20 Cancelled Doctor Who Episodes You Need To Know About

Mark Gatiss is NuWho’s most prolific guest writer, penning episodes for all of the first ten series save for Series 3 and 4.

His absence during this time wasn’t for lack of trying. Gatiss actually developed another Tenth Doctor story that never made it to screens.

Inspired by a real-world phenomenon from the two World Wars, whereby prized museum exhibits were substituted for items that could afford to be destroyed, this story comprised a treasure hunt in a London museum besieged by German soldiers and Bog Men zombies.

Following an initial draft set in World War One, Gatiss was asked to give the story more of an Indiana Jones feel, with the action moved to World War Two and the soldiers becoming Nazis.

The resulting script, The Suicide Exhibition, was set to be produced as part of Series 4, constituting Donna’s first trip back in time. However, it was ultimately replaced by The Fires of Pompeii.

It was also briefly considered to become one of the 2009 specials, but this wasn’t to be.

Gatiss has recently expressed interest in doing some sort of adaptation. And given his long history with Big Finish (he was one of their first ever writers), it’s surely just a matter of time till Doctor Who’s own “Lost Ark” gets an audio version.