1978 in British television

List of years in British television (table)
1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988
Art Archaeology Architecture Literature Music Philosophy Science +...

This is a list of British television related events from 1978.

Events[]

January[]

• 4 January – The first edition of arts magazine The South Bank Show is broadcast, replacing Aquarius.
• 20 January – The first of ITV's occasional An Audience With programmes is aired. The first presenter is Jasper Carrott.
• 27 January – In an interview for Granada Television's World in Action programme, Leader of the Opposition Margaret Thatcher remarks, "people are really rather afraid that this country might be rather swamped by people with a different culture".^[1] Critics regard the comment as a veiled reference to people of colour, thus pandering to xenophobia and reactionary sentiment. However, Thatcher receives 10,000 letters thanking her for raising the subject and the Conservatives gain a lead against Labour in the opinion polls.^[2]

February[]

• 6 February – The BBC broadcasts the inaugural World Darts Championship run by the British Darts Organisation with evening highlights until 10 February.
• 8 February –The first episode of schools drama Grange Hill is broadcast on BBC1.^[3][4]
• 13 February – Anna Ford becomes the first female newscaster on News at Ten.^[5]
• 22 February – The Police appear in a television commercial for Wrigley's chewing gum.
• 24 February – 7 April – The BBC airs Going Straight. The sitcom is a direct spin-off from Porridge, starring Ronnie Barker as Norman Stanley Fletcher, newly released from the fictional Slade Prison where Porridge had been set. The programme airs for one series.

March[]

• 7 March – 11 April – Dennis Potter's groundbreaking drama serial Pennies From Heaven airs on BBC1.

April[]

• 6 April – The four-part drama series Law & Order begins airing on BBC2. Each of the four stories within the series is told from a different perspective, including that of the Detective, the Villain, the Brief and the Prisoner. The series proves to be highly controversial upon its release due to its depiction of a corrupt British law enforcement and legal system.^[6]
• 17 April – The BBC begins broadcasting the World Snooker Championship with daily highlights until the final on 29 April. Previously they only had highlights of the final on Grandstand with slightly further coverage last year.

May[]

• 24 May – The iconic skateboarding duck item first airs on BBC TV's Nationwide.
• 28–29 May – British television debut of Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather, airing as a two-part presentation over two consecutive nights on BBC1.^[7][8]

June[]

• 3 June – Long running US children's educational series Sesame Street starts airing on both ATV and Border.

July[]

• 13 July – The original series of Top Gear begins airing on BBC2 having started as a locally produced programme at BBC Pebble Mill the previous year.

August[]

• No events.

September[]

• 4 September – British television premiere of the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service on ITV.^[9]
• 5 September – Thames Television launches a lunchtime Thames News bulletin presented by Robin Houston. A late evening bulletin to follow News at Ten is also planned for the same day, but union problems lead to its launch being postponed until 1980.
• 10 September – Return of the Saint. The Saint returns with a new actor named Ian Ogilvy and introducing the Jaguar XJ-S to take over the Volvo P1800 from the Saint 1962 TV series. The first episode is The Judas Game.
• 23 September – Larry Grayson succeeds Bruce Forsyth as presenter of The Generation Game.^[10]

October[]

• 17 October – James Burke's history of science series Connections first airs on BBC.

November[]

• 6 November – ITV airs the first episode of Edward & Mrs. Simpson, a seven-part British television series that dramatises the events leading to the 1936 abdication of King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom, who gave up his throne to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson.
• 23 November – 15th anniversary of the first episode of the science-fiction series Doctor Who.
• 27 November – The Times reports that News International will sell 16% of its share in London Weekend Television, reducing its shares from 39.7% to 25%.^[11]
• November – ITV starts broadcasting the ORACLE-teletext based service. It ends on 31 December 1992.

December[]

• 21–22 December – BBC1 and BBC2 are forced off the air due to industrial action at the BBC by the ABS union which starts on Thursday 21 December. On Friday 22 December the radio unions join their BBC Television counterparts, forcing the BBC to merge their four national radio networks into one national radio station, the BBC All Network Radio Service, from 4.00 pm that afternoon. The strike is settled shortly before 10.00 pm on 22 December, with the unions and BBC management reaching an agreement at the British government's industrial disputes arbitration service ACAS. BBC1 resumes broadcast at 3.00 pm on Saturday 23 December, with BBC2 resuming at 1.00 pm the same afternoon. Threat of disruption to the BBC's festive television schedules is averted. BBC Radio networks resume normal schedules on the morning of Saturday 23 December.^{[12][13][14][15]}
• 25 December –
  • BBC1 airs the British television premiere of The Sound of Music.^[16]
  • British television premiere of the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever on ITV.^[9]
• December – A strike forces Yorkshire Television off air throughout the entire Christmas period. Many of ITV's Christmas programmes are eventually shown in early 1979, after the dispute has ended.

Debuts[]

BBC1[]

• 1 January – (1978)
• 2 January – Blake's 7 (1978–1981)
• 3 January - The Story of Perrine (1978)
• 8 January – All Creatures Great and Small (1978–1990, 2020–present)
• 21 January – The Les Dawson Show (1978–1989)
• 29 January – Hawkmoor (1978)
• February – Grand Slam (1978)
• 8 February – Grange Hill (1978–2008)
• 24 February – Going Straight (1978)
• 7 March – Pennies from Heaven (1978)
• 9 March – (1978)
• 4 April – The Standard (1978)
• 10 April – Cheggers Plays Pop (1978–1986)
• 1 May – The Little and Large Show (1978–1991)
• 17 June – (1978–1980)
• 5 September – Dallas (1978–1991)
• 10 September – Sexton Blake and the Demon God (1978)
• 18 September – (1978)
• 20 September – Touch and Go (1978)
• 24 September – (1978)
• 30 September – Scotch and Wry (1978–1992)
• 10 October – Space Sentinels (1977)
• 13 October – Rings on Their Fingers (1978–1980)
• 22 October – (1978)
• 15 November – The Moon Stallion (1978)
• 3 December – (1978)
• 31 December – (1978–1979)

BBC2[]

• 17 January – In the Looking Glass (1978)
• 22 January – The Mayor of Casterbridge (1978)
• 11 March – Something Else (1978–1982)
• 6 April – Law & Order (1978)
• 17 April – (1978)
• 30 April – The Devil's Crown (1978)
• 7 May - (1978-1996, 2009–2015)
• 5 June – An Englishman's Castle (1978)
• 19 September - Look and Read: Sky Hunter (1978)
• 24 September – Wuthering Heights (1978)
• 11 October – The Lost Boys (1978)
• 30 October – (1978)
• 31 October – Empire Road (1978)
• 31 October – The Voyage of Charles Darwin (1978)
• 2 November – (1978)
• 10 November – Butterflies (1978–1983, 2000)
• 3 December – BBC Television Shakespeare (1978–1985)

ITV[]

• 14 January – The South Bank Show (1978–2010, 2012–present)
• 15 January – (1978)
• 16 January – Hazell (1978–1979)
• 17 January – Wilde Alliance (1978)
• 21 January – Enemy at the Door (1978–1981)
• 22 January – The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1978)
• 20 February – Warrior Queen (1978)
• 21 February – Armchair Thriller (1978–1981)
• 1 March – (1978)
• 3 March – Mixed Blessings (1978–1980)
• 12 March – The Doombolt Chase (1978)
• 3 April – Rumpole of the Bailey (1978–1992)
• 23 April – Come Back, Lucy (1978)
• 29 April – Scorpion Tales (1978)
• 26 May – The Incredible Hulk (1977–1982)
• 5 June – Strangers (1978–1982)
• 13 June –
  • (1978–1980)
  • Will Shakespeare (1978)
• 3 July – The Famous Five (1978–1979)
• 3 July – The Kenny Everett Video Show (1978–1981)
• 8 July – (1978)
• 8 July – Saturday Banana (1978)
• 13 July – (1978–1980)
• 18 July – Spearhead (1978–1981)
• 23 July – (1978)
• 24 July – Out (1978)
• 29 July – 3-2-1 (1978–1988)
• 31 July – (1978)
• 8 August – The Bass Player and the Blonde (1978)
• 5 September –Disraeli (1978)
• 7 September – Jabberjaw (1976–1978)
• 9 September – (1978–1984)
• 10 September – Return of the Saint (1978–1979)
• 11 September – (1978)
• 13 September – (1978)
• 15 September - Soap (TV series) (1977-1981)
• 18 September – The Sandbaggers (1978–1980)
• 24 September –
  • Bless Me, Father (1978–1981)
  • Lillie (1978)
• 7 October – Bruce Forsyth's Big Night (1978, 1980)
• 8 October – The Clifton House Mystery (1978)
• 18 October – The Morecambe & Wise Show (1978–1983)
• 23 October – (1978–1980)
• 24 October – (1978)
• 1 November – The One and Only Phyllis Dixey (1978)
• 6 November - Edward and Mrs Simpson (1978)
• 12 November – The Losers (1978)
• 14 November – Fallen Hero (1978–1979)

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)
• Songs of Praise (1961–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–present)
• Sportsnight (1965–1997)
• 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)
• The Liver Birds (1969–1979, 1996)
• 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)
• General Hospital (1972–1979)
• Sykes (1972–1979)
• ’’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)
• It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974–1981)
• Tiswas (1974–1982)
• Wish You Were Here...? (1974–2003)
• Microscopic Milton (1975–1978)
• Celebrity Squares (1975–1979, 1993–1997, 2014–present)
• 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 Mighty B! (1977–1982)
• The Professionals (1977–1983)

Ending this year[]

• 20 March – Opportunity Knocks (1956–1978, 1987–1990)
• 10 April – 1990 (1977–1978)
• 15 April – Within These Walls (1974–1978)
• 9 May – Rising Damp (1974–1978)
• 24 May – A Bunch of Fives (1977–1978)
• 10 June – The Good Life (1975–1978)
• 22 June - Little Monsters (1975–1978)
• 21 July – The Black and White Minstrel Show (1958–1978)
• August – This Week (1956–1978, 1986–1992)
• 20 September – Z-Cars (1962–1978)
• 20 December – Happy Ever After (1974–1978)
• 25 December – Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973–1978)
• 28 December – The Sweeney (1975–1978)
• 31 December - The Story of Perrine (1978)

Births[]

• 22 February – Jenny Frost, singer, dancer, television presenter and model
• 23 March — Joanna Page, actress
• 31 March – Daniel Mays, actor
• 28 April — Lauren Laverne, radio and television presenter and singer
• 9 May – Georgina Mellor, British actress (Footballers' Wives: Extra Time)
• 29 May — Adam Rickitt, actor
• 10 July — Sarah-Jane Mee, journalist and news and sports presenter
• 11 July — Dustin Demri-Burns, actor, comedian and writer
• 24 July — Joanna Taylor, actress and model
• 19 August — Callum Blue, actor
• 8 November — Jane Danson, actress
• 17 November – Tom Ellis, actor

Deaths[]

• 11 January – Michael Bates, actor (born 1920)
• 21 July – Henry Longhurst, golf commentator (born 1909)
• 5 October – May Warden, actress (born 1891)
• 1 December – David Nixon, magician (born 1919)

See also[]

• 1978 in British music
• 1978 in British radio
• 1978 in the United Kingdom
• List of British films of 1978

References[]