Good news for fans who like their TV with a side of time travel and a sprinkling of archival heroics. Two episodes from the 1960s that were thought lost have been rediscovered and have now been restored for BBC iPlayer.

What was found and who found it

The episodes are called "Nightmare Begins" and "Devils Planet". They come from the third series of the classic serial The Daleks Master Plan. A charitable trust named Film is Fabulous! located the prints in a private collection and contacted the BBC archive team.

How they were restored

BBC Archives took the original 16mm telerecordings and worked to bring them up to broadcast quality. Noreen Adams, Director of BBC Archives, said they were pleased to work with Film is Fabulous! and that fans can expect the restored episodes on BBC iPlayer this Easter.

About the story and the cast

The episodes are part of the serial written by Terry Nation. The cast includes William Hartnell as the Doctor and Peter Purves as Steven Taylor. Other credited performers on these episodes are Nicholas Courtney as Bret Vyon, Adrienne Hill as Katarina, and Kevin Stoney as Mavic Chen.

When and where to watch

The restored episodes will be added to the iPlayer Whoniverse at Easter. That collection already includes Doctor Who across the decades, including the most recent season starring Ncuti Gatwa. The next new broadcast entry will be a Christmas special written by Russell T. Davies.

And about the show's future

  • There has been industry discussion after Disney ended its co-production deal with the BBC, which has raised questions about the longer term production arrangements.
  • The BBCs head of drama has recently reassured viewers that Doctor Who "isnt going anywhere."

Why this matters

Beyond the joy of seeing missing TV returned to the screen, the recovery highlights the role of collectors, charities, and archives in preserving broadcast history. Restorations like this let modern audiences experience early television that might otherwise be lost.

Bonus archival news

Late last year, BBC Archives launched a project publishing a large batch of files from its holdings. That release included items such as correspondence about inviting Laurence Olivier for a television appearance and exchanges with Vanessa Redgrave.

Expect a few vintage villains, restored grain, and a reminder that sometimes TV history turns up in the least expected places.