1975 in British television

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This is a list of British television related events from 1975.

Events[]

January[]

• 2 January – Police drama series The Sweeney premieres on ITV.
• 6 January – Due to financial cutbacks at the BBC, BBC1 scales back its weekday early afternoon programming. Consequently, apart from schools programmes, adult education and live sport, the channel now shows a trade test transmission between 2 pm and the start of children's programmes, and when not broadcasting actual programmes, BBC2 begins fully closing down on weekdays between 11.30 am and 4 pm.
• 22 January–26 February – Drama series The Love School, about the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, is shown on BBC2.

February[]

• No events.

March[]

• 14 March – After less than two years on air, The Bristol Channel closes.^[1]
• 24 March – Wellingborough Cablevision closes.^[2]

April[]

• 1 April – Premier of Edward the Seventh, a drama series, made by ATV in 13 one-hour episodes, and based on the biography of Edward VII by Philip Magnus.
• 3 April – Meg Richardson (Noele Gordon) marries Hugh Mortimer (John Bentley) on the soap opera Crossroads.
• 4 April – Sitcom The Good Life premieres on BBC1.

May[]

• 31 May – Jim'll Fix It makes its debut on BBC1.

June[]

• 11 June – A pilot of sitcom The Melting Pot, written by (and starring) Spike Milligan (with Neil Shand), is broadcast on BBC2. The following year, a full series of six episodes is recorded, but never broadcast.

July[]

• 14 July – New Broadcasting House (Manchester) starts broadcasting programming for BBC North West. It becomes fully operational by September.

August[]

• No events.

September[]

• 19 September – BFBS Television broadcasts for the first time, in Celle, near Hanover in the (at this time) West Germany, from Trenchard Barracks.^[3] The service consists of taped broadcasts from the BBC and ITV, flown to Germany from London, which are then rebroadcast using low-power UHF transmitters.^[4]
• 19 September – The comedy series Fawlty Towers debuts on BBC2.
• 25 September – Yorkshire Television premieres Animal Kwackers, the British version of the American television series The Banana Splits Adventure Hour (which ended almost six years earlier) but shorter and very different from the American version. It goes on to air for 3 series.

October[]

• 28 October – A James Bond film is shown on British television for the first time, Dr. No on ITV.^[5]

November[]

• No events.

December[]

• 9 December – 15th anniversary of the first episode of Coronation Street.
• 17 December –
  • The Thames Television film The Naked Civil Servant, based on Quentin Crisp's memoirs is aired on British television. The film stars John Hurt in the title role.
  • The final episode of Till Death Us Do Part is aired on BBC1.
• 25 December – BBC1 airs the British television premiere of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid starring Robert Redford and Paul Newman as part of the Christmas Day highlights.

Debuts[]

BBC1[]

• 1 January – The Secret Garden (1975)
• 5 January – Paddington (1975–1986)
• 6 January –
  • Philbert Frog (1975)
  • Public Account (1975–1978)
  • The Changes (1975)
• 7 January – The Venturers (1975)
• 26 January – Anne of Avonlea (1975)
• 25 February - Little House on the Prairie (TV series) (1974-1983)
• 5 March – (1975)
• 9 March – (1975)
• 17 March – Hong Kong Phooey (1974)
• 4 April – The Good Life (1975–1978)
• 16 April – Survivors (1975–1977)
• 2 May – (1975)
• 31 May – Jim'll Fix It (1975–1994)
• 11 June – The Melting Pot (1975)
• 5 July – Seaside Special (1975–1979)
• 14 July – My Honourable Mrs (1975)
• 27 July – Zot the Dog (1975)
• 9 August – Sportscene (1975–present)
• 26 August – Oil Strike North (1975)
• 27 August – I Didn't Know You Cared (1975–1979)
• 29 August – Quiller (1975)
• 1 September – Angels (1975–1983)
• 2 September – (1975)
• 9 September – Gangsters (1975–1978)
• 11 September – Days of Hope (1975)
• 5 October –
  • Ballet Shoes (1975)
  • Poldark (1975–1977)
  • Little Monsters (1975–1978)
  • Microscopic Milton (1975–1981)
  • Maya the Honey Bee (1975-1976)
• 10 October – Bod (1975)
• 15 October – (1975)
• 18 November – Emu's Broadcasting Company (1975–1980)
• 23 November – The Legend of Robin Hood (1975)
• 25 November – Francis Durbridge Presents: The Doll (1975)
• 4 December – (1975)
• 31 December – (1975)

BBC2[]

• 22 January – (1975)
• 22 January – The Love School (1975)
• 29 March – (1975)
• 2 April – (1975)
• 3 May – (1975)
• 12 May – Rutland Weekend Television (1975–1976)
• 24 May – Looking for Clancy (1975)
• 13 June – (1975)
• 18 June – (1975)
• 19 September – Fawlty Towers (1975, 1979)
• 22 September – Madame Bovary (1975)
• 25 September – (1975)
• 26 September – (1975)
• 1 October – Arena (1975–present)
• 21 November – Trinity Tales (1975)
• 26 November – Moll Flanders (1975)
• 1 December – (1975)
• 21 December – (1975–1977)
• 29 December – How Green Was My Valley (1975–1976)

ITV[]

• 2 January – The Sweeney (1975–1978)
• 4 January – Carry on Laughing (1975)
• 6 January – (1975)
• 10 January – Dog of Flanders (1975)
• 12 January – (1975)
• 14 January – Nightingale's Boys (1975)
• 15 January – (1975)
• 15 February – The Hanged Man (1975)
• 19 March – (1975)
• 24 March – (1975)
• 1 April – Edward the Seventh (1975)
• 7 April – Sky (1975)
• 20 April – Winner Takes All (1975–1988, 1997)
• 21 April – Sadie, It's Cold Outside (1975)
• 24 April – (1975)
• 26 April – Tarbuck and All That! (1975)
• 27 April – Doctor on the Go (1975–1977)
• 7 May – (1975)
• 28 May – (1975–1976)
• 8 June – The Siege of Golden Hill (1975)
• 12 June – Dawson's Weekly (1975)
• 3 July – (1975)
• 13 July – (1975)
• 20 July – Celebrity Squares (1975–1979, 1993–1997, 2014–present)
• 23 July – Down the 'Gate (1975–1976)
• 2 August – The Summer Show (1975)
• 7 August – Comedy Premiere (1975)
• 8 August – (1975)
• 2 September – Runaround (1975–1981, 1985–1986)
• 3 September – Shadows (1975–1978)
• 4 September – Space: 1999 (1975–1978)
• 6 September – Two's Company (1975–1979)
• 7 September – My Brother's Keeper (1975–1976)
• 8 September –
  • (1975–1976)
  • (1975)
• 9 September – Shades of Greene (1975–1976)
• 19 September – (1975–1977)
• 25 September – Animal Kwackers (1975–1978)
• 14 October – (1975–1976)
• 16 October – Get Some In! (1975–1978)
• 27 October – The Cuckoo Waltz (1975–1980)
• 4 November – The Nearly Man (1975)
• 17 December – The Naked Civil Servant (1975)

Television shows[]

Changes of network affiliation[]

Shows	Moved from	Moved to
Ivor the Engine	ITV	BBC One BBC Two

Returning this year after a break of one year or longer[]

• Ivor the Engine (1959, 1975–1977)

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)
• Dixon of Dock Green (1955–1976)
• Crackerjack (1955–1984, 2020–present)
• Opportunity Knocks (1956–1978, 1987–1990)
• This Week (1956–1978, 1986–1992)
• Armchair Theatre (1956–1974)^[6]
• 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)
• 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, 2008–2010, 2012–present)
• Call My Bluff (1965–2005)
• World of Sport (1965–1985)
• Jackanory (1965–1996, 2006–present)
• Sportsnight (1965–1997)
• It's a Knockout (1966–1982, 1999–2001)
• The Money Programme (1966–2010)
• ITV Playhouse (1967–1982)
• Dad's Army (1968–1977)^[7]
• 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)
• Love Thy Neighbour (1972–1976)
• Thunderbirds (1972–1980, 1984-1987)
• Clapperboard (1972–1982)
• Crown Court (1972–1984)
• Pebble Mill at One (1972–1986)
• Are You Being Served? (1972–1985)
• Rainbow (1972–1992, 1994–1997)
• 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)
• Porridge (1974–1977)
• The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club (1974–1977)
• Happy Ever After (1974–1978)
• Rising Damp (1974–1978)
• Within These Walls (1974–1978)
• It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974–1981)
• Tiswas (1974–1982)
• Wish You Were Here...? (1974–2003)

Ending this year[]

• 16 March – The Golden Shot (1967–1975)
• 31 March – Up Pompeii! (1969–1975, 1991–1992)
• 7 April – Public Eye (1965–1975)
• 12 April – My Old Man (1974–1975)
• 31 May - Vicky the Viking (1974-1975)
• 17 June – Captain Pugwash (1957–1975, 1997–2002)
• 23 June – Churchill's People (1974–1975)
• 10 August – Top of the Form (1962–1975)
• 29 August – Not On Your Nellie (1974–1975)
• 6 December – Don't Drink the Water (1974–1975)
• 17 December – Till Death Us Do Part (1965–1975)
• 21 December – Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975, 2010–2012)
• 31 December – Dog of Flanders (1975)

Births[]

• 15 January – Claire Marshall, BBC journalist
• 13 February – Katie Hopkins, reality show contestant and journalist
• 25 February – Naga Munchetty, presenter and journalist
• 3 March – Patricia Potter, actress
• 16 May – Charlotte Hawkins, journalist and newsreader
• 21 May – Ruth Wignall, journalist and broadcaster
• 27 May – Jamie Oliver, chef and television personality
• 29 May – Mel B, singer, actress and television presenter
• 25 June – Sunetra Sarker, actress
• 15 July – Jill Halfpenny, actress
• 17 July – Konnie Huq, television presenter
• 22 July – Hannah Waterman, actress
• 22 August – Sheree Murphy, actress
• 25 August – Sarah Manners, actress
• 25 September – Declan Donnelly, TV presenter and one half of Ant and Dec
• 26 October – Michael Underwood, television presenter
• 18 November – Anthony McPartlin, TV presenter and one half of Ant and Dec
• 11 December – Dawn Steele, actress
• Unknown
  • Jason Mohammad, radio and television presenter
  • Laura Jones, television journalist

Deaths[]

• 23 April – William Hartnell, 67, actor (Doctor Who).
• 18 October – Graham Haberfield, 33, actor (Coronation Street).

See also[]

• 1975 in British music
• 1975 in British radio
• 1975 in the United Kingdom
• List of British films of 1975

References[]