1961 in British television

Events

7 January – The Avengers premieres on ITV.

3 February – The final live episode of Coronation Street is aired. From now on all episodes are prerecorded. The next live transmission will not occur until 8 December 2000.

6 March – Coronation Street begins airing on Monday and Wednesday evenings at 19:30. Previously, it had been transmitted on Wednesday and Friday evenings at 19:00. (see scheduling of Coronation Street)

29 April – Westward Television, the first ITV franchise for South West England, goes on air.

1 September – Border Television, the ITV franchise for the English-Scottish Border and Isle of Man, goes on air.

30 September – Grampian Television, the ITV franchise for North East Scotland, goes on air.

1 October – Songs of Praise, featuring Christian congregations singing hymns, debuts on BBC Television, the first programme being hosted by Tabernacle Chapel, Cardiff. The series will still be on the air more than 50 years later.

2 October – Points of View, featuring the letters of viewers offering praise, criticism and comments on the television of recent weeks, debuts on BBC Television. The series will still be on the air more than 50 years later.

BBC Television Service/BBC TV

14 May – Marriage Lines (1961–1966)

24 September – Stranger on the Shore (1961)

1 October – Songs of Praise (1961–present)

2 October – Points of View (1961–present)

12 November – Sir Francis Drake (1961–1962)

15 December – Comedy Playhouse (1961–1974)

ITV

7 January – The Avengers (1961–1969)

28 January – Supercar (1961–1962)

11 March – The Arthur Askey Show (1961)

1 April – Thank Your Lucky Stars (1961–1966)

9 September –

Ghost Squad (1961–1964)

The Jo Stafford Show (1961)

Unknown – Two of a Kind (1961–1968)

1940s

Watch with Mother (1946–1973)

Come Dancing (1949–1998)

1950s

Andy Pandy (1950–1970, 2002–2005)

Rag, Tag and Bobtail (1953–1965)

The Good Old Days (1953–1983)

Panorama (1953–present)

Picture Book (1955–1965)

Sunday Night at the London Palladium (1955–1967, 1973–1974)

Take Your Pick (1955–1968, 1992–1998)

Double Your Money (1955–1968)

Dixon of Dock Green (1955–1976)

Crackerjack (1955–1984)

Opportunity Knocks (1956–1978, 1987–1990)

This Week (1956–1978, 1986–1992)

Armchair Theatre (1956–1974)

What the Papers Say (1956–2008)

The Sky at Night (1957–present)

Blue Peter (1958–present)

Grandstand (1958–2007)

Face to Face (1959–1962)

Noggin the Nog (1959–1965)

1960s

Sykes and A... (1960–1965)

The Flintstones (1960–1966)

Coronation Street (1960–present)

Ending this year

All Your Own (1952–1961)

Hancock's Half Hour (1956–1961)

The Army Game (1957–1961)

Danger Man (1960–1961, 1964–1968)

The Jo Stafford Show (1961)

Births

1 January

Fiona Phillips, journalist, broadcaster and television presenter

Mark Wingett, British actor

12 January – Simon Russell Beale, British actor

26 January – Mark Urban, journalist and author

20 February – Imogen Stubbs, British actress

21 February – Ross King, television presenter, actor and author

10 April – Nicky Campbell, radio and television presenter

14 April – Robert Carlyle, Scottish actor

18 April – Jane Leeves, English actress

20 April

Nicholas Lyndhurst, actor

Paul Usher, actor

2 May – Phil Vickery, British celebrity chef

12 May – Charlie Neil, British regional TV weather reader

14 May – Tim Roth, English actor

30 May – Harry Enfield, English comedian

24 June – Iain Glen, Scottish actor

25 June – Ricky Gervais, English comedian

27 June – Meera Syal, British comedian and writer

5 July – Gareth Jones, television presenter

17 July – Jeremy Hardy, English comedian, radio panelist, and singer

5 August – Janet McTeer, British actress

7 August – Brian Conley, comedian, television presenter, singer and actor

16 August – Saskia Reeves, British actress

18 August – Huw Edwards, journalist and news presenter

27 August – Mark Curry, television presenter

7 October – Simon McCoy, BBC newsreader

10 October – Martin Kemp, musician and actor

26 October – Linda Barker, interior designer and television presenter

27 October – Joanna Scanlan, actress and television writer

9 November – Jill Dando, television newsreader (died 1999)

27 November – Samantha Bond, British actress

28 November – Martin Clunes, actor

11 December – Marco Pierre White, British chef and restaurateur

12 December – Sarah Sutton, British actress

19 December – Matthew Waterhouse, British actor

23 December – Carol Smillie, television presenter

Deaths

28 September – Michael Shepley, actor, 53

12 October – Jack Livesey, actor, 60