1971 in British television

This is a list of British television related events from 1971.

Events

• 3 January – BBC Open University broadcasts begin.
• 27 January – Valerie Barlow is electrocuted by a faulty hairdryer, and then perishes in a house fire on Coronation Street.
• 17 February – BBC2 airs Elizabeth R, a drama serial of six 85-minute plays starring Glenda Jackson in the title role.
• 10 April – The Two Ronnies debuts on BBC1.
• 7 June – The UK children's magazine show Blue Peter buries a time capsule in the grounds of BBC Television Centre, due to be opened on the first episode of the year 2000.
• 21 September – The Old Grey Whistle Test premieres on BBC2.
• 10 October – Upstairs, Downstairs debuts on ITV.

Debuts

BBC1

• 25 February – Mr Benn (1971, 2005)
• 10 April – The Two Ronnies (1971–1987, 1991, 1996, 2005)
• 19 June – Parkinson (1971–1982, 1998–2007)
• 2 October – The Generation Game (1971–1982, 1990–2002)
• 15 October – The Onedin Line (1971–1980)
• 5 November – Now Look Here (1971–1973)
• Unknown – Crystal Tipps and Alistair (1971–1974)

BBC2

• 17 February – Elizabeth R (1971)
• 21 September – The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971–1987)

ITV

• 14 January – A Class by Himself (1971–1972)
• 7 April – Hine (1971)
• 9 April – Budgie (1971–1972)
• 27 April – ...And Mother Makes Three (1971–1973)
• 12 June – The Comedians (1971–1985)
• 28 June – Follyfoot (1971–1973)
• 17 September – The Persuaders! (1971–1972)
• 24 September – The Fenn Street Gang (1971–1973)
• 10 October – Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975, 2010–2012)

Television shows

1920s

• BBC Wimbledon (1927–1939, 1946–2024)

1940s

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

1950s

• The Good Old Days (1953–1983)
• Panorama (1953–present)
• 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)^[1]
• 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)
• Steptoe and Son (1962–1965, 1970–1974)
• Z-Cars (1962–1978)
• 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)
• Call My Bluff (1965–2005)
• World of Sport (1965–1985)
• Jackanory (1965–1996, 2006)
• Sportsnight (1965–1997)
• It's a Knockout (1966–1982, 1999–2001)
• The Money Programme (1966–2010)
• Callan (1967–1972)
• The Golden Shot (1967–1975)
• ITV Playhouse (1967–1982)
• Please Sir! (1968–1972)
• Father, Dear Father (1968–1973)
• Dad's Army (1968–1977)
• Magpie (1968–1980)
• The Big Match (1968–2002)
• On the Buses (1969–1973)
• Clangers (1969–1974, 2015–present)
• Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974)
• Nationwide (1969–1983)
• Screen Test (1969–1984)

1970s

• A Family at War (1970–1972)
• Queenie's Castle (1970–1972)
• The Goodies (1970–1982)

Ending this year

• All Gas and Gaiters (1966–1971)
• Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width (1967–1971)
• Me Mammy (1968–1971)
• Albert and Victoria (1970–1971)
• Bachelor Father (1970–1971)
• The Lovers (1970–1971)
• Timeslip (1970–1971)
• UFO (1970–1971)

Births

• 1 January – Suzanne Virdee, British regional newscaster (Midlands Today)
• 3 January – Sarah Alexander, actress
• 5 January –
  • Joanna Gosling, journalist and newsreader
  • Jayne Middlemiss, British television presenter
• 12 January – Jay Burridge, British artist and television presenter
• 13 January – Sarah Tansey, UK actress (Heartbeat)
• 14 January – Yiolanda Koppel, UK presenter
• 15 January – Lara Cazalet, British actress
• 16 January – Julia Ford, English actress
• 20 January –
  • Pixie McKenna, Irish presenter (Embarrassing Bodies)
  • Gary Barlow, singer and actor
• 23 January – Lorne Spicer, British presenter (Cash in the Attic)
• 29 January – Clare Balding, sports presenter, journalist and jockey
• 30 January – Darren Boyd, actor
• 31 January – Patrick Kielty, Northern Irish comedian and television presenter
• 2 February – Michelle Gayle, singer and actress
• 13 February – Sonia, English pop singer
• 16 February –
  • Amanda Holden, British actress and television presenter
  • Steven Houghton, British actor and singer
• 17 February – Jeremy Edwards, actor
• 20 February – Sarah Hadland, actress
• 23 February – Melinda Messenger, British television presenter and model
• 2 March – Dave Gorman, comedian and broadcaster
• 3 March – Charlie Brooker, presenter and satirist
• 9 March – Stephanie Chambers, actress
• 23 March – Gail Porter, British television presenter.
• 5 April – Victoria Hamilton, actress
• 15 April – Kate Harbour, voice actress
• 16 April – Max Beesley, actor and musician
• 17 April – Claire Sweeney, actress, singer and television personality
• 18 April – David Tennant, Scottish actor
• 27 May – Paul Bettany, British actor
• 5 June – Susan Lynch, Northern Irish actress
• 26 June – Emma Noble, actress and model
• 5 July – Nicola Stephenson, actress
• 24 July – John Partridge, actor
• 25 July – Chloë Annett, actress
• 20 August – Helen Grace, actress
• 31 August – Kirstie Allsopp, British television presenter
• 1 September – Debbie Chazen, actress
• 7 September – Lisa Rogers, television presenter
• 8 September – Martin Freeman, actor
• 25 September – Jessie Wallace, British actress
• 29 September – Mackenzie Crook, English actor
• 4 October – Simone Hyams, actress
• 13 October – Sacha Baron Cohen, British comedian
• 16 October – Craig Phillips, British reality show star, Winner of Big Brother UK in 2000
• 24 October – Dervla Kirwan, actress
• 1 December – Emily Mortimer, British actress
• Unknown – Helen Blakeman, playwright and screenwriter

See also

• 1971 in British music
• 1971 in British radio
• 1971 in the United Kingdom
• List of British films of 1971

References