1962 in British television

Events

2 January – Z-Cars premieres on BBC TV, noted as a realistic portrayal of the police.

17 April – Brothers in Law premieres on BBC TV.

14 June – BBC television broadcasts the first episode of the sitcom Steptoe and Son, written by Galton and Simpson.

1 July – Police 5 premieres on ITV.

11 July – Live television broadcast from the USA to Britain for the first time, via the Telstar satellite and Goonhilly Satellite Earth Station.

23 July – First live public transatlantic television broadcast, via satellite Telstar.

1 September – Channel Television, the ITV franchise for the Channel Islands, goes on air.

14 September – Wales West and North Television (Teledu Cymru) goes on air to the North and West Wales region, extending ITV to the whole of the UK.

21 September – First broadcast of the long-running television quiz programme University Challenge, made by Granada Television with Bamber Gascoigne as quizmaster.

4 October – The Saint premieres on ITV with Roger Moore in the title role.

17 October – Veteran Irish broadcaster Gay Byrne becomes the first person to introduce The Beatles on television as the band makes their small screen debut on local news programme People and Places.

24 November – The first episode of influential satire show That Was The Week That Was is broadcast on BBC Television.

Unknown – Cigarette adverts are banned from children's programmes in the UK. Actors in these adverts now have to be over 21, and connection to social success is no longer allowed. The tobacco companies also start a policy of not advertising before 9pm.

BBC Television Service/BBC TV

2 January

Z-Cars (1962–1978)

Compact (1962–1965)

13 April – Animal Magic (1962–1983)

17 April – Brothers in Law (1962)

14 June – Steptoe and Son (1962–1965, 1970, 1972–1974)

17 July – Hugh and I (1962–1968)

16 August – Dr. Finlay's Casebook (1962–1971)

12 November – Top of the Form (1962–1975)

24 November – That Was The Week That Was (1962–1963)

ITV

30 June – Out of This World (1962)

1 July – Police 5 (1962–1992)

21 September – University Challenge (1962–1987 ITV, 1994–present BBC)

4 October – The Saint (1962–1969)

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)

Noggin the Nog (1959–1965)

1960s

Sykes and A... (1960–1965)

The Flintstones (1960–1966)

Coronation Street (1960–present)

Points of View (1961–present)

Songs of Praise (1961–present)

Ghost Squad (1961–1964)

The Avengers (1961–1969)

Ending this year

Face to Face (1959–1962)

Sir Francis Drake (1961–1962)

Supercar (1961–1962)

Top Cat (1961–1962)

Births

25 January – Emma Freud, English broadcaster and cultural commentator

7 February – Eddie Izzard, British actor and comedian

13 February – Hugh Dennis, British actor, comedian and writer (The Now Show)

21 February – Vanessa Feltz, British television presenter

17 March – Clare Grogan, Scottish actress and singer

1 April – Phillip Schofield, British TV presenter

23 April – John Hannah, Scottish actor

17 May

Craig Ferguson, Scottish actor and television presenter

Alan Johnston, journalist

6 June – Sarah Parkinson, producer and writer of radio and television programmes (died 2003)

15 June – Chris Morris, satirist and actor

19 June – Lisa Aziz, journalist and newsreader

25 June – Phill Jupitus, comedian and broadcaster

29 June – Amanda Donohoe, English actress

4 July – Neil Morrissey, English actor

24 July – Cleo Rocos, British actress (The Kenny Everett Show)

20 August – Sophie Aldred, British actress and television presenter

5 September – Peter Wingfield, Welsh actor

8 September – Daljit Dhaliwal, British newsreader and television presenter

15 September – Steve Punt, British actor, comedian and writer (The Now Show)

17 September – Michael French, actor

21 September – Nick Knowles, television presenter

24 September

Jack Dee, British comedian

Ally McCoist, Scottish footballer and TV pundit and A Question of Sport team captain

5 October – Caron Keating, British TV presenter (died 2004)

20 October – Boothby Graffoe, English comedian, singer, songwriter and playwright

25 October – Nick Hancock, British actor and television presenter

26 October – Cary Elwes, British actor

12 November – Mariella Frostrup, British journalist and television presenter

26 November – Louise Harrison, actress and producer

3 December – Sarah Jarvis, General Practitioner and media personality

6 December – Colin Salmon, British actor

28 December – Kaye Adams, Scottish television presenter

Unknown

Carrie Gracie, journalist and newsreader

Kazia Pelka, actress

Matthew Amroliwala, newsreader

Jack Docherty, Scottish comedian

Mat Fraser, actor, musician and performing artist