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NINE MISSING EPISODES of the cult BBC science fiction drama “Doctor Who” have been found in a television station storeroom in Nigeria, nearly half a century after they were last seen, the broadcaster said.
Among the recovered 1960s footage is most of the classic story “The Web of Fear”, a black and white adventure in which the Time Lord, then played by Patrick Troughton, battles a robot yeti in London’s underground train system.
The tapes were found gathering dust in a television station in Jos, a central Nigerian city plagued by chronic sectarian violence.
The trove, which is being described by the BBC as the “largest haul of missing episodes recovered in the last three decades”, also includes six-part story “The Enemy of the World.”
“It’s thrilling,” said Mark Gatiss, author of recent “Doctor Who” episodes.
“Every single avenue seemed to have been exhausted, every now and then something turns up — but to have two virtually complete stories out of the blue is absolutely incredible.”
The BBC destroyed many of the drama’s original tapes in the 1960s and 1970s but some were copied for sale to foreign broadcasters.
Despite the find, 97 episodes remain lost.
The episodes were uncovered by Phillip Morris, director of Television International Enterprises Archive.
“The tapes had been left gathering dust in a storeroom at a television relay station in Nigeria,” he told the BBC, adding that they were “just sitting on the shelf.”
“I remember wiping the dust off the masking tape on the canisters and my heart missed a beat as I saw the words, Doctor Who. When I read the story code I realised I’d found something pretty special,” he added.
The tapes originally went from Britain to Hong Kong and then on to a series of television stations in Nigeria as part of the distribution systems that operated at the time.
Morris said he had been “lucky” to find the tapes intact given the high temperatures in Nigeria.
“Fortunately in this case they had been kept in the optimum condition,” he said.
He joked that he is often described as the “Indiana Jones of the film world” for discovering the cache of tapes.
The new programmes will be available on iTunes from today and will be released on DVD later.
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Before the negative comments start I’d like to say I think I’m the midst of these extraordinary circumstances I think our government is doing extremely well in coping with the virus. It’s far to easy for any of us to use this as an opportunity to throw out cheap shots and be critical. We know nothing of what it must be like to make such crucial decisions that will never be able to please or serve all of the people but have to made regardless.
@2thFairy: The only negative comment I have is about Trump thinking Dublin airport was in UK,did I read the article properly?
The Government ‘s emergency packages and all the political leaders including FG’s leader,their health Spokesperson and experts holding regular meetings re Convid19 ,etc has been reassuring to the public.Legislation will be needed to be passed in thee Dail asap.
Thanks too to all the Convid19 testing staff, laboratories,nurses, doctors,etc,those involved in contact tracing,etc.for all your work.
@2thFairy: In fairness those arguments could be made about every single situation a government faces.
Let’s see what happens in a few weeks.
Our health service has been untouched or reformed – by government choice – for the last decade. And cannot cope with a potentially serious crisis. That’s on Leo.
Our economy is extremely exposed thanks to enormous debt and poor fiscal management. It won’t withstand a major economic shock. That’s on Leo and co.
If this goes badly it’s the last decade of stupidity that will make it worse.
Just like the two decades of ignorance leading up to the global economic crisis made it
So much worse
@Shazam37: what planet have you just landed from
@damien ryan: he’s perfectly right
@Shazam37: I agree with you 100%
Though I would never say it but Leo and his top government ministers are playing a blinder…Trump on the other hand God help America!!
@Pat Lonergan: pffft. A blinder my foot. Statements are easy to make. Let’s see how things play out and judge them then.
Irish – so easily led by deeply average speeches.
Leo doing Ireland proud abroad!
Maybe Leo’s Indian heritage confused the president but the head flick howiya is a distinctly Irish greeting.
Fake leader, more important than being at home with the country in panic. Absolute dope.
@A Cos: What a stupid uninformed thing to say.
@A Cos: You’re being too hard on Trumpy.
@A Cos: these interactions with major trading partners are an essential part of the job. US FDI companies provide a significant number of well-paid jobs here, and Ireland has traditionally used March 17 to maintain an unprecedented level.of access to the Oval Office.
He’s earning his salary this week with these meetings, and still managing to stay on top of issues at home.
Give the guy a break, even if you dislike him for political reasons.
@A Cos: you have just delivered such an uneducated and immature comment.
@John Mulligan: very well said.
@Earth Traveller: That will go so over his head!!
@Pat Lonergan: the Leo lover crew out in force I see. We gave never had a bad relationship with the US in the history of the state, if you honestly believe that a man flying over for a photo op on Paddys weekend is the only reason we have a good relationship with the US well then you are the person who might have comments go over your head
@A Cos: another uneducated comment.
@John Mulligan: as I’ve said earlier, this whole agenda is unprecedented in our history. Do you honestly believe that these yearly photo ops are the reason we have good trade relationships with the US. Do you think if Leo had said, look Donald things are getting serious now, I need to be at home with my people. I’m sure as volatile as Trump is he would not shut the borders a d trade deals to Ireland
@2thFairy: any other input person with anonymous profile?
@A Cos: he is playing a blinder on this virus. Appropriate action at the right time. Look past your inner twisted gizzards and try find some good.
@A Cos: “trade deal with Ireland” .. lol … sweet mother of God.. are you completely ignorant of the EU and trade?
@Pat Lonergan: did you just say ” will so go over his head?” Wow!
@A Cos: to be fair they get more than a photo op. How many world leaders get an annual one on one with POtUS? Their entourages get access. They meet congressional leaders and influential people at lunches etc.
It gives us access most other countries would kill
For. Let’s not down play the significance of it.
I wonder how much did this cost us in spin doctors fees?
While going through customs in Dublin airport trump praised the UK for its strong border!!!am I missing something here
It that two nice bowls of Shamrock on the mantlepiece??
Our smug Taoiseach has stated we have never had a pandemic like this in living history.
What about the spainish fly 1918 that killed 100m.
1968 flu pandemics killed 1m world wide.
H1N1 more commonly known as the flu they say the same.
Take same precautions washing hands etc, can be caught the same way etc.
Symptoms the same.
There seems to be a lot of scaremongering going on. Which makes Irish people more irrational than usual!
However swine flu with about 150,000–575,000 fatalities
Hahaha all the ffg bum L1ckers on looking for any little thing to try repair their failed masters reputation. They’ve done nothing all year but make complete fools out of themselves, bots and masters alike
Would have thought the Donald would be more into a nod of the head accompanied by a swift click of the heels,…
#ABT2020
Did Leo have crazy green socks on?
Bit of tromboning
Hi boys
see the first post on my twitter…
only 18+
@Annaa69: you’re alright
Please self-isolate as Trump met with someone from Brazil last week who has been tested positive for covid-19!
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