1979 in British television
This is a list of British television related events from 1979.
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Events
January
- 2 January – BBC2 broadcasts the first in Michael Wood's groundbreaking history documentary series, In Search of the Dark Ages.
- 18 January – BBC1 broadcasts the first edition of Blankety Blank hosted by Terry Wogan.
- 28 January – Thomas & Sarah, a spin-off of Upstairs, Downstairs premieres on ITV. It runs for only one series.
February
- 25 February – The first episode of the children's television series Worzel Gummidge begins on ITV.
March
- 16 March – Long-running American children's educational television series Sesame Street is shown for the first time on STV.
- 19 March – Richard Beckinsale, best known for The Lovers, Rising Damp, Porridge (including the spin-off Going Straight) and Bloomers, dies of a congenital heart defect at the early age of 31.
- 24 March – Tales of the Unexpected, an Anglia Television series based on the short stories of Roald Dahl, makes its debut on ITV.
April
- No events.
May
- 3–4 May – BBC1 and ITV broadcast coverage of the 1979 General Election. The election is won by the Conservatives and sees Margaret Thatcher become the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.[1] The election sees both the Conservatives and Labour include plans for a fourth channel in their election manifestos. Labour favours an Open Broadcasting Authority community service aimed at minority groups, while the Conservatives plan is for the channel to be given to ITV. However, expresses a preference for a fourth channel to be an independent entity.[2] Both main parties also pledge to launch a separate Welsh language television service for Wales.[3]
June
- June – BBC2 launches the world's first computer-generated ident, the BBC Two 'Computer Generated 2'.
July
- No events.
August
- 6 August – Technicians at Thames Television go on strike following a long-running dispute.[4]
- 10 August – The whole of the ITV network except the Channel Islands is affected by a technicians' strike for eleven weeks.
- 27 August – Lord Mountbatten was murdered by IRA bombers. His death set a record audience for a news bulletin, as 26 million viewers watched the coverage on BBC1. Strike action at ITN led to the record viewing figures.
September
- 2 September – Subtitling of television programmes on Ceefax begins.
- 25 September – Robin Day presents the first edition of the long-running political debate programme Question Time on BBC1. The programme continues to air to the present day.
- September – Home Secretary Willie Whitelaw outlines plans for a fourth channel.[5] However, he backs away from establishing a Welsh language channel for Wales, instead favouring a continuation of the status quo whereby Welsh language content is aired by BBC Wales and HTV.[3]
October
- 24 October – On ITV's first night back on the air after the strike, Quatermass, the fourth and final serial featuring Professor Bernard Quatermass, begins its run on the network. Quatermass was played by John Mills.
- 25 October – The final episode of the comedy series Fawlty Towers is broadcast on BBC2.
- 29 October – ITV debuts its comedy drama series Minder starring George Cole and Dennis Waterman.
November
- 11 November – The last episode of the first series of the sitcom To the Manor Born is broadcast on BBC1.[6] It is watched by 23.95 million viewers, the all-time highest figure for a recorded programme in the UK.[7]
December
- 18 December – BBC1 airs Gawain and the Green Knight, Stephen Weeks' 1973 film starring Murray Head and Nigel Green, and based on the medieval poem of the same name.[8]
Unknown
- The Independent Broadcasting Authority begins broadcasting its own test card on ITV instead of Test Card F.
Debuts
BBC1
- 3 January – The Aphrodite Inheritance (1979)
- 4 December - Anne of Green Gables (1979)
- 5 January – Running Blind (1979)
- 7 January – Telford's Change (1979)
- 17 January – Rebecca (1979)
- 18 January – Blankety Blank (1979–1990, BBC1 1997–1999, ITV 2001–2002)
- 18 February – Antiques Roadshow (1979–present)
- 23 February – The Dawson Watch (1979–1980)
- 1 March – Potter (1979–1983)
- 3 March - The Dukes of Hazzard
- 18 March – My Son, My Son (1979)
- 21 March – The Perishers (1979)
- 17 April – The Mourning Brooch (1979)
- 11 May – Two Up, Two Down (1979)
- 26 May – Goodbye Darling (1979–1981)
- 6 June – The Deep Concern (1979)
- 9 June – The Paul Daniels Magic Show (1979–1994)
- 13 June – The Omega Factor (1979)
- 16 July – Jigsaw (1979–1984)
- 6 August – Kick Start (1979–1988)
- 4 September –
- A Moment in Time (1979)
- Prince Regent (1979)
- 11 September – Rolf Harris Cartoon Time (1979–1987)
- 25 September – Question Time (1979–present)
- 30 September –
- To the Manor Born (1979–1981, 2007)
- Shoestring (1979–1980)
- 3 October – Grandad (1979–1984)
- 4 October – The All-New Popeye Show (1978–1983)
- 7 October – The Legend of King Arthur (1979)
- 12 October – Penmarric (1979)
- 24 October – Terry and June (1979–1987)
- 9 December – The Old Curiosity Shop (1979–1980)
- 23 December – Shalcken the Painter (1979)
- 24 December – What-a-Mess (Series 1) (1979–1980)
BBC2
- 16 January – Life on Earth (1979)
- 17 January – Rebecca (1979)
- 15 March – Malice Aforethought (1979)
- 18 April – Matilda's England (1979)
- 22 May – Crime and Punishment (1979)
- 24 June –
- Big Jim and the Figaro Club (1979–1981)
- Turning Year Tales (1979)
- 2 September – Diary of a Nobody (1979)
- 10 September – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)
- 26 September – The Camerons (1979)
- 27 September – Bloomers (1979)
- 28 October – Friday Night, Saturday Morning (1979–1982)
- 4 November – Testament of Youth (1979)
- 15 November – Kelly Monteith (1979–1984)
- 16 November –
- Not the Nine O'Clock News (1979–1982)
- Monkey (1978–1980)
ITV
- 2 January –
- Give Us a Clue (1979–1992, ITV 1997, BBC)
- Room Service (1979)
- 3 January – The Book Tower (1979–1989)
- 6 January –
- Dick Turpin (1979–1982)
- Dick Barton - Special Agent (1979)
- 8 January –
- The Ken Dodd Laughter Show (1979)
- Feet First (1979)
- Danger UXB (1979)
- 11 January – The Jim Davidson Show (1979–1982)
- 14 January – Thomas & Sarah (1979)
- 17 January – Take My Wife (1979)
- 2 February – Flambards (1979)
- 21 February – Park Ranger (1979)
- 23 February – House of Caradus (1979)
- 25 February – Worzel Gummidge (1979–1981 ITV, 1987–1989, 2019 BBC)
- 27 February – How's Your Father? (1979–1980)
- 10 March – Mork & Mindy (1978–1982)
- 11 March – Agony (1979–1981)
- 24 March – Tales of the Unexpected (1979–1985, 1987–1988)
- 2 April –Chalk and Cheese (1979)
- 7 April –
- Kidnapped (1979)
- Lovely Couple (1979)
- 15 April – End of Part One (1979–1980)
- 23 April –
- The Boy Merlin (1979)
- Turtle's Progress (1979–1980)
- 21 May – In Loving Memory (1979–1986)
- 22 May – Thundercloud (1979)
- 3 June – The Danedyke Mystery (1979)
- 10 June – The Mallens (1979)
- 9 July – Spooner's Patch (1979–1982)
- 10 July – Sapphire & Steel (1979–1982)
- 12 July – Shelley (1979–1984, 1988–1992)
- 27 July
- Charles Endell Esquire (1979–1980)
- Heartland (1979–1980)
- 28 July – The Cannon and Ball Show (1979–1988)
- 29 July –
- Screenplay (1979–1981)
- Tropic (1979)
- 8 August – Border Country (1979)
- 12 August – Sally Ann (1979)
- 24 October – Quatermass (1979)
- 29 October –
- Only When I Laugh (1979–1982)
- Minder (1979–1994, 2009)
- 10 November – Two People (1979)
- 11 November –
- The Glums (1979)
- Quest of Eagles (1979)
- 21 November – The Dick Francis Thriller: The Racing Game (1979)
- 1 December – The Allan Stewart Tapes (1979)
- 23 December – Cribb (1979–1981)
- 31 December – The Ravelled Thread (1979)
BBC Scotland
- 7 October – Can Seo (1979)
Television shows
Changes of network affiliation
| Shows | Moved from | Moved to |
|---|---|---|
| Noggin the Nog | BBC One | BBC Two |
Returning this year after a break of one year or longer
- Fawlty Towers (1975, 1979)
- Noggin the Nog (1959–1970, 1979–1982)
Continuing television shows
1920s
- BBC Wimbledon (1927–1939, 1946–2019, 2021–present)
1930s
- The Boat Race (1938–1939, 1946–2019)
- BBC Cricket (1939, 1946–1999, 2020–2024)
1940s
- Come Dancing (1949–1998)
1950s
- The Good Old Days (1953–1983)
- Panorama (1953–present)
- Crackerjack (1955–1984, 2020–present)
- What the Papers Say (1956–2008)
- The Sky at Night (1957–present)
- Blue Peter (1958–present)
- Grandstand (1958–2007)
1960s
- Coronation Street (1960–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)
- Sportsnight (1965–1997)
- Call My Bluff (1965–2005)
- It's a Knockout (1966–1982, 1999–2001)
- The Money Programme (1966–2010)
- ITV Playhouse (1967–1982)
- Magpie (1968–1980)
- The Big Match (1968–2002)
- Nationwide (1969–1983)
- Screen Test (1969–1984)
1970s
- The Goodies (1970–1982)
- The Onedin Line (1971–1980)
- 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, 1994–1997)
- Are You Being Served? (1972–1985)
- Emmerdale (1972–present)
- Newsround (1972–present)
- Weekend World (1972–1988)
- Pipkins (1973–1981)
- We Are the Champions (1973–1987)
- Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010)
- That's Life! (1973–1994)
- It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974–1981)
- Tiswas (1974–1982)
- Wish You Were Here...? (1974–2003)
- Microscopic Milton (1975–1978)
- The Cuckoo Waltz (1975–1980)
- Arena (1975–present)
- Jim'll Fix It (1975–1994)
- The Muppet Show (1976–1981)
- When the Boat Comes In (1976–1981)
- Multi-Coloured Swap Shop (1976–1982)
- Rentaghost (1976–1984)
- One Man and His Dog (1976–present)
- Robin's Nest (1977–1981)
- You’re Only Young Twice (1977–1981)
- The Professionals (1977–1983)
- Blake's 7 (1978–1981)
- Strangers (1978–1982)
- Butterflies (1978–1983, 2000)
- 3-2-1 (1978–1988)
- Grange Hill (1978–2008)
Ending this year
- 5 January – The Liver Birds (1969–1979, 1996)
- 11 March – Return of the Saint (1978–1979)
- 7 July – Celebrity Squares (1975–1979, 1993–1997, 2014–present)
- 25 October – Fawlty Towers (1975–1979)
- 16 November – Sykes (1972–1979)
- 19 December – General Hospital (1972–1979)
- 25 December – George and Mildred (1976–1979)
Anne of Green Gables (1979)
Births
- 8 January – Tomasz Schafernaker, Polish-born weather presenter
- 23 January – Dawn O'Porter, Scottish fashion designer and journalist
- 27 January – Rosamund Pike, actress
- 2 February – Christine Bleakley, television presenter
- 13 February – Lucy Brown, actress
- 10 March – Laura Rogers, actress
- 20 March – Freema Agyeman, actress
- 12 April – Paul Nicholls, actor
- 29 April – Jo O'Meara, singer, dancer and actress
- 10 May – Lara Lewington, weather and television presenter
- 27 May – Jeff Brazier, television presenter and reality show contestant
- 12 June – Jodie Prenger, actress and singer
- 27 July – Julia Haworth, actress
- 19 November – Katherine Kelly, actress
- 29 November – Simon Amstell, comedian and television presenter
- Unknown – Leanne Lakey, actress
Deaths
| Date | Name | Age | Cinematic Credibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 January | Peter Butterworth | 63 | actor (Carry On, Doctor Who) |
| 28 February | Jane Hylton | 51 | actress (The Adventures of Sir Lancelot) |
| 6 March | John Robinson | 70 | actor (Quatermass II) |
| 19 March | Richard Beckinsale | 31 | actor |
| 24 March | Yvonne Mitchell | 63 | actress (Nineteen Eighty-Four) |
| 30 May | Jack Raine | 82 | actor |
| 4 July | Marjorie Rhodes | 82 | actress |
| 6 July | Malcolm Hulke[9] | 54 | screenwriter (Doctor Who) |
| 7 July | Ian Mackintosh[10] | 39 | TV writer (air crash; disappeared, presumed dead) |
| 24 July | Archie Duncan | 65 | actor (Little John in The Adventures of Robin Hood) |
| 23 August | Richard Hearne | 71 | comic performer ("Mr Pastry") |
| 7 September | Alan Browning | 53 | actor (Coronation Street) |
| 23 September | Catherine Lacey[11] | 75 | actress |
| 20 November | Michael Darbyshire | 62 | actor (Rentaghost) |
| 30 November | Joyce Grenfell | 69 | actress, comedian and singer-songwriter |
See also
References
- ""Election victory for Margaret Thatcher" BBC On This Day". BBC News. 1979-05-04. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
- Hastings, David (18 November 2007). "Launch of a Revolution – C4/S4C". Transdiffusion Broadcasting System. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- Hancock, Dafydd. "A channel for Wales". EMC Seefour. Transdiffusion Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on 4 March 2009.
- Aylett, Glenn. "Talk of Thames: Strike Out". Transdiffusion Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on 2009-08-04. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
- "Channel 4's 25 year Anniversary" (PDF). Channel 4. 2007. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
- "To the Manor Born – BBC One London – 11 November 1979 – BBC Genome". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- "Britain's Most Watched TV – the 1980s". British Film Institute. 2006-09-04. Archived from the original on 2005-11-22. Retrieved 2011-12-23.
- "The Tuesday Film: Gawain and the Green Knight – BBC One London – 18 December 1979 – BBC Genome". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- "Malcolm Hulke". randomhouse.co.uk. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- "Did spy writer's disappearance mirror his fiction?", John O'Groat Journal and Caithness Courier, 3 January 2013. Accessed 2 April 2015
- John Parker (ed), Who's Who in the Theatre 15th edition, Pitman Publishing 1972.
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