1973 (releases)

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1973 in

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the DWU • production history • vital statistics • releases

In 1973, a number of things set in or relevant to the Doctor Who universe were released or published.

• 6 January - The Three Doctors Episode Two debuted on BBC1.
• 13 January - The Three Doctors Episode Three debuted on BBC1.
• 20 January - The Three Doctors Episode Four debuted on BBC1. This was the final television appearance of William Hartnell. This episode ended the Third Doctor's exile on Earth and marked the beginning of the end of the UNIT era of the series, although UNIT continued to play a role for several more seasons.
• 27 January - Carnival of Monsters Episode One debuted on BBC1.
• 3 February - Carnival of Monsters Episode Two debuted on BBC1.
• 10 February - Carnival of Monsters Episode Three debuted on BBC1.
• 17 February - Carnival of Monsters Episode Four debuted on BBC1.
• 24 February - Frontier in Space Episode One debuted on BBC1.
• 3 March - Frontier in Space Episode Two debuted on BBC1.
• 10 March - Frontier in Space Episode Three debuted on BBC1.
• 17 March - Frontier in Space Episode Four debuted on BBC1.
• 24 March - Frontier in Space Episode Five debuted on BBC1.
• 31 March - Frontier in Space Episode Six debuted on BBC1, and saw the last appearance of the Master until The Deadly Assassin in 1976.
• 7 April - Planet of the Daleks Episode One debuted on BBC1.
• 14 April - Planet of the Daleks Episode Two debuted on BBC1.
• 21 April - Planet of the Daleks Episode Three debuted on BBC1.
• 28 April - Planet of the Daleks Episode Four debuted on BBC1.
• 2 May - Target Books reissued the 1960s novelisations Doctor Who in an Exciting Adventure with the Daleks by David Whitaker, Doctor Who and the Crusaders, also by Whitaker and Doctor Who and the Zarbi by Bill Strutton. The Daleks novel was retitled Doctor Who and the Daleks and retained this title in all further editions. These books (all adapting First Doctor stories) were the first of one hundred fifty-six such novelisations the imprint published up to 1994, covering all but a half-dozen televised stories, along with several radio and audio dramas. Target's later parent company, Virgin Publishing, continued to publish original fiction set in the Doctor Who universe until the conclusion of its Bernice Summerfield line ended its association with the franchise in 1999. With BBC Books holding the licence to publish original Doctor Who fiction from 1997, the publication of original novels continued uninterrupted into 2011 and beyond.
• 5 May - Planet of the Daleks Episode Five debuted on BBC1.
• 12 May - Planet of the Daleks Episode Six debuted on BBC1.
• 19 May - The Green Death Episode One debuted on BBC1.
• 26 May - The Green Death Episode Two debuted on BBC1.
• 2 June - The Green Death Episode Three debuted on BBC1.
• 9 June - The Green Death Episode Four debuted on BBC1.
• 16 June - The Green Death Episode Five debuted on BBC1.
• 23 June - The Green Death Episode Six debuted on BBC1, ending the tenth season. Katy Manning left the series after this episode. This was the final use of the series logo introduced in 1970 until the 1996 TV movie, in which a similar, though not identical, logo would be used, and the last to use the word "Episode" to designate the instalments of the story; henceforth they were titled as "Part", with the exception of Destiny of the Daleks in 1979.
• TV Action published its final issue, ending its Doctor Who comic strip.
• 1 September - After several years in another publication, the Doctor Who comic strip resumed in TV Comic.
• The Doctor Who Annual 1974 was published.
• 15 December - The Time Warrior Part One debuted on BBC1, launching Season 11. A diamond-shaped series logo was introduced - it became one of the franchise's most recognisable branding - along with an early version of the Bernard Lodge-designed "tunnel" opening sequence that became closely associated with the Tom Baker era. Elisabeth Sladen made her series debut as Sarah Jane Smith, and the Sontarans were unveiled. This story also revealed the name of the Doctor's previously unnamed home planet: Gallifrey.
• 15 December - Doctor Who was featured on the cover of the Radio Times. This was the last time the series would be so featured for the next ten years.
• 22 December - The Time Warrior Part Two debuted on BBC1.
• 29 December - The Time Warrior Part Three debuted on BBC1.