Missing Believed Wiped: Searching for the Lost Treasures of British Television Paperback - 2002 - 2001st Edition

From the rear cover

A volume for collectors and enthusiasts of British television that explores the history and destruction of celebrated British television programmes. It lists in detail some of the most important missing material. The book reveals the exciting possibilities of recovering such valuable items in the future and tells stories of how programmes once thought lost have been returned, including dome through the British Film Institute's "Missing, Believed Wiped" initiative. Lack of storage space, the high cost of videotape and the (mistaken) belief that black and white television programmes had no commercial future after the advent of colour are all reasons cited for the destruction of the television programmes. However it appears there is a public desire for nostalgia and an appetite for classic, cult television. This has led to a treasure hunt, and this book recounts tales of historical mistakes, serendipitous finds and serious sleuthing. A useful guide to those searching for television material classified as "Missing, Believed Wiped." Programmes disscussed include: the plays of Dennis Potter and David Mercer, "Quatermass," "A for Andromeda," "Dr Who," "The Avengers" and "The Likely Lads."