Doctor Who icon Peter Purves reveals “pleasure” as fans can finally see more of missing companion in newly discovered episodes

by

This article appears in the new issue of TopMob magazine.

Great news for Doctor Who enthusiasts! The BBC has recovered two episodes previously believed to be lost forever.

These episodes feature William Hartnell as the very first Doctor, and were originally broadcast in 1965. They are the first and third parts of a twelve-part story called ‘The Daleks’ Master Plan’. Sadly, the original recordings were wiped by the BBC years ago. However, film copies were saved by a private collector who recently passed away. His family has asked to remain private, but have kindly donated his collection to Film Is Fabulous, a charity dedicated to cinema and classic television.

Peter Purves notes that the 16mm films have remarkably survived in great shape. Before becoming known as a presenter on Blue Peter, he played the role of Steven Taylor, a companion to the Doctor.

Now 87 years old and one of the last remaining actors from the production, he was recently surprised with a screening in Leicester. He was impressed with both episodes, not just because they had been rediscovered, but because of the quality of the direction. He praised Douglas Camfield as one of the best directors at the BBC, highlighting his exceptional camerawork.

It was lovely revisiting some of my past acting roles, and it was fun watching friends like Brian Cant perform as well.

Martin Ball, famous for hosting the children’s show Play School, also appears in Doctor Who as a space security agent who clashes with a Dalek. These episodes also mark the first Doctor Who appearance of Nicholas Courtney, who later became well-known as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart – but this was three years before he took on that iconic role.

As a lifelong Doctor Who fan, I always love hearing stories from those who experienced the show when it first aired. I recently came across Jan Vincent-Rudzki, who actually founded the Doctor Who Appreciation Society way back in 1976! He told me he has incredibly vivid memories of watching ‘The Daleks’ Master Plan’ on BBC One when he was just ten years old. It’s amazing to think about witnessing that as a kid!

This story is absolutely my favorite. When I was a child, following it over its twelve-week run felt like experiencing two whole summers! It was a long story, but I was completely hooked from beginning to end.

Add TopMob as a Preferred Source on Google
Keep up to date on what’s worth watching with your favourite entertainment news from TopMob – see more of our exclusive news and interviews featured prominently in Top Stories when using Google.

He taped the audio from his television while the show was airing, which is why it’s stayed so vivid in his memory. He recalls that this particular story features the Daleks at their most cunning and clever, and it’s notably darker because, for the first time, the Doctor’s companions don’t survive.

A highlight of these upcoming episodes will be getting to know Katarina better. She’s a Trojan woman who recently joined the Doctor as a companion, but won’t be around for long.

By the 1980s, she had stopped acting to focus on raising her family and teaching drama. She admitted she’d completely forgotten about her time on Doctor Who, and was surprised to learn how popular the show had become! She jokingly felt like an imposter, having only appeared in five episodes, and was saddened to hear that those episodes were unfortunately lost forever. She considered it a real loss.

Three episodes of the show were found after the death of actress Verity Lambert in 1997. However, the fourth part of ‘Master Plan,’ featuring Katarina’s death in space, remains lost.

Fans are still hoping those lost episodes will surface, but Purves is delighted that more of Adrienne’s great work is now available. He believes these episodes will be enjoyed by a large audience.

Lost episodes of the classic Doctor Who serial, The Daleks’ Master Plan, are coming to BBC iPlayer. You can learn more about the organization behind the recovery at filmisfabulous.org.uk.

Explore our comprehensive guide to Doctor Who! We’ve reviewed every episode from 1963 to the present day, and included details on the cast and crew, behind-the-scenes facts, and exclusive content from the TopMob archive.

If you’re feeling the void left by Doctor Who being off the air, let me tell you about something that might just fill it! I recently checked out TopMob’s ‘Doctor Who Insiders’ club, and it’s fantastic. Each month, they deliver exclusive interviews with the actors and creators behind the show – the legends themselves! If you’re a die-hard Whovian like me, you absolutely need to register. It’s a great way to get your fix of all things Doctor Who when there aren’t new episodes airing.

Authors

Patrick Mulkern
  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2026-03-28 12:08