The Doctor Who Production Diary: 1966

January
1 Debut broadcast of The Daleks' Master Plan episode eight, Volcano, on BBC One The Daleks' Master Plan
3 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's 
Eve
4 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's 
Eve
5 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's 
Eve
6 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's 
Eve
7 Recording for The Daleks' Master Plan takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Daleks' Master Plan
7 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place in Wimbledon, London The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's 
Eve
8 Debut broadcast of The Daleks' Master Plan episode nine, Golden Death, on BBC One The Daleks' Master Plan
14 Recording for The Daleks' Master Plan takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Daleks' Master Plan
15 Debut broadcast of The Daleks' Master Plan episode ten, Escape Switch, on BBC One The Daleks' Master Plan
17 Brian Hayles' “The Hands Of Aten” and “The White Witch” are abandoned, while David Whitaker's “The New Armada” is rejected The First Doctor
19 Ian Stuart Black is commissioned to write The Savages The Savages
20 The BBC is asked to credit Lesley Scott as a co-writer of The Ark alongside Paul Erickson The Ark
21 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's 
Eve
22 Debut broadcast of The Daleks' Master Plan episode eleven, The Abandoned Planet, on BBC One The Daleks' Master Plan
24 Recording for The Ark takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Ark
28 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's 
Eve
29 Debut broadcast of The Daleks' Master Plan episode twelve, Destruction Of Time, on BBC One The Daleks' Master Plan
31 Recording for The Ark takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Ark

February
early
Feb
Innes Lloyd begins trailing John Wiles in preparation for becoming Doctor Who's producer The First Doctor
1 Recording for The Ark takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Ark
2 Recording for The Ark takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Ark
3 The Soviet Luna 9 spacecraft becomes the first object to make a controlled landing on the Moon
3 Recording for The Ark takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Ark
4 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's 
Eve
4 Likely date that recording for The Ark takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Ark
5 Debut broadcast of The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve episode one, War Of God, on BBC One The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's 
Eve
11 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's 
Eve
12 Debut broadcast of The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve episode two, The Sea Beggar, on BBC One The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's 
Eve
15 William Hartnell's contract is extended for twenty episodes starting with The Celestial Toymaker The First Doctor
16 Donald Tosh is retroactively commissioned for rewriting The Celestial Toymaker The Celestial Toymaker
18 Birth of Guy Ferland (bio), director
18 Recording for The Ark takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Ark
19 Debut broadcast of The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve episode three, Priest Of Death, on BBC One The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's 
Eve
24 Peter Purves' contract is extended for twelve episodes through The Savages, with the understanding that Purves will then be leaving Doctor Who Steven 
Taylor
25 Recording for The Ark takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Ark
26 Debut broadcast of The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve episode four, Bell Of Doom, on BBC One The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's 
Eve
late
Feb
Innes Lloyd officially succeeds John Wiles as the producer of Doctor Who The First Doctor

March
early
Mar
Staff writer Pat Dunlop is assigned to write a set of scripts based on an idea for what will become The War Machines suggested by Doctor Who's new scientific consultant, Dr Kit Pedler The War Machines
2 Recording for The Celestial Toymaker takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Celestial Toymaker
3 Recording for The Celestial Toymaker takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Celestial Toymaker
4 Recording for The Ark takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Ark
5 Debut broadcast of The Ark episode one, The Steel Sky, on BBC One The Ark
8 Brian Hayles is commissioned to write “The Nazis” The First Doctor
11 Recording for The Ark takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Ark
12 Debut broadcast of The Ark episode two, The Plague, on BBC One The Ark
15 After Pat Dunlop leaves the project, Ian Stuart Black is commissioned to write scripts for The War Machines The War Machines
18 Recording for The Celestial Toymaker takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Celestial Toymaker
19 Debut broadcast of The Ark episode three, The Return, on BBC One The Ark
23 Pope Paul VI and Michael Ramsey, the Archbishop of Canterbury, hold the first formal meeting between their offices in 400 years
25 Recording for The Celestial Toymaker takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Celestial Toymaker
26 Debut broadcast of The Ark episode four, The Bomb, on BBC One The Ark
28 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Gunfighters
29 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Gunfighters
30 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Gunfighters
31 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Gunfighters

April
1 Recording for The Celestial Toymaker takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Celestial Toymaker
2 Debut broadcast of The Celestial Toymaker episode one, The Celestial Toyroom, on BBC One The Celestial Toymaker
4 Brian Hayles is commissioned to write The Smugglers, suspending work on “The Nazis” The Smugglers
4 Geoffrey Orme's “The Evil Eye”, and David Ellis' “The Clock” and “The Ocean Liner” are rejected The First Doctor
8 Recording for The Celestial Toymaker takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Celestial Toymaker
9 Debut broadcast of The Celestial Toymaker episode two, The Hall Of Dolls, on BBC One The Celestial Toymaker
15 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London The Gunfighters
16 Debut broadcast of The Celestial Toymaker episode three, The Dancing Floor, on BBC One; soon thereafter, the estate of Frank Richards complains about the character Cyril's resemblance to Richards' creation Billy Bunter The Celestial Toymaker
22 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Gunfighters
23 Debut broadcast of The Celestial Toymaker episode four, The Final Test, on BBC One; in response to the complaints from Frank Richards' representatives, a continuity announcement airs to emphasise that Cyril is not intended to be Billy Bunter The Celestial Toymaker
25 Birth of Stephen Woolfenden (bio), director
26 By now, Innes Lloyd and Gerry Davis have decided to drop not only Steven but also Dodo from Doctor Who, and replace them with new companions Ben Jackson and Polly; Peter Purves' and Jackie Lane's departures from the programme are announced to the press Dodo 
Chaplet
27 Recording for The Savages takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Savages
28 Jackie Lane is contracted for her final six episodes: The Savages and the first two installments of The War Machines Dodo 
Chaplet
28 Recording for The Savages takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Savages
29 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Gunfighters
29 Recording for The Savages takes place in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire The Savages
30 Debut broadcast of The Gunfighters episode one, A Holiday For The Doctor, on BBC One The Gunfighters

May
1 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place in Virginia Water, Surrey The Gunfighters
1 Recording for The Savages takes place in Oxshott, Surrey The Savages
6 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Gunfighters
7 Debut broadcast of The Gunfighters episode two, Don't Shoot The Pianist, on BBC One The Gunfighters
13 Recording for The Savages takes place at Riverside Studios 1 in Hammersmith, London The Savages
14 Debut broadcast of The Gunfighters episode three, Johnny Ringo, on BBC One The Gunfighters
16 The Beach Boys release Pet Sounds, widely acclaimed as one of the most influential albums in music history
17 Kit Pedler is commissioned to write The Tenth Planet The Tenth Planet
20 Death of Mervyn Pinfield (bio), associate producer and director
20 Recording for The Savages takes place at Riverside Studios 1 in Hammersmith, London The Savages
21 The debut broadcast of The Gunfighters episode four, The O.K. Corral, on BBC One achieves Doctor Who's lowest-ever Appreciation Index: 30% The Gunfighters
22 Recording for The War Machines takes place in London, at Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia The War Machines
23 Recording for The War Machines takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The War Machines
24 Recording for The War Machines takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The War Machines
25 Anneke Wills, cast as new companion Polly, is contracted for eighteen episodes starting with The War Machines Polly
25 Recording for The War Machines takes place on the backlot of the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The War Machines
26 Michael Craze, cast as new companion Ben Jackson, is contracted for eighteen episodes starting with The War Machines Ben 
Jackson
26 Recording for The War Machines takes place in London, at Kensington and Covent Garden The War Machines
27 Recording for The Savages takes place at Riverside Studios 1 in Hammersmith, London The Savages
28 Debut broadcast of The Savages episode one on BBC One The Savages

June
3 Recording for The Savages takes place at Riverside Studios 1 in Hammersmith, London The Savages
4 Debut broadcast of The Savages episode two on BBC One The Savages
8 Paul Wheeler's “The Dream-Spinner” is rejected The First Doctor
10 Recording for The War Machines takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The War Machines
11 Debut broadcast of The Savages episode three on BBC One The Savages
15 Donald Cotton's “The Herdsmen Of Aquarius”, Brian Hayles' “The Nazis”, David Ellis and Malcolm Hulke's “The People Who Couldn't Remember”, and George Kerr's “The Hearsay Machine”, “The Heavy Scent Of Violence” and “The Man From The Met” are rejected The First Doctor
17 Recording for The War Machines takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The War Machines
18 Debut broadcast of The Savages episode four on BBC One The Savages
19 Recording for The Smugglers takes place at Nanjizal Beach, Cornwall The Smugglers
20 Innes Lloyd writes to Jackie Lane to apologise for the abrupt nature of her departure from Doctor Who Dodo 
Chaplet
20 Recording for The Smugglers takes place at Nanjizal Beach, Cornwall The Smugglers
21 Recording for The Smugglers takes place in Cornwall, at Grade, Church Cove and Helston The Smugglers
22 Recording for The Smugglers takes place in Trethewey, Cornwall The Smugglers
23 Michael Craze and Anneke Wills are introduced to the press as new companions Ben Jackson and Polly Polly
23 Recording for The Smugglers takes place in waters off Nanjizal, Cornwall The Smugglers
24 Recording for The War Machines takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The War Machines
25 Debut broadcast of The War Machines episode one on BBC One The War Machines
28 Eric Laithwaite submits an untitled story The First Doctor
29 Due to Kit Pedler's hospitalisation, Gerry Davis receives permission to co-write the last two episodes of The Tenth Planet The Tenth Planet
30 France formally withdraws from NATO in response to perceived American and British dominance of the organisation
late
Jun
Having convinced the BBC that William Hartnell's deteriorating health necessitates a change in lead actor, Innes Lloyd approaches Patrick Troughton about taking over the role of the Doctor The Second Doctor

July
1 Recording for The War Machines takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The War Machines
2 Debut broadcast of The War Machines episode two on BBC One The War Machines
8 Recording for The Smugglers takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Smugglers
9 Debut broadcast of The War Machines episode three on BBC One The War Machines
15 Recording for The Smugglers takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Smugglers
16 William Hartnell informs his wife, Heather, that he has met with Innes Lloyd and agreed to leave Doctor Who after recording one more story at the start of the fourth production block The First Doctor
16 Debut broadcast of The War Machines episode four on BBC One The War Machines
22 Recording for The Smugglers takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Smugglers
22 David Whitaker is commissioned to write The Power Of The Daleks The Power Of The Daleks
29 Recording for The Smugglers takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Smugglers
30 England defeats West Germany 4-2, winning the 1966 FIFA World Cup on home soil
late
Jul
William Hartnell is contracted for his final four episodes, comprising The Tenth Planet The First Doctor

August
6 The BBC announces that William Hartnell will be leaving Doctor Who The First Doctor
6 Patrick Troughton is contracted to play the Second Doctor for twenty-two episodes, starting with The Power Of The Daleks The Second Doctor
7 Birth of Shobna Gulati (bio), who played Najia Khan
12 Birth of Sharon D Clarke (bio), who played Grace O'Brien
16 Geoffrey Orme is commissioned to write The Underwater Menace The Underwater Menace
30 Recording for The Tenth Planet takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Tenth Planet
30 Elwyn Jones is commissioned to write The Highlanders The Highlanders
31 Recording for The Tenth Planet takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Tenth Planet

September
1 The BBC announces that Patrick Troughton has been cast as the Second Doctor The Second Doctor
1 Recording for The Tenth Planet takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Tenth Planet
2 Recording for The Tenth Planet takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Tenth Planet
8 The first episode of Star Trek airs on American television
10 Debut broadcast of The Smugglers episode one on BBC One The Smugglers
16 Patrick Troughton is contracted to play the Second Doctor in the “renewal” sequence at the end of The Tenth Planet episode four The Second Doctor
17 Debut broadcast of The Smugglers episode two on BBC One The Smugglers
17 Recording for The Tenth Planet takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Tenth Planet
24 Debut broadcast of The Smugglers episode three on BBC One The Smugglers
24 Recording for The Tenth Planet takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Tenth Planet
26 Recording for The Power Of The Daleks takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Power Of The Daleks
27 Recording for The Power Of The Daleks takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Power Of The Daleks
28 Recording for The Power Of The Daleks takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Power Of The Daleks

October
1 Debut broadcast of The Smugglers episode four on BBC One The Smugglers
1 Recording for The Tenth Planet takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Tenth Planet
8 Recording for The Tenth Planet takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Tenth Planet
8 Debut broadcast of The Tenth Planet episode one on BBC One The Tenth Planet
12 Dennis Spooner is contracted to rewrite portions of The Power Of The Daleks in response to Sydney Newman's criticism of the portrayal of the Second Doctor The Power Of The Daleks
15 Debut broadcast of The Tenth Planet episode two on BBC One The Tenth Planet
17 Birth of Mark Gatiss (bio), writer and executive producer, who also played Captain Archibald Lethbridge-Stewart
17 William Emms is commissioned to write “The Imps” The Second Doctor
21 A colliery spoil tip collapses at Aberfan, Wales and demolishes a school; 144 people are killed, including 116 children
22 Debut broadcast of The Tenth Planet episode three on BBC One The Tenth Planet
22 Recording for The Power Of The Daleks takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Power Of The Daleks
29 Debut broadcast of The Tenth Planet episode four on BBC One The Tenth Planet
29 Recording for The Power Of The Daleks takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Power Of The Daleks

November
1 Terry Nation proposes spinning the Daleks off into their own series The Evil Of The Daleks
2 Michael Craze's contract is extended for twelve episodes starting with The Highlanders Ben 
Jackson
2 Frazer Hines is contracted to play Jamie McCrimmon in The Highlanders, with an option for twelve further episodes; the character is being considered as a possible companion Jamie 
McCrimmon
3 Anneke Wills' contract is extended for for twelve episodes starting with The Highlanders Polly
5 Recording for The Power Of The Daleks takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Power Of The Daleks
5 Debut broadcast of The Power Of The Daleks episode one on BBC One The Power Of The Daleks
11 Recording for The Highlanders takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Highlanders
12 Recording for The Power Of The Daleks takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Power Of The Daleks
12 Debut broadcast of The Power Of The Daleks episode two on BBC One The Power Of The Daleks
14 Recording for The Highlanders takes place in Frensham, Surrey The Highlanders
15 Recording for The Highlanders takes place in Frensham, Surrey The Highlanders
15 David Ellis and Malcolm Hulke submit a storyline entitled “The Big Store” The Second Doctor
16 Recording for The Highlanders takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Highlanders
18 Kit Pedler is commissioned to write The Moonbase The Moonbase
19 Recording for The Power Of The Daleks takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Power Of The Daleks
19 Debut broadcast of The Power Of The Daleks episode three on BBC One The Power Of The Daleks
21 The final scene of The Highlanders is remounted at Frensham, Surrey to reflect the decision to retain Jamie McCrimmon as a regular character The Highlanders
22 The BBC passes on Terry Nation's proposed Dalek spin-off, prompting Nation to market the idea in America; the BBC decides to kill off the Daleks in one final Doctor Who story The Evil Of The Daleks
23 Birth of Michelle Gomez (bio), the ninth actor to play the Master
26 Recording for The Power Of The Daleks takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Power Of The Daleks
26 Debut broadcast of The Power Of The Daleks episode four on BBC One The Power Of The Daleks
28 A revised character outline is issued for the Second Doctor The Second Doctor
28 A character outline for Jamie McCrimmon is circulated Jamie 
McCrimmon
30 Birth of John Bishop (bio), who played Dan Lewis
late
Nov
Innes Lloyd decides to write out Ben and Polly, believing that Jamie is the more interesting companion Ben 
Jackson

December
3 Debut broadcast of The Power Of The Daleks episode five on BBC One The Power Of The Daleks
3 Recording for The Highlanders takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Highlanders
9 Bernard Lodge of the BBC Graphics Unit records a new Doctor Who title sequence used from 1967 to 1969 The Second Doctor
10 Debut broadcast of The Power Of The Daleks episode six on BBC One The Power Of The Daleks
10 Recording for The Highlanders takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Highlanders
11 Ian Stuart Black is commissioned to write The Macra Terror The Macra Terror
12 Anneke Wills' contract is renewed for twelve episodes, beginning with The Macra Terror Polly
12 Formal approval is given for Gerry Davis to co-write The Highlanders The Highlanders
12 Recording for The Underwater Menace takes place at Worth Matravers, Dorset The Underwater Menace
13 Recording for The Underwater Menace takes place at Worth Matravers, Dorset The Underwater Menace
14 Recording for The Underwater Menace takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Underwater Menace
15 Walt Disney dies at age 65, during the production of The Jungle Book, his nineteenth animated feature film
15 Recording for The Underwater Menace takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Underwater Menace
16 Recording for The Underwater Menace takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Underwater Menace
17 Recording for The Highlanders takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Highlanders
17 Debut broadcast of The Highlanders episode one on BBC One The Highlanders
24 Recording for The Highlanders takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London The Highlanders
24 Debut broadcast of The Highlanders episode two on BBC One The Highlanders
31 Debut broadcast of The Highlanders episode three on BBC One The Highlanders