1979 in British television

List of years in British television (table)
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This is a list of British television related events from 1979.

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 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'.^{[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. 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)
• 5 January – (1979)
• 7 January – Telford's Change (1979)
• 17 January – Rebecca (1979)
• 18 January – Blankety Blank (1979–1990, BBC1 1997–1999, ITV 2001–2002)
• 30 January – Blue Remembered Hills (1979)
• 18 February – Antiques Roadshow (1979–present)
• 23 February – (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 – (1979)
• 11 May – Two Up, Two Down (1979)
• 26 May – (1979–1981)
• 6 June – (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 –
  • (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 – (1979–1984)
• 4 October – The All-New Popeye Show (1978–1983)
• 7 October – The Legend of King Arthur (1979)
• 12 October – (1979)
• 24 October – Terry and June (1979–1987)
• 4 December - Anne of Green Gables (1979)
• 9 December – The Old Curiosity Shop (1979–1980)
• 23 December – (1979)
• 24 December – What-a-Mess (Series 1) (1979–1980)

BBC2[]

• 16 January – Life on Earth (1979)
• 15 March – (1979)
• 18 April – (1979)
• 22 May – (1979)
• 24 June –
  • (1979–1981)
  • (1979)
• 2 September – (1979)
• 6 September – Fred Dibnah: Steeplejack (1979)
• 10 September – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979)
• 26 September – (1979)
• 27 September – Bloomers (1979)
• 28 October – Friday Night, Saturday Morning (1979–1982)
• 4 November – Testament of Youth (1979)
• 15 November – (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 –
  • CHiPs (1977–1983)
  • Dick Turpin (1979–1982)
  • (1979)
• 8 January –
  • (1979)
  • (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 – (1979)
• 23 February – (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 –
  • (1979)
  • (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 – (1979)
• 3 June – The Danedyke Mystery (1979)
• 10 June – The Mallens (1979-1980)
• 9 July – Spooner's Patch (1979–1982)
• 10 July – Sapphire & Steel (1979–1982)
• 11 July – Murder at the Wedding (1979)
• 12 July – Shelley (1979–1984, 1988–1992)
• 27 July
  • Charles Endell Esquire (1979–1980)
  • (1979–1980)
• 28 July – The Cannon and Ball Show (1979–1988)
• 29 July –
  • (1979–1981)
  • (1979)
• 8 August – (1979)
• 12 August – (1979)
• 24 October – Quatermass (1979)
• 29 October –
  • Only When I Laugh (1979–1982)
  • Minder (1979–1994, 2009)
• 10 November – (1979)
• 11 November –
  • The Glums (1979)
  • (1979)
• 21 November – (1979)
• 1 December – The Allan Stewart Tapes (1979)
• 23 December – Cribb (1979–1981)
• 31 December – (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)
• Thunderbirds (1972–1980, 1984-1987)
• 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 Mighty B! (1977–1982)
• 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[]

• 1979 in British music
• 1979 in British radio
• 1979 in the United Kingdom
• List of British films of 1979

References[]