1957 in British television

This is a list of British television related events from 1957.

Events

• 16 February – The "Toddlers' Truce" (an arrangement whereby there were no television broadcasts between 6 PM and 7 PM, to allow parents to put their children to bed!) is abolished. It has been a major stumbling block to the success of ITV.
• 3 March – The United Kingdom enters the Eurovision Song Contest for the first time with "All" performed by Patricia Bredin.
• 1 April – British current affairs programme Panorama broadcasts the famous Spaghetti trees hoax report.^[1]
• 21 April – Historical documentary series Men, Women and Clothes begins airing. It is the first BBC programme filmed in colour, although it can only be transmitted in black and white.
• 24 April – The Sky at Night appears for the first time, presented by Patrick Moore. It continues to air with Moore as presenter until his death in December 2012.
• 31 August – Central Scotland's ITV franchise Scottish Television goes on air, the first 7-day-a-week ITV franchise to do so.
• 18 September – The sports programme Scotsport begins airing on Scottish Television. By the time it ended in 2008 it was recognised as the world's longest running sports television magazine.
• 24 September – The ITV Schools service, broadcasting programmes for schools and colleges, goes on air.
• 3 December – Face to Face debuts on the BBC Television Service.
• 25 December – The Royal Christmas Message is first televised with a message from Elizabeth II.

Debuts

BBC Television Service/BBC TV

• 16 February – Six-Five Special (1957–1958)
• February – Tonight (1957–1965)
• 24 April – The Sky at Night (1957–present)
• 3 December – Face to Face (1957–1962)
• Unknown
  • Captain Pugwash (BBC 1957–1975, ITV 1997–2002)
  • Pinky and Perky (1957–1968)

ITV

• 19 February – Emergency – Ward 10 (1957–1967)
• 12 April – Living It Up (1957–1958)
• 19 June – The Army Game (1957–1961)
• 12 July – The Gay Cavalier (1957)
• 18 September – Out of Step (1957)
• 13 November The Adventures of Twizzle (1957–1959)

STV

• 18 September – Scotsport (1957–2008)

Television shows

1940s

• Come Dancing (1949–1998)

1950s

• Andy Pandy (1950–1970, 2002–2005)
• What's My Line? (1951–1963)
• Flower Pot Men (1952–1958, 2001–2002)
• Watch with Mother (1952–1973)
• All Your Own (1952–1961)
• Rag, Tag and Bobtail (1953–1965)
• The Good Old Days (1953–1983)
• Panorama (1953–present)
• The Woodentops (1955–1958)
• The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955–1960)
• Picture Book (1955–1965)
• Sunday Night at the London Palladium (1955–1967, 1973–1974)
• Take Your Pick (1955–1968, 1992–1998)
• Double Your Money (1955–1968)
• Dixon of Dock Green (1955–1976)
• Crackerjack (1955–1984)
• Hancock's Half Hour (1956–1961)
• Opportunity Knocks (1956–1978, 1987–1990)
• This Week (1956–1978, 1986–1992)
• Armchair Theatre (1956–1974)^[2]
• What the Papers Say (1956–2008)

Ending this year

• The Appleyards (1952–1957)
• The Grove Family (1954–1957)
• The Adventures of Aggie (1956–1957)
• The Tony Hancock Show (1956–1957)
• The Adventures of Sir Lancelot (1956–1957)

Births

• 24 January – Ade Edmondson, comedian
• 27 February – Timothy Spall, actor
• 5 May – Richard E. Grant, English actor
• 11 May – Mike Nesbitt, broadcast journalist and politician
• 4 July – Jenny Seagrove, actress
• 9 July – Paul Merton, actor and comedian
• 12 July – Christopher Quinten, actor
• 17 July – Fern Britton, television presenter
• 23 July – Jo Brand, comedian
• 12 August – Amanda Redman, actress
• 24 August – Stephen Fry, comedian, author and actor
• 12 September – Rachel Ward, actress
• 11 October – Dawn French, comedian
• 25 October – Sarah Greene, television presenter
• 17 November – Debbie Thrower, television presenter
• 30 November – Colin Mochrie, comedian
• 23 December – Trisha Goddard, television presenter
• 26 December – Dermot Murnaghan, journalist and television presenter

References