Art & Hue2024 Classic TV Anniversaries
As well as film milestones, this year is bumper-packed full of classic TV anniversaries, from stylish spy shows to enduring sitcoms. Art & Hue rounds-up the beloved & cult television to celebrate in 2024.
55 years of Colour TV
55 years ago, BBC1 and ITV both start broadcasting in colour on the 15th of November 1969.
60 Years of BBC 2
60 years ago, BBC Two launched on the 21st of April 1964 with Play School, the first programme to be officially broadcast on the new channel.
70 years of Tony Hancock
Not strictly a TV anniversary but 70 years ago, Tony Hancock‘s radio show “Hancock’s Half Hour” debuted on British radio on the 2nd of November 1954 (which led to the TV shows).
60 years since Diana Rigg joined The Avengers
60 years ago, Diana Rigg started filming “The Avengers” as Mrs Emma Peel at Elstree Studios on the 23rd of November 1964
60 years of The Man from UNCLE
60 years ago, the first series of the classic TV spy show “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” starring Robert Vaughn & David McCallum aired for the first time with the episode “The Vulcan Affair” on the 22nd of September 1964.
60 years of The Likely Lads
60 years ago, “The Likely Lads” made their debut on BBC 2 when the first episode, called “Entente Cordiale”, aired on the 16th of December 1964.
55 years since the final Avengers episode
55 years ago, the final episode of “The Avengers” with Tara King & John Steed called “Bizarre” was broadcast, on the 21st of April 1969 in the USA and on the 21st of May 1969 on British TV.
55 Years since the final Saint episode
The final episode of “The Saint” starring Roger Moore, called “The World Beater”, was broadcast 55 years ago on the 9th of February 1969.
55 years of Up Pompeii
The pilot episode of “Up Pompeii” starring Frankie Howerd was aired 55 years ago as part of Comedy Playhouse on the 17th of September 1969.
55 years of Department S
55 years ago, the TV show “Department S” starring Peter Wyngarde as Jason King started on the 10th of January 1969.
55 years of On the Buses
55 years ago, the first episode of “On the Buses“, called “The Early Shift”, debuted on LWT on the 28th February 1969.
Landau & Bain
55 years ago, Martin Landau & Barbara Bain left “Mission: Impossible”, their final episode airing on the 20th of April 1969.
55 years since Get Smart
55 years ago, the final series of spy spoof “Get Smart”, starring Barbara Feldon, started airing on American TV on the 26th of September 1969.
Rising Damp 50th & 45 since Perrin
50 years ago, the first ever episode of “Rising Damp” starring Leonard Rossiter aired on the 2nd of September 1974, and 45 years ago, the final episode of Reginald Perrin was broadcast on the 24th of January 1979.
John Cleese events
John Cleese turns 85 in October this year, “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” debuted 50 years ago on the 5th of October 1969, & the final episode of “Fawlty Towers”, called “Basil the Rat”, aired 45 years ago on the 25th October 1975.
Ronnie Barker Events
Ronnie Barker was born 95 years ago. The first series proper of the classic sit-com “Porridge” debuted 50 years ago on the 5th of September 1974. Barker also appeared in “The Bargee” which premiered 60 years ago on the 23rd of April 1964.
Man About the House film 50th
The film outing for the TV sitcom “Man About The House” starring Yootha Joyce was released 50 years ago, opening at the ABC Cinema in Manchester on the 8th of December 1974.
50 years since Steptoe & Son
50 years ago, the final ever episode of “Steptoe & Son” was broadcast on the 26th of December 1974, a Christmas special called “A Perfect Christmas”.
The Sweeney 50th
50 years ago, The Sweeney‘s Regan & Carter burst on to our screens starring John Thaw & Dennis Waterman. The pilot “Regan” was an episode of “Armchair Cinema” which aired on the 4th of June 1974.
50 years since Special Branch
50 years ago, the final ever episode of “Special Branch” starring Patrick Mower, called “Downwind of Angels”, was broadcast on the 9th of May 1974.
Pobol Y Cwm 50th
50 years ago, the first episode of Welsh soap opera “Pobol Y Cym” aired on the 16th of October 1974 starring Rachel Thomas who would go on to appear in the long-running serial until 1992.
Sapphire & Steel 45th
45 years ago, the first episode of the cult sci-fi series “Sapphire & Steel”, starring Joanna Lumley & David McCallum, aired on the 10th of July 1979.
Vicar of Dibley 40th
40 years ago, the first episode of “The Vicar of Dibley” starring Dawn French was broadcast on the 10th of November 1994.
35 years of Parliament TV
35 years ago, the first television broadcasts from inside Parliament started on the 21st of November 1989.
30 Years Babs’ Eastenders debut
25 years ago, Barbara Windsor made her first appearance as Peggy Mitchell in “Eastenders” on the 7th of November 1994.
Gimme Gimme Gimme 25th
25 years ago, the first episode of cult comedy “Gimme Gimme Gimme”, starring Kathy Burke as Linda La Hughes, aired on the 8th of January 1999.
1964 Song Contest 60th
60 years ago on the 21st of March 1964, Matt Monro represented the United Kingdom at Eurovision (coming second to Italy) and, representing The Netherlands, Anneke Grönloh made history as the first non-White performer to compete in the Song Contest.
Boom Bang-a-Bang 55th
55 years ago, Lulu represented the United Kingdom at Eurovision and won with “Boom Bang-a-Bang“. The 1969 Song Contest took place on the 29th of March 1969 in Madrid, following Massiel‘s win for Spain the previous year.
Diggi Loo Diggi Ley 40th
40 years ago, Herreys won the 1984 Eurovision for Sweden with the song “Diggi Loo Diggi Ley“. Winning the Song Contest on the 5th of May 1984, the Herreys trio consists of three brothers & remain the youngest-ever male winners to this day.
These are just some of the TV anniversaries taking place in 2024 – there are more film milestones, as well as TV events, to celebrate this year.
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