Doctor Who confirms release date for missing story The Savages animation

Originally aired from May to June 1966, the tale is now being transformed into an animated journey, serving as a final appearance for companion Steven Taylor.

Because the BBC historically erased content following broadcasts, the original master tapes of The Savages have been unfortunately destroyed or discarded.

It’s great news that BBC Studios has revitalized this story by incorporating the original soundtracks from all four episodes and adding fresh animations, making it appealing to a whole new audience.

Under the leadership of the First Doctor, portrayed by William Hartnell, the narrative unfolds with him accompanied by his new travel mates, Steven (played by Peter Purves) and Dodo (Jackie Lane). They unexpectedly find themselves on a yet-unnamed planet.

When there, they realise that there are two distinct groups of people, the Elders and the Savages.

Following an unexpected turn, I soon uncovered that these Elders were not as benevolent as they seemed. In fact, they were exploiting the Savages, sapping their vitality to maintain their own youthfulness. A classic twist, reminiscent of Doctor Who’s storytelling style.

In the upcoming episode, you’ll catch a sneak peek of the story unfolding, as a short preview offers glimpses of the exciting moments ahead.

It’s evident that without any words being spoken, the cunning tactics of the Elders are on full display, along with the fact that they have effectively stripped the Savages of all their possessions.

But will the Doctor and his companions be able to help them in time?

It appears that they must collaborate to rescue the Savages, but given the rapid spread of smoke within their confined area, is there a possibility that danger or difficulty lies ahead for the Doctor, Steven, and Dodo?

Regarding the reveal of The Savages, Paul Hembury, the executive producer, expressed his excitement saying, “Our skilled team of creators collaborate effectively to resurrect the long-lost Doctor Who tales using animation.

For devoted Doctor Who fans eager to own the episodes personally, the three-disc collection offers some thrilling extras.

Apart from receiving the four 25-minute episodes in both color and black & white, viewers will additionally have access to reenactments of all four episodes. These reenactments are based on materials from the initial 1966 production.

Additional features offer audio commentaries from Toby Hadoke, featuring actors Kay Patrick (as Flower), the late Robert Sidaway (in his role as Avon), Peter Purves (as Steven), and studio floor assistant Julian Aston across episodes 1 to 4.

Here I am to share some exciting extras with you! There’s an array of animations and photo galleries up for grabs, not to mention a fresh 90-minute documentary delving into the life story of Doctor Who’s producer, Innes Lloyd. Additionally, a captivating 100-minute documentary sheds light on the behind-the-scenes creation of the original 1966 production of The Savages!