1979 in British television

Overview of the events of 1979 in British television

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This is a list of British television related events from 1979.

Contents

• 
  1 Events
  
  
  
  • 
    1.1 January
    
  
  
  • 
    1.2 February
    
  
  
  • 
    1.3 March
    
  
  
  • 
    1.4 April
    
  
  
  • 
    1.5 May
    
  
  
  • 
    1.6 June
    
  
  
  • 
    1.7 July
    
  
  
  • 
    1.8 August
    
  
  
  • 
    1.9 September
    
  
  
  • 
    1.10 October
    
  
  
  • 
    1.11 November
    
  
  
  • 
    1.12 December
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  2 Debuts
  
  
  
  • 
    2.1 BBC1
    
  
  
  • 
    2.2 BBC2
    
  
  
  • 
    2.3 ITV
    
  
  
  • 
    2.4 BBC Scotland
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  3 Television shows
  
  
  
  • 
    3.1 Changes of network affiliation
    
  
  
  • 
    3.2 Returning this year after a break of one year or longer
    
  
  
  • 
    3.3 1920s
    
  
  
  • 
    3.4 1930s
    
  
  
  • 
    3.5 1940s
    
  
  
  • 
    3.6 1950s
    
  
  
  • 
    3.7 1960s
    
  
  
  • 
    3.8 1970s
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  4 Ending this year
  


• 
  5 Births
  


• 
  6 Deaths
  


• 
  7 See also
  


• 
  8 References
  

Events

January

• 2 January – BBC2 broadcasts the first in Michael Wood's groundbreaking history documentary series, In Search of the Dark Ages.


• 28 January – Thomas & Sarah, a spin-off of Upstairs, Downstairs premieres on LWT. 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.


• 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. 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'.^{[citation needed]}
  

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.


• 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]
  

Debuts

BBC1

• 3 January – The Aphrodite Inheritance (1979)


• 7 January – Telford's Change (1979)


• 18 January – Blankety Blank (1979–1990, BBC1 1997–1999, ITV 2001–2002)


• 18 February – Antiques Roadshow (1979–present)


• 9 June – The Paul Daniels Magic Show (1979–1994)


• 16 July – Jigsaw (1979–1984)


• 6 November – Kick Start (1979–1988)


• 25 October – Question Time (1979–present)


• 30 October –
  
  
  
  • 
    To the Manor Born (1979–1981, 2007)
  
  
  • 
    Shoestring (1979–1980)
  
  
  
  


• 4 November – The All-New Popeye Show (1978–1983)


• 24 November – Terry and June (1979–1987)


• 24 December – What a Mess (Series 1) (1979–1980)

BBC2

• 16 January – Life on Earth (1979)


• 17 January – Rebecca (1979)


• 28 October – Friday Night, Saturday Morning (1979–1982)


• 16 November – Not the Nine O'Clock News (1979–1982)


• 16 November – Monkey (1978–1980)

ITV

• 2 January – Give Us a Clue (1979–1992, ITV 1997, BBC)


• 3 January – The Book Tower (1979–1989)


• 6 January – Dick Turpin (1979–1982)


• 14 January – Thomas & Sarah (1979)


• 2 February – Flambards (1979)


• 25 February – Worzel Gummidge (1979–1981)


• 10 March – Mork & Mindy (1978–1982)


• 11 March – Agony (1979–1981)


• 24 March – Tales of the Unexpected (1979–1985, 1987–1988)


• 15 April – End of Part One (1979–1980)


• 10 July – Sapphire & Steel (1979–1982)


• 12 July – Shelley (1979–1992)


• 27 July – Charles Endell Esquire (1979–1980)


• 28 July – The Cannon and Ball Show (1979–1988)


• 29 October –
  
  
  
  • 
    Only When I Laugh (1979–1982)
  
  
  • 
    Minder (1979–1994, 2009)
  
  
  
  


• 1 December – The Allan Stewart Tapes (1979)


• 23 December – Cribb (1979–1981)

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)

1920s

• 
  BBC Wimbledon (1927–present)

1930s

• 
  BBC Cricket (1939–1999, 2020–2024)

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)


• 
  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, 1994–1995)


• 
  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)


• 
  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)

Births

• 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
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)
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

• 1979 in British music


• 1979 in British radio


• 1979 in the United Kingdom


• List of British films of 1979

References

1. 
   ^ ""Election victory for Margaret Thatcher" BBC On This Day". BBC News. 1979-05-04. Retrieved 24 April 2009..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .citation .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg/12px-Wikisource-logo.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#33aa33;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
   


2. 
   ^ Hastings, David (18 November 2007). "Launch of a Revolution - C4/S4C". Transdiffusion Broadcasting System. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
   


3. 
   ^ ^ab Hancock, Dafydd. "A channel for Wales". EMC Seefour. Transdiffusion Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on 4 March 2009.
   


4. 
   ^ Aylett, Glenn. "Talk of Thames: Strike Out". Transdiffusion Broadcasting System. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
   


5. 
   ^ "Channel 4's 25 year Anniversary" (PDF). Channel 4. 2007. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
   


6. 
   ^ "To the Manor Born – BBC One London – 11 November 1979 – BBC Genome". genome.ch.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
   


7. 
   ^ "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.
   


8. 
   ^ "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.
   


9. 
   ^ "Malcolm Hulke". randomhouse.co.uk. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
   


10. 
    ^ "Did spy writer's disappearance mirror his fiction?", John O'Groat Journal and Caithness Courier, 3 January 2013. Accessed 2 April 2015
    


11. 
    ^ John Parker (ed), Who's Who in the Theatre 15th edition, Pitman Publishing 1972
    

Years in television: 1979
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