He mentioned: “It was really touching, and what a privilege.
“We by no means thought we would see these episodes once more. It was an actual manufacturing unit course of, no time for post-production or something like that, by no means repeated, by no means bought overseas.
“People will be thrilled. The thing about Doctor Who is it’s a connection to your childhood.
“I’m a grown man and I’ve been wishing I might see The Nightmare Begins since I noticed the title on a listing of lacking episodes of Doctor Who 30 years in the past.
“Forget Glastonbury, I think if you put on a screening of these tomorrow it would sell out in seconds.
“They actually are the holy grail.”
A special screening of the two episodes organised by FIF, with Purves as guest of honour, is being held in London on 4 April.
Details of the event are yet to be announced, but it will take place on the same day the two restored episodes are made available in full on BBC iPlayer.
Episode one sees the Tardis landing on the planet Kembel in search of help for the Doctor’s injured companion, only to learn the Daleks are planning with Guardian of the Solar System Mavic Chen to conquer the Earth.
By episode three, the Doctor has stolen an important element wanted for the conquest, however after leaving Kembel they’re compelled to land on penal planet Desperus – pursued by the Daleks.
