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 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.
 * 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.
 * 25 - Christien Anholt was born.
 * 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 became 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

 * 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.

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).