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On This Day...31st October
Channels
1959
Ulster Television - the ITV franchisee for Northern Ireland - begins broadcasting.
EXTERNAL LINK: Laurence Olivier launches UTV.
EXTERNAL LINK: Laurence Olivier launches UTV.
1965
BBC Two begins broadcasting in the north of England.
1984
The technicians strike at Thames Television continues. A management-run service is in operation.
2017
Channel 4 replaces its idents with a new concept, where its famous blocks logo takes on the guise of a silver giant.
EXTERNAL LINK: Channel 4 presentation: 2017 - present (The Ident Gallery).
EXTERNAL LINK: Channel 4 presentation: 2015 - present (TV Whirl).
EXTERNAL LINK: Channel 4 presentation: 2017 - present (The Ident Gallery).
EXTERNAL LINK: Channel 4 presentation: 2015 - present (TV Whirl).
Programmes
1955
The first BBC TV newsflash airs at 8pm, read by Richard Baker, announcing the decision of HRH The Princess Margaret not to marry Gp Capt Peter Townsend.
1960
The first episode of Maigret airs on BBC TV.
1968
The final episode of George and the Dragon airs on ITV.
1971
The 200th edition of The Golden Shot airs on ITV. Live from Warwick Castle.
1972
The Richard Dimbleby Lecture first airs on BBC One. Presented by David Dimbleby (and later by his brother Jonathan).
Lord Annan, Provost of University College, London, delivers the first in an annual series of television lectures in honour of former BBC broadcaster Richard Dimbleby.
Lord Annan, Provost of University College, London, delivers the first in an annual series of television lectures in honour of former BBC broadcaster Richard Dimbleby.
1973
The first edition of The World at War airs on ITV.
1978
The first episode of Empire Road airs on BBC Two.
1980
Caught on a Train airs on BBC Two. Written by Stephen Poliakoff.
1984
The final edition of Think of a Number airs on BBC One.
1984
The final episode of Cold Warrior airs on BBC One.
1985
The final episode of Up the Elephant and Round the Castle airs on ITV.
1986
The first episode of The Two of Us airs on ITV.
1988
The Nine o'Clock News (BBC One) is relaunched, with new titles and a newsroom-based set. The programme now had one presenter each night, rather than two - usually Martyn Lewis or Michael Buerk.
The opening headlines were now read out prior to the opening titles.
The new look prompted complaints from viewers about the distraction of newsroom staff walking behind the presenter, phones ringing and flashing computer screens.
EXTERNAL LINK: BBC Nine o'Clock News first edition (1988).
The opening headlines were now read out prior to the opening titles.
The new look prompted complaints from viewers about the distraction of newsroom staff walking behind the presenter, phones ringing and flashing computer screens.
EXTERNAL LINK: BBC Nine o'Clock News first edition (1988).
1992
Ghostwatch (billed as a Screen One Special) airs on BBC One.
1993
The first episode of Scarlet and Black airs on BBC One.
1995
Goodnight, Mr Bean airs on ITV.
1996
The final episode of The Legacy of Reginald Perrin airs on BBC One.
2001
The final edition of The Blue Planet airs on BBC One.
2002
The final episode of The League of Gentlemen airs on BBC Two.
2005
The first edition of Deal or No Deal airs on Channel 4.
2011
The first episode of Top Boy airs on Channel 4.
The series was made available on Netflix in 2019.
The series was made available on Netflix in 2019.
2021
The first episode of Showtrial airs on BBC One. Crime drama.
2022
The final episode of The Walk-In airs on ITV. Drama based on real-life events. Written by Jeff Pope. Starring Stephen Graham.
2024
The final edition of Prince William: We Can End Homelessness airs on ITV 1.
2024
The first episode of Ellis airs on Channel 5. Police drama. Starring Sharon D. Clarke.
Test Card/Teletext In-Vision Music
1965
BBC Two tape White Sails airs for the final time.
On This Day...31st October
Births
1952
Actress and former TV announcer, Jane Wymark.
1965
TV news presenter, Donna Traynor.
Deaths
2003
Former TV announcer, Stuart Hutchinson.
2009
Former TV presenter, Pat Keysell.
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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