The Doctor Who Production Diary: 1969

January
3 Recording for The Seeds Of Death takes place at Lime Grove Studio D in Shepherd's Bush, London The Seeds Of Death
4 Debut broadcast of The Krotons episode two on BBC One The Krotons
7 Patrick Troughton's departure is announced to the press The Second Doctor
10 Recording for The Seeds Of Death takes place at Lime Grove Studio D in Shepherd's Bush, London The Seeds Of Death
11 Debut broadcast of The Krotons episode three on BBC One The Krotons
17 Recording for The Seeds Of Death takes place at Lime Grove Studio D in Shepherd's Bush, London The Seeds Of Death
18 Debut broadcast of The Krotons episode four on BBC One The Krotons
20 Wendy Padbury is contracted for The War Games; by now it has been agreed that she will leave Doctor Who alongside Patrick Troughton and Frazer Hines Zoe
Heriot
24 Recording for The Seeds Of Death takes place at Lime Grove Studio D in Shepherd's Bush, London The Seeds Of Death
25 Debut broadcast of The Seeds Of Death episode one on BBC One The Seeds Of Death
30 The Beatles give their last public performance
31 Recording for The Seeds Of Death takes place at Lime Grove Studio D in Shepherd's Bush, London The Seeds Of Death

February
1 Debut broadcast of The Seeds Of Death episode two on BBC One The Seeds Of Death
7 Recording for The Seeds Of Death takes place at Lime Grove Studio D in Shepherd's Bush, London The Seeds Of Death
7 Recording for The Space Pirates takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Space Pirates
8 Debut broadcast of The Seeds Of Death episode three on BBC One The Seeds Of Death
9 Birth of Neil Cross (bio), writer
10 Recording for The Space Pirates takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Space Pirates
11 Recording for The Space Pirates takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Space Pirates
12 Recording for The Space Pirates takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Space Pirates
12 Robert Holmes is commissioned to provide a storyline for Spearhead From Space Spearhead From Space
13 Recording for The Space Pirates takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Space Pirates
14 Recording for The Space Pirates takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Space Pirates
15 Debut broadcast of The Seeds Of Death episode four on BBC One The Seeds Of Death
17 Brian Wright is commissioned to write a storyline for “The Mists Of Madness” The Third Doctor
19 Recording for The Space Pirates takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Space Pirates
21 Recording for The Space Pirates takes place at Lime Grove Studio D in Shepherd's Bush, London The Space Pirates
22 Debut broadcast of The Seeds Of Death episode five on BBC One The Seeds Of Death
24 Wendy Padbury's departure is announced to the press Zoe
Heriot
28 Recording for The Space Pirates takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London The Space Pirates

March
1 Debut broadcast of The Seeds Of Death episode six on BBC One The Seeds Of Death
7 Recording for The Space Pirates takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London The Space Pirates
8 Debut broadcast of The Space Pirates episode one on BBC One The Space Pirates
14 Recording for The Space Pirates takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London The Space Pirates
15 Debut broadcast of The Space Pirates episode two on BBC One The Space Pirates
21 Recording for The Space Pirates takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The Space Pirates
22 Debut broadcast of The Space Pirates episode three on BBC One The Space Pirates
23 Recording for The War Games takes place in Brighton, East Sussex The War Games
24 Recording for The War Games takes place in Brighton, East Sussex The War Games
25 Recording for The War Games takes place in Brighton, East Sussex The War Games
26 Recording for The War Games takes place in Brighton, East Sussex The War Games
27 Recording for The War Games takes place in Seaford, East Sussex The War Games
28 Recording for The Space Pirates takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London The Space Pirates
28 Recording for The War Games takes place in Clayton, West Sussex The War Games
29 Debut broadcast of The Space Pirates episode four on BBC One The Space Pirates
30 Recording for The War Games takes place in Westdean, East Sussex The War Games
31 Recording for The War Games takes place in Stanmer, East Sussex and Clayton, West Sussex The War Games

April
1 Recording for The War Games takes place in East Dean, East Sussex The War Games
3 Recording for The War Games takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The War Games
5 Debut broadcast of The Space Pirates episode five on BBC One The Space Pirates
11 Recording for The War Games takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London The War Games
12 Debut broadcast of The Space Pirates episode six on BBC One The Space Pirates
18 Recording for The War Games takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London The War Games
19 Debut broadcast of The War Games episode one on BBC One The War Games
25 Recording for The War Games takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London The War Games
26 Debut broadcast of The War Games episode two on BBC One The War Games

May
1 David Whitaker is commissioned to provide a storyline for The Ambassadors Of Death The Ambassadors Of Death
2 Recording for The War Games takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London The War Games
3 Debut broadcast of The War Games episode three on BBC One The War Games
8 Recording for The War Games takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London The War Games
10 Debut broadcast of The War Games episode four on BBC One The War Games
15 Recording for The War Games takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London The War Games
17 Debut broadcast of The War Games episode five on BBC One The War Games
21 Jon Pertwee is contracted to play the Third Doctor for at least twenty-one episodes The Third Doctor
22 Recording for The War Games takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London The War Games
24 Debut broadcast of The War Games episode six on BBC One The War Games
27 Nicholas Courtney is contracted for at least twenty-one episodes during Season Seven Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart
29 Recording for The War Games takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London The War Games
31 Debut broadcast of The War Games episode seven on BBC One The War Games

June
3 Robert Holmes is commissioned to write Spearhead From Space Spearhead From Space
5 Recording for The War Games takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The War Games
7 Debut broadcast of The War Games episode eight on BBC One The War Games
12 Recording for The War Games takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London The War Games
14 Debut broadcast of The War Games episode nine on BBC One The War Games
15 Birth of Michelle Greenidge (bio), who played Carla Sunday
15 Malcolm Hulke is commissioned to provide a story for The Silurians The Silurians
17 Jon Pertwee is introduced to the press as the Third Doctor The Third Doctor
21 Debut broadcast of The War Games episode ten on BBC One The War Games
25 David Whitaker is commissioned to write The Ambassadors Of Death The Ambassadors Of Death
26 Death of CE Webber (bio), writer
30 The Stonewall riots take place in New York City, galvanising the gay rights movement

July
20 Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong becomes the first man to walk on the Moon
28 Caroline John is contracted to play new companion Liz Shaw in two serials beginning with Sparhead From Space Liz 
Shaw

August
3 A new colour title sequence, created by Bernard Lodge of the BBC Graphics Unit and used from 1970 to 1973, is filmed The Third Doctor
9 Actress Sharon Tate and four others are murdered in Los Angeles by Charles Manson and his followers
11 Malcolm Hulke is commissioned to write The Silurians The Silurians
11 A new version of The Ambassadors Of Death episode one, written by assistant script editor Trevor Ray, is sent to David Whitaker to guide him in writing subsequent installments The Ambassadors Of Death
15 The four-day Woodstock Festival begins in New York state

September
10 A photocall is held to introduce Caroline John as new companion Liz Shaw Liz 
Shaw
13 Birth of Ace Bhatti (bio), who played Haresh Chandra
13 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place in London, at Holloway and St Pancras Spearhead From Space
14 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place in Ealing, London Spearhead From Space
15 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place in Wisley, Surrey Spearhead From Space
16 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place in Wisley, Surrey Spearhead From Space
17 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place in Hatchford, Surrey Spearhead From Space
18 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place in Acton, London Spearhead From Space
19 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place in Acton, London Spearhead From Space
25 Concerned about potential industrial action impacting the studio recording for Spearhead From Space, Derrick Sherwin obtains permission to film the material on location instead Spearhead From Space

October
early
Oct
Peter Bryant and Derrick Sherwin are moved off Doctor Who to salvage Paul Temple The Third Doctor
5 The first episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus airs on BBC One
8 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place near Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
9 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place near Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
10 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place near Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
11 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place near Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
12 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place near Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
13 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place near Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
14 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place near Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
15 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place near Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
16 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place near Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
17 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place near Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
20 Barry Letts is appointed the new producer of Doctor Who The Third Doctor
20 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place near Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
21 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place near Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
22 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place near Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
23 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place in Radford, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
24 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place near Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
25 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place near Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
26 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place near Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
27 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place near Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
28 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place in Evesham, Worcestershire Spearhead From Space
29 Electronic communication begins via ARPANET, the precursor of the Internet
29 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place in London Spearhead From Space
30 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place in London Spearhead From Space
31 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place in London Spearhead From Space

November
3 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place in Ealing, London Spearhead From Space
4 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place in Ealing, London Spearhead From Space
5 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place in Marylebone, London Spearhead From Space
7 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place in London Spearhead From Space
10 Charlotte and Dennis Plimmer submit a storyline entitled “The Shadow People” The Third Doctor
12 Recording for The Silurians takes place in London, at Marylebone and Notting Hill The Silurians
13 Recording for The Silurians takes place in Tilford, Surrey The Silurians
14 Recording for The Silurians takes place in Tilford, Surrey The Silurians
15 Both BBC One and ITV start broadcasting in colour on a regular basis
17 Recording for The Silurians takes place in Rushmoor, Surrey The Silurians
18 Recording for The Silurians takes place in Rushmoor, Surrey The Silurians
18 After David Whitaker encounters difficulties writing The Ambassadors Of Death, Malcolm Hulke is commissioned to revise episodes two and three, and write episodes four through seven The Ambassadors Of Death
19 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London Spearhead From Space
19 Recording for The Silurians takes place in Milford, Surrey The Silurians
20 Recording for The Silurians takes place in Surrey, at Godalming and Guildford The Silurians
22 Recording for Spearhead From Space takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London Spearhead From Space
24 Recording for The Silurians takes place in Marylebone, London The Silurians
27 Don Houghton is commissioned to provide a storyline for Inferno Inferno

December
1 Bob Baker and Dave Martin are commissioned to write episode one of “The Gift” The Third Doctor
5 Birth of Catherine Tate (bio), who played Donna Noble
8 Recording for The Silurians takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Silurians
15 Recording for The Silurians takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London The Silurians
21 Recording for The Silurians takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London The Silurians
22 Recording for The Silurians takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London The Silurians