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. (NA: The Dying Days)

January

 * 02 - DW: 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: Richard Franklin as recurring character Captain Yates. Season 8 marked the first time a full season has following a single theme, in this case stories involving the Master.
 * 09 - DW: Terror of the Autons Episode 2 was first broadcast.
 * 16 - DW: Terror of the Autons Episode 3 was first broadcast.
 * 23 - DW: Terror of the Autons Episode 4 was first broadcast.
 * 30 - DW: The Mind of Evil Episode 1 was first broadcast.

February

 * 06 - DW: The Mind of Evil Episode 2 was first broadcast.
 * 13 - DW: The Mind of Evil Episode 3 was first broadcast.
 * 20 - DW: The Mind of Evil Episode 4 was first broadcast.
 * 27 - DW: The Mind of Evil Episode 5 was first broadcast.

March

 * 06 - DW: The Mind of Evil Episode 6 was first broadcast.
 * 13 - DW: The Claws of Axos Episode 1 was first broadcast.
 * 20 - DW: The Claws of Axos Episode 2 was first broadcast.
 * 27 - DW: The Claws of Axos Episode 3 was first broadcast.

April

 * 03 - DW: The Claws of Axos Episode 4 was first broadcast.
 * 10 - DW: Colony in Space Episode 1 was first broadcast.
 * 14 - Jon Pertwee becomes the unwitting subject of This is Your Life.
 * 17 - DW: Colony in Space Episode 2 was first broadcast.
 * 18 - David Tennant, who would portray the tenth Doctor, was born in Paisley, Scotland.
 * 24 - DW: Colony in Space Episode 3 was first broadcast.

May

 * 01 - DW: Colony in Space Episode 4 was first broadcast.
 * 08 - DW: Colony in Space Episode 5 was first broadcast.
 * 15 - DW: Colony in Space Episode 6 was first broadcast.
 * 22 - DW: The Dæmons Episode 1 was first broadcast.
 * 25 - Terence de Marney, who played the churchwarden in DW: The Smugglers, died in an accidental fall in the London Underground.
 * 29 - DW: The Dæmons Episode 2 was first broadcast.

June

 * 05 - DW: The Dæmons Episode 3 was first broadcast.
 * 12 - DW: The Dæmons Episode 4 was first broadcast.
 * 19 - DW: The Dæmons Episode 5 was first broadcast, concluding Season 8.

August

 * 04 - Fenella Woolgar, who played Agatha Christie in DW: The Unicorn and the Wasp, was born.

September

 * World Distributors cancelled plans for a 1972 Doctor Who Annual, the only year the book was skipped until its cancellation in the mid-1980s.

November

 * Naoko Mori, who played Toshiko Sato, was born.

Unknown dates

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