Two long-lost episodes of the classic 1960s science fiction series Doctor Who are set to be released on Good Friday, offering fans a rare glimpse into the show's early history.
The rediscovered instalments, previously thought to be missing from archives, will be available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.
Titled "The Nightmare Begins" and "Devil’s Planet," these episodes form part of the third series' epic storyline, "The Daleks’ Master Plan." Written by Terry Nation and starring William Hartnell as the first incarnation of the Doctor, they will be accessible from April 3 at 6am.
A released clip from "The Nightmare Begins" shows the Doctor navigating a jungle city before being confronted at gunpoint.
The discovery was made by Film Is Fabulous! (FIF), a Leicester-based charitable trust comprising film collectors and cinema enthusiasts. Following their find, FIF collaborated with the BBC Archives, which undertook the meticulous restoration of the 16mm telerecordings to broadcast quality.
The episodes also feature Peter Purves as the Doctor’s companion Steven Taylor, Nicholas Courtney as Bret Vyon – who would later become known for his role as Brigadier Alistair Lethbridge Stewart in the series – Adrienne Hill as Katarina, and Kevin Stoney as Mavic Chen. Hartnell originated the role of the Doctor, playing the character from 1963 until 1966.
Noreen Adams, director of BBC Archives, expressed her delight at the find. "We’re thrilled to have worked with the team at Film Is Fabulous! to bring these lost Doctor Who episodes to viewers on BBC iPlayer this Easter," she said.
"BBC Archives has been working to restore the original recordings and update these to broadcast quality, ensuring fans can enjoy a little extra treat with their Easter eggs this April."
The original Doctor Who series aired from 1963 to 1989, before its successful reboot in 2005. The most recent season, featuring Ncuti Gatwa as the 15th Doctor, aired in 2025. Its finale saw Gatwa’s Doctor regenerate, seemingly replaced by Billie Piper, who famously played Rose Tyler, the Doctor’s first companion in the 2005 revival.
The episode also included a guest appearance from Jodie Whittaker, the 13th Doctor, as Gatwa’s incarnation traversed alternate universes. The programme concluded with a credit sequence stating: "Ncuti Gatwa as the Doctor. Jodie Whittaker as the Doctor. And introducing Billie Piper."
