1970 in British television

List of years in British television       (table)
… 1960 .  1961 .  1962 .  1963  . 1964  . 1965  . 1966 … 1967 1968 1969 -1970- 1971 1972 1973 … 1974 .  1975 .  1976 .  1977  . 1978  . 1979  . 1980 …

This is a list of British television related events from 1970.

Events

• 1 January-5 February – The BBC airs The Six Wives of Henry VIII, a series of six teleplays, each of which focusses on the life of one of King Henry VIII of England's six wives.
• 3 January – Jon Pertwee makes his first appearance as the Third Doctor in the Doctor Who serial Spearhead from Space. It also marks the first time that the series was broadcast in colour.
• 14 September – The BBC Nine O'Clock News is first broadcast on BBC1. The programme aired until 13 October 2000 when the station's main evening bulletin was switched to 10:00pm.
• 13 November – The Colour Strike begins when ITV staff refuse to work with colour television equipment following a dispute over pay with their management.
• 9 December – 10th anniversary of the first episode of Coronation Street.
• 25 December – Pluto's Christmas Tree is broadcast on BBC1, the first complete Mickey Mouse cartoon to be shown on British television in colour.

Debuts

BBC1

• 5 January – A Question of Sport (1970–present)
• 9 February – Doomwatch (1970–1972)
• 14 September – BBC Nine O'Clock News (1970–2000)
• 17 September – Bachelor Father (UK TV series) (1970–1971)
• 15 October – Play for Today (1970–1984)
• November – * Mr Benn (1970, 2005)

BBC2

• 8 November – The Goodies (1970–1982)

ITV

• 2 January – Manhunt (1970)
• 14 April – A Family at War (1970–1972)
• 13 June – Albert and Victoria (1970–1971)
• 16 September – UFO (1970–1971)
• 28 September – Timeslip (1970–1971)
• 27 October – The Lovers (1970–1971)
• 28 October – The Adventures of Rupert Bear (1970–1977)
• 5 November – Queenie's Castle (1970–1972)

Television shows

Returning this year after a break of one year or longer

• Steptoe and Son (1962–1965, 1970–1974)

1940s

• Watch with Mother (1946–1973)
• Come Dancing (1949–1998)

1950s

• The Good Old Days (1953–1983)
• Panorama (1953–present)
• Dixon of Dock Green (1955–1976)
• Crackerjack (1955–1984)
• Opportunity Knocks (1956–1978, 1987–1990)
• This Week (1956–1978, 1986–1992)
• Armchair Theatre (1956–1980)
• What the Papers Say (1956–2008)
• The Sky at Night (1957–present)
• Blue Peter (1958–present)
• Grandstand (1958–2007)

1960s

• Coronation Street (1960–present)
• Songs of Praise (1961–present)
• Z-Cars (1962–1978)
• Animal Magic (1962–1983)
• Doctor Who (1963–1989, 2005–present)
• World in Action (1963–1998)
• Top of the Pops (1964–2006)
• Match of the Day (1964–present)
• Crossroads (1964–1988, 2001–2003)
• Play School (1964–1988)
• Mr. and Mrs. (1964–1999, 2008-2010)
• World of Sport (1965–1985)
• All Gas and Gaiters (1966–1971)
• Jackanory (1965–1996, 2006–present)
• It's a Knockout (1966–1982, 1999–2001)
• The Money Programme (1966–present)
• Never Mind the Quality Feel the Width (1967–1971)
• Callan (1967–1972)
• The Golden Shot (1967–1975)
• ITV Playhouse (1967–1982)
• Me Mammy (1968–1971)
• Please Sir! (1968–1972)
• Father, Dear Father (1968–1973)
• Dad's Army (1968–1977)
• Magpie (1968–1980)
• The Big Match (1968–2002)
• On the Buses (1969–1973)
• Clangers (1969–1974)
• Monty Python's Flying Circus (1969–1974)

Ending this year

• Andy Pandy (1950–1970, 2002–2005)
• The Wednesday Play (1964–1970)
• Not Only... But Also (1965–1970)
• Not in Front of the Children (1967–1970)
• Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) (1969–1970)

Births

• 10 February — Rob Shearman, television and radio scriptwriter
• 14 February — Simon Pegg, comedian, writer and actor
• 7 March — Emma Davies, actress
• 29 March – Ruth England, television presenter and actress
• 9 April — Tricia Penrose, actress and singer
• 27 April — Kylie Travis, actress and model
• 20 May — Louis Theroux, TV personality, author
• 18 June — Katie Derham, newsreader and television presenter
• 25 June — Lucy Benjamin, actress
• 10 July — John Simm, actor
• 29 July — Andi Peters, TV presenter and producer
• 31 July — Ben Chaplin, actor
• 4 August — Kate Silverton, journalist, newsreader and television presenter
• 6 September — Emily Maitlis, journalist and newsreader
• 29 September — Emily Lloyd, actress
• 31 October — Craig Kelly, actor
• 12 November — Harvey Stephens, child-actor
• 22 November — Stel Pavlou, novelist and screenwriter
• 23 November — Zoë Ball, television and radio presenter
• 10 December — Susanna Reid, journalist and television presenter
• 17 December — Craig Doyle, radio and television presenter
• 21 December — Jamie Theakston, radio and television presenter and producer
• 29 December — Aled Jones, singer and television presenter
• Unknown — Lucy Owen, Welsh television newsereader
• Unknown — Jenny Scott, journalist and economist
• Unknown — Nicola Walker, actress

Years in television: 1970
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