1973 in British television

Events

4 January – The UK and world record breaking long-running comedy series Last of the Summer Wine starts as a 30-minute pilot on BBC1's Comedy Playhouse show. The first series run starts on 12 November and the programme runs for 37 years until August 2010.

11 January – The Open University awards its first degrees.

25 January – English actor Derren Nesbitt is convicted of assaulting his wife Anne Aubrey.

15 February – The first episode of Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em airs on BBC1.

14 March – Are You Being Served? begins first regular series (pilot aired 8 September 1972).

25 March – The pilot episode of Open All Hours airs as part of Ronnie Barker's series Seven of One on BBC1.

March – Experimental Ceefax teletext transmissions begin.

1 April – Prisoner and Escort, the pilot episode of Porridge, airs as part of Seven of One.

5 May–28 July – BBC Television series The Ascent of Man, written and presented by Jacob Bronowski, airs; there is also an accompanying bestselling book.

6 August – James Beck, who stars as Private Walker in the popular BBC sitcom Dad's Army, dies of a burst pancreas at the age of 44. Although the series continues until 1977, the part of Walker is not recast and the show carries on without him.

8 October – Pat Phoenix leaves the role of Elsie Tanner on Coronation Street after thirteen years.

31 October – Thames Television's landmark 26-part documentary The World at War begins.

12 November – First series run of Last of the Summer Wine starts on BBC1.

23 November – 10th anniversary of the first episode of Doctor Who.

Smash Martians advertising campaign launches on ITV.

BBC 1

9 January – Whatever Happened to the Likely Lads? (1973–1974)

5 February – The Wombles (1973–1975, 1990–1991 BBC, 1996–1997 ITV)

15 February – Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973–1978)

26 May – That's Life! (1973–1994)

13 June – We Are the Champions (1973–1995)

20 August – Why Don't You? (1973–1995)

12 November – Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010)

ITV

1 January – Pipkins (1973–1981)

30 April – The Tomorrow People (1973–1979, 1992–1995)

15 August – Man About the House (1973–1976)

29 September – New Faces (1973–1978, 1986–1988)

31 October – The World at War (1973–1974)

1 November – Beryl's Lot (1973–1977)

Returning this year after a break of one year or longer

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

1940s

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)

The Golden Shot (1967–1975)

ITV Playhouse (1967–1982)

Dad's Army (1968–1977)

Magpie (1968–1980)

The Big Match (1968–2002)

Clangers (1969–1974, 2015–present)

Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974)

Nationwide (1969–1983)

Screen Test (1969–1984)

1970s

The Goodies (1970–1982)

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

The Onedin Line (1971–1980)

The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971–1987)

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

Colditz (1972–1974)

The Protectors (1972–1974)

Love Thy Neighbour (1972–1977)

Clapperboard (1972–1982)

Crown Court (1972–1984)

Pebble Mill at One (1972–1986)

Are You Being Served? (1972–1985)

Rainbow (1972–1992, 1994–1995)

Emmerdale (1972–present)

Newsround (1972–present)

Weekend World (1972–1988)

Ending this year

Watch with Mother (1946–1973)

Father, Dear Father (1968–1973)

Freewheelers (1968–1973)

Nearest and Dearest (1968–1973)

The Flaxton Boys (1969–1973)

On the Buses (1969–1973)

...And Mother Makes Three (1971–1973)

The Fenn Street Gang (1971–1973)

Now Look Here (1971–1973)

Follyfoot (1971–1973)

Arthur of the Britons (1972–1973)

War and Peace (1972–1973)

Births

29 January – Miranda Krestovnikoff, television presenter

7 February – Kate Thornton, journalist and television presenter

8 February – Sonia Deol, presenter

3 March – Alison King, actress

5 April – Jason Done, actor

24 April – Gabby Logan, radio and television presenter

30 April – Leigh Francis, British comedian

8 May – Marcus Brigstocke, English comedian, actor, and screenwriter

21 May – Noel Fielding, British Comedian and Actor

24 May – Dermot O'Leary, British TV Star

9 June – Iain Lee, British comedian and radio and television presenter

16 June – Amanda Byram, television personality

3 July – Emma Cunniffe, British actress

11 October – Mark Chapman, broadcaster and newsreader

21 October – Beverley Turner, British TV and radio presenter

5 November – Danniella Westbrook, actress and television presenter

8 December – Kim Medcalf, actress

Deaths

31 March – George Woodbridge, 66, Inigo Pipkin in Pipkins

6 August – James Beck, 44, Private Walker in Dad's Army