[Susan Foreman]

BFI Press release about the upcoming 'Missing: Presumed Wiped' event in December

"The BFI celebrates Missing Believed Wiped (MBW)’s 25th birthday on 15 December at BFI Southbank with a treasure of television riches. Reflecting on the initiative’s successes from the last 25 years in tracking down and screening rediscovered ‘lost’ television classics. The 15 December event will present newly discovered material including top-quality music, comedy and variety titles as well as welcome repeats for much-requested items taking place across two sessions.

We’re thrilled to announce the premiere of the much anticipated Doctor Who animated mini-episode based on the now lost first part of the 1968 Doctor Who story, 'The Wheel in Space', starring Patrick Troughton.

We are delighted to be joined by a number of special guests including the Indiana Jones of lost archival television Philip Morris, who will be presenting some of the rare television gems he’s recently unearthed, including missing episodes of Morecambe and Wise, Sid James’s sitcom Citizen James and children’s television favourite Basil Brush including the only surviving live performance of The Kinks performing their hit Days.

Pop star and songwriter Vince Hill looks back over his distinguished 60+ year career in music plus we also feature a rare performances by Aretha Franklin on British television."

A big part if this event was made possible by recoveries from TIEA and Philip Morris. Philip returned 9 BBC comedy productions to the BBC Archive a few weeks ago. They are:

• The Morecambe and Wise Show - Series 1 - Episodes 5 & 7
• Citizen James - The Day Out
• The Rag Trade - Baby Dolls
• The Basil Brush Show - Series 1 - Episode 3
• Steptoe & Son - My Old Man's a Tory
• Harry Worth - Four's a Crush
• Harry Worth - Feet First
• Harry Worth - Melancholics Anonymous

With the exception of the Steptoe & Son episode, these are the only know film copies of these episodes and feature the cream of British television comedy from the 1960's including performances from Yootha Joyce, Hugh Lloyd, Sid James, Liz Fraser, Barbara Windsor and Reg Varney.

Philip Morris of TIEA will be announcing further recoveries in the New Year"