David Copperfield

The screenplay for this 1966 BBC adaptation was written by Vincent Tilsley, who had also written the screenplay for an earlier 1956 adaptation of the novel about a decade prior.

The initial airing of the serial drew a viewership of over 12 million people.

Only four of the serial's thirteen episodes (3, 8, 9 and 11) are known to still exist today, held by the British Film Institute (BFI).

After being rebroadcast in the late 1960s, the BBC wiped the original master videotapes of all thirteen episodes, and the 16mm telerecordings made for preservation were later junked, most likely in the 1970s.

Unedited studio footage of episode 3 survives, featuring outtakes and mid-take conversations between actors, including director Joan Craft telling the crew to 'shut up'.

Sir Ian McKellen, who played the title role and was new to television at the time, later said characterization was forced and that he was glad the original videotape had been destroyed.

This 1966 version is said to be remarkably similar to the preceding 1956 adaptation, which is now completely lost with no surviving episodes.