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 TV.
• 9 February – Launch of BBC Wales TV.
• 6 April – Associated-Rediffusion changes its name to Rediffusion, London.
• 20 April – BBC Two starts broadcasting, the existing BBC TV channel is renamed BBC1. A power failure prevents the planned opening night's schedule from happening and all that can be screened is announcer Gerald Priestland delivering apologies from Alexandra Palace, 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.
• July – Associated Television's series Emergency – Ward 10 shows the first kiss on television between black and white actors, Joan Hooley playing surgeon Louise Mahler and John White playing Dr. Giles Farmer.
• 22 August – The first Match of the Day airs on BBC2 and the following episodes moved to BBC1.
• 28 September – In the Midlands, BBC One airs the first edition of its local news programme, Midlands Today.^[1]
• 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 (US: Secret Agent) returns to ITV after being cancelled in 1961.
• 28 October – The Wednesday Play premieres on BBC1.
• 2 November – Crossroads premieres on ITV.
• 15 December – Peter Watkins' docudrama Culloden is shown on BBC1.

Debuts

BBC Television Service/BBC TV/BBC1

• 1 January – Top of the Pops (1964–2006)
• 28 October – The Wednesday Play (1964–1970)
• 13 November – Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life (1964–1965)
• 4 December – The Likely Lads (1964–1966)

BBC2

• 21 April – Play School (1964–1988)
• 2 May – Theatre 625 (1964–1968)
• July – The Beat Room (1964–1965)
• 22 August – Match of the Day (1964–present)

ITV

• Unknown – Mr. and Mrs. (1964–1999, 2008–2010, 2012–present)
• 5 May – Seven Up! (1964–Present)
• 17 October – Redcap (1964–1966)
• 2 November – Crossroads (1964–1988, 2001–2003)

Television shows

Returning this year after a break of one year or longer

• 13 October – Danger Man (1960–1961, 1964–1968)

1940s

• Watch with Mother (1946–1973)
• Come Dancing (1949–1998)

1950s

• Andy Pandy (1950–1970, 2002–2005)
• Rag, Tag and Bobtail (1953–1965)
• The Good Old Days (1953–1983)
• Panorama (1953–present)
• 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)
• Opportunity Knocks (1956–1978, 1987–1990)
• This Week (1956–1978, 1986–1992)
• Armchair Theatre (1956–1974)^[2]
• What the Papers Say (1956–2008)
• The Sky at Night (1957–present)
• Picture Book (1958–1965)
• Blue Peter (1958–present)
• Grandstand (1958–2007)
• Noggin the Nog (1959–1965)

1960s

• Sykes and A... (1960–1965)
• The Flintstones (1960–1966)
• Coronation Street (1960–present)
• The Avengers (1961–1969)
• Points of View (1961–present)
• Songs of Praise (1961–present)
• Compact (1962–1965)
• Steptoe and Son (1962–1965, 1970–1974)
• Hugh and I (1962–1967)
• The Saint (1962–1969)
• Z-Cars (1962–1978)
• Animal Magic (1962–1983)
• The Human Jungle (1963–1965)
• Ready Steady Go! (1963–1966)
• Doctor Who (1963–1989, 2005–present)
• World in Action (1963–1998)

Ending this year

• Ghost Squad (1961–1964)
• Gwlad y Gan (1958–1964)
• The Human Jungle (1963–1964)

Births

• 12 January, Clare Holman, British actress (Inspector Morse)
• 13 January – Bill Bailey, comedian
• 1 February – Linus Roache, actor
• 3 February – Gary Webster, actor
• 16 February – Christopher Eccleston, actor
• 24 February – Andy Crane, television and radio presenter
• 25 February – Lee Evans, comedian and actor
• 11 March – Shane Richie, actor
• 25 April – Fiona Bruce, journalist, newsreader and television presenter
• 13 June – Kathy Burke, actress and comedienne
• 18 June – Linda Davidson, actress, writer and media executive
• 27 June – Lynn Parsons, radio and television presenter
• 3 July – Fionnuala Ellwood, actress
• 12 July – Gaby Roslin, television presenter and actress
• 21 July – Ross Kemp, actor and journalist
• 22 July – Bonnie Langford, actress and entertainer
• 23 July – Matilda Ziegler, actress
• 27 August – Cheryl Fergison, actress
• 1 October – Harry Hill, comedian, author, television presenter and former doctor
• 8 October – Ian Hart, actor
• 21 November – Liza Tarbuck, actress and television presenter
• 26 November – Lia Williams, actress and director

References