1979 in British television

Events

2 January – BBC2 broadcasts the first in Michael Wood's groundbreaking history documentary series, In Search of the Dark Ages.

28 January – Thomas & Sarah, a spin-off of Upstairs, Downstairs premieres on LWT. It runs for only one series.

24 March – Tales of the Unexpected, an Anglia Television series based on the short stories of Roald Dahl, makes its debut on ITV.

3 May–4 May – BBC1 and ITV broadcast coverage of the 1979 General Election. The election is won by the Conservatives and sees Margaret Thatcher become the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.

6 August – Technicians at Thames Television go on strike following a long-running dispute.

10 August – The whole of the ITV network except the Channel Islands is affected by a technicians' strike for eleven weeks.

27 August – Lord Mountbatten was murdered by IRA bombers. His death set a record audience for a news bulletin, as 26 million viewers watched the coverage on BBC1. Strike action at ITN led to the record viewing figures.

2 September – Subtitling of television programmes on Ceefax begins.

25 September – Robin Day presents the first edition of the long-running political debate programme Question Time on BBC1. The programme continues to air to the present day.

24 October – On ITV's first night back on the air after the strike, Quatermass, the fourth and final serial featuring Professor Bernard Quatermass, begins its run on the network.

11 November – Last episode of the first series of the sitcom To the Manor Born on BBC1 receives 23.95 million viewers, the all-time highest figure for a recorded programme in the UK.

1 December – BBC2 unveils the first computer-generated television presentation symbol in the world. US broadcaster NBC unveils their first computer-generated symbol later that year.

BBC1

18 January – Blankety Blank (1979–1990, BBC1 1997–1999, ITV 2001–2002)

18 February – Antiques Roadshow (1979–present)

9 June – The Paul Daniels Magic Show (1979–1994)

25 September – Question Time (1979–present)

30 September

To the Manor Born (1979–1981, 2007)

Shoestring (1979–1980)

24 October – Terry and June (1979–1987)

BBC2

28 September – Friday Night, Saturday Morning (1979–1982)

16 October – Not the Nine O'Clock News (1979–1982)

ITV

3 January – The Book Tower (1979–1989)

6 January – Dick Turpin (1979–1982)

14 January – Thomas & Sarah (1979)

25 February – Worzel Gummidge (1979–1981)

11 March – Agony (1979–1981)

24 March – Tales of the Unexpected (1979–1985; 1987–1988)

15 April – End of Part One (1979–1980)

10 July – Sapphire & Steel (1979–1982)

12 July – Shelley (1979–1992)

29 October

Only When I Laugh (1979–1982)

Minder (1979–1994; 2009)

Returning this year after a break of one year or longer

Fawlty Towers (1975, 1979)

1940s

Come Dancing (1949–1998)

1950s

The Good Old Days (1953–1983)

Panorama (1953–present)

Crackerjack (1955–1984)

What the Papers Say (1956–2008)

The Sky at Night (1957–present)

Blue Peter (1958–present)

Grandstand (1958–2007)

1960s

Coronation Street (1960–present)

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, 2008–2010, 2012–present)

World of Sport (1965–1985)

Jackanory (1965–1996, 2006)

Sportsnight (1965–1997)

Call My Bluff (1965–2005)

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

The Money Programme (1966–2010)

ITV Playhouse (1967–1982)

Magpie (1968–1980)

The Big Match (1968–2002)

Nationwide (1969–1983)

Screen Test (1969–1984)

1970s

The Goodies (1970–1982)

The Onedin Line (1971–1980)

The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971–1987)

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

Clapperboard (1972–1982)

Crown Court (1972–1984)

Pebble Mill at One (1972–1986)

Rainbow (1972–1992, 1994–1995)

Are You Being Served? (1972–1985)

Emmerdale (1972–present)

Newsround (1972–present)

Weekend World (1972–1988)

Pipkins (1973–1981)

We Are the Champions (1973–1987)

Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010)

That's Life! (1973–1994)

It Ain't Half Hot Mum (1974–1981)

Tiswas (1974–1982)

Wish You Were Here...? (1974–2003)

The Cuckoo Waltz (1975–1980)

Arena (1975–present)

Jim'll Fix It (1975–1994)

The Muppet Show (1976–1981)

When the Boat Comes In (1976–1981)

Multi-Coloured Swap Shop (1976–1982)

Rentaghost (1976–1984)

One Man and His Dog (1976–present)

Robin's Nest (1977–1981)

You’re Only Young Twice (1977–1981)

The Professionals (1977–1983)

Blake's 7 (1978–1981)

Strangers (1978–1982)

Butterflies (1978–1983, 2000)

3-2-1 (1978–1988)

Grange Hill (1978–2008)

Ending this year

5 January – The Liver Birds (1969–1979, 1996)

11 March – Return of the Saint (1978–1979)

7 July – Celebrity Squares (1975–1979, 1993–1997, 2014–present)

25 October – Fawlty Towers (1975–1979)

16 November – Sykes (1972–1979)

19 December – General Hospital (1972–1979)

25 December – George and Mildred (1976–1979)

Births

23 January – Dawn O'Porter, Scottish fashion designer and journalist

27 January – Rosamund Pike, actress

2 February – Christine Bleakley, television presenter

13 February – Lucy Brown, actress

10 March – Laura Rogers, actress

20 March – Freema Agyeman, actress

12 April – Paul Nicholls, actor

29 April – Jo O'Meara, singer, dancer and actress

10 May – Lara Lewington, weather and television presenter

27 May – Jeff Brazier, television presenter and reality show contestant

12 June – Jodie Prenger, actress and singer

10 July – Sarah-Jane Mee, presenter (Sky News)

27 July – Julia Haworth, actress

21 August – Samantha Simmonds, newsreader

19 November – Katherine Kelly, actress

29 November – Simon Amstell, comedian and television presenter

Unknown – Leanne Lakey, actress