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On This Day...31st August
Channels
1957
Scottish Television - the ITV franchisee for central Scotland - begins broadcasting.
1984
The technicians' strike at Thames Television continues.
TV-am transmissions are unaffected. The entire Thames TV schedule is blacked out.
Viewers in the London area are presented with a blue apology caption and silence.
However, London Weekend Television's schedule is transmitted as planned, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
RELATED ARTICLE: Thames TV off the air.
TV-am transmissions are unaffected. The entire Thames TV schedule is blacked out.
Viewers in the London area are presented with a blue apology caption and silence.
However, London Weekend Television's schedule is transmitted as planned, on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
RELATED ARTICLE: Thames TV off the air.
2021
The final full day of programmes on Sky One, before the channel is replaced by Sky Showcase on 1st September 2021.
Programmes
1939
The final edition of Picture Page ahead of World War II airs on BBC TV.
1970
The final episode of The Dustbinmen airs on ITV.
1974
The first edition of Football Focus airs on BBC One.
Presented by Bob Wilson.
Included within Grandstand for many years, it became a standalone programme from August 2001.
Presented by Bob Wilson.
Included within Grandstand for many years, it became a standalone programme from August 2001.
1976
The final episode of Sutherland’s Law airs on BBC One.
1976
The first episode of Cilla's World of Comedy airs on ITV.
1979
The first edition of the revived Points of View airs on BBC One (South East region only).
1982
The final episode of Sapphire & Steel airs on ITV.
1984
The first episode of Inspector Gadget airs on ITV.
1985
The final edition of Anything Goes airs on BBC One.
1986
The first episode of The Monocled Mutineer airs on BBC One.
1987
The final episode of Terry and June airs on BBC One.
1987
The final episode of Star Cops airs on BBC Two.
1991
The first episode of The House of Eliott airs on BBC One.
Created by Eileen Atkins and Jean Marsh. Starring Stella Gonet, Louise Lombard and Aiden Gillett.
Created by Eileen Atkins and Jean Marsh. Starring Stella Gonet, Louise Lombard and Aiden Gillett.
1991
The first edition of Ten Sharp! airs on ITV.
1997
At 1.47am, BBC One interrupts the late film, Borsalino for a news report from Martyn Lewis: "We interrupt this film to tell you we are getting reports that Diana, Princess of Wales has been badly injured in a car crash in France."
At 3.15am, the British Ambassador in Paris (Sir Michael Jay) rang Balmoral to inform the Royal Family.
When the BBC domestic news operation came back on air later in the morning, Martyn Lewis, wearing a plain black tie, made this announcement: "This is BBC Television from London. Diana, Princess of Wales, has died after a car crash in Paris.
"The French government announced her death just before 5 o’clock this morning. Buckingham Palace confirmed the news shortly afterwards. Normal programmes have been suspended while we bring you the latest developments throughout the morning."
The National Anthem was played, accompanied by a Union flag at half-mast, with the caption: "Diana, Princess of Wales, 1961 - 1997". Live news coverage was then simulcast on BBC One and BBC Two until the afternoon.
Nik Gowing presented on BBC World News when the news was breaking. He got a call from his editor at 1.10am saying Dodi Fayed was dead and Diana might be. He was on air at 2.30am with a skeleton staff.
EXTERNAL LINK: BBC One interrupts late film for news report about Diana Princess of Wales.
EXTERNAL LINK: Nik Gowing announces the death of Diana Princess of Wales.
At 3.15am, the British Ambassador in Paris (Sir Michael Jay) rang Balmoral to inform the Royal Family.
When the BBC domestic news operation came back on air later in the morning, Martyn Lewis, wearing a plain black tie, made this announcement: "This is BBC Television from London. Diana, Princess of Wales, has died after a car crash in Paris.
"The French government announced her death just before 5 o’clock this morning. Buckingham Palace confirmed the news shortly afterwards. Normal programmes have been suspended while we bring you the latest developments throughout the morning."
The National Anthem was played, accompanied by a Union flag at half-mast, with the caption: "Diana, Princess of Wales, 1961 - 1997". Live news coverage was then simulcast on BBC One and BBC Two until the afternoon.
Nik Gowing presented on BBC World News when the news was breaking. He got a call from his editor at 1.10am saying Dodi Fayed was dead and Diana might be. He was on air at 2.30am with a skeleton staff.
EXTERNAL LINK: BBC One interrupts late film for news report about Diana Princess of Wales.
EXTERNAL LINK: Nik Gowing announces the death of Diana Princess of Wales.
1998
The final edition of Disney Time airs on BBC One.
Presented by Michaela Strachan and David Bellamy from Kew Gardens.
Presented by Michaela Strachan and David Bellamy from Kew Gardens.
2002
The first edition of Dick and Dom in Da Bungalow airs on CBBC.
2007
The final edition of Supermarket Sweep airs on ITV 1.
Hosted by Dale Winton.
Hosted by Dale Winton.
2010
The final episode of The Bill airs on ITV.
2013
The first episode of Stepping Out airs on ITV.
2015
The first edition of Terry and Mason's Great Food Trip airs on BBC Two.
Sir Terry Wogan and cabbie Mason McQueen travel around the UK for the best local food dishes.
Sir Terry Wogan and cabbie Mason McQueen travel around the UK for the best local food dishes.
2018
The final edition of The Wright Stuff airs on Channel 5.
2025
The first episode of I Fought the Law airs on ITV 1.
Fact-based drama. Starring Sheridan Smith.
Fact-based drama. Starring Sheridan Smith.
2025
The first edition of The Inheritance airs on Channel 4.
Reality game show. Hosted by Rob Rinder with the "the Deceased" played by Elizabeth Hurley.
Reality game show. Hosted by Rob Rinder with the "the Deceased" played by Elizabeth Hurley.
Test Card/Teletext In-Vision Music
1992
BBC One tape Child's Play airs for the final time.
1998
BBC Two tape Winter Sun airs for the final time.
EXTERNAL LINK: Pages from Ceefax accompanied by Winter Sun (21st October 1996).
EXTERNAL LINK: Pages from Ceefax accompanied by Winter Sun (21st October 1996).
2002
BBC Two tape So High airs for the first time.
On This Day...31st August
Births
1932
Former entertainer and TV presenter, Roy Castle.
1938
Former TV news reporter and politician, Martin Bell.
1943
Former TV presenter, Jane Probyn.
1995
Actor and TV presenter, Ceallach Spellman.
Deaths
1988
Former actress and TV presenter, Joan Miller.
2013
Former TV presenter, Sir David Frost.
2022
Former TV/radio presenter, Bill Turnbull.
Events
1936
Elizabeth Cowell becomes the first female TV announcer, as part of BBC test transmissions for the RadiOlympia exhibition.
Research for On This Day in TV History is by Paul R. Jackson.
Details about test card/teletext in-vision music and BBC trade test films are available as a result of decades of research and logging by members of the Test Card Circle.
Details about test card/teletext in-vision music and BBC trade test films are available as a result of decades of research and logging by members of the Test Card Circle.
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