Missing Believed Wiped: Searching for the Lost Treasures of British Televison - Hardcover

Fiddy, Dick

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0851708676 ISBN 13: 9780851708676

Publisher: BFI Publishing, 2001

Synopsis

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".

About this title

Synopsis

"Missing, Believed Wiped" is a book for collectors and enthusiasts of British Television. It explores the history and destruction of celebrated British television programs and lists in detail some of the most important missing material. Above all, the author reveals the exciting possibilities of recovering such valuable items in the future and tells the fascinating stories of how programs once thought lost have been returned, including some through the British Film Institute's "Missing, Believed Wiped" initiative. Serious dramas, sci-fi shows, pop programs (such as "Thank Your Lucky Stars"), swashbucklers ("The Gay Cavalier"), cop shows, comedy, factual programs ("Tyranny") and all the other TV genres suffered from the purges of most of the major TV broadcasters.Lack of storage space, the high cost of videotape (which could be re-used) and the (mistaken) belief that black and white television programs had no commercial future after the coming of color, were all cited as reasons for the destruction.

However, the establishment of the commercial video industry, new TV channels entirely dedicated to vintage viewing, and the public's seemingly insatiable appetite for classic, cult, and nostalgic TV established beyond doubt the folly of the wiping and junking decisions, declaring the practice a financial embarrassment at best, cultural hooliganism at worst.But this book chronicles a treasure hunt, not a witch hunt. It is a tale of historical mistakes, serendipitous finds and serious sleuthing. It is a valuable guide to those searching in the future for TV material long classified as Missing, Believed Wiped. Missing programs discussed include: plays by Dennis Potter and David Mercer, "Quatermass", "A for Andromeda and Doctor Who", "The Avengers", "Armchair Theatre", "The Likely Lads", and "Till Death Us Do Part".

About the Author

Dick Fiddy is a TV consultant contracted to the bfi. He has scripted and researched various TV archive shows including The A to Z of TV, 1001 Nights of TV and TV Heaven (all for C4) and has written many magazines and newspapers features exploring the weird and wonderful world of TV.

Edition details

• Publisher: BFI Publishing
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0851708676
• ISBN 13: 9780851708676
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 140