1964 in British television
This is a list of British television related events from 1964.
Events
- 1 January – The first Top of the Pops airs on BBC Television.
- 6 April – Associated-Rediffusion changes its name to Rediffusion, London.
- 20 April – BBC2 starts broadcasting in the UK; the existing BBC channel is renamed BBC1. A power failure prevents the planned opening night's schedule from happening, meaning the first programme shown is Play School the following morning.
- 30 April – Television sets manufactured as of this date are required to receive UHF channels.
- 5 May – The documentary film Seven Up! is broadcast on ITV, showing the lives of fourteen school children. Subsequent films in the series have seen them interviewed every seven years since.
- 30 May – The 26 part documentary series The Great War covering events in World War I begins airing on the BBC.
- 22 August – The first Match of the Day airs on BBC Television.
- 10 October – The 1964 Summer Olympics opening ceremony at Tokyo, Japan, with first time of live Olympic telecast program by geostationary communication satellite.
- 13 October – Danger Man returns to ITV after being cancelled in 1961.
- 28 October – The Wednesday Play premieres on BBC1.
- 2 November – Crossroads premieres on ITV
Debuts
BBC1
BBC2
ITV
Television shows
Returning this year after a break of one year or longer
1940s
1950s
1960s
Ending this year
Births
- 1 February - Linus Roache, actor
- 3 February – Gary Webster, actor
- 16 February – Christopher Eccleston, actor
- 24 February –
- 11 March – Shane Richie, actor
- 25 April – Fiona Bruce, journalist, newsreader and television presenter
- 13 June – Kathy Burke, actress and comedienne
- 12 July – Gaby Roslin, television presenter and actress
- 21 July – Ross Kemp, actor and journalist
- 22 July – Bonnie Langford, actress and entertainer
- 25 August – Clive Myrie, television news journalist
- 1 October – Harry Hill, comedian, author, television presenter and former doctor
- 21 November – Liza Tarbuck, actress and television presenter
- 26 November - Lia Williams, actress and director