10 Lost Doctor Who Episodes We'll Never See
7. Shada
This is an entry on the list, which is quite different to the rest, as it is partially recorded, and the only unfinished episode of Doctor Who. This story was meant to be the finale of Season 17 in 1980, but due to strike action at the BBC, several studio sessions couldn’t be completed.
Most productions are filmed out of order, and just completed set by set. Therefore, all the production filmed on location and in certain sets – such as the iconic Professor Chronotis’ office – were complete, but others, such as those set on ‘Shada’ itself are not. However, whilst the finished 1980s version of the story will never see the light of day, there are several versions of the story.
In the years since, Shada has been novelised, given a VHS reconstruction with linking material from Tom Baker in 1992, and given a Big Finish audio treatment with Paul McGann. But in 2017, it was finally ‘completed’, by animating in the missing scenes, and the original cast reprising their roles.
The 2017 version is a sight to behold and probably the best way to enjoy this serial, as the animation provides a brilliant visual aid, and the voice work makes the story feel whole. It is a shame this story was never completed, as it was the final story of Tom Baker’s penultimate series, but at least it can still be enjoyed.