The latest recordings from TV Home
Updates from our television presentation sites over the last 7 days
Older updates
On This Day...26th December
Programmes
1967
Magical Mystery Tour, featuring The Beatles, airs on BBC One (in black and white).
It is repeated on BBC Two (in colour) in January 1968.
It is repeated on BBC Two (in colour) in January 1968.
1967
The final episode of Belle and Sebastian airs on BBC One.
1967
The first edition of Do Not Adjust Your Set airs on ITV.
1968
The final edition of The Benny Hill Show airs on BBC One.
Hill moved to ITV/Thames TV, appearing there from 1969 until 1989.
Hill moved to ITV/Thames TV, appearing there from 1969 until 1989.
1969
The final episode of Curry and Chips airs on ITV.
1972
The Last Goon Show of All airs on BBC One.
Specially written and performed for the BBC's 50th anniversary. Radio's most famous comedy show performs for a distinguished audience at the Camden Theatre in London.
Starring Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers. With announcer Andrew Timothy, harmonicist Max Geldray and the Ray Ellington Quartet.
Specially written and performed for the BBC's 50th anniversary. Radio's most famous comedy show performs for a distinguished audience at the Camden Theatre in London.
Starring Spike Milligan, Harry Secombe and Peter Sellers. With announcer Andrew Timothy, harmonicist Max Geldray and the Ray Ellington Quartet.
1974
The final episode of Steptoe and Son airs on BBC One.
1977
The final episode of Who Pays the Ferryman? airs on BBC Two.
1979
The final edition of Dave Allen at Large airs on BBC One.
1981
An Audience with Dudley Moore airs on ITV.
1982
The animated television special The Snowman airs on Channel 4 for the first time.
1982
The final edition of All Star Record Breakers airs on BBC One.
1982
The Snowman airs on Channel 4.
Animated adaptation of Raymond Briggs' seasonal tale where a boy befriends a snowman.
Animated adaptation of Raymond Briggs' seasonal tale where a boy befriends a snowman.
1983
The final edition of The Morecambe and Wise Show (Thames incarnation) airs on ITV.
1984
The first episode of Miss Marple: The Body in the Library airs on BBC One.
This was the first of the TV adaptations of Miss Marple with Joan Hickson in the lead role.
This was the first of the TV adaptations of Miss Marple with Joan Hickson in the lead role.
1985
The first edition of The Joke Machine airs on ITV.
1985
Tenko Reunion airs on BBC One.
1987
The pilot of A Bit of Fry and Laurie airs on BBC One.
1988
CivvyStreet airs on BBC One.
An EastEnders special by Tony Holland set around Christmas 1942.
An EastEnders special by Tony Holland set around Christmas 1942.
1988
Bruce and Ronnie Christmas Special airs on BBC One.
Featuring Bruce Forsyth and Ronnie Corbett in a Christmas spectacular.
Featuring Bruce Forsyth and Ronnie Corbett in a Christmas spectacular.
1990
The first edition of Tony Jacklin's Pro-Celebrity Golf airs on Channel 4.
1991
The final episode of Bergerac airs on BBC One.
1992
The final episode of The New Statesman airs on ITV.
1993
The pilot of Shooting Stars airs on BBC Two.
2006
Challenge Anneka airs on ITV.
The first of two specials presented by Anneka Rice.
The original version of the programme ran on BBC One (1989 - 1995).
The first of two specials presented by Anneka Rice.
The original version of the programme ran on BBC One (1989 - 1995).
2010
The first episode of Upstairs Downstairs (latest incarnation) airs on BBC One.
2011
The first episode of The Royal Bodyguard airs on BBC One.
2013
The first episode of Still Open All Hours airs on BBC One.
2015
The final edition of Surprise Surprise (revived series) airs on ITV.
2016
The final edition of The Great British Bake Off (BBC-sponsored) airs on BBC One.
This was a Christmas special.
This was a Christmas special.
2019
The first episode of Worzel Gummidge (revived series) airs on BBC One.
Written by and starring Mackenzie Crook.
Written by and starring Mackenzie Crook.
2021
The first episode of A Very British Scandal airs on BBC One.
Starring Claire Foy and Paul Bettany as the Duchess and Duke of Argyll.
Starring Claire Foy and Paul Bettany as the Duchess and Duke of Argyll.
2021
The first episode of Around the World in 80 Days airs on BBC One.
Starring David Tennant.
Starring David Tennant.
2022
The final episode of Detectorists airs on BBC Two.
After a five-year break, a feature-length special of the comedy starring Mackenzie Crook and Toby Jones.
After a five-year break, a feature-length special of the comedy starring Mackenzie Crook and Toby Jones.
2023
Charles III: the Coronation Year airs on BBC One.
Test Card/Teletext In-Vision Music
1987
BBC Christmas tape Joy to the World (Nat King Cole) airs on BBC Two for the final time.
1993
BBC Christmas tape Unto Us a Child Is Born airs on BBC One for the final time.
EXTERNAL LINK: recreation of Unto Us a Child Is Born.
EXTERNAL LINK: recreation of Unto Us a Child Is Born.
1996
BBC Christmas tape Jingle Bells (1) (Christmas Strings) airs on BBC Two for the final time.
1996
BBC Christmas tape We Wish You a Merry Christmas (Spectrum Sound) airs on BBC One for the final time.
1997
BBC Christmas tape Carol of the Bells (Corporate Image) airs on BBC Two for the final time.
1998
BBC Two Christmas tape Joy to the World (David Snell) airs for the first time.
2005
BBC Two Christmas tape Jolly Old St Nicholas airs for the final time.
On This Day...26th December
Births
1933
Former TV presenter/executive, Owen Edwards.
Edwards was the first chief executive of the Welsh-language channel, S4C (1981 – 1989).
Edwards was the first chief executive of the Welsh-language channel, S4C (1981 – 1989).
1941
Theatre director, folk singer and TV presenter, Toni Arthur.
1951
TV/radio presenter, Richard Skinner.
1957
TV news presenter, Dermot Murnaghan.
Events
1967
Michael Aspel struggled through the early evening news, suffering from a sore throat.
At the end of the bulletin, he said: "That is the end of the news. I hope you managed to understand most of it. That's the worst of drinking in a drought."
He was sent home and replaced for the late news bulletin.
At the end of the bulletin, he said: "That is the end of the news. I hope you managed to understand most of it. That's the worst of drinking in a drought."
He was sent home and replaced for the late news bulletin.
2001
Cilla Black presents Surprise, Surprise (ITV) for the final time.
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.
TV Pres has been created to promote our partnership of independent television presentation sites. These feature high-quality, curated video content that documents the history of TV ephemera such as idents, promotions, advertisements, programme graphics and set design.
TV Pres from The Ident Gallery © 2021-2025 Andrew J Wood