www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/106-doctor-w...es-uncovered-2343474

Over 100 long-lost Doctor Who episodes found by dedicated fans - in Ethiopia
6 Oct 2013 00:00
The Sunday People can exclusively reveal that 106 BBC programmes have been unearthed featuring the first two doctors

A group of dedicated Doctor Who fans tracked down at least 100 long-lost episodes of the show gathering dust more than 3,000 miles away in Ethiopia.

It was feared the BBC ­programmes from the 1960s - featuring the first two doctors William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton - had vanished for all time after the Beeb flogged off a load of old footage.

But after months of ­detective work the tapes have been unearthed at the Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency.

A television insider said: “It is a triumph and fans ­everywhere will be thrilled.

“This is a really big deal for the BBC and is set to make them millions from the sale of the DVDs.”

If the tapes are returned in time the BBC hopes to announce the news during ­celebrations to mark Doctor Who’s 50th ­anniversary next month.

The Thick Of It actor Peter Capaldi, 55, takes over from Matt Smith as the 12th Time Lord at Christmas.

The recovered episodes from the 60s include much-loved scenes from The Crusade, The Enemy of the World and The Ice Warriors series.

In the four-part Crusade story Hartnell and his ­assistant Vicki, played by Maureen O’Brien, arrive in the Tardis in Palestine in the 12th century just as King Richard the Lionheart is doing battle with the Saracen ruler Saladin.

After each airing only once between 1964 and 1969, copies were sold to the Ethiopian Agency and the BBC then lost or wiped the originals.

As the corporation still owns the copyright the shows could be digitally remastered and shown again. The prospect will delight millions of fans worldwide.

Doctor Who expert Stuart Kelly revealed news of the discovery at the Wigtown Book Festival in Scotland last week.

When contacted by the Sunday People he said: “I was told by a friend that the ­episodes have been found in Ethiopia. The BBC is ­negotiating to get them back right now. I really can’t say any more than that.”

Rumours emerged of the lost shows earlier this year when tapes and 16in films of 90 episodes were thought to have been handed to a TV historian after turning up in a container loaded on a ship from Zambia.

In December 2011 two other ­episodes that were thought to have been lost were returned to the BBC.

The shows, from 1965 and 1967, ­starring Hartnell and Troughton, were found three decades after they were sold by mistake at a village fete.

The 50th anniversary episode of Doctor Who will be broadcast ­simultaneously in at least 70 countries on November 23, the BBC has said.

There have been rumours of this for some years, the article itself is a little poorly written to say the least.
I'm agnostic as to the veracity of this.

www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/long-lost-do...des-unveiled-2345526

Long-lost Doctor Who episodes to be unveiled THIS WEEK by the BBC
6 Oct 2013 20:12

The BBC will this week unveil 'lost' episodes of Doctor Who - giving many fans the chance to watch them for the first time.

The 1960s programmes - featuring the first two doctors William Hartnell and Patrick Troughton - vanished after the Beeb flogged off a load of old footage and wiped copies or lost them.

But the corporation’s commercial arm BBC Worldwide has now called a press conference and screening on Tuesday in a London hotel.

The invitation sent out had he event details written inside the screen of a old-fashioned sixties style television set, complete with a dial to tune in the channels, seeming to hint at the type of news to come.

Journalists will be told exactly which old footage has been recovered, with some of it then broadcast on screen to watch.

A senior BBC source said: "There will be big news this Tuesday regarding lost Doctor Who episodes.

"It is great that in the show’s 50th year, fans will now be able to look back with classic episodes as well as looking to the future with the new film-length episode in November.

“For some fans watching their lost episodes will be like going back in time.”

Rumours that up to 100 old episodes have been recovered have circulated for months.

In June it was claimed a company called Television International Enterprises Archives had found up to 90 episodes in Sierra Leone.

Meanwhile this weekend the Sunday People reported the episodes had been unearthed at the Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency.

A BBC spokesman played down the reports that more than 100 of the old episodes had been found.

However, when asked if there were some episodes to announce this week, he admitted: “There is a connection.”

Asked for a further official comment, he said he could not say anything more before Tuesday’s press screening.

Previously when asked Philip Fleming, Head of Communications, Brands, Content & Digital, BBC Worldwide said: “There are always rumours and speculation about Doctor Who missing episodes being discovered, however we cannot confirm any new finds.”

The BBC is notoriously secretive about revealing Doctor Who news.

They denied a Mirror story in 2012 saying Timelord actor Matt Smith was leaving at the end of 2013, only for the story to be proved correct months later.

The recovered episodes from the 60s could include much-loved scenes from The Crusade, The Enemy of the World and The Ice Warriors series.

In the four-part Crusade story Hartnell and his ­assistant Vicki, played by Maureen O’Brien, arrive in the Tardis in Palestine in the 12th century just as King Richard the Lionheart is doing battle with the Saracen ruler Saladin.

Radio Times are saying 2 episodes to be released via itunes on Wednesday
www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-10-06/docto...d-for-sale-this-week

MCR Media wrote:
Radio Times are saying 2 episodes to be released via itunes on Wednesday
www.radiotimes.com/news/2013-10-06/docto...d-for-sale-this-week
Like most things in the Mirror, it's a mirror image of the real story. Hundreds of episodes have not been found in Ephiopa. It's rubbish. This story first appeared some years ago & is believed to be a hoax. Perhaps the Mirror should print some real news, instead of printing out of date rubbish? All are they trying to be the new Daily Sport.

Several of episodes are in Zimbabwe.