1970 in British television

Updated on Dec 17, 2024

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This is a list of British television related events from 1970.

Events

1 January–5 February – The BBC airs The Six Wives of Henry VIII, a series of six teleplays, each of which focusses on the life of one of King Henry VIII of England's six wives.

3 January – Jon Pertwee makes his first appearance as the Third Doctor in the Doctor Who serial Spearhead from Space. It also marks the first time that the series was broadcast in colour.

8 July – Jack Walker dies off-screen of a heart attack in Coronation Street as a result of the death of actor Arthur Leslie. Jack becomes the first major character to be written out due to the death of an actor.

14 September – The BBC Nine O'Clock News is first broadcast on BBC1. The programme aired until 13 October 2000 when the station's main evening bulletin was switched to 10:00pm.

7 November – Felix Dennis becomes the first person to use the word "cunt" on British television during a live broadcast of The Frost Programme.

13 November – The Colour Strike begins when ITV staff refuse to work with colour television equipment following a dispute over pay with their management.

9 December – 10th anniversary of the first episode of Coronation Street.

25 December – Pluto's Christmas Tree is broadcast on BBC1, the first complete Mickey Mouse cartoon to be shown on British television in colour.

BBC1

5 January – A Question of Sport (1970–present)

9 February – Doomwatch (1970–1972)

14 September – BBC Nine O'Clock News (1970–2000)

17 September – Bachelor Father (1970–1971)

15 October – Play for Today (1970–1984)

17 October – Words and Pictures (1970–2001, 2006–2007)

November – * Mr Benn (1970, 2005)

BBC2

8 November – The Goodies (1970–1982)

ITV

2 January – Manhunt (1970)

14 April – A Family at War (1970–1972)

13 June – Albert and Victoria (1970–1971)

16 September – UFO (1970–1971)

28 September – Timeslip (1970–1971)

27 October – The Lovers (1970–1971)

5 November – Queenie's Castle (1970–1972)

Returning this year after a break of one year or longer

Steptoe and Son (1962–1965, 1970–1974)

1940s

Watch with Mother (1946–1973)

Come Dancing (1949–1998)

1950s

The Good Old Days (1953–1983)

Panorama (1953–present)

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)

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)

World of Sport (1965–1985)

All Gas and Gaiters (1966–1971)

Jackanory (1965–1996, 2006)

Sportsnight (1965–1997)

It's a Knockout (1966–1982, 1999–2001)

The Money Programme (1966–2010)

Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width (1967–1971)

Callan (1967–1972)

The Golden Shot (1967–1975)

ITV Playhouse (1967–1982)

Me Mammy (1968–1971)

Please Sir! (1968–1972)

Father, Dear Father (1968–1973)

Dad's Army (1968–1977)

Magpie (1968–1980)

The Big Match (1968–2002)

On the Buses (1969–1973)

Clangers (1969–1974, 2015–present)

Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974)

Nationwide (1969–1983)

Screen Test (1969–1984)

Ending this year

Andy Pandy (1950–1970, 2002–2005)

The Wednesday Play (1964–1970)

Not Only... But Also (1965–1970)

Not in Front of the Children (1967–1970)

Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (1969–1970)

Scooby Doo, Where Are You! (1969–1970)

Department S (TV series) (1969–1970)

Births

10 February — Robert Shearman, television and radio scriptwriter

14 February — Simon Pegg, comedian, writer and actor

7 March

Emma Davies, actress

Rachel Weisz, British actress

29 March – Ruth England, television presenter and actress

5 April – Krishnan Guru-Murthy, journalist and presenter

9 April — Tricia Penrose, actress and singer

10 May — Sally Phillips, Hong Kong-English actress

15 May — Nicola Walker, actress

20 May — Louis Theroux, TV personality, author

22 May – Naomi Campbell, Model (The Face)

18 June — Katie Derham, newsreader and television presenter

25 June — Lucy Benjamin, actress

7 July – Zoë Tyler, singer and actress

10 July — John Simm, actor

29 July — Andi Peters, TV presenter and producer

31 July — Ben Chaplin, actor

4 August — Kate Silverton, journalist, newsreader and television presenter

7 August – Melanie Sykes, British television presenter

5 September – Johnny Vegas, actor and comedian

6 September — Emily Maitlis, journalist and newsreader

13 September – Louise Lombard, British actress.

29 September — Emily Lloyd, actress

31 October — Craig Kelly, actor

12 November — Harvey Spencer Stephens, child-actor

22 November — Stel Pavlou, novelist and screenwriter

23 November — Zoë Ball, television and radio presenter

28 November — Lucy Owen, Welsh television newsereader

10 December — Susanna Reid, journalist and television presenter

17 December — Craig Doyle, radio and television presenter

21 December — Jamie Theakston, radio and television presenter and producer

29 December — Aled Jones, singer and television presenter

Unknown — Jenny Scott, journalist and economist

Deaths

30 June – Arthur Leslie, 70, actor (Coronation Street).

References

1970 in British television Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA

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