2002

The most public event of 2002 was likely a political one. As the United Kingdom headed for a general election, Sherilyn Harper's far right New Britannia Party (NBP) threatened to hold the balance of power in a volatile political climate. Several assassination attempts were made against Harper, first by unknown gunmen and then by a terrorist organisation called United Front — which also firebombed some district NBP offices in the southeast. These assassination attempts were later discovered to have been staged by the NBP itself. As the crisis deepened, riots broke out in London just before polling day.

This descent into chaos was partly caused by a creature from a distant world, the Fearmonger, which fed off fear. Still, it was helped by Harper's party's attempts to create fear in the British populace. The Seventh Doctor intervened and destroyed the creature — and exposed Harper and her party — by using the skills of "shock jock" Mick Thompson. (AUDIO: The Fearmonger)

The Eighth Doctor, Fitz Kreiner and Samantha Jones arrived in San Francisco. Sam and the TARDIS fell into a dimensional anomaly. She was lost, reverting to her original timeline. This version of Sam sacrificed herself to save the TARDIS and San Francisco. (PROSE: Unnatural History)

The main Xhinn fleet was due to arrive. (PROSE: Amorality Tale)

The 12-year-old child genius Luke Rattigan invented the Fountain Six search engine, which made him a millionaire almost overnight. (TV: The Sontaran Stratagem)

Mickey Smith's mother, Rita-Anne Smith, died. (TV: Rise of the Cybermen)

Alex and his wife Claire had a Christmas Eve party. Despite the fact that their son George was born a few weeks later, Claire was not pregnant. (TV: Night Terrors)