Missing Episodes

So, after nearly a year of all sorts of rumours, the moment of truth is nearly upon us. By Midnight BST tomorrow, we should know whether or not more 60's episodes are back with the BBC.

The numbers quoted over the course of the year have varied from 2 to all 106. From what I have heard from various sources, the likeliest initial announcement will be 9 episodes. The 5 missing from Enemy of the World, and 4 from Web of Fear with just episode 3 not being available. These will, allegedly, be released for download on itunes as soon as the announcement is made.

Other stories in the frame for possible recovery include Marco Polo, The Crusades, The Highlanders, The Abominable Snowmen and The Wheel in Space to name but five. If this is true, then expect further iplayer releases after the Anniversary, with DVD and/or Blu-Ray only following on later, if at all.

Fingers crossed for a truly wonderful 50th.

This is the Gen-X cynic in me, revealing itself: Color me skeptical. I'll believe there are actually tapes when I see them in the hands of the BBC.

Sounds like there is a delay in the initial announcement, now until Thursday. Hope they don't push it back until later, it's been a hard enough wait as it is!

Many episodes ARE back with the BBC and ready to go. The delay is due to the aspergic nature of the finder. Once the announcements are all made, I'll provide much more info.

The wrote:.....

Other stories in the frame for possible recovery include Marco Polo, The Crusades, The Highlanders, The Abominable Snowmen and The Wheel in Space to name but five. If this is true, then expect further iplayer releases after the Anniversary, with DVD and/or Blu-Ray only following on later, if at all.

Fingers crossed for a truly wonderful 50th.

C=O, I'm a bit worried by that 'if at all'.  Do you know if it is likely that DVDs won't be released of any newly found stories?

Andrea, to the extent that there are missing episodes which complete a previously incomplete story, the BBC will almost certainly want to get these in the line-up to be released on DVD, and include lots of documentary extras on the finding of the missing episodes itself. It's a self-made marketing opportunity for the BBC.

The" co="Ordinator wrote:Many episodes ARE back with the BBC and ready to go. The delay is due to the aspergic nature of the finder. Once the announcements are all made, I'll provide much more info.

That's a relief! When you say many, do you mean more than the widely-expected Enemy of the World and all-but-episode-three of Web of Fear?

Patrick wrote:Andrea, to the extent that there are missing episodes which complete a previously incomplete story, the BBC will almost certainly want to get these in the line-up to be released on DVD, and include lots of documentary extras on the finding of the missing episodes itself.  It's a self-made marketing opportunity for the BBC.

I do hope so - I have a particular affection for all the black and white stuff as it is my dim and distant 'childhood Doctor Who'.  We moved house and I turned thirteen in the summer of 1969 so the colourful Pertwee years really do have very different associations for me (although I'm very fond of them too, of course!)

Sheesh, haven't posted in these parts since May.

I've spent far too much time bouncing from forum to forum today and my head is spinning. It's all too strange.

Looking forward to getting your perspective, C=O.

andrea wrote:C=O, I'm a bit worried by that 'if at all'.  Do you know if it is likely that DVDs won't be released of any newly found stories?  

Certainly not in the near future Andrea. I've already asked someone who is technically competent to download whatever is released and burn it to DVD for me.

Starfighter Pilot wrote:That's a relief! When you say many, do you mean more than the widely-expected Enemy of the World and all-but-episode-three of Web of Fear?

My belief is between 25 and 30 episodes. But that's just an opinion based on what I've been told, and could be miles off the mark.

Hacky wrote:Sheesh, haven't posted in these parts since May.

I've spent far too much time bouncing from forum to forum today and my head is spinning. It's all too strange.

Looking forward to getting your perspective, C=O.

No point bouncing to GB. I'm told they've closed the missing episodes thread and discussion of them anywhere is banned. Totally bizarre at this time!

GB's paranoia about something or other has caused them to over-moderate the missing episodes thread ever since these rumours started. It's been virtually impossible to discuss anything as a result.

In the meantime, twitter seems to be the place to go for any developments, not that there have been any beyond what's been mentioned in this thread.

In the meantime, C=O is there any doubt at all about this? Is there even the potential for this to be another hoax or are we really going to be discussing The Enemy of the World having all seen it within the next few days?

No, it's definitely not a hoax. Not going to name names, but confirmation came over the weekend from unimpeachable sources. The whole process has actually taken 3 years to complete, which is why this stumble at the very last has come as no surprise. I will impart some proper background once the announcement etc has finally happened.

A thought has crossed my mind though. What the BBC planned, on Saturday, to release at midnight may not be the same as when they finally do the press conference.

Excellent stuff, After Fury From the Deep, Enemy has always been at the top of my most wanted list. Really looking forward to seeing what the result if all if this is.

I suppose now that the worst case scenario is that all they've found is Episode 1 of The Space Pirates!

That's not the case!

Reading what's been put up at GB about the closure of the Missing Episodes Thread, I'd say he's been asked/told to do it.

The wrote:

andrea wrote:C=O, I'm a bit worried by that 'if at all'.  Do you know if it is likely that DVDs won't be released of any newly found stories?  

Certainly not in the near future Andrea. I've already asked someone who is technically competent to download whatever is released and burn it to DVD for me.

Hmm, pretty sure I know no one who could do that so would probably have to learn to do it myself...  if I can be bothered!

Why might they never be released on DVD?  A money thing because they think they have a limited market for back and white or what?

I did notice when reading (some of!) the Missing Episodes thread at GB that even those who think a massive amount has been found were suggesting that The Daleks' Masterplan  - which I remember posting on here as being one I particularly wanted to see - was the only one still missing! Which I found very funny, for some reason..

andrea wrote:Why might they never be released on DVD?  A money thing because they think they have a limited market for back and white or what?

They may be, but in the short term at least it's so much easier to simply put them up on itunes for £6 or £8 or whatever per story. Gets the money rolling in without having to use the distribution chain. Massive profit margin and loads of dosh for BBC Worldwide.

The" co="Ordinator wrote:

andrea wrote:Why might they never be released on DVD?  A money thing because they think they have a limited market for back and white or what?

They may be, but in the short term at least it's so much easier to simply put them up on itunes for £6 or £8 or whatever per story. Gets the money rolling in without having to use the distribution chain. Massive profit margin and loads of dosh for BBC Worldwide.

Guess I won't be seeing them then!

News report from the BBC itself.

andrea wrote:

The wrote:

andrea wrote:Why might they never be released on DVD?  A money thing because they think they have a limited market for back and white or what?

They may be, but in the short term at least it's so much easier to simply put them up on itunes for £6 or £8 or whatever per story. Gets the money rolling in without having to use the distribution chain. Massive profit margin and loads of dosh for BBC Worldwide.

Guess I won't be seeing them then!  

Don't give up hope, Andrea. I still maintain that if missing episodes are recovered that complete a story, they will eventually go out on DVD. There's too much of an opportunity to put DVD documentary extras on them as a selling point about how the missing episodes were found and returned, etc. And this is a subject that has appeal all over the world if you count yourself a Doctor Who fan.

Told that there will be DVD or BluRay release, but I very much doubt they'll be out until the second half of next year.

Meanwhile maybe on Enemy of the World will be released initially - issues surrounding Web of Fear and the missing episode.

I find it extraordinary that, even though the BBC have released the news, GB won't allow any discussion!

Well maybe if you made the topic cryptic enough, you could discuss it on there. Just take the "no-names" contortions to a higher level. :)Or, more sensibly, just wait until things settle down and get back to normal.

Even then, I don't think I'll want to discuss this on a megathread with 1000 participants.

Edit: Hey, when did I get a "Creativity Award"? I've been posting from the mobile and hadn't noticed this before.

Oh, probably back in 2010 or thereabouts.

You did my avatar many years ago, didn't you Hacky?