2026
January 2026
1 - Getting things off to a light start, on MEF member John Wall looks at the prospects for finds in 2026. Given FIF's success in recent years, John feels that 2026 could be "the best year in a very long time". The consensus in the thread is generally positive.
Downthread John doubles down with a prediction of The Myth Makers, episode 2 and The Smugglers, episode 3.
5 - On PMF, Scot Ferre says that there are "missing items" with Australian collectors.
7 - On PMF, discussion on the chances of films being with Australian collectors leads to Servorobot re-posting the two quotes from Paul Vanezis, regarding his dealings with the alleged "timewaster" from Australia who supposedly held Marco Polo, The Power of the Daleks and The Evil of the Daleks.
19 - In Hobart, Tasmania, a cache of BBC films is found offered for sale in a tip shop. The find was posted on the Missing Believed Wiped Facebook page.
Several items are identified, all existing BBC material (non-Doctor Who), but many items were not able to be identified.
On PMF, Servorobot says the haul was acquired by the National Australian Archives.
22 - On their YouTube, FIF release part of an interview with Prof. Justin Smith in which he says they are looking at "half a dozen collections" belonging to "former industry professionals" coming on stream soon.
23 - On GB, member The Evil Dalek speculates that the two missing Hartnell episodes in private collections may be from The Reign of Terror, The Crusade, The Celestial Toymaker or The Savages. Evil Dalek also quotes an old post showing the reasoning behind this.
30 - On their FB, FIF reveal they are working with R3store Studios to clean, repair and restore found films.
February 2026
2 - On their FB, under a post about inspecting found film, FIF answer a comment about Doctor Who, stating they expect to provide an update on this subject "very soon".
6 - On their FB, FIF post that they are "currently in discussions with the families of two deceased former industry professionals about the acquisition of their collections, and the preservation of the rare films." There are up to 8,000 films in the collections.
According to FIF, one gentleman was "a prominent BBC editor" - they further state that he directed a seminal series in the early 1979's [sic?]. The other was an editor at Thames Television. However "...[s]adly, both of the households have been left in ‘distressed’ circumstances" and FIF are appealing for donations to assist in the acquisition of the collections.
They will provide a further update on these two collections "next week".
7 - On whether there is any Doctor Who in the collections, FIF respond that there are not currently aware of any Doctor Who episodes in either of the collections. However they continue to liaise with "other former industry professionals about cataloguing their entire collections, and several missing episodes of Doctor Who".
11 - Not necessarily Who related but as an item of curiosity - The Revival House Cinema in Perth, Western Australia posts on their Facebook that they have uncovered a cache of 16 and 35mm films.
27 - On GB, member C. Jordan states baldly that the "one" missing episode known to exist (which based on past information is in the (probate) private collection) is NOT an historical episode. In a further post, C. Jordan apologises but he knows nothing more and cannot reveal his source.
28 - On FB, FIF state they will announce "a number of lost items" in the next few weeks.
March 2026
2 - On FB, FIF confirm they have now acquired the deceased estate collection - which FIF previously advised held one known missing episode of Doctor Who.
3 - On X, Richard Latto posts a picture of a BBC film can and says you're going to love what's coming later this year!
9 - On YouTube, Tim Burrows drops the latest edition of the Doctor Who Missing Episodes Podcast, discussing The Underwater Menace. From 2:25:30, he ponders the origin of the existing prints and the whereabouts/chances of finding any others.
10 - FIF publish an article by Oliver Crocker on their website, covering an exclusive interview with Sue Malden conducted by Tim Burrows (also posted on YouTube). In it, Sue reveals that there was "a loan system for film in the very early days" of her time at the BBC archive.
Further, "somebody had to go and physically check the shelves to make sure [films] hadn’t come back. Anybody who had to work on overdues hated it, which means I seriously doubt how well they stayed on top of loans. I now realise that quite a lot went out in certain directions and never came back…”
Sue also mentions one Enid Mawson, who back when Sue started at the BBC was the person at BBC Enterprises responsible for receiving and junking bicycle prints returned from overseas. Sue arranged with Enid for missing episodes to be returned to BBC archives. Sue subsequently met Ian Levine, continuing the effort to recover missing episodes.
Elsewhere in the text article, Richard Latto of the National Motor Museum states he is working with FIF and has catalogued the late Terry Burnett's entire collection.
NEW/OLD EPISODES....AT LAST!
TWO EPISODES OF THE DALEKS' MASTER PLAN FOUND!!
13 - Official word comes via the BBC news website that Film Is Fabulous! have returned TWO episodes of 1965/66 serial The Daleks' Master Plan to the archives!
The episodes are the first and third instalments of the 12-part serial: "The Nightmare Begins" and "Devil's Planet". The story is now 5/12ths complete, with fans able to watch the first three episodes consecutively come this Easter.
This marks the first official announcement of missing episodes of Doctor Who returned by FIF to the BBC, with dozens of other film and television episodes already having been found and safely returned to respective rights holders. This is also the first return of missing episodes of Doctor Who since 2013 - and the first return of a William Hartnell/First Doctor episode since 2011.
Episode one is also Nicholas Courtney's Doctor Who debut (as Bret Vyon), as well as the earliest footage we have of Adrienne Hill as companion, Katarina.
The episodes were reportedly found in a cardboard box and in plastic bags, as part of the private collection of a late former industry professional.
The episodes will be available to view this Easter (Saturday, 4 April) on BBC iPlayer. In addition, a special screening organised by FIF is being held in London on the same day with Peter Purves (Steven Taylor) as guest of honour.
The total of missing episodes of Doctor Who now stands at 95.
And now...back to the rumours/forum posts...
In a post on GB, Tim Burrows confirms these episodes came from the collector whose estate went to probate last year. He will release a podcast later today (7am UK time) on his YouTube channel.
In two posts on GB, Paul Vanezis firstly confirms that the two found episodes are "bonus" to the two he already knew to exist, and also that the episodes are not yet vidFIRED or restored.
And interestingly, the BBC news article states that although this story was never sold overseas, copies were made by "technicians" to fix any technical problems prior to being offered for overseas sale (Ed:- so these are hitherto unknown additional prints of stories).
FIF post the news on their X account and website. Accompanying it is a special press release, with screengrabs from the recovered episodes.
Meanwhile Tim Burrows dedicates an episode of The Doctor Who Missing Episodes Podcast to the find. Among the fascinating reactions of those present on the day of the screening (11 March), from 22:34 John Franklin of FIF alludes to "cutting copies" - film prints struck from negatives of films of the original broadcasts of television programmes like Doctor Who, which were then projected for BBC Enterprises and examined for technical faults prior to commercial copies being made for overseas sales. John states this is a whole new avenue of research that FIF is following up, in conjunction with the BBC.
And finally - John Franklin says the collection held four additional episodes of Doctor Who - existing episodes which may be of superior quality. Titles have not yet been advised.
On GB, Richard Bignell states that unfortunately, episode 7 of The Daleks' Master Plan, "The Feast of Steven", was not made into a cutting copy since the decision not to include the episode was made long before copies were struck.
In a further post, Richard states they have known about the "cutting copy" process for over a decade, but it was believed until now that "nine times out of ten, the cutting copy would then be disposed of".
Later, FIF share video of the BBC Breakfast piece, featuring Toby Hadoke who hosted the private screening event for Peter Purves at Phoenix Cinema in Leicester, and of course Purves himself.
On Caprona Forum, member markhev1966 says he is hearing "two full stories to follow"!
Toby Hadoke posts a video on YouTube, in which he waxes lyrical about the return. Towards the end, he metaphorically gives "97" the boot and welcomes "95" in. But, he says, "95" shouldn't get too comfortable!
Toby also states the late, anonymous collector was happy to return the episodes because he had never watched them himself.
On X, in an interesting non-sequitur, Philip Morris under a congratulatory post to FIF, enquires about a "Tenth Planet 4 doco arriving this weekend" and whether it is "pure coincidence?"
The official Doctor Who YouTube channel releases a full 3 minutes of marvellous clips from the two found episodes.
Meanwhile, in a Radio Times Interview, Sue Malden discloses that the other episodes of Doctor Who found within the probate collection were:
The Daleks - 2 ("The Survivors"), 3 ("The Escape")
The Web Planet - 1 ("The Web Planet")
The Chase - 1 ("The Executioners")
However - on GB, member the consumer states that one of the returned episodes was actually The Daleks, 5 ("The Expedition"). (No source is provided for this comment, and is later self-corrected.)
14 - On Caprona, markhev1966 corrects his earlier post, saying it's "two episodes" to come not full stories. The member had been listening to a video on the subject and incorrectly understood.
On GB, member Paul Hayes says that on Norfolk BBC Local Radio, an announcer named Mark Stuckey said "there may be good news on the missing episode front for Doctor Who fans in the near future".
On X, when PV is asked to grade the chances of more ME's turning up within two years, from 1 (least likely) to 10 (most likely), Paul's reply is "10".
On YouTube, Greg Bakun posts a nostalgic look back at The Tenth Planet on VHS - could this be the "doco" that Phil Morris alluded to on X?
15 - On GB, when asked whether paperwork was kept for the cutting/technical copies, Richard Bignell replies that no such paperwork was retained.
16 - On GB, member the consumer corrects his earlier comment about the other prints found in the probate collection - Sue Malden's original list is correct.
On YouTube, Toby Hadoke posts his initial thoughts on "The Nightmare Begins".
However he also posts on Roobarbs, insisting that he is not hinting at more recovered episodes.
On YouTube, Radio Free Skaro releases an interview with Tim Burrows about the DMP find.
FIF release a "Statement on Doctor Who", in which they state they are not holding any further episodes of Doctor Who, and there is nothing additional to announce at the Easter release.
They further state that tickets for the screening of the two recovered episodes will go on sale Tuesday, 17 March 2026.
In more dousing of expectations, Tim Burrows posts that Mark Stuckey of BBC Local Radio Norfolk "got the wrong memo", and per the FIF statement "AFAIK there is nothing else on the horizon. Nothing is in the bag until it is in the bag".
17 - On their Facebook, FIF post details of the screening to take place at Riverside Studios in London on Saturday, 4 April. The event is entitled "Recovered", and the first three episodes of The Daleks' Master Plan will be shown.
Details of hosting are:
Screening: The Nightmare Begins
Hosted by: Toby Hadoke, with Sue Malden and Tim Burrows.
Screening: Day of Armageddon
Hosted by: Toby Hadoke, with Gavin Rymill and Paul Vanezis.
Screening: Devil’s Planet
Hosted by: Toby Hadoke, with Peter Purves and Nicholas Briggs.
Meanwhile, on the Missing Believed Wiped Facebook, Peter Purves advises that for his Patreon members, he has recorded an audio diary from the day he viewed the two recovered episodes at Leicester.
In a further FB post, FIF advise that the discussions on each episode will be filmed and available to view on their website and YouTube channel. (They will not be live-streamed.) As well, more details about the finds will be shared in the run-up to the event.
Meanwhile FIF share on their X account that demand for tickets to the Riverside Studios event caused the site to crash, due to the highest-ever demand for tickets to a cinema event at the venue.
On their YouTube, FIF share a radio interview with Prof. Justin Smith and Peter Purves about the finds.
Also on their YouTube, John Franklin gives more background into the collection that yielded the episodes.
Then on GB - member xj900uk claims that there are still "3 more ... Hartnell [episodes]" in private collections, "including another DMP one".
18 - On PMF, The Space Pirate posts that the William Hartnell section of the AppleTV store is down; the other Doctors' sections are working fine. Could this indicate Australian fans might indeed get to see the recovered DMP episodes this way?
On GB, member nfitz shares a CBC interview with Prof. Justin Smith, explaining more about he circumstances of the find. Prof Smith explains that despite the late gentleman's collection being stored in a garage and parts of it having water damage, the Doctor Who film cans and labels were "pristine" - having been wrapped in plastic bags. The collector did not have an immediate connection to the film or television industries.
Further downthread, member xj900uk restates his claim that he knows of "three more Hartnell eppys that are definitely out there".
19 - On their Facebook, FIF post describing the work being done by R3store Studios on the recovered episodes of Doctor Who.
20 - FIF release six short clips from the recovered episodes, showing the restoration work being carried out by R3store Studios.
And on their Facebook, FIF post additional stills from the episodes, along with the advice that it was they who, in accordance with their aims as a charitable trust, requested that BBC Archives make the episodes available on BBC iPlayer. Also, it was BBC Archives who commissioned R3store Studios to perform the restoration work.
Meanwhile FIF release six more short clips on their YouTube:
23 - On their X account, FIF post that R3Store Studios have delivered the two episodes of The Daleks' Master Plan to the BBC, for uploading to iPlayer.
24 - On their YouTube, FIF post another video on restoring the episodes of Doctor Who.
And on their FB, FIF post a companion piece to the video explaining more about the process.
Scott Ferre's imaginary world of contacts and secret knowledge should not be reported on here.
ReplyDeleteScot had valid information in the run up to the reveal of Enemy and Web, as did many people, if you go back and look. I love these kinds of statements saying what others should and should not do.
ReplyDeleteinteresting the australian archives took the hobart dump collection. obviously a deceased owner where the films were thrown in the dump. unlikely dr who is in it but unless the AA print a list then who knows what the films are. if there is a dr who in there are the AA even looking for them.
ReplyDeleteYeah you'd hope at some point we'd get an update on what was found. Not sure how that would happen though?
Deletewonder why the australian archives would take the hobart dump collection if there is nothing of interest in it.
ReplyDeleteI was told they would do that as a matter of course, since its BBC material, but I wonder if they have an obligation to reveal anything to the public as to what was found? Seems unlikely, unfortunately
Deleteone thing I know about the australian archives is there is a big list online of all the TV shows they hold and there are rare ones amoung them. Australian shows from every channel some of which I would like to see but lots of red tape getting copies at this stage unless you go there and view them. if these films get listed and anything worthwhile is there then it may be possible to view them at their premesis. but if they don't want BBC shows then they may well return them to the UK.
ReplyDeleteI would say the chances of a dr who episode being at the revival house are near zero but it looks like they may be dr who fans because when I told them this they never replied or said what they intend to do if they did find a missing dr who amoung the films. it is surprising a 1 inch quad tape and what looks like a 2 inch quad tape is in the pile. since this is a cinema those items should not be there.
ReplyDeleteeveryone thought episode 4 of masterplan might turn up, which makes it great that episodes 1 and 3 have turned up. the question is of course where is episode 4? and why did it not turn up amoung the other 2 episodes and IF that gets found then we will have episodes 1-5 of this story complete.
ReplyDeleteYeah it's amazing news, and there seems to be no rhyme or reason to what can be found. No Marco!?
Deletealso 4 EXISTING dr who episodes were amoung them and what a great pity they were NOT 4 more MISSING episodes with episode 4 of masterplan included. time will tell if that episode ever turns up or is really gone for good.
ReplyDeleteapparently the collector was NOT a dr who fan and had never even watched the 2 episodes. surprising he had kept them and not sold them to a dr who fan years ago. some say this is not the deceased estate FIF were pursuing and same say it is. imagine the backlash if they were NOT able to get them and said what they are. lucky they got them. if these dalek eps have turned up then it is possible eps from power/evil of the daleks could turn up. I used to have doubts but not anymore. anything could possibly turn up (well except masterplan ep 7)
ReplyDeleteIndeed - he kept these viewing copies all these years and we get to benefit. Np Hartnells for 15 years then six at once! :D
Deleteone thing no one mentioned is that FIF most likely paid to get these episodes back or paid for the whole film collection-if that works then good. it is surprising the surviving relatives did not grab all the dr who episodes knowing the value but must have decided to let FIF have them rather than sell to dr who fans on ebay. imagine the prices for masterplan. one thing is certain. this is the LAST chance of finding more dr who episodes. the chances of finding more in 10-20 years time must be near zero and by then most of us won't be around to watch them. now is the time to get them back and 13 years between the last find is not good odds-so this is the last chance to get these episodes returned.
ReplyDeleteThe collector was not a Dr Who fan and didn't know what he had in that respect either. It was Richard Franklin that spotted the 1 DMP can (episode 1) when he first visited the collector and nothing more was known about until FiF had secured the collection and the chance to go through it properly. 10,000 cans if I remember rightly.
DeleteYes, but the FIF representative is John Franklin.
DeleteYeah, I mistakenly called him that on PMF! Too many Richard's in my life LOL!
DeleteAh, I've now seen your post. Welcome to the blog
Delete10,000 cans needed a big truck to transport. amazing we got the 2 missing dr who episodes but 10,000 cans and only 6 dr who episodes. put those odds in perspective.
ReplyDeleteno black dalek in masterplan ep 1 and no more alien delegates except chen and zephon who gets blasted in ep 3. we did get a look at the delegates in ep 2. lets hope that episodes 4, 11 and 12 get recovered as they are important episodes to the story
ReplyDelete