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On This Day...4th January
Programmes
1965
The first episode of US series Bewitched airs on BBC One.
1967
The 100th edition of Animal Magic airs on BBC One.
1968
The final episode of Pogles' Wood airs on BBC One.
1973
The pilot episode of Last of the Summer Wine airs on BBC One (as part of Comedy Playhouse).
1974
The first episode of Within These Walls airs on ITV.
1980
The first episode of The Assassination Run airs on BBC One.
1981
The first episode of Barriers airs on ITV.
1982
The first edition of South East at Six airs on BBC One South East.
Regional news programme.
Regional news programme.
1982
The first edition of Coast to Coast airs on ITV (TVS).
Regional news programme.
Regional news programme.
1982
The first edition of Today South West airs on ITV (TSW).
Regional news programme. Presented by Kenneth MacLeod and Kerry Swain.
Regional news programme. Presented by Kenneth MacLeod and Kerry Swain.
1982
The first episode of Let's Pretend airs on ITV.
1984
The first edition of Whicker's World: QE2 Cruise airs on BBC One.
1985
The final episode of Wynne and Penkovsky airs on BBC One.
1985
The final episode of A Woman of Substance airs on Channel 4.
1986
The first edition of News View airs on BBC Two.
Jan Leeming presents the day's news and Moira Stuart presents a review of the week's news.
Jan Leeming presents the day's news and Moira Stuart presents a review of the week's news.
1986
The first episode of Strike it Rich! airs on BBC One.
1988
The first episode of Clarence airs on BBC Two.
1988
The first episode of After Henry airs on ITV.
1988
Neighbours moves to a new early evening 5.35pm slot, after CBBC programmes on BBC One.
The move was prompted by Controller of BBC One Michael Grade's daughter Alison, who told him that her school friends were missing it at 1.30pm, as it aired after their lunch break ended.
The move was prompted by Controller of BBC One Michael Grade's daughter Alison, who told him that her school friends were missing it at 1.30pm, as it aired after their lunch break ended.
1989
The final edition of Jack High airs on BBC Two.
1990
The first episode One Foot in the Grave airs on BBC One.
1991
The first episode of US series Over My Dead Body airs on BBC One.
1992
The first episode of Moon and Son airs on BBC One.
1993
The first episode of Tots TV airs on ITV.
1993
The first edition of London Tonight airs on ITV (Carlton).
Regional news programme.
Regional news programme.
1993
The first edition of Meridian Tonight airs on ITV (Meridian).
Regional news programme.
Regional news programme.
1993
The first edition of Westcountry Live airs on ITV (Westcountry).
Regional news programme. Presented by David Foster and Katy Haswell.
Regional news programme. Presented by David Foster and Katy Haswell.
1994
The first episode of All Quiet on the Preston Front airs on BBC One.
1994
Smashie and Nicey's Top of the Pops Party airs on BBC One.
30th anniversary celebration of Top of the Pops.
30th anniversary celebration of Top of the Pops.
1998
The first episode of The Ambassador airs on BBC One.
1999
The first edition of Carol Vorderman's Better Homes airs on ITV.
1999
The first episode of The Vice airs on ITV.
2001
The first episode of Bill and Ben airs on BBC One.
Animated series. Features the fondly remembered flowerpot men.
Animated series. Features the fondly remembered flowerpot men.
2001
You'll Never Fill Half an Hour airs on BBC Two East Midlands.
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of East Midlands Today.
Celebrating the 10th anniversary of East Midlands Today.
2005
The first edition of Dragon's Den airs on BBC Two.
2007
The final episode of Green Wing airs on Channel 4.
2013
The first episode of The Dumping Ground airs on CBBC.
2016
The first edition of Insert Name Here airs on BBC Two.
2017
The final edition of Pop Quiz (2-part revival) airs on BBC Four.
2018
The first episode of Derry Girls airs on Channel 4.
2019
The final episode of Luther airs on BBC One.
2020
The first edition of The Masked Singer airs on ITV.
2021
The first episode of Traces airs on BBC One.
The series was originally broadcast on Alibi (December 2019 – January 2020).
The series was originally broadcast on Alibi (December 2019 – January 2020).
2023
The first episode of Our Flag Means Death airs on BBC Two.
US comedy drama. Set in the 18th century. Based on a true story.
US comedy drama. Set in the 18th century. Based on a true story.
2023
The final episode of Stonehouse airs on ITV 1.
Drama. Based on real-life events. Starring Matthew Macfadyen as former Labour MP John Stonehouse, and Keeley Hawes as his wife Barbara.
Drama. Based on real-life events. Starring Matthew Macfadyen as former Labour MP John Stonehouse, and Keeley Hawes as his wife Barbara.
2023
The first episode of The Light in the Hall airs on Channel 4.
Psychological thriller. Starring Joanna Scanlan.
Psychological thriller. Starring Joanna Scanlan.
2024
The final episode of Mr Bates vs The Post Office airs on ITV 1.
Drama. Based on real-life events. Starring Toby Jones as Alan Bates.
Drama. Based on real-life events. Starring Toby Jones as Alan Bates.
2025
The first episode of North Shore airs on ITV 1.
Australia drama. Starring Joanne Froggatt and John Bradley.
Australia drama. Starring Joanne Froggatt and John Bradley.
Test Card/Teletext In-Vision Music
2006
BBC Two tape Supreme Comfort airs for the final time.
2006
BBC Two tape Connexions airs for the final time.
On This Day...4th January
Births
1936
Comedian and TV presenter, John Gorman.
1955
TV/radio weather presenter, Richard Edgar.
1970
TV/radio weather presenter, Nick Miller.
Deaths
2010
Former actor and TV presenter, Donal Donnelly.
2011
Former TV news presenter, Armine Sandford.
2012
Former actor and TV presenter, Harry Fowler.
Events
1974
Graham Parker presents a BBC TV weather forecast for the final time.
1974
Michael Fish presents a BBC TV weather forecast for the first time.
1982
Iain Lauchlan presents Play School (BBC Two) for the first time.
1986
Moira Stuart presents the new weekly review of the news - NewsView (BBC Two) - for the first time.
It should be noted that Moira presented the previous incarnation of the programme - News Review - which ended in December 1985.
It should be noted that Moira presented the previous incarnation of the programme - News Review - which ended in December 1985.
2003
Cilla Black makes a shock announcement on the first and only live edition of ITV's Blind Date.
She tells viewers she plans to leave the long-running show at the end of the series.
Paul Jackson, director of entertainment at Granada, said: "This has been entirely Cilla's decision and we completely respect her for it. We would like to thank Cilla for giving us 18 fantastic years. We wish Cilla nothing but success for the future - it is certainly the end of an era."
She tells viewers she plans to leave the long-running show at the end of the series.
Paul Jackson, director of entertainment at Granada, said: "This has been entirely Cilla's decision and we completely respect her for it. We would like to thank Cilla for giving us 18 fantastic years. We wish Cilla nothing but success for the future - it is certainly the end of an era."
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.
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