BBC Worldwide has abandoned plans to release the second Doctor story, The Underwater Menace on DVD.

This month's Doctor Who Magazine reports that the plan to release the two surviving episodes from the story, alongside animated versions of the two episodes missing from the archive, have been cancelled by the BBC, following financial problems with the company contracted to provide the animation.

The Underwater Menace was first shown at the start of 1967, starring Patrick Troughton alongside Anneke Wills, Joseph Furst, Michael Craze and Frazer Hines. Following the episode junking which took place in the 1970's only Episode Three remained in the archives. This episode was included in the Lost in Time DVD Box set, released in 2004. However in 2011 Episode Two was recovered alongside the third episode of Galaxy 4.

It was planned to release the two existing episodes from the story, alongside animated reconstructions of the missing episodes, with BBC Worldwide telling Doctor Who News last December that they hoped to release the disc in 2015. However this has now been cancelled following financial problems at animation company Qurios which have seen the firm cease trading. It has not proved financially viable to find another partner to take on the animation and the BBC are reluctant to release an incomplete version.

Although a DVD release now seems very unlikely, it is possible the episodes may be released at some point in the future via some other means. A commentary track has been recorded along with bonus material intended for the DVD.

Until then, Episode Two of The Underwater Menace stands as the only classic Doctor Who episode, currently in the BBC archives, which has never had a release on DVD.

The latest issue of Doctor Who Magazine has been published, and this month's cover story focusses on the unexpected return of Ingrid Oliver to Doctor Who.


Also inside this issue:

• DANNY HARGREAVES' BIG BANG! Doctor Who’s resident special effects supervisor Danny Hargreaves reveals the science behind blowing stuff up – but don’t try this at home!
• DAVID WARNER WAS THE DOCTOR? Cold War’s Professor Grisenko ­– movie and TV star David Warner – chats about his brief era as the Doctor, and shares some fascinating stories from a career spanning six decades.
• A NEW FORMAT – AT LAST! DWM’s history of Doctor Who on home video reaches its final part, with the dawn of a new shiny new format. DVD took the series into remastered territory, and made it look better than it ever had before.
• REVENGE OF THE CYBERMEN! The Fact of Fiction heads to Voga – the planet of gold – to reveal fascinating facts about the 1975 Fourth Doctor adventure Revenge of the Cybermen.
• BLOOD AND ICE! Will the Doctor and Clara defeat the macabre plans of Dr Audley, and has Winnie really betrayed them? The comic strip adventure Blood and Ice – written by Jacqueline Rayner and illustrated by Martin Geraghty – reaches its thrilling conclusion.
• STEVEN MOFFAT ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS! Showrunner Steven Moffat answers readers’ questions and pays tribute to 1980s Doctor Who producer John Nathan-Turner.
• COMING SOON... DWM talks to Sylvester McCoy, Bonnie Langford, novelist AL Kennedy and actor Jon Culshaw to preview upcoming books and audios from the worlds of Doctor Who.

PLUS! All the latest official news, reviews, Relative Dimensions, The Time Team, competitions and The DWM Crossword.

Due to a major refurbishment taking place at the Fitzroy Tavern in Charlotte Street, London, the regular "first Thursday of the month" gathering of Doctor Who fans will be temporarily changing to a new venue:

The bus named after John Nathan Turner, Doctor Who's longest serving producer, has entered service in the South Coast city of Brighton.

As reported earlier this year, the decision to honour the producer, who lived in Brighton, was taken by public vote, with Nathan Turner's name adorning one of the 24 new Coaster buses brought by the city.

The bus travels Route 12, from Brighton to Eastbourne, passing the Seven Sisters Country park, where parts of 1969 Doctor Who story The War Games were filmed.

John Nathan Turner comes with a low emission ‘Euro 6’ engine, free Wi-Fi, an upper deck table with USB charge points, softer seating, next stop information and real time tracking of the bus location.

Issue 4 of the fanzine, Plaything of Sutekh is available to order now.

In this issue:

• Pacifism in Doctor Who - a look at how The Daleks and The Dominators gave turning the other cheek the thumbs down.
• The Ark vs The Ark in Space - David Rolinson looks at the similarities between these two stories.
• RTD & Religion - Sean Alexander examines a key aspect of the series under Russell T's tenure.
• E-Space - Jez Strickley spies a dystopian slant in this Season 18 trilogy.
• Secret Who - we look at two underrated stories The Claws of Axos and The Time Monster
• Changing Times - a look back at Peter Capaldi's first season.
• Doc Top Ten - one writer looks at his favourite Who comic strips.
• Gateway Drug - Stephen Wood confesses how it all started with him and Who…

Issue 4 has 36 pages and is fully illustrated with colour covers.

Details on how to order Issue 4 are available at playthingofsutekh.blogspot.co.uk

Titan Comics have announced Year Two of Doctor Who comics has been commissioned, with the series starting in September 2015.

The series will follow this summer’s Doctor Who comic crossover event featuring four Doctors, and will see the Tenth and Eleventh Doctors begin their second year of adventures.

The latest of the "Essential" special edition magazines from the makers of Doctor Who Magazine has been published, focussing on the monsters of the series.

A new sci-fi thriller starring Colin Baker is seeking to fund money on Indiegogo to help fund the production. Last Man on Earth is a 20 minute short film which starts filming in Manchester in late July. Just over £200 has been raised within the first day of the campaign launch, with 29 days left to reach their goal of £10,000.

A short synopsis has been posted by the film's producers:

Baker, who will be playing a "renowned virologist who fronts a bio research conglomerate" said:

Director of the short film Darren Langlands commented:

The team behind the film are based in Manchester. Langlands added:

As an incentive for contributors who donate their money, a variety of perks are available including autographed scripts, copies of the final film, a private message from Colin Baker and the chance to share the screen with The Doctor himself.

Sir John Hurt has revealed he has been diagnosed with early stage pancreatic cancer. In a statement released to the Press Association, he said:

Alex Ford, CEO of Pancreatic Cancer UK, one of several national charities fighting pancreatic cancer, said:

If you wish to make a donation to the charity, you can do so at pancreaticcancer.org.uk/donate.

John Hurt was awarded a Knighthood for his services to drama in the Queen's New Year Honours list.

Titan Comics have revealed their exclusive range for this year's San Diego Comic-Con. A story exclusive to SDCC will feature the Doctor and Clara at the convention, while the tenth, eleventh and twelfth Doctor's will feature on an exclusive triptych cover.

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Titan will also have exclusive merchandise available from the Titan booth #5537.