1981 in British television

This is a list of British television related events from 1981.

Events

• 5 January – The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the television version of Douglas Adams' radio comedy of the same name debuts on BBC2.
• 21 March – After an unprecedented seven years starring in Doctor Who, Tom Baker makes his final appearance as the Fourth Doctor in Part 4 of Logopolis. Peter Davison makes his first appearance as the Fifth Doctor at the conclusion of that story.
• 4 April – Bucks Fizz was the winner of Eurovision Song Contest with the song, Making Your Mind Up.
• 27 July – In a specially timed event by the show's writers, Ken Barlow marries Deirdre Langton on Coronation Street, just two days before the real-life wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer. The wedding of Ken and Deirdre is watched by over 24 million viewers in Britain.
• 29 July – The marriage of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer takes place at St Paul's Cathedral. More than 30,000,000 viewers watch the wedding on television – the second highest television audience of all time in Britain.^[1][2]
• 8 September – BBC1 airs the first episode of the comedy series Only Fools and Horses starring David Jason.
• 16 September – BBC1 sees the first appearance of children's Royal Mail and Post Office Ltd programme Postman Pat first voiced by Ken Barrie in the early years with BBC1 showing repeats half a decade or so later.
• 28 September – Thames Television airs the first episode of Cosgrove Hall Films' children's animated series Danger Mouse with the lead character voiced by David Jason.
• 12 October – Brideshead Revisited, a television adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's novel of the same name begins on ITV.
• 31 December – The final day on air for the ITV regional stations ATV, Southern, and Westward.

Debuts

BBC1

• 5 January Triangle (1981–1983)
• 10 February Pigeon Street (1981)
• 20 February – Finders Keepers (BBC1 1981–1985, ITV 1991–1996, 2006)
• 4 March – The Life and Times of David Lloyd George (1981)
• 12 March – Sorry! (1981–1982, 1985–1988)
• 8 September – Only Fools and Horses (1981–1983, 1985–1993, 1996, 2001–2003, 2014–present)
• 16 September – Postman Pat (1981, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2004–2008)
• 18 October – Bergerac (1981–1991)
• 22 October – Tenko (1981, 1984-1985)

BBC2

• 5 January – The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1981)

ITV

• 3 January – Punchlines (1981–1984)
• 9 January – The Gaffer (1981–1983)
• 2 June – Razzamatazz (1981–1987)
• 5 September – Take a Letter, Mr. Jones (1981)
• 26 September – Game for a Laugh (1981–1985)
• 28 September
  • Bullseye (1981–1995, 2006)
  • Danger Mouse (1981–1992)
• 29 September – Rod, Jane and Freddy (1981–1991)
• 12 October – Brideshead Revisited (1981)
• 23 October – That's My Boy (1981–1986)
• 1 November – A Fine Romance (1981–1984)
• 8 December – Freetime (1981–1985)

Television shows

Returning this year after a break of one year or longer

• 1 March – Open All Hours (BBC2 1976, BBC1 1981–1982, 1985, 2013-)
• 9 April - Are You Being Served? (BBC1 1972, 1973–1979, 1981, 1983, 1985)

1940s

• Come Dancing (1949–1998)

1950s

• The Good Old Days (1953–1983)
• Panorama (1953–present)
• Crackerjack (1955–1984)
• What the Papers Say (1956–2008)
• The Sky at Night (1957–present)
• Blue Peter (1958–present)
• Grandstand (1958–2007)

1960s

• Coronation Street (1960–present)
• Songs of Praise (1961–present)
• Animal Magic (1962–1983)
• Doctor Who (1963–1989, 2005–present)
• World in Action (1963–1998)
• Top of the Pops (1964–2006)
• Match of the Day (1964–present)
• Crossroads (1964–1988, 2001–2003)
• Play School (1964–1988)
• Mr. and Mrs. (1964–1999, 2008–2010, 2012–present)
• World of Sport (1965–1985)
• Jackanory (1965–1996, 2006–present)
• Call My Bluff (1965–2005)
• It's a Knockout (1966–1982, 1999–2001)
• The Money Programme (1966–present)
• ITV Playhouse (1967–1982)
• The Big Match (1968–2002)
• Nationwide (1969–1983)

1970s

• The Goodies (1970–1982)
• The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971–1987)
• The Two Ronnies (1971–1987, 1991, 1996, 2005)
• Clapperboard (1972–1982)
• Crown Court (1972–1984)
• Pebble Mill at One (1972–1986)
• Rainbow (1972–1992, 1994–1995)
• Emmerdale (1972–present)
• Newsround (1972–present)
• Weekend World (1972–1988)
• We Are the Champions (1973–1987)
• Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010)
• That's Life! (1973–1994)
• Tiswas (1974–1982)
• Wish You Were Here...? (1974–2003)
• Arena (1975–present)
• Jim'll Fix It (1975–1994)
• Multi-Coloured Swap Shop (1976–1982)
• Rentaghost (1976–1984)
• One Man and His Dog (1976–present)
• The Professionals (1977–1983)
• Strangers (1978–1982)
• Butterflies (1978–1983, 2000)
• 3-2-1 (1978–1988)
• Grange Hill (1978–2008)
• Dick Turpin (1979–1982)
• Friday Night, Saturday Morning (1979–1982)
• Not the Nine O'Clock News (1979–1982)
• Only When I Laugh (1979–1982)
• Sapphire & Steel (1979–1982)
• Terry and June (1979–1987)
• The Book Tower (1979–1989)
• Blankety Blank (1979–1990, 1997–2002)
• The Paul Daniels Magic Show (1979–1994)
• Antiques Roadshow (1979–present)
• Question Time (1979–present)

1980s

• Into the Labyrinth (1980–1982)
• The Gentle Touch (1980–1984)
• Juliet Bravo (1980–1985)
• Cockleshell Bay (1980–1986)
• Children in Need (1980–present)
• Postman Pat (1981–2008)

Ending this year

• 1 March – Agony (1979–1981)
• 15 March – The Muppet Show (1976–1981)
• 31 March – Robin's Nest (1977–1981)
• 21 April – When the Boat Comes In (1976–1981)
• 29 April – The Life and Times of David Lloyd George (1981)
• 1 August – You're Only Young Twice (1977–1981)
• 3 September – It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974–1981)
• 10 October – Take a Letter, Mr. Jones (1981)
• 29 November – To the Manor Born (1979–1981)
• 9 December – Postman Pat (1981, 1991, 1994, 1996, 2004–2008)
• 12 December – Worzel Gummidge (1979–1981)
• 17 December – Pigeon Street (1981)
• 21 December – Blake's 7 (1978–1981)
• 29 December – Pipkins (1973–1981)

Births

• 19 January – Thaila Zucchi, singer and actress
• 8 February – Helen Pearson, journalist and presenter
• 10 February
  • Max Brown, actor
  • Holly Willoughby, television presenter
• 1 April – Hannah Spearritt, actress and singer (S Club 7)
• 5 June – Jade Goody, reality show contestant and media personality (died 2009)
• 25 June – Sheridan Smith, actress
• 2 July – Angela Hazeldine, actress and musician
• 12 July – Rebecca Hunter, actress and singer
• 3 September – Fearne Cotton, radio and television presenter
• 5 September – Elize du Toit, actress
• 21 September – Jack Ryder, actor
• 25 September – Sarah Jayne Dunn, actress
• 10 October – Laura Tobin, broadcast meteorologist
• 19 December - Sam Bloom, actor and singer

Deaths

• 24 May - Jack Warner, 85, actor
• 3 December – Joey Deacon, 61, author and television personality

References