According to a story run by
Bleeding Cool on Thursday, Classic Doctor Who fans might have something big to be excited about outside of the 50th anniversary and An Adventure In Time And Space specials later this year. Citing confirmation by a "connected" source, reporter Rich Johnson has gone on record saying that an eccentric broadcasting engineer in Africa has unearthed a score of previously lost episodes of Doctor Who that haven't been seen since they were originally broadcast. More accurately, he built himself this library over the years through his own personal procurement of the BBC materials. For once, nicking office supplies has come in handy. As we all know, the BBC destroyed much of what they broadcasted throughout the 60s as tapes were expensive. They didn't for a minute think that anyone would be interested in re-watching the broadcasts, a lack of foresight thinking that has been a cause of contention for legions of Who fans who weren't even around when the show started airing. So how many lost episodes of Who are we talking? According to Johnson's scoop:
"...there are lots. Lots and lots. Completed serials that weve only had incomplete before, full series that nothing existed of. Not everything. But heaps and heaps. Possibly even The Full Hartnell."
The full William Hartnell years? If this is actually true, it's grand news for classic Whovian fans. Particularly those who have been curious to see the First Doctor's regeneration in
The Tenth Planet. The report further speculates that the
Regeneration DVD set coming out this month might have that very episode included among all the others, almost as if to fire a warning shot across the bow that there's more to come. While Johnson hasn't received official confirmation, he's been given enough confidence by sources he deems well connected to announce such a rumour. If the rumours are to be believed, the "new old" episodes will be released in November, in time for the 50th anniversary. For now though, we've still got the "complete" story (with some parts narrated with original soundtrack) heading to us sometime this year. More on this story as it develops...
Which Lost Episodes do you hope have been uncovered? Do you think this is just a rumor, or are you preparing yourself for history in the making? Take to the Comments section below, and let us know.