The Doctor Who Production Diary: 1976
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January
3 Debut broadcast of The Brain Of Morbius episode one on BBC One The Brain Of Morbius
10 Debut broadcast of The Brain Of Morbius episode two on BBC One The Brain Of Morbius
12 Mystery novelist Agatha Christie, the best-selling fiction writer of all time, dies in Wallingford, Oxfordshire
17 Debut broadcast of The Brain Of Morbius episode three on BBC One The Brain Of Morbius
21 The first commercial Concorde flights take place, linking London to Bahrain and Paris to Rio de Janeiro
22 Douglas Camfield is commissioned to write “The Lost Legion”, which is intended to write out Sarah Jane Smith The Fourth Doctor
23 Tom Baker is contracted for Season Fourteen The Fourth Doctor
24 Debut broadcast of The Brain Of Morbius episode four on BBC One The Brain Of Morbius
27 Chris Boucher is commissioned to write The Face Of Evil The Face Of Evil
31 Debut broadcast of The Seeds Of Doom episode one on BBC One The Seeds Of Doom

February
7 Debut broadcast of The Seeds Of Doom episode two on BBC One The Seeds Of Doom
9 After Douglas Camfield submits his script for the first episode of “The Lost Legion”, Robert Holmes becomes unhappy with the serial and grooms The Hand Of Fear as its replacement The Fourth Doctor
10 Louis Marks receives staff clearance to write The Masque Of Mandragora The Masque Of Mandragora
14 Debut broadcast of The Seeds Of Doom episode three on BBC One The Seeds Of Doom
21 Debut broadcast of The Seeds Of Doom episode four on BBC One The Seeds Of Doom
28 Debut broadcast of The Seeds Of Doom episode five on BBC One The Seeds Of Doom

March
3 Bob Baker and Dave Martin agree to write a heavily revised version of The Hand Of Fear developed by Robert Holmes The Hand Of Fear
6 Debut broadcast of The Seeds Of Doom episode six on BBC One The Seeds Of Doom
10 Although they have not been commissioned, Eric Pringle submits scripts for the final two episodes of “The Angarath” The Fourth Doctor
mid
Mar		 Philip Hinchcliffe asks Chris Boucher to develop his character Leela in The Face Of Evil as a potential companion Leela
19 Elisabeth Sladen is contracted for The Masque Of Mandragora and The Hand Of Fear Sarah Jane Smith

April
1 Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak found the Apple Computer Company

May
3 Recording for The Masque Of Mandragora takes place in Portmeirion, Wales The Masque Of Mandragora
4 Recording for The Masque Of Mandragora takes place in Portmeirion, Wales The Masque Of Mandragora
5 Recording for The Masque Of Mandragora takes place in Portmeirion, Wales The Masque Of Mandragora
6 Recording for The Masque Of Mandragora takes place in Portmeirion, Wales The Masque Of Mandragora
7 Robert Banks Stewart is commissioned to provide a storyline for “The Foe From The Future” The Talons Of Weng-Chiang
12 Elisabeth Sladen's departure is announced to the press Sarah Jane Smith
24 Recording for The Masque Of Mandragora takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Masque Of Mandragora
25 Recording for The Masque Of Mandragora takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Masque Of Mandragora
27 Staff clearance is sought for Robert Holmes to write The Deadly Assassin The Deadly Assassin

June
6 Recording for The Masque Of Mandragora takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Masque Of Mandragora
7 Recording for The Masque Of Mandragora takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Masque Of Mandragora
8 Recording for The Masque Of Mandragora takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London; for the first time, a completely redesigned TARDIS console room set appears The Masque Of Mandragora
10 Birth of Lee Haven Jones (bio), director
14 Recording for The Hand Of Fear takes place in Cromhall, Gloucestershire The Hand Of Fear
15 Recording for The Hand Of Fear takes place in Cromhall, Gloucestershire The Hand Of Fear
mid
Jun		 Philip Hinchcliffe and Robert Holmes decide to retain Leela for at least one story beyond The Face Of Evil; with Hinchcliffe and Holmes both considering leaving Doctor Who, they subsequently decide to keep Leela through the end of Season Fourteen Leela
16 Recording for The Hand Of Fear takes place in Oldbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire The Hand Of Fear
17 Recording for The Hand Of Fear takes place in Oldbury-on-Severn, Gloucestershire The Hand Of Fear
18 Recording for The Hand Of Fear takes place in Thornbury, Gloucestershire The Hand Of Fear
22 Chris Boucher is commissioned to provide a storyline for The Robots Of Death The Robots Of Death
23 Eric Pringle's “The Angarath” is abandoned The Fourth Doctor
26 The CN Tower, the world's largest freestanding structure, opens in Toronto

July
5 Recording for The Hand Of Fear takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London The Hand Of Fear
6 Recording for The Hand Of Fear takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London The Hand Of Fear
7 Recording for The Hand Of Fear takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London The Hand Of Fear
19 Recording for The Hand Of Fear takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London The Hand Of Fear
20 Viking 1 becomes the first spacecraft to land on the surface of Mars
20 Recording for The Hand Of Fear takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London The Hand Of Fear
20 Chris Boucher is commissioned to write The Robots Of Death The Robots Of Death
26 Recording for The Deadly Assassin takes place in Betchworth, Surrey The Deadly Assassin
27 Recording for The Deadly Assassin takes place in Betchworth, Surrey The Deadly Assassin
28 Recording for The Deadly Assassin takes place in Surrey, at Betchworth and Merstham The Deadly Assassin
29 Recording for The Deadly Assassin takes place in Merstham, Surrey The Deadly Assassin
30 Recording for The Deadly Assassin takes place in Merstham, Surrey and High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire The Deadly Assassin

August
15 Recording for The Deadly Assassin takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Deadly Assassin
16 Recording for The Deadly Assassin takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Deadly Assassin
17 Recording for The Deadly Assassin takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Deadly Assassin
27 A two-month heat wave and drought in Britain, which resulted in widespread water rationing, comes to an end
27 Louise Jameson is contracted to play new companion Leela in fourteen episodes, beginning with The Face Of Evil Leela

September
1 Recording for The Deadly Assassin takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London The Deadly Assassin
2 Recording for The Deadly Assassin takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London The Deadly Assassin
4 Debut broadcast of The Masque Of Mandragora episode one on BBC One The Masque Of Mandragora
9 Chairman Mao Zedong of China dies; he is succeeded by Hua Guofeng
11 Debut broadcast of The Masque Of Mandragora episode two on BBC One The Masque Of Mandragora
18 Debut broadcast of The Masque Of Mandragora episode three on BBC One The Masque Of Mandragora
20 Recording for The Face Of Evil takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Face Of Evil
21 Recording for The Face Of Evil takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Face Of Evil
22 Recording for The Face Of Evil takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Face Of Evil
23 Recording for The Face Of Evil takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Face Of Evil
24 Recording for The Face Of Evil takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Face Of Evil
25 Debut broadcast of The Masque Of Mandragora episode four on BBC One The Masque Of Mandragora
27 Recording for The Face Of Evil takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Face Of Evil
28 Recording for The Face Of Evil takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Face Of Evil

October
2 Debut broadcast of The Hand Of Fear episode one on BBC One The Hand Of Fear
9 Debut broadcast of The Hand Of Fear episode two on BBC One The Hand Of Fear
11 Recording for The Face Of Evil takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Face Of Evil
12 Recording for The Face Of Evil takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Face Of Evil
16 Debut broadcast of The Hand Of Fear episode three on BBC One The Hand Of Fear
23 Debut broadcast of The Hand Of Fear episode four on BBC One The Hand Of Fear
24 Recording for The Face Of Evil takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Face Of Evil
25 Recording for The Face Of Evil takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Face Of Evil
26 A photocall is held to introduce Louise Jameson as new companion Leela Leela
26 Recording for The Face Of Evil takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 3 in White City, London The Face Of Evil
30 Debut broadcast of The Deadly Assassin episode one on BBC One The Deadly Assassin

November
early
Nov		 After originally agreeing to remain on Doctor Who for a fourth season, Philip Hinchcliffe is asked to take over Target, and will be replaced on Doctor Who by Graham Williams The Fourth Doctor
2 Recording for The Robots Of Death takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Robots Of Death
3 Recording for The Robots Of Death takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Robots Of Death
4 Recording for The Robots Of Death takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Robots Of Death
5 Recording for The Robots Of Death takes place at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing, London The Robots Of Death
6 Debut broadcast of The Deadly Assassin episode two on BBC One The Deadly Assassin
12 With Robert Banks Stewart unable to complete “The Foe From The Future” due to other commitments, Robert Holmes is commissioned to redevelop it as The Talons Of Weng-Chiang The Talons Of Weng-Chiang
13 Debut broadcast of The Deadly Assassin episode three on BBC One; after the cliffhanger ending incites a backlash from Mary Whitehouse and her National Viewers' and Listeners' Association, the BBC apologises and edits the master tape The Deadly Assassin
20 Debut broadcast of The Deadly Assassin episode four on BBC One The Deadly Assassin
23 Recording for The Robots Of Death takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 8 in White City, London The Robots Of Death
30 Graham Williams develops an outline for Doctor Who's first season-long story arc -- concerning the quest for the Key To Time -- but defers it to Season Sixteen because there is no time to implement it for Season Fifteen The Fourth Doctor

December
1 The Sex Pistols stoke outrage after swearing multiple times during an interview with Bill Grundy on Thames Television's early-evening Today show
6 Recording for The Robots Of Death takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London The Robots Of Death
7 Recording for The Robots Of Death takes place at BBC Television Centre Studio 1 in White City, London The Robots Of Death
13 Recording for The Talons Of Weng-Chiang takes place in London, at the BBC Television Film Studios in Ealing and in Bankside The Talons Of Weng-Chiang
14 Recording for The Talons Of Weng-Chiang takes place in Bankside, London The Talons Of Weng-Chiang
15 Tom Baker is contracted for Season Fifteen The Fourth Doctor
15 Recording for The Talons Of Weng-Chiang takes place in East Twickenham, London The Talons Of Weng-Chiang
16 Louise Jameson is contracted for Season Fifteen Leela
16 Recording for The Talons Of Weng-Chiang takes place in Wapping, London The Talons Of Weng-Chiang
17 Recording for The Talons Of Weng-Chiang takes place in Wapping, London The Talons Of Weng-Chiang

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