1971 (releases)


 * 2 January - Terror of the Autons Episode One debuted on BBC1, launching Season 8 and introducing both nemesis the Master and new companion Jo Grant.
 * 9 January - Terror of the Autons Episode Two debuted on BBC1.
 * 16 January - Terror of the Autons Episode Three debuted on BBC1.
 * 23 January - Terror of the Autons Episode Four debuted on BBC1.
 * 30 January - The Mind of Evil Episode One debuted on BBC1.
 * 6 February - The Mind of Evil Episode Two debuted on BBC1.
 * 13 February - The Mind of Evil Episode Three debuted on BBC1.
 * 20 February - The Mind of Evil Episode Four debuted on BBC1. On the same day, the Polystyle comic strip began running in Countdown with the first instalment of Gemini Plan.
 * 27 February - The Mind of Evil Episode Five debuted on BBC1.
 * 6 March - The Mind of Evil Episode Six debuted on BBC1.
 * 13 March - The Claws of Axos Episode One debuted on BBC1.
 * 20 March - The Claws of Axos Episode Two debuted on BBC1.
 * 27 March - The Claws of Axos Episode Three debuted on BBC1.
 * 3 April - The Claws of Axos Episode Four debuted on BBC1.
 * 10 April - Colony in Space Episode One debuted on BBC1.
 * 17 April - Colony in Space Episode Two debuted on BBC1.
 * 24 April - Colony in Space Episode Three debuted on BBC1.
 * 1 May - Colony in Space Episode Four debuted on BBC1.
 * 8 May - Colony in Space Episode Five debuted on BBC1.
 * 15 May - Colony in Space Episode Six debuted on BBC1.
 * 22 May - The Dæmons Episode One debuted on BBC1.
 * 29 May - The Dæmons Episode Two debuted on BBC1.
 * 5 June - The Dæmons Episode Three debuted on BBC1.
 * 12 June - The Dæmons Episode Four debuted on BBC1.
 * 19 June - The Dæmons Episode Five debuted on BBC1, concluding season 8.

Unknown dates

 * The 1971 Countdown Holiday Special, feturing the story The Thing from Outer Space, was released.
 * The story Doctor Who Fights Masterplan "Q" was released in fifteen parts through a promotion with Nestlé on the back of chocolate wrappers.