Nine "Doctor Who" episodes that were previously thought lost forever have been recovered in Nigeria, Africa, BBC Worldwide announced Thursday.


In total, eleven "Doctor Who" episodes were recovered by Philip Morris, director of Television International Enterprises Archive, after he tracked records of tape shipments made by BBC to Africa for transmission. The episodes -- which form two story arcs, "The Enemy of the World" and "The Web of Fear" -- have been remastered and made available online exclusively via iTunes.


“The tapes had been left gathering dust in a store room at a television relay station in Nigeria. I remember wiping the dust off the masking tape on the canisters and my heart missed a beat as I saw the words ‘Doctor Who.’ When I read the story code I realized I’d found something pretty special,” Morris said in a statement.


According to BBC, the first recovered arc, "The Enemy of the World," spans six episodes which originally aired on BBC in December 1967 as part of the fifth season. "The story features Patrick Troughton as both the Second Doctor and his antagonist (Ramon Salamander), alongside companions Jamie (Frazer Hines) and Victoria (Deborah Watling)." Episodes 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 were missing from the BBC Archives before Morris' discovery, meaning that BBC is able to fully present the story for the first time in almost five decades.


Morris also recovered "The Web of Fear," a six-episode arc from 1968 also starring Troughton, Hines and Watling. The story features the first appearance of Nicholas Courtney as Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart (who would later return as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart). According to BBC, "Episodes 2-6 were feared lost, but now episodes 2, 4, 5, and 6 have been recovered. With episode 3 still missing, the restoration team has reconstructed this part of the story using a selection of the 37 images that were still available from the episode along with the original audio, which has been restored."


“For many, this will be their first chance to watch these long-lost Doctor Who stories," said Beth Clearfield, SVP of Digital Distribution. "We’re thrilled to partner with iTunes in bringing these missing gems back to new and long-time fans after all these years.”


There are reportedly still 27 "Doctor Who" stories that remain missing or have incomplete episodes, especially those from the first season, which were discarded as a result of BBC Archive space-saving measures.


November 23 will mark the 50th Anniversary of the first "Doctor Who" episode, "An Unearthly Child." In celebration, the 50th Anniversary Special, "The Day of the Doctor," will be simulcast around the world to give all Whovians a chance to watch the show together and avoid spoilers.


Will you watch the recovered "Doctor Who" episodes?



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  • "The Name of the Doctor"


    "The Name of the Doctor"




  • "Nightmare in Silver"


    "Nightmare in Silver"




  • "The Crimson Horror"


    "The Crimson Horror"




  • "Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS"


    "Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS"




  • "Doctor Who" 50th Anniversary Special


    Matt Smith stands beneath a suspended Tardis as Jenna-Louise Coleman stands inside the time machine during filming of the "Doctor Who" 50th anniversary special in Trafalgar Square in London on April 9.




  • "Doctor Who" 50th Anniversary Special


    Jenna-Louise Coleman stands in a suspended Tardis during filming of the "Doctor Who" 50th anniversary special in Trafalgar Square in London on April 9.




  • "Doctor Who" 50th Anniversary Special


    Matt Smith hangs beneath a suspended Tardis as Jenna-Louise Coleman stands inside the time machine during filming of the "Doctor Who" 50th anniversary special in Trafalgar Square in London on April 9.




  • "Doctor Who" 50th Anniversary Special


    Matt Smith stands beneath a suspended Tardis as Jenna-Louise Coleman stands inside the time machine during filming of the "Doctor Who" 50th anniversary special in Trafalgar Square in London on April 9.




  • "Doctor Who" 50th Anniversary Special


    Matt Smith and Jenna-Louise Coleman stands film the "Doctor Who" 50th anniversary special in Trafalgar Square in London on April 9.




  • "The Bells of Saint John"


    The Doctor’s search for Clara Oswald brings him to modern day London, where Wi-Fi is everywhere. Humanity lives in a Wi-Fi soup. But something dangerous is lurking in the signals, picking off minds and imprisoning them. As Clara becomes the target of this insidious menace, the Doctor races to save her and the world from an ancient enemy. Episode credits: Written by Steven Moffat, directed by Colm McCarthy (Ripper Street, The Tudors), and produced by Denise Paul (Taggart).




  • The Rings of Akhaten


    Clara wants to see something awesome, so the Doctor whisks her off to the inhabited rings of the planet Akhaten, where the Festival of Offerings is in full swing. Clara meets the young Queen of Years as the pilgrims and natives ready for the ceremony. But something is stirring in the pyramid, and a sacrifice will be demanded. Episode credits: Written by Neil Cross (Mama, Luther), directed by Farren Blackburn (Luther, The Fades) and produced by Denise Paul




  • Cold War


    The Doctor and Clara land on a damaged Russian Submarine in 1983 as it spirals out of control into the ocean depths. An alien creature is loose on board, having escaped from a block of Arctic ice. With tempers flaring and a cargo of nuclear weapons on board, it’s not just the crew but the whole of humanity at stake! Episode credits: Written by Mark Gatiss (Sherlock) and directed by Douglas Mackinnon (Silent Witness).




  • Hide


    Clara and the Doctor arrive at Caliburn House, a haunted mansion sat alone on a desolate moor. Within its walls, a ghost hunting Professor and a gifted psychic are searching for the Witch of the Well. Her apparition appears throughout the history of the building, but is she really a ghost? And what is chasing her? Episode credits: Written by Neil Cross and directed by Jamie Payne (The Hour, Call the Midwife).




  • Miss Kizlet


    Miss Kizlet (Celia Imrie)




  • Clara


    Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • Clara


    Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • Clara


    Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • The Doctor


    The Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • The Doctor


    The Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 3, Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Miss Kizlet (Celia Imrie)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    The Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Miss Kizlet (Celia Imrie)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    The Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 3, The Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 4, Alec Palmer (Dougray Scott)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 3, Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) and the Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 1, Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 3, The Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 4, Alec Palmer (Dougray Scott), Emma Grayling (Jessica Raine), Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman), and the Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 4, Alec Palmer (Dougray Scott) and Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 3, Ice Warrior




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 2




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 1, The Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 1, Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) and the Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 4, Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) and the Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 1, The Doctor (Matt Smith) and Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Doctor Who, Season 7.2, Episode 2, Clara (Jenna-Louise Coleman) and the Doctor (Matt Smith)




  • "Doctor Who" Season 7.2


    Matt Smith as the Doctor, Jenna-Louise Coleman as Clara




  • "The Snowemen"


    Matt Smith, Jenna-Louise Coleman




  • "The Snowmen"


    Matt Smith




  • "The Snowmen"




  • "The Snowmen"


    Madame Vastra (Neve McIntosh), Commander Strax (Dan Starkey), and Jenny Flint (Catrin Stewart)




  • "The Snowmen"


    Matt Smith, Jenna-Louise Coleman




  • "The Snowmen"


    Jenna-Louise Coleman




  • "The Snowmen"


    Matt Smith, Jenna-Louise Coleman




  • "The Snowmen"


    Snowmen