
On This Day...
5th January
Programmes
1948
The first edition of Newsreel airs on BBC TV.
1961
The first edition of South at 6 airs on BBC One South.
Regional news programme from BBC South in Southampton. Later that year, it changed its name to South Today.
1962
The main characters from Steptoe and Son make their first TV appearance: in Comedy Playhouse: The Offer (BBC TV).
1966
The first episode of Softly, Softly airs on BBC One.
1966
The first edition of Reporting '66 airs on ITV.
1967
The first edition of Nixon at Nine-Five airs on BBC One.
Starring David Nixon. With The Beverley Sisters.
1968
The first edition of Gardeners' World airs on BBC Two.
1970
The first colour episode of Andy Pandy airs on BBC One.
1970
The first edition of A Question of Sport airs on BBC One.
1970
The first edition of Women Today airs on ITV.
ATV's version of Houseparty for Midlands viewers.
1973
The first episode of Teddy Edward airs on BBC One.
1973
The first episode of Ring-a-Ding airs on BBC One.
1974
The first edition of Tiswas airs on ITV.
Originally shown in the ATV region only. Also shown in the LWT and Yorkshire TV regions from November 1979. Fully networked from 1981.
1975
The final episode of No Honestly airs on ITV.
1976
The first episode of Paddington airs on BBC One.
By Michael Bond. The first of 14 episodes. Narrated by Michael Hordern. Music by Herbert Chappell. Animated and directed by Ivor Wood.
1977
The first episode of Rosie airs on BBC One.
Spin-off series from The Growing Pains of PC Penrose.
1981
The first episode of Triangle airs on BBC One.
1981
The first episode of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy airs on BBC Two.
1982
The first edition of Let's Pretend airs on ITV.
1982
The first episode of Don't Rock the Boat airs on ITV.
1983
The first episode of Captain Zep – Space Detective airs on BBC One.
1983
The first episode of Unknown Chaplin airs on ITV.
1987
The first episode of The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole airs on ITV.
1987
The first networked edition of Catchword airs on BBC Two.
Quiz show. Presented by Paul Coia.
The programme had previously aired on BBC Scotland (17th May 1985 - 2nd April 1986), and was presented by Gyles Brandreth.
1987
The first edition of Playbox airs on ITV.
Pre-school series. Voiced by Keith Chegwin and Pat Coombs.
1988
The first episode of Gas Street airs on ITV.
1989
The first episode of Desmond's airs on Channel 4.
1990
The first episode of Stolen airs on ITV.
1991
The pilot episode of US series Beverley Hills 90210 airs on ITV.
1991
The first edition of Grand Sportsmasters airs on ITV.
Presented by Dickie Davies.
1992
The Trouble with the 50s airs on ITV.
1992
The final edition of See for Yourself airs on BBC One.
1993
The first episode of Full Stretch airs on ITV.
1993
The first episode of Doctor Finlay airs on ITV.
1993
The first edition of First Letter First airs on BBC One.
2003
The final episode of Hornblower airs on ITV.
2003
The first edition of The Life of Mammals airs on BBC One.
2013
The first edition of Splash! airs on ITV.
2019
The first edition of The Greatest Dancer airs on BBC One.
2022
The final episode of Four Lives airs on BBC One.
Fact-based drama. Starring Stephen Merchant and Sheridan Smith. Based on the crimes of Stephen Port.
2022
The final episode of Anne airs on ITV.
Drama. Starring Maxine Peake as Hillsborough campaigner Anne Williams.
2025
The first episode of Playing Nice airs on ITV 1.
Psychological thriller. Adapted from the novel by J. P. Delaney. Starring James Norton and Niamh Algar.
Test Card/Teletext In-Vision Music
1972
BBC One tape Foolery airs for the first time.
1980
BBC Two tape Sunshine in Paris airs for the first time.
2001
BBC Two tape Por Causo do Amor airs for the first time.

On This Day...
5th January
Births
1942
Former TV presenter,
Jan Leeming.
1957
TV producer and former TV announcer, Mark Waddington.
1971
TV news presenter, Joanna Gosling.
1974
TV presenter, Sarah-Jane Honeywell.
1974
TV sports presenter/commentator and former athlete, Iwan Thomas.
Deaths
1994
Former TV sports presenter/commentator, Brian Johnston.
2021
Former actor and TV announcer, Jimmy Greene.
Events
1988
It is announced that Debbie Thrower will leave the BBC staff to go freelance.
She would also be stepping down as co-presenter of the Nine o’Clock News (BBC One).
Debbie presented her final Nine o'Clock News on Friday 26th February 1988.
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.