In the days before binge-watching and box sets, TV channels used to be a bit more… careless with their content. Tapes were recorded over to save money, live episodes weren't recorded in the first place, and complex contracts restricted broadcasters from repeating episodes, so they didn't bother to save them.
But what's so devastating is that while the episodes might not have survived, the series definitely have. Which makes it even harder to cope with the fact there are instalments of some of the most iconic shows of all time we'll never get to see.
What follows are some of most tragic losses, so maybe break out a box of tissues before you start reading it – there will be tears.
1. Dad's Army
Three episodes of Dad's Army are missing ('The Loneliness of the Long Distance Walker', 'A Stripe for Frazer', and 'Under Fire') but while you can't see them, you may be able to hear them – some of the lost episodes exist in audio-only recordings.
One other episode ('Absent Friends') is not rerun due to offensive portrayals of Irish people, so the fact we can't see it is probably for the best.
2. Top Of The Pops
Several Top of the Pops episodes are now completely lost, but there's only one we super care about.
Allow us to explain.
The Beatles appeared on Top of the Pops several times, mostly in the form of pre-recorded performances, but tragically, most of the appearances are lost forever – especially anything that was shot in the 1960s.
Of special interest is a 25-second clip of a 1965 performance of 'Ticket to Ride' from a lost Top of the Pops episode that turns up in an episode of Doctor Who, 'The Executioners'.
Because of copyright issues, the BBC can't distribute the episode outside the United Kingdom with this segment included, which makes it doubly-disappointing for Beatles / Who fans outside of the UK.
3. The Avengers
The BBC wasn't the only broadcaster to delete its archives – ITV also got rid of some of its most valuable assets instead of popping to the shops to buy some new tapes.
One of the most high-profile victims of this purging process was The Avengers, which is missing virtually all of Series 1. It's hard to pick what's the most depressing loss from all of those episodes (answer: Dame Diana Rigg in her prime) so we're not going to pick one and just be sad all of them have gone.
4. Not Only But Also
For Peter Cook and Dudley Moore fans, this is an unforgivable loss. All the videotape footage from the colour series of Not Only… But Also was wiped, DESPITE Cook and Moore offering to buy the BBC replacement tapes themselves.
Cook and Moore clearly foresaw the rise of streaming services like Netflix way back in 1970, while the BBC couldn't even imagine iPlayer. Either that or the comedy duo were sentimental, and wanted to keep copies of their work. Whichever, it's super sad.
5. Sherlock Holmes
No, not Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock, episodes of that series will be around until the end of time. What's lost is arguably more valuable – the very first Sherlock Holmes TV series, broadcast by the BBC in 1951, featuring Alan Wheatley as Holmes and Raymond Francis as Dr Watson. All six episodes are lost. They were broadcast live, and never recorded.
6. Sesame Street
Episode 0847 of Sesame Street has become legendary amongst TV geeks and film fans alike. The episode features Margaret Hamilton reprising her role as The Wicked Witch of the West from the Wizard of Oz. The Witch flies over Sesame Street and loses her broom, and ends up hanging out with Oscar The Grouch, who develops a crush on her because of course he does.
Sounds awesome, right? Sadly, we'll never get to see it – not because it was taped over or lost, it's been banned, as it was deemed waaaay too scary for children. Cowards.
