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[StalkerUKCG]

To make it absolutely clear, the BBC is funded by taxpayer money, meaning they don't run ads because everybody in Britain with a TV has actually already paid for it. The BBC doesn't do ads, or product placement, or any of that. I was amazed they were allowed to use Jammie Dodgers in The Bells of Saint John, to be honest, as Jammie Dodger is a brand - mentioning them in Evolution was one thing, but briefly showing the packet really stunned me.

That's why whenever you see people using computers and things in Who they're always clearly an off-the-shelf computer with logos covered up or replaced, like the "Myth" laptops or pretty much all TVs being from Magpie's.

It's likely that they spoke to Jammie Dodgers and got permission, its good publicity all around and tethers the show to reality, Every British person knows what a jammie dodger is. Product placement on BBC is uncommon but it happens. Its not true product placement in the sense that the BBC did not receive money and shoe horn the product in to for that money. The biscuit previously server a purpose as "big threatening red button" (as a generic brand that time round)

Its not the first time BBC and Jammie Dodgers have had a run in. Two Pints had a character sing a biscuit rap including many popular brands. If it's not for monetary gain for either party I don't think it's really an issue.

 

[Hot Coldman]

To make it absolutely clear, the BBC is funded by taxpayer money, meaning they don't run ads because everybody in Britain with a TV has actually already paid for it. The BBC doesn't do ads, or product placement, or any of that. I was amazed they were allowed to use Jammie Dodgers in The Bells of Saint John, to be honest, as Jammie Dodger is a brand - mentioning them in Evolution was one thing, but briefly showing the packet really stunned me.

That's why whenever you see people using computers and things in Who they're always clearly an off-the-shelf computer with logos covered up or replaced, like the "Myth" laptops or pretty much all TVs being from Magpie's.

At some point, brands are too thoroughly integrated into the institution for there to be any point worrying about improper product placement. The BBC is usually very good about that sort of thing.

 

[APZonerunner]

Isn't Jelly Baby also a tradename? Or is it genericized?

It's both, really. Jelly Babies are definitely a brand of their own, but you also see Sainsburys Jelly Babies, Tesco Jelly Babies etc etc.

Even so - the product placement/advertising stuff wasn't as harshly enforced then. Now the BBC is terrified of its own shadow over that kind of stuff.

 

[JonathanEx]

At some point, brands are too thoroughly integrated into the institution for there to be any point worrying about improper product placement. The BBC is usually very good about that sort of thing.

Such as we're at the point they'll mention Twitter and Facebook rather than make their own fake one because it's pointless.

 

[User 100115]

Rumors of recovered Doctor Who episodes apparently just a hoax

 

[Quick]

Rumors of recovered Doctor Who episodes apparently just a hoax

 

[mclem]

In cheerier news, here's Ror... uh, Arthur Darvill being awesome:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqkj_sv1ta4&feature=player_embedded

Why yes, that is the Tony Awards.

 

[Exterminieren]

Rumors of recovered Doctor Who episodes apparently just a hoax

Saddening, but expected. We've danced this dance many times before.

In cheerier news, here's Ror... uh, Arthur Darvill being awesome:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqkj_sv1ta4&feature=player_embedded

Why yes, that is the Tony Awards.

...Oh my.

 

[The Elite]

Rumors of recovered Doctor Who episodes apparently just a hoax

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU................

 

[8bit]

 

[EleventhDoctor]

Like a boss.

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Rumors of recovered Doctor Who episodes apparently just a hoax

Well, not necessarily. That io9 post isn't very good because they're misrepresenting what Johnston wrote (and he has clarified that he's not backing off the story and it may still be real). In fact, I would say that io9 post is some shockingly terrible 'journalism', which links to a story while completely altering what the original writer said (Johnston offered two different stories he's hearing, and never once said the story was absolutely a hoax).

It's sounding unlikely, however. Especially based on the rumored returns. The latest update I've heard has people saying that 90 episodes are in this collection, and it has all the missing episodes except for Mission to the Unkown, the 9 missing episodes of Master Plan, the two remaining missing episodes of The Ice Warriors and The Invasion, and two of the Wheel in Space episodes.

Except, the problem is that The Tenth Planet, The Power of the Daleks, The Evil of the Daleks, Fury from the Deep and The Space Pirates were never screened in Africa, so it's kind of puzzling as to how those episodes could be returned from an African collection.

The story isn't dead, but everyone should be very skeptical and not have high hopes.

 

[infiniteloop]

There's a guy called Ian Levine associated with DW fandom, who, among other things played a big part in saving some to-be-scrapped Whos in the 70s. He can be very... ott? sensationalist?

He's been on twitter over the last week saying what a big hoax this all is:

Ian Levine ‏@IanLevine 17 Jun
Look,I DO believe no episodes have been found,based on what certain people told me at the BFI. But I suppose they could have lied to my face

Ian Levine ‏@IanLevine 17 Jun
Answering SKMDC on GB, I spoke at length to 3 people last Saturday, separately, and all three told me that nothing had been seen or returned

Ian Levine ‏@IanLevine 17 Jun
These 3 people are the ones who would have known if there was any POSSIBILITY of it being true. I left the BFI deeply deflated and hopeless

He just tweeted:

Ian Levine ‏@IanLevine 13m
I have just seen "three tons" of evidence that tells me it's all true. Saying no more. Apart from I now believe it again.


hmmm

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Given that Ian Levine has been so vehemently opposed to this rumor up until now (and is generally very pessimistic in general on missing episodes resurfacing), that's a pretty significant turn in the story. He does know a lot of people who would be involved with this.

 

[Exterminieren]

I am so fucking speechless, I have no idea how I am going to sleep tonight. I was utterly wrong, but I was lied to, yes barefaced lied to.

I'm keeping calm. I'm keeping calm.

Spoiler

Someone hold me.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

BELIEVE!

 

[infiniteloop]

Ian Levine ‏@IanLevine 8m
I am so fucking speechless, I have no idea how I am going to sleep tonight. I was utterly wrong, but I was lied to, yes barefaced lied to.

Ian Levine ‏@IanLevine 3m
@Timelord81r Just three serials is a bad joke.There are literally three tons of film cans and that's just from 2011. I have the actual proof

Ian Levine ‏@IanLevine 1m
@Timelord81r Right now I'm holding on to the proof + not leaking it publicly. But I assure you I have proof of 3 tons of film cans arriving


Could totally be someone pranking Ian, but he seems like he has some solid evidence.

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

I am so fucking speechless, I have no idea how I am going to sleep tonight. I was utterly wrong, but I was lied to, yes barefaced lied to.

I'm keeping calm. I'm keeping calm.

Spoiler

Someone hold me.

I can't even keep calm anymore. He must have seen some very convincing evidence, and now I can't help but getting excited.

This is the most exciting potential development ever. We could all actually watch The Power of the Daleks and The Massacre.

 

[odiin]

I don't even know what I believe at this point. This story has more twists than an M. Night. Shyamalan film.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

It can't actually be six-thousand pounds of film, can it? That seems crazy.

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

It can't actually be six-thousand pounds of film, can it? That seems crazy.

According to the rumors, there's a ton of different stuff involved in this return; it isn't just missing Doctor Who episodes (although that's obviously what's generating the most interest). I've heard it said that there's over 8,000 film cans involved.

 

[Bobby Roberts]

Damn.

That is a LOT of potential footage.

 

[ChaoticJack]

So once the BBC verifies this footage, clears it through their lawyers and rights holders, pieces it together, digitally restores it, promotes it, and drip-feeds its release in order to maintain hype, we should have our hands on it in... what, six years?

 

[Worthintendo]

So once the BBC verifies this footage, clears it through their lawyers and rights holders, pieces it together, digitally restores it, promotes it, and drip-feeds its release in order to maintain hype, we should have our hands on it in... what, six years?

Don't be soo negetive, we've waited 50 years for this stuff, 6 more years will be nothing. Heck we are the fandom that waited 26 years for our show to come back like we always knew it would. I'll wait for the lost episodes for as long as Rory waited for Amy if need be.

I just want to see the Troughton Dalek episodes, can't wait to see them.

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

So once the BBC verifies this footage, clears it through their lawyers and rights holders, pieces it together, digitally restores it, promotes it, and drip-feeds its release in order to maintain hype, we should have our hands on it in... what, six years?

They're definitely not going to wait that long, especially with hype at its highest this year due to the anniversary. Most of the past occasions of missing episode recoveries were released fairly quickly. It was a matter of months between the recovery of Tomb and its release on VHS.

Air Lock took longer, and The Underwater Menace 2 still hasn't been released, but that may have been because some of this was already in works (and neither of those were complete stories, at any rate). They aren't going to wait years to release The Power of the Daleks on DVD.

 

[infiniteloop]

Let's hope Space Pirates has been mislabeled as Daleks Masterplan.

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Rich Johnston has a new article up mentioning Levine's tweets and with some additional details, including some supposed shipping data. Still all circumstantial, but details are starting to pile up.

 

[gblues]

To make it absolutely clear, the BBC is funded by taxpayer money, meaning they don't run ads because everybody in Britain with a TV has actually already paid for it. The BBC doesn't do ads, or product placement, or any of that. I was amazed they were allowed to use Jammie Dodgers in The Bells of Saint John, to be honest, as Jammie Dodger is a brand - mentioning them in Evolution was one thing, but briefly showing the packet really stunned me.

That's why whenever you see people using computers and things in Who they're always clearly an off-the-shelf computer with logos covered up or replaced, like the "Myth" laptops or pretty much all TVs being from Magpie's.

Bells of St John isn't the first time we see Jammie Dodger. They're mentioned in loads of episodes, and the cookiesbiscuits are in several episodes as well (most notoriously as the "TARDIS remote self destruct button" in Victory of the Daleks).

 

[APZonerunner]

Bells of St John isn't the first time we see Jammie Dodger. They're mentioned in loads of episodes, and the cookiesbiscuits are in several episodes as well (most notoriously as the "TARDIS remote self destruct button" in Victory of the Daleks).

As a perfect example, the self destruct button in Victory was named by name but the actual prop was an off brand Jamie dodger (made of plastic) because the BBC wouldn't let them use the real ones, or even model the plastic one on the real ones... Despite the fact the detail would be badly visible on screen!. Talked about in DWM. Weird, I know, but, yeah - That's why I was surprised to see the real thing, in the real packet, in Bells.

 

[Blader]

I don't think I've ever watched more than 10 minutes of classic Who, but all this talk about 90 missing episodes being found has gotten me excited too for someone reason. Fan communities have such infectious enthusiasm sometimes.

 

[Trike]

So once the BBC verifies this footage, clears it through their lawyers and rights holders, pieces it together, digitally restores it, promotes it, and drip-feeds its release in order to maintain hype, we should have our hands on it in... what, six years?

Probably. 90 missing episodes, but I doubt they would release just the newly found episodes. Probably have the whole story on a dvd like the other releases. Though I can't see them re-releasing a story that is only missing one episode and have that be the big release for awhile. I am hoping for a boxset that has all of one doctor on it.

 

[Worthintendo]

Probably. 90 missing episodes, but I doubt they would release just the newly found episodes. Probably have the whole story on a dvd like the other releases. Though I can't see them re-releasing a story that is only missing one episode and have that be the big release for awhile. I am hoping for a boxset that has all of one doctor on it.

Maybe another Lost In Time DVD with all the remaining Orphan episodes as well as Docos or something
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_in_Time_(Doctor_Who)
The other option would be to animate the other lost eps like they have been doing recently. Honestly depending on how many have been recovered, if they have all but a handful then the animating option would be the best to, cut their losses and if the other lost ones come to light then yay, but if not at least people can enjoy the stories in some form.

 

[Trike]

Maybe another Lost In Time DVD with all the remaining Orphan episodes as well as Docos or something
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_in_Time_(Doctor_Who)
The other option would be to animate the other lost eps like they have been doing recently. Honestly depending on how many have been recovered, if they have all but a handful then the animating option would be the best to, cut their losses and if the other lost ones come to light then yay, but if not at least people can enjoy the stories in some form.

Lost in time is a collection of butts in comparison though. 90 episode fully recovered? This isn't (allegedly) stuff recorded by pointing a camera at the TV or whatever, these are actual film reels and everything. I think full proper releases of the stories would be better. Also it makes it easier for people to access the stories.

 

[Worthintendo]

Lost in time is a collection of butts in comparison though. 90 episode fully recovered? This isn't (allegedly) stuff recorded by pointing a camera at the TV or whatever, these are actual film reels and everything. I think full proper releases of the stories would be better. Also it makes it easier for people to access the stories.

Oh yeah each serial thats now complete will get its own release thats not what I'm debating, I'm more talking about the few remaining orphan episodes that will be remaining. If 90 episodes have been recovered there are still going to be a few serials incomplete.

 

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Oh yeah each serial thats now complete will get its own release thats not what I'm debating, I'm more talking about the few remaining orphan episodes that will be remaining. If 90 episodes have been recovered there are still going to be a few serials incomplete.

The only incomplete serials if this rumor pans out will be Mission to the Unknown, The Daleks' Master Plan, The Ice Warriors, The Wheel in Space and The Invasion.

The Invasion and The Ice Warriors both had/have upcoming DVDs with the missing episodes animated, and The Wheel in Space is supposed to only have two missing episodes left after the supposed return, so that would mean it would likely be animated as well.

The three episodes of Master Plan that currently exist in the archives would be the only remaining orphan episodes.

 

[Worthintendo]

The only incomplete serials if this rumor pans out will be Mission to the Unknown, The Daleks' Master Plan, The Ice Warriors, The Wheel in Space and The Invasion.

The Invasion and The Ice Warriors both had/have upcoming DVDs with the missing episodes animated, and The Wheel in Space is supposed to only have two missing episodes left after the supposed return, so that would mean it would likely be animated as well.

The three episodes of Master Plan that currently exist in the archives would be the only remaining orphan episodes.

If its really only the Daleks Master Plan left without a release I think they would animate it, its a Dalek story, they sell well enough and would have to justify the cost of animating the 9 remaining episodes.

 

[Trike]

Oh yeah each serial thats now complete will get its own release thats not what I'm debating, I'm more talking about the few remaining orphan episodes that will be remaining. If 90 episodes have been recovered there are still going to be a few serials incomplete.

Oh, that is true. But I wonder if all of these rumors are true that we might get more?

Just three serials is a bad joke.There are literally three tons of film cans and that's just from 2011. I have the actual proof

This makes me think there could be more. Not that I wouldn't be ecstatic about getting 90 of the 106 missing episodes back, but it is still depressing to think that they will still erasing episodes well into the 70s.

Also I wonder if this means we will get re-releases of episodes with poor quality? Specifically those from Lost in Time. I mean three tons of film has to be a lot more than just 90 episodes, I imagine there are going to be some repeats and some existing episodes.

 

[Worthintendo]

Oh, that is true. But I wonder if all of these rumors are true that we might get more?



This makes me think there could be more. Not that I wouldn't be ecstatic about getting 90 of the 106 missing episodes back, but it is still depressing to think that they will still erasing episodes well into the 70s.

Also I wonder if this means we will get re-releases of episodes with poor quality? Specifically those from Lost in Time. I mean three tons of film has to be a lot more than just 90 episodes, I imagine there are going to be some repeats and some existing episodes.

Apparently its not just Doctor Who they have there, a few shows from that era are missing as well, its just the Doctor Who fan base being as rabid as it is means this gets the most attention.

I'm sure on some Dad's Army out there someone is getting excited about the possibility of the 3 missing episodes turning up

 

[BocoDragon]

Pretty amazing if true. I remember learning about the missing episodes back in 2005, and just being amazed and saddened about the possibility that no copies of them exist on planet earth.

 

[Worthintendo]

A friend of mine at work, he's from the UK and is 55, so he was 5 when the show started and was a fan from the beginning, I've always been envious of him for having been able to see the lost episodes when they first aired, not that he can remember much about them given they were near 50 years ago, but just always would have loved to have seen them.

I'm really not trying to get too hyped about this, I don't want to be disappointed if its not true, but it seems like it could be real and I just want to believe it soo much.

 

[Exterminieren]

If the 90 episode rumour is true, that means that the only ones missing are:
Mission to the Unknown (a prequel to The Daleks' Master Plan, not featuring the Doctor)
9 episodes of The Daleks' Master Plan
2 episodes of The Invasion
2 episodes of The Ice Warriors
2 episodes of The Wheel in Space.

Of these, the missing episodes of The Invasion and The Ice Warriors have already been animated and released on DVD, meaning that there would officially be only two serials that couldn't be properly released on DVD. You could bet money that at least The Wheel in Space would follow with an animation, though.

 

[terrdactycalsrock]

Russell Tovey? What the hell are you guys smoking?

I like Russell Tovey! I would be very pleased if he was the next Doctor

 

[Quick]

I like Russell Tovey! I would be very pleased if he was the next Doctor

NOPE.

I'd just refer to him as "scared Doctor".

 

[mclem]

Ian seems *remarkably* cheery today.

Also, the GB thread has exploded. Again.

If it is indeed a hoax, it's been a remarkably effective one.

 

[The Elite]

Someone call me when this rollercoaster ride is over.

 

[infiniteloop]

9 episodes of The Daleks' Master Plan

If I could have any episodes back it would be these ones

 

[Worthintendo]

OK so he's doing nothing now but posting in a very positive way about all of this, I'm gonna say I'm thinking this is it guys, we have them (pretty much all of them anyway).

I don't care that we only got like 6 episodes this year (plus the 2 later on) or that Matt Smith is leaving or that Christopher Eccleston or Paul McGann aren't going to be in the 50th. If this is true this is going to be the best god damn 50th year anniversary Dr Who could have ever asked for ^_^

 

[infiniteloop]

This is Ian Levine, not believing anything until there's an official BBC announcement.

 

[Worthintendo]

This is Ian Levine, not believing anything until there's an official BBC announcement.

Does he have a history of doing this out of interest? I just sort of figure with him being the one who helped save the show back in the 70's from being lost he wouldn't confirm as much if he didn't know for sure.

Heck he was doubting it like the rest of us a few days ago and in the last 24 hours he's done a complete 180

 

[Dr Zhivago]

Well, he was once conned out of £2000 by someone who claimed to have a lost episode.
His heart's in the right place, it's his judgement that's sometimes in question.