Recovered Doctor Who Special

Film is Fabulous! presents at Riverside Studios - once a BBC Doctor Who production studio itself - a very special event showcasing cinema screenings of the first three episodes of “The Daleks’ Master Plan”:

• The Nightmare Begins (Broadcast: 13th November 1965)
• Day of Armageddon (Broadcast: 20th November 1965)
• Devil’s Planet (Broadcast: 27th November 1965)

The two recently recovered and restored BBC Doctor Who episodes,which feature William Hartnell in the title role, are presented with exiting episode. Written by Terry Nation, they were broadcast during the third season of Doctor Who. The serial starred William Hartnell as the Doctor, and Peter Purves as Steven Taylor. It also featured Nicholas Courtney as Bret Vyon, Adrienne Hill as Katarina, and Kevin Stoney as Mavic Chen.

The recovery by Film is Fabulous! means the first three instalments of a once totally missing 12-part story now exist. They provide a dark and gritty outing for the Daleks, who were being groomed by their creator, Terry Nation, for their own series, and life outside of Doctor Who. Indeed, ‘The Daleks’ Master Plan’ was not sold by the BBC to overseas broadcasters.

Film is Fabulous! will present the first three instalments of the story at Riverside Studios on Saturday 4 April, with the screenings supported by introductions and special guest panels. This will coincide with the release of the episodes on BBC iPlayer.

Timetable:

14:20 Doors open

14:30 Introduction and screening of ‘The Nightmare Begins’

14:55 Post episode discussion

15:15 Comfort break

15:25 Screening of ‘Day of Armaggedon’  

15:50 Post episode discussion

16:10 Comfort break  

16:20 Screening of ‘Devil’s Planet’

16:45 Post episode discussion

17:30 End

Film is Fabulous! is a charitable trust run by film collectors, cinema lovers, and vintage television enthusiasts. Its primary objective is to ensure that vulnerable film collections held in the U.K. are preserved when private film collectors, and former industry professionals, pass away. Since 2023, the team have preserved many private film collections.