The Doctor Who Production Diary: 1973
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January
early
Jan		 Barry Letts agrees with Katy Manning's suggestion that the time has come for her to leave Doctor Who; Robert Sloman is asked to amend The Green Death to write out Jo Jo Grant
2 Recording for Planet Of The Daleks takes place in Redhill, Surrey Planet Of The Daleks
3 Recording for Planet Of The Daleks takes place in Redhill, Surrey Planet Of The Daleks
4 Recording for Planet Of The Daleks takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London Planet Of The Daleks
4 Brian Hayles is commissioned to provide a storyline for The Monster Of Peladon The Monster Of Peladon
5 Recording for Planet Of The Daleks takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London Planet Of The Daleks
6 Debut broadcast of The Three Doctors episode two on BBC One The Three Doctors
8 Recording for Planet Of The Daleks takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London Planet Of The Daleks
9 Recording for Planet Of The Daleks takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London Planet Of The Daleks
12 Jon Pertwee is contracted for Season Eleven The Third Doctor
13 Debut broadcast of The Three Doctors episode three on BBC One The Three Doctors
14 Elvis Presley's Aloha From Hawaii concert is the first wordwide broadcast by an entertainer
16 Recording for Planet Of The Daleks takes place at an unknown location Planet Of The Daleks
16 Robert Holmes is commissioned to provide a storyline for “The Automata” The Third Doctor
17 Malcolm Hulke is commissioned to provide a storyline for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
20 Debut broadcast of The Three Doctors episode four on BBC One The Three Doctors
22 In its landmark Roe v Wade decision, the United States Supreme Court establishes a woman's right to have an abortion
22 Recording for Frontier In Space takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London Frontier In Space
22 Recording for Planet Of The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London Planet Of The Daleks
23 Recording for Planet Of The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London Planet Of The Daleks
26 Robert Holmes' “The Automata” is rejected The Third Doctor
27 Debut broadcast of Carnival Of Monsters episode one on BBC One Carnival Of Monsters
27 Recording for Planet Of The Daleks takes place at an unknown location Planet Of The Daleks
29 Recording for Planet Of The Daleks takes place at an unknown location Planet Of The Daleks

February
3 Debut broadcast of Carnival Of Monsters episode two on BBC One Carnival Of Monsters
5 Recording for Planet Of The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Planet Of The Daleks
6 Recording for Planet Of The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Planet Of The Daleks
8 Recording for Planet Of The Daleks takes place at the BBC Television Centre Model Stage in White City, London Planet Of The Daleks
9 Recording for Planet Of The Daleks takes place at the BBC Television Centre Model Stage in White City, London Planet Of The Daleks
10 Debut broadcast of Carnival Of Monsters episode three on BBC One Carnival Of Monsters
15 Robert Sloman is commissioned to provide a storyline for “The Final Game” The Third Doctor
16 Birth of Colm McCarthy (bio), director
17 Debut broadcast of Carnival Of Monsters episode four on BBC One Carnival Of Monsters
19 Recording for Planet Of The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London Planet Of The Daleks
20 Recording for Planet Of The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London Planet Of The Daleks
24 Debut broadcast of Frontier In Space episode one on BBC One Frontier In Space
26 Robert Holmes is commissioned to provide a storyline for The Time Warrior The Time Warrior

March
3 Debut broadcast of Frontier In Space episode two on BBC One Frontier In Space
5 Robert Holmes is commissioned to write The Time Warrior The Time Warrior
6 Richard Franklin is contracted for The Green Death Captain Mike Yates
8 John Levene is contracted for The Green Death Sergeant John Benton
10 Debut broadcast of Frontier In Space episode three on BBC One Frontier In Space
12 Recording for The Green Death takes place in Wales, at Troed-y-rhiw and Deri The Green Death
13 Recording for The Green Death takes place in Deri, Wales The Green Death
14 Nicholas Courtney is contracted for The Green Death Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart
14 April Walker is contracted to play the new companion dubbed “Smith” for Season Eleven Sarah Jane Smith
14 Recording for The Green Death takes place in Deri, Wales The Green Death
15 Recording for The Green Death takes place in Deri, Wales The Green Death
16 Recording for The Green Death takes place in Brynmawr, Wales The Green Death
17 Debut broadcast of Frontier In Space episode four on BBC One Frontier In Space
17 Recording for The Green Death takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Green Death
19 Recording for The Green Death takes place in Brynmawr, Wales The Green Death
20 Recording for The Green Death takes place in Brynmawr, Wales The Green Death
23 Terry Nation is commissioned to provide a storyline for Death To The Daleks Death To The Daleks
24 Debut broadcast of Frontier In Space episode five on BBC One Frontier In Space
29 The last American soldier leaves Vietnam following the signing of the Paris Peace Accords two months earlier
29 Following Jon Pertwee's objections to her casting, April Walker's contract to play new companion “Smith” is cancelled Sarah Jane Smith
31 Debut broadcast of Frontier In Space episode six on BBC One Frontier In Space

April
2 Recording for The Green Death takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Green Death
3 Recording for The Green Death takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Green Death
7 Debut broadcast of Planet Of The Daleks episode one on BBC One Planet Of The Daleks
14 Debut broadcast of Planet Of The Daleks episode two on BBC One Planet Of The Daleks
16 Recording for The Green Death takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Green Death
17 Recording for The Green Death takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Green Death
21 Debut broadcast of Planet Of The Daleks episode three on BBC One Planet Of The Daleks
28 Debut broadcast of Planet Of The Daleks episode four on BBC One Planet Of The Daleks
29 Recording for The Green Death takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Green Death
30 Recording for The Green Death takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Green Death

May
3 Elisabeth Sladen is contracted to play new companion Sarah Jane Smith for Season Eleven, replacing April Walker Sarah Jane Smith
5 Debut broadcast of Planet Of The Daleks episode five on BBC One Planet Of The Daleks
7 Recording for The Time Warrior takes place in Peckforton, Cheshire The Time Warrior
8 Recording for The Time Warrior takes place in Peckforton, Cheshire The Time Warrior
9 Recording for The Time Warrior takes place in Peckforton, Cheshire The Time Warrior
10 Recording for The Time Warrior takes place in Peckforton, Cheshire The Time Warrior
12 Debut broadcast of Planet Of The Daleks episode six on BBC One Planet Of The Daleks
14 The United States launches its first space station, Skylab, into orbit
19 Debut broadcast of The Green Death episode one on BBC One The Green Death
26 Debut broadcast of The Green Death episode two on BBC One The Green Death
28 Recording for The Time Warrior takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The Time Warrior
29 Recording for The Time Warrior takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London The Time Warrior

June
2 Debut broadcast of The Green Death episode three on BBC One The Green Death
9 Debut broadcast of The Green Death episode four on BBC One The Green Death
11 Recording for The Time Warrior takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London The Time Warrior
12 Recording for The Time Warrior takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London The Time Warrior
16 Debut broadcast of The Green Death episode five on BBC One The Green Death
18 Death of Roger Delgado (bio), the original actor to play the Master
22 Katy Manning's departure is announced to the press Jo Grant
23 Debut broadcast of The Green Death episode six on BBC One The Green Death
26 A photocall is held to introduce Elisabeth Sladen as new companion Sarah Jane Smith Sarah Jane Smith

July
2 Malcolm Hulke is commissioned to write Invasion Of The Dinosaurs Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
2 Terry Nation is commissioned to write Death To The Daleks Death To The Daleks
12 Brian Hayles is commissioned to write The Monster Of Peladon The Monster Of Peladon

August

September
2 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place in London, at Lambeth, Westminster, St James's, Fitzrovia, Billingsgate, Farringdon and Covent Garden Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
3 JRR Tolkien, author of the fantasy classic The Lord Of The Rings, passes away
5 Richard Franklin is contracted for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs Captain Mike Yates
14 Nicholas Courtney is contracted for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs Brigadier Alistair Gordon Lethbridge-Stewart
23 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place in London, at Farringdon and Finsbury Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
24 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place in London, at West Ealing and Bowes Park Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
25 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place in Southall, London Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
26 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place in London, at Wimbledon and Kingston upon Thames Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
27 Birth of Indira Varma (bio), who played Suzie Costello
27 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place in London, at Kingston upon Thames, Ham and Brentford Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
29 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place in Ealing, London Invasion Of The Dinosaurs

October
early
Oct		 With Terrance Dicks having decided to leave Doctor Who after Season Eleven, Robert Holmes begins trailing him as he prepares to take over as script editor The Third Doctor
6 An attack against Israel by Egypt and Syria marks the beginning of the Yom Kippur War
8 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place at an unknown location Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
9 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place at an unknown location Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
15 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
16 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 6 in White City, London Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
18 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place at an unknown location Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
19 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place at an unknown location Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
20 The Sydney Opera House opens
20 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place at an unknown location Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
29 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
30 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London Invasion Of The Dinosaurs

November
1 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place at an unknown location Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
6 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place at Pinewood Studios in Iver Heath, Buckinghamshire Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
12 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
13 Recording for Invasion Of The Dinosaurs takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London Invasion Of The Dinosaurs
13 Recording for Death To The Daleks takes place in Binnegar, Dorset Death To The Daleks
14 Recording for Death To The Daleks takes place in Binnegar, Dorset Death To The Daleks
15 Recording for Death To The Daleks takes place in Binnegar, Dorset Death To The Daleks
mid
Nov		 Barry Letts announces that he will be leaving Doctor Who following Season Eleven, prompting Jon Pertwee to make a similar decision shortly thereafter The Third Doctor
16 Recording for Death To The Daleks takes place in Binnegar, Dorset Death To The Daleks
19 Recording for Death To The Daleks takes place in Binnegar, Dorset Death To The Daleks
late
Nov		 The BBC confirms that Doctor Who will continue to a twelfth season, with Philip Hinchcliffe replacing Barry Letts as producer The Fourth Doctor

December
4 Recording for Death To The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 4 in White City, London Death To The Daleks
5 Robert Sloman is commissioned to write Planet Of The Spiders as a replacement for “The Final Game” Planet Of The Spiders
15 Debut broadcast of The Time Warrior episode one on BBC One; a new title sequence, created by Bernard Lodge and used from 1973 to 1980, is introduced The Time Warrior
18 Recording for Death To The Daleks takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London Death To The Daleks
22 Debut broadcast of The Time Warrior episode two on BBC One The Time Warrior
29 Debut broadcast of The Time Warrior episode three on BBC One The Time Warrior
31 In response to high inflation and skyrocketing oil prices, the British government institutes the Three-Day Week to curb the commercial use of electricity

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