1978 in British television

This is a list of British television related events from 1978.

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Events

January

• 4 January – The first edition of arts magazine The South Bank Show is broadcast, replacing Aquarius.
• 20 January – The first of ITV's occasional An Audience With programmes is aired. The first presenter is Jasper Carrott.
• 27 January – In an interview for Granada Television's World in Action programme, Leader of the Opposition Margaret Thatcher remarks, "people are really rather afraid that this country might be rather swamped by people with a different culture".[1] Critics regard the comment as a veiled reference to people of colour, thus pandering to xenophobia and reactionary sentiment. However, Thatcher receives 10,000 letters thanking her for raising the subject and the Conservatives gain a lead against Labour in the opinion polls.[2]

February

• 13 February – Anna Ford becomes the first female newscaster on News at Ten.[3]
• 22 February – The Police appear in a television commercial for Wrigley's chewing gum.
• 24 February – 7 April – The BBC airs Going Straight. The sitcom is a direct spin-off from Porridge, starring Ronnie Barker as Norman Stanley Fletcher, newly released from the fictional Slade Prison where Porridge had been set. The programme airs for one series.

March

• 7 March – 11 April – Dennis Potter's groundbreaking drama serial Pennies From Heaven airs on BBC1.

April

• 6 April – The four-part drama series Law & Order begins airing on BBC2. Each of the four stories within the series is told from a different perspective, including that of the Detective, the Villain, the Brief and the Prisoner. The series proves to be highly controversial upon its release due to its depiction of a corrupt British law enforcement and legal system.[4]

May

• 24 May – The iconic skateboarding duck item first airs on BBC TV's Nationwide.
• 28–29 May – British television debut of Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather, airing as a two-part presentation over two consecutive nights on BBC1.[5][6]

June

• 3 June – Long running US children's educational series Sesame Street starts airing on both ATV and Border.

July

• 13 July – The original series of Top Gear begins airing on BBC2 having started as a locally produced programme at BBC Pebble Mill the previous year.

August

• No events.

September

• 4 September – British television premiere of the James Bond film On Her Majesty's Secret Service on ITV.[7]
• 5 September – Thames Television launches a lunchtime Thames News bulletin presented by Robin Houston. A late evening bulletin to follow News at Ten is also planned for the same day, but union problems lead to its launch being postponed until 1980.
• 10 September – Return of the Saint. The Saint returns with a new actor named Ian Ogilvy and introducing the Jaguar XJ-S to take over the Volvo P1800 from the Saint 1962 TV series. The first episode is The Judas Game.
• 23 September – Larry Grayson succeeds Bruce Forsyth as presenter of The Generation Game.[8]

October

• 17 October – James Burke's history of science series Connections first airs on BBC.

November

• 6 November – ITV airs the first episode of Edward & Mrs. Simpson, a seven-part British television series that dramatises the events leading to the 1936 abdication of King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom, who gave up his throne to marry the twice-divorced American Wallis Simpson.
• 23 November – 15th anniversary of the first episode of the science-fiction series Doctor Who.
• 27 November – The Times reports that News International will sell 16% of its share in London Weekend Television, reducing its shares from 39.7% to 25%.[9]
• November – ITV starts broadcasting the ORACLE-teletext based service. It ends on 31 December 1992.

December

• 21–22 December – BBC1 and BBC2 are forced off the air due to industrial action at the BBC by the ABS union which starts on Thursday 21 December. On Friday 22 December the radio unions join their BBC Television counterparts, forcing the BBC to merge their four national radio networks into one national radio station, the BBC All Network Radio Service, from 4.00pm that afternoon. The strike is settled shortly before 10.00pm on 22 December, with the unions and BBC management reaching an agreement at the British government's industrial disputes arbitration service ACAS. BBC1 resumes broadcast at 3.00pm on Saturday 23 December, with BBC2 resuming at 1.00pm the same afternoon. Threat of disruption to the BBC's festive television schedules is averted. BBC Radio networks resume normal schedules on the morning of Saturday 23 December.[10][11][12][13]
• 25 December –
  • BBC1 airs the British television premiere of The Sound of Music.[14]
  • British television premiere of the James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever on ITV.[7]
• December – A strike forces Yorkshire Television off air throughout the entire Christmas period. Many of ITV's Christmas programmes are eventually shown in early 1979, after the dispute has ended.

Debuts

BBC1

• 1 January – Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm (1978)
• 2 January – Blake's 7 (1978–1981)
• 3 January - The Story of Perrine (1978)
• 8 January – All Creatures Great and Small (1978–1990)
• 21 January – The Les Dawson Show (1978–1989)
• 29 January – Hawkmoor (1978)
• 8 February – Grange Hill (1978–2008)
• 24 February – Going Straight (1978)
• 7 March – Pennies from Heaven (1978)
• 9 March – Breakaway Girls (1978)
• 4 April – The Standard (1978)
• 10 April – Cheggers Plays Pop (1978–1986)
• 1 May – The Little and Large Show (1978–1991)
• 17 June – Lennie and Jerry (1978–1980)
• 10 September – Sexton Blake and the Demon God (1978)
• 18 September – Tycoon (1978)
• 24 September – A Horseman Riding By (1978)
• 30 September – Scotch and Wry (1978–1992)
• 10 October – Space Sentinels (1977)
• 13 October – Rings on Their Fingers (1978–1980)
• 22 October – Huntingtower (1978)
• 15 November – The Moon Stallion (1978)
• 3 December – Pinocchio (1978)
• 31 December – The Mill on the Floss (1978–1979)

BBC2

• 17 January – In the Looking Glass (1978)
• 22 January – The Mayor of Casterbridge (1978)
• 11 March – Something Else (1978–1982)
• 17 April – Pickersgill People (1978)
• 30 April – The Devil's Crown (1978)
• 7 May - Grand Prix (Grand Prix (TV programme)) (1978-1996, 2009-2015)
• 5 June – An Englishman's Castle (1978)
• 24 September – Wuthering Heights (1978)
• 11 October – The Lost Boys (1978)
• 30 October – And Now the Good News (1978)
• 31 October – Empire Road (1978)
• 31 October – The Voyage of Charles Darwin (1978)
• 2 November – Accident (1978)
• 10 November – Butterflies (1978–1983, 2000)
• 3 December – BBC Television Shakespeare (1978–1985)

ITV

• 14 January – The South Bank Show (1978–2010, 2012–present)
• 15 January – Do You Remember? (1978)
• 16 January – Hazell (1978–1979)
• 17 January – Wilde Alliance (1978)
• 21 January – Enemy at the Door (1978–1981)
• 22 January – The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1978)
• 20 February – Warrior Queen (1978)
• 21 February – Armchair Thriller (1978–1981)
• 1 March – Send in the Girls (1978)
• 3 March – Mixed Blessings (1978–1980)
• 12 March – The Doombolt Chase (1978)
• 3 April – Rumpole of the Bailey (1978–1992)
• 23 April – Come Back, Lucy (1978)
• 29 April – Scorpion Tales (1978)
• 26 May – The Incredible Hulk (1977–1982)
• 5 June – Strangers (1978–1982)
• 13 June –
  • Life Begins at Forty (1978–1980)
  • Will Shakespeare (1978)
• 3 July – The Famous Five (1978–1979)
• 3 July – The Kenny Everett Video Show (1978–1981)
• 8 July – The Law Centre (1978)
• 8 July – Saturday Banana (1978)
• 13 July – Leave It to Charlie (1978–1980)
• 18 July – Spearhead (1978–1981)
• 23 July – Parables (1978)
• 24 July – Out (1978)
• 29 July – 3-2-1 (1978–1988)
• 31 July – A Soft Touch (1978)
• 8 August – The Bass Player and the Blonde (1978)
• 5 September –Disraeli (1978)
• 7 September – Jabberjaw (1976–1978)
• 9 September – The Bubblies (1978–1984)
• 10 September – Return of the Saint (1978–1979)
• 11 September – Cooper, Just Like That (1978)
• 13 September – Born and Bred (1978)
• 18 September – The Sandbaggers (1978–1980)
• 24 September –
  • Bless Me, Father (1978–1981)
  • Lillie (1978)
• 7 October – Bruce Forsyth's Big Night (1978, 1980)
• 8 October – The Clifton House Mystery (1978)
• 18 October – The Morecambe & Wise Show (1978–1983)
• 23 October – Bernie (1978–1980)
• 24 October – The Upchat Connection (1978)
• 1 November – The One and Only Phyllis Dixey (1978)
• 12 November – The Losers (1978)
• 14 November – Fallen Hero (1978–1979)

Continuing television shows

1920s

• BBC Wimbledon (1927–1939, 1946–2019, 2021–present)

1930s

• The Boat Race (1938–1939, 1946–2019)
• BBC Cricket (1939, 1946–1999, 2020–2024)

1940s

• Come Dancing (1949–1998)

1950s

• The Good Old Days (1953–1983)
• Panorama (1953–present)
• Crackerjack (1955–1984, 2020–present)
• 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)
• 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–present)
• Sportsnight (1965–1997)
• 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)
• The Liver Birds (1969–1979, 1996)
• 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)
• General Hospital (1972–1979)
• Sykes (1972–1979)
• ’’Thunderbirds’’ (1972-1980, 1984-1987)
• Clapperboard (1972–1982)
• Crown Court (1972–1984)
• Pebble Mill at One (1972–1986)
• Are You Being Served? (1972–1985)
• Rainbow (1972–1992, 1994–1997)
• 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)
• Microscopic Milton (1975–1978)
• Celebrity Squares (1975–1979, 1993–1997, 2014–present)
• 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)

Ending this year

• 20 March – Opportunity Knocks (1956–1978, 1987–1990)
• 10 April – 1990 (1977–1978)
• 15 April – Within These Walls (1974–1978)
• 9 May – Rising Damp (1974–1978)
• 24 May – A Bunch of Fives (1977–1978)
• 10 June – The Good Life (1975–1978)
• 22 June - Little Monsters (1975–1978)
• 21 July – The Black and White Minstrel Show (1958–1978)
• August – This Week (1956–1978, 1986–1992)
• 20 September – Z-Cars (1962–1978)
• 20 December – Happy Ever After (1974–1978)
• 25 December – Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973–1978)
• 28 December – The Sweeney (1975–1978)
• 31 December - The Story of Perrine (1978)

Births

• 22 February – Jenny Frost, singer, dancer, television presenter and model
• 23 March — Joanna Page, actress
• 31 March – Daniel Mays, actor
• 28 April — Lauren Laverne, radio and television presenter and singer
• 9 May – Georgina Mellor, British actress (Footballers' Wives: Extra Time)
• 29 May — Adam Rickitt, actor
• 10 July — Sarah-Jane Mee, journalist and news and sports presenter
• 11 July — Dustin Demri-Burns, actor, comedian and writer
• 24 July — Joanna Taylor, actress and model
• 19 August — Callum Blue, actor
• 8 November — Jane Danson, actress
• 17 November – Tom Ellis, actor

Deaths

• 11 January – Michael Bates, actor (born 1920)
• 21 July – Henry Longhurst, golf commentator (born 1909)
• 5 October – May Warden, actress (born 1891)
• 1 December – David Nixon, magician (born 1919)

See also

• 1978 in British music
• 1978 in British radio
• 1978 in the United Kingdom
• List of British films of 1978

References

1. Interview for Granada TV with journalist Gordon Burns (27 January 1978), TV Interview for Granada World in Action ("rather swamped"), Margaret Thatcher Foundation. Retrieved 6 May 2009. Archived 2009-05-08.
2. John Campbell, Margaret Thatcher: Volume One: The Grocer's Daughter (Jonathan Cape, 2000), p. 400.
3. ""1978: Ford makes her ITN debut", BBC On This Day". BBC News. 1978-02-13. Retrieved 28 April 2009.
4. Newman, G.F. Television interview with Mark Lawson. Mark Lawson Talks to... G.F. Newman. United Kingdom: BBC Four. Accessed 3 April 2018
5. "The Godfather – BBC One London – 28 May 1978". BBC Genome. BBC. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
6. "The Godfather – BBC One London – 29 May 1978". BBC Genome. BBC. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
7. "James Bond On TV – Movies". MI6 – The Home Of James Bond 007. 5 April 2011. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
8. "Larry Grayson's Generation Game – BBC One London – 23 September 1978". BBC Genome. BBC. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
9. Peter Wainwright "News International to sell 16% of its shares in London Weekend Television", The Times, 27 November 1978; p.15
10. Walmsley, Andy (May 30, 2011). "Random radio jottings: BBC All Network Service".
11. Borgwick, Boggenstrovia Van (December 27, 2013). "Boggenstrovia's Bit: The Christmas that Nearly wasn't – The BBC Strike of December 1978 and Christmas Television of that year (2015 Update)".
12. "You can't touch me, I'm part of the union - Politics - Transdiffusion Broadcasting System". www.transdiffusion.org.
13. "TV Cream". tv.cream.org.
14. "The Sound of Music – BBC One London – 25 December 1978". BBC Genome. BBC. Retrieved 10 February 2018.