The Doctor Who Production Diary: 1997-2003

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 The Ninth Doctor

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 The Ninth Doctor
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 The Ninth Doctor

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 The Ninth Doctor
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 The Ninth Doctor
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 The Ninth Doctor
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 The Ninth Doctor
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 The Ninth Doctor
26 Lorraine Heggessey, BBC One's Controller of Programmes, confirms that Doctor Who is coming back to television as a BBC Wales production The Ninth Doctor
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 The Ninth Doctor
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 The Ninth Doctor
10 Steven Moffat is commissioned to write The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances The Empty Child / The Doctor Dances