TWO episodes of a classic North-East-based sitcom thought to have been lost for more than 50 years are due to be released after being recovered and restored.

The two Likely Lads episodes, originally screened in 1965, were believed lost after master tapes were erased at the BBC archives – as was the policy at the time.

Now Network Distributing’s in-house studio have tracked down and restored the material, alongside a number of other finds from private collectors, technicians stores and even skips, bringing hope that further episodes from classic television series of the era can be found.

Starring Rodney Bewes and James Bolam from comedy writing legends Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais The Likely Lads, set in Newcastle, followed Bob Ferris and Terry Collier as life-long friends with vastly different outlooks on life.

The BAFTA winning sequel series, Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? followed in 1973-74 ahead of the feature film spin-off, The Likely Lads in 1976.

Of the 21 episodes from the three original series, only eight episodes were known to exist prior to 2016, at which time the two previously lost examples resurfaced together on 16mm telerecordings from a private collection.

Dick Fiddy, co-ordinator of BFI’s Missing Believed Wiped campaign, said: “The Likely Lads was an influential and key sitcom launching the careers of Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, and providing BBC2 with its first comedy hit. This exciting and important rediscovery of two complete missing episodes from the series is wonderful news.”

The Likely Lads (1976) – out on March 18 (DVD/Blu-ray/VOD) – features the spin-off film and includes high definition re-masters of the two recently discovered episodes.

The two ‘lost Likely Lads’ – A Star is Born and Far Away Places – are presented for the first time in more than 50 years, unseen since the series’ final repeat run in 1967.

One episode – A Star is Born – is based around a pub talent contest and in the other – Far Away Places – Bob fancies a holiday abroad, but Terry has his sights set on a week in Bognor.

The film charts Thelma’s (Brigit Forsyth) continued annoyance at her husband Bob’s (Bewes) disruptive friend which shows no sign of abating. But when Terry (Bolam) lands himself a new girlfriend Thelma sees her chance to finally get Terry married off and out of her and Bob’s life forever! Her solution of touring the north of England in a caravan, however, leaves a lot to be desired

A ‘lost’ episode from the original series of Till Death Us Do Part is also available.

To pre-order, and for more information, visit www.thebritishfilm.co.uk