Whilst on his way to finding the Key to Time pieces the Doctor also celebrated his 500th episode in January, but despite success in completing their mission, Time Lady Romana soon regenerated (read: actress Mary Tamm was unhappy with the character and left the show). Lalla Ward took over and in her first adventure came face to face with a familiar enemy. Never a series to keep a good villain down for long, Doctor Who quickly revived Davros in Destiny Of The Daleks, courtesy of the Daleks requiring their leader's assistance during their war with the Movellans. In November it was also announced that John Nathan Turner would be taking over as the producer. He would stay in the role for ten years, becoming the longest serving producer in charge of Doctor Who, and would also cast the next three Doctors.
1980
Although Doctor Who Magazine had been running a comic strip for a number of years, this year saw the publication of stories written by comic legend Alan Moore. Now better known for titles such as Watchmen and V For Vendetta, his comic strips such as Black Legacy and Business As Usual focused on the Doctor's enemies rather than the Doctor himself, and told stories of Cybermen, Sontarans, and Autons. Not content with just starring alongside each other on television, Tom Baker and Lalla Ward arguably started the trend of celebrity marriages, when they tied the knot in December. Much like modern celebrity marriages, theirs was short lived and lasted only sixteen months.
1981
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Some years after Terry Nation's Dalek attempt, a Doctor Who spin-off was actually produced this year, in the form of K9 And Company. Unfortunately a full series was never commissioned but the pilot episode, A Girl's Best Friend, was broadcast at Christmas to the delight of many fans. Even though they were the Doctor's companions at separate times, K9 teamed up with Sarah Jane Smith (the Doctor left him as a present for her) to investigate, and put a stop to, a mysterious cult which didn't mind the occasional human sacrifice. The Keeper of Traken also introcuced Anthony Ainley as the latest incarnation of the Master, when he took over the body of Tremas. A Consul of Traken, his daughter Nyssa would be reintroduced in the next serial Logopolis, which also began by introducing Australian companion Tegan, and ended with the Doctor's regeneration into Peter Davison.