1981

History of the Doctor Who Universe

 * Anne Travers becomes the cabinet's scientific advisor ("Downtime").

February

 * "The Keeper of Traken"


 * 28 - "Logopolis"


 * * "Four to Doomsday"

March

 * 1 - "Logopolis" (end)


 * * "Castrovalva" (opening)

June

 * Peter Tracey is given a suspended sentence for breaking and entering ("A Girl's Best Friend").

September

 * A hailstorm srikes Moreton Harwood. It lasts only thirteen seconds, but destroys Commander Pollock's crops ("A Girl's Best Friend").

December

 * (1 - 14) - Sarah Jane Smith is out of the country working for Reuters ("A Girl's Best Friend").


 * 6 - Lavinia Smith leaves Moreton Harwood for a lecture tour in America ("A Girl's Best Friend").


 * 10 - Lavinia Smith phones Brendan Richards to tell him he will be spending Christmas with Sarah Jane. Brendan waits for Sarah to pick him up at school, unaware that she is out of the country ("A Girl's Best Friend").


 * 18 - 22) - "A Girl's Best Friend"


 * 29 - Members of the witch's coven at Moreton Harwood are tried for attempted murder ("A Girl's Best Friend").

January

 * 02 - Victor Carin, who played Virgil Earp in "The Gunfighters," dies from cancer in Edinburgh, Scotland.


 * 03 - Warriors' Gate Episode 1 First Broadcast


 * 10 - Warriors' Gate Episode 2 First Broadcast


 * 17 - Warriors' Gate Episode 3 First Broadcast


 * 24 - Warriors' Gate Episode 4 First Broadcast


 * 31 - The Keeper of Traken Episode 1 First Broadcast

February

 * 07 - The Keeper of Traken Episode 2 First Broadcast


 * 14 - The Keeper of Traken Episode 3 First Broadcast


 * 21 - The Keeper of Traken Episode 4 First Broadcast


 * 21 - Ron Grainer dies


 * 28 - Logopolis Episode 1 First Broadcast

March

 * 07 - Logopolis Episode 2 First Broadcast


 * 14 - Logopolis Episode 3 First Broadcast


 * 21 - Logopolis Episode 4 First Broadcast

October

 * First Edition of An Unearthly Child published by WH Allen in both paperback and hardback editions

November

 * 02 - Third television Broadcast of An Unearthly Child in the UK on BBC2


 * 03 - Second television Broadcast of The Cave of Skulls in the UK on BBC2


 * 04 - Second television Broadcast of The Forest of Fear in the UK on BBC2


 * 05 - Second television Broadcast of The Firemaker in the UK on BBC2

December

 * 28 - K9 and Company - A Girl's Best Friend First Broadcast

Unknown date

 * Steven Scott, who played Kebble in "The Power of the Daleks," dies.