The Doctor Who Production Diary: 1966 Previous: 1965 Next: 1967 Jump: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec January early Jan Having failed to gain permission to replace William Hartnell as the star of Doctor Who at the end of The Celestial Toymaker, John Wiles resigns as producer; Donald Tosh decides to remain loyal to his producer, and also steps down 1 Debut broadcast of The Daleks' Master Plan episode eight, Volcano, on BBC One 3 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 4 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 5 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 6 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 7 Recording for The Daleks' Master Plan takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London 7 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place in Wimbledon, London 8 Debut broadcast of The Daleks' Master Plan episode nine, Golden Death, on BBC One 14 Recording for The Daleks' Master Plan takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London 15 Debut broadcast of The Daleks' Master Plan episode ten, Escape Switch, on BBC One mid Jan Innes Lloyd and Gerry Davis are appointed as producer and script editor of Doctor Who, respectively, replacing John Wiles and Donald Tosh; Davis begins work almost immediately 17 Brian Hayles' “The Hands Of Aten” and “The White Witch” are abandoned, while David Whitaker's “The New Armada” is rejected 19 Ian Stuart Black is commissioned to write The Savages 20 The BBC is asked to credit Lesley Scott as a co-writer of The Ark alongside Paul Erickson 21 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 22 Debut broadcast of The Daleks' Master Plan episode eleven, The Abandoned Planet, on BBC One 24 Recording for The Ark takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 28 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 29 Debut broadcast of The Daleks' Master Plan episode twelve, Destruction Of Time, on BBC One 31 Recording for The Ark takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London February early Feb Innes Lloyd begins trailing John Wiles in preparation for becoming Doctor Who's producer 1 Recording for The Ark takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 2 Recording for The Ark takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 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 4 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 4 Likely date that recording for The Ark takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 5 Debut broadcast of The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve episode one, War Of God, on BBC One 11 Recording for The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 12 Debut broadcast of The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve episode two, The Sea Beggar, on BBC One 15 William Hartnell's contract is extended to include the remaining episodes of Doctor Who's third production block, through The Smugglers 18 Birth of Guy Ferland (bio), director 18 Recording for The Ark takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 19 Debut broadcast of The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve episode three, Priest Of Death, on BBC One 24 Peter Purves' contract is extended for twelve episodes through The Savages, with the understanding that Purves will then be leaving Doctor Who 25 Recording for The Ark takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 26 Debut broadcast of The Massacre Of St Bartholomew's Eve episode four, Bell Of Doom, on BBC One late Feb Innes Lloyd officially succeeds John Wiles as the producer of Doctor Who 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 2 Recording for The Celestial Toymaker takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 3 Recording for The Celestial Toymaker takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 4 Recording for The Ark takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 5 Debut broadcast of The Ark episode one, The Steel Sky, on BBC One 8 Brian Hayles is commissioned to write “The Nazis” 11 Recording for The Ark takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 12 Debut broadcast of The Ark episode two, The Plague, on BBC One 15 After Pat Dunlop leaves the project, Ian Stuart Black is commissioned to write scripts for The War Machines 18 Recording for The Celestial Toymaker takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 19 Debut broadcast of The Ark episode three, The Return, on BBC One 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 26 Debut broadcast of The Ark episode four, The Bomb, on BBC One 28 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 29 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 30 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 31 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London April 1 Recording for The Celestial Toymaker takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 2 Debut broadcast of The Celestial Toymaker episode one, The Celestial Toyroom, on BBC One 4 Brian Hayles is commissioned to write The Smugglers, suspending work on “The Nazis” 4 Geoffrey Orme's “The Evil Eye”, and David Ellis' “The Clock” and “The Ocean Liner” are rejected 8 Recording for The Celestial Toymaker takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 9 Debut broadcast of The Celestial Toymaker episode two, The Hall Of Dolls, on BBC One 15 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London 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 22 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 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 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 27 Recording for The Savages takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 28 Jackie Lane is contracted for her final six episodes, through The War Machines part two 28 Recording for The Savages takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 29 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 29 Recording for The Savages takes place in Chalfont St Peter, Buckinghamshire 30 Debut broadcast of The Gunfighters episode one, A Holiday For The Doctor, on BBC One May 1 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place in Virginia Water, Surrey 1 Recording for The Savages takes place in Oxshott, Surrey 6 Recording for The Gunfighters takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 7 Debut broadcast of The Gunfighters episode two, Don't Shoot The Pianist, on BBC One 13 Recording for The Savages takes place at Riverside Studios 1 in Hammersmith, London 14 Debut broadcast of The Gunfighters episode three, Johnny Ringo, on BBC One 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 20 Death of Mervyn Pinfield (bio), associate producer and director 20 Recording for The Savages takes place at Riverside Studios 1 in Hammersmith, London 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% 22 Recording for The War Machines takes place in London, at Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia 23 Recording for The War Machines takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 24 Recording for The War Machines takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 25 Anneke Wills, cast as new companion Polly, is contracted for eighteen episodes starting with The War Machines 25 Recording for The War Machines takes place on the backlot of the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 26 Michael Craze, cast as new companion Ben Jackson, is contracted for eighteen episodes starting with The War Machines 26 Recording for The War Machines takes place in London, at Kensington and Covent Garden 27 Recording for The Savages takes place at Riverside Studios 1 in Hammersmith, London 28 Debut broadcast of The Savages episode one on BBC One June 3 Recording for The Savages takes place at Riverside Studios 1 in Hammersmith, London 4 Debut broadcast of The Savages episode two on BBC One 10 Recording for The War Machines takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 11 Debut broadcast of The Savages episode three on BBC One 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 17 Recording for The War Machines takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 18 Debut broadcast of The Savages episode four on BBC One 19 Recording for The Smugglers takes place at Nanjizal Beach, Cornwall 20 Innes Lloyd writes to Jackie Lane to apologise for the abrupt nature of her departure from Doctor Who 20 Recording for The Smugglers takes place at Nanjizal Beach, Cornwall 21 Recording for The Smugglers takes place in Cornwall, at Grade, Church Cove and Helston 22 Recording for The Smugglers takes place in Trethewey, Cornwall 23 Michael Craze and Anneke Wills are introduced to the press as new companions Ben Jackson and Polly 23 Recording for The Smugglers takes place in waters off Nanjizal, Cornwall 24 Recording for The War Machines takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 25 Debut broadcast of The War Machines episode one on BBC One 28 Eric Laithwaite submits an untitled story 29 Due to Kit Pedler's hospitalisation, Gerry Davis receives permission to co-write the last two episodes of 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 July 1 Recording for The War Machines takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 2 Debut broadcast of The War Machines episode two on BBC One 8 Recording for The Smugglers takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 9 Debut broadcast of The War Machines episode three on BBC One 15 Recording for The Smugglers takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 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 16 Debut broadcast of The War Machines episode four on BBC One 22 Recording for The Smugglers takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 22 David Whitaker is commissioned to write The Power Of The Daleks 29 Recording for The Smugglers takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 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 August 6 The BBC announces that William Hartnell will be leaving Doctor Who 6 Patrick Troughton is contracted to play the Second Doctor for twenty-two episodes, starting with The Power Of The Daleks 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 30 Recording for The Tenth Planet takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 30 Elwyn Jones is commissioned to write The Highlanders 31 Recording for The Tenth Planet takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London September 1 The BBC announces that Patrick Troughton has been cast as the Second Doctor 1 Recording for The Tenth Planet takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 2 Recording for The Tenth Planet takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 8 The first episode of Star Trek airs on American television 10 Debut broadcast of The Smugglers episode one on BBC One 16 Patrick Troughton is contracted to play the Second Doctor in the “renewal” sequence at the end of The Tenth Planet episode four 17 Debut broadcast of The Smugglers episode two on BBC One 17 Recording for The Tenth Planet takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 24 Debut broadcast of The Smugglers episode three on BBC One 24 Recording for The Tenth Planet takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 26 Recording for The Power Of The Daleks takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 27 Recording for The Power Of The Daleks takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 28 Recording for The Power Of The Daleks takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London October 1 Debut broadcast of The Smugglers episode four on BBC One 1 Recording for The Tenth Planet takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 8 Recording for The Tenth Planet takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 8 Debut broadcast of The Tenth Planet episode one on BBC One 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 15 Debut broadcast of The Tenth Planet episode two on BBC One 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” 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 22 Recording for The Power Of The Daleks takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 29 Debut broadcast of The Tenth Planet episode four on BBC One 29 Recording for The Power Of The Daleks takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London November 1 Terry Nation proposes spinning the Daleks off into their own series 2 Michael Craze's contract is extended for three stories, beginning with The Highlanders 2 Frazer Hines is contracted to play Jamie McCrimmon in The Highlanders, with an option for three further serials; the character is being considered as a possible companion 3 Anneke Wills' contract is extended for three stories, beginning with The Highlanders 5 Recording for The Power Of The Daleks takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 5 Debut broadcast of The Power Of The Daleks episode one on BBC One 11 Recording for The Highlanders takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 12 Recording for The Power Of The Daleks takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 12 Debut broadcast of The Power Of The Daleks episode two on BBC One 14 Recording for The Highlanders takes place in Frensham, Surrey 15 Recording for The Highlanders takes place in Frensham, Surrey 15 David Ellis and Malcolm Hulke submit a storyline entitled “The Big Store” 16 Recording for The Highlanders takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 18 Kit Pedler is commissioned to write The Moonbase 19 Recording for The Power Of The Daleks takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 19 Debut broadcast of The Power Of The Daleks episode three on BBC One 21 The final scene of The Highlanders is remounted at Frensham, Surrey to reflect the decision to retain Jamie McCrimmon as a regular character 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 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 26 Debut broadcast of The Power Of The Daleks episode four on BBC One 28 A revised character outline is issued for the Second Doctor 28 A character outline for Jamie McCrimmon is circulated 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 December 3 Debut broadcast of The Power Of The Daleks episode five on BBC One 3 Recording for The Highlanders takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 9 Bernard Lodge of the BBC Graphics Unit records a new Doctor Who title sequence used from 1967 to 1969 10 Debut broadcast of The Power Of The Daleks episode six on BBC One 10 Recording for The Highlanders takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 11 Ian Stuart Black is commissioned to write The Macra Terror 12 Anneke Wills' contract is renewed for twelve episodes, beginning with The Macra Terror 12 Formal approval is given for Gerry Davis to co-write The Highlanders 12 Recording for The Underwater Menace takes place at Worth Matravers, Dorset 13 Recording for The Underwater Menace takes place at Worth Matravers, Dorset 14 Recording for The Underwater Menace takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 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 16 Recording for The Underwater Menace takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London 17 Recording for The Highlanders takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 17 Debut broadcast of The Highlanders episode one on BBC One 24 Recording for The Highlanders takes place at Riverside Studio 1 in Hammersmith, London 24 Debut broadcast of The Highlanders episode two on BBC One 31 Debut broadcast of The Highlanders episode three on BBC One

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