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The Doctor Who Production Diary: 1963
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| 14 |
Birth of Adjoa Andoh (bio), who played Francine Jones |
| 30 |
Birth of Daphne Ashbrook (bio), who played Doctor Grace
Holloway |
| 11 |
Birth of Alex Kingston (bio), who played Prof River
Song |
| 22 |
The Beatles release their first album,
Please Please Me, which includes the hits I Saw Her Standing
There, Love Me Do and Twist And Shout |
| 26 |
On the instructions of new BBC Head of
Drama Sydney Newman, Head of Serials Donald Wilson convenes a meeting to
begin development of a science-fiction series to fill a perceived hole
in the BBC's Saturday evening programming |
|
 |
| 29 |
An idea for a science-fiction series
called The Troubleshooters is delivered to BBC Head of Drama
Sydney Newman, who asks for substantial revisions |
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|
| 9 |
Birth of Phil Gladwin (bio), writer |
| 27 |
Birth of Russell T Davies (bio), writer and executive
producer |
early
May |
CE Webber completes a first draft of the
Doctor Who format guide, although Sydney Newman takes issues with
elements such as the Doctor secretly striving against science, and his
time machine being a void of “nothing” |
|
|
| 13 |
Sydney Newman's unhappiness with the
development of Doctor Who leads to the start of production on an
initial four-part story being postponed by four weeks, from July 5th to
August 2nd |
|
|
| 15 |
CE Webber completes another draft of the
Doctor Who format guide, in which the time machine is now
described as resembling a police box |
|
|
| 16 |
A new version of the Doctor Who
format guide refines the programme even further; the opening story is
intended to be “The
Giants” |
|
|
| 20 |
The current draft of the Doctor
Who format guide is submitted to the Controller of Programmes for
BBC One, Donald Baverstock, who indicates his approval |
|
|
| 21 |
It is decided that a pilot episode of
Doctor Who will be recorded on July 19th, which can be remounted
on August 2nd if necessary |
|
|
late
May |
Mervyn Pinfield is appointed as
associate producer of Doctor Who |
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|
| 14 |
Anthony Coburn is commissioned to write
100,000 BC, which will ultimately
become Doctor Who's debut story |
|
 |
| 17 |
With Rex Tucker having ceased his
caretaker role, Verity Lambert becomes the producer of Doctor
Who; around the same time, David Whitaker is appointed script
editor of Doctor Who |
|
|
| 18 |
Anthony Coburn is commissioned to write
“The Masters Of
Luxor” |
|
|
| 18 |
The recording date for Doctor
Who's pilot episode is delayed to August 2nd |
|
|
| 21 |
Valentina Tereshkova, travelling in
Vostok 6, becomes the first woman in space |
| 28 |
The recording date for Doctor
Who's pilot episode is delayed to September 27th |
|
|
| 3 |
Anthony Coburn is recommissioned to write
100,000 BC on a freelance
basis |
|
|
| 3 |
Anthony Coburn is recommissioned to
write “The Masters Of
Luxor” on a freelance basis |
|
|
| 9 |
John Lucarotti is commissioned to write
Marco Polo |
|
 |
mid
July |
David Whitaker refines the Doctor
Who format guide; by now, main characters Dr Who, Biddy, Cliff and
Lola have become the Doctor, Susan, Ian and Barbara |
|
|
| 16 |
“The Giants” is
abandoned |
|
|
| 23 |
The premiere date for Doctor Who
is scheduled for November 23rd |
|
|
| 31 |
William Hartnell is contracted to play
the Doctor for the pilot recording of 100,000 BC |
|
|
| 31 |
William Russell is contracted to play
Ian Chesterton for the pilot recording of 100,000 BC |
|
 |
| 31 |
Jacqueline Hill is contracted to play
Barbara Wright for the pilot recording of 100,000 BC |
|
 |
| 31 |
Carole Ann Ford is contracted to play
Susan Foreman for the pilot recording of 100,000 BC |
|
 |
| 31 |
Terry Nation is commissioned to write The Daleks |
|
 |
| 31 |
Alan Wakeman is commissioned to write “The Living
Planet” |
|
|
| 2 |
Ron Grainer is contracted to compose the
theme music for Doctor Who |
|
|
| 5 |
The UK, the USA and the Soviet Union sign
the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty |
| 8 |
The
Daleks is extended from six episodes to seven |
|
|
| 28 |
Martin Luther King delivers his I Have A
Dream speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington,
DC |
| 31 |
Recording for the first Doctor Who
title sequence takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 5 in White
City, London |
|
|
| 1 |
Head of Drama Sydney Newman decides that
the recording of the pilot episode of 100,000 BC conducted on September
27th is unsatisfactory and will have to be remounted |
|
|
| 8 |
Jacqueline Hill's contract is extended
to include 100,000 BC and the
first four episodes of The
Daleks |
|
|
| 9 |
Recording for 100,000 BC takes place at the BBC
Television Film Studios in Ealing, London |
|
|
| 10 |
William Hartnell's contract is extended
to include 100,000 BC and the
first four episodes of The
Daleks |
|
|
| 10 |
William Russell's contract is extended
to include 100,000 BC and the
first four episodes of The
Daleks |
|
|
| 10 |
Carole Ann Ford's contract is extended
to include 100,000 BC and the
first four episodes of The
Daleks |
|
|
| 10 |
Recording for 100,000 BC takes place at the BBC
Television Film Studios in Ealing, London |
|
|
| 11 |
Recording for 100,000 BC takes place at the BBC
Television Film Studios in Ealing, London |
|
|
| 16 |
The Controller of Programmes for BBC
One, Donald Baverstock, orders nine further episodes of Doctor
Who beyond 100,000 BC |
|
|
| 18 |
In the aftermath of the Profumo affair and
suffering ill health, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan resigns;
he is succeeded by Alec Douglas-Home |
| 18 |
The Controller of Programmes for BBC
One, Donald Baverstock, rescinds his order of October 16th because of
perceived cost overruns; the order is reinstated when it is discovered
that he was acting on erroneous information |
|
|
| 18 |
The September 27th recording for 100,000 BC is remounted at Lime
Grove Studio D in Shepherd's Bush, London |
|
|
| 25 |
Recording for 100,000 BC takes place at Lime Grove
Studio D in Shepherd's Bush, London |
|
|
| 28 |
Recording for The Daleks takes place at the BBC
Television Film Studios in Ealing, London |
|
|
| 29 |
Recording for The Daleks takes place at the BBC
Television Film Studios in Ealing, London |
|
|
| 30 |
Recording for The Daleks takes place at the BBC
Television Film Studios in Ealing, London |
|
|
| 31 |
Recording for The Daleks takes place at the BBC
Television Film Studios in Ealing, London |
|
|
| 1 |
Recording for 100,000 BC takes place at Lime Grove
Studio D in Shepherd's Bush, London |
|
|
| 1 |
Recording for The Daleks takes place at the BBC
Television Film Studios in Ealing, London |
|
|
| 8 |
Recording for 100,000 BC takes place at Lime Grove
Studio D in Shepherd's Bush, London |
|
|
| 14 |
William Hartnell's contract is extended
for twelve episodes starting with the fifth installment of The Daleks |
|
|
| 14 |
William Russell's contract is extended
for twelve episodes starting with the fifth installment of The Daleks |
|
|
| 14 |
Jacqueline Hill's contract is extended
for twelve episodes starting with the fifth installment of The Daleks |
|
|
| 15 |
Recording for The Daleks takes place at Lime Grove
Studio D in Shepherd's Bush, London |
|
|
| 16 |
The first trailer for Doctor Who
is broadcast |
|
|
| 18 |
Head of Drama Serials Donald Wilson
decides that the recording of The
Daleks episode one conducted on November 15th will have to be
remounted, due to insurmountable audio problems |
|
|
| 19 |
Carole Ann Ford's contract is extended
for twelve episodes starting with the fifth installment of The Daleks |
|
|
| 21 |
A press conference is held to launch
Doctor Who |
|
|
| 22 |
US President John F Kennedy is assassinated
in Dallas, Texas |
| 22 |
A second set of thirteen episodes is
ordered, to follow Inside The
Spaceship |
|
|
| 22 |
Recording for The Daleks takes place at Lime Grove
Studio D in Shepherd's Bush, London |
|
|
| 23 |
Debut broadcast of 100,000 BC episode one, An
Unearthly Child, on BBC TV |
|
|
| 26 |
Recording for The Daleks takes place at the BBC
Television Film Studios in Ealing, London |
|
|
| 29 |
Recording for The Daleks takes place at Lime Grove
Studio D in Shepherd's Bush, London |
|
|
| 30 |
The BBC elects to repeat 100,000 BC episode one, due to power
blackouts on November 23rd and the intense international focus on the
assassination of President Kennedy |
|
|
| 30 |
Debut broadcast of 100,000 BC episode two, The Cave
Of Skulls, on BBC TV |
|
|
| 2 |
A remount of some of the previous
recording for The Daleks takes
place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London using an
improved model of the Dalek city |
|
|
| 2 |
Malcolm Hulke is commissioned to write “The Hidden
Planet” |
|
|
| 3 |
Around this date, William Hartnell is
contracted for the remount of the November 15th recording for The Daleks |
|
|
| 3 |
Around this date, William Russell is
contracted for the remount of the November 15th recording for The Daleks |
|
|
| 3 |
Around this date, Jacqueline Hill is
contracted for the remount of the November 15th recording for The Daleks |
|
|
| 3 |
Around this date, Carole Ann Ford is
contracted for the remount of the November 15th recording for The Daleks |
|
|
| 6 |
The November 15th recording for The Daleks is remounted at Lime
Grove Studio D |
|
|
| 7 |
Debut broadcast of 100,000 BC episode three, The
Forest Of Fear, on BBC TV |
|
|
| 13 |
Recording for The Daleks takes place at Lime Grove
Studio D in Shepherd's Bush, London |
|
|
| 14 |
Debut broadcast of 100,000 BC episode four, The
Firemaker, on BBC TV |
|
|
| 20 |
Recording for The Daleks takes place at Lime Grove
Studio D in Shepherd's Bush, London |
|
|
| 21 |
Debut broadcast of The Daleks episode one, The
Dead Planet, on BBC TV |
|
|
| 28 |
Debut broadcast of The Daleks episode two, The
Survivors, on BBC TV; viewing figures start to skyrocket following
the introduction of the Daleks |
|
|
| 29 |
Birth of Julian Bleach (bio), the fourth actor to play
Davros |
| 30 |
Head of Drama Sydney Newman demands an
explanation from producer Verity Lambert for the “bug-eyed
monsters” that appeared in The
Daleks episode two; he later concedes that her instincts were
correct |
|
|
| 31 |
An additional set of ten episodes is
ordered, to follow the slot ultimately filled by The Keys Of Marinus |
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