1961

History of the Doctor Who Universe

 * Yuri Gagarin is the first Earth human to travel in space, - officially, anyway ("The Seeds of Death").

January

 * 7 - The Avengers debuts on British television. The series was devised by Sydney Newman, who would next go on to create Doctor Who.

December

 * 12 - Doctor Who cast member Sarah Sutton, who played companion Nyssa, is born.


 * 19 - Doctor Who cast member Matthew Waterhouse, who played companion Adric, is born at Hertford, England, UK.

Unknown date

 * Mark Strickson, who portrayed companion Vislor Turlough, is born at Stratford-upon-Avon.