The Doctor Who Production Diary: 1985 Previous: 1984 Next: 1986 Jump: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Sep | Oct | Dec January 5 Debut broadcast of Attack Of The Cybermen episode one on BBC One; Doctor Who returns to Saturdays but has now adopted a 45-minute format 7 Recording for Revelation Of The Daleks takes place in Hampshire, at Buriton and Horndean 8 Recording for Revelation Of The Daleks takes place in Horndean, Hampshire 9 Recording for Revelation Of The Daleks takes place in Portsmouth, Hampshire 10 Recording for Revelation Of The Daleks takes place in West Sussex, at Halnaker and Tangmere 12 Debut broadcast of Attack Of The Cybermen episode two on BBC One 17 Recording for Revelation Of The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London 18 Recording for Revelation Of The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London 19 Debut broadcast of Vengeance On Varos episode one on BBC One 26 Debut broadcast of Vengeance On Varos episode two on BBC One 30 Recording for Timelash takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London 30 Recording for Revelation Of The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London 31 Recording for Revelation Of The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London February 1 Recording for Revelation Of The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London 2 Debut broadcast of The Mark Of The Rani episode one on BBC One 5 Michael Feeney Callan is commissioned to write “The Children Of January” 6 Robert Holmes is commissioned to write all three episodes of “Yellow Fever And How To Cure It” 9 Debut broadcast of The Mark Of The Rani episode two on BBC One 16 Debut broadcast of The Two Doctors episode one on BBC One 19 The soap opera EastEnders debuts on BBC One 21 John Nathan-Turner and Eric Saward are alerted to rumours that Doctor Who has been cancelled 23 Debut broadcast of The Two Doctors episode two on BBC One 25 Jonathan Powell, the BBC's Head of Series and Serials, informs John Nathan-Turner that the start of production on Season Twenty-Three has been deferred from Spring 1985 to Spring 1986 27 The British press leaks the news that Doctor Who has been put on hiatus by the BBC March 1 The BBC announces that Doctor Who will return to television in September 1986, and will revert to twenty-five-minute episodes 2 Debut broadcast of The Two Doctors episode three on BBC One 9 Debut broadcast of Timelash episode one on BBC One 11 Mikhail Gorbachev becomes the Soviet Union's head of state 11 Pip and Jane Baker are commissioned to write “Gallifrey” 16 Debut broadcast of Timelash episode two on BBC One 23 Debut broadcast of Revelation Of The Daleks episode one on BBC One 30 Debut broadcast of Revelation Of The Daleks episode two on BBC One April 6 Rumours begin to circulate that Season Twenty-Three will consist of fewer than the anticipated twenty-six episodes 23 Coca-Cola changes its formula in North America, resulting in a market backlash which forces the reintroduction of the original recipe (initially branded “Coca-Cola Classic”) within three months May 16 British scientists announce the discovery of a hole in the ozone layer over the Antarctic late May With Season Twenty-Three having been truncated to just fourteen twenty-five-minute episodes, the production team obtains approval for a season-long story arc in which the Doctor is put on trial by the Time Lords June 24 Death of Valentine Dyall (bio), who played the Black Guardian July 5 A character outline for new companion Melanie Bush is distributed 5 A character outline for the Inquisitor is distributed 5 A character outline for the Valeyard is distributed 9 The intended writers for the new Season Twenty-Three are assembled; it's decided that the “past” segment and the conclusion will be written by Robert Holmes, the “present” segment will be written by Philip Martin, and two “future” segments will be written by David Halliwell and Jack Trevor Story 13 Star-studded Live Aid benefit concerts are held in London and Philadelphia, raising millions in support of Ethiopian famine relief 16 Terence Dudley offers to replace John Nathan-Turner as producer of Doctor Who 26 Jack Trevor Story is commissioned to write “The Second Coming”, which will be linked to David Halliwell's “Attack From The Mind” August 25 Teenager Samantha Smith, who had gained international attention when she accepted an offer from General Secretary Yuri Andropov to visit the Soviet Union in 1983, is killed in a plane crash September 1 The wreck of the RMS Titanic, which sank after being struck by an iceberg in 1912, is located in the North Atlantic 600 kilometres off the coast of Newfoundland 2 Robert Holmes is commissioned to write The Trial Of A Time Lord (Segment One) 13 Staff clearance is sought for Philip Martin to write The Trial Of A Time Lord (Segment Two) October 18 David Halliwell's “Attack From The Mind” is abandoned; development of its counterpart, Jack Trevor Story's “The Second Coming”, has also ceased 29 Christopher H Bidmead is commissioned to write “Pinacotheca” November 18 Bill Watterson's daily comic strip Calvin And Hobbes is first published 28 Nicola Bryant is contracted for the first eight episodes of Season Twenty-Three, after which Peri will be written out of Doctor Who December 15 Birth of Jamie Magnus Stone (bio), director 18 After months of rumours, the BBC publicly confirms that Season Twenty-Three will run to only fourteen episodes late Dec Bonnie Langford is contracted to play Melanie Bush in the final eight episodes of Season Twenty-Three, with an option for two additional seasons

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