The Doctor Who Production Diary: 1979
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January
3 A storyline entitled “Valley Of The Lost” by Philip Hinchcliffe is rejected The Fourth Doctor
6 Debut broadcast of The Power Of Kroll episode three on BBC One The Power Of Kroll
7 In Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge-backed regime of Pol Pot is toppled
9 Alistair Beaton and Sarah Dunant's “Child Prodigy” is rejected The Fourth Doctor
10 Pennant Roberts is commissioned to write “Erinella” The Fourth Doctor
11 Ted Lewis' “Shield Of Zarak” is rejected The Fourth Doctor
12 David Fisher is commissioned to write “The Gamble With Time” City Of Death
13 Debut broadcast of The Power Of Kroll episode four on BBC One The Power Of Kroll
16 John Lloyd abandons “The Doomsday Contract” due to other commitments The Fourth Doctor
18 Tom Baker abandons his demands for creative control and agrees to a contract for Season Seventeen The Fourth Doctor
20 The press begins to report Mary Tamm's departure at the end of Season Sixteen The First Romana
20 Debut broadcast of The Armageddon Factor episode one on BBC One The Armageddon Factor
24 Lalla Ward is contracted to play a new incarnation of Romana for Season Seventeen; the actress had appeared as Princess Astra in The Armageddon Factor and her return had been championed by Tom Baker The Second Romana
27 Debut broadcast of The Armageddon Factor episode two on BBC One The Armageddon Factor

February
3 Debut broadcast of The Armageddon Factor episode three on BBC One The Armageddon Factor
6 A photocall is held to introduce Lalla Ward as the second incarnation of Romana The Second Romana
7 Bob Baker is commissioned to write Nightmare Of Eden Nightmare Of Eden
7 John Lloyd grants permission for Allan Prior to continue developing “The Doomsday Contract” The Fourth Doctor
10 Debut broadcast of The Armageddon Factor episode four on BBC One The Armageddon Factor
11 The Iranian Revolution results in the overthrow of the Shah, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, and the rise to power of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini
17 Debut broadcast of The Armageddon Factor episode five on BBC One The Armageddon Factor
24 Debut broadcast of The Armageddon Factor episode six on BBC One The Armageddon Factor

March
2 Allan Prior's version of “The Doomsday Contract” is rejected The Fourth Doctor
15 David Fisher is unable to complete necessary rewrites on “The Gamble With Time” and so, between this date and March 19th, the scripts are overhauled by Douglas Adams and Graham Williams as City Of Death; the story will be credited using the pseudonym “David Agnew” City Of Death
16 With John Leeson electing not to return for Season Seventeen, David Brierly agrees to voice K·9 K·9
20 Birth of Freema Agyeman (bio), who played Dr Martha Jones
20 Industrial action results in the cancellation of recording for The Creature From The Pit at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Creature From The Pit
21 Recording for The Creature From The Pit takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Creature From The Pit
22 Recording for The Creature From The Pit takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Creature From The Pit
23 Recording for The Creature From The Pit takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Creature From The Pit
23 Anthony Read is commissioned to write The Horns Of Nimon The Horns Of Nimon
28 David Brierly is contracted to provide K·9's voice for Season Seventeen K·9

April
2 Alan Drury is commissioned to write “The Tearing Of The Veil” The Fourth Doctor
9 Recording for The Creature From The Pit takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The Creature From The Pit
10 Recording for The Creature From The Pit takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The Creature From The Pit
17 Recording for The Creature From The Pit takes place at the BBC Visual Effects Workshop in Acton, London The Creature From The Pit
18 Recording for The Creature From The Pit takes place at the BBC Visual Effects Workshop in Acton, London The Creature From The Pit
22 Recording for The Creature From The Pit takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The Creature From The Pit
23 Recording for The Creature From The Pit takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The Creature From The Pit
24 Recording for The Creature From The Pit takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The Creature From The Pit
30 Recording for City Of Death takes place in Paris, France; this is the first time filming for Doctor Who has occurred outside of the United Kingdom City Of Death

May
1 Recording for City Of Death takes place in Paris, France City Of Death
2 Recording for City Of Death takes place in Paris, France City Of Death
3 Recording for City Of Death takes place in Paris, France City Of Death
4 Conservative Party leader Margaret Thatcher is elected Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
8 Recording for City Of Death takes place at Bray Studios in Water Oakley, Berkshire City Of Death
9 Recording for City Of Death takes place at Bray Studios in Water Oakley, Berkshire City Of Death
10 Recording for City Of Death takes place at Bray Studios in Water Oakley, Berkshire City Of Death
21 Recording for City Of Death takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London City Of Death
22 Recording for City Of Death takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London City Of Death

June
2 Pope John Paul II begins a visit to Poland, inspiring the rise of the anti-Communist Solidarity movement
3 Recording for City Of Death takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London City Of Death
4 Recording for City Of Death takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London City Of Death
5 Recording for City Of Death takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London City Of Death
11 Recording for Destiny Of The Daleks takes place in Worth Matravers, Dorset Destiny Of The Daleks
12 Recording for Destiny Of The Daleks takes place in Wareham, Dorset Destiny Of The Daleks
13 Recording for Destiny Of The Daleks takes place in Wareham, Dorset Destiny Of The Daleks
14 Recording for Destiny Of The Daleks takes place in Worth Matravers, Dorset Destiny Of The Daleks
15 Recording for Destiny Of The Daleks takes place in Worth Matravers, Dorset Destiny Of The Daleks
20 Recording for Destiny Of The Daleks takes place at the BBC Visual Effects Workshop in Acton, London Destiny Of The Daleks

July
2 Recording for Destiny Of The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London Destiny Of The Daleks
3 Recording for Destiny Of The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London Destiny Of The Daleks
6 Death of Malcolm Hulke (bio), writer
15 Recording for Destiny Of The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London Destiny Of The Daleks
16 Saddam Hussein becomes President of Iraq following the resignation of Hasan al-Bakr
16 Recording for Destiny Of The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London Destiny Of The Daleks
17 Recording for Destiny Of The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London Destiny Of The Daleks

August
12 Recording for Nightmare Of Eden takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Nightmare Of Eden
13 Recording for Nightmare Of Eden takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Nightmare Of Eden
14 Recording for Nightmare Of Eden takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Nightmare Of Eden
15 With no scripts available to conclude Season Seventeen, Douglas Adams is granted permission to write Shada Shada
26 Recording for Nightmare Of Eden takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Nightmare Of Eden
27 Lord Louis Mountbatten, uncle of Prince Philip, and three others are killed by a bomb planted on his fishing boat by the Irish Republican Army
27 Recording for Nightmare Of Eden takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Nightmare Of Eden
28 Recording for Nightmare Of Eden takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London; animosity between Tom Baker and director Alan Bromly leads Bromly to quit during the supper break, leaving Graham Williams to complete production Nightmare Of Eden
late
Aug		 A frustrated and exhausted Graham Williams decides to step down as producer, and nominates production unit manager John Nathan-Turner as his successor; Douglas Adams has also decided that he will not return for a second year as script editor The Fourth Doctor

September
1 Debut broadcast of Destiny Of The Daleks episode one on BBC One Destiny Of The Daleks
8 Debut broadcast of Destiny Of The Daleks episode two on BBC One Destiny Of The Daleks
15 Debut broadcast of Destiny Of The Daleks episode three on BBC One Destiny Of The Daleks
22 Debut broadcast of Destiny Of The Daleks episode four on BBC One Destiny Of The Daleks
24 Recording for The Horns Of Nimon takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Horns Of Nimon
25 Recording for The Horns Of Nimon takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Horns Of Nimon
26 Recording for The Horns Of Nimon takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Horns Of Nimon
26 John Lloyd again grants permission for “The Doomsday Contract” to be developed by another writer The Fourth Doctor
29 Debut broadcast of City Of Death episode one on BBC One City Of Death

October
6 Debut broadcast of City Of Death episode two on BBC One City Of Death
7 Recording for The Horns Of Nimon takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The Horns Of Nimon
8 Recording for The Horns Of Nimon takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The Horns Of Nimon
9 Recording for The Horns Of Nimon takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The Horns Of Nimon
13 Debut broadcast of City Of Death episode three on BBC One City Of Death
15 Recording for Shada takes place in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Shada
16 Recording for Shada takes place in Grantchester, Cambridgeshire Shada
17 Recording for Shada takes place in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Shada
18 Recording for Shada in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire is cancelled due to industrial action Shada
19 Recording for Shada takes place in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire Shada
20 Debut broadcast of City Of Death episode four on BBC One; the viewing audience of 16.1 million, bolstered by a strike which has taken ITV off the air, is the largest in Doctor Who history City Of Death
22 Recording for Shada takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London Shada
27 Debut broadcast of The Creature From The Pit episode one on BBC One The Creature From The Pit

November
2 Incoming producer John Nathan-Turner is approached by Head of Serials Graeme MacDonald about the possibility of a co-production arrangement with the Australian Broadcasting Commission; he soon approaches the ABC with a proposal to film at least one serial in Australia The Fourth Doctor
3 Debut broadcast of The Creature From The Pit episode two on BBC One The Creature From The Pit
3 Recording for Shada takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London Shada
4 Iranian students take over the US Embassy in Tehran, instigating the 444-day-long Iran hostage crisis
4 Recording for Shada takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London Shada
5 Recording for Shada takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London Shada
7 David Fisher submits a storyline called “The Castle Of Doom” but it is rejected by John Nathan-Turner in favour of The Leisure Hive The Fourth Doctor
10 Debut broadcast of The Creature From The Pit episode three on BBC One The Creature From The Pit
15 Recording for Shada at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London is cancelled, probably due to industrial action Shada
16 Recording for Shada at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London is cancelled, probably due to industrial action Shada
17 Debut broadcast of The Creature From The Pit episode four on BBC One The Creature From The Pit
19 Birth of Katherine Kelly (bio), who played Andrea Quill
19 Recording for Shada at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London is cancelled due to industrial action Shada
20 Recording for Shada at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London is cancelled due to industrial action Shada
24 Debut broadcast of Nightmare Of Eden episode one on BBC One Nightmare Of Eden
30 The ongoing industrial action results in the production of Shada being stood down Shada
late
Nov		 Douglas Adams leaves his post as Doctor Who's script editor The Fourth Doctor

December
1 Debut broadcast of Nightmare Of Eden episode two on BBC One Nightmare Of Eden
8 Debut broadcast of Nightmare Of Eden episode three on BBC One Nightmare Of Eden
10 Although Graham Williams has been exploring the possibility of rescheduling the five cancelled studio days for Shada, it is officially decided that transmission of Season Seventeen will cease following the broadcast of The Horns Of Nimon episode four Shada
15 Debut broadcast of Nightmare Of Eden episode four on BBC One Nightmare Of Eden
mid
Dec		 Graham Williams leaves Doctor Who; Head of Serials Graeme MacDonald has installed former producer Barry Letts as executive producer to oversee Williams' inexperienced successor, John Nathan-Turner The Fourth Doctor
20 David Fisher is commissioned to write The Leisure Hive The Leisure Hive
22 Debut broadcast of The Horns Of Nimon episode one on BBC One The Horns Of Nimon
25 The Soviet Union invades Afghanistan
29 Debut broadcast of The Horns Of Nimon episode two on BBC One The Horns Of Nimon
late
Dec		 On the recommendation of former Doctor Who writer Robert Banks Stewart, Christopher H Bidmead agrees to become the new script editor of Doctor Who The Fourth Doctor

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