When missing episodes from Patrick Troughton’s ‘The Enemy of the World’ and ‘The Web of Fear’ were found by Philip Morris at a relay station in Nigeria and returned to the BBC’s archive in 2013 after more than 45 years, hopeful Doctor Who fans realised that anything is possible.

As rumours continue to circulate, we present the top five stories that CultBox would love to see returned…

 

‘Marco Polo’ (1964)

The programme’s first adventure into history, other than an encounter with the cavemen of 100,000 BC, was a seven-part epic and the first celebrity historical.

The TARDIS arrives in 1289 and its crew accompany the famous Venetian explorer Marco Polo on his travels. Only the show’s fourth story, this ambitious tale took them across the Gobi Desert and to the court of Kublai Kahn.

 

‘The Highlanders’ (1966/67)

Troughton’s second story was the last pure historical tale of the black and white years, and also the one that introduced the Doctor’s longest-running male companion.

Finding themselves in Scotland 1746, the Doctor, Ben and Polly become embroiled in the fate of a group of Jacobite soldiers who are to be sold into slavery. They also encounter a young piper by the name of James Robert McCrimmon (Frazer Hines).

 

‘The Myth Makers’ (1965)

Serving as the exit story for Vicki, ‘The Myth Makers’ is another trip into history from which no episodes survive. Finding themselves at the siege of Troy, the time travellers end up on opposite sides of the battle.

Another one of writer Donald Cotton’s comic historicals, The Doctor is mistaken for the god Zeus, and in the company of Achilles and Agamemnon he finds himself devising a very familiar strategy to enter the city of Troy. Meanwhile, Stephen and Vicki are captured by the Trojans and Vicki finds love.

 

‘The Daleks’ Master Plan’ (1965/66)

While not missing in its entirety, Season 3’s ‘The Daleks’ Master Plan’ was an epic twelve episodes long (thirteen if you include its Doctorless single episode prologue ‘Mission to the Unknown’) and yet only three remain in the archive.

In a battle across space and time, the Daleks hatch a plot to conquer the solar system and control time itself. With the return of his old foes and the loss of a friend or two, this lengthy tale also contains the first Doctor Who Christmas Special in ‘The Feast of Steven’.

 

‘The Power of the Daleks’ (1966)

Top of the list for many fans is the six-part story from Season 4, which began Patrick Troughton’s tenure as the Doctor.

Arriving on the planet of Vulcan (not that one), an Earth colony in the far future, the recently renewed Doctor finds himself tackling his deadly enemies at their most underhand. Also, he has to gain the trust of his companions Ben and Polly who have just seen him do the impossible.

 

For more information on Doctor Who’s missing episodes, we heartily recommend a read of Richard Molesworth’s excellent ‘Wiped!’ book (out now).

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Which missing Doctor Who stories would you love to see returned? Let us know below…