Doctor Who legend is "furious" at BBC over missing episodes – doesn't think they'll be found
"The closest thing I feel is anger."
Peter Purves, the Doctor Who star who played First Doctor companion Steven Taylor, has spoken out about the show's missing episodes – many of which he featured in.
A total of 97 episodes from the show's first six years are currently lost because the BBC erased or reused tapes in the 1960s and 1970s to save storage space and costs. Purves appeared in a total of 46 Doctor Who episodes, and of these, 30 are still missing.
Speaking with this month's issue of Doctor Who Magazine, Purves was asked whether he held out hope that any of them would be found, to which he admitted he "gave up long ago".
"The closest thing I feel is anger," he said. "I'm furious the BBC were so profligate and unthinking. They didn't even archive the telecine copies. How stupid is that?!"
When asked which stories he thought fans were missing out on the most, Purves suggested: "It's a great shame The Massacre has gone.
"I'd like to see The Myth Makers again. I think the fans want The Daleks' Master Plan. Not a chance! I doubt it'll ever turn up."
Purves also reflected on the show's 1965 Christmas special The Feast of Steven, the story of which partly took place on a Hollywood silent film set.
"It was all the things I love about cinema. I love silent movies - good ones. Laurel and Hardy, obviously. Chaplin never did it for me - too soppy, too sentimental. But Buster Keaton was the king. Absolute genius. He's my all-time hero.
"I adore excellent slapstick – proper slapstick, done brilliantly. And the stupidity of the Keystone Cops? Still makes me laugh today. Now, we've got all that in The Feast of Steven."
Read more:
- Doctor Who's Ncuti Gatwa reveals he doesn't know who the next Doctor will be
- Doctor Who showrunner reveals strict rule for killing off characters
Speaking earlier this year, Sue Malden – the BBC's first archive selector who has worked to find Doctor Who's missing episodes across the years – gave some hope to fans.
"Every one has been recorded," she said. "They've got to be there somewhere. And we now think we know a few places where they might be."
Doctor Who Magazine Issue 619 is on sale now from panini.co.uk and WHSmith priced £7.99 (UK).
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Authors
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
