- Nine lost "Doctor Who" episodes from the 1960s have been found in Africa
- The rediscovered episodes feature Patrick Troughton as the second doctor
- The long-running science-fiction show celebrates 50th anniversary in November
London, England (CNN) -- Whovians across the world can rejoice as the BBC confirms the discovery of nine lost "Doctor Who" episodes from the 1960s in Africa.
The treasure-trove of missing episodes were traced to a relay station in Jos, Nigeria via Hong Kong using overseas shipment records by Philip Morris, director of Television International Enterprises Archive.
"I remember wiping the dust off the masking tape on the canisters and my heart missed a beat as I saw the words 'Doctor Who,'" said Morris.
"When I read the story code I realized I'd found something pretty special."
Read: Peter Capaldi steps into the Tardis
Ending weeks of speculation, the announcement was made at a press screening in London Thursday attended by former companion actors Frazer Hines, Deborah Watling -- who appeared in the recovered episodes -- and Mark Gatiss, who has both written and acted in the show in recent years.
The BBC draws back the curtains to reveal who will be the next British actor to play the famed Doctor. He is Peter Capaldi, seen here attending the British Comedy Awards at the O2 Arena on January 22, 2011.
Clara (Jenna Coleman) and the current Doctor (Matt Smith) in season 33 of the popular show.
Paul McGann, who starred as the eighth Doctor in the 1996 movie "Doctor Who," arrives at the Institute of Contemporary Arts on August 15, 2002 in London.
Actor Sylvester McCoy, who played the seventh Doctor from 1989-1996, arrives for the world premiere of 'The Hobbit' movie in Courtenay Place in Wellington, New Zealand, on November 28, 2012.
Colin Baker, who played the sixth Doctor from 1984-1986, poses with Daleks on July 12, 2013 in York, northern England.
Peter Davison, the fifth Doctor from 1981-1984, poses in the TARDIS at BBC Television Centre, London, on April 15, 1981.
The fourth Doctor, played by Tom Baker from 1974-1981, standing alongside a Zygon, meets Sergeant Frank Ziegler, a guard at the American Embassy in Grosvenor Square, London in 1978.
The third Doctor, played by Jon Pertwee from 1970-1974, sits in the car park of BBC Television Centre, London, guarded by two Daleks in 1972.
Patrick Troughton, who played the second Doctor from 1966-1969, holds one of his own paintings outside his home in Teddington, London, on May 5, 1981.
William Hartnell (center) stars as the first Doctor (1963-1966) and is pictured alongside Dracula and Frankenstein's monster in "The Chase" on May 2, 1965.
Travel through time with Doctor Who
The lost black and white stories are episodes from "The Enemy of the World" and "The Web of Fear" featuring Patrick Troughton as the second iteration of the time-traveling Doctor.
The "Web of Fear" -- first broadcast in 1968 -- sees the eccentric chrononaut battling robot yetis on the London Underground and was also the first appearance of Nicholas Courtney as Colonel Lethbridge-Stewart.
While introducing the episode in front of around 70 excited reporters Gatiss said: "It's the quintessential 'Doctor Who' story ... the most British thing you could ever imagine."
Read: Matt Smith to leave 'Doctor Who'
During the 1960s it was common practice by television companies to erase videotapes of original episodes much to the dismay of fans today. Yet some classic installments were distributed internationally for foreign broadcasters to purchase.
In 2011, two episodes were rediscovered by former TV engineer Terry Burnett after he bought them at a school fair.
Morris described the newly materialized episodes as "the largest haul of missing episodes recovered in the last 25, maybe 30 years" and now brings down the number of remaining lost episodes to 97.
The find is a fitting gift for fans of the long-running show as the British cult science-fiction series celebrates its 50th anniversary on November 23.
Inez Torre contributed to this report.
