2012 in British television

List of years in British television (table)
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This is a list of events that took place in 2012 related to British television.

Events

January

Date	Event
1	Pam St Clement makes her final appearance in EastEnders as Pat Butcher, the character having been killed off in a cancer storyline.[1]
	BBC One airs Adele Live at the Royal Albert Hall, a programme featuring highlights of a concert given by Adele on 21 September 2011 as part of the singer's Adele Live tour.[2]
7	BBC One airs the first episode of Casualty filmed in at its purpose-built studios in Roath Lock, Cardiff, the series having been previously filmed in Bristol.[3] The episode, "Duty of Care", is also the first to be broadcast in HD.[4]
9	Nick Hewer takes over as presenter of Countdown as the game show returns for a new series.[5]
16	Jane McDonald returns to the panel of Loose Women after an 18-month break.
18	A call by BBC Two's Stargazing Live for amateur astronomers to locate possible exoplanets, planets orbiting stars outside the Solar System, leads to the discovery of a new Neptune-sized exoplanet by two viewers, one in Peterborough. The planet is named Threapleton Holmes B in their honour.[6][7]
	Producers of Coronation Street defend a storyline in which the character Faye Butler is slapped for misbehaving by her adoptive mother's boyfriend after the episode (aired on 16 January) attracts a number of complaints from viewers to ITV and Ofcom.[8]
20	Press TV, an English language news channel owned by the Iranian Government is forced off air in the United Kingdom after Ofcom revokes its broadcasting licence for breaching the terms of the Communications Act.[9]
21	Under new guidelines to come into force from 30 April clinics which charge for pregnancy services including abortions will be able to advertise on radio and television after the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice ruled there was no justification for barring such clinics from advertising their services.[10]
27	Actress and television presenter Denise Welch wins the ninth series of Celebrity Big Brother.[11]

February

Date	Event
8 – 22	Analogue is switched off in the Hannington area
11	The live televised France versus Ireland match in the 2012 Six Nations Championship is abandoned minutes prior to kick-off, prompting boos to ring out among disgruntled spectators inside a packed Stade de France. It is the first time such an event has happened since 1985.[12][13][14]
13	ITV screens the first ever British advert aimed specifically at dogs. The 60-second commercial for the Bakers dog food brand features high-pitched sounds that cannot be heard by humans, and is a send up of the 1969 film The Italian Job.[15]
20	Media regulator Ofcom states that remarks made on Channel 5's The Wright Stuff on 6 December last year in relation to the murder of Liam Aitchison were "clearly capable of causing offence", but that the issue has been "resolved".[16]
	The ITN produced 5 News bulletins are relaunched, with newscasters Matt Barbet and Emma Crosby retaining their presenting roles.
21	The BBC defends its coverage of Whitney Houston's funeral on the BBC News Channel following a number of complaints from viewers about its duration. The four-hour service was aired on Saturday 18 February following the singer's death the previous weekend.[17]
	Singer Adele apologises for making a middle finger gesture after her Brit Awards acceptance speech is cut short due to broadcasting time constraints.[18] ITV in turn issues an apology to the singer the following day.[19]
24	At the conference of St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester Coronation Street producer Phil Collinson defends a recent storyline involving the rape of Carla Connor by her business partner, but admits mistakes were made in developing the plot.[20]

Analogue switched off

Date	Event
29 February – 14 March	Analogue is switched off in the Midhurst area.

March

Date	Event
1	BBC News journalist Natalia Antelava is deported from Uzbekistan without official reason.[21]
5	ITV and STV sign a deal which (if approved by Ofcom) could see more networked programmes appearing on television in Scotland. The agreement would end a three-year hiatus which has seen many major ITV programmes absent from schedules in Scotland.[22]
	The BBC broadcast their first Sports bulletins from the new BBC Sport Centre at MediaCityUK in Salford.[23]
7 – 21	Analogue is switched off in the Rowridge and Whitehawk Hill areas.
9	BBC newsreader Simon McCoy is caught apparently sleeping at the newsdesk as the daily BBC News Channel programming begins at 8:30 am, although he later denied he was asleep.[24]
12	BBC Two airs a programme in its This World strand concerning the Chinese television programme Interviews Before Execution in which death row inmates are interviewed by a reporter shortly before they are executed. Chinese authorities cancel the show following international interest generated by the documentary.[25][26]
	Bryan Kirkwood resigns as Executive Producer of the BBC's EastEnders following a decline in viewing figures and a series of complaints about controversial storylines.[27]
14	Man vs. Wild presenter Bear Grylls has reportedly been sacked by the Discovery Channel because of "a continuing contractual dispute".[28]
15	Shelina Permalloo wins the 2012 series of MasterChef.[29]
18	Channel 4 confirms it has secured a four-year deal to broadcast horse racing from 2013, including coverage of the Grand National, the Derby and Royal Ascot which have previously been aired by the BBC.[30]
19	BBC Director-General Mark Thompson tells staff at the broadcaster that he will step down from his position later in the year.[31]
21	Former soap actress Jenna-Louise Coleman is named as the new Doctor Who sidekick, replacing current assistant Karen Gillan whose character Amy Pond will leave during the 2012 series.[32]
23	The BBC's MediaCityUK complex at Salford Quays is officially opened by the Queen.[33]
24	Harry Hill steps down as presenter of Harry Hill's TV Burp on ITV after 10 or 11 years.[34]
25	Matthew Wolfenden and dance partner Nina Ulanova win the seventh series of Dancing on Ice.[35]
	With the approaching centenary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic ITV begins airing Julian Fellowes' four-part £11million retelling of the disaster.[36][37]
26	The BBC's Panorama alleges that a company owned by News Corporation recruited a pay-TV "pirate" to hack a rival's secret codes then post the details online.[38]
27	The BBC announces plans to axe 140 news posts in 2013 as part of cost cutting measures.[39]
31	Former broadcast journalist Mike Nesbitt is elected leader of the Ulster Unionist Party.[40]
	Anne Robinson presents the final edition of The Weakest Link on BBC One to concentrate on Watchdog.

April

Date	Event
3	James Murdoch resigns as Chairman of BSkyB in the wake of the News International phone hacking scandal.[41]
	Munich-based media regulator BLM announces it is removing Press TV from the SES Astra satellite as they do not have a licence to broadcast in Europe.[42][43]
4 – 18	Analogue is switched off in London.
5	Sky News admits illegally hacking emails belonging to members of the public on two separate occasions.[44]
6	The EastEnders Omnibus edition is moved to a late night Friday/early Saturday morning slot from Sunday afternoons.[45][46]
7	The 158th University Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge is stopped mid-race due to a swimmer in the water. Cambridge go on to win when a clash of oars at the restart leaves Oxford with a broken paddle.[47]
10	BBC Breakfast makes its first broadcast from the BBC's new media complex at Salford Quays in Manchester, having moved there from London.[48]
12	BSkyB signs a deal with MGM for exclusive rights to air the James Bond films in the United Kingdom, beginning from October to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the film franchise. The agreement means the end of ITV's unbroken run as sole holder of the screen rights which began in 1975.[49]
14	The Grand National is shown on the BBC for the last time following a consecutive run of 52 years.[50]
18	In a rare move, television cameras are allowed into the High Court in Edinburgh to film the sentencing of David Gilroy for the murder of Suzanne Pilley.[51]
19	Sky News airs a televised debate between the main three candidates in the 2012 London mayoral election.[52]
20	Tetley announce a deal to sponsor family movies on Channel 5.[53]
23	Ofcom launches an investigation into the hacking of private email accounts by Sky News.[54] The announcement comes on the same day that the news channel's boss John Ryley appears before the Leveson Inquiry where he says the company broke the law by hacking emails.[55]
24	Northern Ireland's Social Democratic and Labour Party urges the British government to support calls for Irish broadcaster RTÉ to reverse its decision to close its London office, which is scheduled to shut following this year's Olympic games.[56]
25	The ITV HD channel is beset by a glitch when ITV accidentally cuts away from footage of extra time play during a Champions League match between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich to show news presenter Mark Austin doing up his jacket as he waits to present the delayed News at Ten. It is the broadcaster's third glitch during live football in recent months.[57]
30	The BBC defends its decision to pre-record the Sunday evening results edition of The Voice after receiving 30 complaints because the show had been billed as a live broadcast. The BBC says the programme is too expensive to record live on Sundays and airing it on Saturday evening would mean it clashed with Britain's Got Talent.[58]

May

Date	Event
2	Cardinal Seán Brady, the Catholic primate of all-Ireland says he will not resign his post as the BBC's This World programme reveals he had details of those being abused by paedophile priest Brendan Smyth, but did not pass the information on to police or parents of the victims.[59]
10	The Channel 5 daytime show The Wright Stuff is being investigated by Ofcom over a survey on 26 April edition of the programme that asked viewers what the most offensive word is to describe someone with learning difficulties.[60]
	Prince Charles presents the lunchtime weather forecast during a visit to the BBC Scotland headquarters in Glasgow.[61]
12	Ashleigh and Pudsey, a dancing dog trick act, win the sixth series of Britain's Got Talent.[62]
14	The eighth instalment of the Up Series, 56 Up debuts on ITV.
16	The BBC Trust confirms children's programmes will no longer air on BBC One and BBC Two following the completion of the digital switchover. Instead they will move to the dedicated CBBC and CBeebies channels.[63]
19	Absent Friends, a fourth series episode of comedy Dad's Army, is repeated on BBC Two for the first time since its original broadcast in 1970. Before this, the episode was left out of repeat runs because of the controversial appearance of the IRA.
29	The UK Government confirms that television viewers in Northern Ireland will be able to watch RTÉ One, RTÉ Two and TG4 on Freeview following the digital switchover.[64]

Analogue switched off

Date	Event
30 May – 13 June	Analogue is switched off in the Hastings, Heathfield and Tunbridge Wells areas.

June

Date	Event
2 – 5	The BBC airs footage of the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations. Events include the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on 3 June and the Diamond Jubilee Concert on 4 June.[65]
2	Leanne Mitchell wins the first series of The Voice.[66]
3	Ricky Martin, a former professional wrestler, wins the eighth series of The Apprentice along with a £250,000 investment from Lord Sugar, who will become his partner in a new business venture.[67]
6	The BBC has received over 2,000 complaints from viewers about its Jubilee coverage. The broadcaster is also criticised by other media for its Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant coverage, which is branded as "inane" and "tedious".[68]
8	Start of Euro 2012, hosted by Poland and Ukraine.
12	Ranvir Singh and Matt Barbet are announced as the new presenters of the Daybreak news hour from 6-7am.[69]
13	BSkyB signs a £3bn three-year deal to screen Premier League football from 2013 to 2016. BT Vision also secures the rights to show 38 games per season over the same period.[70]
13 – 27	Analogue is switched off in the Bluebell Hill and Dover areas thus completing the switchover for the Meridian area.
14	The Daily Record reports that BSkyB has threatened to cancel their contract to air games from the Scottish Premier League if Rangers are relegated from the division.[71]
19	BBC Director General Mark Thompson tells the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee that the corporation has "lessons to learn" from its coverage of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee after it received several thousand viewer complaints and heavy media criticism.[72]
24	20.34 million watch the quarter final match of Euro 2012 between England and Italy on BBC One, the highest number since the equivalent quarter final of Euro 2004. It briefly receives British television's highest audience for any programme for eight years until being overtaken the following month.

July

Date	Event
1	The BBC unveil their title sequence and marketing campaign for their coverage of the 2012 Summer Olympics.[73]
	Ukraine hosts the final match of Euro 2012, which sees Spain beat Italy 4–0.
3	Global Radio announce plans to branch into television with the launch of two non-stop music channels; Heart TV and Capital TV, which will go on air from September.[74]
4	Broadcaster George Entwistle is named as the next Director-General of the BBC beginning in autumn 2012.[75]
	Launch of the IPTV television service YouView.[76]
17	Rogue Traders presenter Dan Penteado is sacked from the programme after he is jailed for 12 weeks for benefit fraud.[77]
19	Former England footballer Lee Dixon is leaving the BBC's Match of the Day after eight years, it is reported. Sources such as Digital Spy report he will join ITV to provide football coverage in place of Gareth Southgate, who is leaving the channel to become the Football Association's technical director.[78] ITV confirms the following day that Dixon will be part of its football presenter lineup, providing coverage of the Tuesday night Champions League, Europa League, FA Cup, and England's campaign to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.[79]
23	The Olympic torch features in a special live section of EastEnders when actor Perry Fenwick, in character as Billy Mitchell carries it through the fictional Walford as part of the 2012 Olympic torch relay.[80]
27	The events of the 2012 Summer Olympics begin airing with the opening ceremony in London. At its peak the event is watched by 26.9 million viewers,[81] and with an average of 24.24 million[82] it is the highest rating for anything on British television since 1997.

August

Date	Event
9	The BBC commissions a one-off drama to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Doctor Who. The film, An Adventure in Space and Time will tell the story of the team behind Doctor Who's creation and will air on BBC Two in 2013.[83]
12	The 2012 Summer Olympics end with the closing ceremony receiving even more viewers than the opening ceremony, an average of 24.46 million. It becomes one of the most watched events in British television history.[84]
	The BBC's Gabby Logan is forced to apologise after mistakenly telling viewers of the previous evening's edition of BBC One's Olympics Tonight that the mother and sister of British boxing gold medallist Luke Campbell were dead. She had confused him with another boxer whose relatives were deceased.[85]
13	Luke Anderson wins Big Brother 13.[86]
14	Outgoing BBC Director-General Mark Thompson is appointed CEO of The New York Times, taking up his role in November.[87]
19	It is reported that Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith's department has made a formal complaint to the BBC over claims of anti-Government bias, as Duncan Smith himself attacks the Corporation in a Mail on Sunday article for what he perceives to be its negative stance towards the coalition. Economics editor Stephanie Flanders is singled out for particular criticism, with the Minister accusing her of "peeing all over British industry".[88]
28	UTV Media, which owns the ITV franchise for Northern Ireland and the UK-based sports-orientated radio station talkSPORT, reports a summer of mixed fortunes in terms of advertising revenue. Coverage of UEFA Euro 2012 proved lucrative for talkSPORT, but television advertising was hit by the 2012 Summer Olympics.[89]
29	The opening ceremony of the 2012 Summer Paralympics is watched by a peak audience of 11.2 million viewers,[90] with an overall average of 8 million.[91]
	The BBC has received 185 complaints about its new sitcom, Citizen Khan since the first episode aired two days earlier; with many claiming the series, about a Pakistani businessman stereotypes British Muslims.[92]

September

Date	Event
1	Doctor Who returns for its seventh series with the surprise appearance of Jenna-Louise Coleman in the first episode, Asylum of the Daleks, four months before she is scheduled to make her debut.[93]
3	ITV's breakfast strand Daybreak is relaunched with Aled Jones and Lorraine Kelly as its main presenters. Overnight figures the following day show it was watched by 600,000 viewers, fewer than the one million who tuned in to watch its debut in 2010.[94]
4	Maria Miller is appointed Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, replacing Jeremy Hunt.[95]
	A £30m Scottish Government campaign to raise cancer awareness will include the first ads in the UK to show real pictures of women's breasts that have been affected by cancer.[96]
5	The updated version of the US soap opera Dallas makes its British television debut on Channel 5.[97]
	Coronation Street is moved from its Thursday slot to its original Wednesday slot.
7	Comedian Julian Clary wins the tenth series of Celebrity Big Brother.[98][99]
12 – 26	Analogue is switched off in the Tyne Tees region thus completing the switchover for England and making it the 3rd Digital nation in the UK.
17	George Entwistle takes up his role of Director-General of the BBC.[100]
20	The BBC shelves the final episode of its police drama Good Cop following the deaths of two police officers in Manchester.[101]
	Following an investigation in the wake of the News International phone hacking scandal, the media regulator Ofcom concludes that BSkyB is a "fit and proper" company to hold a broadcasting licence[102]
21	Emma Kennedy wins the 2012 series of Celebrity MasterChef.[103]
28	The BBC confirms that the final episode of Good Cop will air on 13 October.[104]

October

Date	Event
2	BBC Breakfast presenter Susanna Reid apologises to viewers after a microphone which had been accidentally left on picked up business reporter Steph McGovern swearing shortly after she had finished presenting the programme's business news.[105]
3	ITV airs a documentary, Exposure: The Other Side of Jimmy Savile in which several women allege to have been sexually abused by the late broadcaster Sir Jimmy Savile as teenagers.[106] The following day the Metropolitan Police Service says it will assess the allegations.[107]
4	BBC Four pulls two planned repeats of Top of the Pops from its schedule following recent allegations made against Jimmy Savile. The shows, which featured Savile as presenter, are part of the channel's weekly rerun of archive editions, which have been airing since last year.[108]
5	Sky News presenter Kay Burley is criticised for insensitivity after she broke the news of the probable death of April Jones, a missing five-year-old girl live on air to volunteers who had been assisting in the search for her, and were unaware that the case had become a murder inquiry.[109][110][111]
	Samira Ahmed takes over from Raymond Snoddy as presenter of the BBC's Newswatch.[112]
10 – 24	The last of the UK analogue signals are switched off in Northern Ireland, completing the digital switchover.
12	BBC Director-General George Entwistle asks BBC Scotland Director Ken MacQuarrie to speak to Newsnight journalists to establish why a planned documentary concerning ellegations of sexual abuse by Jimmy Savile was shelved before it was due to air in December 2011.[113]
16	The BBC appoints the heads of two separate inquiries into sexual abuse allegations that have engulfed Jimmy Savile. Former High Court judge Dame Janet Smith will review the culture and practices of the BBC during the time Savile worked there, while Nick Pollard, a former Sky News executive will look at why a Newsnight investigation into Savile's activities was dropped shortly before transmission.[114]
	John Whaite wins the third series of The Great British Bake Off.[115]
	Emmerdale celebrates 40 years on air. A live episode is aired to mark the occasion on 17 October, which is watched by 9.2 million viewers. The episode culminates in the surprise death of the character Carl King (played by Tom Lister).[116][117]
17	ITV's This Morning launches an investigation amid fears it was the victim of a hoax over a story about a celebrity sperm bank on the previous day's edition of the show.[118] The following day ITV apologises to viewers who were misled by the item.[119]
22	The BBC schedules a special edition of Panorama as it attempts to limit the damage done by allegations of sexual abuse by Jimmy Savile during his years with the broadcaster.[120]
	Peter Rippon, the Newsnight editor responsible for dropping an investigation into allegations against Jimmy Savile steps aside from his role with immediate effect.[121][122]
	Jeff Ford, one of the few executives to stay with Channel 5 following its 2010 acquisition by Richard Desmond, is to step down from the role on 1 December, it is confirmed.[123]
23	After 32 years, Pages from Ceefax is shown for the last time during downtime on BBC Two. To mark the occasion the last broadcast is introduced by the symbol the channel was using 32 years earlier, older music is played and a final special image is shown thanking viewers for watching. The Plain English Campaign gives the service a lifetime achievement award for its "clarity" and use of "everyday words".[124]
	Northern Ireland becomes the final part of the United Kingdom to complete the switchover from analogue to digital television when the analogue signal is switched off at 11.30 pm.[125]
26	Writing in The Guardian, Pointless co-presenter Richard Osman names what he believes to be four of UK TV's worst ever gameshows–24 Hour Quiz, Red or Black, Petrolheads and Shafted.[126]
29	ITV releases a new version of its ITV Player service, enabling it to charge for some online content. The traditional 30-day catch-up service remains free, but viewers can watch the same programmes without adverts for a small payment.[127]

November

Date	Event
2	The BBC confirms it will air no further episodes of Top of the Pops featuring Jimmy Savile.[128]
6	Conservative MP Nadine Dorries is suspended from the party after her decision to appear on the reality television series I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.[129]
9	ITV faces an investigation by the media regulator Ofcom after This Morning presenter Philip Schofield handed Prime Minister David Cameron an internet-generated list of suspects in a child abuse case involving a care home during a live interview on the previous day's edition of the programme, and asked him to comment.[130]
	The BBC issues an apology after a key witness in a Newsnight report aired on 2 November wrongly identified a senior politician as a paedophile.[131]
	Have I Got News for You marks the tenth anniversary of its first guest presenter following the departure of Angus Deayton.[132]
10	George Entwistle steps down as BBC Director-General following the Newsnight child abuse broadcast controversy.[133] His reign of 54 days is the shortest in the Corporation's history.[134]
11	Tim Davie, BBC head of audio and music becomes Acting Director-General following George Entwistle's resignation.[135]
12	Helen Boaden, the BBC's Director of News, and her deputy Steve Mitchell relinquish their roles in the wake of the Newsnight crisis.[136] Fran Unsworth, head of newsgathering, and Ceri Thomas, the editor of Radio 4's Today are named Acting Director and Deputy Director of News respectively.[137]
13	Ben Frow, the current Director of Content at Irish commercial broadcaster TV3, is hired by Channel 5 to replace Jeff Ford as Director of Programmes, and will take up the position in February 2013.[138]
19	ITV airs the 8000th episode of Coronation Street.
22	The BBC appoints Tony Hall as its new Director-General. He is expected to start in the role in early March 2013.[139]
23	Tom Barlow-Kay wins the 2012 series of Junior MasterChef.[140]
30	At the age of 90, Baroness Trumpington becomes the oldest guest panelist to appear on Have I Got News for You.[141][142]

December

Date	Event
1	Actress Charlie Brooks wins the twelfth series of I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!.[143]
3	Sky News, Challenge TV and Pick TV are launched on Freesat.[144]
	The BBC announce plans for a screen adaptation of The Casual Vacancy, the first novel for adults by J. K. Rowling.[145] A script for a three-part series is subsequently written by Sarah Phelps, with the BBC producing the project with HBO, and filming set to begin in Summer 2014.[146]
	The BBC signs a new four-year contract to air the National Lottery Draw, but will no longer screen the Wednesday and Friday night draws from January 2013. From then, programmes for the Saturday evening draw will be moved to a new purpose-built studio at Pinewood, while results updates will be given on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.[147]
4	The BBC announces a revamp of its Red Button service to make it compatible with internet-connected televisions.[148]
5	As part of his Autumn Statement Chancellor George Osborne confirms a TV tax credit of 25% for high end UK TV productions, to be implemented from April 2013.[149]
9	James Arthur wins the ninth series of The X Factor.[150]
12	Actor and comedian Angus Deayton will join the cast of BBC school drama, Waterloo Road from 2013, it is confirmed.[151]
16	Cyclist Bradley Wiggins is named this year#s BBC Sports Personality of the Year.[152]
18	At the High Court of England and Wales the BBC and ITV apologise to Lord McAlpine for "disastrously" and falsely linking him to allegations of child sex abuse.[153]
19	The Pollard report into practices at the BBC is published, and finds there was a "complete inability" to deal with the Jimmy Savile crisis.[154] Despite being criticised, the BBC Director of News Helen Boaden will return to her post in the wake of the report's publication, but her Deputy, Stephen Mitchell resigns. Peter Rippon is moved aside from his Newsnight post, with the programme having a new senior editorial team. Controller of BBC Radio Five Live Adrian Van Klaveren also resigns.[155][156]
20	Ashleigh Porter-Exley wins the third series of Young Apprentice.[157]
21	After 27 years, CBBC airs on BBC One for the last time. All of the children's programmes would become exclusive to their dedicated channels, CBBC and CBeebies.[158]
22	Olympic gymnast Louis Smith and professional partner Flavia Cacace win the tenth series of Strictly Come Dancing.[159]
25	The annual Royal Christmas Message is broadcast in 3D for the first time.[160]
	EastEnders is the most watched programme of the day with 9.4 million viewers, with Coronation Street second on 8.8 million. Other highlights are The Queen's Speech (8.3 million), Strictly Come Dancing (7.8 million) and The Royle Family (7.7 million).[161]
26	Jenni Falconer presents the National Lottery Wednesday Night Draw, which airs on BBC One for the last time.[162]
28	Matt Johnson presents the National Lottery Friday Night Draw, which airs on BBC One for the final time.[163]

Debuts

BBC Television Services

Date	Debut	Channel
4 January	Public Enemies	BBC One
10 January	The Mystery of Edwin Drood	BBC Two
13 January	4 O'Clock Club	CBBC
15 January	Sunday Politics	BBC One
	Call the Midwife
22 January	Birdsong
23 January	The Estate
30 January	Protecting Our Children
31 January	Prisoners' Wives
2 February	Inside Men
	Death Unexplained
6 February	Jedward's Big Adventure	CBBC
	The Diamond Queen	BBC One
7 February	Death Unexplained
8 February	Kevin Bridges: What's the Story?
20 February	The Tube	BBC Two
	Watson & Oliver
23 February	Pramface	BBC Three
24 February	Melvyn Bragg on Class and Culture	BBC Two
25 February	Pop Life
27 February	Empire	BBC One
7 March	Venice 24/7	BBC Four
8 March	The Sarah Millican Television Programme	BBC Two
	White Heat
12 March	Breakaway	BBC One
	The Lingo Show	CBeebies
17 March	How God Made the English	BBC Two
19 March	The Sheriffs Are Coming	BBC One
24 March	The Voice UK
26 March	One Night
	World Series of Dating	BBC Three
	Secrets and Words	BBC One
27 March	The Syndicate
2 April	Our Crime
10 April	The Matt Lucas Awards
16 April	The 70s	BBC Two
17 April	Meet the Romans with Mary Beard
24 April	Britain Unzipped	BBC Three
6 May	Planet Earth Live	BBC One
14 May	Chatsworth
25 May	The Great British Story: A People's History	BBC Two
28 May	Afghanistan: The Great Game – A Personal View by Rory Stewart
31 May	Britain's Lost Routes with Griff Rhys Jones	BBC One
14 June	Dead Boss	BBC Three
17 June	True Love	BBC One
26 June	Line of Duty	BBC Two
9 July	Volcano Live
5 August	Exploring China: A Culinary Adventure
14 August	Bad Education	BBC Three
24 August	Parade's End	BBC One
25 September	The Paradise
15 October	Claimed and Shamed
18 October	Hebburn[164]	BBC Two
18 November	The Secret of Crickley Hall	BBC One
3 December	Inside Claridge's	BBC Two
26 December	The Girl
30 December	Ripper Street	BBC One

ITV

Date	Debut	Channel
1 January	My Phone Genie	CITV
2 January	Endeavour	ITV
6 January	Eternal Law
7 January	The Talent Show Story
10 January	The Exit List
15 March	Love Life
25 March	Titanic[36]
7 April	Keith Lemon's Lemonaid
14 April	Saturday Cookbook
17 May	The Exclusives	ITV2
2 June	You Cannot Be Serious	ITV
10 June	Mark Wright's Hollywood Nights	ITV2
30 June	Mad Mad World	ITV
2 July	Tipping Point
5 July	Let's Get Gold
7 July	Superstar
2 August	Lemon La Vida Loca	ITV2
13 August	Ruth Rendell's Thirteen Steps Down	ITV
20 August	Don't Blow the Inheritance
1 September	Fool Britannia
3 September	Paul O'Grady: For the Love of Dogs
4 September	A Mother's Son
5 September	Mrs Biggs
9 September	The Scapegoat
25 September	The Martin Lewis Money Show
27 September	Homefront
15 October	Switch	ITV2
26 November	Britain's Best Bakery	ITV
26 December	That Dog Can Dance

Channel 4

Date	Debut	Channel
2 January	The Bank Job	Channel 4
26 January	Noel Fielding's Luxury Comedy	E4
9 February	MotherTruckers	Channel 4
15 February	Daddy Daycare
17 February	The Mad Bad Ad Show
1 March	Make Bradford British
	Our Man in...
14 March	Sri Lanka's Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished
20 March	Hit the Road Jack
25 March	Sunday Brunch
3 April	The Undateables[165]
24 April	Hidden Talent
27 April	Very Important People
3 May	The Hoarder Next Door
16 May	Secret Eaters
19 May	Extreme A&E
21 May	Love Shaft	E4
	Gok Cooks Chinese	Channel 4
11 June	Secret Removers
26 June	Gordon Behind Bars
6 July	The Midnight Beast	E4
26 July	The Churchills	Channel 4
30 August	The Last Leg
15 September	Comedy World Cup
7 November	Secret State
12 November	1001 Things You Should Know
	Full English

Channel 5

Date	Debut	Channel
6 January	World's Toughest Trucker	Channel 5
9 January	When Paddy Met Sally
12 June	Killers Behind Bars: The Untold Story

Other channels

Date	Debut	Channel
1 January	Treasure Island	Sky 1
2 January	The Love Machine	Sky Living
	Obese: A Year to Save My Life	Sky 1
6 January	Stella
16 January	Gadget Geeks
29 January	Ashley Banjo's Secret Street Crew
27 February	Cleverdicks	Sky Atlantic
9 March	The F1 Show	Sky Sports F1
	F1 Legends
11 March	The Love Machine	Sky Living
18 March	Don't Stop Me Now	Sky 1
2 April	Morgan Spurlock's New Britannia	Sky Atlantic
16 April	Dara Ó Briain: School of Hard Sums	Dave
13 May	Starlings	Sky 1
22 May	Hit & Miss	Sky Atlantic
26 May	Kingdom of Plants 3D	Sky 3D
25 June	Alan Partridge: Welcome to the Places of My Life	Sky Atlantic
6 July	Parents	Sky 1
8 July	Sinbad
26 August	A Touch of Cloth
6 September	The British	Sky Atlantic
10 September	Ronna and Beverley
14 September	Moone Boy	Sky 1

Olympics

See main article, 2012 Summer Olympic Games

Channels

New channels

Date	Channel
13 February	MTV HD
9 March	Sky Sports F1
	Sky Sports F1 HD
26 March	More4 +2
16 April	Trace Sports
23 April	MTV Live
3 May	Sony Movie Channel
	Sony Movie Channel +1
30 May	BuzMuzik
3 July	Alibi HD
	Heat
4 July	4seven[166]
25 July	BBC Olympics 1–24
	BBC Olympics 1–24 HD
	British Eurosport HD
30 August	C4 Para 1–3
	C4 Para 1–3 HD
3 September	British Eurosport 2 HD
4 September	TCM HD
20 September	Sky Atlantic +1
2 October	Nick Jr. +1
5 October	Sky Movies 007 HD
12 October	Heart TV[167]
	Capital TV[167]

Defunct channels

Date	Channel
5 January	NME TV
14 February	Diva TV
21 February	Sky Living Loves
11 March	Current TV
16 April	Channel M[168]
3 May	Movies4Men 2
	Movies4Men 2 +1
26 June	More4 +2
3 July	Bio. HD
	Q
13 August	BBC Olympics 1–24
	BBC Olympics 1–24 HD
10 September	C4 Para 1–3
	C4 Para 1–3 HD
2 October	Nicktoons Replay

Rebranded channels

Date	Old Name	New Name
1 March	Sky Sports HD 1	Sky Sports 1 HD
	Sky Sports HD 2	Sky Sports 2 HD
	Sky Sports HD 3	Sky Sports 3 HD
	Sky Sports HD 4	Sky Sports 4 HD
23 April	MTVNHD	MTV Live HD
1 July	Sky Movies Showcase	Sky Movies Summer
	Sky Movies Showcase HD	Sky Movies Summer HD
26 August	Sky Movies Summer	Sky Movies Showcase
	Sky Movies Summer HD	Sky Movies Showcase HD
2 October	Nickelodeon Replay	Nickelodeon +1
5 October	Sky Movies Showcase	Sky Movies 007
	Sky Movies Showcase HD	Sky Movies 007 HD
5 November	Sky Movies 007	Sky Movies Showcase
	Sky Movies 007 HD	Sky Movies Showcase HD

Changes of network affiliation

Show	Moved from	Moved to
Fifth Gear	Channel 5	Discovery Channel
Match of the Day 2	BBC Two	BBC One
Mount Pleasant	Sky1	Sky Living

Television shows

Returning this year after a break of one year or longer

Programme	Date(s) of original removal	Original channel(s)	Date of return	New channel(s)
Room 101	9 February 2007	BBC Two	20 January 2012	BBC One
Blockbusters	4 June 1993 30 September 1994 28 August 1997 23 March 2001	ITV Sky1 BBC Two Sky1	14 May 2012	Challenge
All Star Mr & Mrs	2 July 1999 4 April 2010	ITV	5 September 2012	N/A (Same channel as original)
Surprise Surprise	26 December 2001		21 October 2012

1920s

Programme	Date
BBC Wimbledon	(1927–present)

1950s

Programme	Date
Panorama	(1953–present)
The Sky at Night	(1957–present)
Blue Peter	(1958–present)

1960s

Programme	Date
Coronation Street	(1960–present)
Points of View	(1961–present)
Songs of Praise	(1961–present)
University Challenge	(1962–1987, 1994–present)
Doctor Who	(1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present)
Top of the Pops	(1964–present)
Match of the Day	(1964–present)
The Money Programme	(1966–present)

1970s

Programme	Date
A Question of Sport	(1970–present)
Upstairs, Downstairs	(1971–1975, 2010–2012)
Emmerdale	(1972–present)
Mastermind	(1972–present)
Newsround	(1972–present)
Arena	(1975–present)
One Man and His Dog	(1976–present)
Top Gear	(1977–2001, 2002–present)
Antiques Roadshow	(1979–present)
Question Time	(1979–present)

1980s

Programme	Date
Family Fortunes	(1980–1985, 1987–2002, 2006–present)
Children in Need	(1980–present)
Timewatch	(1982–present)
Channel 4 Racing	(1984–2016)
Thomas and Friends	(1984–present)
EastEnders	(1985–present)
Comic Relief	(1985–present)
Casualty	(1986–present)
ChuckleVision	(1987–present)
This Morning	(1988–present)
Countryfile	(1988–present)
Red Dwarf	(1988–1999, 2009–present)
The Simpsons	(1989–present)

1990s

Programme	Date
Have I Got News for You	(1990–present)
MasterChef	(1990–2001, 2005–present)
BBC World News	(1991–present)
Absolutely Fabulous	(1992–1996, 2001–2004, 2011–present)
Junior MasterChef	(1994, 2010–present)
Room 101	(1994–2007, 2012–present)
Time Team	(1994–2013)
The National Lottery Draws	(1994–2017)
Hollyoaks	(1995–present)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks	(1996–2015)
Silent Witness	(1996–present)
Midsomer Murders	(1997–present)
Teletubbies	(1997–2012)
Y Clwb Rygbi, Wales	(1997–present)
Bob the Builder	(1998–present)
Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?	(1998–present)
Bremner, Bird and Fortune	(1999–present)
Holby City	(1999–present)
Tweenies	(1999–present)

2000s

Programme	Date
2000
Big Brother	(2000–present)
Bargain Hunt	(2000–present)
BBC Breakfast	(2000–present)
Click	(2000–present)
Doctors	(2000–present)
A Place in the Sun	(2000–present)
Shipwrecked	(2000–2002, 2006–2009, 2011–2012)
The Unforgettable	(2000–present)
Unreported World	(2000–present)
2001
Celebrity Big Brother UK	(2001–present)
BBC South East Today	(2001–present)
Football Focus	(2001–present)
Real Crime	(2001–present)
Rogue Traders	(2001–present)
Property Ladder	(2001–present)
2002
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!	(2002–present)
Cash in the Attic	(2002–2012)
Escape to the Country	(2002–present)
Fifth Gear	(2002–present)
Flog It!	(2002–present)
Foyle's War	(2002–2015)
High Hopes	(2002–present)
I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!	(2002–present)
In It to Win It	(2002–2016)
Inside Out	(2002–present)
Outtake TV	(2002–present)
River City	(2002–present)
Saturday Kitchen	(2002–present)
Serious	(2002–present)
Sport Relief	(2002–present)
The Story Makers	(2002–present)
Tikkabilla	(2002–present)
2003
Daily Politics	(2003–present)
QI	(2003–present)
Peep Show	(2003–2015)
This Week	(2003–present)
Celebrity Mastermind	(2003–present)
Eggheads	(2003–present)
Extraordinary People	(2003–present)
Grumpy Old Men	(2003–present)
Homes Under the Hammer	(2003–present)
New Tricks	(2003–2015)
Traffic Cops	(2003–present)
2004
Match of the Day 2	(2004–present)
Shameless	(2004–2013)
Supernanny	(2004–2008, 2010–present)
Strictly Come Dancing	(2004–present)
The X Factor	(2004–present)
10 Years Younger	(2004–present)
60 Minute Makeover	(2004–present)
Agatha Christie's Marple	(2004–2013)
The Big Fat Quiz of the Year	(2004–present)
Car Booty	(2004–present)
The Culture Show	(2004–present)
Doc Martin	(2004–present)
Football First	(2004–present)
Funky Valley	(2004–present)
The Gadget Show	(2004–present)
Haunted Homes	(2004–present)
Jimmy's Farm	(2004–present)
Live at the Apollo	(2004–present)
NewsWatch	(2004–present)
Peppa Pig	(2004–present)
SadlerVision	(2004–present)
Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two	(2004–present)
Who Do You Think You Are?	(2004–present)
2005
Coach Trip	(2005–2006, 2009–2012, 2013–present)
8 out of 10 Cats	(2005–present)
Deal or No Deal	(2005–2016)
The Andrew Marr Show	(2005–present)
The Adventure Show	(2005–present)
The Apprentice	(2005–present)
The Biggest Loser	(2005–present)
Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model	(2005–2013)
Dragons' Den	(2005–present)
The F Word	(2005–present)
Fifi and the Flowertots	(2005–present)
The Hotel Inspector	(2005–present)
The Jeremy Kyle Show	(2005–present)
Ladette to Lady	(2005–present)
Missing Live	(2005–present)
Mock the Week	(2005–present)
Springwatch	(2005–present)
The Thick of It	(2005–2012)
Ukwia	(2005–present)
2006
Dancing on Ice	(2006–2014)
Waterloo Road	(2006–2015)
The Album Chart Show	(2006–present)
Animal Spies!	(2006–present)
The Apprentice: You're Fired!	(2006–present)
Banged Up Abroad	(2006–present)
Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe	(2006–present)
Codex	(2006–present)
Cricket AM	(2006–present)
Dickinson's Real Deal	(2006–present)
Don't Get Done, Get Dom	(2006–present)
Freshly Squeezed	(2006–2012)
Ghosthunting With...	(2006–present)
How to Look Good Naked	(2006–present)
The IT Crowd	(2006–2012)
The Large Family	(2006–present)
Lewis	(2006–2015)
Little Princess	(2006–present)
Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies	(2006–present)
Monkey Life	(2006–present)
Most Annoying People	(2006–present)
Numberjacks	(2006–2009)
The One Show	(2006–present)
People & Power	(2006–present)
Peschardt's People	(2006–present)
The Real Hustle	(2006–present)
Secret Millionaire	(2006–present)
The Slammer	(2006–2015)
Soccer Aid	(2006–present)
Something for the Weekend	(2006–2012)
Waterloo Road	(2006–2015)
Wild at Heart	(2006–2012)
2007
Britain's Got Talent	(2007–present)
Outnumbered	(2007–2014)
Skins	(2007–2013)
Trapped	(2007–present)
Would I Lie to You?	(2007–present)
The Alan Titchmarsh Show	(2007–2014)
Benidorm	(2007–present)
The Big Questions	(2007–present)
Britain's Best Dish	(2007–present)
Diddy Dick and Dom	(2007–present)
Don't Tell the Bride	(2007–present)
Embarrassing Bodies	(2007–present)
Escape from Scorpion Island	(2007–present)
Game60	(2007–present)
The Graham Norton Show	(2007–present)
Harry & Paul	(2007–present)
Heir Hunters	(2007–present)
Helicopter Heroes	(2007–present)
Inside Sport	(2007–present)
Inspector George Gently	(2007–present)
An Island Parish	(2007–present)
Jeff Randall Live	(2007–present)
London Ink	(2007–present)
Mary Queen of Shops	(2007–present)
Mister Maker	(2007–present)
Postcode Challenge	(2007–present)
Primeval	(2007–2011)
Rapal	(2007–present)
The Real MacKay	(2007–present)
Real Rescues	(2007–present)
2008
An Là	(2008–present)
Are You an Egghead?	(2008–present)
Argumental	(2008–present)
Basil's Swap Shop	(2008–present)
Being Human	(2008–2013)
Big & Small	(2008–present)
Bizarre ER	(2008–present)
CCTV Cities	(2008–present)
Celebrity Juice	(2008–present)
Chinese Food Made Easy	(2008–present)
Chop Socky Chooks	(2008–present)
Chuggington	(2008–present)
Country House Rescue	(2008–present)
Dani's House	(2008–present)
The Family	(2008–present)
Famous 5: On the Case	(2008–present)
Gimme a Break	(2008–present)
The Hot Desk	(2008–present)
House Guest	(2008–present)
It Pays to Watch!	(2008–present)
Kerwhizz	(2008–2009, 2011–present)
The Live Desk	(2008–present)
Marvo the Wonder Chicken	(2008–present)
Merlin	(2008–2012)
Nightwatch with Steve Scott	(2008–present)
Only Connect	(2008–present)
Police Interceptors	(2008–present)
Richard Hammond's Engineering Connections	(2008–present)
Rubbernecker	(2008–present)
Rude Tube	(2008–present)
Seachd Là	(2008–present)
Sesame Tree	(2008–2013)
Snog Marry Avoid?	(2008–2013)
Supersize vs Superskinny	(2008–2014)
The Supersizers...	(2008–present)
UK Border Force	(2008–present)
Unbreakable	(2008–present)
Wallander	(2008–2016)
The World's Strictest Parents	(2008–present)
2009
The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson	(2009–present)
Miranda	(2009–2015)
PhoneShop	(2009–2013)
Pointless	(2009–present)
Russell Howard's Good News	(2009–2015)
Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps	(2009–present)
The Chase	(2009–present)
The Cube	(2009–2015)
Alan Carr: Chatty Man	(2009–2016)
Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps	(2009–present)
Bang Goes the Theory	(2009–2014)
Bookaboo	(2009–present)
Cast Offs	(2009–present)
Chris Moyles' Quiz Night	(2009–present)
Copycats	(2009–present)
Countrywise	(2009–present)
Cowboy Trap	(2009–present)
Crash	(2009–present)
Dating in the Dark	(2009–present)
Don't Get Screwed	(2009–present)
Ed and Oucho's Excellent Inventions	(2009–present)
Fern Britton Meets...	(2009–present)
Film Xtra	(2009–present)
The Football League Show	(2009–2015)
Four Weddings	(2009–present)
Grow Your Own Drugs	(2009–present)
Heston's Feasts	(2009–present)
Horrible Histories	(2009–present)
The Hour	(2009–present)
How the Other Half Live	(2009–present)
I Can Cook	(2009–present)
The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson	(2009–present)
Inside Nature's Giants	(2009–present)
Katie	(2009–present)
Land Girls	(2009–present)
Piers Morgan's Life Stories	(2009–present)
Peter Andre: The Next Chapter	(2009–2013)
Rip Off Britain	(2009–present)

2010s

Programme	Date
2010
Accused	(2010–2012)
Celebrity Coach Trip	(2010–2012)
Come Fly with Me	(2010–present)
Dave's One Night Stand	(2010–2012)
Daybreak	(2010–2014)
DCI Banks	(2010–2016)
Dirty Sexy Funny	(2010–present)
Downton Abbey	(2010–2015)
Eddie Stobart: Trucks & Trailers	(2010–2014)
Facejacker	(2010–2012)
Frank Skinner's Opinionated	(2010–present)
Grandma's House	(2010–2012)
The Great British Bake Off	(2010–present)
Great British Railway Journeys	(2010–present)
Him & Her	(2010–2013)
An Idiot Abroad	(2010–2012)
ITV Breakfast	(2010–present)
James May's Man Lab	(2010–2013)
Junior Apprentice	(2010–present)
Junior Doctors: Your Life in Their Hands	(2011–2013)
Lip Service	(2010–2012)
Late Kick Off	(2010–present)
A League of Their Own	(2010–present)
Lee Nelson's Well Good Show	(2010–present)
Little Crackers	(2010–present)
Lorraine	(2010–present)
Luther	(2010–present)
The Million Pound Drop	(2010–2015)
The Nightshift	(2010–present)
Odd One In	(2010–present)
The Only Way Is Essex	(2010–present)
Pen Talar	(2010–present)
Pete versus Life	(2010–2011)
Pocket tv	(2010–present)
Rev.	(2010–2014)
The Rob Brydon Show	(2010–2012)
Roger & Val Have Just Got In	(2010–2012)
Scream! If You Know the Answer	(2010–present)
Sherlock	(2010–present)
So You Think You Can Dance	(2010–present)
Stand Up for the Week	(2010–2013)
Stargazing Live	(2010–present)
Strike-back	(2010–present)
STV Sports Centre	(2010–present)
Sunday Morning Live	(2010–present)
Take Me Out	(2010–present)
Tracy Beaker Returns	(2010–2012)
The Trip	(2010–present)
Turn Back Time – The High Street	(2010–present)
The Zone	(2010–present)
2011
All Over the Place	(2011–present)
Bedlam	(2011–2012)
Episodes	(2011–2017)
Four Rooms	(2011–present)
Fresh Meat	(2011–2016)
Friday Night Dinner	(2011–present)
Home for the Holidays	(2011–present)
Junior Bake Off	(2011–present)
Junior Doctors: Your Life in Their Hands	(2011–present)
King Of...	(2011–present)
Made in Chelsea	(2011–present)
Match of the Day Kickabout	(2011–present)
Mad Dogs	(2011–present)
Monroe	(2011–2012)
Perfection	(2011–2015)
Red or Black?	(2011–2012)
Ross Kemp: Extreme World	(2011–2017)
Sadie J	(2011–2013)
Scott & Bailey	(2011–2016)
The Sparticle Mystery	(2011–2015)
Sun, Sex and Suspicious Parents	(2011–present)
Text Santa	(2011–2015)
The Jonathan Ross Show	(2011–present)
Vera	(2011–present)
White Van Man	(2011–2012)
2012
The Bank Job	(2012–present)
Endeavour	(2012–present)
Call the Midwife	(2012–present)
Derek	(2012–2014)
Inside Men	(2012–present)
Prisoners' Wives	(2012–present)
Pramface	(2012–2014)
Stella	(2012–present)
Take Me Out - The Gossip	(2012–present)
The Exit List	(2012)
The Voice UK	(2012–present)
Tipping Point	(2012–2017)

Ending this year

Date(s)	Programme	Channel(s)	Debut(s)
2 January	Treasure Island	Sky 1	2012
6 January	Public Enemies	BBC One
16 January	When Paddy Met Sally	Channel 5
27 January	Celebrity Coach Trip	Channel 4	2010
29 January	Shipwrecked	E4	2000, 2006 & 2011
9 February	Eternal Law	ITV	2012
17 February	Hustle	BBC One	2004
28 February	The Exit List	ITV	2012
9 March	Coach Trip	Channel 4 & More4	2005 & 2009
18 March	Something for the Weekend	BBC Two	2006
19 March	Dirk Gently	BBC Four	2010
23 March	Tracy Beaker Returns	CBBC
24 March & 7 April	Harry Hill's TV Burp	ITV	2002
25 March	Upstairs Downstairs	ITV & BBC One	1971 & 2010
29 March	White Van Man	BBC Three	2011
31 March	The Weakest Link	BBC One & BBC Two	2000
	Dani's House	CBBC	2008
6 April	Cleverdicks	Sky Atlantic	2012
12 April	White Heat	BBC Two
15 April	Titanic	ITV
1 May	Facejacker	Channel 4	2010
1 June	Very Important People		2012
13 July	The Ricky Gervais Show	E4	2010
3 August	Parents	Sky 1	2012
4 August	It's Me or the Dog	Channel 4, More4 & Pick TV	2005
20 August	Ruth Rendell's Thirteen Steps Down	ITV	2012
5 September	A Mother's Son
7 September	Supernanny	Channel 4 & E4	2004 & 2010
18 September	The Rob Brydon Show	BBC Two	2010
21 September	In with the Flynns	BBC One	2011
23 September	Sinbad	Sky 1	2012
3 October	Mrs Biggs	ITV
13 October	Total Wipeout[169]	BBC One	2009
22 October	Pages from Ceefax	BBC Two	1974
27 October	The Thick of It	BBC Four & BBC Two	2005
1 November	Homefront	ITV	2012
19 November	Switch	ITV2
22 November	Hunted	BBC One
23 November	Me and Mrs Jones
28 November	Secret State	Channel 4
2 December	The Secret of Crickley Hall	BBC One
13 December	The Hour	BBC Two	2011
21 December	An Idiot Abroad	Sky 1	2010
	Freshly Squeezed	Channel 4	2006
	CBBC on BBC One	BBC One	1985
24 December	Merlin		2008
25 December	The Royle Family	BBC Two & BBC One	1998 & 2006
30 December	T4	Channel 4 & E4	1998
	Wild at Heart	ITV	2006

Deaths

Date	Name	Age	Broadcast credibility
3 January	Jenny Tomasin[170]	73	Actress (Upstairs, Downstairs, Emmerdale)
4 January	Kerry McGregor[171]	37	Singer-songwriter and actress
6 January	Bob Holness[172]	83	Game show host (Take a Letter, Blockbusters, Raise the Roof, Call My Bluff)
10 January	Lila Kaye	82	Actress
22 January	Sarah Cullen[173]	62	Television and radio journalist (ITN News)
26 January	Ian Abercrombie[174]	77	Actor (Seinfeld, Army of Darkness, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Wizards of Waverly Place)
	Colin Tarrant[175]	59	Actor (The Bill)
12 February	David Kelly[176]	82	Actor (Me Mammy, The Italian Job, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fawlty Towers)
15 February	James Whitaker[177]	71	Journalist, specialising in the British royal family
22 February	Frank Carson[178]	85	Comedian
1 March	Gemma McCluskie[179]	29	Actress (EastEnders)
5 March	Philip Madoc[180][181]	77	Actor (Dad's Army, Doctor Who, The Life and Times of David Lloyd George)
3 May	Charlotte Mitchell[182]	85	Actress (The Adventures of Black Beauty, ...And Mother Makes Five)
17 May	Colin McIntyre[183]		Founding editor of the BBC's Ceefax teletext service
5 June	Caroline John[184]	71	Actress (Doctor Who)
17 June	Brian Hibbard	65	Actor, singer (Coronation Street, Emmerdale)
4 July	Eric Sykes[185]	89	Comedian (Sykes)
20 July	Alastair Burnet[186]	84	Journalist and broadcaster (News at Ten)
	Simon Ward[187]	70	Actor and Stage.
21 July	Angharad Rees[188]	68	Actress (Poldark).
26 July	Mary Tamm[189]	62	Actress (Doctor Who).
27 July	Geoffrey Hughes[190]	68	Actor (Coronation Street, Keeping Up Appearances, The Royle Family, Heartbeat)
11 August	Sid Waddell[191]	72	Sports commentator and television personality
31 August	Max Bygraves[192][193]	89	Comedian, singer, actor and variety performer (Crackerjack, Family Fortunes)
6 September	Terry Nutkins[194]	66	British TV presenter and naturalist
22 September	Mike Baker	55	BBC journalist
27 September	Herbert Lom[195]	95	Actor (The Pink Panther, Spartacus, Gambit, The Ladykillers)
22 October	Mike Morris	66	British TV presenter and journalist
6 November	Clive Dunn	92	Actor and entertainer (Dad's Army)
9 November	Bill Tarmey[196]	71	Actor (Coronation Street)
9 December	Patrick Moore[197]	89	Astronomer and broadcaster (The Sky at Night)
14 December	Kenneth Kendall[198]	88	BBC's first in-vision newserader
21 December	Daphne Oxenford[199]	93	Radio presenter and actress (Listen with Mother, Coronation Street)
26 December	Gerry Anderson[200]	83	Producer, Writer and Director (Thunderbirds, Stingray, Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, Joe 90, Space: 1999)
29 December	Tony Greig[201]	66	Former England Cricket Captain and sports commentator

See also

• 2012 in British music
• 2012 in British radio
• 2012 in the United Kingdom
• List of British films of 2012

References