1976 in British television

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This is a list of British television-related events in 1976.

Events

January

• 2 January – Sheffield Cablevision closes when the funds run out.

February

• 4 February – Early morning programming from the Open University begins on BBC1, with Electrons in motion airing at 7:05 am. It would only be shown on UHF 625-line transmitters.

March

• No events.

April

• 3 April – The 21st Eurovision Song Contest is won by Brotherhood of Man, representing the United Kingdom, with their song "Save Your Kisses for Me".
• 5 April – Patricia Phoenix returns to the role of Elsie Tanner on Coronation Street after an absence of three years.
• 6 April – Original scheduled airdate of Dennis Potter's Play for Today Brimstone and Treacle. The film is pulled from transmission on BBC1 due to controversy over its content, including the rape of a woman by the devil. It is eventually screened on BBC1 in 1987, after having been made into a film starring Sting in 1982.
• 7 April – Margot Bryant makes her last appearance as Minnie Caldwell on Coronation Street.

May

• 2 May – British television premiere of the James Bond film From Russia with Love on ITV.
• May – London Weekend Television is reorganised, to form a new company "LWT (Holdings) Limited". which allowed the company to expand into a number of new ventures, including Hutchinson Publishing.

June

• 18 June – New Broadcasting House (Manchester) is officially inaugurated as the headquarters of BBC North.

July

• 1 July – American science-fiction series The Bionic Woman makes its debut on ITV and reaches number one in the ratings – an almost unheard of event for a science-fiction series.
• 17 July-1 August – The BBC provides extensive live coverage of the 1976 Summer Olympic Games. BBC1 broadcasts into the early hour to provide live coverage of the swimming and athletics events with overnight highlights and coverage of other sports shown the following afternoon.
• 26 July – Channel Television becomes the final ITV region to begin broadcasting in colour although it wasn't until the following year that all of its local programmes were made in colour.

August

• A series of situation comedy The Melting Pot, written by (and starring, in brownface) Spike Milligan (with Neil Shand), is recorded for BBC2 but never broadcast.

September

• 6 September
  • Northern Life replaces Today at Six as Tyne Tees' regional news programme.
  • George and Mildred, a spin-off from the comedy series Man About the House debuts on ITV.

October

• 2 October – The first edition of Saturday morning children’s magazine show Multi-Coloured Swap Shop is broadcast. It runs throughout the morning on BBC1.
• 22 October – Popular 1960s series The Avengers returns as The New Avengers – its first episode in seven years
• 23 October – Elisabeth Sladen leaves Doctor Who. The events following her departure will not be revealed until a return appearance 30 years later.

November

• 3 November – British television premiere of the James Bond film Goldfinger on ITV.
• 11 November – "Gwen Troake's Banquet" episode of reality television series The Big Time leads in two weeks to the termination of Fanny Cradock's contract with the BBC due to her patronising attitude towards an amateur chef.

December

• 1 December – Punk group The Sex Pistols cause a storm of controversy and outrage in the UK by swearing well before the 9 pm watershed on the regional Thames Television news programme Today, hosted by Bill Grundy. Grundy, who has goaded them into doing so, is temporarily sacked. Today is replaced by Thames at Six a year later.

Unknown

• Swindon Viewpoint's experimental phase ends when EMI decides to pull out of funding the service. However, the channel continues after being sold to the public of Swindon for £1.

Debuts

BBC1

• 4 January – The Prince and the Pauper (1976)
• 6 January – Rentaghost (1976–1984)
• 7 January - Marco, 3000 Leagues in Search for Mother
• 8 January – When the Boat Comes In (1976–1981)
• 21 January – Kizzy (1976)
• 29 February – The Flight of the Heron (1976)
• 8 March - BBC Evening News (1976-1983, 1984)
• 14 April – John Macnab (1976)
• 27 May – Second Verdict (1976)
• 31 May – Mike Yarwood in Persons (1976–1981)
• 4 September – The Duchess of Duke Street (1976–1977)
• 5 September – Lorna Doone (1976)
• 8 September – The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976–1979)
• 13 September –
  • Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk (1976)
  • Potter's Picture Palace (1976–1978)
• 2 October – Multi-Coloured Swap Shop (1976–1982)
• 10 October – Katy (1976)
• 21 November – Little Lord Fauntleroy (1976)
• 29 December – The Phoenix and the Carpet (1976-1977)

BBC2

• 7 January – Ripping Yarns (1976–1979)
• 21 January – The Glittering Prizes (1976)
• 4 February – The Mike Reid Show (1976–1978)
• 17 February – One Man and His Dog (1976–present)
• 20 February – Open All Hours (BBC2 1976, BBC1 1981–1982, 1985, 2013)
• 1 March – Our Mutual Friend (1976)
• 19 March – Battle of the Sexes (1976)
• 16 July – Orde Wingate (1976)
• 20 September – I, Claudius (1976)
• 24 September – Well Anyway (1976)
• 3 December – Brensham People (1976)
• 13 December – The Lady of the Camellias (1976)

ITV

• 1 January – Clayhanger (1976)
• 2 January – The Georgian House (1976)
• 4 January – A Place to Hide (1976)
• 7 January – Life and Death of Penelope (1976)
• 9 January –
  • Bouquet of Barbed Wire (1976)
  • Yus, My Dear (1976)
  • Yes, Honestly (1976–1977)
• 11 January – Red Letter Day (1976)
• 19 January – Hello Cheeky (1976)
• 15 February – Dominic (1976)
• 17 March – The Molly Wopsies (1976)
• 26 March – 4 Idle Hands (1976)
• 1 April – Garnock Way (1976–1979)
• 6 April – Plays for Britain (1976)
• 9 April – The Fosters (1976–1977)
• 28 April –
  • The Ghosts of Motley Hall (1976–1978)
  • Westway (1976)
• 19 May – Dangerous Knowledge (1976)
• 30 May – Big Boy Now! (1976–1977)
• 6 June – Murder (1976)
• 13 June – Operation Patch (1976)
• 21 June – The Feathered Serpent (1976–1978)
• 30 June – Killers (1976)
• 1 July – The Bionic Woman (1976–1978, 2007)
• 3 July –
  • Nobody Does It Like Marti (1976)
  • The XYY Man (1976–1977)
• 18 July – Forget Me Not (1976)
• 13 August – Maggie and Her (1976–1979)
• 31 August – Cilla's World of Comedy (1976)
• 1 September – Star Maidens (1976)
• 2 September – The Howerd Confessions (1976)
• 3 September –
  • Lucky Feller (1976)
  • The Many Wives of Patrick (1976–1978)
  • Victorian Scandals (1976)
• 5 September – The Muppet Show (1976–1981)
• 6 September –
  • George and Mildred (1976–1979)
  • Northern Life (1976–1992)
• 16 September – The Crezz (1976)
• 20 September – The Cedar Tree (1976–1978)
• 27 September –
  • Chorlton and the Wheelies (1976–1979)
  • Nobody's House (1976)
• 28 September – Dickens of London (1976)
• 14 October – N.U.T.S. (1976)
• 16 October –
  • Happy Days (1974-1984)
  • Beasts (1976)
• 19 October – The New Avengers (1976–1977)
• 15 November – Pauline's Quirkes (1976)
• 22 November – Yanks Go Home (1976–1977)
• Unknown – What's on Next? (1976–1978)

Continuing television shows

^{^[e]} signifies that this show has a related event in the Events section above.

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

• Panorama (1953–present)
• The Good Old Days (1953–1983)
• This Is Your Life (1955–2003)
• Crackerjack (1955–1984, 2020–present)
• Opportunity Knocks (1956–1978)
• What the Papers Say (1956–2008)
• The Sky at Night (1957–present)
• Blue Peter (1958–present)
• Grandstand (1958–2007)

1960s

• Coronation Street (1960–present)^[e]
• Songs of Praise (1961–present)
• Z-Cars (1962–1978)
• Crossroads (1964–1988, 2001–2003)
• Play School (1964–1988)
• Mr. and Mrs. (1964–1999, 2008–2010, 2012–present)
• Call My Bluff (1965–2005)
• World of Sport (1965–1985)
• Magpie (1968–1980)
• The Benny Hill Show (1969–1989)
• Doctor Who (1963–1989, 1996, 2005–present)
• Top of the Pops (1964–2006)
• Match of the Day (1964–present)
• World of Sport (1965–1985)
• Jackanory (1965–1996, 2006–present)
• Sportsnight (1965–1997)
• The Money Programme (1966–present)
• Dad's Army (1968–1977)
• Magpie (1968–1980)
• The Big Match (1968–2002)
• Nationwide (1969–1983)
• Screen Test (1969–1984)

1970s

• Play for Today (1970–1984)^[e]
• The Old Grey Whistle Test (1971–1987)
• The Two Ronnies (1971–1987, 1991, 1996, 2005)
• Thunderbirds (1972–1980, 1984-1987)
• Are You Being Served? (1972–1985)
• Rainbow (1972–1992, 1994–1997)
• Emmerdale Farm (1972–present)
• John Craven's Newsround (1972–present)
• Last of the Summer Wine (1973–2010)
• Superstars (1973–1985, 2003–2005)
• The Tomorrow People (1973–1979, 1992–1995)
• Tiswas (1974–1982)
• Wish You Were Here...? (1974–2003)
• Arena (1975–present)
• Jim'll Fix It (1975–1994)
• Survivors (1975–1977)
• The Good Life (1975–1978)
• The Bionic Woman (1976–1978, 2007)^[e]
• Pop Quest (1975–1978)
• Runaround (1975–1981)
• Space: 1999 (1975–1977)
• Supersonic (1975–1977)
• The Sweeney (1975–1978)
• Little Monsters (1975-1978)
• Microscopic Milton (1975-1981)
• Celebrity Squares (1975–1979, 1993–1997, 2014–present)

Ending this year

• Unknown
  • Rutland Weekend Television (1975–1976)
  • Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk (1976)
• 22 January – Love Thy Neighbour (1972–1976)
• 10 February — Shades of Greene (1975–1976)
• 26 March  — Open All Hours (1976, 1981–1982, 1985, 2013)
• 7 April — Man About The House (1973–1976)
• 1 May — Dixon of Dock Green (1955–1976)
• 31 May — Maya the Honey Bee (1975-1976)
• 21 June  — My Brother's Keeper (1975–1976)
• 1 December — Star Maidens (1976)
• 31 December - Marco, 3000 Leagues in Search for Mother

Births

• 19 January — Marsha Thomason, actress
• 21 January — Emma Bunton, musician and television presenter
• 28 January — Lee Ingleby, actor
• 3 February — Caroline Bilton, journalist and newsreader
• 8 February — Abi Titmuss, television presenter and model
• 10 February — Keeley Hawes, actress
• 12 February – Jenni Falconer, television presenter
• 2 March — Helen Latham, actress
• 21 March — Celina Hinchcliffe, television sports presenter
• 24 March — Angellica Bell, television presenter
• 18 April — Sean Maguire, actor and singer
• 27 April  — Sally Hawkins, English actress
• 29 April  — Ana Boulter, television presenter
• 14 May — Martine McCutcheon, actress and singer
• 2 June — Marek Larwood, actor
• 5 June
  • Rachel Leskovac, actress
  • Ross Noble, comedian
• 13 June — Kym Marsh, actress and singer
• 28 June – Lorraine Stanley, actress
• 1 July – Kellie Bright, actress* 7 July — Natasha Collins, actress and model (died 2008)
• 8 July — Alex Fletcher, actress
• 12 July — Anna Friel, actress
• 13 July – Lisa Riley, actress and television presenter
• 19 July
  • Ellie Crisell, journalist and news presenter
  • Benedict Cumberbatch, actor
• 8 August — Laura Kuenssberg, political journalist
• 9 August — Rhona Mitra, actress
• 6 September — Naomie Harris, actress
• 23 September – Rob James-Collier, actor and model
• 21 October – Andrew Scott, actor
• 23 October — Cat Deeley, television presenter
• 1 November — Beth Cordingly, actress
• 8 December — Dominic Monaghan, actor
• Unknown – Bryan Kirkwood, television producer

Deaths

• 26 April — Sid James, actor and comedian
• 19 August – Alastair Sim, actor

See also

• 1976 in British music
• 1976 in British radio
• 1976 in the United Kingdom
• List of British films of 1976