i) births and deaths

8 May 1928: birth of John Bennett, who played General Finch in Invasion of the Dinosaurs (1974) and 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 (1964), also The Crusade (1965), The Time Meddler (1965), The Daleks’ Master Plan (1965-66), The Web of Fear (1968), The Invasion (1968), much of Inferno (1970), Terror of the Zygons (1975) and The Seeds of Doom (1976).

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.