1971

In 1971, a military satellite designated Haw-Haw was placed in orbit by a British military Black Star rocket to jam extraterrestrial signals and broadcasts. It was controlled by Space Security. (PROSE: The Dying Days)

The Second Doctor and Jamie McCrimmon fought the Quarks in New York City. (COMIC: Martha the Mechanical Housemaid)
 * 1 January - Actor Navin Chowdhry was born.
 * 2 January - TV: Terror of the Autons Episode 1 was first broadcast, launching Season 8. It introduced the Master as played by Roger Delgado. Katy Manning debuted as new companion Jo Grant. Also debuting was Richard Franklin as recurring character Captain Yates. Season 8 marked the first time a full season followed a single theme, in this case stories involving the Master.
 * 9 January - TV: Terror of the Autons Episode 2 was first broadcast.
 * 16 January - TV: Terror of the Autons Episode 3 was first broadcast.
 * 23 January - TV: Terror of the Autons Episode 4 was first broadcast.
 * 30 January - TV: The Mind of Evil Episode 1 was first broadcast.
 * 6 February - TV: The Mind of Evil Episode 2 was first broadcast.
 * 13 February - TV: The Mind of Evil Episode 3 was first broadcast.
 * 20 February - TV: The Mind of Evil Episode 4 was first broadcast.
 * 25 February - Actor Christien Anholt was born.
 * 27 February - TV: The Mind of Evil Episode 5 was first broadcast.
 * 6 March - TV: The Mind of Evil Episode 6 was first broadcast.
 * 13 March - TV: The Claws of Axos Episode 1 was first broadcast.
 * 20 March - TV: The Claws of Axos Episode 2 was first broadcast.
 * 22 March - Actor Takuma Takewaka was born.
 * 27 March - TV: The Claws of Axos Episode 3 was first broadcast.
 * 3 April - TV: The Claws of Axos Episode 4 was first broadcast.
 * 10 April - TV: Colony in Space Episode 1 was first broadcast.
 * 14 April - Jon Pertwee became the unwitting subject of This is Your Life.
 * 17 April - TV: Colony in Space Episode 2 was first broadcast.
 * 18 April - Actor David Tennant was born in Paisley, Scotland.
 * 24 April - TV: Colony in Space Episode 3 was first broadcast.
 * 1 May - TV: Colony in Space Episode 4 was first broadcast.
 * 8 May - TV: Colony in Space Episode 5 was first broadcast.
 * 15 May - TV: Colony in Space Episode 6 was first broadcast.
 * 22 May - TV: The Dæmons Episode 1 was first broadcast.
 * 25 May - Actor Terence de Marney died in an accidental fall in the London Underground.
 * 29 May - TV: The Dæmons Episode 2 was first broadcast.
 * 5 June - TV: The Dæmons Episode 3 was first broadcast.
 * 10 June - Actor Michael Piccarilli was born.
 * 12 June - TV: The Dæmons Episode 4 was first broadcast.
 * 19 June - TV: The Dæmons Episode 5 was first broadcast, concluding Season 8.
 * 28 June - Actor Benito Martinez was born.
 * 4 August - Actress Fenella Woolgar was born.
 * 20 August - Actor David Walliams was born.
 * For reasons unknown, World Distributors cancelled plans for a 1972 Doctor Who Annual. This was the only year the book was skipped until its cancellation in the mid-1980s.
 * 4 November - Actress Robyn Moore was born.
 * 19 November - Actress Naoko Mori was born.
 * 4 December - Actor Alec Ross died.

Unknown dates

 * The long-running Doctor Who comic strip moved from TV Comic to Countdown (later known as TV Action).