
On This Day...
28th December
Channels
1974
The third update of the BBC One mirror globe symbol device goes live. The mechanical device remained the same but the colours were updated (using a colour synthesiser): we now had a blue background, orange continents and large, white, bold Futura 'BBC 1' lettering.
RELATED ARTICLE: 50th anniversary of an iconic BBC One ident.
1974
BBC Two's revolving cube '2' ident is replaced by a cylindrical lined '2' design. The new ident is still a physical device, played out live with the aid of a colour synthesiser. The ident was generally aired with a blue background but a black background was also used.
RELATED ARTICLE: Out with the revolving cube and in with the cylinder.
Programmes
1959
The first episode of Ivor the Engine (black and white series) airs on ITV.
1963
The final edition of That Was the Week That Was airs on BBC TV.
1963
The pilot of Meet the Wife airs on BBC TV.
1964
Crossroads airs in the ITV London region for the first time.
1966
Sir Jonathan Miller's production of Alice in Wonderland, starring Alan Bennett, airs on BBC One.
1966
The final episode of Our Man at St Mark's airs on ITV.
1967
The final edition of The Frost Programme airs on ITV.
Talk show produced by Associated Rediffusion. Presented by David Frost.
1978
The final episode of The Sweeney airs on ITV.
1979
The final episode of Penmarric airs on BBC One.
1981
K9 and Company airs on BBC One. Intended as a pilot for a spin-off of the science-fiction series Doctor Who. K9 and Company did not progress to a series.
1982
The first edition of Treasure Hunt airs on Channel 4.
1983
The final episode of US series The Waltons airs on BBC Two.
1984
The final episode of Miss Marple: The Body in the Library airs on BBC One.
1985
The first edition of Les and Dustin' Laughter Show airs on BBC One.
1986
The final edition of Les and Dustin' Laughter Show airs on BBC One.
1992
Granadaland airs on BBC Two. A special evening of programmes celebrating Granada TV.
1995
The pilot episode of McCallum airs on ITV. Starring John Hannah as Dr Iain McCallum.
1997
The final episode of The Detectives airs on BBC One.
1998
The final episode of Cadfael airs on ITV.
1998
The first edition of Paddington Green airs on BBC One. Docu-soap set in and around Paddington Green, West London.
2000
The final episode of The Fast Show airs on BBC Two.
2001
The pilot of Red Cap airs on BBC One.
2002
The final edition of V Graham Norton airs on Channel 4.
2004
The final edition of Changing Rooms airs on BBC One.
2006
It Started with Swap Shop airs on BBC Two. Noel Edmonds, Keith Chegwin, John Craven and Maggie Philbin reunite for a one-off edition of the Saturday morning programme Swap Shop, to celebrate its 30th anniversary.
2012
All New It'll Be Alright on the Night airs on ITV.
2016
The final special episode of Jonathan Creek airs on BBC One.
2021
The final episode of A Very British Scandal airs on BBC One.
Starring Claire Foy and Paul Bettany as the Duchess and Duke of Argyll.
2022
The first episode of Mayflies airs on BBC One. Dramatisation of Andrew O'Hagan's novel. Starring Tony Curran and Martin Compston.
Test Card/Teletext In-Vision Music
1983
BBC Two tape
Don Fernando airs for the final time.
EXTERNAL LINK: recreation of Don Fernando.
1983
BBC Two tape Belle Canon airs for the final time.
2001
BBC Two Christmas tape Am Weihnachtsbaume airs for the final time.
2004
BBC Two Christmas tape Joy to the World (David Snell) airs for the final time.
2005
BBC Two Christmas tape Carol of the Bells (Carpenters) airs for the final time.
2009
BBC Two Christmas tape Christmas Tree (1) airs for the final time.
2011
BBC Two Christmas tape Chilled First Noel airs for the final time.

On This Day...
28th December
Births
1914
Former actor and TV announcer, Bernard Youens.
1943
Former TV presenter, Richard Whiteley.
1962
TV presenter, Kaye Adams.
1973
Actor and TV presenter, Alex Dimitriades.
Deaths
1997
Former actor, comedian and TV presenter, Ronnie Williams.
2012
Former TV commentator and producer, Barrie Edgar.
2017
Former model and TV announcer/presenter, Bronwen Pugh.
Events
1991
Andrew Harvey presents a weekend daytime news summary (BBC One) for the first 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.