Origins of the Omnirumour
2011
January 2011
13 – Paul Vanezis starts a thread on the Missing Episodes Forum entitled ‘Africa Progress 2011’. Paul states that the investigation in some
African countries is ‘ongoing’.
24 – PV states that the current recovery effort is being jointly
sponsored by the BBC and BFI. Interestingly he also states that “material on
the ground” is indicative of potential finds!
February 2011
25 – On the Zeta Minor Roobarbs forums
(Roobarbs), member Richard Baker posts the following (the infamous “shipping clerk” post):
“Not sure what to make of this, but here
goes...
I work at a regional branch of a large international logistics company. On Tuesday morning a customer called in to collect a box sent from Zambia via Nigeria containing BBC tapes and 16" films, supposedly for returning to the archives. The guy apparently said (I didn't serve him myself) that the box contained recovered 60s material including episodes of Doctor Who (the only programme he mentioned by name, it seems) and that we'd be hearing all about it before the end of the year. Naturally I was keenly excited, particularly given that this seemed to suggest a major find, but, having encountered neither box nor customer myself, I couldn't pursue the matter directly. I've checked the paperwork but I can't fathom why BBC archive stuff would be addressed to a Merseyside address, especially one where the company name given doesn't match the stated premises or postcode (hence why we couldn't deliver the box and the customer had to fetch it himself). Then again, the shipper may have just cocked up the address slightly, it's all perfectly kosher and I'm just fretting inappropriately. After all, the customer did say all would be revealed in time.
Moral minefield. Do I sit back and let things take their course or do I potentially overstep the mark, professionally speaking, and tell all to Auntie?”
I work at a regional branch of a large international logistics company. On Tuesday morning a customer called in to collect a box sent from Zambia via Nigeria containing BBC tapes and 16" films, supposedly for returning to the archives. The guy apparently said (I didn't serve him myself) that the box contained recovered 60s material including episodes of Doctor Who (the only programme he mentioned by name, it seems) and that we'd be hearing all about it before the end of the year. Naturally I was keenly excited, particularly given that this seemed to suggest a major find, but, having encountered neither box nor customer myself, I couldn't pursue the matter directly. I've checked the paperwork but I can't fathom why BBC archive stuff would be addressed to a Merseyside address, especially one where the company name given doesn't match the stated premises or postcode (hence why we couldn't deliver the box and the customer had to fetch it himself). Then again, the shipper may have just cocked up the address slightly, it's all perfectly kosher and I'm just fretting inappropriately. After all, the customer did say all would be revealed in time.
Moral minefield. Do I sit back and let things take their course or do I potentially overstep the mark, professionally speaking, and tell all to Auntie?”
“I know what you're getting at, and if I was
of a more paranoid mindset I might have suspected a wind-up, but my co-worker
is quite oblivious to my keen interest in DW, and since I didn't shriek with
excitement at the time I'm sure he remains so. Plus, as I say, I've seen the
paperwork and it definitely refers to BBC tapes and films without actually
going into specifics, so even if there's no DW content, I'm sure there's
potentially something of interest there.”
March 2011
17 – Television International Enterprises and
Archives Ltd (T.I.E.A) is incorporated, with a
head office in Wigan, Lancs. This is the company later revealed to be run by
Philip Gary Morris (born February 1968).
July 2011
Towards the end of the month, private UK film collector
Terry Burnett returns ‘Air Lock’ – episode three of the missing 1966 William Hartnell serial Galaxy 4.
This return appears to be separate from the global recovery effort, underway at this time and led by Philip Morris; see this article for details of the involvement
in this return of Ralph Montagu, head of heritage at the Radio Times.
September 2011
17 – The website searates displays an entry
showing that one Philip Morris of Liverpool has shipped “Old films” from Lagos
– 3 metric tons worth.
19 - Private UK film collector Terry
Burnett returns another missing episode of Doctor Who, this time
episode 2 of the 1967 Patrick Troughton serial The Underwater Menace.
After this recovery and that of Galaxy 4 episode 3, the total remaining missing episodes of Doctor
Who (i.e., including those episodes for which only short clips are
extant) now stands at 106.
November 2011
7 – On the Missing Episodes Forum (MEF), Paul Vanezis responds to an enquiry about Asian countries; in particular that South Korea are known to have bought colour copies of Pertwee serials such as The Mind of Evil. Further he states that South Korea is currently ‘being checked’…
7 – On the Missing Episodes Forum (MEF), Paul Vanezis responds to an enquiry about Asian countries; in particular that South Korea are known to have bought colour copies of Pertwee serials such as The Mind of Evil. Further he states that South Korea is currently ‘being checked’…
24 - On MEF, Paul Vanezis posts that as regards the rumours of
two missing episodes being returned, "I believe it when I see it". He
does not refer in any way to any of the Africa Progress threads still active on
his own forum.
December 2011
December 2011
11 - The two recently recovered episodes are shown, in part only, at a surprise screening at a BFI
'Missing Believed Wiped' event in Cardiff. BBC personnel such as current Doctor Who executive producers Steven
Moffat and Caroline Skinner, are in attendance as well as Who alumni Peter Purves, Anneke Wills and Frazer Hines.
12 - The BBC News website reports on the BFI event, offering additional details of the circumstances around the finds. The article also delves into the history of BBC archiving and steps taken in the 1970s to improve the process.
Earlier that day, member Hero had posted on Roobarbs that an announcement was to be made about
“something” and quotes a tweet from Mark Gatiss.
16 – YouTube member GLAAAAR posts a nice BBC piece featuring Ralph Montagu and film collector Terry Burnett
about the two Who episodes he returned.
2012
March 2012
5 - Gallifrey Base (GB) forum member Pseudo posts in 'The Spoiler and Speculation Thread [part 34]', stating that the "figure 106 might be significantly lower this time next year". This appears to allude to the outstanding number of missing episodes of Doctor Who, and seems to be the earliest reference to the omni-rumour on a forum. It is well before the rumours begins to be reported in online media (see June 2013).
5 - Gallifrey Base (GB) forum member Pseudo posts in 'The Spoiler and Speculation Thread [part 34]', stating that the "figure 106 might be significantly lower this time next year". This appears to allude to the outstanding number of missing episodes of Doctor Who, and seems to be the earliest reference to the omni-rumour on a forum. It is well before the rumours begins to be reported in online media (see June 2013).
27 - Anorak Zone (AZ) member bandraginus6 starts the thread entitled 'Rumours of 'multiple' missing episodes found' in the classic Doctor Who forum. (Please note: a free member registration to AZ is required to view the above forum link.)
30 – At the Recon event at Hammersmith, head of classic DVD range, Dan Hall apparently says to the Doctor Who fans present that there will be a “big surprise” around the time of the 50th anniversary.
October 2012
22 – On Roobarbs, member JamieWho starts a thread entitled “Missing Episode Rumours” and posts that his mate texted him from the con at Hammersmith, that guest Anneke Wills said “something from Power (of the Daleks) has been found in Australia”. Apparently Dan Hall, head of 2|entertain, said that he has his “dream release” for the upcoming fiftieth anniversary.
Later in the same thread, member andora says that this rumour has been “doing the rounds” at other events. And later still, JamieWho comes back after re-checking with his friend and says that he and another friend were chatting to Anneke in bar when she dropped the rumour, and that she was “immediately silenced by her minder”.
Apparently she also said on her panel that “we are all in for a wonderful surprise for the 50th anniversary”. And in a further post JamieWho says:
“My mate has just reiterated conversation, apparently he said how great it was that uwm 2 had comeback as her era was so badly represented in the archives, she said "well there is more to come" at which point minder says "i dont think you should be talking about that" at which point my mate said any clues and as the bouncer moved her on she whispered power of the daleks to him.”
By now, several other posts have weighed to condemn the rumour as “bollocks”.
“I'm sorry mate, unless you are Anneke herself, or stuck to her throught the whole event and heard evey conversation she said, you really cant make a comment like that. And just to add, I am in no way trolling, as others have said i've been on this board for a good mny years. I was reporting the facts as told to me by my mate at the event, as I said they were talkiing about recoveries and the state of her episodes in the archive, she sid there was more to come and before being moved on by the guy who was with her, she whispered Power of the Daleks. it could be animation, could be episode(s) it could be censor clips, we dont know. I only posted it out of interest, and to be fair, message boards like this is the kind of place where such things would ususally be discussed, and it did come from Anneke herself, not overhearing two fans stood at the bar. My mate who relaid this to me is someone I have known and trusted for years, he isnt the sort of person to indulge in unfounded speculation, hwe knew whwta he was told.
If the mods feel this thread has run its course or should not have been started please do lock it, I in no way wanted to create a load of disharmony or trouble, just reporting what I was told. Remember they were just chatting in the bar, maybe Anneke was relaxed chatting about the state of her stories in the archive and it just slipped out, it happens. Whoever the guy was who was with her did correct her pretty quickly by the sounds of it. But from what she is also supposed to have said in her panel about us having a big suprise for the 50th, she does seeme to be aware of something we are not, presumably regarding her era and is perhaps understandably exicted about whatever it is.”
If the mods feel this thread has run its course or should not have been started please do lock it, I in no way wanted to create a load of disharmony or trouble, just reporting what I was told. Remember they were just chatting in the bar, maybe Anneke was relaxed chatting about the state of her stories in the archive and it just slipped out, it happens. Whoever the guy was who was with her did correct her pretty quickly by the sounds of it. But from what she is also supposed to have said in her panel about us having a big suprise for the 50th, she does seeme to be aware of something we are not, presumably regarding her era and is perhaps understandably exicted about whatever it is.”
“Latest version that's got back to me:
Chris Barry in the green room at the convention said "It'll be interesting to compare the fan reimagining of POWER to the programme, now it's back." To which Anneke shrieked that he wasn't supposed to know about that - who had told him?
Quite how that relates to Anneke seemingly dropping the hint to any old fan at the bar it had been found is anyone's guess!
muses: perhaps official announcement bonfire night, on ep1's 46th anniversary?”
Chris Barry in the green room at the convention said "It'll be interesting to compare the fan reimagining of POWER to the programme, now it's back." To which Anneke shrieked that he wasn't supposed to know about that - who had told him?
Quite how that relates to Anneke seemingly dropping the hint to any old fan at the bar it had been found is anyone's guess!
muses: perhaps official announcement bonfire night, on ep1's 46th anniversary?”
24 – On the Missing Episodes Forum (MEF), member Alan Grover starts a thread entitled ‘Power – A Rumour Report’. In it he relates what a poster on Gallifrey Base forums (GB) has said – that the poster had a mate who is a Doctor Who fan and that this mate attended a recent convention at Hammersmith, where Anneke Wills (Polly) was in attendance. To summarise, Ms Wills reportedly hinted to the mate in attendance that the six-part 1966 serial featuring the debut of second Doctor Patrick Troughton, The Power of the Daleks, had been returned to the BBC archives.
Classic era director Christopher Barry, who was also in attendance, then allegedly stated it would be interesting to compare the “fan reimagining” of Power to the actual serial, now that it was back. At which Ms Wills shrieked “Who told you that!” as apparently Barry was not supposed to know about it.
24 - On Planet Mondas forum, member Thal2006 starts a thread entitled 'Power rumour?', and states that the origin of this rumour appears to be on the Roobarbs forums.
24 - On Planet Mondas forum, member Thal2006 starts a thread entitled 'Power rumour?', and states that the origin of this rumour appears to be on the Roobarbs forums.
And meanwhile back on Roobarbs, IanBeard reiterates his post in response to naysayers and says that his version of events has been reported back to him in three different ways by three different people.
25 – On their mobile Twitter account, DWO tweet that they are currently looking into the missing episode recovery rumours and they believe there is something substantial to them.
On Roobarbs, member the_holy_bee posts a link to a Radio Times interview with Anneke Wills, where she is quoted as saying, “There are all sorts of secrets going on and I can’t tell you…! I’m hopeless at secrets…” And in response to sustained criticism, JamieWho posts that his friend is a DS in the police, and that he is trained to report things accurately.
December 2012
8 - The Radio Times magazine announces the launch of its own hunt for missing Doctor Who episodes, to tie in with the upcoming 50th anniversary in 2013.
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