1984 in British television
Appearance
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This is a list of British television related events from 1984.
Events
January
- 4 January – Pat Phoenix leaves Coronation Street for the second and final time as Elsie Tanner goes to live with old flame Bill Gregory in Portugal, having been in the show since its inception in 1960.
- 7 January – Fraggle Rock debuts on British television. The series is a co-production by British television company Television South (TVS), CBC Television, U.S. pay television service HBO and Henson Associates.
- 16 January – "The Satellite Channel" is renamed "Sky Channel".
- 30 January – The BBC's Panorama documentary strand broadcasts "Maggie's Militant Tendency" which claims links between several Conservative MPs and far-right organisations both in Britain and Europe. Two of the MPs named, Neil Hamilton and Gerald Howarth subsequently sue the BBC for slander. In 1986 after the BBC withdraws from the case Hamilton is awarded £20,000 damages.[1]
February
- 14 February – An estimated 24 million viewers watch Torvill and Dean win Gold at the 1984 Winter Olympics skating to Ravel's Boléro.
March
- 16 March – Peter Davison's last serial as the Fifth Doctor in Doctor Who, 'The Caves of Androzani', finished; Colin Baker became the Sixth Doctor in the same episode.
- 22 March – Colin Baker makes his first full appearance as the Sixth Doctor in the Doctor Who serial "The Twin Dilemma".
- 24 March – The Price Is Right makes its British television debut on ITV. The programme is produced for ITV by Central Television in association with Mark Goodson Productions and Talbot Television.[2]
April
- 15 April – Comedian Tommy Cooper dies from a heart attack on live television at the age of 63 during Live From Her Majesty's.
May
- 10 May–14 June – First run of the five-part BBC Schools French language adventure series La Marée et ses Secrets (The Tide and its Secrets), which is repeated each year until 1993.[3]
June
- 4 June – The hit animated series Danger Mouse is broadcast on children's cable network Nickelodeon in the US. It also became the first British cartoon to air on that channel as well as becoming one of the earliest British cartoons to be in syndication in America.
- 7 June – BBC1 airs the first edition of Crimewatch. The first case to be featured on the show is the murder of Colette Aram, which had occurred the previous year. A man is finally charged with the murder in 2009,[4] and sentenced to life imprisonment in January 2010 after pleading guilty.[5]
- 23 June – ITV broadcasts the rock concert New Brighton Rock recorded at the event staged in the seaside resort of New Brighton, Merseyside over two days on 21 and 22 May.
July
- 28 July–12 August – BBC Television provides live coverage of the 1984 Summer Olympics.
August
- 27 August – Technicians at Thames Television walk out on strike over the use of new cameras and editing equipment along with overtime payments for transmission staff. The strike lasts for two weeks but the station is off the air for just one day over the August Bank Holiday weekend.[6] Management and administration staff take over their roles, broadcasting a skeleton service.[7]
September
- 1 September – The Children's Channel original launched on satellite television.
- 23 September – British single TV drama play Threads premiered on BBC2.[8]
October
- 8 October – The Australian soap Prisoner: Cell Block H makes its British television debut when Yorkshire Television becomes the first ITV region to begin airing the programme in a late night slot. It is followed by most other ITV regions in 1987.
- 9 October – The television series based on the children's books by the Rev. Wilbert Awdry and narrated by Ringo Starr, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends is first broadcast on ITV, becoming one of the most successful children's TV programmes of all time.
- 15 October – Channel 4's output increases by 25%. The weekday schedules now begin at 2.30pm instead of 5:00pm, while weekend airtime starts at 1:00pm rather than 2:00pm.
- 16 October – The Bill, a police TV drama, airs for the first time on ITV. It debuted last year as a pilot show Wooden Top.[9] When the last episode is shown in 2010 it will be the longest-running police procedural in British television history.
- 23 October – BBC News newsreader Michael Buerk gives powerful commentary of the famine in Ethiopia which has already claimed thousands of lives and reportedly has the potential to kill as many as 7 million people.
November
- 21 November – Debut of Alan Seymour's dramatisation of the John Masefield fantasy adventure novel The Box of Delights.[10] The six part series concludes on Christmas Eve.[11]
December
- 26 December – Joan Hickson makes her debut as Agatha Christie's Miss Marple in BBC1's eponymous television series, with the first part of a three-part adaptation of The Body in the Library.[12] Part two airs on 27 December,[13] and Part three on 28 December.[14]
Unknown
- Telstar TV, the UK's first pirate television station goes on air in Birmingham. The channel broadcasts for about eight weeks on the BBC2 transmitter in the Northfield and Rubery areas of the city, showing a mixture of films and pop videos after BBC2 closes at weekends. It goes unnoticed by the authorities for several weeks much to their embarrassment.[15]
Debuts
BBC1
- 10 January – The District Nurse (1984–1987)
- 12 January – Diana (1984)
- 19 January – The Living Planet (1984)
- 27 January – Sharon and Elsie (1984–1985)
- 29 January –
- Ever Decreasing Circles (1984–1989)
- One by One (1984–1987)
- 7 April – The Laughter Show (1984–1991)
- 7 June – Crimewatch (1984–present)
- 1 September – Bob's Full House (1984–1990)
- 3 September –
- BBC North West Tonight (1984–present)
- BBC News at Six (1984–present)
- 4 September – The Invisible Man (1984)
- 6 September – The Magnificent Evans (1984)
- 12 September – Cold Warrior (1984)
- 14 September – Hartbeat (1984–1993)
- 15 September – The Tripods (1984–1985)
- 24 September – Beat the Teacher (1984–1988)
- 5 October – The Family-Ness (1984–1985)
- 14 October – Big Deal (1984–1986)
- 21 November – The Box of Delights (1984)
- 6 December – The Front Line (1984–1985)
- 26 December – Miss Marple (1984–1992)
BBC2
- 31 January – Alas Smith and Jones (1984–1998)
- 23 September – Threads (1984)
- 29 October – Laugh??? I Nearly Paid My Licence Fee (1984)
- 14 November – Oxbridge Blues (1984)
- 27 November – The Clairvoyant (1984)
ITV
- 7 January –
/
/
Fraggle Rock (1984–1987)
- Child's Play (1984–1988)
- 9 January –
- The Jewel in the Crown (1984)
- Chocky (1984)
- 29 January – James the Cat (ITV 1984, Channel 5 1998)
- 13 February – Duty Free (1984–1986)
- 26 February – Spitting Image (1984–1996)
- 7 March – Fresh Fields (1984–1986)
- 24 March – The Price Is Right (1984–2007)
- 10 April – How Dare You (1984–1987)
- 18 April – Mr. Palfrey of Westminster (1984–1985)
- 24 April – The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (1984–1988, 1991–1994)
- 28 April – Robin of Sherwood (1984–1986)
- 6 May – Surprise Surprise (1984–2001, 2012–present)
- 6 June – Sorrell and Son (1984)
- 9 June – Aspel and Company (1984–1993)
- 31 August –
/
Inspector Gadget (1983–1986)
- 1 September –
- Bottle Boys (1984–1985)
- The Saturday Starship (1984–1985)
- 5 September – Hammer House of Mystery and Suspense (1984)
- 11 September – Towser (1984)
- 24 September – Tripper's Day (1984)
- 8 October –
Prisoner Cell Block H Yorkshire Region only (1984–1998)
- 9 October – Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (ITV 1984–1992 and 2003–2006, Channel 5 2006–present)
- 13 October – Wide Awake Club (1984–1992)
- 16 October – The Bill (1984–2010)
- 5 November – Tickle on the Tum (1984–1988)
- 8 November – Stanley Bagshaw (1984)
- Unknown –
- We Love TV (1984–1986)
Channel 4
- 22 March – Channel 4 Racing (1984–2016)
- 14 July – They Came from Somewhere Else (1984)
Channels
New channels
Date | Channel |
---|---|
29 March | Music Box, Screensport, The Entertainment Network |
1 September | The Children's Channel |
Rebranded channels
Date | Old Name | New Name |
---|---|---|
16 January | Satellite Television | Sky Channel |
Television shows
1920s
- BBC Wimbledon (1927–present)
1940s
- Come Dancing (1949–1998)
1950s
- Panorama (1953–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)
- 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)
- Jackanory (1965–1996, 2006–present)
- Sportsnight (1965–1997)
- Call My Bluff (1965–2005)
- The Money Programme (1966–2010)
- The Big Match (1968–2002)
1970s
- The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971–1987)
- The Two Ronnies (1971–1987, 1991, 1996, 2005)
- Pebble Mill at One (1972–1986)
- Rainbow (1972–1992, 1994–1995)
- Emmerdale (1972–present)
- Newsround (1972–present)
- Weekend World (1972–1988)
- We Are the Champions (1973–1987)
- Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010)
- That's Life! (1973–1994)
- Wish You Were Here...? (1974–2003)
- Arena (1975–present)
- Jim'll Fix It (1975–1994)
- One Man and His Dog (1976–present)
- 3-2-1 (1978–1988)
- Grange Hill (1978–2008)
- Terry and June (1979–1987)
- The Book Tower (1979–1989)
- Blankety Blank (1979–1990, 1997–2002)
- The Paul Daniels Magic Show (1979–1994)
- Antiques Roadshow (1979–present)
- Question Time (1979–present)
1980s
- Juliet Bravo (1980–1985)
- Dempsey and Makepeace (1984–1986)
- Cockleshell Bay (1980–1986)
- Children in Need (1980–present)
- Finders Keepers (1981–1985, 1991–1996, 2006)
- Freetime (1981–1985)
- Game for a Laugh (1981–1985)
- Tenko (1981–1985)
- That's My Boy (1981–1986)
- Razzamatazz (1981–1987)
- Bergerac (1981–1991)
- Odd One Out (1982–1985)
- On Safari (1982–1985)
- 'Allo 'Allo! (1982–1992)
- Wogan (1982–1992)
- Saturday Superstore (1982–1987)
- The Tube (1982–1987)
- Brookside (1982–2003)
- Countdown (1982–present)
- Let's Pretend (TV series) (1982–1988)
- No. 73 (1982–1988)
- Timewatch (1982–present)
- Right to Reply (1982–2001)
- Up the Elephant and Round the Castle (1983–1985)
- Inspector Gadget (1983–1986)
- Bananaman (1983–1986)
- Just Good Friends (1983–1986)
- Philip Marlowe, Private Eye (1983–1986)
- Breakfast Time (1983–1989)
- Dramarama (1983–1989)
- Don't Wait Up (1983–1990)
- Good Morning Britain (1983–1992)
- First Tuesday (1983–1993)
- Highway (1983–1993)
- Blockbusters (1983–93, 1994–95, 1997, 2000–01, 2012)
- Ever Decreasing Circles (1984–1989)
- Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends (1984–present)
- The Trap Door (1984–1986)
- James the Cat (1984–2003)
- Channel 4 Racing (1984–2016)
Ending this year
- 14 January – Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime (1983–1984)
- 17 February – A Fine Romance (1981–1984)
- 29 March – Crown Court (1972–1984)
- 2 April – Alphabet Zoo (1983–1984)
- 3 April – The Jewel In The Crown (1984)
- 14 April – The Saturday Show (1982–1984)
- 11 June – Rentaghost (1976–1984)
- 19 June – The Young Ones (1982–1984)
- 24 July – Terrahawks (1983–1984)
- 27 July – Sixty Minutes (1983–1984)
- 24 November – The Gentle Touch (1980–1984)
- 11 December – On Safari (1982–1984)
- 20 December – Screen Test (1969–1984)
- 21 December – Crackerjack (1955–1984)
- 22 December – Punchlines (1981–1984)
Births
- 6 February – Gemma Merna, actress
- 7 March – Rachel Rice, actress and reality show contestant
- 28 March – Nikki Sanderson, actress
- 22 April – Michelle Ryan, actress
- 19 August – Simon Bird, actor
- 27 October – Kelly Osbourne, singer
- 16 November – Gemma Atkinson, actress and model
- 25 December – Georgia Moffett, actress
Deaths
Date | Name | Age | Cinematic Credibility |
---|---|---|---|
11 February | John Comer | 59 | actor (Sid in Last of the Summer Wine) |
4 March | Geoffrey Lumsden | 69 | actor (Captain Square in Dad's Army) |
12 March | Arnold Ridley | 88 | actor (Private Charles Godfrey in Dad's Army) |
31 March | Jack Howarth | actor (Albert Tatlock in Coronation Street) | |
15 April | Tommy Cooper | 63 | comedian and magician |
4 May | Diana Dors | 52 | actress |
27 May | Reginald Bosanquet | 51 | journalist and newsreader, presented News at Ten during the 1970s |
28 May | Eric Morecambe | 58 | comedian (Morecambe and Wise) |
12 August | Christine Hargreaves | 45 | actress (Christine Appleby in Coronation Street) |
27 August | Bernard Youens | 69 | actor (Stan Ogden in Coronation Street) |
27 September | Toke Townley | 71 | actor (Sam Pearson in Emmerdale) |
6 October | Leonard Rossiter | 57 | actor (Rising Damp, The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin) |
10 October | Alan Lake | 43 | actor |
15 December | Lennard Pearce | 69 | actor (Grandad in Only Fools and Horses) |
See also
- 1984 in British music
- 1984 in British radio
- 1984 in the United Kingdom
- List of British films of 1984
References
- ^ Wilson, Jamie (22 December 1999). "Who will listen to his story now?". The Guardian. London: Guardian Media Group. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
- ^ http://www.ukgameshows.com/ukgs/The_Price_is_Right
- ^ "La Marée et ses Secrets". BroadcastForSchools.co.uk. Retrieved 11 April 2017.
- ^ "Man remanded in 1983 death case". BBC News. 9 April 2009. Archived from the original on 11 April 2009. Retrieved 20 April 2009.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Man sentenced to life for 1983 murder of Colette Aramref". BBC News. 25 January 2010. Archived from the original on 28 January 2010. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Thames strike caption (27 August 1984)". Archived from the original on 7 May 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-20.
{{cite web}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ Cherry, S. ITV: The People's Channel, Reynolds and Hearn, 2005, p196
- ^ http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/41ce1c81c97940d89c024f28e885e07e
- ^ "The Bill". tv.com. Retrieved 19 October 2012.
- ^ http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1345e66e95b74ee2bdcdd324d5d37beb
- ^ http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/1ab8d6bdefe54009878dfce4c7884115
- ^ http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/ceb5581f5ca44486bb404020e1b41b0a
- ^ http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/33864901978742eaaa9d03520f055f11
- ^ http://genome.ch.bbc.co.uk/43009597b9f749b1aa7f4cfffe8f2d13
- ^ Minto, Veronica (19 February 1984). "Britain's First Pirate TV Station". West Indian World. No. 650. Freespace.virgin.net. Retrieved 19 February 2012.