i) births and deaths

8 May 1928: birth of John Bennett, who played General Finch in Invasion of the Dinosaurs (1974) and (shamefully in yellowface) Li H'sen Chang in The Talons of Weng-Chiang (1977)

8 May 1931: birth of Douglas Camfield, who directed the third episode of Planet of Giants (First Doctor, 1964), also The Crusade (First Doctor, 1965), The Time Meddler (also First Doctor, 1965), The Daleks' Master Plan (First Doctor, 1965-66), The Web of Fear (Second Doctor, 1968), The Invasion (also Second Doctor, 1968), much of Inferno (Third Doctor, 1970), Terror of the Zygons (Fourth Doctor, 1975) and The Seeds of Doom (Fourth Doctor, 1976). One of the greats. I bought his biography a few years ago, but lost it before I could read it.

ii) broadcast anniversaries

8 May 1965: broadcast of "The Search", third episode of the story we now call The Space Museum. Vicki helps the Xerons to plan their revolution against the Moroks.

8 May 1971: broadcast of fifth episode of Colony in Space. The colonists capture the IMC guys, and then the IMC guys capture the colonists; meanwhile the Master is holding Jo hostage to ensure the Doctor's cooperation.

8 May 2010: broadcast of The Vampires of Venice. The Doctor, Amy and Rory visit Venice, to find aliens disguised as vampires infesting the city.