The Daily Mirror reported today (12th January) that the BBC plans to no longer animate anymore ‘lost’ Doctor Who episodes due to funding issues.

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In a partnership between BBC Studios and BBC America, the original soundtracks from the 25 lost episodes have been paired up with all-new animation. However it has been reported that BBC America has pulled its funding, with just one story featuring the Second Doctor (Patrick Troughton) to be released later this year.

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The animated versions of these classic Doctor Who episodes were broadcast on BBC America after being released on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK.

An insider spoke to The Daily Mirror and said:

“It’s a real blow for the fans, who hoped they would be able to watch every story from the early years”.

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Between 1967 and 1978 the BBC routinely deleted archive programmes, for various practical reasons (lack of space, scarcity of materials, a lack of rebroadcast rights). As a result of the cull, 97 of 253 episodes from the programme’s first six years are currently missing, primarily from seasons 3 to 5, leaving 26 serials incomplete. Many more were considered lost until recovered from various sources, mostly overseas broadcasters.

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On 23 November 2021, it was announced The Abominable Snowmen would be released on DVD and Blu-ray, with animations of all six episodes alongside the surviving Episode Two.

The release date of this potential final Doctor Who animation is TBC.

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Order from Amazon UK and Amazon USA.

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