
On This Day...
25th March
Channels
1990
British Satellite Broadcasting begins broadcasting.
Five channels were available: The Movie Channel; The Sports Channel; Galaxy; The Power Station; Now.
Programmes
1960
The final episode of Life with the Lyons airs on ITV.
The first two series aired on BBC TV (1955 – 1956).
1967
The final episode of Adam Adamant airs on BBC One.
1968
The first edition of Look North (from Leeds) airs on BBC One North.
1972
The 17th Eurovision Song Contest airs on BBC One, live from Usher Hall, Edinburgh.
Moira Shearer presented, with Tom Fleming providing the commentary.
1973
The pilot episode of Open All Hours airs on BBC Two (as part of the Seven of One series).
The pilot was repeated on BBC One on 31st July 1973.
1977
The final episode of Porridge airs on BBC One.
1983
The final episode of The Fourth Man airs on BBC One.
1990
The final episode of Don't Wait Up airs on BBC One.
1990
The first episode of Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less airs on BBC One.
1994
The final edition of Home Truths airs on BBC One.
2003
30th anniversary edition of Look North (Leeds) airs on BBC One Yorkshire.
2009
The first episode of Alan Whicker's Journey of a Lifetime airs on BBC Two.
A four-part series in which veteran broadcaster Alan Whicker sets off on a world trip during which he reflects on his life and career, beginning in Venice, where he retraces his steps from soldier to journalist and thence to the world of television.
2012
The final episode of Upstairs Downstairs (latest incarnation) airs on BBC One.
2012
The first edition of Sunday Brunch airs on Channel 4.
Live cookery/chat show presented by Tim Lovejoy and Simon Rimmer.
2013
Granada Reports is broadcast from Media City for the first time.
2013
The first episode of Plebs airs on ITV 2.
2015
The first episode of The Royals airs on ITV.
American soap opera. About a fictional British Royal family. Starring Elizabeth Hurley and guest starring Dame Joan Collins in seven episodes.
2016
A fire in the post room of ITV's London Studios temporarily forces Good Morning Britain off the air.
The building is evacuated.
2017
The first edition of All Round to Mrs Brown's airs on BBC One.
2018
50th anniversary edition of BBC Look North airs on BBC One Yorkshire.
Presented by Harry Gration and Amy Garcia, with Paul Hudson (weather). Many former colleagues appeared, including Sophie Raworth, Philip Hayton and Tim Ewart.
The programme was broadcast live from Old Broadcasting House, Woodhouse Lane, where it was based from 1974 until 2004.
2024
The first episode of Grand Indian Hotel airs on Channel 4.

On This Day...
25th March
Births
1963
Comedian and TV presenter/producer, Andrew O’Connor.
1974
TV/radio weather presenter, Kate Kinsella.
Deaths
1996
Former TV/radio commentator, TV news presenter and radio announcer,
John Snagge.
2002
Former TV sports commentator, Kenneth Wolstenholme.
Events
2004
John Suchet presents his final ITV news programme. He joined ITN as a reporter in 1970.
2021
Simon McCoy makes his final appearance as a presenter on BBC News, after 17 years with the Corporation.
RELATED ARTICLE: Simon McCoy leaves the BBC after 17-and-a-half years.
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.