BBC treasure hunt stikes gold

Two episodes of Dad's Army are among more than 100 lost programmes recovered in a six-month BBC appeal.

The 'treasure hunt' also unearthed the first edition of the long running panel game I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue from 1972 and an episode of Benny Hill - Portrait Of A Bridegroom.

The shows had either never been recorded or had been wiped.

So the corporation launched the appeal for any material viewers might have to boost their archives.

Most of the recovered programmes are from the radio, but there are also 12 TV shows.

The BBC's head of information and archives, Paul Fiander, said: "We've had a great response to the Treasure Hunt appeal and some fantastic material has turned up. "

The Dad's Army shows, from 1969, were recovered in June after they had been pulled out of a skip at Elstree film studios in Hertfordshire in the 70s.

Published: 8 Nov 2001