapped in plastic bags among the possessions of a collector who recently passed away. The episodes were 16mm black-and-white telerecordings, which were film recordings of the original live broadcasts. BBC Archives has been working to restore the episodes and update them to broadcast quality.

  • The episodes, 'The Nightmare Begins' and 'Devil's Planet,' originally aired on November 13, 1965 and November 27, 1965, respectively.
  • The newly discovered episodes will be made available on the BBC's streaming service, BBC iPlayer, in April 2026.

The players

William Hartnell

The actor who played the first incarnation of the Doctor in the original run of 'Doctor Who' from 1963 to 1966.

Peter Purves

The actor who played the companion character Steven Taylor alongside William Hartnell's Doctor in the 1965 episodes.

Film Is Fabulous

A charitable trust in England that works with the estates of collectors to preserve vintage films, and was responsible for discovering the lost 'Doctor Who' episodes.

Noreen Adams

The director of the BBC Archives, who stated that the organization has been working to restore the original recordings and update them to broadcast quality.

The Daleks

The iconic cylindrical-shaped metal cyborg alien antagonists featured in the 'Doctor Who' episodes that were discovered.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Noreen Adams, BBC Archives Director (nytimes.com)

“Oh, you're kidding. Oh, ohhh, boy.”

— Peter Purves, Actor (nytimes.com)

“That's a perfect lie. I'm absolutely thrilled.”

— Peter Purves, Actor (nytimes.com)

What’s next

The two newly discovered 'Doctor Who' episodes, 'The Nightmare Begins' and 'Devil's Planet,' will be made available for streaming on BBC iPlayer in April 2026.

The takeaway

The rediscovery of these lost 'Doctor Who' episodes from the 1960s is a significant find for fans of the iconic sci-fi series, providing a rare opportunity to experience more of the show's early history. It also highlights the ongoing efforts to preserve and restore vintage television programming that was often carelessly discarded or lost over time.