The world of Doctor Who missing episodes has certainly become a interesting, all be it political place.
There is a distinct feeling of factions being formed, mistrust, deception and and the same time, to quote a phrase, that the truth is out there. While it’s certainly good for keeping the missing episodes topic alive, in other ways it’s a divisive issue in fandom and beginning to tarnish the reputations of those once held in regard. Whether that is deserved, only time will tell.
There is a tendency in society to see conspiracy in everything, a general distrust of our institutions and often not without due cause. Institutions refusing to comment or being unable to do so merely fuels the fire as a suggested conspiracy of silence. The conspiracy almost becomes an infectious mass hysteria, self replicating and growing from the weight of its own claims. But then again, just because you’re paranoid it doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you, or indeed that there is no basis to claims of subterfuge.
Steve Roberts of the Doctor Who Restoration Team has gone on record to say that while he has no knowledge that it is true, he personally believes that other episodes have been found by Phil Morris and not returned to the BBC. He has also stated he believes that Paul Vanezis believes the same.
We have received some quite exact claims about the nature of the negotiations between TIEA and the BBC, these however in our opinion are not for printing here. However we can say they tie with the claims of Steve Roberts about there being no returns yet to the BBC.
Do the BBC wish for it to be known that Phil Morris has these episodes, an effort to provoke a backlash against TIEA and force his hand? Or is it merely innocent commentary? Is it smoke and mirrors to distract from the fact that 90 episodes have in fact been found and restoration is underway? Or a complete account? Are the Restoration Team working for their own interests or trying to inform fans of what’s going on under difficult circumstances? Opinions differ.
Paul Vanezis is famed for his “I never lie” approach and his posts are often infuriatingly vague and deliberately unclear, yet this is a talent. Political doublespeak that ensures he does not lie nor tell the whole story, which of course he can’t. Yet Steve Roberts recent postings are very different, worded deliberately to avoid misinterpretation and quite exact in the denials. Should he be found to be lying in the future, his reputation is severely damaged amongst fans. On a personal level, I can’t see that happening and am willing to support the fact that Steve Roberts does indeed know nothing of matters more than he says, yet we’re sure like everybody else he hears rumours and gossip and, being at the epicentre of events, is more knowledgable of the facts than most.
If Steve Roberts and Paul Vanezis have formed the personal belief that Phil Morris has more episodes, then there is just cause. These are not individuals taken to flights of fancy or pipe-dreams. As episode hunters and restorers extraordinaire, they are used to years of hurt in their endeavours and the pessimism that surely results. Ian Levine too has suggested on Twitter that Morris has these episodes, linking their return to the success of The Web of Fear and The Enemy of the World and referencing monetary concerns.
So are we perhaps approaching a truth? Is it the fact that Phil Morris has more episodes of Doctor Who that he has yet to return to the BBC? That contractual manoeuvring is underway between both parties? Does Phil want guarantees that the releases will be staggered as some have claimed? More money? The BBC to take back more of his finds that they don’t want to ensure their cultural legacy? Who knows. Or is it all just what they want you to believe?
