London ( CNN ) -- For years the practice by television companies during the 1960s of erasing videotapes containing original episodes of classic shows has frustrated fans . But every so often , a long-lost treasure is found in an attic or at the back of a garage to revive their faith . Now it 's the turn of devotees of the time-travelling alien adventure TV show `` Doctor Who , '' who were on Monday enthusing on Twitter about the discovery of two episodes that were believed to have been wiped long ago . Tapes of the two BBC shows , `` Galaxy 4 part three '' starring William Hartnell and `` The Underwater Menace part two '' with Patrick Troughton , were bought at a school fete by former TV engineer Terry Burnett in the 1980s . He kept them at home for many years , and was only recently alerted to the fact that the BBC did not own them . The footage was shown at the British Film Institute 's annual `` Missing Believed Wiped '' event at the National Film Theatre in London hosted by actor Mark Gatiss . He said : `` Christmas has come early for Doctor Who fans everywhere , '' according to the Radio Times . `` It 's always wonderful when a missing episode turns up but it 's been years since the last one so to have two is just brilliant . Add to that a proper bit of action from the legendary Chumblies ( and the horrifying Rills ! ) plus the utterly mesmeric Patrick Troughton on great form . Well , what more could we all ask for ? '' On Twitter , fans were similarly euphoric about the rediscovered episodes , which date from the mid-60s . JP LeBreton said : `` Recovering lost Dr Who eps that broadcast 47 years ago and bounced off stuff in deep space : coolest thing possible . '' Broadcasters started to record TV programs for transmission in the late 1950s , but because videotape was so expensive , they were wiped clean for reuse afterwards . Because of this more than 100 episodes of `` Doctor Who '' from the 1960s were lost . The latest discoveries are the first complete episodes to be rediscovered since 2004 . Details of any commercial release for the rediscovered episodes will be announced next year .
more than 100 episodes of ` ` Doctor Who , '' who were on Monday enthusing on Twitter are discovered . Footage shown at BBC late 1950s Christmas event . Broadcasters recorded TV programs in late 1950s , but videotape was usually wiped .