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On This Day...23rd September
Channels
1998
The BBC's new digital-only channel, BBC Choice, begins broadcasting. It would be replaced by BBC Three in 2003.
Programmes
1955
The first edition of Take Your Pick airs on ITV.
1955
The first episode of US series Dragnet airs on ITV.
1960
The first episode of Bootsie and Snudge airs on ITV.
1966
The final edition of Five o’Clock Club airs on ITV.
1972
The first episode of The Adventures of Black Beauty airs on ITV.
1979
One-off play Churchill and the Generals airs on BBC One.
1984
Threads airs on BBC Two. The story of a nuclear attack, by Barry Hines. Starring Karen Meagher as Ruth Beckett and Reece Dinsdale as Jimmy Kemp.
1985
The first episode of From the Top airs on ITV.
1985
The first episode of Tender is the Night airs on BBC Two.
1986
The first edition of Floyd on Food airs on BBC Two.
1988
The first edition of Whose Line Is It Anyway? airs on Channel 4.
1988
The first episode of A Gentleman’s Club airs on BBC Two.
1988
The first episode of The Ruth Rendell Mysteries: Shake Hands Forever airs on ITV.
1988
The first edition of Whose Line Is It Anyway? airs on Channel 4.
1995
40 Years of ITV Laughter airs on ITV.
Teletext
1974
The world's first teletext service - Ceefax - is formally launched by the BBC. Test transmissions had already been taking place since 1972. Soon after the BBC had developed Ceefax, the IBA created a similar, though incompatible system called ORACLE. In 1976, The BBC and IBA agreed a new standard, known as World System Teletext. Although sales of suitably equipped TV sets were slow in the early years, teletext would become a familiar sight in many households by the late-1980s. Although the original teletext format was initially carried on the digital versions of the main BBC channels, it was discontinued on digital platforms in the early 2000s, and replaced by a new system - MHEG-5. However, the familiar 1970s system continued on analogue TV (in spite of various attempts at enhancing the technology over the years) until its closure on 23rd October 2012, when the final UK analogue TV services were shut down.
On This Day...23rd September
Births
1908
Former BBC TV announcer, David Hofman.
1932
Former TV weather presenter, Graham Parker.
1933
Former musician and TV/radio presenter, Wally Whyton.
1949
TV presenter, Floella Benjamin.
1953
TV news presenter/reporter, Nicholas Witchell.
1968
TV presenter, Yvette Fielding.
Events
1955
Barbara Mandell became the first female to present the news on a national television service in the UK. She anchored the ITN midday news on ITV.
1978
Larry Grayson presents The Generation Game (BBC One) for the first time.
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TV Pres from The Ident Gallery © 2021 Andrew J Wood