1999

1999 in

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the DWU • production history • vital statistics • releases

Throughout 1999, much concern was raised on Earth over a feared computer glitch known as Y2K bug or the Millennium Bug. This had the potential to cause technological havoc as clocks changed from 1999 to 2000 (the "00" in the date being expected to cause problems for many computer systems). The concern ended up being unfounded, though not without some help from one, or possibly two incarnations of the Doctor. (PROSE: Millennium Shock)

Terry Brooks was serving as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom during this year. (PROSE: Millennium Shock)

On 12 May, Adelaide Brooke was born. (TV: The Waters of Mars)

April MacLean was also born during this year. (TV: Nightvisiting, Detained)

Matteusz Andrzejewski was born. (TV: Co-Owner of a Lonely Heart)

Ram Singh was born. (PROSE: Joyride)

Jack Harkness met Neil Redmond in Miami. (AUDIO: Uncanny Valley)

The Seventh Doctor and Ace fought the Mandragora Helix in London. (COMIC: The Mark of Mandragora)

New Year's Eve

The Seventh Doctor dies. (TV: Doctor Who)

On 30 December, the Seventh Doctor, en route to Gallifrey with the remains of the Master, was forced to land the TARDIS in San Francisco and was caught in the crossfire of a gangland shooting. Ignorance of the Time Lord form meant that his surgeon, Grace Holloway, accidentally killed him. The Master escaped into the city. (TV: Doctor Who)

On the same day the Sixth Doctor and Melanie Bush arrived in London. Mel visited her class reunion, while the Doctor reintroduced himself to Anne Travers. (PROSE: Millennial Rites)

Several things happened on 31 December. The Seventh Doctor regenerated into his eighth incarnation. The Master took Bruce as a host. With the assistance of Chang Lee and Grace, the Bruce Master opened the Eye of Harmony. Opening the Eye destabilised Earth's physics and the Master used it to begin stealing the Doctor's lives. The Doctor helped Grace put the TARDIS in a temporal orbit, draining the power from the Eye and thwarting the Master. After the Master killed Grace and Lee, the Master fought the Doctor and fell into the Eye. The TARDIS reversed Lee and Grace's deaths and closed the Eye. (TV: Doctor Who)

The Seventh Doctor discovers a Nestene Consciousness. (COMIC: Plastic Millenium)

The Seventh Doctor and Melanie Bush crashed a party hosted by the Auton Alisha Hammerson and prevented another invasion by the Nestene Consciousness. (COMIC: Plastic Millennium)

The Fourth Doctor stopped the millennium bug just as the New Year arrived. (PROSE: Millennium Shock)

Jack returns to the Torchwood Hub on New Year's Eve. (TV: Fragments)

While Jack Harkness fought a "Millennium Bug" of his own, Alex Hopkins killed the rest of his Torchwood Three team, then himself after Jack returned, just as the New Year arrived in Cardiff's time zone. Harkness subsequently took over Torchwood Three. (TV: Fragments) Alex also spoke to Yvonne Hartman at Torchwood One of his epiphany beforehand on the phone, as he shot the team. This incident made her realise that the Torchwood Institute needed a stronger leader to face the 21st century. (AUDIO: One Rule)

Many parties were held for the coming millennium. (TV: Doctor Who)

Dave Young spent the entire evening trying to convince his girlfriend, Anji Kapoor, that the millennium would not actually begin for another year. Kapoor, for her part, thought this extreme pedantry meant their relationship was in trouble. This incident led to her insisting on New Year's Eve 2000 that the two of them spend 2001 doing "Wild and Spontaneous Things' —the result of which was the couple spontaneously going to Belgium in February 2001. There, she met the Eighth Doctor and began travelling with him. (PROSE: Escape Velocity)

The Eighth Doctor kisses Grace Holloway at midnight. (TV: Doctor Who)

The renegade Time Lady Iris Wildthyme and her companion Panda arrived in San Francisco in her TARDIS. Immediately after their arrival, Iris spilled gin into the bus' control and out into Time Vortex, resulting in various different versions of Panda from alternative realities crossing over into the primary universe. With the assistance of Dr. George Strangeways, Iris was able to close the rift, though not before the Panda from the primary universe had been dragged into it. (AUDIO: The Panda Invasion)

At midnight Ashley Chapel summoned Saraquazel, a being from after the universe. Anne Travers summoned the Great Intelligence at the exact same time leading to the two multi-dimensional entities colliding. This created the Great Kingdom. (PROSE: Millennial Rites)

Alternate Timelines

The Fifth Doctor, Peri Brown and Erimem visited Edinburgh in an alternative timeline. (PROSE: Graham Dilley Saves the World)

Unknown dates

Iris Wildthyme and Panda visited Hyspero's desert and built sand castles. Panda drew a sketch of Iris while she was resting. (PROSE: Iris at the V&A)