The Doctor Who Production Diary: 1984

January
5 Debut broadcast of Warriors Of The Deep episode one on BBC One Warriors Of The Deep
6 Debut broadcast of Warriors Of The Deep episode two on BBC One Warriors Of The Deep
10 Studio recording for The Twin Dilemma is cancelled due to industrial action The Twin Dilemma
10 Andrew Smith is commissioned to provide a storyline for “The First Sontarans” The Sixth Doctor
11 Recording for The Caves Of Androzani takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The Caves Of Androzani
12 Recording for The Caves Of Androzani takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The Caves Of Androzani
12 Debut broadcast of Warriors Of The Deep episode three on BBC One Warriors Of The Deep
13 Debut broadcast of Warriors Of The Deep episode four on BBC One Warriors Of The Deep
19 Debut broadcast of The Awakening episode one on BBC One The Awakening
19 Ingrid Pitt and Tony Rudlin are commissioned to write the first episode of “The Macro Men” The Sixth Doctor
20 Debut broadcast of The Awakening episode two on BBC One The Awakening
24 The first Apple Macintosh personal computer goes on sale in the United States
24 Recording for The Twin Dilemma takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London The Twin Dilemma
25 Recording for The Twin Dilemma takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London The Twin Dilemma
26 Debut broadcast of Frontios episode one on BBC One Frontios
26 Recording for The Twin Dilemma takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London The Twin Dilemma
27 Death of Douglas Camfield (bio), director
27 Debut broadcast of Frontios episode two on BBC One Frontios
30 Location recording for The Twin Dilemma is cancelled due to industrial action The Twin Dilemma
31 Location recording for The Twin Dilemma is cancelled due to industrial action The Twin Dilemma

February
2 Debut broadcast of Frontios episode three on BBC One Frontios
2 Ian Marter is commissioned to provide a storyline for “Volvok” The Sixth Doctor
3 Debut broadcast of Frontios episode four on BBC One Frontios
7 Recording for The Twin Dilemma takes place in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire The Twin Dilemma
8 Debut broadcast of Resurrection Of The Daleks episode one on BBC One Resurrection Of The Daleks
8 Recording for The Twin Dilemma takes place in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire The Twin Dilemma
9 Eric Saward outlines a number of additional revisions Philip Martin will need to carry out on Vengeance On Varos; Martin refuses unless he is paid an additional fee Vengeance On Varos
13 Paula Woolsey is commissioned to write the first episode of Attack Of The Cybermen; the script is likely written with contributions from Eric Saward and Ian Levine, and is credited to the pseudonym “Paula Moore” Attack Of The Cybermen
13 Robert Holmes is commissioned to write the first episode of The Two Doctors The Two Doctors
14 Recording for The Twin Dilemma takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Twin Dilemma
15 Debut broadcast of Resurrection Of The Daleks episode two on BBC One Resurrection Of The Daleks
15 Recording for The Twin Dilemma takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Twin Dilemma
15 With the BBC's American distributor, Lionheart, having been unable to secure promised funds for location filming in New Orleans, Louisiana for The Two Doctors, John Nathan-Turner unsuccessfully approaches BBC Enterprises, the BBC's commercial arm, about making up the shortfall The Two Doctors
mid
Feb
Andrew Smith's “The First Sontarans” is abandoned due to the inclusion of the Sontarans in The Two Doctors The Sixth Doctor
16 Recording for The Twin Dilemma takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Twin Dilemma
23 Debut broadcast of Planet Of Fire episode one on BBC One Planet Of Fire
24 Debut broadcast of Planet Of Fire episode two on BBC One Planet Of Fire
29 Patrick Troughton is contracted for The Two Doctors The Second Doctor
29 Frazer Hines is contracted for The Two Doctors Jamie
McCrimmon
late
Feb
The BBC complies with Philip Martin's request for an additional fee to complete Vengeance On Varos Vengeance On Varos

March
1 Debut broadcast of Planet Of Fire episode three on BBC One Planet Of Fire
2 Debut broadcast of Planet Of Fire episode four on BBC One Planet Of Fire
8 Debut broadcast of The Caves Of Androzani episode one on BBC One The Caves Of Androzani
9 Ingrid Pitt and Tony Rudlin's “The Macro Men” is abandoned The Sixth Doctor
9 Debut broadcast of The Caves Of Androzani episode two on BBC One The Caves Of Androzani
9 Robert Holmes is commissioned to write the final two episodes of The Two Doctors The Two Doctors
9 Eric Saward indicates that he cannot assess Philip Martin's “Doomwraiths”, “Space Sargasso” and “Valley Of Shadows” without more development of the ideas The Sixth Doctor
14 Paula Woolsey is commissioned to write the second episode of Attack Of The Cybermen Attack Of The Cybermen
15 Debut broadcast of The Caves Of Androzani episode three on BBC One The Caves Of Androzani
16 Debut broadcast of The Caves Of Androzani episode four on BBC One The Caves Of Androzani
22 Debut broadcast of The Twin Dilemma episode one on BBC One The Twin Dilemma
23 Debut broadcast of The Twin Dilemma episode two on BBC One The Twin Dilemma
27 Eric Saward is commissioned to provide a storyline for Revelation Of The Daleks Revelation Of The Daleks
29 Debut broadcast of The Twin Dilemma episode three on BBC One The Twin Dilemma
30 Debut broadcast of The Twin Dilemma episode four on BBC One The Twin Dilemma

April
13 Death of Richard Hurndall (bio), the second actor to play the First Doctor
16 The office of Graeme MacDonald, the BBC's Head of Drama, informs John Nathan-Turner that no additional funding will be provided to permit location filming in New Orleans, Louisiana for The Two Doctors, resulting in the serial's relocation to Seville, Spain The Two Doctors
22 Birth of Michelle Ryan (bio), who played Lady Christina de Souza
23 Researchers identify the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which leads to AIDS

May
1 Birth of Sacha Dhawan (bio), who played Waris Hussein and was the tenth actor to play the Master
8 The Soviet Union announces that it will boycott the Summer Olympic Games being held in Los Angeles, California; they are joined by thirteen other nations
11 Nicola Bryant's contract option for the final five stories of Season Twenty-Two is taken up, starting with Vengeance On Varos Peri Brown
29 Recording for Attack Of The Cybermen takes place in London, at Hammersmith, Acton and Ealing Attack Of The Cybermen
30 Recording for Attack Of The Cybermen takes place in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire Attack Of The Cybermen
31 Recording for Attack Of The Cybermen takes place in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire Attack Of The Cybermen

June
href="../serials/6t.html">Attack Of The Cybermen takes place at the BBC Visual Effects Workshop in Acton, London
1 Recording for Attack Of The Cybermen takes place in Acton, London Attack Of The Cybermen
6 Anthony Ainley is contracted for The Mark Of The Rani The
Master
7 Recording for Attack Of The Cybermen takes place at the BBC Visual Effects Workshop in Acton, London Attack Of The Cybermen
8 Attack Of The Cybermen
19 Christopher H Bidmead is commissioned to provide a storyline which will become “In The Hollows Of Time” The Sixth Doctor
21 Recording for Attack Of The Cybermen takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Attack Of The Cybermen
22 Recording for Attack Of The Cybermen takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Attack Of The Cybermen

July
6 Recording for Attack Of The Cybermen takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Attack Of The Cybermen
7 Recording for Attack Of The Cybermen takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Attack Of The Cybermen
8 Recording for Attack Of The Cybermen takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Attack Of The Cybermen
13 Mark Morris proposes an untitled storyline The Sixth Doctor
13 Eric Saward is commissioned to write Revelation Of The Daleks Revelation Of The Daleks
18 Recording for Vengeance On Varos takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Vengeance On Varos
19 Paul Norris and David Gottlieb propose “Music Of The Spheres” The Sixth Doctor
19 Peter Howell proposes “Elektaron Five” The Sixth Doctor
19 Recording for Vengeance On Varos takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Vengeance On Varos
20 Recording for Vengeance On Varos takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Vengeance On Varos
31 Recording for Vengeance On Varos takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Vengeance On Varos

August
1 Recording for Vengeance On Varos takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Vengeance On Varos
2 Recording for Vengeance On Varos takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Vengeance On Varos
9 Recording for The Two Doctors takes place in Gerena, Spain The Two Doctors
10 Recording for The Two Doctors takes place in Gerena, Spain The Two Doctors
11 Recording for The Two Doctors takes place in Gerena, Spain The Two Doctors
12 Recording for The Two Doctors takes place in Gerena, Spain The Two Doctors
13 Peter Grimwade is commissioned to provide a storyline for “League Of The Tandreds” The Sixth Doctor
14 Recording for The Two Doctors takes place in Seville, Spain The Two Doctors
15 Recording for The Two Doctors takes place in Seville, Spain The Two Doctors
16 Recording for The Two Doctors takes place in Gerena, Spain The Two Doctors
29 Philip Martin is commissioned to write “Mission To Magnus” The Sixth Doctor
30 Recording for The Two Doctors takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London The Two Doctors
31 Recording for The Two Doctors takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London The Two Doctors

September
4 In a federal election, the Progressive Conservative party led by Brian Mulroney forms the largest majority in Canadian history
4 Kate O'Mara is contracted for The Mark Of The Rani The
Master
13 Recording for The Two Doctors takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The Two Doctors
14 Recording for The Two Doctors takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The Two Doctors
25 Graham Williams is commissioned to provide a storyline for “The Nightmare Fair” The Sixth Doctor
26 The United Kingdom and the People's Republic of China finalise an agreement which will see Hong Kong returned to China in 1997
27 Recording for The Two Doctors takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The Two Doctors
28 Recording for The Two Doctors takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The Two Doctors

October
22 Recording for The Mark Of The Rani takes place in Telford, Shropshire The Mark Of The Rani
23 Recording for The Mark Of The Rani takes place in Telford, Shropshire The Mark Of The Rani
24 Recording for The Mark Of The Rani takes place in Telford, Shropshire The Mark Of The Rani
25 Recording for The Mark Of The Rani takes place in Telford, Shropshire The Mark Of The Rani
26 Robert Holmes is commissioned to write the first episode of “Yellow Fever And How To Cure It” The Sixth Doctor
26 Recording for The Mark Of The Rani takes place in Telford, Shropshire The Mark Of The Rani
27 Recording for The Mark Of The Rani takes place in Telford, Shropshire The Mark Of The Rani
29 Recording for The Mark Of The Rani takes place in Telford, Shropshire The Mark Of The Rani
30 Recording for The Mark Of The Rani takes place in Telford, Shropshire The Mark Of The Rani
31 Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is assassinated by two of her security guards
31 Recording for The Mark Of The Rani takes place in Telford, Shropshire The Mark Of The Rani

November
1 Recording for The Mark Of The Rani takes place in Telford, Shropshire The Mark Of The Rani
2 Recording for The Mark Of The Rani takes place in Telford, Shropshire The Mark Of The Rani
6 Colin Baker is offered a contract for Season Twenty-Three, which is again planned to consist of thirteen forty-five-minute episodes The Sixth Doctor
6 Nicola Bryant is offered a contract for Season Twenty-Three Peri Brown
7 Peter Ling and Hazel Adair's “Hex” is abandoned The Sixth Doctor
8 Peter Grimwade's “League Of The Tandreds” is abandoned The Sixth Doctor
12 Recording for The Mark Of The Rani takes place in Ruislip, London The Mark Of The Rani
17 Graham Williams is commissioned to write “The Nightmare Fair” The Sixth Doctor
18 Recording for The Mark Of The Rani takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London The Mark Of The Rani
19 Recording for The Mark Of The Rani takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London The Mark Of The Rani
20 Recording for The Mark Of The Rani takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London The Mark Of The Rani
21 Christopher H Bidmead is commissioned to write “In The Hollows Of Time” The Sixth Doctor
25 British musicians unite to record the charity single Do They Know It's Christmas? in support of Ethiopian famine relief

December
3 In one of the worst industrial accidents in history, more than half a million people are exposed to a gas leak from a pesticide plant in Bhopal, India, resulting in thousands of deaths
4 Recording for Timelash takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London Timelash
5 Recording for Timelash takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London Timelash
6 Recording for Timelash takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London Timelash
19 Recording for Timelash takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London Timelash
20 Recording for Timelash takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London Timelash
21 Recording for Timelash takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London Timelash