So long in production it should probably have had a cover that looked like this!
The rocky road of the Underwater Menace DVD seems to have taken another turn as the planned release, which has gotten as far as the preorder stage on Amazon.com, has now seemingly been cancelled tvshowsondvd.com reports.
Doctor Who restoration team member Steve Roberts told the site:
“[Well],we’re the team that remasters the episodes for DVD release and even we don’t have a clue what’s going on with TUM now. From where we’re standing, it’s looking like the range is dead.“
This is the latest twist in a saga running back to the discovery of the missing episode in 2011, here’s a condensed timeline of events:
December 11, 2011
The underwater Menace Episode 2 announced found alongside Galaxy 4 Episode 3 at Missing Believed Wiped. Word is that an announcement will be made in 2012 as to their future release on DVD.
March 11, 2013
Galaxy 4 Episode 3 released as part of the Aztecs Special Edition DVD
July 3, 2013
Underwater Menace Episode 2 leaks on Dailymotion
August 18, 2013
Steve Roberts states he has no further commissions after he completes delivery on The Moonbase and The Underwater Meance, both of which he was commissioned for “months ago”.
September 5, 2013:
The fish lady is Rosie Knott, back on the original location after about 45 years for Russell Minton's Fishy Tales doco.
— Restoration Team (@RTnewsfeed) September 5, 2013
Ace colourist Jonathan Wood grading extras for Moonbase and Underwater Menace. Our final DW DVDs! #sadday pic.twitter.com/P3lEsAyJ3s
— Restoration Team (@RTnewsfeed) September 5, 2013
November 8, 2013
The BBC tell DWW:
“We have yet to confirm the exact content of this release or its release date. We hope to have more information in the Spring. Perhaps you’d like to e-mail us again around April. The 2014 Classic Doctor Who schedule is still being worked on.”
November 9, 2013
Steve Roberts states the Restoration Team are sat “twiddling their thumbs” as they wait for animation to come in from Planet 55.
December 19, 2013
Dan Hall states that work is in “the early stages” for the release. Presumably a reference to the animation as opposed to the VAM which was already well underway or even completed as per Steve Roberts comments above.
January 20, 2014
The Underwater Menace trailer included on The Moonbase DVD:
Steve Roberts states that as far as he is aware the DVD is still going ahead, but Planet 55 are “working flat out” on their animation series in Australia.
April 3, 2014
Planet 55 Studios stated they were taking on more work for the BBC and considering moving to Cardiff.
May 1, 2014
Doctor Who Magazine 473 confirms that the serial is still scheduled for release later this year with Episodes 1 and 4 “reconstructed using audio soundtracks”
