A BBC Spokeswoman issued a statement about saying:
“There are always rumours and speculation about Doctor Who missing episodes being discovered - however we cannot confirm any new finds,”.
The Radio Times asked them to clarify this and were told “We can’t confirm because it’s not true as far a I’m aware,”.
Asked if they were talking to Philip Morris of Television International Enterprises Archives who say they are the “world’s foremost archive recovery company” she replied “I don’t think so?”
So there are no episodes? “Not as far as we know.”
So that seemed as if the BBC would neither confirm or deny this.
A statement has now been released on Facebook by Philip Morris.
T.I.E.A. does not hold any missing episodes of the long-running Dr Who series. The original videotapes were wiped [and] subsequent film copies were either returned to the BBC [or] sent to landfill. Odd fragments have surfaced - two episodes on 16mm film - but that's it. The programmes in question, like many others, were destroyed as they had no further commercial value. They are not missing but destroyed. The end.
I am sorry if this upsets some people but these are the facts.
I have also become aware of the tracking of some of our clients' shipments. These are local cultural materials sent to us for migration to a modern format as the playback equipment in the country of origin no longer exists and as such is the best road to preserve international cultural heritage.
I will be making no more statements on this subject.
Philip Morris, Executive Director, T.I.E.A.
So this appears to be the last word on the subject. This rumour is something I have been hearing for a couple of months now. The person that told me said they had seen proof.
Now I have no reason to disbelief them but I am sceptical until I see proof or we have an announcement to confirm the existence of these.
We will keep you updated when we hear more.
The latest of course being is that one of the original reporters of this rumour, Outpost Skaro, is sticking to their guns stating that a very reputable source has re-confirmed that a huge haul of missing TV episodes HAS been found. The only thing that's in doubt is: a) the quality of the reels, and possibly accuracy in their labelling; and b)how much of any is actually Dr Who, although the source does claim that there appears to be at least some Who in the haul. That's where it still stands, despite what other sites are reporting.
ReplyDeleteThe statement says: T.I.E.A. does not hold any missing episodes of the long-running Dr Who series.
ReplyDeleteIt has been pointed out to me, if they have handed them over to someone else, the BBC for example then indeed they would not be holding any episodes at T.I.E.A