The Doctor Who Production Diary: 1997-2003 Previous: 1996 Next: 2004 Jump: 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 1997 Jan 30 Death of Nicholas Mallett (bio), director Mar 9 Death of Terry Nation (bio), writer Apr 15 Birth of Maisie Williams (bio), who played Ashildr Jun 19 Death of Julia Smith (bio), director Sep 25 Death of Paul Bernard (bio), director Oct 3 Death of Adrienne Hill (bio), who played Katarina 13 Death of Ian Stuart Black (bio), writer late Oct Mal Young is hired as the BBC's Head of Drama Series (subsequently rechristened Controller of Drama Commissioning); a year later, he initiates discussion with Russell T Davies about a potential revival of Doctor Who, only for these plans to be scuppered by BBC Films' attempt to transform the property into a movie 1998 Jul 20 Birth of Sinead Michael (bio), who played Sky Smith Aug 30 Birth of Ellis George (bio), who played Courtney Woods Dec 8 Death of Michael Craze (bio), who played Ben Jackson 1999 Apr 5 Death of John Wiles (bio), producer Dec 28 Death of Donald Cotton (bio), writer 2000 Sep 20 Death of Mary Ridge (bio), director Nov 20 Death of Morris Barry (bio), director and actor 2001 May 11 Death of Douglas Adams (bio), writer and script editor mid Oct At a Manchester press event for Linda Green, the idea of relaunching Doctor Who is briefly discussed by Russell T Davies and Jane Tranter, the BBC's Controller of Drama Commissioning; over the coming months, Davies will continue to meet with executives from BBC Drama regarding Doctor Who Dec 5 Death of Michael Leeston-Smith (bio), director 2002 May 1 Death of John Nathan-Turner (bio), production unit manager, producer and writer Sept 17 BBC One's Controller of Programmes, Lorraine Heggessey, confirms during a radio interview that preliminary discussions are being held about bringing Doctor Who back to television 2003 Mar 16 Jane Tranter, the BBC's Controller of Drama Commissioning, gives an interview in which she indicates her interest in reviving Doctor Who Aug 6 At a press launch for The Canterbury Tales, the BBC's Controller of Drama Commissioning, Jane Tranter, advises Russell T Davies' agent, Bethan Evans, that she is intent making a new season of Doctor Who 21 An article researched for the BBC Doctor Who website conclusively demonstrates that there is no legal barrier to the BBC producing a new series of Doctor Who, providing new impetus for discussions with Russell T Davies 30 Birth of Yasmin Finney (bio), who played Rose Noble early Sep Jane Tranter, the BBC's Controller of Drama Commissioning, and Julie Gardner, BBC Wales' new Head of Drama, agree to make a formal approach to Russell T Davies about reviving Doctor Who 24 An agreement is reached to make a new season of Doctor Who with Russell T Davies as head writer and executive producer; Julie Gardner and Mal Young will also serve as executive producers 26 Lorraine Heggessey, BBC One's Controller of Programmes, confirms that Doctor Who is coming back to television as a BBC Wales production early Nov It has now been decided that Season Twenty-Seven will consist of thirteen forty-five-minute episodes, most of which will be standalone stories 23 Death of Bill Strutton (bio), writer Dec 8 Russell T Davies circulates a fifteen-page pitch document which outlines his plans for Season Twenty-Seven 10 Steven Moffat is commissioned to write The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances

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