23 October

On 23 October, 1843, the Fifth Doctor, Tegan and Nyssa found themselves embroiled in a Sevakrill plot to destroy Earth with a missile, programmed to detonate in 2017. Climbing Nelson's Column, the Doctor found that both Samuel Morton Peto and Thomas Grissell had been possessed by the Savrakrill. Several stone lions were protecting the operation and killed seven civilians and a policeman while pursuing Nyssa and Tegan. The Doctor managed to appeal to Peto and Grissell and they forced their hosts out. With that, the stone lions resigned themselves to their plinths. (PROSE: The Lions of Trafalgar)

Behind the scenes

 * 1926 - Actor Glyn Houston was born.
 * 1928 - Actor Jerome Willis was born.
 * 1955 - Actress Annie Hulley was born.
 * 1965 - "Small Prophet, Quick Return" was first broadcast on BBC1.
 * 1965 - Part four of COMIC: The Ordeals of Demeter was first released.
 * 1976 - Part four of The Hand of Fear was first broadcast on BBC1.
 * 1998 - Actor Christopher Gable died.
 * 2009 - Part two of The Mad Woman in the Attic was first broadcast on CBBC.