1971 in British television

Events

3 January – BBC Open University broadcasts begin.

27 January – Valerie Barlow is electrocuted by a faulty hairdryer, and then perishes in a house fire on Coronation Street.

17 February – BBC2 airs Elizabeth R, a drama serial of six 85-minute plays starring Glenda Jackson in the title role.

10 April – The Two Ronnies debuts on BBC1.

7 June – The UK children's magazine show Blue Peter buries a time capsule in the grounds of BBC Television Centre, due to be opened on the first episode of the year 2000.

21 September – The Old Grey Whistle Test premieres on BBC2.

10 October – Upstairs, Downstairs debuts on ITV.

BBC1

25 February – * Mr Benn (1970, 2005)

10 April – The Two Ronnies (1971–1987, 1991, 1996, 2005)

19 June – Parkinson (1971–1982, 1998–2007)

2 October – The Generation Game (1971–1982, 1990–2002)

15 October – The Onedin Line (1971–1980)

5 November – Now Look Here (1971–1973)

Unknown – Crystal Tipps and Alistair (1971–1974)

BBC2

17 February – Elizabeth R (1971)

21 September – The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971–1987)

ITV

14 January – A Class by Himself (1971–1972)

9 April – Budgie (1971–1972)

27 April – ...And Mother Makes Three (1971–1973)

12 June – The Comedians (1971–1985)

28 June – Follyfoot (1971–1973)

17 September – The Persuaders! (1971–1972)

24 September – The Fenn Street Gang (1971–1973)

10 October – Upstairs, Downstairs (1971–1975, 2010–2012)

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)

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

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)

Call My Bluff (1965–2005)

World of Sport (1965–1985)

Jackanory (1965–1996, 2006)

Sportsnight (1965–1997)

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

The Money Programme (1966–2010)

Callan (1967–1972)

The Golden Shot (1967–1975)

ITV Playhouse (1967–1982)

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)

1970s

A Family at War (1970–1972)

Queenie's Castle (1970–1972)

The Goodies (1970–1982)

Ending this year

All Gas and Gaiters (1966–1971)

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

Me Mammy (1968–1971)

Albert and Victoria (1970–1971)

Bachelor Father (1970–1971)

The Lovers (1970–1971)

Timeslip (1970–1971)

UFO (1970–1971)

Births

1 January – Suzanne Virdee, British regional newscaster (Midlands Today)

3 January – Sarah Alexander, actress

5 January

Joanna Gosling, journalist and newsreader

Jayne Middlemiss, British television presenter

12 January – Jay Burridge, British artist and television presenter

13 January – Sarah Tansey, UK actress (Heartbeat)

14 January – Yiolanda Koppel, UK presenter

15 January – Lara Cazalet, British actress

16 January – Julia Ford, English actress

20 January

Pixie McKenna, Irish presenter (Embarrassing Bodies)

Gary Barlow, singer and actor

23 January – Lorne Spicer, British presenter (Cash in the Attic)

29 January – Clare Balding, sports presenter, journalist and jockey

30 January – Darren Boyd, actor

31 January – Patrick Kielty, Northern Irish comedian and television presenter

2 February – Michelle Gayle, singer and actress

13 February – Sonia, English pop singer

16 February

Amanda Holden, British actress and television presenter

Steven Houghton, British actor and singer

17 February – Jeremy Edwards, actor

20 February – Sarah Hadland, actress

23 February – Melinda Messenger, British television presenter and model

2 March – Dave Gorman, comedian and broadcaster

3 March – Charlie Brooker, presenter and satirist

9 March – Stephanie Chambers, actress

23 March – Gail Porter, British television presenter.

5 April – Victoria Hamilton, actress

16 April – Max Beesley, actor and musician

17 April – Claire Sweeney, actress, singer and television personality

18 April – David Tennant, Scottish actor

27 May – Paul Bettany, British actor

5 June – Susan Lynch, Northern Irish actress

26 June – Emma Noble, actress and model

5 July – Nicola Stephenson, actress

24 July – John Partridge, actor

25 July – Chloë Annett, actress

20 August – Helen Grace, actress

31 August – Kirstie Allsopp, British television presenter

1 September – Debbie Chazen, actress

7 September – Lisa Rogers, television presenter

8 September – Martin Freeman, actor

25 September – Jessie Wallace, British actress

29 September – Mackenzie Crook, English actor

4 October – Simone Hyams, actress

13 October – Sacha Baron Cohen, British comedian

16 October – Craig Phillips, British reality show star, Winner of Big Brother UK in 2000

24 October – Dervla Kirwan, actress

1 December – Emily Mortimer, British actress

Unknown – Helen Blakeman, playwright and screenwriter