
On This Day...
12th April
Programmes
1961
Valerie Pitts introduces coverage of the first space flight, by Yuri Gagarin.
1971
The final episode of The Misfit airs on ITV.
Sitcom. Written by Roy Clarke. Starring Ronald Fraser, Patrick Newell and Simon Ward.
1977
The Citizen Smith characters first appear in a Comedy Special on BBC One.
1980
The first episode of Russ Abbot's Madhouse airs on ITV.
1984
The final episode of The Living Planet (David Attenborough series) airs on BBC One.
1985
The first episode of C.A.T.S. Eyes airs on ITV.
1985
The first edition of ECT (Extra Celestial Transmission) airs on Channel 4.
1987
The final edition of The Television Show airs on ITV.
1988
The final episode of Crossfire airs on BBC One.
1989
The first episode of No Strings airs on ITV.
1991
The first episode of The Sharp End airs on BBC One.
1991
The first episode of Finders Keepers airs on ITV.
Presented by Neil Buchanan.
1992
The first episode of A Masculine Ending airs on BBC One.
1993
The first edition of The Hypnotic World of Paul McKenna airs on ITV
1997
The final edition of You Bet! airs on ITV.
1998
The first edition of Scrapheap Challenge airs on Channel 4.
1999
The first episode of Bob the Builder airs on BBC One.
2000
The first edition of The Pride of Britain Awards airs on ITV.
2006
The final edition of Davina airs on BBC One.
Chat show. Midweek slot. Presented by Davina McCall.
2007
The final edition of Rough Justice airs on BBC One.
2008
The first edition of All Star Mr and Mrs airs on ITV.
2015
The first episode of Tatau airs on BBC Three.
Supernatural murder mystery series. Set on the Cook Islands.
2021
The first episode of Too Close airs on ITV
Test Card/Teletext In-Vision Music
1983
BBC One Ceefax AM tape Samantha (1) airs for the first time.

On This Day...
12th April
Births
1916
Former TV news reporter/presenter, Brian Connell.
1922
Magician, comedian and TV presenter,
Billy McComb.
1925
Former animator, puppeteer, writer and TV presenter, Oliver Postgate.
1929
Former TV announcer, Clive Champney.
1935
TV news presenter, John Bacon.
1948
Former TV presenter, Jeremy Beadle.
1959
TV and radio presenter, Howard Stableford.
1967
TV weather presenter, Louise Lear.
Events
1952
Tony Hart makes his first appearance on a BBC TV programme for children.
1961
Valerie Pitts introduces coverage of the first space flight, by Yuri Gagarin.
1979
Lesley Judd presents
Blue Peter (BBC One) for the final time.
2004
Duncan Newmarch makes his debut as a BBC TV announcer.
His first announcement is in the 12.40pm BBC Two junction.
His first BBC One junction is at 2.35pm.
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.